It's Madison Avenue Monday

 

No, it's not Pink Saturday, though this neon pink wreath would be a perfect addition to Pink Saturday, and I'm sure I was thinking of an all pink post when I took this picture. But the weather has been drab and dreary in New York today (and a lot of the rest of the country) and I thought we all could use a bright pick me up. 

Love this sweet blender ornament and the smiling avocado in back of it. 

 

The welcoming committee for one of the Madison Avenue florists 

It's not a particularly clear picture, but it's a photograph of the lights actually being put up in the trees. I hope to do a return visit to see the  trees lit up for the season. 

I hope these pictures have helped to brighten your evening. I know that when I focus on the happy moments (and memories) I'm more cheerful and upbeat. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care!

Pink Saturday Celebrates Pink Christmas

LoveShackFancy, the perfect windows for Pink Saturday at Christmas time

I spent a wonderful Friday afternoon walking down Madison Avenue, window shopping and taking pictures. I thought I had my pictures for this Pink Saturday post, and then I got to this window. The store is new -- so admire anyone opening a new retail business in New York these days -- and the windows were both spell-binding and pink. I scrapped my original plan and I present the prettiest in pink Christmas windows. 

A detail from the tree, including the beautiful bow on the top

I had never heard of LoveShackFancy before seeing the store, but a little research gave me the website. There are clothes, bridal outfits and home goods, all very evocative of the South of France and lovely. I didn't explore the store, and honestly, it's pricy for me, but so fun to see the windows. 

The sidewalk decorations were as pretty as the windows.

Who doesn't need a bubble gum pink nutcracker?

I don't have a garden, but if I did, I'd get this garden bench. 

This is beyond my decorating ability, but for the crafty citizens of Buttercupland, I'm including a detail from the outdoor decorations.  

My highlight of the day today was a long walk on West 57th Street, from Eighth Avenue to First Avenue with my friend, Jane. It was perfect walking weather and we even got to meet up with our friend, Pat, on First Avenue for coffee out of doors. I got fun pictures for a post later in the week, a chance to catch up with two friends and walked over four miles. It was a great conclusion to a weekend of thankfulness. 

I don't have many plans for the week ahead. There's a big storm forecast for tomorrow -- maybe even a tornado (in November!) -- so I don't think I'll get to walk very much. I'm planning to write cards, get a few packages wrapped and ready to mail and read the new Sue Monk Kidd book. What are your plans this week?

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. 

Thanksgiving Memories, Then and Now

 

Meeting the Doughboy, up close and personal, with ten

 thousand of my new best friends, 2018.  

In 2018 I got to live out one of my fantasies and attend the viewing of the balloons for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was a long and tedious process to walk and stop for at least an hour through designated lines on the Upper West Side. Once a viewer entered the line, there was no leaving unless a medical issue arose and permission to leave was given by one of the hundreds of police officers keeping order. It was very orderly, but (almost) too much standing in my pre hip surgery state. More than once I was tempted to drop out, but I'm so glad I didn't. It was well worth the standing and waiting. 

Loved the Aflac duck and the light up heart...

...and the adorable Sinclair Dino

So enjoyed meeting a Paw Patrol friend...

...

...who very graciously posed for a selfie with me. 

Sweet memories of Thanksgiving past and thankfully, I made sweet memories this Thanksgiving. There was a wonderful turkey and trimmings, thanks to my dear friend of long-standing, Anita. The weather cooperated and we had a great walk to one of my favorite places (yes, there will be pictures) and there was pie, an extraordinary cranberry pie, which will become part of Thanksgiving future. It was absolutely delicious. And because it's 2020, there was a Zoom. Today, as in year's past, I spent time looking at the windows of New York City decorated for Christmas and ended the day with a turkey sandwich. I hope you have sweet memories for this year to hold in your heart, too. 

