Have you missed me? I missed you. Part 1

Hello, Again. 

I just looked at the last time I posted on my blog. It was seven months ago. My life has been taken over by care giving. Richard, who will be 87 next week, has dementia and needs full-time care. I do have help, but not enough. I am in the process of getting more help.

When you have to care for someone, it is exhausting and depressing. My creative life has suffered, as has this blog. You have to fight your way back. I want to do that.

So this post is a celebration of a renewed creative life that I want to kick-start. I had the chance to get away last weekend to a wonderful place called Orient, New York on the tip of the North Fork of Long Island. I was able to do this because Richard's daughter, Dianna, and her husband, Michael, came from Chicago to stay with Richard. They are two terrific people. Am I not lucky to have them in my life?

So it was knowing that R.C. was well cared for, that I got away as a guest of my sister, Jeanne. Joining us were sister Sue, brother David, nephew Jack, and his girlfriend, Sophie. A full house and a happy house.

Getting Ready To Go

First, a hair cut at Fringe, my Lower East Side go-to

salon on Broome Street. This is my stylist, Chenoh Maia,

who gave me the perfect bob.

Next -- nails at Blair, a stylish nail
salon on Orchard Street.

Bordeaux on the toes.

Magenta on the fingers.

We're here!
Deep Roots Farm Stand 

Friday arrival...I'm fresh off the Hampton Jitney.
 Jeanne, Susan and I head to Jeanne's 
favorite new farm stand, Deep Roots.

My bag, from London's Muzungu sisters, 
is taking over my body.
Nice radish.

   It's the honor system, and
 Jeanne is paying for her tomatoes. 

Have you ever not been satisfied with your melon,
and wished you could return it?

The Yard Sale

 It's impossible to pass up a good yard sale.

Susan, who just moved into a mid-century modern house,

contemplated a snack server that might be ideal
for serving mid-century snacks.
Better get a fondue set, Sue.

 Jeanne makes a call on an ornate phone. 

We are all going to a fancy party on Saturday night,

so we consider this belle-of- the-ball frilly frock,
mold included.

A Someday Rental

 But first a word about peaches!
There were no good peaches on the North Fork.
Come clean, farm stands, where did you get these mealy peaches?

 This sweet little house is a rental in Orient.
It's the stuff of dreams.

 A screened-in porch in the back for
morning coffee or evening wine.

The back yard with a view toward the bay.
A girl can dream, can't she?

A Bientot mes amis.
See you soon with Part 2
of the Orient Getaway!