Yesterday morning, Don called out to me, telling me to go out on the porch and look at the sky. This is what I saw:
It’s as if someone took a giant piece of chalk and streaked it through the sky. I love the X.
Later, we decided to take a drive to a little town across the Hudson from us called Millbrook. We used to go there quite often when we lived on that side of the river, but we haven’t been there in quite a while. There are a couple of charming antique stores there (we’re on a mission to collect mismatched, but sturdy, chairs for the kitchen table.) We didn’t find any chairs, but we dined at this incredible diner.
It’s the Millbrook Diner, which has been around since 1929. Jimmy Cagney, who had property nearby, used to stop in there for a bite to eat. It is unbelievably cool, the real deal. Don, who loves nothing more than eating at a diner, was in heaven.
Here he throws his arm heavenward in thanks for his eating experience.
He ate a lot.
And we also stopped at a local bookstore.
I can’t resist a bookstore, especially an independent bookstore. As is the usual with us, we ended up chatting for quite a while with the staff, who were incredibly helpful and fun. I saw Mary Oliver’s latest volume of poetry, Blue Horses. After I had read yet another in a series of poems out loud to Don, he grabbed the book and bought it for me. So I bought one for him: Of All The Gin Joints: Stumbling Through Hollywood History.
Even-steven.
Today, we’re heading out to another favorite antique shop. The search continues.
By the way, be sure to stop by my post about Living Small to read some tips I’ve shared and to learn more about the new show Tiny House Nation on the FYI network.
And now, I want to stop and take a moment to honor a longtime reader of this blog who died very suddenly on Christmas day. Rizzi, that was her nickname, her full name was Madeline LeClair, wrote the blog Gifts From the Sea. She lived with her daughter and son-in-law and their two daughters in New Jersey. Rizzi used to comment on this blog frequently and I visited her blog, as well. She stopped blogging about a year ago. Recently, she had been suffering from bronchitis and complications from that illness took her life.
Rizzi’s niece, Ann Marie, is also a reader of this blog and she wrote me to tell me of Rizzi’s death. Both Rizzi and Ann Marie are kind and generous, the sort of people I felt blessed to come to know through this blog. When I started to write about my new dollhouse obsession, Rizzi sent me three unfinished cabinets for the dollhouse. You see them every time I publish photos of the den and the kitchen. The blue hutch in the den was from Rizzi. The shelf unit over the Aga oven in the kitchen was created from one of the unfinished pieces that I took apart and reconfigured.
Those pieces will always be there and they will remind me of a lovely friend who took the time to share her world with us on her blog, and also took the time to stop by mine.
Rest in peace, Rizzi. You will be missed.
Happy Tuesday.
Oh no! I am so sad to hear about Rizzi. We used to visit each other’s blogs all the time. I would check on her every now and then as I knew she wasn’t blogging and that she was having some health issues. I’m so sorry to hear that she is gone. She was such a sweet lady and I know she will be missed greatly. May she rest in peace. May her family find peace and comfort.
Your day trip looks absolutely perfect. Good luck finding the mismatched chairs. I have two different wooden styles and a bench around my small dining table.
Blessings, Tammy
Tammy, I saw your name on some of the comments on Rizzi’s blog and hoped you would see this post. If not, I was going to email you. She will be missed. She was such a special lady. xoxo
So sad about Rizzi. May she rest in peace.
Your diner and bookstore look like something from a movie set. Love the pic of Don thanking the food Gods, lol!
Don loves to eat, Sue. Especially when it’s a big old breakfast!
When we lived in New Jersey there was an authentic diner I just loved. As you know, in Michigan we have our coney islands, but they just aren’t the same!
I well remember coney islands, Vicki, but you’re absolutely right – they can’t replace an authentic diner!
Beautiful post in honor of Rizzi! Friendship is an embodiment of small kindnesses that make our world so special.
She was a lovely person, Linda. She will be missed.
What a wonderful little trip you did. There is nothing better than diners, real food! I would rather eat at a diner or a mom and pop place than anywhere else.
hugs
Oh, me too, Nancy!