 I varied my walking route this year and enjoyed the sixty degree weather while walking on Madison Avenue. I discovered a new store that had some of the most beautiful holiday decorations I've ever seen and they were all in pink. The windows will be my feature for this week's Pink Saturday. I'll include pictures of details, just in case anyone is feeling inspired. I hope you'll stop by. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and have a great weekend! 

 

Keep Calm, Eat Pie and Give Thanks

 

My pie source this Thanksgiving, Breads Bakery

Due to getting totally sidetracked in the kitchen last night -- attempting to match lids and containers -- we have an editorial change in content. This morning I present the Buttercupland Thanksgiving message for 2020, Keep Calm, Eat Pie and Give Thanks. Tonight we will visit Macy's Parades past and enjoy the balloons. 

In a little while I'll be off to celebrate Thanksgiving with friends of long, long standing. We'll sit on their covered deck, eat turkey and pie -- cranberry with a hazelnut crust -- and give thanks for another Thanksgiving together. The weather is moderately cooperative. There is some light rain predicted, but also sixty degree weather, and we're planning to walk off a (tiny) bit of the pie.  

 So thankful for all of my Buttercupland friends. My blog buddies have been one of the best parts of many years, and especially so in 2020. A Thanksgiving toast to citizens of Buttercupland near and far. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

One of My Favorite Days...

 

...is the day the Christmas trees arrive, and that was today.

It's not quite set up, and it's not in the same place as last year, but my heart skipped a quick beat to see the trees return to the neighborhood. They're now one block further from home, but easy enough to pass by when I'm out walking. I was concerned that this year our regular tree sellers wouldn't be back, but I was happy to see the scaffolding going up yesterday and the trees out on display this afternoon. 

 This is 2019. Different block and different trees, but same wonderful scene. 

One of my favorite local stores and their Thanksgiving turkey display.

I'm not planning to use too many pictures from years past in my holiday posts, but tomorrow I'm bringing out pictures of the 2018 floats from Macy's Thanksgiving Parade.  They're always fun to look at and since it's not possible for me to see them up close, we'll  go back in time. One of my goals this weekend is to see the Macy's windows, weather cooperating. 

We've had perfect fall weather and enjoyed lunch outside today.  Fingers crossed that it stays this way through Thursday and I'll be joining friends for Thanksgiving dinner on their deck. It will just be the three of us and there is plenty of space for distancing. I'm focusing on gratitude for joining with friends of long-standing (over fifty years and many celebrations and dinners), and not being sad about the celebration we're not having this year. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care!

Mailbox and Monkey Monday

 

Loved this chocolate store window in Rockefeller Center

I'd planned to have today's post finished well before midnight and posted the pictures this afternoon. But between my regular Monday afternoon Zoom call, watching the news and eating dinner I got delayed. But just as I was about to write the post I decided to watch just one episode of "Virgin River," that a friend recommended. Three episodes later I'm sitting down to keep my commitment to do a daily post. 

Last week was a fun mailbox week. Received two Thanksgiving cards and turkey socks. I'm not sure what the rest of my outfit will be on Thanksgiving day, but I know what my sock choice will be.  

It's Memory Monday for Pep, Socko and Screamer

Pep has kept to his tradition and won't start his holiday celebrating until after Thanksgiving, but I found this photograph from the days Pep and friends resided in the office with me. While Pep is still focused on pumpkins and Thanksgiving, I'm moving full-speed into cards and gifts, which leads me to a question about a gift for Pep. Pep doesn't expect special gifts and being the sweet monkey that he is, he's content with an extra banana or some banana Laffy Taffy. However, for quite awhile he's wanted a car. I got him a motorcycle a few years ago and he was happy with that, but since Bongo arrived, it's become Bongo's motorcycle. I saw a used red convertible and I've been thinking of surprising Pep. Yes or no, Buttercupland friends? 

It's now past midnight and I hope I don't turn into a pumpkin for finishing this post so late. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas: American Folk Art Musuem

 

 Welcome to Christmas time in the city!

