tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69302232529664741852024-03-18T23:16:57.217-04:00Buttercup Counts her BlessingsCoffee, books and life in New York City Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.comBlogger2621125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-38492635283178974202024-03-18T22:45:00.001-04:002024-03-18T22:45:44.246-04:00Once Again, I Took the Road to Sedona<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOt0p7IDL8JTFkXeeJXWCgFsem-bb03FilfA0NmoxNda3Y-qVaHaSXaWt8CiYQ0fF7z7I8jKBvJ_CaAiXe4AfZAhCgtW6hhAc0Fn78PG_OiAhBc6gKVf9I_28ult8hoz5D8G512PRLQj38eRtikEE3BC-AVvmbmj67aJePKvd4_an8yFyhVYcRbo3OKcW/s2048/Sedona%202024%20red%20rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1748" data-original-width="2048" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOt0p7IDL8JTFkXeeJXWCgFsem-bb03FilfA0NmoxNda3Y-qVaHaSXaWt8CiYQ0fF7z7I8jKBvJ_CaAiXe4AfZAhCgtW6hhAc0Fn78PG_OiAhBc6gKVf9I_28ult8hoz5D8G512PRLQj38eRtikEE3BC-AVvmbmj67aJePKvd4_an8yFyhVYcRbo3OKcW/w640-h546/Sedona%202024%20red%20rocks.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coconino/recarea/?recid=54974">Fay Canyon Trailhead</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm back from Sedona and Phoenix for not quite 36 hours and I'm having huge withdrawal symptoms. It was a fabulous week for scenery, experiences and friendship. I tried to keep my expectations in check, but even if I had high expectations the trip would have far surpassed them. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This was my fifth trip to Sedona. The first one was in 2006 and I completely fell in love with it. My last trip was in February 2020, right before the world turned upside down. This trip, with my college class included a few people I'd gotten to know at, and since, our reunion in 2022. By the time our week was over I'd made a dozen friends, which both delighted and amazed me. They were all -- yes, all! -- great traveling companions and a lot of fun to spend time with. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My hiking boots (featured in the last post) were a complete success and not a blister or an ache after hiking the Fay Canyon Trail. It's a four mile hike for "people who prefer a shorter hike with minimum elevation changes," which was perfect for me. One of our classmates is a hike leader and was so kind and helped me over every rough patch on the trail. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1VPOkih-pHREKozz39qxIXYIK7-8ZuUWM9n26zIdxVy0WM24PqXsrqidbsaakSmOLuxwXyvE1mLTOsz0jg14UCAv-8m1L18bd-mqgc8B1Mb-UzM1L1-GbnhwO1TdX39zh19Q0Ka5dytUDEKtBOvCesfOsVrRUGbG9pQDKcpFk6Xz7bCR17hlDYoHW8Gfx/s960/Sedona%202024%20Arch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1VPOkih-pHREKozz39qxIXYIK7-8ZuUWM9n26zIdxVy0WM24PqXsrqidbsaakSmOLuxwXyvE1mLTOsz0jg14UCAv-8m1L18bd-mqgc8B1Mb-UzM1L1-GbnhwO1TdX39zh19Q0Ka5dytUDEKtBOvCesfOsVrRUGbG9pQDKcpFk6Xz7bCR17hlDYoHW8Gfx/w480-h640/Sedona%202024%20Arch.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As seen on the Fay Canyon Trail</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My visit to Sedona included hiking, three dinners as a group and time spent enjoying the majestic sights. I especially liked breakfast looking at the red rocks that surround Sedona. What a treat!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8OnVrE5zCoEVAX6YufsOsWB1pnM41KF0ztyQ9pLAjQqimdm9G0WAWaUb7mwT_arn-8wUHFbtSs4qymLHvzB6Zx3HQAg4ceDOx79UXx7rkdDhllkzKrEN-LwTaxvUK7BRSpGc_TIwwPf6rn3nJbi2KtESWlA5teu1tr9XmEwt2Zzy1KC5ahNkL-SwxuhV/s960/Sedona%20Breakfast%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="663" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8OnVrE5zCoEVAX6YufsOsWB1pnM41KF0ztyQ9pLAjQqimdm9G0WAWaUb7mwT_arn-8wUHFbtSs4qymLHvzB6Zx3HQAg4ceDOx79UXx7rkdDhllkzKrEN-LwTaxvUK7BRSpGc_TIwwPf6rn3nJbi2KtESWlA5teu1tr9XmEwt2Zzy1KC5ahNkL-SwxuhV/w442-h640/Sedona%20Breakfast%202024.jpg" width="442" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One of my favorite breakfast sights!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There were two more parts to this trip. We spend a day in very scenic and historic Prescott, which will be my next post, and then we were on to Phoenix. There will be a post (or two) about all we did in Phoenix, including my first time seeing spring training baseball. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm happy I've got a lot planned for this week, including Pilates class and a few medical appointments. This morning started with my Zoom book club and we had a great discussion of <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/16/books/bonnie-garmus-lessons-chemistry-book.html">Lessons in Chemistry</a> by Bonnie Garmus. What's on your reading list these days?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As ever, thanks for visiting and take care. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><p></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-16640436559121978712024-03-05T11:57:00.001-05:002024-03-05T11:57:44.739-05:00These Boots Are Made for Hiking<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyB9VhP8O3Mf3DbZcSrMshBy18R8ixpCiTH0MdhU_0FQWrf8ZA-3VrOBL3EuKCu5ORfd_dTuZGbbp3DOgAPjER8G2DEzPDVo3M8i5O6RMQlLGwNcCKZ7rEGKvM3CiJsa_ZvuTxaal0CkJTc5q5UkaAJt9A-gNxdS77DYwpOV95W3KUvdT0zWRO334rv-He/s960/REI%20Boots.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyB9VhP8O3Mf3DbZcSrMshBy18R8ixpCiTH0MdhU_0FQWrf8ZA-3VrOBL3EuKCu5ORfd_dTuZGbbp3DOgAPjER8G2DEzPDVo3M8i5O6RMQlLGwNcCKZ7rEGKvM3CiJsa_ZvuTxaal0CkJTc5q5UkaAJt9A-gNxdS77DYwpOV95W3KUvdT0zWRO334rv-He/w480-h640/REI%20Boots.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These boots are made for hiking </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For the first time in fifty years -- give or take a few years -- I am now the owner of hiking boots. I'm not a shoe shopper and I'm not much of a hiker, but for my adventure next week, hiking boots are required for the hiking trails of Sedona, Arizona. There are a lot of activities planned and I may only be out hiking once during my visit, but I am now (almost) prepared. I've got the boots, the socks and I just need band-aids and Moleskin in case the socks don't quite do the job and I acquire a set of blisters. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKVQE0zYvppS-mjFBwqxEa7p7HeRUE5x4_gEWkWi1Iv5P4FDDQwMxT1dZhpFDiSzwqe46NPqgULU1K63Sych1kigntfhZ1oaCOXH1E6eunrVpo5SiUAFviBJhEGxbB7duz0B_NhlDmC0E7twNwPjA2ubX2HFd4jts_wsFwsJbXHO7x2YV4HeIryV5Y8fB/s960/Sedona%20Trolley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKVQE0zYvppS-mjFBwqxEa7p7HeRUE5x4_gEWkWi1Iv5P4FDDQwMxT1dZhpFDiSzwqe46NPqgULU1K63Sych1kigntfhZ1oaCOXH1E6eunrVpo5SiUAFviBJhEGxbB7duz0B_NhlDmC0E7twNwPjA2ubX2HFd4jts_wsFwsJbXHO7x2YV4HeIryV5Y8fB/w480-h640/Sedona%20Trolley.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sedona, here I come!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HXiZdZWScKFA6SIV45nEEkvY4KAretZ76i3eC8a3M3TXGs2p_s_5jyEfJIfgzs-VKOleqOnQjtGSTy441tSjj6QcXZhYRGTPsab0rfd03y5Ct-ASjzKX249MJf2o0HNc-dl67_x1aCg91yHQC3b04LDHUFsS5F5oXexs_Tjyj0E60pndux8Dt85PIXRZ/s960/Sunset%20Sedona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HXiZdZWScKFA6SIV45nEEkvY4KAretZ76i3eC8a3M3TXGs2p_s_5jyEfJIfgzs-VKOleqOnQjtGSTy441tSjj6QcXZhYRGTPsab0rfd03y5Ct-ASjzKX249MJf2o0HNc-dl67_x1aCg91yHQC3b04LDHUFsS5F5oXexs_Tjyj0E60pndux8Dt85PIXRZ/w640-h480/Sunset%20Sedona.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sunset in Sedona, February 2020</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This will be my fifth visit to Sedona and I'm eagerly looking forward to a return. The last time I was there was February 2020. I had planned to travel with a friend, but sadly she had illness in her family and couldn't join me. I was tempted to cancel the trip, but since all the plans were set I went ahead and made the trip. At the time I left for Arizona I had a number of travel plans ahead for 2020, but by the time I returned to New York I knew that those plans were unlikely to materialize. The memories and beauty of Sedona would help carry me through what was to come in 2020 and beyond. