sarah in nyc

 Yesterday as I drank my morning coffee I noticed that our dark green linoleum floor in the hallway was glowing orange. I knew that I needed to take my camera in hand. The orange glow of the sun rising had hit the back wall of 800 West End Avenue and that reflected sunrise was glowing onto my shiny dark linoleum floor. This morning as I went to start my workout I saw a glorious New York City sight taking place on the roof of the first building I lived in when I moved here.  The water tower at 808 West End was being rebuilt. The iconic New York water tower is essentially a giant stave and metal barrel that could have been constructed in the Middle Ages.  These humble towers ensure that even when there is a power outage, we have water.  A water tower gets replaced once every several decades.  I can see that my old building has not one but two water towers--you can see the larger one just below the one that is being worked on. As of this writing, the roof of the wa...

 Tuesday I took a bunch of jewelry that needed to be tended to to the jeweler. The safety chain on the bracelet has broken. The bracelet is very dear to me- it was a thank you gift from my friend Vivian. We were both saying kaddish for our mother's during the same year. During that year Vivian asked me to teach her how to lead services. We met a couple of times and Vivian soon took on the role of leading services. Vivian gave me this bracelet that had belonged to her mother as a thank you gift. iThe bracelet reminds me of our friendship and out year of mourning together. The knot-shaped pin was a gift from my youngest. The pin had broken off . The pin had also broken off of the round glass and silver pin next to the knot pin--also a gift from a dear friend of a lovely thing that had belonged to her mother. The large pin with the deer was my mother's I am having a bail added so  I can wear the pin as a pendant. I had purchased the bird pin for my mother a long time ago. I found...

 Yesterday was a big, big day.  The commissioning of a Torah scroll is a big deal. It is a big deal both for the people who underwrite it and it is a big deal for the community that is receiving the newly written scroll. The mantle I had made this year  is dressing the Torah scroll that was being presented last night.  Traditionally when a Torah scroll is presented to a community the scribe leaves several of the last letters outlined  and to be filled in by honorees at the event.  Yesterday was the big day. The writing of the Torah scroll and the creation of the mantle were both made in memory of Benjy who had died suddenly and far too young. Everything and everyone was prepared.  A scribe was at the ready. Speeches were made by family members and by distinguished rabbis. After the ink on the parchment had dried all of the Torah scrolls in the ark were removed so the old Torah scrolls could "greet" their new compatriot . The Torah scrolls were all held...

 Today's post is filled with small things that gave me pleasure today. These small things may not ring your chimes but feel free to add your own small pleasures to the comments. My friend had handed down a large comfy cotton sweater in grey to me. I loved the cozy feeling of being wrapped in it but I didn't love that the cuffs flopped over my hands.  This morning I finally threaded the cuffs with black elastic thread. This is an easy-peasy fix that I have been thinking about doing for a couple of years but only got to today. Now I can push the sleeves up and have them stay.  I purchase  giant bottles of both blue and green dishwashing detergent so so when I refill the small bottle  that lives on the sink I can see the colors float on top of one another. This is a tiny thing that gives me a great deal of joy. I went to purchase some vegetables for the holiday. The little plaza in front of the subway station (which my husband has dubbed 'Spare Change Plaza') is ab...