I LOVE NEW YORK.......................................

..............feels like I have been gone for a long time.......but here I am again. New York was FABULOUS! So much better than when I was there in February! The weather was just perfect and work was fun. Everything was in bloom and people were actually friendly!

This is the front of the building where Harris Publications is located. Right on Broadway......

................it overlooks MADISON SQUARE PARK....................................................

...................lots of pretty flowers....the kind we can't grow in Florida..............

.................tulips, hostas, snowballs and gorgeous trees..................

............people jogging....walking their doggies.......................

and, of course, spectacular buildings..........................................................like these at night (right across from the office)..........................and then...........................

...............walking along 5th Avenue.......................................................................

...you see that building on the left? The one with a cupola-like top? Well, it's under construction but they draped it with a canvas painted like the finished building will look. How clever!...........................

...........so much better than having to look at a construction mess!..................

Of course, there is plenty of shopping for those who can afford great stuff......................

                  

..........................well...............dream on......................................

As much as I enjoyed being able to walk after work I still didn't feel comfortable enough to venture out at night in the streets by myself.....too many weird people...............so I came back to the hotel as soon as it got dark.....................

               

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Sure was nice to come home and find my fat kitties waiting for me..................on my bed....which they happily messed up.................

                      

Lucy was ready to call me..............

                      

Daisy was yawning away ............

                      

and Lily was snoring......................................

                      

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PIE ANYONE? I got home late and there was nothing to eat in my house....only a frozen pie crust. I defrosted it a little in the microwave then stuffed chunks of dough in muffin tins, topped them with a little butter and Splenda and baked them until golden. They turned out nice and crispy and I ate the whole thing with a cup of tea...............as the saying goes "if there is a will there is a way...) Yum!!

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The weather has been lovely in Florida. Comfortable enough to brave the outdoors and plant a few more things. I added a border of mostly blue flowers in front of my fence.

..........to go with the morning glories on the arbor...............

                  

........also has a bit of pink to recall the oleanders and mandevilla vine........................

........Lucy enjoys the view from the window (when she is not sleeping...)

                     

In the back, I added some Papyrus grass and more bougainvilleas ................. 

...............and homes for the birds....and bees.............................

...moonflowers seeds are sprouting......and the almost dead impatients have come back

 

That's it for now. I am going to catch up with emails and comments. See you soon!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox fifi

                      

By the way, the above bottle is from HOME GOODS..... in the sale corner ($7)..............

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Comments

[Heather]

What a lovely little cottage you have. Its adorable. I want to vacation there :)
I got a bottle very similar to yours, also at Home Goods.. I have mine filled with roses too. Yummy.

[Connie]

Hi Fifi,
I have missed you so much! I am glad you are home safe and sound. Your pictures of New York were awesome and I am glad you had a good time. (I would be afraid to walk after dark too.) Your garden pictures are beautiful. I wished I could see your home in person - I know it would be quiet a treat. I am sure your fur babies were glad to see you home too. Can't wait for the coming issue - I know it will be "sweet perfection" for all of us.
Hugs,
Connie

PS: Time to rest up!

[Colleen]

Your yard is looking gorgeous!! What a beautiful site to come home to.

[Elizabeth]

Hi Fifi!

Good to have you back on the blog again! Looks like a great trip.... How I would love to walk the streets of NY one day. If I could ever get over the fact I need to fly about 7 hours for it.... across a very big pond! I know... I'm a wuss.
Enjoy the lovely wheather!
Elizabeth

[Brenda Kula]

I've been reading and collecting Harris publications for a long time. My all-time favorite. Glad to know someone from there. The kitties look like they missed you. Give them plenty of hugs.
Brenda

[Rosie's Whimsy]

Awww......Fifi....I love your sweet kitties and your beautiful garden.

:-) Rosie

[Joanne Kennedy]

Looks like you had a lovely time in New York. But there is no place like home with little fur babies waiting for you to return.

Welcome home. Your garden is looking wonderful! I love all the blue flowers. Very English Cottage looking.

Joanne

[Monique]

That is clever the building cover-up!

All your blue flowers agains the fence? Perfect!

I see Russian sage and Delphiniums etc..Some of my favs..The touch of pink is just right.
How I love Spring and the gardens awakening~

I had alarge vase like yours..All of a sudden the bottom cracked..It was a gift from my daughter a couple of yrs ago..I liked it very much..even as a water pitcher for the table~

What a picture your Morning Glories and home:)!