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm starting to put things aside for the trip and get the inevitable errands done. Started yesterday with an early medical appointment and then a trip to the Metropolitan Museum. I saw a show I really enjoyed, "Women Dressing Women," and will be posting photographs in the next few days. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As ever, thanks for visiting and happy wishes for the week ahead! </span></div></div><p></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-39533426652569958962024-02-27T14:15:00.000-05:002024-02-27T14:15:58.642-05:00What Will They Think Up Next?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-me4kpNBhSMQXC77Y6r4WEh1tkTNcQiK9-6xe68tJ0hM58r-W-Wu6x2K2vFRa8K_w_-xFgD-KgWzxGEQ7IQWLH4VMVb0_S3H6Byh_7wHuUOpkE5v-z6te7wNQt-3hQkeqUpv6E8MzSTM7x-1bUPqAWzazFGnX0BDvBqMnFtleaUPDZt261DEjG8hBFj_z/s960/Sweet%20Pickles%20and%20Selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-me4kpNBhSMQXC77Y6r4WEh1tkTNcQiK9-6xe68tJ0hM58r-W-Wu6x2K2vFRa8K_w_-xFgD-KgWzxGEQ7IQWLH4VMVb0_S3H6Byh_7wHuUOpkE5v-z6te7wNQt-3hQkeqUpv6E8MzSTM7x-1bUPqAWzazFGnX0BDvBqMnFtleaUPDZt261DEjG8hBFj_z/w432-h640/Sweet%20Pickles%20and%20Selfie.jpg" width="432" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm at <a href="https://www.sweetpicklebooks.com/">Sweet Pickle Books</a> -- Selfie on the right</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I took a field trip with a few friends over the weekend and one of our stops was Sweet Pickle Books on Orchard Street. Once one of the first neighborhoods where the great wave of immigrants settled at the end of the Nineteenth Century, it's now a very hip neighborhood. The tenements and street vendors -- yes, lots of pickle vendors -- have been replaced by upscale restaurants and stores. I don't get there often -- it's on the far east side of Manhattan and two train lines away -- but when my friend suggested it I was happy to add it to my day. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sweet Pickle sells used and rare books and pickles. Yes, it's an odd combination, but it's a quirky neighborhood and somehow it works beautifully. They also sell cute merchandise and it was very tempting to think about a Sweet Pickle hat or tote bag. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-orxGBH47m4PDROnKiIH5niQGgRoVO17csTisJmTf_JS-B66t6l_QhvaLdDCc0uqkl2to1qpQ-Nm86epIPADl_EPc2RfDD9dFPxMpoohpY78BvrFSuqQmNpL6QUnx39KPG1fw-sDF1C86VEOe2o_JoFs51c6LRLagOBpLIlJ02M90HvUZCYiBTEC_XAIM/s960/Sweet%20Pickles%20Merchandise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-orxGBH47m4PDROnKiIH5niQGgRoVO17csTisJmTf_JS-B66t6l_QhvaLdDCc0uqkl2to1qpQ-Nm86epIPADl_EPc2RfDD9dFPxMpoohpY78BvrFSuqQmNpL6QUnx39KPG1fw-sDF1C86VEOe2o_JoFs51c6LRLagOBpLIlJ02M90HvUZCYiBTEC_XAIM/w480-h640/Sweet%20Pickles%20Merchandise.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Merchandise and great book shelves for browsing!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2etaRdqDs-zFH48knW5tt7-wAwgpTmwV7tgww9jKF0iDG-i2E_OeFU3-c3jZAG-Ti1iv4LnmrrH64a5_taIReKdAjUA16rnLtR-imhs769y2bKSKPruPT8DFOMrkizh0zgh0qlaRwSVc3_zct8rzQxlhKOBPSQg1LOMRAs3oKlNli8r2ZXHraz8mPfQV/s960/Pickles%20at%20Sweet%20Pickles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2etaRdqDs-zFH48knW5tt7-wAwgpTmwV7tgww9jKF0iDG-i2E_OeFU3-c3jZAG-Ti1iv4LnmrrH64a5_taIReKdAjUA16rnLtR-imhs769y2bKSKPruPT8DFOMrkizh0zgh0qlaRwSVc3_zct8rzQxlhKOBPSQg1LOMRAs3oKlNli8r2ZXHraz8mPfQV/w480-h640/Pickles%20at%20Sweet%20Pickles.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Here are the famous pickles. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I was not only tempted by the books and shirts, but the pickles called my name. I definitely need a trip back here. <br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKZxYCB9mv3cH68RCzY597FKrvkUfWRlMTi_Du3Y2IxytsD-rnQzX-fqPZZ7tfpdiCcQdahwxqNqd28g9YZEmU1yLq4TAUDgcTJJhyphenhyphenEq030VMTnnk6Cm8ztZQJqYcURyOmbou6iCwcTBMJGnVqj-HYgFhfuDD7nO2eXoxmt7t3Z46yN8bPLPvTypwQX0l/s960/Sweet%20Pickles%20and%20Baby%20Yodas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKZxYCB9mv3cH68RCzY597FKrvkUfWRlMTi_Du3Y2IxytsD-rnQzX-fqPZZ7tfpdiCcQdahwxqNqd28g9YZEmU1yLq4TAUDgcTJJhyphenhyphenEq030VMTnnk6Cm8ztZQJqYcURyOmbou6iCwcTBMJGnVqj-HYgFhfuDD7nO2eXoxmt7t3Z46yN8bPLPvTypwQX0l/w480-h640/Sweet%20Pickles%20and%20Baby%20Yodas.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Pep and Baby Yoda friends</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">This get-together was coordinated by one of the group of friends I met in Wildwood in the fall. Our next stop was the Lunar New Year Parade in Chinatown and the Baby Yodas and Pep were wearing bow ties created by my very talented friend Melissa. They all look so festive. I never thought of Pep as a bow tie guy, but he does wear it well. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm not sure where I've been for the last few weeks, but realized it's almost two weeks since my last post, possibly my longest gap in blogging. All is well, just real-life good busy. I've had lots of company -- no complaint -- and I've got my first adventure of 2024 approaching with some planning yet to do. I hope all is well with my Buttercupland friends. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">As ever, thanks for visiting and a cheer for spring -- right around the corner. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div><p></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-2945936076183086902024-02-13T23:34:00.003-05:002024-02-13T23:34:59.052-05:00(Belated) Monkey Monday: Valentine Edition<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpCbk1NEIyxrUTxjYvNUSRlqw-GR8RIXXDafR-qqFsQiYa3zZRNL2xi4ofa94vYRKg5c5O3-auMhOF9VFJkIsZiTMWI9A-q_adMeXmpCuv0nJz1OPFcvuZTn6a_FF-UkFBclJ90HsFcuBtb9fNaPyS3HkxpU4SJLlEkF4hVLlLlg8pWV5KY1Zg9ZUdbFj/s960/Pep%20at%20the%20Plaza%20Feb%202024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpCbk1NEIyxrUTxjYvNUSRlqw-GR8RIXXDafR-qqFsQiYa3zZRNL2xi4ofa94vYRKg5c5O3-auMhOF9VFJkIsZiTMWI9A-q_adMeXmpCuv0nJz1OPFcvuZTn6a_FF-UkFBclJ90HsFcuBtb9fNaPyS3HkxpU4SJLlEkF4hVLlLlg8pWV5KY1Zg9ZUdbFj/w480-h640/Pep%20at%20the%20Plaza%20Feb%202024.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Pep Goes to the Plaza Hotel </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We got an early start to our Valentine's Day celebration over the weekend. Pep and I met visiting friends and after a sumptuous breakfast stopped by the Plaza Hotel to see the Valentine decorations. We were not disappointed. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnPRq9ag3aF0f31pFnO5STf_4DrqmMCTqrf0W7nEnCvRVqHmLba4dury6S6uIx869Ibjwy5bI8gWnI201KD1qzhhZEGeotb6bul8g-YvW5dDwe9B5uMCAn1a6JLxAM_j-w52StTbxnH_V6njST2j0i0WkrKL_kaL6vocnImV54IMorYBfHW0IrZYLONzg/s960/Pep%20and%20Bebe%20Feb%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnPRq9ag3aF0f31pFnO5STf_4DrqmMCTqrf0W7nEnCvRVqHmLba4dury6S6uIx869Ibjwy5bI8gWnI201KD1qzhhZEGeotb6bul8g-YvW5dDwe9B5uMCAn1a6JLxAM_j-w52StTbxnH_V6njST2j0i0WkrKL_kaL6vocnImV54IMorYBfHW0IrZYLONzg/w480-h640/Pep%20and%20Bebe%20Feb%202024.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Just friends -- Pep and the glamorous BeBe</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We met Fashionista BeBe during the weekend we spent in Wildwood in September and happily have kept in touch. Both BeBe and her family are so much fun and I was as delighted as Pep to be able to spend time with them. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3e4520oW2ibaYgcCF3EYVAQt9x3PeIPPWfnQG3CmtzwWWIbVpqNQktXVp1qgDpmtbIRoLiL4DW8oC2Sizn6Ml36T-h3ib8JuKo05ZO5_YsNGW5p5tlRJpriCQ_tWLrvpJ3q9x6CmB4M1H2F9TNzn-XRr7xRG7viDYXGfCxK_JsRoc-JWuAEIPoGJU1UJc/s960/Bebe%20and%20Pep%20Plaza%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="729" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3e4520oW2ibaYgcCF3EYVAQt9x3PeIPPWfnQG3CmtzwWWIbVpqNQktXVp1qgDpmtbIRoLiL4DW8oC2Sizn6Ml36T-h3ib8JuKo05ZO5_YsNGW5p5tlRJpriCQ_tWLrvpJ3q9x6CmB4M1H2F9TNzn-XRr7xRG7viDYXGfCxK_JsRoc-JWuAEIPoGJU1UJc/w486-h640/Bebe%20and%20Pep%20Plaza%202024.jpg" width="486" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's hearts and flowers for BeBe and Pep</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have no green thumb for orchids, but I am a big orchid fan. I loved seeing the beautiful display at the Plaza. The security staff at the hotel was very easygoing about our photo session. Though who wouldn't be easy going when the photo subjects are as cute as these two? </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-iy0sLWRASiKeFnSEp_HGHi5EAzY94_v_eWZJHfDItUkaJYl8hw3ghJFddIMj769OnzSQa7enAlG-3nlj6do1dL0oNJi3nffTuLVdiazAsnXW_ItxrU9Tc9mtOOl0RyXEu4FFJ7A9wCWx0FgNwwcu1dxvf18AdaccJ25uQpjQk6kHjbS0HFhHW_r38-b/s960/Pep%20and%20Carnegie%20Deli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="709" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-iy0sLWRASiKeFnSEp_HGHi5EAzY94_v_eWZJHfDItUkaJYl8hw3ghJFddIMj769OnzSQa7enAlG-3nlj6do1dL0oNJi3nffTuLVdiazAsnXW_ItxrU9Tc9mtOOl0RyXEu4FFJ7A9wCWx0FgNwwcu1dxvf18AdaccJ25uQpjQk6kHjbS0HFhHW_r38-b/w295-h400/Pep%20and%20Carnegie%20Deli.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Pep at the Iconic Carnegie Deli</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We had breakfast at the legendary Carnegie Deli, a first visit for Pep. He was enthralled by the cake display, including the New York cheesecake. We opted for a Valentine sweet treat of carrot cake, but it was a difficult choice. </span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">We enjoyed hearts, flowers, sweet treats and the best Valentine gift of all, friendship. We send our wishes to all of Buttercupland for a very happy and sweet Valentine's Day with all the treats your hearts desire. Thank you all for the gift of friendship. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As ever thanks for visiting and lots of hearts, flowers and love. </div></span></div><p></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-91681311419053568542024-02-08T17:06:00.001-05:002024-02-08T17:23:29.018-05:00Asking for a Friend: Cool Grandma Name <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5RRgmCe6AcWR2A4fa78O5oqrxu224I5yj8R8nLEqFskv2x2-DKE7Y_FMNbvjbWWLCO2KhjXaQ4HMgtCx13HfU__rx_pl5OM-VVpRnDiKzKosPVrNbzfm3lNntV_11MPnBZP1uYQiGPJQM98CKjJ1A4zHKdELnW-KMCVUoJ6-0ZXiFWw-tssOvIPAbfM9/s960/Stuffed%20Animals%20Ridgefield%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5RRgmCe6AcWR2A4fa78O5oqrxu224I5yj8R8nLEqFskv2x2-DKE7Y_FMNbvjbWWLCO2KhjXaQ4HMgtCx13HfU__rx_pl5OM-VVpRnDiKzKosPVrNbzfm3lNntV_11MPnBZP1uYQiGPJQM98CKjJ1A4zHKdELnW-KMCVUoJ6-0ZXiFWw-tssOvIPAbfM9/w300-h400/Stuffed%20Animals%20Ridgefield%202024.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p><br /></p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm not looking for a cool Grandma name for me -- Alas! -- but for a dear friend, who will become a grandmother in July. I don't have any creative ideas, but I know there are good suggestions out in Buttercupland. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My family was not especially creative in grandmother names. I called my mother's mother Grandma and my father's mother was Nana, though I often referred to them as my grandmother in Hartford and my grandmother in New York. Neither of these would work for my friend in Atlanta. My aunt was called Bubbe, the Yiddish word for grandmother and eventually became Bubbe Mimi to her grandchildren. In time we all referred to her as Bubbe Mimi. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But I know the citizens of Buttercupland have some creative and cool names and we'd love to hear them. A grandmother to be is waiting in Georgia. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As most people know I am not a fan of winter and when ever possible choose to spend at least a short time somewhere much warmer. But that isn't the schedule for this year -- at least not until next month -- and happily the winter is both mild and going quickly. Today is a gorgeous blue sky almost spring day and I started the day with an early visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was blissfully uncrowded and it's inspired me to return to early weekday visits to the museum. I did this for several years after I first retired and loved it, but then drifted away from it. It's definitely time to return to this.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I find I frequently see a familiar painting or sculpture in a new way and my familiar painting for today is Georges Seurat's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Sunday_Afternoon_on_the_Island_of_La_Grande_Jatte">A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grand Jatte.</a> Without the usual crowds I enjoyed standing in front of the painting and just taking it in. What a treat!</span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT30MCSqu4yy733kxmtrEIJPzTCpYIiePgZWUzqigDruLepSvRuTPCkdbWZow1FSZArP8eBWGrb_VWnVOB0ZM7aEwsHvm1u04107CKOvbDE_rvZsk0vgYSjgSpk_asMtwt5pdUUhHB8eYhtZWbesr0D6hMXXQ8BAamSKCCmfSf1N46Of9fNgSMN_of6YAJ/s960/Sunday%20in%20the%20Park%20with%20George.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="960" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT30MCSqu4yy733kxmtrEIJPzTCpYIiePgZWUzqigDruLepSvRuTPCkdbWZow1FSZArP8eBWGrb_VWnVOB0ZM7aEwsHvm1u04107CKOvbDE_rvZsk0vgYSjgSpk_asMtwt5pdUUhHB8eYhtZWbesr0D6hMXXQ8BAamSKCCmfSf1N46Of9fNgSMN_of6YAJ/w640-h584/Sunday%20in%20the%20Park%20with%20George.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As ever, thanks for visiting. Wishes for a great evening.</span></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-62608465741959815792024-02-04T23:44:00.000-05:002024-02-04T23:44:01.619-05:00Day at the Museum<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-ni6qv6OZpeH_z1gKW5BIi03URR3U-0lyijMTJCBVPTvdo3CFQr7fZozMr2P9EWqfYbpN-khoxEgtZw1Vx2dHMSkVoHf6U-XTKJKXHWYpnbenLYe-83xpLYHry4B97wCdJovGnZePVVZl6YM0dSSQ5niFfACJkP6mNk4AptvShqlcpuGBz7hhE4iD20t/s960/Hall%20of%20Mammals%20AMNH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="960" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-ni6qv6OZpeH_z1gKW5BIi03URR3U-0lyijMTJCBVPTvdo3CFQr7fZozMr2P9EWqfYbpN-khoxEgtZw1Vx2dHMSkVoHf6U-XTKJKXHWYpnbenLYe-83xpLYHry4B97wCdJovGnZePVVZl6YM0dSSQ5niFfACJkP6mNk4AptvShqlcpuGBz7hhE4iD20t/w640-h592/Hall%20of%20Mammals%20AMNH.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One Day at the </span><a href="https://www.amnh.org/"><span style="font-size: medium;">American Museum of Natural History</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Almost fifty years ago I worked at the American Museum of Natural History. Yes, the museum made more famous in the movie franchise, Night at the Museum with Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. I often worked well past the time the museum closed and to exit the museum I walked through the deserted halls. Initially I found it both confusing and scary. There were big bugs, dinosaurs or the giant blue whale waiting for me, depending on what route I selected. But during my two years there I came to enjoy my eerie evening walks and the extraordinary adventure of night at the museum. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It wasn't quite the same when I was there last week, but it was a relatively quiet day during my visit last week. There were moments when I shared a museum hall and the exhibit hall at the Planetarium with just a few other visitors. It wasn't going back in time to my years of evening solitude, but it was as close as I've gotten for the last four decades and what a treat. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTF2gdWlIpgiGhw7ISANbs9sJBSi8D9lhHkWnYkBCC9O7DGLECuizqm-Khcc-3aYfxPmVVM304JhfDKB8VHcBU-9EB9IIzJfEBBwdDOopFRAtze4hWBsySEPQs1wVO0znELb2ecgE7ifwGcgz41856DqkMSv5ISyYKG-5p94xkUpJyRb4ZnrTN0Iu-vZH/s960/Planetarium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTF2gdWlIpgiGhw7ISANbs9sJBSi8D9lhHkWnYkBCC9O7DGLECuizqm-Khcc-3aYfxPmVVM304JhfDKB8VHcBU-9EB9IIzJfEBBwdDOopFRAtze4hWBsySEPQs1wVO0znELb2ecgE7ifwGcgz41856DqkMSv5ISyYKG-5p94xkUpJyRb4ZnrTN0Iu-vZH/w480-h640/Planetarium.