Warm Winter Wishes

I'm spending a quiet day after Christmas. I have a slightly scratchy throat and the weather outside is frightful -- dark and cold and wet -- so I am drinking tea and trying to make some order out of the chaos of my apartment. I've been sorting through the Christmas things and taking note of what I need -- more tags -- and what I don't need -- more cards. I'm throwing away slightly smashed bows and odds and ends of paper and trying to get everything into one (or maybe two) shopping bags and putting things away neatly. The next projects are sorting through piles of mail and catalogs and posting books I've read or never will read on BookMooch, a great on-line trading site.

Christmas Day was fun. Too much food -- all yummy! -- and good company. I've now spent at least six Christmas celebrations with my friends' families and it's really tradition.

The tree was lovely this year

The house across the street from my friends' house looked so pretty

Warm Wishes for a cup of tea with friends and warm memories!

Merry Christmas Wishes!

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."

                             Charles Dickens

My prayers and wishes for a Christmas celebration so joyous that its glow will be with you until next Christmas.

A Few of My Favorite Things: Hot Cocoa Time

I wish you all could be here with me tonight. We'd have a big mug of cocoa, made with cocoa and milk and sugar, with just a little vanilla. Maybe a cookie -- or two -- or a brownie or a lemon bar. We had brownies topped with red and green M&M's today at work, thanks to my colleague Donna. Yummy!

I'm a lot calmer today. I've got a pile of wrapped gifts at the office and have made a little headway on my cards. Still a long way to go, but I think my friends will understand if they don't get their cards until Monday. I know I will enjoy any that arrive next week.

I know it's not all about cards and gifts and errands. So not about errands. With all the difficulties at work that weigh heavy I'm nonetheless delighted to be here to savor the small pleasures and moments of the heart. I'm wearing my cozy slippers and sharing a cup of cocoa with some wonderful friends. Here's to you dear and precious blog friends, may your days and the year to come hold many moments of sharing and affection, bound by a chain of friendship that goes all around the world.

I Went Face to Face with My December Nightmare...

...and am pleased to report that I not only survived, but am feeling good. Every year I say that I will not, absolutely not, Christmas shop in the last few days before Christmas, particularly wearing my down coat and boots. Never will I do this again!

And where was I tonight? At Costco, wearing said down coat and boots. I got most, but not all, of the things I needed for the office. I had things in mind, but had to improvise, but I think two colleagues -- and their families -- will like the cute gingerbread house cookie jars. I certainly do. I even got myself a present, the softest, coziest slippers and at a ridiculously good price.

 I have some more snow pictures. These were taken yesterday afternoon, before any slush could make the city less attractive. Here is New York in its wintry coating of snow.

Wishes for a wonderful week! 

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Last Saturday...This was the scene as I walked from the eye doctor to study group. It was cold, but clear and sunny. 

Last night a few blocks from Lincoln Center.

Today there is lots of snow -- can't tell how many inches, but it looks a little less than a foot. It is sunny and cold and so pretty. I haven't ventured out after my outing yesterday, but I did enjoy walking around. I was "Young Victoria" and then had dinner at a Chinese Restaurant a few blocks north of where these pictures were taken. Except for the Ugg store, where there was a line to be admitted and the post office, where I had a forty five minute wait, neither the stores, nor the restaurants were crowded.

Last week went from awful -- work-wise -- to very awful. I'd come home at night with a headache, eat some dinner and go to sleep. By Friday I was able to get a little more optimism and today I'm feeling pretty good. Yes, circumstances are dire, but I will figure out how to keep going and not be miserable. Blessedly, it's a four day week, and I've mailed packages, will write some cards this afternoon and  catch up on blogs.

Hugs to all and wishes for a wonderful week!

I'm Getting My Boots Out

I'm getting my boots out. Snow is coming and it may be more than a dusting. I'm out to do a few errands while it's still easy to get around.

Work has been all-consuming this week and it kept me from blogging and just about breathing. Love to all my bloggy friends. I'll be back tonight, with pictures!

Keep Me Away from YouTube

Every year, without fail, and generally more than once, this time of year rings my heart. Without fail. I felt like I was getting off easy this year. I haven't shed a tear.  But tonight I cried enough for all of December and into the new year.

One of my great pleasures in the evening is listening to music on YouTube. I've got some favorites and I listen to those and other times I just follow an idea. Tonight was the latter. I found Bing Crosby singing "White Christmas" and kept on with Bing Crosby. This led me to the original trailer for "Bells of St. Mary's" -- one of my all time favorites -- and then to "Going My Way." I pushed the video for "Toora Loora Loora," the Irish lullabye and before I knew tears were streaming down my face. I was in our living room in Hartford watching "Going My Way" with my parents on the old black and white console tv. My father was in his blue recliner and my mother on the couch, with the brown cover. It's at least 45 years since we all watched this together and my father has been gone almost thirty years, but I could see it clearly and missed those winter nights so much.

I know I am so blessed to have had parents for whom the idea of a great evening was all of us together watching a movie. And that is why I miss them so much, especially at this season. Penniwig asked this morning what are our favorite things and the first on my list was family and friends. It was an easy answer and so true, and so painful when they are no longer with us.

So bless you and keep you, my friends. Here's wishing you nights of quiet happiness with those you love best, now and all through the year.