In anxious times

The other day I had a delivery to make to 103rd Street. I had never noticed this plaque before. I had known for years that Humphrey Bogart was born in the neighborhood But now I know exactly where.

A few houses down I admired a really nice addition to a brownstone.

It's really difficult to marry modern design with a more old fashioned building. I can't tell you exactly why this works, but it does. It might be how the new shapes echo the old or how the weathered copper looks so right with the brownstone. It's just a joyful addition to the streetscape

Further up the hill I saw signs of spring time.

A tulip is blooming in a tree pit coming through the bed of pine boughs that was put down as a winter blanket. Soon whoever is in charge of the tree pit will clear away the signs of winter.

I passed one of my favorite buildings on West End Avenue.For many years one of the residents used to decorate all of the little porches and alcoves with Mayan looking faces made out of fired red clay. The various heads were exactly the same color as the building. The odd mix of the two seemed to sum up exactly what the neighborhood was when I first moved here. 

We are living in anxious times. The crowds in the supermarket are nuts. People are walking down the street clutching giant packages of toilet paper and five gallon jugs of bleach as if it is the end of the world.

I had decided to not attend synagogue this week, I still have that cold I have had since September- I thought that it was best not to be in a crowd. Just a few minutes ago my synagogue sent out an email saying that services will essentially be limited to a minyan...and would be live streamed- because it's just hard times. I was surprised that the news made me weepy.

This video  (please wait through the ads, it's so worth it)

had me sobbing at my computer. I so love this expression of togetherness despite being isolated . I hope that we can use the internet in our community to create that feeling here in our corner of the world.

Today was a day to cook comforting food.

I rolled up what was left of the hamentaschen dough with what was left of the chocolate and apricot filling.

before baking

and after

I had split the smallest one and gave a bite to each of my sons who declared it good. I think this yeast dough will have a permanent spot in my baking repertoire.

The challot are waiting to go into the oven. They have been rolled with a cocoa and maple syrup paste.

In between being anxious about the Corona virus and cooking I am even getting some work done.

 I am not delighted with my lettering here...but it will have to do.

 I know that all of us who are having to  live physically isolated from one another will find ways to virtually be present and deepen the bonds of community as our friends in Siena have.

Our challah is nearly done, my son is stewing some eggplant. We will eat together.

Wishing all of us a Shabbat Shalom.