We're starting our Holiday2020 photos with a visit to the American Folk Art Museum, one of my favorite places. I passed by last week and the museum wasn't open yet, but I spent some time being enchanted by the window display. I've noticed a lot of felt decorations this year and the ones at the Museum are as adorable as any I've seen. I did a little research on the Museum's website and both the mice and the houses (not felt) can be yours, too. 

  Yes, it's a Buttercup semi-selfie with felt Christmas trees and the cutest llamas. 

My goal for this season is to do a daily post of at least one holiday photograph. It's a little more posting than I usually do, but it's a great way to celebrate the season in a different, but  still doable way.  

I gave myself a rest from the books and boxes today and instead took down the holiday cache. I'm going to sort out my cards and do a list of things I need to buy/make/order. Who else has started their cards? Decorating? Outdoor decor?

As ever, thanks for visiting and have a great week. 

Pink Saturday Goes to Lower Manhattan

Looking East, to the Municipal Building

Although I got a lot of encouragement to jump into holiday photographs, I'm going to post my pictures of Lower Manhattan tonight and moving forward, will start displaying as many days of Christmas in New York as I can find. I'm sure there will be a few posts that have other topics, but we all need all the cheer we can muster and as of November 22, Buttercupland officially moves into the holiday mode. I'm not sure what that will mean if we have a further shutdown in New York City and many interiors become unavailable. I did do a lot of photography in advance and can do at least a dozen different new holiday posts from what I've taken this year. Fingers crossed for many reasons that New York can maintain the status quo.   

During four different jobs I worked in this area of Lower Manhattan, though never in the Municipal Building, pictured above. At the end of the Nineteenth Century it became clear that City Hall, which actually is a relatively small building, could neither begin to accommodate all government offices, nor have an addition built to expand it. Work on the Municipal Building began in 1909 and was completed in 1914. Though it added thousands of square feet for offices, by 1939 the city workforce outgrew the building and alternate sites were found. Though I didn't work in this building I attended many meetings here and it was like stepping into 1950, with linoleum and metal desks as far as the eye could see. 

This time I'm looking north on West Broadway.

 

Looking west to One World Trade Center

I enjoyed my day as a tourist in Lower Manhattan, though I was sad to see the streets were relatively empty. It makes it safer to walk around, but so difficult for stores and restaurants to keep in business. I did a lot of window shopping, but didn't do any buying. I'm planning at least one more trip downtown to look at decorations and take pictures. 

I had a reasonably productive Saturday. I walked over two miles, made a pot of carrot soup (which is now cooling) and cleaned out the crisper, using up several apples that were just on the right side of  being edible and perfect for adding to the soup. I unpacked one more box and discovered a few more books to be recycled. How was your day?

Thanks for joining us for Pink Saturday, and please be back tomorrow when Christmas in New York returns to Buttercupland.

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.  

Three Boxes Down

 

I've got walls! 

After walking over four miles yesterday, I came home to walls. They are now filled in, plastered and painted. I also came home to the realization that the boxes of books that I very hastily packed in the summer needed to be unpacked and the files need to be returned to the two lateral file cabinets on the right. 

I haven't begun to tackle the files yet, but I have unpacked three boxes of books. I've set some aside to give away, but I still have three boxes to unpack and only three empty shelves left. Since I'm not buying any more shelves I've got to continue to sort through my books. I put a bag together for the Salvation Army and will list at least a dozen more on eBay.

The Mantel is now visible again and ready for cards. 

The bookcase/files was moved in front of the fireplace when the construction started and I'm so pleased to have the fireplace back as the center of the living room. The mantel needs decluttering and rearranging and I plan to get to it over this weekend. My card display garland has been emptied of cards I received over the year and is ready and waiting for the 2020 season. 

When I came home yesterday I was overwhelmed by the work in front of me and opted to begin this morning. There's still lots to do, but now that I've got a good start I'm optimistic about getting the biggest share done in the next week, including the task of sorting through the files. 

