Once Again, It's No Spending January

Tempting

Once again we enter the No Spending Days of January. The last couple of months were shopping time. I spent a day at the mall in Lake George, time in local stores and probably the equivalent of a day browsing the computer. I bought myself a needed flannel shirt at the mall, a very discounted dress on line and three pins at a great second hand store in Saratoga. There were probably a few other odds and ends, but that's the most of my shopping that wasn't gifts. All other shopping, especially the day at the computer, went to other people. I feel that I have no more interest in buying things ever, but I know that if I didn't draw a hard line on January 1, I probably would have brought home a few Valentines along with my groceries. 

But it's January and I'm going to inventory the Valentines I have left from years past before more cards come into the house. I'm going to go through my drawers before more long sleeve t-shirts arrive in my mail box. I'm going to think twice (or three times) before the new nightgown I've been keeping my eye on is actually ordered. My rules for No Spending January are simple: no new things, which includes clothes, books, household items -- except cleaning supplies -- and all the miscellaneous that is just so easy to buy. I will pick up a prescription tomorrow, but while I'm at the pharmacy no half-price holiday decorations will also come home with me. 

There are exceptions besides cleaning supplies, notably food. But I'm going to track my grocery spending this month to get a baseline for the year and I'm going to be more aware of my eating out expenditures. "Experiences" are also not included. I'm thinking of movies, theater and travel, in January and the future. 

I do have one "thing" that I am exempting from No Spending, a very cute decorative penguin I saw in December. It was a little pricy, but if it's still in the store and if it's in the ten dollar range, my penguin friend will be coming home with me. This isn't an impulse purchase. I've been thinking about it for a month. 

Anyone else joining me?

Despite the freezing (literally) weather in New York City, the beginning of the year is off to a good start. I've been to the gym, spent time with friends, walked 7+ miles and saw a movie that I liked very much today, The Choral. Tomorrow is a "catch up" day, and I plan to read, do some walking, and  catch up on blog and Instagram comments. What are your Sunday plans? 

As ever, thanks for visiting and keep cozy.       

My Perfect Word for 2026...Volare

 

1,119 days ago I began studying languages on DuoLingo. My friend, Nancy, suggested it on Thanksgiving 2022, and I tried it  and liked it. I began with studying French, veered off into Spanish and this summer began studying Italian. I studied French because I had studied it in high school and college and during the last three years I've visited France twice. I also studied Spanish in high school and wanted to brush up on the language and take a break from French. Italian? I'm not sure why. Maybe it chose me. I had no trip planned and besides a dozen words mostly found on menus, I had no knowledge of Italian. 

I've found Italian difficult. Having a knowledge of two Romance languages didn't make it easier, just more confusing and I'd often use a Spanish or French word in my Italian lessons. But I liked the sound of it and kept at it. In the last month I've started thinking of a trip to Italy, but for now those are just thoughts and I have no plans. But a few days ago one of the words in my study was "volare," to fly. My mind drifted back to one of the most popular songs of 1958, Volare, which I'd always liked. I realized that it wasn't a random word, but an actual word in Italian and the second word of the song, "cantare," meant to sing. 

A lightbulb went off in my head. The Italian was clicking and what I was learning was registering. Volare, Cantare. When I looked up the definition I was struck  by its significance, "freedom, speed, dreams, or time passing quickly." I'd only written every blog post last month about the too-rapid passage of time. This was my word. It chose me and chased me down all through December.    

And the words that Volare evokes...joy, ambition and transcending limitations? They're exactly what I need to embrace. I need to look  beyond the limitations that I am often too quick to accept. Despite age, health and financial limitations I can still dream, plan and soar. Volare!

The first day of 2026 is coming to an end. I've caught up on posting I wanted to do, did my Italian lessons for the day and had a great time visiting with friends at an open house. I've walked two miles and resisted the impulse to buy cute Valentine things at Target. It's No Spending January and the struggle is real. 

My lunch at the open house included this excellent savory pudding made with feta cheese. 

I hope your day has gone as well as mine. I hope all of our days of 2026 are blessed with friends, good food and things that engage us.  

As ever, thanks for visiting and volare!     