Such a cute looking town. I used to live in the Hudson Valley (Harriman to be precise) and its such a fun area. My friends and I would go on little trips based on yarn shop locations. One of the best was to New Paltz, such a fun little town…that shop closed shortly after our trip. Thanks for the stories from my old area.
New Paltz is our neighboring town, Rebecca – just down the road. No yarn shop, but there’s now a yarn shop just down the road (literally) from our house.
So sorry to hear about your friend. It’s a testament to blogging that we develop friendships like these without ever meeting in person.
Your day with Don sounds like fun. I love a diner and a bookstore is close to heaven for me!
hugs,
Linda
Isn’t it amazing? We’ve all made such wonderful friends through blogging.
So sorry to hear about your friend, Rizzi, Claudia. Thank you for letting us know a little bit about her and her blog. May she rest in peace.
Your visit to Millbrook sounds like my perfect day – antiquing, dining at a greasy-spoon, and a browsing lovely bookshop.
Wishing you a very happy and healthy 2015!
xo
Poppy
It was a great day, Poppy. We had another one today! It’s a nice way to spend the time between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
I grew up & spent most of my life in western Orange Co., in Middletown and I sure miss the diners! We would often take day trips to many of the small towns in that part of NY. I remember eating at the Millbrook Diner whenever we were in that area. Thanks for reminding me of home! I’m so sorry about your friend, Rizzi, may she rest in peace.
Thank you, Debbie. Middletown is not at all far from us – that’s where I bought the new TV.
I am so sorry to hear about your friend, Rizzi. Very sad. An acquaintance of mine also passed away suddenly on Christmas day in her sleep. They still don’t know why – supposedly, she didn’t have any health problems. She was on vacation with her husband in Cuba.
I am on the lookout for sturdy kitchen table chairs, too. I’ve been using ones from our old dining set and while they are sturdy, they are mid-century modern and don’t “go” with my antique table. The only chairs I’ve been able to find so far, are cheap ones that look like they’d fall apart in no time.
I bought Mary Oliver’s new book when it first came out and I was disappointed in this volume. You know she’s one of my favorite poets and I can honestly say that there wasn’t one poem in this book that I truly loved. I’m finding I like her old work the best. Let me know what you think.
Love the picture of Don in front of the diner!
I’m loving what I’m reading, but yes, there is a change in the heft of the poems, for want of a better word. She’s older now and these poems speak of someone who is slowing down, paring down her content, and using words more sparely. Those are my thoughts. Different, but I like them.
I didn’t know Rizzi, but I’m still saddened to hear of her passing. She sounds like she was a wonderful friend to have.
Gotta love Don in his hat…and a great diner! ;)
She was truly a wonderful person. Don is loving his hats lately!
Oh no! I’m so very sad to hear of the passing of your friend Claudia. Sending hugs to all those dear to Rizzi. I don’t know how to process all the losses of the past few years, so heartbreaking.
Sounds like you had a wonderful day trip! I didn’t know there was a new Mary Oliver, how’d I miss that?! That diner looks like so much fun … were you able to find much on the menu for vegetarians? I’m always happy with a grilled cheese sammie, yessirree!
Happy Eve before the Eve! xo
I had French Toast, Sally! I love eating breakfast out – especially when you can get it at any time of the day!
I’m sorry to hear of your friend’s passing.
I have always liked the blue hutch – it immediately draws your eye into the room. The back story makes it even more special.
Yes, Barbara, now it will be even more dear to me. I’ll think of her every time I see it.
So sorry to hear about your friend, Claudia. She was an incredibly-thoughtful and kind person and you’ll always have great memories and of course the dollhouse pieces she sent as reminders as well. May she rest in peace…
PS – completely agree with Don re diners. I’d rather eat at a diner or other “homegrown” restaurant too, but they’re getting awfully hard to find, aren’t they? Seems like 90% of the places out there now seem to be cookie-cutter franchises. Identical looks, identical menus, year-round, coast-to-coast. But there are rays of hope. For example, are you familiar with Jane & Michael Stern who write those “Roadfood” books etc? Website too, I think. If not, check them out. Interesting reading [sometimes mouth-watering reading] and proof that there are still individuals out there cooking for the public – creatively, locally and seasonally in their own little kitchens with their own recipes. OK, enjoy your day!