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p><br /></p><span style="font-size: medium;">This amazing display at the Planetarium didn't exist when I worked at the museum. It's part of the extensive renovations and new buildings that have been added in the last fifty years.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">One other addition is the <a href="https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/butterflies/butterfly-behavior">Butterfly Vivarium</a>, a habitat for butterflies. I first visited here last summer and was happy to return for another visit last week. I learned something new with both visits and it even piqued my interest in becoming a "butterfly volunteer." Unfortunately there are no openings for volunteers in the Vivarium, but will keep an eye on the museum website. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc196iXYhFWA67tGQ4XEFM5wuXcGjXlZXJJ-WMWTGg6e2P5eH26FcZhlB0YTh1T4JdKc8o8dhwHCuLBr07j9nOWY2AqjMncp-CFezNwL10xZr7jO5swr6YmLe9K1cMyKNxrzkoIikKyJ5Lb3roIW2H0FFXLOP3Pf-k369k3xxugkYutzZLpJ7azaESIf7-/s960/Butterfly%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc196iXYhFWA67tGQ4XEFM5wuXcGjXlZXJJ-WMWTGg6e2P5eH26FcZhlB0YTh1T4JdKc8o8dhwHCuLBr07j9nOWY2AqjMncp-CFezNwL10xZr7jO5swr6YmLe9K1cMyKNxrzkoIikKyJ5Lb3roIW2H0FFXLOP3Pf-k369k3xxugkYutzZLpJ7azaESIf7-/w300-h400/Butterfly%202024.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One of the butterflies that intrigued me</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As promised last week we have a winner of the Buttercupland Fifteenth Blogaversary. It's Myra, from <a href="https://mevely317.blogspot.com/">Respice, Prospice</a>, a long time blog buddy. There will be some fun socks -- picture to come in another post -- and a few little surprises. Thanks, all, for the blogaversary good wishes and for being part of the Buttercupland community. Much appreciated!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As ever, thanks for visiting and wishes for a good week. </span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-6639330529340228012024-01-31T23:44:00.000-05:002024-01-31T23:44:41.339-05:00The Journey of a Thousand Miles (Plus One Hundred) <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gViDEoTggAbkGzXUydEGRNbO0h2mZZkjKnUlPox4ZHGhFz4UF7v7VpgFw8XLCHJZWfbpubjztgBdEPeeWx-b6MGyPS-DzBGTk1YIZ7mOJM-Ybx-OpV_Q4KMHq7DQ9g_FJvrzPFJjAKrBiUOTHfY0nf8PonD6-ocu_4EH4BMXvVWiGGknAk3wca3U2K-b/s960/Tiny%20Doll%20House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="727" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gViDEoTggAbkGzXUydEGRNbO0h2mZZkjKnUlPox4ZHGhFz4UF7v7VpgFw8XLCHJZWfbpubjztgBdEPeeWx-b6MGyPS-DzBGTk1YIZ7mOJM-Ybx-OpV_Q4KMHq7DQ9g_FJvrzPFJjAKrBiUOTHfY0nf8PonD6-ocu_4EH4BMXvVWiGGknAk3wca3U2K-b/w303-h400/Tiny%20Doll%20House.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The <a href="https://www.tinydollhouse.com/">Tiny Doll House</a>, which I discovered during one of my January walks</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yes, you read the title correctly. It's another year and another thousand miles to walk, but this year, it's a thousand miles, plus one hundred more. After seven years and at age 73, I'm shaking up the Journey of 1000 Miles. It's time for a challenge. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For the last three years it's been a relatively easy thousand miles. I ended 2023 having walked 1,070 miles. I realized with a little more initiative I could walk eleven hundred miles in 2024 and set a new record for myself. It will take a little more planning, a little more energy and a lot of good luck. The good luck are the things that I can't control, e.g., icy weather, extreme heat and the aches of older age. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Unless I do a lot of walking in the next half hour, I will have completed January with 92 miles. Not bad for a month that had a stretch of freezing weather. I walked almost all of this out of doors, but I did use the treadmill, which I am so not a fan of doing, during the coldest days a few weeks ago. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Where will I be walking this year? Of course, I will be walking in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. I have a trip planned for March back to one of my favorite places ever, Sedona, Arizona, but with a number of new sights on the itinerary. I plan to be back in Maine in the summer and hoping for a visit to Vermont, too. One of my hopes is to visit somewhere I've never been before. I've got some thoughts, but all of my paths seem to be leading me to familiar places. But the year is young and some of the best memories of 2023 weren't even a thought in my mind in January, 2023.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As ever, thanks for visiting and happy walking 2024. </span></div><p></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-58248218917635953082024-01-29T19:13:00.003-05:002024-01-29T19:13:50.567-05:00All You Need Is Love and KC Football<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdbyU3KvVfGkhPr879DkazJVTl1ofc8Pa9Nngitm-mJtWuSchKaTk4Jqq95Ts1CTEtw2H7qw167dHtMP4EyDlzUz6wuSxBDuOMy023dNtFv-aTwGh5aFLs10R7k5-UfIS_xVlLmVwVT2OnTtPOQuazoTHymVdjWYPI26H8HIev_XEtH2tmxCOHkJ02ro-/s960/All%20you%20need%20is%20love%20and%20KC%20football.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="960" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdbyU3KvVfGkhPr879DkazJVTl1ofc8Pa9Nngitm-mJtWuSchKaTk4Jqq95Ts1CTEtw2H7qw167dHtMP4EyDlzUz6wuSxBDuOMy023dNtFv-aTwGh5aFLs10R7k5-UfIS_xVlLmVwVT2OnTtPOQuazoTHymVdjWYPI26H8HIev_XEtH2tmxCOHkJ02ro-/w400-h396/All%20you%20need%20is%20love%20and%20KC%20football.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm not the biggest fan of professional football. Actually I'd pretty much stopped following it when the Giants fell off the Superbowl radar. But that changed when I went to Kansas City in the fall. Though I haven't stopped hoping for a Giants resurgence, I kind of/sort of shifted my allegiance to the Kansas City Chiefs. Chiefs-abilia was everywhere and pictures of Travis Kelce and Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift were everywhere I turned. Though their relationship was in its early phases I predicted that it would <a href="https://buttercupcountsherblessings.blogspot.com/2023/10/you-read-it-here-first.html">go the distance.</a> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Three months have gone by since I made that bold prediction. In not quite two weeks the Chiefs are going to the Superbowl and Taylor and Travis are still together. I'm still predicting that this golden couple will get married after the Chiefs win the Superbowl. Just remember, you read it here first. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1FxsGPxu-PqzBFIXo8V2-c2FKc5pxrefAzjoEaFiNLYi2lCl6AduIXrjh367l8wodnmdLMZJbKxdQqiM-nK1a03Az5U0arXuu-JngtBkt-xXGZMiSyK7lQZrIC1Gvk70oWymvrG1D53EbstpcjwHBvTYWjANQnIXlFcsX7XffgYZMNKHMICc7yA-NZoB/s960/Carol%20and%20justin%20Tuck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="627" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1FxsGPxu-PqzBFIXo8V2-c2FKc5pxrefAzjoEaFiNLYi2lCl6AduIXrjh367l8wodnmdLMZJbKxdQqiM-nK1a03Az5U0arXuu-JngtBkt-xXGZMiSyK7lQZrIC1Gvk70oWymvrG1D53EbstpcjwHBvTYWjANQnIXlFcsX7XffgYZMNKHMICc7yA-NZoB/w261-h400/Carol%20and%20justin%20Tuck.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">From the (blurry) Buttercupland Archives </span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Back in 2014 I got to meet Justin Tuck, <a href="lhttps://buttercupcountsherblessings.blogspot.com/search?q=justin+tuck">former defensive end for the Giants.</a> It was part of a blogging promotion sponsored by our local drugstore chain. Amazingly ten years have gone by. The Giants haven't been in a Super Bowl, Justin Tuck has retired, but Buttercup keeps happily chugging on in Blogland. