Sleeping Dogs

Sleepy nugget of joy

Other, giant, sleepy nugget of joy with her rock collection

I've been busy working on a new illustration project for MSN's City Guides about Karaoke. It's a fun one and I'll share the link when it goes live. Lots to do around here and the dogs keep living their dog lives. Sometimes we try to imagine Fiesta cooking dinner, standing at the stove flipping burgers, but she always eats what she has made before before she can serve it! Ooops she says and she starts the whole process again. I guess the old expression holds true -- best to let sleeping dogs lie.

Ferry Ride Home

Giant fuzzy gum-drop?

On the ferry ride home, a massive man sat outside the window where we were sitting. I couldn't resist taking his photo. He was.... monumental!

Nantucket Week on Peter's Landscape a Day Blog is over. Thanks to everyone for making it a success. If you're interested in seeing more of his work of Nantucket and other coastal areas, visit his website peterfiore.com. Cavalier Galleries in Nantucket and Greenwich, CT and Travis Gallery in New Hope, PA both have a collection of Peter's coastal paintings.

This week on L.A.D. Peter is going to be featuring a collection of barns he has been watching. Enjoy!

Downtown Nantucket

Cavalier Galleries has a beautiful space on Main Street

I don't have many photos of downtown Nantucket. This is the front of Cavalier Galleries who represent Peter's work on the Island and in Greenwich, CT. Downtown is quaint with quite a  flare and larger than I expected. We didn't spend a lot of time there -- most of the time we were exploring the uninhabited areas of the island.

There are a lot of one-way streets in town and we used our nuvi to help us get around and she always sent us down Main Street which is extremely bumpy. Here's a video Peter shot. Neither of us had ever experienced cobble stone quite like it. We laughed every time we went down it.

Altar Rock Road

Endless roads to explore and get lost on

Nantucket is 50 square miles and more than 36% of it is protected land. Besides the amazing beaches, there are acres and acres of beautiful and fascinating wide open land. Sometimes I felt like we were on safari looking for the lions and zebras that never showed up.

Beach Path

Colorful Sunrise

Nantucket Sky

A cloud catches the color of the setting sun

Beach Portraits

Peter exploring the last light on the dunes

My shadow self-portrait on the beach

Brandt Point Sunrise

6:31 am

6:39 am

6:45 am

The sun rises early on Nantucket. It's east of just about everywhere in the U.S. This is the famous lighthouse at Brandt Point, on the edge of town. It was a beautiful morning and even though I was tired, there is nothing more magical then watching the sun come up.

Nantucket Ferry

The slow boat to Nantucket is well worth the trip

Nantucket Week on L.A.D.

Rocks and shells, I love'em!

Nantucket week starts this Sunday, April 19th on Peter's blog, Landscape a Day and goes through the following Saturday, April 25th. Peter has been very busy getting the studies ready. If you would like to see some of his larger works, visit his website peterfiore.com or take a trip to Cavalier Galleries in Greenwhich CT or on Nantucket. The Travis Gallery in New Hope, PA also has a nice selection. Enjoy!

Making Gnocchi

Lisa, Paul and I try making Gnocchi

We had a lovely Easter weekend with Peter's kids, Lisa and Paul, and my Dad. Lisa had a craving for Gnocchi so we made it. Paul gave his muscles a work out grinding the potatoes in the food mill. I made the dough, rolled it out and Lisa put the trademark fork tines twist on each one. Peter took this photo of our production line.

We made a double batch and couldn't believe how many little gnocchis we had lying around on cookie sheets waiting to be cooked! It was a lot of work for a plate of pasta, but delicious. I have a new respect for gnocchi and a theory about it -- someone must have had a lot of potatoes they didn't know what to do with and were tired of the other options; boiling, baking, roasting and frying.

Just wanted to add that I made tiramisu for Easter dinner and had a lot left over -- again with the double batch! I just put the leftover in an ice cream maker with some chocolate shavings and it is amazing!

Ireland Week?

Peter, along with his friends Terry and Beth contemplate the end of Paris Week

This is a rare siting of Peter at a bar and with a beer instead of a Diet Pepsi no less. He wants to do a week of Ireland studies for Landscape a Day, but we have to go there first! Ireland here we come? Maybe, but I think Nantucket week is up next.

End of Paris Week

Pont Alexandre III at twilight

This is one of my favorite photos from our trip. I almost overlooked it but caught it on the 3rd or 4th run through my photos.

It's the end of Paris Week on Peter's Landscape a Day Blog. Thanks to everyone for making it such a fun and successful week! And sorry to all of those who tried to procure a study and were unsuccessful. Keep watching the blogs -- lots of good to things to come. Hope you have a Happy Easter or Passover celebration or just a nice weekend. Enjoy!

Paris Bridge

Dusk

Pere Lachaise

Fascinating

Endlessly fascinating

Accessorized for the afterlife

Not to be too macabre, but I think I could have spent the whole day at Pere Lachaise. There was something surprising everywhere you looked -- the carving and statues and inscriptions and endless details. After a life of style, you got a burial with style for all of eternity to see.

People always talk about going there to visit Jim Morrison's grave, but I think that there are so many other compelling reasons to go! It is really odd and beautiful and well worth the trip.

Gargoyle

Beware! There's always someone watching in Paris

I finally found my photos from Paris. There were a surprising amount of blurry images, but I was happy to find a few good ones in the bunch. I need to practice holding a camera still. 

This gargoyle was staring down from a wall along the Seine. It inspires me to want to make some gargoyles myself. It must look fantastic when it is raining.

Rooftops

Early morning light

Overcast day with Monmartre in the distance

The color of seashells on an overcast afternoon, I could stare at these buildings all day!

Pink Cake

Dessert at the Restaurant du Musee d'Orsay

Our friend Mary had her heart set on this pink cake as soon as she saw it. Peter took a quick photo of it before we all had a sample. It did not disappoint!

Street Juggler

Outside the Centre Pompidou

I didn't take a lot of photos in Paris, and for now, I have misplaced the few that I have. I'll find them eventually. I guess I was too busy people watching, eating and enjoying the city. So for now I'm going to pick through Peter's photos and share some of those and dream of delicious french coffee and wine and bread and... yumm.

Paris Week

The Mona Lisa is a rock star at The Louvre

Paris Week has begun with great success on Peter's blog, Landscape a Day. While he's sharing his studies, I'm going to post a few of our Paris photos.

To find the Mona Lisa, we just followed the crowds past countless paintings and sculpture. It was great to see that people were so excited about a painting. I just hoped they took notice of some of the other works along the way. Peter took this photo of the Mona Lisa. It feels like she's giving a press conference! If only she could. We enjoyed a lot of the quieter areas of the museum as well.

Heidi Hahn Opening

Peter with Chris Libertino, Heidi Hanh and Mary Jo Libertino at Heidi's opening

Saturday night we went to our friend Heidi Hahn's opening at Collective Hardware on the Bowery in NYC. Her work is fantastic, fun and bold. We loved it and had a great time. Heidi is one of 5 artists showing their work. Click here for more information.

Lisa and Peter review photos on her camera of a recent school assignment

Later that night, Lisa, Peter and I headed back uptown towards SVA and had Steak Frites at L'Express on Park and 20th. I think we were subconsciously kicking off Paris week on Peter's blog! Lisa's doing great in school and has become a real city girl. We're so proud of her.