Starting an herb garden

I've been wanting to start a little herb garden in the kitchen window, so the other day I ventured over to Sprout Home and picked up some thyme and rosemary. I also want to get some cilantro and basil, which they were out of, so I'll have to try somewhere else (maybe somewhere closer to home--I love Sprout Home but it's not the most conveniently located for me). I can't wait until they start to grow a bit more--one day soon we'll be making a seriously delicious pizza using freshly picked ingredients.

Another walk on the High Line

Saturday we went to see a Billy Childish exhibit at White Columns, and we were so close to the High Line that it seemed silly not to take a walk along it, especially given how nice the weather was (okay, it did get pretty cold later on). All of the beautiful wild flowers aren't in bloom just yet, so it was a bit of a different visual experience from previous visits. I ended up taking some pictures, even though I'd taken quite a few the first time I went (see the best of those here)--there's so much to take in that you can notice new things each time you go.

New (and not so new) things finally hung

I don't know why but I'd been procrastinating for awhile about hanging a lot of our posters and other decorative objects. Maybe because I just couldn't decide where they should go.

Last week I came home from work to find that Dave had been busy all afternoon making those decisions for me. Above is the mobile that my aunt gave me for Christmas (don't mind the discoloring on the walls--water leaks in whenever it rains).

A closer look at the mobile (man, that wall looks gross).

Our clock and newly acquired Michael Mantler/Edward Gorey LP. (I probably should have taken a closer shot.)

We've had the Brewster McCloud poster for awhile but I'm just so glad to see it finally on display again. It's one of my favorite posters that we own.

I'll do a real house tour soon enough. Still a few more finishing touches that need to happen.

Contact paper window films

I've been mulling over what to do with the windows in the computer room for awhile. Rather than the usual curtains I wanted to try something different. So a couple weeks ago I bought some frosted contact paper to make window films. I was initially planning on covering the windows with large sheets with a few shapes cut out here and there but after about 100 tries, each with countless bubbles and folds and wrinkles (and curses), I ended up taking a different plan of action.

Instead of one large sheet with a few shapes cut out, I cut out dozens of raindrop shapes in various sizes.

Not done yet but I really like how it looks so far, especially since you can still see what's going on outside through the spaces in between.

Scraps of contact paper on the floor.

Historic Village Diner in Red Hook

After walking over the Hudson we traveled farther up into the Hudson Valley, to explore the towns of Red Hook and Tivoli. While in Red Hook we ate at this diner, which is actually an official historic landmark.

It was once called the Halfway Diner, when it was on Rt. 9, about halfway between New York City and Albany. (More on its history here.)

Inside it's pretty classic, with the obligatory counter, stools, cake stands, and pastries wrapped in plastic. The menu had a few pleasant surprises, like a black bean burger, sweet potato fries, and a decent-looking salad bar.

I'm not sure why Dave is giving me the crazy eye in this picture. Maybe he's thinking about the fried pickles that are coming his way.

Walkway over the Hudson

We've been having such incredible weather this past week that I had to plan a little excursion for the weekend. I've been wanting to check out the fairly recently opened Walkway Over the Hudson, a former railroad bridge turned pedestrian bridge that spans the entire width of the Hudson River. (That's about 1.28 miles across, making it the longest pedestrian bridge in the world, according to the Walkway's website.)

This sign was across from where we parked, and appears to be part of an art gallery.

It's hard to see, but we passed this "Rolling Stones 78 tour" graffiti at the beginning of the walkway and I had to share. I love the random "Pink Floyd" underneath it. I really hope it's actually been there since 1978.

A view of the river from about halfway across the bridge.

The entrance on the other side of the Hudson.

Railroad tracks lining the coastline below the bridge, with the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge off in the distance.

Parts of the bridge go over land, so you can catch a glimpse into backyards and factories. I spotted this airstream trailer and it reminded me of how much I want one.

As I walked across the bridge I couldn't help but think about how it differs from another recently opened railroad bridge turned pedestrian walkway, the High Line. The Walkway is essentially a straight line of pavement, whereas the High Line is a winding path filled with interesting plants, railroad ties, and benches. Of course, the High Line doesn't have the incredible views of the Walkway (though it does have its own uniquely interesting sights). It's certainly a different experience crossing the Hudson River, looking out at the vast expanse of water. Overall, each has its own merits, and each is worth visiting.

For more detailed pictures of the Walkway, check out this Flickr set.

Midcentury juicer

I'm pretty excited about this awesome juicer that I just bought on etsy. It looks so much cooler than the hand-me-down I've been using the last few years (which I'm pretty sure was a wedding present given to my mom about 30 years ago that she never used--now it's going to the Goodwill).

It comes apart into three pieces, the bottom of which has a nice pour spout.

I'll be testing it out this week to make some lemonade, which I plan to start making a lot more of come spring/summer.

P.S. I just tested it out for the first time and it works so much better than the one I had before. Score!