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In non-sports news, it's cold, but not icy and there's been lots of walking on my schedule. I've been remiss on posting about my 2023 Journey of 1000 Miles, so that will be my next post. It was a good walking year and I'm hopeful that 2024 will be equally energetic. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Thanks for all the good wishes on the Buttercupland Blogaversary. Much appreciated! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As ever, thanks for visiting. Keep cozy and take good care. </span></p><p><br /></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-29391876998588203502024-01-27T21:40:00.002-05:002024-01-27T21:50:59.414-05:00Now We Are Fifteen<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfaE_0cjLb5sH_foWBlA3aEavQi2elDlBDutOU_VUPxFSN8Xo_bDTs50bMQpYv3m7s26VcHHz0UYae9rPzMhkx-1JhLFjWwRNJc2vHVZJbdFLh3PXU8755K-GpBfOCxohUTpNavs1soG7BpgwqUC1bOgaT7vxBka-BohX4DxaNBUpMBc0-UVXpeqzS2xa/s2048/Biddeston%20Manor%20House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfaE_0cjLb5sH_foWBlA3aEavQi2elDlBDutOU_VUPxFSN8Xo_bDTs50bMQpYv3m7s26VcHHz0UYae9rPzMhkx-1JhLFjWwRNJc2vHVZJbdFLh3PXU8755K-GpBfOCxohUTpNavs1soG7BpgwqUC1bOgaT7vxBka-BohX4DxaNBUpMBc0-UVXpeqzS2xa/w480-h640/Biddeston%20Manor%20House.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I wouldn't have gotten to Biddestone (Wiltshire, England) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">without my dear blog friend, Sybil</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On Monday January 12, 2009 I came home from work and decided to start a blog. It was a very spur of the moment idea, but I found "Blogger," thought of a title, "Buttercup Counts Her Blessings," and wrote my <a href="https://buttercupcountsherblessings.blogspot.com/2009/01/new-year-new-blog.html">first post,</a> "New Year, New Blog." It was all of nine lines. I didn't know how to post a photograph, so it was just text. I didn't get a comment. I posted six more times that January and by the end of the month I had figured out how to post photographs. I received seven comments all month. Despite the lack of response I decided to keep blogging. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs969trcPFrMDUSYRm-Og4bRpysQnbj9uUaPywvG0sjvq6XXScRpClCcBGnHrx6x1zsQJfghMZpq_7K-Ha6rl4d5x-tC7QO_KFGJ01kXcJBscivMPogFdjevqPyRmEZNuyNCsqNRgRYsHwBq9kKJPocb_GfI2Ru_6VLivgVjg_UEGK45iZMwLRGN5u3_4D/s240/Animal%20Party%20(2).gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="240" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs969trcPFrMDUSYRm-Og4bRpysQnbj9uUaPywvG0sjvq6XXScRpClCcBGnHrx6x1zsQJfghMZpq_7K-Ha6rl4d5x-tC7QO_KFGJ01kXcJBscivMPogFdjevqPyRmEZNuyNCsqNRgRYsHwBq9kKJPocb_GfI2Ru_6VLivgVjg_UEGK45iZMwLRGN5u3_4D/w400-h323/Animal%20Party%20(2).gif" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">By my one year Blogaversary, I had made lots of blog friends and by April, 2010 I had gone to Maryland for my first blog get-together. I still am in touch with a number of the bloggers I met during the weekend. I can't count the number of blog buddies I've been able to spend time with all over the world, and I am grateful for all the good times that we've shared. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fifteen years have gone by since that first post in 2009. My world has been enriched beyond anything I could have imagined when I wrote the first lines. None of the good times, friendship and connections would have been possible without all of the Citizens of Buttercupland. Dear friends, you've visited, commented and reached out by email and by the postal service, and I can't imagine my life without all of my Buttercupland friends. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I can't send out party favors to all, but I am doing a giveaway to celebrate my fifteenth Blogaversary. Just leave a comment by Saturday night, February 3 and via Random Number Generator, I will choose one person to receive a surprise. I'll do the post next Sunday, February 4. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The dancing animals at the top of the page are my Blogaversary tradition. I used this for the first time in 2010 and have just kept using them for each celebration. I hope to use them for at least fifteen more years.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As ever, thanks for visiting and thanks for your friendship through the years. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-45212074443686601552024-01-15T22:59:00.003-05:002024-01-15T22:59:44.218-05:00Breaking News, Breaking News<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHacycWlny8xtfGE5uV1Eh8A_iwiF4gcCTa6bZHCtqFsWM4NAD4kdhXO_1ZfgGdtJVJewADu-ykZimjIznrcA0YGcn9p2zTznfhni0I6l9lmxA9FNcgUTxR00ijpVV66t0_TwGmmCFif9OMdWl7iXPJBUJPmUYTGKDVnWHYJUV_w286_5LKSlTgoYJkHt7/s960/Snowy%20night%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHacycWlny8xtfGE5uV1Eh8A_iwiF4gcCTa6bZHCtqFsWM4NAD4kdhXO_1ZfgGdtJVJewADu-ykZimjIznrcA0YGcn9p2zTznfhni0I6l9lmxA9FNcgUTxR00ijpVV66t0_TwGmmCFif9OMdWl7iXPJBUJPmUYTGKDVnWHYJUV_w286_5LKSlTgoYJkHt7/w480-h640/Snowy%20night%202024.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's snowing!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We interrupt our regularly scheduled content -- National Bagel Day -- to announce that it's snowing in New York City and for the first time in over 700 days it appears to be sticking. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I am not a fan of snow and haven't been for at least 60 years. I loved it when I was in elementary school, but after that my love of snow waned and withered. I love it in movies and when the first clean snow covers the city, but I don't love it as it freezes on sidewalks and turns to grey slush. That said, I confess that I've missed snow. I never imagined that New York could go almost two years without at least an inch of snow, but here we are, or were. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Let's return to our annual celebration of <a href="https://nationaltoday.com/national-bagel-day/">National Bagel Day</a>. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5i-E4MyNcdNNvMulx-S4HwLY-372524b_9PP-bb3iCy0jDBsyqcBC1nQlIJpJyR-yXPmEQV0lIrkav_LEC0Hxy1NNJ6h5xpamIGaMRZbinlJWzTKfyLehDRxLs8_OHnI2XflYFw7zBHq3xiypkP-ynUjM75nZ7Dl9neBOQoL5YSjFjOrocFFnUx85kaS/s960/Bagel%20(Tal).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5i-E4MyNcdNNvMulx-S4HwLY-372524b_9PP-bb3iCy0jDBsyqcBC1nQlIJpJyR-yXPmEQV0lIrkav_LEC0Hxy1NNJ6h5xpamIGaMRZbinlJWzTKfyLehDRxLs8_OHnI2XflYFw7zBHq3xiypkP-ynUjM75nZ7Dl9neBOQoL5YSjFjOrocFFnUx85kaS/w640-h480/Bagel%20(Tal).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The bagel originated in Poland -- first written record in the Seventeenth century -- and came to the United States with Eastern European immigrants at the end of the Nineteenth Century. But it was mass production and automation that sent bagels to supermarkets all over the world and made them a breakfast staple. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm very fortunate to have a bagel store a few blocks from home (where this photo was taken) and I'm a semi-regular visitor. My favorite kinds of bagels are sesame and cinnamon raisin. Does anyone else have a favorite bagel? Butter or cream cheese? </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is not a(nother) lamp post, but since there has been interest in my new lamp I am including a photograph. I'm loving having more light and it was definitely money well spent. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7qlbx0GR4uE-n4a677qe78gCtIvx8aHlTjj6XIOs8hS8cKUr3ztCGepBupPVx2via1XS8jqm39t9L_m27tQhilBuM4gfzhjZ3D46ZErwAi9YHDb6dFPQublW2Dq-Pr1uMtbzau1XWXVIqY251_FTMNUwNXYNJlwyv7-ayAKF6lRpv28B7KbPizNrXO6k/s960/NewLamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7qlbx0GR4uE-n4a677qe78gCtIvx8aHlTjj6XIOs8hS8cKUr3ztCGepBupPVx2via1XS8jqm39t9L_m27tQhilBuM4gfzhjZ3D46ZErwAi9YHDb6dFPQublW2Dq-Pr1uMtbzau1XWXVIqY251_FTMNUwNXYNJlwyv7-ayAKF6lRpv28B7KbPizNrXO6k/w300-h400/NewLamp.