Sharing photos as I take them from the last two weeks. Mostly I put these images on my Instagram feed.
Recently, we had some new kids move on to the block here on the fringes of East Elmhurst NY. As the weather cools, Hugo and Dash have been heading out more to hang out with these friends. It reminds me of my own time spent on Vance Drive; I had a pack of kids I was constantly hanging out with on the street. Apartments turn over quickly in New York, and people move out and on to new things constantly. But, I am glad the boys have kids to play with on the street, for however long it lasts.
Every now and then, we get these notes from Hugo and wonder where they come from. If I had to guess, it might stem from feelings regarding our new friends, mentioned above. With all signs indicating that Hugo (and Dash for that matter) are growing up to be handsome boys, I guess Jen and I can take a small amount of comfort in this note...at least before they demand cell phones and set up dates.
That's right, I made my own pies! Using some recipes and working from memory from the last time my mom was here (when she showed me and Dash how to make apple pies), I made the crust from scratch and apples we recently picked from Pochuk Valley Farms in New Jersey :). We have to do something with those apples. Upon first taste, the night they were made, they were simply okay; they tasted better when they had a chance to cool and sit for a day. Giving myself a grade of "B" for my first pies.
I don't usually post much about where I work but if you're curious, Temple Emanu-El just marked the Jewish High Holy Days (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur). One of my jobs at the temple is to make sure the livestream broadcasts go off without a hitch. Even though I am not of this faith, the services feature beautiful music (contemporary and classical liturgy), ritual (honoring legacy and community), and meaningful sermons...it's not "fire and brimstone," more about wisdom, ethics, and introspection in my opinion. The temple often advocates for "interfaith," and we often get people from other faiths watching and enjoying.
Happy dog, Diego! The boys, lately, have been more into helping out with dog walking. I was able to get this photo of Diego, now 14, just out the door for a walk. At first, he's got this energy, usually, moving from patch of grass to patch of grass doing his business. But, true to Chihuahua form, once the nose starts rooting in the grass for any length of time, the walks slow to a saunter as he's got to sniff out everything, looking for any morsel of food he can find, usually buried by cats or raccoons who loot the garbage bags on garbage nights.