I used the last three days and my exile from my apartment while the work was going on to walk and take a lot of photographs. I got a great start on my Christmas in New York pictures, as well as walking over twelve miles. 

My plan for Pink Saturday is to post my pictures of Lower Manhattan and begin the Christmas in New York photos on Sunday. Of course, I may not be able to contain myself and may just got ahead and start with Rockefeller Center tomorrow. It's jumping the season just a little, but you won't mind, will you? 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. 

Santa Came Early

It won't be Chanukah or Christmas for weeks...

But today I got one of the things I've been hoping for, the first step in restoring my living room and bedroom walls. It doesn't look especially pretty yet, but tomorrow the walls get plastered and on Thursday, painting is planned. I'm going to the paint store tomorrow to get the paint and on Friday I will start unpacking boxes of books. 

On the right you can see the edge of my mantel. One of my book cases was moved in front of the fireplace in July when the construction took place. I'd hoped to have the mantel back in time to display my holiday cards in the usual place. Happily, that will be possible. 

There are still several steps that need to take place before the gas is turned back on, including an inspection of the valves by Con Edison. But this construction step is huge and I am delighted that by Friday I will begin to have a cozier apartment. I've been selling (yay, Ebay!) and giving away books for the last four months and I'm hoping that I've made a dent in de-accessioning my books. My book collection was getting totally out of control and the need to box up a lot of it  has been the impetus to reign it in. 

I don't really need another small appliance, but this is irresistible. 

I was poking around Bed, Bath and Beyond this afternoon and came upon new Dash mini-appliances. I was disappointed with the mini ice cream maker, but the mini waffle maker has been a mainstay while I've been without a stove. I've shown good restraint about going wild with small appliances, but I think I really need this, especially with my 20% coupon. They also make a mini Bundt cake maker and that was very tempting, too. 

The construction and painting had been scheduled for Friday and next week, so I've rearranged things I had planned for this week. Between the dust (especially with plaster today) and the virus, it's best that I'm not home while the workmen are here. We all wear masks, but I'm more at ease being out of the apartment. I hopped the bus for an excursion today and I'll share my pictures in tomorrow's  post. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.  

 

Life Is Better With Sprinkles Pink Saturday

 

Life is better with sprinkles!

On some Pink Saturdays I search (and search) for a theme and pictures that incorporate the color pink. Other weeks just the right theme appears like magic. This was definitely the week of magic. 

Life is better with sprinkles and friends

Yesterday was a beautiful fall day made for walking. My college friend, Jane, and I took a long walk through Midtown Manhattan. We discovered the brand new Times Square Krispy Kreme. 

 I discovered Krispy Kreme when I lived in Nashville in the 1970's and became a fan, but I've never been in one that was both so big and had so much going on. I know I haven't been doing all that much these days, but I know I would have enjoyed it whenever I first visited here. 

     The newly glazed doughnuts on their way to the sales counter

                            Which one would you choose?

I'm pleased to report, despite the incredible aroma and look of the finished doughnuts, I didn't buy one. I was definitely tempted, but held back this time. I am thinking of returning on another sunny day and getting a doughnut and coffee and partaking out of doors. I'm not sure which one I'd choose.  I'm thinking of the Reese's Creme on the bottom left, but I also know a simple hot glazed doughnut would be be just fine. 

 I'm looking forward to the day when I can buy a doughnut and coffee and enjoy it sitting here, the indoor seating area. Krispy Kreme will definitely be on the list for out of town visitors.

I'm moving into a holiday mode. I've written my first two cards and a visit to the post office is on my agenda for tomorrow, following a dentist appointment. What's on your schedule for the week?

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.

Cheers for the Doughboy

 

The Doughboy statue in Abingdon Square

This Veterans Day Buttercupland is sending up cheers for the Doughboys and all the others who have served America throughout our history. Veterans Day began as Armistice Day in 1919, commemorating the first anniversary of the end of World War I. At the urging of major US veteran groups Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954. 