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As semi-excited as I am about our snow, I realize that's it not so exciting in many parts of the country and the conditions are freezing and dangerous. Take care, friends, and stay safe. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As ever, thanks for visiting and keep cozy. </span></div></div><p></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-68280196793245611252024-01-14T21:33:00.000-05:002024-01-14T21:33:12.122-05:00Sunday Across the Park <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArNG7B-aerxprNHtvd8Y2fSQUIeapScZjijo-frAoDhZIHhPSmInTSSYS_F6p44NN6CMDMCATDQmC9hB9B4rJfUkCZsoo1_C4ctbfHy43f3pwstPHCIUJHc0DB06rTJppTxkhyphenhypheniv30-PvBhT7T6K7_s8uV8Co5o0iMw0yT2mphnGykCnnXI8Yui_rv8Yh/s960/Temple%20of%20Dendur%20ceiling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArNG7B-aerxprNHtvd8Y2fSQUIeapScZjijo-frAoDhZIHhPSmInTSSYS_F6p44NN6CMDMCATDQmC9hB9B4rJfUkCZsoo1_C4ctbfHy43f3pwstPHCIUJHc0DB06rTJppTxkhyphenhypheniv30-PvBhT7T6K7_s8uV8Co5o0iMw0yT2mphnGykCnnXI8Yui_rv8Yh/w480-h640/Temple%20of%20Dendur%20ceiling.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A new perspective on the Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I was a little wary about keeping engaged during the next few months. I didn't think I'd be twiddling my thumbs, but I also didn't think there would be much going on out of the ordinary. I was so wrong.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I belong to a neighborhood group on Facebook and a couple of weeks ago noticed a one-hour photography class scheduled for today. The format was a guided walk through the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The class was cellphone camera friendly, convenient, inexpensive and the time was perfect. I've been intimidated by the thought of a photography class. I was concerned that my classmates would be much more talented and the instructor would be overly critical. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I was very pleasantly disappointed. My lone classmate was my friend, Mary, and the instructor, Mindy, could not have been more supportive and helpful. In a much too quick hour I learned about a dozen things I can do to improve the quality of my photographs. My head was buzzing -- in a good way -- by the end of the session. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbkkcyx4dmF1I8EzpXGbN-7fqfjME9qRgFLr1KvE3LASesAvAUI1VowvkV5XSH0XzFwt-nFtZfYj9fuC-zwTwyUmUEBiEUiF7TG_KZ46uuyxvArJUJlT1PrQwbr4JwaB4A7HgUvLcYlWmlUngos0UdzeaiJwackLoAXrJuvBw64zBAr8FNSYnnhP-hWVR/s960/Egyptian%20gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbkkcyx4dmF1I8EzpXGbN-7fqfjME9qRgFLr1KvE3LASesAvAUI1VowvkV5XSH0XzFwt-nFtZfYj9fuC-zwTwyUmUEBiEUiF7TG_KZ46uuyxvArJUJlT1PrQwbr4JwaB4A7HgUvLcYlWmlUngos0UdzeaiJwackLoAXrJuvBw64zBAr8FNSYnnhP-hWVR/w360-h640/Egyptian%20gallery.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My perspective on a Queen of Egypt</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKhhv3AzHPbGmJnrC5B8p1iDXFpdMHaZkF4ov6PS2l39eAEuD8nkHdFSuZaH_z8tXnnO0-SQLADC3u8NDUmpDP-Jamg_2haBOnGT41b0NNNQKNYGsJg4TFDVJg3ctar2o6UPJKkTASLi4Z0zWtZOiw19JGIUdx0x0xc1oknEOVfVweSJOnKDHFWF5xhOJ/s960/Budha%20Met%20Museum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKhhv3AzHPbGmJnrC5B8p1iDXFpdMHaZkF4ov6PS2l39eAEuD8nkHdFSuZaH_z8tXnnO0-SQLADC3u8NDUmpDP-Jamg_2haBOnGT41b0NNNQKNYGsJg4TFDVJg3ctar2o6UPJKkTASLi4Z0zWtZOiw19JGIUdx0x0xc1oknEOVfVweSJOnKDHFWF5xhOJ/w480-h640/Budha%20Met%20Museum.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Light and Shadow in the Asian Galleries</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The photography school offers a number of other classes and even photography trips. The one in September to Italy is especially intriguing. I know I'll be taking another class (or two!), but before I sign up I'm going to think carefully on what will be the best next step in my photography journey. I'm also going to practice the things we learned today to become more adept.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Even January, the slowest month, is racing by. I had a visit from my dear friend K, this weekend and happily she'll be returning next week. There's a get-together with a London friend and then friends from Massachusetts and California will be in town. I know I'm going to blink and then it will be February. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As ever, thanks for visiting. Keep cozy and stay safe in the Polar Vortex.</div></span></div><p></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-56291383972478471792024-01-09T22:07:00.003-05:002024-01-09T22:07:57.718-05:00My Last Lamp Post<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NyT3WQ7NcsFOcumdtnJ4l0ziTGCRdGwpOUGoLLXgJ5ELtW8xRoPfQTMK8TsChJVcYkFEAj_Noh5iR0pbhyV9R5MYJYdfgvQ8HfEbSO-ac2MSqwDOhsTuXwFN5Mlu_-U-c3LqsfmlgY-3REZ1D-gLfz-U-mvXJhWNdohhR0hNOYD3ZFgpFjs3VwuLyBJx/s960/West%20Side%20Kids%20window%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="701" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NyT3WQ7NcsFOcumdtnJ4l0ziTGCRdGwpOUGoLLXgJ5ELtW8xRoPfQTMK8TsChJVcYkFEAj_Noh5iR0pbhyV9R5MYJYdfgvQ8HfEbSO-ac2MSqwDOhsTuXwFN5Mlu_-U-c3LqsfmlgY-3REZ1D-gLfz-U-mvXJhWNdohhR0hNOYD3ZFgpFjs3VwuLyBJx/w468-h640/West%20Side%20Kids%20window%202023.jpg" width="468" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I was tempted, but I resisted</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Somehow we're into the second week of January. I've walked 26+ miles, gone to the gym, a Pilates class and spent $58.15 for a new lamp and light bulb. The light bulb is supposed to last three years. I'm still deleting sale emails and walking on by stores, and the temptation to recreationally look/shop has decreased considerably. I was greatly tempted walking by one of my favorite neighborhood stores -- 50% off -- and there's always a present or two to buy, but since it's No Spending January, I just took a few pictures and walked on by. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I appreciate the comments about the necessity of light and I agree. With that in mind, I have made no purchases that go against my No Spending "rules." I've put the lamp together and it's great to have more light in my apartment. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I always find the beginning of January a let down after the holiday festivities. For the last decade, 2021 and 2022 excepted, I've had a trip planned. It's been great to have somewhere warm to visit in the middle of winter. But this year my first trip away is in March and I'm home all of January and February. I'm going to focus on blogging, reading and keeping up with my walking. I've also found a decluttering workshop I've signed up for later this month, and that will be a project for the January and February. Do you have any special plans for the winter, either travel plans or at home?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As ever, thanks for visiting. Keep cozy, friends! </span></div><p></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-79371155263775891982024-01-05T23:07:00.003-05:002024-01-05T23:07:48.363-05:00The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Women, 2024 Edition<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrCj8B95C9vMnDPvSg52AxU_cgqFCdQkLmAL24la6ftk2j_LGzvQft2BKEzI6fjBa2eCOorVo6tIbGVSd3yOvfJKGWYG1SLiZDWn7fHpphUpEOxtr9Y0rIRwWivJAHGbm-pS5LNkTwsSafDYe0uFq4QDAV-W4C-oWlNgaaSSQKd7qbQzuh_h8KKMaQ_xE/s783/Floor%20lamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="783" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrCj8B95C9vMnDPvSg52AxU_cgqFCdQkLmAL24la6ftk2j_LGzvQft2BKEzI6fjBa2eCOorVo6tIbGVSd3yOvfJKGWYG1SLiZDWn7fHpphUpEOxtr9Y0rIRwWivJAHGbm-pS5LNkTwsSafDYe0uFq4QDAV-W4C-oWlNgaaSSQKd7qbQzuh_h8KKMaQ_xE/w640-h498/Floor%20lamps.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When did buying a lamp get so complicated?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It was the afternoon of January 5th and I was rocking no-spending. I'd walked by at fifty stores and didn't go into even one, unless it was for a needed grocery item and that includes a visit to Target. No cute things accompanied me to the register. I've deleted what seems like hundreds of emails promising me the best sales I've ever seen. Deleted, deleted, deleted without a second look. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">All that changed. I came home from the library and went to turn on the floor lamp that is the main source of light in my living room. Nothing. I changed the bulb. Nothing. I checked to see if the lamp was plugged in. Nothing. I flicked the central light switch. Nothing. It's an old building and there isn't any overhead light in the living room. Without the floor lamp, it's like being in a cave. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The lamp is an inheritance from parents and it's at least 70 years old. It's extremely well made -- why it's lasted this long -- and very sturdy. I appreciate having it, but I'm not especially sentimental about it. I think it could be rewired, but not by me and at what cost? I ponder this for a few minutes and decide I need to get a new lamp for the living room and I need to do it soon. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I search Amazon, Walmart and Costco, amazing that I can do all this while sitting in my living room. I'm dazzled by phrases that are new to me, including "color temperatures." I find the lamp that I think will work on both the Amazon and Walmart websites. I go with Amazon because they can deliver it tomorrow and Walmart's estimated delivery date is Tuesday. I load my cart, push the buttons and pray that the easy assembly is as easy as it looks. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the story of how on the fifth day of the first month of 2024 I broke No Spending January, but it beats living in a cave. I ordered it eight hours ago and I got an email several hours ago letting me know that the lamp has been shipped. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm going to be optimistic that the $49.95 I've just spent will be the only money I spend for things this month. I've got renewed enthusiasm for keeping my commitment to No Spending, and now it's back to walk on by and delete, delete, delete. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">How was your Friday? I skipped the gym today because my subway line wasn't running and I was unsure how crowded the buses would be. I did get in three miles of walking, a visit to the library where I read most of the latest New Yorker and I bought a lamp. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><p></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-90019913102913438592024-01-04T22:35:00.005-05:002024-01-04T22:35:58.187-05:00Once Again, It's No Spending January<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkL_BpJKi33su6fhJcoEkGkeIdFNRXiFGzEHC4kXWuV2dRgnwn29l5I5Wik9ie-FugEA9sTQelkE3mPvuAc4_qKmJNzHS4lk9d968RrmyuAd7IKIRO0Hn086YCV-5mL_7oXDKi6THMs6UeDgFSLGI4u8njyCidpGw_m9KV2uOoHueel6Abfe5gWW15Ug_/s960/Christmas%20sale%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="764" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkL_BpJKi33su6fhJcoEkGkeIdFNRXiFGzEHC4kXWuV2dRgnwn29l5I5Wik9ie-FugEA9sTQelkE3mPvuAc4_qKmJNzHS4lk9d968RrmyuAd7IKIRO0Hn086YCV-5mL_7oXDKi6THMs6UeDgFSLGI4u8njyCidpGw_m9KV2uOoHueel6Abfe5gWW15Ug_/w510-h640/Christmas%20sale%202023.jpg" width="510" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They're posting sale notices, but not for me! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's No Spending January</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's the fourth day of January and so far I'm quite cheerfully sticking to my No-Spending rules for January. For new citizens of Buttercupland, the rules are simple. No buying things, i.e., no buying clothes, makeup, on sale holiday things and anything else that is cute, costs money and catches my eye. These are the basic rules I made up ten years ago -- I think -- when I began No Spending January. Some years I've added limiting snacks or tickets to events, but this year I'm going back to basics. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I began the tradition after the excesses of December and what seemed like a ridiculous spendy holiday season. I made a big exception in January 2018 when I went to Australia and realized there would be things that I wanted and possibly needed to buy. I resumed No Spending in February when I returned and there was absolutely nothing I needed to buy. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I thought about not doing No Spending this year, mainly because I was getting email for some great sales. I was sure there would be something I desperately needed. I realized that was all the more reason to put my self-created spending rules in place. I don't need a new winter coat or boots or a hat, no matter how fabulous the sale appears. I've got leggings and fleece and I think I'm okay for the next month and probably a lot longer. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I've got a couple of things in my Amazon cart, but they will just have to stay there until February. I'm also contemplating a new television set, but that too will wait until February or maybe even March. I'm looking at travel plans for the year, but unless something fabulous and unforeseen happens, those, too, will wait for February. It's not that I won't do anything in January, I just don't plan to buy anything except food, tickets for events and medications. I'm optimistic that this "money reset" will lead to more thoughtful spending in the rest of 2024. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If the idea intrigues anyone else, I hope you'll join me. No Spending loves company. The rules I've described are my rules. You may choose to included other categories that make sense to you. It's all a path to being more thoughtful about money.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As ever, thanks for visiting and keep cozy. </span></div><p></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-14494089577607462062024-01-01T21:58:00.000-05:002024-01-01T21:58:04.168-05:00My Perfect Word for 2024<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJYiU1t4fKmlL-TvQIJX_FdG-9rDLiMYLkTJbjhbW75SBBcTfeG3Qz1S-g1ssdGcFkxnVreO-Y9VjQmnV7Y3Evt86NgRHkhyphenhyphen8YQoBZzt50UEfPHqE0iFShKJKh0VoatF9Q2_ocN5KM6UCjUrY36ANwAtjB84AEMjd4YJZVeCVxTphp2RLDM99RTv1F_qi/s960/Melanie%20Mayron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="907" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJYiU1t4fKmlL-TvQIJX_FdG-9rDLiMYLkTJbjhbW75SBBcTfeG3Qz1S-g1ssdGcFkxnVreO-Y9VjQmnV7Y3Evt86NgRHkhyphenhyphen8YQoBZzt50UEfPHqE0iFShKJKh0VoatF9Q2_ocN5KM6UCjUrY36ANwAtjB84AEMjd4YJZVeCVxTphp2RLDM99RTv1F_qi/w604-h640/Melanie%20Mayron.jpg" width="604" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Stagedoor Buttercup with Melanie Mayron, December 31, 2023</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the 1980s when I was thirty-something I was a regular watcher of the television show, "Thirtysomething." It didn't depict my life in New York City, but the characters and situations were close enough. In those long ago days before streaming I'd make an effort to be home to watch the show. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thirty-five years slip by and I got a ticket to see an off Broadway play, Madwomen of the West. It was an enjoyable and interesting show and the actors were known to me, especially Marilu Henner of Taxi fame, Brooke Adam, who I remembered from "Days of Heaven," and Melanie Mayron, who was one of my favorites in Thirtysomething. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyayZRwn59NRzQPJZheoYGc63kCPcFnjH32-uurqVTJuqDbo17y2-o60MsLPff_OKG2CkK5IiYtgsdzi6xlQwEp8YAaqXRCt0ae5rLnVzG52TBSiD4hFKbTSJog3Fgo2kw2d5Hxpc7eAh4CROF45EYMybvfjR2OKDv5rSGegcakNOn_7xoUDxgqlpU2p4L/s960/Madwomen%20of%20the%20West.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="655" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyayZRwn59NRzQPJZheoYGc63kCPcFnjH32-uurqVTJuqDbo17y2-o60MsLPff_OKG2CkK5IiYtgsdzi6xlQwEp8YAaqXRCt0ae5rLnVzG52TBSiD4hFKbTSJog3Fgo2kw2d5Hxpc7eAh4CROF45EYMybvfjR2OKDv5rSGegcakNOn_7xoUDxgqlpU2p4L/w436-h640/Madwomen%20of%20the%20West.