I love diners and local places. Chains? No and no. I’ve read a bit of the Sterns’ books but don’t have any of them on hand. I’ll have to remedy that!
So sorry to hear of Rizzi’s passing but how nice of her family to let you know. We bloggers often wonder what happens to people when we no longer hear from them. Your day out looks like fun and so glad Don got to eat at a diner. What a treat.
I know – I hate it when a blogger simply stops blogging and/or disappears and I never know what happened to them. We readers worry about that sort of thing.
Thank you for sharing the story of your thoughtful reader and her passing. I am reminded of how many truly-good and thoughtful people there still are in this world.
Also appreciate the photos of a drive through your upstate locale. LOVE the tours, Claudia!
My husband and I just got home from a little drive of our own today. Went to the beach and marina in another town. Rain on the horizon so the shadow play of the clouds over the mountains was awesome. Cloudy somewhat, mixed with sun, cool in the low 60s, sun sparkling on the water; so perfect and it was a shot in the arm I needed…having an hour earlier to face my oncologist to learn whether or not the cancer I’ve been battling for 18 mos has recurred…NOT! I’m clean, I hope forever. It’s a glorious way to start the new year. I feel full to the brim with promise, love and gratitude.
I didn’t know you were fighting cancer, Vicki. Thank god you got a clean report today! I’m so happy for you, my friend. It is the perfect start to the new year. Sending you a big hug!
We love Diners, Cafés and little Hole in the wall places to eat! Sounds fun. Hunting for chairs sounds fun too. Don’t burn up the chair budget on Books… That’s what I’d do.
Not sure what happened to the rest of my comment Claudia.
But I wanted to say– I didn’t know Rizzi or her blog. Sorry to hear of her passing. It was thoughtful of her niece to notify you. The blogging community is a special place.
I’m afraid I’ve already burned up a little bit of that budget on books. And darn it! We went out today and still can’t find any! Ah well. I know just the sort of chair I want and I’ve seen them all over the place, but of course, the minute we start actively looking for them, there’s nary a one!
Rizzi sounds like she was a lovely lady.
She was, Ruta.
I had no idea Rizzi had passed away, bless her heart she was so kind and wonderful.
Hugs,
Mere
I just found out about a day ago, Mer. I was so sad to hear the news.
That looks like about the most fun place to eat EVER! And what a wonderful sounding day (I love that you bought books for each other <3 ).
It was a very cool place. We sat in a booth and, I love this, Christmas music was still playing! Yay!
Claudia,
I am so sorry to read about the loss of your friend, Rizzi. It reminded me of all the wonderful friendships I have gathered through my blog, and to be a bit more faithful with writing.
How lovely that she gave you some of your favorite dollhouse pieces.
I, too, witnessed that incredible sky yesterday. It started out like that here, then as my 6 year old grandson and I drove back from visiting a friend, it turned to a mares’ tails sky, and the day ended with a sunset so beautiful, that we found ourselves out chasing the views of it along the Cape Cod Canal where we live.
We are headed to the area where that lovely diner is on Friday, and you’ve prompted me to think it might be the perfect place. for lunch.
Happy New Year to you!!
I hope you can get to the diner, Marcia! Happy to New Year to you!
Thank you for your lovely words in memory of Rizzi. She was most surely one of the warmest and loving people in my life. xxoo
You are most welcome, Ann Marie. She will be lovingly remembered by all who knew her.
Thank you for your beautiful tribute to my Aunt Rizzi. She really enjoyed reading your blog, Claudia. She often told me so. I’ve always liked your dollhouse pictures. Now they will be even more special, knowing that Aunt Riz had a part in it.
Oh, Karen! I should have mentioned you in my post. I’m sorry about that.
As to the tribute, you are most welcome. You are a member of a wonderful family, Karen.
This is the second blogger I’ve read about today who has died recently. It’s very sad and I’m sure they will be missed.
They will, indeed, Gillian.