Summer Should Be Shared with Friends

Above photos: Hanging with the goats (with Nova and Zoe) at Thordis' upstate home/farm

The garden requires special care in mid-Summer!

Arabella Page meets the goats.

Relaxing with a book in Sharon Springs, NY

Above photos: The upstate abode of Thordis, David and Zoe reflects the innate creativity of its owners in every room, nook and cranny.

Arabella waits patiently table side while Cafe Drake HRV tore through two tacos of succulent pulled pork, avocados and pickles red cabbage at Sharon Springs' 204 Main Bar & Bistro.

Old Age doesn't deter Daphne from romping between NYC and upstate NY throughout the year.

Thordis makes the tastiest, most intuitive al freso dinners seem effortless - local fish filets, steamed potatoes with butter and sauteed veggies from the garden. Roasted marshmallows for dessert!

 And then it's Cafe Drake HRV's turn to host dear friend Susan McKeever-Duys . . .

Pretty in Pink

Tamarind Martinis with Borage Flowers

OMG Arabella LUVS her Auntie Susan!

A pre-theater dinner at Cafe Drake HRV included Vietnamese turkey and pork terrine, roasted eggplant salad, marinated cabbage salad, homegrown tomatoes and sweet onions, pickles, red chili potato salad and lots of garden-plucked herbs and chilies. Susan brought a dry, mineraly local Riesling, the perfect libation.

A late evening performance by Theo Bleckmann at Bard College's Der Spiegeltent was a highlight of Susan's visit. The uber-talented jazz singer devoted the entire show to the song book of Kate Bush; each familiar tune was re-crafted and given a new perspective by Theo and his accomplished quartet.

The sprawling spiegeltent, buried deep in the lush Bard campus, exudes decadent carnival charm.

A Sunday morning iced coffee helped Susan face the fact she'd be saying Goodbye (for now) to her new bestie in a couple of hours. A sweet send-off to Susie was brunch at always scrumptious Miss Lucy's of Saugerties. Quite the animal charmer, Susan also spent lots of quality time with Lloyd Page.