(I'm Not) On the Sidewalks of New York

It was tempting, but I didn't buy these glasses this afternoon. I did buy a liter of Diet Coke and some fancy popcorn, i.e., made by someone else with more salt and oil than I use at home. I'm now snugly tucked into my cozy apartment. I had a fun afternoon with my friend, M., watching a movie and then we treated ourselves to snacks out. We ended with a two mile walk.  I'm now blogging and then will do my Italian lessons on DuoLingo. I'll finish the evening watching the ball drop on television and toasting the new year with a Diet Coke on ice. 

My younger self would have found this a much too quiet evening. But my present self is very content. The thought of being in Times Square or anywhere in the twenty blocks around it is inconceivable. I was there in the years (three times) before double security checks. The first year I moved to New York I attended a costume party in a friend's office that looked out on to Times Square. It was the New Year's of 1976. The city was in dire straits, but I was young, employed and at the kind of party I'd always dreamed of attending. I remember leaving at 3:00 a.m. and snow was falling. It was as close to magic as I'd ever known. The friend has long since drifted into the past, I vaguely remember the man I walked outside with on January 1, 1976, but the memory of the snow lightly falling on the streets of New York remains with me. 

I'll return tomorrow with my perfect word for 2026. Until then I raise my glass of Diet Coke and toast all of the Citizens of Buttercupland. Thanks for being here, friends, and thanks so much for your gifts of friendship and support, laughter and kindness. Happy, healthy, peace and love now and always. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and see you next year.  

 

It's (Almost) A Wrap for 2025

I joined this crowd of elves and visitors to attempt to see the most iconic 

holiday landmark in New York City. What was I thinking? 

In short I was thinking that it was relatively warm out, I had no set plans and I wanted to see everything I'd missed this season. Everything was not possible and it's highly unlikely that I will visit the Metropolitan Museum or Macy's, but I did get to see the most iconic sight, the tree at Rockefeller Center. 

The view facing west and the Rockefeller Center tree

I've been to Rockefeller Center many times at Christmas and it's always crowded, but this was a new record for crowd. There was a line from Sixth Avenue to the Plaza where the tree is situated to get close to the tree. I've never seen a line before, and it didn't appear to be moving quickly. I skipped standing in line, and walked on West 49th Street (closed to traffic) and took most of my photos from a distance. They're not my best, but it's not really all about the pictures. I was still excited when the tree came into sight and I saw it with the lights shining. The excitement never gets old. 

I was able to get enjoy the windows at Saks Fifth Avenue, across Fifth Avenue from Rockefeller Center. They were lovely and I enjoyed them a lot. Here's a few. 

 

This window celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Rockettes

 and the Parade of the Wooden Soldiers 

Ever since I had the panic attack earlier this month about running out of time to finish my cards, the passage of time has been on my mind, a lot. I ran out of time to finish my cards. I ran out of time to see all the holiday highlights in New York City. This thought led me to realize that I'd (just about) run out of time to do everything I'd hoped to get done in 2025. I didn't read the 52 books I'd set as my Goodreads Challenge and I'm not as thin as I'd hoped to be. As in every season, every year and to extend the thought, in my life, there will come a moment when I run out of time. I'm not here to beat myself up for all that I haven't accomplished. I'm happy for what I did get done, enjoyed, shared and lived. I'm looking forward to what 2026 holds. I pray it's a year of peace and good health for all of us. I've got a perfect word chosen for 2026 and a goal, both of which I'll share on January 1, 2026. I'll be back tomorrow night to bid adieu to 2025. 

Until then, as ever, thanks for visiting and wishes for sweet moments in the waning hours of  2025. 

Gingerbread NYC

Welcome to Gingerbread NYC

I was certain that I'd shared the gingerbread exhibit/competition Gingerbread NYC, at the Museum of the City of New York last year or the year before that. I was also certain that I'd written about the Museum of the City of New York, one of my favorite museums, previously. But a search of the blog shows me that this is a first post for both. 

Everything else in the exhibit is architectural but the bagel and coffee 

definitely meet this year's theme, Iconic New York. 

This exhibit is a new addition to my holiday excursions, but one that's now a standard part of December. I'm awed by the combination of artistic achievement, culinary skill and creativity. I spend at least three minutes thinking that I'd like to be part of it, but quickly realize that I'd need to be knee deep in flour and sugar in my teeny tiny kitchen for months and I'd most likely eat most of the gingerbread before it would get to the competition. 