When I visited Abingdon Square on Halloween I made sure to take photographs of the Doughboy who stands at the entrance to the Square. The statue was placed there by the local Democratic Club in 1921 to "honor the brave men who went forth from this neighborhood to join the Armed Forces of the United States during the World War." 

The West Village (below Fourteenth Street on the West Side of Manhattan), home of Abingdon Square, is one of my favorite parts of Manhattan. There are still many buildings from the Nineteenth Century, with original details. There are even a few streets still paved with cobblestones. 

This was where we ate lunch during our visit to the West Village. The cobblestones are charming, but also bumpy. The "tent" was open on three sides and closed on the right side and on top. There are also plexiglass dividers between tables. On the far left, you can see the heater, which is great for nippier days. 

Again, a big thanks for all who have served our country.

Today was warm, but rainy and it looks like I will be retiring my flip flops and short sleeves in the next few days. These days have been a wonderful bonus and I have loved sitting out and not needing the heat lamps to keep warm. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.

Please Meet Soapy McSnowman

 

Welcome, Soapy!

One of my rules is not to rush the seasons. Generally I hang on to every season -- except winter -- for as long as possible, which is why I spent yesterday in a short sleeved t-shirt and flip flops. I have ordered cards and a few gifts already, but my snowmen and holiday monkey collection are still wrapped up and waiting for Thanksgiving weekend (at the earliest) to come out of their eleven month hibernation.  

But, as in everything else, I'm switching things up for 2020. During my trip to Marshall's week before last I saw very cute holiday soap dispensers. I am a snowman fan and my eye immediately went to this cute snowy guy. Since it was still October and too early for decorating I put it (mostly) out of my mind. I stopped at Marshall's during one of my walks last week and looked for the soap display. I couldn't find Snowmen or Santa. I kept looking and what had been a three shelf display was now down to a dozen and this gentleman was the last of the snowmen. Yes, there may be more on order, but there may not be. Despite my resolution to wait at least a few weeks longer before succumbing to seasonal temptations, Soapy came home with me, and is now residing in the bathroom. My only disappointment is that somehow I expected the aroma would be peppermint and instead it's a vague floral. 

What is your holiday decorating calendar? I have several friends who are in full Christmas mode and have been for the last week. I am holding off, both because the weather is just too warm for me to bring out the snowmen and two, I'm hoping that the plastering and painting will be finished and my living room will return to a more organized state. 

It's a little cooler today, but still beautiful weather. I'm waiting for the painters to come by and discuss the schedule for plaster and paint. I spotted them in the building, but I have no idea when it will be my turn. I hope it's shortly. I've got plans for a post office visit and a trip to the nearby Target. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.   

Autumn Leaves Pink Saturday

 

Riverside Park, this time with a filter 

There have been two things about 2020 that have been pure pleasure. The first has been spending time in my neighborhood and appreciating my immediate environment. The second is that each season seems to be the most beautiful spring, summer or autumn here ever. I'm rarely on the run to be somewhere else and I have literally taken time to see the trees bud, smell the roses and appreciate the leaves. I've always been a planner, but my plans this year compared to the past are minimal and though not by choice, I am appreciative of my lessons in living in the present. 

Almost sunset, the Hudson River in the background

The last flowers in the gardens at Riverside Park

There may be another week or two of flowers, but I know in a few weeks even these beauties will be history. Though the park is a public park, the flowers are tended by volunteer gardeners from the community. 

This isn't a beautiful park picture, but I'm glad my observation caught the autumn leaves on a gritty New York block. 

I'm hoping for one more autumn leaves post. I haven't taken the pictures yet, and it's totally weather dependent. I'm going to stay hopeful that next week's Pink Saturday pictures will be as bright and beautiful as this week's photographs. 

So enjoying my flip-flop weather, and I think we have a few more days predicted. I'm planning to do a few quick excursions about town and, yes, there will be pictures. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.  

