Wild Parrots in Brooklyn

Adam Gopnik wrote a book titled Through the Children's Gate: A Home in New York which I read soon after arriving in the city.  Each chapter tells another story about living in New York.  One of the chapters included a story of a parrot colony in Brooklyn that was about 30 years old.  These birds had initially been obtained as pets but eventually escaped their cages.  I guess two or three birds gathered and settled into a tree near the Brooklyn Community College in Flatbush.  Surprisingly, the birds adapted to the climate and stayed year round and even multiplied.  I was curious and wanted to see if the parrots were still there.  A good friend with a sense of adventure and two very cute children agreed to accompany me on this adventure.  I bought a five pound bag of parrot food and we hopped on the subway and began our adventure.  We arrived at the campus only to be told that the parrots hadn't been spotted for several years, but we weren't going to let that stop us.  We walked around the soccer field of the campus and found a wonderful woman tending her garden in the community garden.  We asked her about the parrots and she exclaimed, "they are finally coming back."  Apparently the university had been doing construction and had disturbed the parrots' nests and they had left the neighborhood.  However, this sweet woman showed us where the parrots had begun building their nests again, high up in the lights of the soccer field.  We hurriedly walked over by the light pole and the kids sprinkled the parrot food all over the sidewalk.   We stood to one side and waited patiently, hoping that the dried seeds, apples, mangoes, and oranges would attract them.  Within just a few minutes three parrots flew down and began to squawk and nibble at the food.  Their cries brought other birds from their nests and for several minutes we had the pleasure of watching these cute, green parrots fly from their nests, to the top of buildings, to other parts of the neighborhood carrying with them the good news that there was a picnic down on the sidewalk. 

Every community has something unique waiting to be discovered or shared.  And I have just barely scratched the surface of this great city,  which means I have lots of adventures ahead of me. 

...on the Hudson River Line....

We are coming up on four years of living in our apartment.  Unlike most New Yorkers, we found our apartment in just three days of hunting.  The interior was not finished but the minute we stepped in and saw the views from the living room we were sold.  The following photos will provide the evidence of why it never gets old living here. 

A curious mind

I bought some heavy cream at the Trader Joes today and was asked by the enthusiastic checker, "whatchu you gonna make with that heavy cream?"  When I said au gratin potatoes she just nodded her head and then replied, "Did you know you can make butter with heavy cream?"  When I nodded my head she said, "One day I decided to look up the recipe for butter.  I don't know why, I was just curious how it was made.  And do you know the recipe for butter is just heavy cream?  I said to myself, 'Girl, you have to give that a try."  So I put it in a jar and shook it up and I had myself some creamy butter.  It was amazin!"  You just can't walk away without a smile on your face after a conversation like that.  Thanks Trader Joes' checker for making my day. 

How soon it becomes late.

A Thoreau quote seems appropriate for this blog entry.  Paul and I have been in New York City long enough to require us to renew our library card.  I stopped in to get it done today and was informed that we are renewed clear through 2015!!  But then I began to think it through.   Our first card was good for four years so I am wondering why we got a reduced sentence.  Looks like we are going to need to be on our best behavior for the next three years so we can get back on the four year list.  That might require returning books on time, buttering up the not so nice librarian and speaking in our "library" voices.  I think we can do it. 

Looking Sharp!

Just another New York thing to do. On Saturdays the guy who sharpens ice skates, knives, scissors, lawn mower blades (he doesn't do many of these) pulls up in front of Zabar's and for $15.00, he will put the sharp back on your blades.   Paul's brother had given him this beautiful carving knife several years ago and it really needed to have a tune up.   It just seemed like such a New York thing to do so we

wrapped up our knife and went and stood in line with the other dull blades.

For most families in New York, the most expensive vehicle they own is a stroller. The stroller must carry all the kidders, groceries, be equipped for all kinds of weather and still be small enough to fit into elevators and through apartment doors. The photo was taken of the "stroller parking lot" at church. Paul and I went shopping for a simple stroller to use when our grandkids come to visit. We picked out our $50.00 stroller thinking we had really splurged because we got the one with a nice basket underneath, a sun guard and it folded up nice and small and had a carrying strap. While waiting for our salesperson to finish the transaction we got caught up in a stroller demonstration being done for one of the higher end strollers. We watched this guy fold the stroller every which way, attach a bassinet and then a seat which could be raised and lowered to twenty different positions. We watched him attach weather shields and sun guards and baskets. We have purchased cars with fewer features. It was difficult not to succumb to the flashy colors and the "can't live without'em features" of the stroller that really did seem like it could take you to "infinity and beyond!" Cooler heads prevailed that day although we do find ourselves lingering outside the neighborhood children's store windows coveting the newest models of the city strollers.

Discovering Daffodils

Walking past Columbus Circle today I made an important discovery. Okay, maybe not as important as the one made by Columbus himself, but I discovered that it was spring in New York City. See photo as proof. Daffodils have come to life and the tulips cannot be far behind. We have survived another winter and our mild winter may be the proof everyone is seeking that there actually is global warming. Not once did the Hudson freeze over, we never had to shovel the walks at the church, only a couple of times did I stay in because it was too cold to venture out, and I don't think I ever said that I was tired of winter. But I'll take Spring and there is nothing like Spring in the city.