I was dazzled by the Staten Island Lighthouse 

I'm a fan of the book, and also this depiction of "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn"

I love this tiny detail from the building on the left in 

"A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. So creative!

I had planned to be away starting early early tomorrow, but we had a change of plans and now I'm relaxing and catching up at home.  I was up and out early yesterday and went to Weight Watchers -- the holiday goodies took a toll -- and then did my errands before the snow. It only turned out to be three (or so) inches and today has been mostly an indoor day. Tomorrow it should be a very slushy forty degrees, and I've got plans to be out. I may even make it to Macy's, or I may put that off until Monday. I also want to get to Rockefeller Center at night and I'm thinking that if the weather cooperates I will do that after Macy's. There are still cards to write and now there are thank you notes, too. I've got no complaints, though, I'm thankful for family and friends and their generosity.  

As ever, thanks for visiting. Wishes for peace, light, joy and love.   

The Journey of 1,000 Miles: 2025 Edition

 

Seen on East 57th Street, from the windows at Christian Dior  

For the last nine years I've begun the year hoping/planning to walk 1,000 miles. For seven of those years, I've succeeded, including this year. On Friday past I passed the 1,000 mile mark, actually a few days before my estimation. I've walked approximately eight miles since Friday which brings my mileage since 2017 to 9,073 miles. 

The gingerbread decorations at Dior

I'm kind of amazed when I look at these numbers. There are days when I'm dragging for most of the steps and two miles is a stretch. There are other days -- like today -- when three miles zip by. There's no rhyme or reason to it, though company and interesting scenery make the steps pass more quickly. This year I walked in six states and six countries, including the United States. I added Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia, which included some of the most interesting walking of my life. 

A close up of the Dior windows

One day this month when my steps were really dragging, I thought about calling 2025 my last year of 1,000 miles and not tracking mileage at all. But I've gotten  reinvigorated and I'll continue tracking in 2026. I'm not going for 1,000 miles, only 900+. My goal for 2026 is to complete My Journey of 10,000 Miles. 

On a different note, I've calmed down a lot since my last post. I'm aware that I won't see every holiday decoration in New York City this year. I may not/probably won't make it to Macy's, the Metropolitan Museum or the windows and light show at Saks and that's fine. It's like everything else in life. There are a lot of places that I may not/probably won't get to, and that's okay but as I slow down I'm enjoying stopping and smelling the gingerbread. Thanks, all, for your good advice. 

As ever, thanks for visiting. Enjoy the days ahead and stop and smell the gingerbread.  

 

I Don't Know About You...

But this has been a tough season for me

This time of year is always hectic. Lots of things I feel that I have to do, and lots of things that I'd like to do. Every.Single.Year. But this year seems more rushed than in the past. The other night I had an anxiety episode about my holiday cards. I literally didn't fall asleep because my thoughts were going a mile a minute because of cards. I kept thinking that I wouldn't get my cards done "in time for Christmas." When I woke up (calmer) in the morning I realized that I've never -- at least in my memory -- gotten all of my cards done in time to arrive before Christmas. I've bought New Year cards and sent Valentines to "complete" my cards, more than once. 

The Sidewalks of New York at the holiday season

My anxiety episode led to an awareness that what ever I get done, I'll get done. Cards will get sent (or they won't) and packages will get wrapped (or they won't). I'll spend time with friends and see (some of) the sights in the city. It won't be all the sights and I won't send all the cards I'd hoped to, but I will make every effort to enjoy the days ahead. If friends don't get holiday cards, I can still send notes and let people know that I'm thinking of them. 

The Lights at the Shops at Columbus Circle

 

One very fun thing I did get to do was visit with our blog friend, Beatrice from The Frog and the PenguiNN. We had a great get-together, window-shopping, visiting the Market at Columbus Circle and eating dinner with these lights as our view. The lights are a favorite part of (my) New York every December. The lights change color and on the hour holiday music plays. It's fun and festive and so pretty.  

I'm slowing down, stopping and smelling the gingerbread and realizing -- as always -- that it's not about how much I get accomplished and the presents and cards, but about being present in as many moments as possible.  

From Gingerbread NYC at the Museum of the City of New York

 

As ever, thanks for visiting and let's all stop and smell the gingerbread.