Breaking News from My Kitchen

 

I've felt as though the last five days has been a series of breaking news alerts. But in the midst of all of the news and non-news,  my kitchen received extraordinary breaking news. The Building Department arrived as planned on Friday morning and my line passed inspection. In the spirit of celebration  and anticipation, I went out and bought a roll of aluminum foil. 

There will be baking, but once again, not yet. In the latest phase of what seems like the longest construction project since the building of the Pyramids, there's more to be done. Our walls, which were opened to access the pipes, need to be closed in every apartment on the line. I'm not sure if the painting on said walls need to be finished first, too, but that may be the case. In the interim my aluminum foil and I wait somewhat patiently. Any suggestions on what my first baking project should be?

New York City has had magnificent weather these last few days and I am enjoying it totally. So much so that I'm wearing sandals as I enjoy the autumn leaves. 

 Enjoyed a great walk and iced coffee today. I know it might be boots and gloves weather any day now, so my goal is to get outside as much as possible. 

I'll be back later today with a Pink Saturday autumn leaves post. See you later!

As ever, thanks for visiting and hope you're having a sunny Sunday.    

Lilac Time, Again

 "With malice toward none, with charity for all..."

With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.

From Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, given in March,1865.

Before we return to our regularly scheduled programming, from what seems like a century long electoral season, I am once again affirming that Buttercupland is a lilac zone, the gentlest shade of red and blue mixed together. My post for the day after Election Day, 2016, was titled "Lilac Time," and in the spirit that Lincoln promoted I am reiterating that this is a place that offers charity and friendship to all who visit here.  My fervent wish is that on Election Wednesday, 2024, our country will be less divided and that there will be, as Lincoln wrote,  "a lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."

I will be back tomorrow with a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I hope you'll be stopping by. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.  

Lucky Thirteen

 

Sneaker selfie this morning

I didn't make it to the polls at 6:15 a.m., but I was there by 7:15 a.m. The line was over a block long, but it moved very quickly and by 7:45 I had finished voting and was drinking coffee. When I walked by in the afternoon there was no line and I could have sailed in and out, as I did for the midterms election in 2018.  

I thought about my voting over the years and realized this is the thirteenth Presidential race I've voted in. Some years the candidates I voted for won and other years there were losses. Some years I watched late into the night and other years were clear early on. But I am profoundly grateful that I have had the opportunity to vote in Presidential elections for decades. A shout out to the women who sacrificed so much to give women the right -- and responsibility -- to vote in the United States. 

Now I'll settle in with a Diet Coke and watch the returns, which I assume most of Buttercupland is doing as well. My election night snack treat is Diet Coke and potato chips. Does anyone else have a special snack for the evening?

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. 

 

Once In a Blue Moon

Happy Mail Monday! 

It's once in a blue moon when Mail Monday and Monkey Monday come together in beautiful confluence, but today was that one Monday in a blue moon. I'd asked my friends at CAM Creations for leftover scraps of sock monkey material, and they arrived today. My goal is now to make masks for Pep and Bongo. I don't think I've sewed more than buttons since my eighth grade home economics class polished cotton disaster, but I'm motivated by thought of my monkey friends in monkey masks. 

 

As part of Mail Monday I'm sharing my Halloween card collection.  

Thanks to -- from left to right -- K., blogger buddy, Tarryterre, and my friend, Ruth, in Germany. Ruth's arrived with stickers and nail decals. I usually don't do much with my finger nails, but I'm inspired to liven up my look.  

Now for the big, big news of the week. Yes, I am well aware that there is much, much bigger news on the horizon, but for this minute I'm keeping my focus on our gas inspection scheduled for Friday. I'm trying not to get too excited, but it's difficult to contain myself. 

 Since I opted out of early voting -- lines were so long -- I'm planning to vote first thing tomorrow. My polling place is literally across the street and I hope to be there when it opens at 6:00 a.m. 

As ever, thanks for visiting. Take care and if you're in the US, vote!