Tuscany, just a little more...

In my own little world, I'm still in Tuscany....

Wine tasting in Vittorio's garden

The gang in Torrenieri after having an espresso

Montalcino

Montalcino

homemade pasta, by Lindsay and the chef-capable half of our group!

this photo just cracks me up...  do you think we're having fun, or what?

Tuscany with DuVine!

So some of you may have heard of this little company whose epic bicycle tours I fell in love with when I went to Rioja last September... DuVine Adventures.  I know, I talk about them a lot.  But I just can't help raving about an experience that changed my life.

Lindsay and I just got back from our tour of Tuscany, and this trip surely did not disappoint.  Far from it.  We had the most blissful experience from start to finish, and met some of the coolest people around.  I've never gotten so close to 13 strangers in such a short period of time, and I think that goes to show there are so many amazing people out there who just love doing, living and loving every single day of their lives.

Don't be afraid to make memories people!

Now... enough of my sappiness for now, this IS my photo blog.  I will check in later to add another page of details about the trip, from start to finish.  For now, here are some of my fav shots from the week... (I tried to limit myself to 10 photos on this post, but clearly I went over... enjoy!)

bicycle pasta spotted in rome prior to our trip

celebrating 15 miles down on day 1, and many more to go!

our amazing guides for the week, Davide and Angelo

this is one of my faves because Bruce and Linda celebrated 40 years of marriage by biking the Tuscan hills on hybrids.  They rode every single mile.  Amazing!

Kristi and Lisa get lost in the views from Vittorio's garden

"it is just my opinion, but it is also true..."

mid morning espresso to kick start our engines for the remaining miles of the day

some old barbed wire keeping me out of private property in Montalcino - my favorite stop on the trip

view from the fortress

sunset after wine tasting

...and sunrise the next morning before heading to the Abbey of Sant' Antimo for Gregorian Chanting

Michelle on a quick break, taking in the views

the beginning of a night we will all remember started with this bottle!

The Dalton Gang

The Dalton Gang was a gang of brothers, plus a few other old fashioned perps, who ran around the country robbing trains and pulling some real deal western bank heists.  Their reign of the wild west ended in Ocober of 1852 in Coffeyville, KS when the gang attepmted to pull off robbing two banks in the same town, at the same time - something no other outlaw gang had ever attempted.  The plan was to take in enough money in this one robbery for the entire gang to leave the country.

I suppose these brothers weren't the smartest though (shocker), as they elected their very own hometown to attempt this daring robbery.  Ultimately, the townies recognized the bandits and defended their turf, leaving all but one killed in gunfights throughout the Coffeyville center of town.

Hope you enjoyed my CliffsNotes version of this historical debauchery.

This is one of the original banks where the heist was attempted.

A loveley piece of work depicting the dead brothers.  Painted right on the sidewalk.

A map of the chaos that went on that day, painted on the side of a True Value.

I wonder if Lucius is in my family tree...?

Here's where Bob went down. 

The original city jail where they stored the bodies of the Dalton Gang members who were killed.  Charming.

Lindsey & Nick make it Official

Weddings are a blast, especially when you witness one of your best friends marrying a man who you know deserves her.  A good man who will take care of her and be there for her, one who brings out the best in her just as she does to him.  Couldn't be happier for Nick & Lindsey!  Here are a few of my faves from their beautiful wedding weekend!

Welcome to the Ramily, Nick!  :)

Practicing "The Handoff"

Curious little wedding guests.  Amazing that none of them (or me) ended up IN the water by the end of the night!

Congrats to an amazing couple! xo
Photo credit: Jamee Stimson (I was in the wedding)

Middle of America

By this time tomorrow, I will have successfully driven north-south through the entire state of Kansas on 75 (check that one off the bucket list!).  Only one minor incident on my way to Independence, where I'm pretty sure I drove through a tornado (you can take the girl out of New York...). 

Here are some shots along the way.  If I didn't have a 6 1/2 hour drive from Omaha to Independence, I would have stopped to take more photos.  And no you fools, I did not stop to photograph the storm.

Farm in the Sky

The cool thing about my industrial workplace is that there are vegetables growing above my head.  Seriously.  I often secretly hope I'll see the roots of carrots poking through my office ceiling.  Bringing Corporate Wellness to a whole new level...

So, I visited my friends at Brooklyn Grange today at lunchtime, and took a walk through the aisles of blooming produce.  Can't wait to taste some of this great stuff Farmer Ben is growing (obviously loving the sunflowers too).  Stop by my office on a Wednesday afternoon to pick up some farm fresh goodies!

Hey Farmer Ben!

Queens Rooftop: Water Tower.  American Flag.  Farm.  Air conditioning Units.  Queens kids having a healthy lunch.

Happy Birthday, Grandma

So we celebrated my Grandma's 91st birthday up in CT this afternoon.  She's still a couple of weeks out from the actual day, so this was more like a pre-party, or a rehearsal 91st birthday.  A great day of visiting with the family... trash-talking rounds of cornhole and competitive bocce.  My grandma sure knows how to party.

I typically don't like photographing people, because they move around, talk back, and generally aren't patient with me when I point a camera in their face.  Except little people.  They ham it up all day.  Thanks Avery & Ray!  Plus, shooting on hot sunny days is tough for me... still figuring out this haze with the new camera!

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

She is gorgeous, just like her mommy!

this face kills me!

I see a future setter here...

new keys, new view, new borough...

...I could go on, but I think you get the idea.  Moving day is on the 15th, assuming I finish packing this Saturday.  The new place is currently covered in sawdust, but only because my landlord is hooking me up with some sweet new Vermont hardwood floors!