Les minous sont mignons !

Welcome back..busy girl!

[Janet (Shabbyfufu)]

Welcome home sweets....looks like you had a much better go of it this time! ~XO~ Janet

[Anita]

Fifi,
You were missed! I always LOVE the photos of the kitties, they are just lil' buckets of love waiting for you! Thanks for sharing your photos with us.
Anita~

[Sue]

Fifi...SO nice to have you back home safe & sound. I've missed you! I LOVE your pics of NYC...I love that city too..but would NOT want to live there. Speaking of which, I'm leaving tomorrow to drive a 16' van 'cross country from Seattle to Sarasota! I've been packing up my antiques, boxes of 'stuff' & am SOOOO tired that I think a 3200 mile drive sounds relaxing. My sweet friend, Jim, is flying up to help me drive & I've already told him that we're going to get off the Interstate at times so that I can check out some flea markets along the way! I'm going to have some extra room in the van, so I'm hoping to find some good fleas & yard sales. Yippee!! (as if I need more 'stuff'). I'm looking forward to seeing you & your kitties. I love love love what you're doing with your garden. the blue flowers are gorgeous. Plumbago is a great drought-resistant blue flowering bush..couldn't tell if you had any in with the others. I'm so looking forward to the new Romantic Country! Any hints about what we can expect? Hugs...Seattle Sue (soon to be Sarasota Sue again!)

[Alison Gibbs]

Hi Fifi welcome back.
Thank you so much for all the lovely photos of New York. It looks fabulous, especially Madison Square Park.
Love the building coverup - so clever
How pretty your garden is looking.
Alison

[Marga]

Hi Fifi
Good to have you back.....looks like you had a great trip. Love the bleu border you made. Your kitties looking lovely as ever.
oxoxoxox Marga

[Edie Marie's Attic]

There's no place like home...
there's no place like home...

welcome home Fifi! We all missed you!
LOVE your flowers and the bottle "find".
Hugs, Sherry

[Adla]

Glad to know you had a wonderful time in New York, It really looks like a great city! Your garden is so homely and the pictures exude the love you put into it.

chat soon, Adla

[le petit cabinet de curiosites]

You were a lucky girl. I would "die" to go to NYC right now I love NYC during May . Anyway , May is my favorite month but in New york specially ...
I'm sure you were also very happy to be back home with your minous

[Susie]

I just love NYC. There is no place like it. Your pictures are great.

[Natasha Burns]

Your garden is always so inspiring Fifi!!!!

BTW to change the subject, re Romantic Country - do you know if they are going to offer International subscriptions? It's my favourite magazine!

[Natasha Burns]

LOL forgot to say how fantastic New York looks and that it is probably very wise not to be out on your own at night! I can't wait to go there in October! Maybe you'll be around then too with some luck?!

[Joy]

Welcome back Fifi - although it's fun to travel, there really is no place like home is there? :) .............

Especially with those wonderful kitties to welcome you!

Joy

[daisy cottage]

I'm SO glad you had a wonderful time in New York! You deserve it and I love your blue flowers... a beautiful addition to your sweet gardens!

xo,
Kim

[Marilyn]

Welcome back, Fifi!

I've never seen canvas covering a construction site either, but think its a really cool idea.

Your garden looks beautiful and I am loving the plumbago against your white fence. I planted some myself over the weekend. It's one of my favorites!

I'm glad you're back safe and sound.

[Janet]

Hi Fifi,

I've come over to introduce myself, after reading your blog for a while now... I'm Joy's (thejoyof) friend, Janet (not to be confused with Janet from shabbyfufu, whom I've just 'met'!)

Looks like I picked a good day! Your pictures of NY look beautiful... I've never been, but Joy & I are determined to get there someday!

Your home always looks so lovely, and I can imagine the feeling you had when you finally got back... I always say that going away is great, but there's nothing like it to really make you appreciate your own place!

Thanks for sharing your trip with us!

(And oh-- I hope you don't mind, but I've added your blog to my favourites list on mine... because it has become such a fave!)

Take care,
'the other' Janet

[londoncalling]

Clever,clever awning.

[cielo]

What a lovely post this has been.... I totally enjoyed the tour to NY City, and to your lovely FL garden..... verly lovely!

Hugs,

Cielo