It's Been a Whirlwind

 

My most recent seasonal fun discovery, Gingerbread Lane

There comes a time every December when I realize "everything" won't get done before Christmas. I knew it would happen and even planned for it, by buying New Year's cards to send out when my cards didn't get written in time to arrive before Christmas. But though I know it would happen I was still surprised that while riding on the bus this afternoon the thought popped into my head, "Buttercup, you ran out of time. Put down your pen and your wrapping paper and just enjoy." 

I was making my last foray to buy a gift that I should have bought a month ago. Fortunately I found  exactly what I needed, both useful and well priced. I also caught up on groceries and a few staples that I needed, including shampoo. I'm thinking ahead to No-Spending January, which is right around the corner and so well-timed. 

But the last few weeks were definitely not all errands. It's been a wonderful season of visitors and sight-seeing. I paid a visit to the Shops at Columbus Circle and discovered Gingerbread Lane, a fabulous collection of New York sights made of gingerbread. I loved the creativity and tremendous detail. 

While I was at the Shops I enjoyed the light show in the atrium and spent time enjoying the changing light colors and the music that goes with them. Definitely need a return visit.

Fabulous view looking east across Central Park West/59th Street

My whirlwind stops including a return visit to Rockefeller Center and a stop at the  fabulous FAO Schwarz toy store, though calling it a toy store doesn't seem to include all the fun and wonders there. I usually wouldn't attempt a visit to there after Thanksgiving and there was a line (!) just to enter. But my friend, Cheryl, visiting from Atlanta had made a  reservation for the Jellycat Diner Experience. This was totally unknown to me before Cheryl mentioned it, but known to just about everyone on TikTok, including Cheryl's daughter. It was a lot of fun and an experience, rather than an actual diner. 

A moment of our very fun Jellycat Diner Experience

The Bryant Park Holiday Market

This last month has been a wonderful whirlwind, but the last days brought a time of sorrow. One of my stops was the Holiday Market at Bryant Park at 42nd Street. I enjoyed seeing the shops, browsing and watching the ice skaters. The holiday markets are a great part of the season, in New York City and all over the world. My heart and prayers go out to Germany and the people of Magdeburg, where the fun and happy spirit of the holiday market and the city was shattered on Friday.  My continuing prayers for a world where there is peace. 

That's a wrap on the pre-Christmas fun. Tomorrow I'm out of Manhattan for a few days  with friends. I'll  return on Christmas for just a little more whirlwind fun with out of town visitors as well as celebrating Chanukah, which begins on December 25.    

As ever, thanks for visiting and keep cozy! 

  

Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

Join me in Rockefeller Center for snowman time

 

My friend Lorrie came to town and we built snowmen

My high school friend Lorrie was in town last week and thanks to our friends at Teleflora we got to build snowmen. I found this one-day event on Instagram and realized it was the day and the time that Lorrie would be visiting from Connecticut. We deferred lunch in order for this once in a lifetime opportunity. We had molds and attire -- the cute little striped scarves in the photographs -- and an incredible amount of fun for two women approaching our 57th high school reunion. 

It was 60 degrees so the little guy was melting fast

Fortunately he lasted long enough to be photographed

The setting for our snowman fun

Once again December has flown by. I've had two visits to Rockefeller Center, at least five to the post office and any number to Target. Among the errands I've also seen two terrific gingerbread exhibits and the movie "Wicked." I've still got (more than) a few packages to wrap and cards to write, but once again I'm sure that all of the last minute errands and cards and packing will -- more or less -- get done. I've got my list for the next few days and then will be spending a couple of days away from home, relaxing and enjoying time with friends. What are your plans for the weekend before Christmas?

As ever thanks for visiting, and have a cozy weekend. 

With Love from 34th Street

 

With love from Macy's 34th Street 

I made my annual visit to Macy's week before last and enjoyed the windows as much as ever. I happened to be in the neighborhood, an unusual occurrence, and got there before much of the expected crowd. What a treat! Happily, sharing a few of my favorites.

Santa in the window, on Avenue of the Americas

I would be remiss to skip Santa in a display about Christmas at Macy's. I'm not sure what year I first saw "Miracle on 34th Street," -- maybe 1958? But it has definitely stuck with me, especially at this time of year. Any other fans of the movie in Buttercupland?

One of the toys on display

I fell in love with the teddy bears on parade.

They look ready to pop out of the window and march down the street.

For at least the 50th year in a row I resolved to get all of my holiday errands done in a timely fashion and now it's the middle of December and I think I'm as behind as I've ever been and that includes when I was working and commuting two hours a day. How does it happen? I started off with a ton of energy and even though my social calendar isn't filled with rounds of parties, there's still a lot to do, and so much I haven't done. I'd hoped to have all of the packages mailed by now, but, alas, I still have things to buy. 

I have gotten to share New York in December with out of town friends and it's been a great pleasure. The next week is quieter and it will include several trips to the post office, which means there will be some shopping and a lot of wrapping to accomplish. 

I've got no complaints. I remember back to December 2020 when much of my life was lived virtually and my hope was that one day I would have out of town visitors and meals indoors. I'm grateful for the good times of the last year and the busy calendar shared with friends this month. It's everything I hoped and wished for four years ago. So, friends, please excuse me if the packages and cards arrive a little off schedule, but life has been calling, and I've been answering.

I've been to most of my favorite seasonal sights -- still have to see the windows at Bergdorf's to visit -- and plan to be back in the week ahead with blog visits to Hudson Yards and to Rockefeller Center.  

As ever, thanks for visiting and every happy wish for the week ahead. 

Welcome Back, Notre-Dame de Paris

Notre-Dame de Paris -- April 2024

When I think of Paris, there are two iconic sights that come to mind immediately. One is the Eiffel Tower, as seen in the posters above, and the other is the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris.   

I first saw Notre Dame in 1966 and there aren't many buildings that have surpassed it in my thoughts and memories. I, and millions of others, were  devastated at the fire that took place in the Cathedral in April 2019. The photographs were horrifying and it seemed, Notre Dame could never been rebuilt. 

But five plus years later and the extraordinary work of thousands, Notre Dame has been rebuilt and and opened back to the public. I was hoping that it would be open during my visit last April, but alas, it would be over half a year until the Cathedral would reopen. 

Watching the construction taking place last spring

Rebuilding Notre-Dame de Paris 

It was a thrill to see the reopening of the Cathedral yesterday. The first mass since the fire was held this morning continuing a centuries long tradition of a church on this site. The first cathedral in Paris was built in the fourth century and the first stone of Notre Dame was laid in 1163. Almost 900 years later the Cathedral of Paris is open once again for prayer and worship.

Life in New York has been hectic. I've got a long list of things I'd like to do in the next few  weeks and as ever, the days are slipping away. I had a wonderful visit with K in New York last week. We spent time laughing, catching up and seeing the sights of New York City in December. I've got several posts to share and hope to post them this week. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and keep cozy!

  

It's Pop-Up Monkey Monday

Pep and Leo are popping up with our pop-up card, Enchanted Snowman Forest

It's a pop-up Monkey Monday and it's a pop-up for two reasons. The first is it's been awhile since Pep and crew popped up on the blog and because I wanted to share a pop-up card that I made over the weekend. 

Those who know me even just very casually know that I am not very crafty. I was held back in knitting class because I had difficulty learning to cast on and even the simplest crafting projects are a challenge for me. That said, when the lesson of the week in an Instagram group I belong to was to make a pop-up card, I embraced it. I had already skipped a few of the craft posts, but somehow I had faith that I could do this one. Thanks to the magic of YouTube, I set out to learn how to make a pop-up card. Surprise, it was easier -- much easier -- than I anticipated. Has anyone else learned a new skill watching YouTube videos?

The Enchanted Snowman and a few friends

This is definitely the first craft project I've posted in Buttercupland and it may well be the last one. But it's taught me the lesson, once again, that older dogs can still learn new tricks.  

I don't have any other craft projects on the horizon, but I've got a lot to do. There are packages to wrap -- one already mailed -- cards to write and the snowmen need to come out of hibernation. I also have lots of photographs to take and posts to write. No fear, there will be posts about New York in this holiday season. 

After the longest fall I can remember it's turned to winter and my next project is to get sweaters and knee socks organized. My pink spring jacket has been moved to the back of the closet and my down coat is front and center. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and keep cozy!

It's Been Said Many Times...

But "eat pie" can't be said too many times

Keep calm, eat pie and count your blessings. 

Sometimes it's tough to keep calm and I know I  can't eat pie as much as I'd like. But I can  count my blessings every day. There are no carbs and no calories to worry about and it just may keep my mind off all the things that keep me from calmness.

I'm not sure what pies are on our table -- know there are brownies -- but the blessings are manifold. Family and friends near and far, a cozy apartment and miles walked this year all over the world. Thank you all who have been part of the journey. 

Happy, healthy and a blessed Thanksgiving! 

Coming Soon to the Metropolitan Museum of Art

 

    It's almost time for my favorite tree of the season

We've had a tradition in Buttercupland that December holiday posts begin after Thanksgiving. Generally, my first post of the season goes up the day after Thanksgiving, and I've stuck to the tradition through the years. But I was at the Metropolitan Museum of Art yesterday for a wonderful lecture on Italian Renaissance painting and as I strolled through the museum I came upon this sight. I was delighted to see the Museum Christmas tree set up and waiting to be reintroduced. The sight inspired me to bring a some holiday joy a little early. 

The first Christmas trees  -- I saw -- for sale on the streets of New York

I was very tempted to start the holiday posts with the photograph above. Last Friday I was walking on Broadway and there was the first of, what over the weekend, became many Christmas tree stands. In the last few days they seem to be everywhere throughout the neighborhood. My memory is coming home on Thanksgiving night and seeing the first stand shining with lights in the dark. It was always one of my favorite moments of the season. This year didn't go quite like that, but it was still a very happy moment. 

My new friends!

On Saturday on my way to the library I found this group of new friends and yes, they are next to a Christmas tree stand. I love snowmen -- my collection will come out over the weekend -- and I 'm very tempted to add one of these cuties to the group. I really don't have room for one more decoration, so I'm holding back as long as I can. I was given one new snowman earlier this year, so I don't really need another one. But as we know, need has very little/nothing to do with items that catch one's heart. 

Here's to the first of many Christmas in New York posts. It wouldn't be December in Buttercupland without them. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.