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><br /> </span> <span style="font-size: medium;">After the show I stayed at the stage door and took pictures of, and with, some of the cast. I was amazed at how friendly the actors were to the handful of audience that was waiting for photographs and autographs. I especially liked the picture above with Melanie Mayron, who couldn't have been friendlier. Though we didn't exchange more than two dozen words I felt as though we were old college friends. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You may ask what does this have to do with my perfect word for 2024. My word has nothing to do with thirtysomething or theater, but it does have to do with the warmth and friendliness I found at the stage door. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Two weeks ago I selected my word for 2024. My word for 2023 was Pace and my word for 2024 was going to be Peace, just the difference of a vowel. I'd started looking at pictures and a few quotes that I wanted to use in my post. I was just about set, until yesterday afternoon. The stage door pictures followed a very friendly interaction at a restaurant. My friend and I sat down just to have coffee before the show, but the staff and other diners were so friendly that the half hour visit turned into something we were still happily remembering on our way home. It was all because people were friendly. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Peace is a great word and it's my deepest prayer for 2024, but it's not the word that sets my personal vision. I've been selecting a word since 2012 and each year the word chooses me. I don't choose the word and this year Friendly chose me. I tend to be friendly, but I'm going to try to be just a little friendlier. I'm going to remember that a smile, a kind word, saying hello might make this enormous city just a little bit smaller and a little bit warmer. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Several people have asked about choosing a "perfect word" and I found the first blog post I wrote about it in <a href="https://buttercupcountsherblessings.blogspot.com/search?q=my+perfect+word">2011.</a> My first perfect word was (Embrace) Change for 2012. At that time I was looking to retire in 2012 and retirement was the change I (believed I) was approaching. But the change in my life, totally unforeseeable in December 2011 was a spinal cord tumor that would be diagnosed in May. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That's my perfect word and that's a wrap on 2023. I'll be back with blog posts on My Journey of 1100 Miles -- yes, you read that correctly -- No-Spending January, with a twist this year, and my favorite reads of 2023.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As ever, thanks for visiting and as ever, my thanks for your friendship in 2023 and through the years. I couldn't have done it without you. </span></span></div><p></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-38870702842963102872023-12-30T23:34:00.001-05:002023-12-30T23:34:37.421-05:00I'm Doing the Fly<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9ComAnethXyIZ7msRQQnVLS2_7jGQLWtgZnA5zTi3w0Cwm3UbTitwZtJ4RxTynEdZXK3IpNEGSbstZm-onVt7Z_YtUxvctyGx4OkZHKNB6c4K9V1fkKJzxC8jxjpwrHP1KI_3oy9e7nnLzK0r9UQ4zzmeDohTvw-eJfUKT2WNHaWNuVMbTvE6kXbQnb5/s960/At%20the%20gym%20dec%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="784" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9ComAnethXyIZ7msRQQnVLS2_7jGQLWtgZnA5zTi3w0Cwm3UbTitwZtJ4RxTynEdZXK3IpNEGSbstZm-onVt7Z_YtUxvctyGx4OkZHKNB6c4K9V1fkKJzxC8jxjpwrHP1KI_3oy9e7nnLzK0r9UQ4zzmeDohTvw-eJfUKT2WNHaWNuVMbTvE6kXbQnb5/w522-h640/At%20the%20gym%20dec%202023.jpg" width="522" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At the rear delt/fly machine -- my accomplishment for 2023 </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At the moment this picture was taken I wasn't actually <a href="https://www.setforset.com/blogs/news/cable-rear-delt-fly">doing the fly</a>, and I'd finished my sets for both the day and 2023. But while I was using the rear delt/fly machine I realized that this may be perhaps my single best accomplishment of the year. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I've been doing strength training for the last nine years. I took some breaks with a broken shoulder in 2017, hip replacement in 2019, during the pandemic when the Y was closed and in the fall of 2022 when I overdid the leg press and had a stress fracture in my knee. But this winter after finishing physical therapy for cervical stenosis, I returned to strength training, with tremendous encouragement from my beloved physical therapist, Sally. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I started with lower weight and less repetitions and with familiar machines. But as the year went by I increased I slowly -- didn't want to risk the stress fracture again -- I added weight and numbers. I also started looking around the gym for different machines to try for a more interesting workout. My eye always found the rear delt/fly, which works the shoulders and upper back.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNNDqnZ0A8ChBBf-SFoszlxjUxHDs-GwosNHxDQTArw2oVzGMjozQHSRgRMaWDCgYEPE71J1FL5OgUOocwa-6Hl7i4JBUtYbifyv11VeN-Edv7FlMdfwwYhb_0E8qNacyLJb1mBsnWcYWrGQkurSh7znikpmg6V25fsWrRG77J3BpmxpvCIu5pE99DvcM/s1313/fly%20rear%20delt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1313" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNNDqnZ0A8ChBBf-SFoszlxjUxHDs-GwosNHxDQTArw2oVzGMjozQHSRgRMaWDCgYEPE71J1FL5OgUOocwa-6Hl7i4JBUtYbifyv11VeN-Edv7FlMdfwwYhb_0E8qNacyLJb1mBsnWcYWrGQkurSh7znikpmg6V25fsWrRG77J3BpmxpvCIu5pE99DvcM/w312-h640/fly%20rear%20delt.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><br /> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The machine may have caught my eye, but my mind kept saying no. I didn't see any other women using the machine and generally the guys using it were younger and in great shape. It didn't seem to be the machine for senior citizen women. But it kept calling my name and one day in the summer, I asked one of the staff how to use it. He showed me and encouraged me and I started to use it when no one else was around, generally resetting the weight from 100 pounds (and more) to twenty pounds. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm still at twenty pounds, though I'm thinking it's time to move to twenty-five pounds next visit. I don't see any definition in my back, despite what the articles I've been reading promise. But all that said I've claimed the machine and I'm no longer trying to do it "secretly," i.e., when no one else is in the weight room. I'm proudly doing the fly. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It may be a small accomplishment, but I'll take it. It's my accomplishment for 2023. As I've written before I was always one of the last picked in elementary school gym classes for years. I've never excelled in any sport and until I retired and joined the Y I never thought I would be a gym regular. But I happily am. Do I always enjoy going? Definitely not, but I always enjoy having been there. It never fails to amaze me that this is one of my favorite activities of my senior years. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Has anyone else taken on new activities in the last few years? Are you now a Pilates regular, learning a new language or painting? </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'll be back tomorrow with New Year's wishes, and in the interim enjoy the last day of 2023.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. </span></div><p></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-75312071944117228212023-12-25T23:43:00.000-05:002023-12-25T23:43:32.483-05:00On Christmas Night<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nYFm2Vx-QrCKEdWzUOBHh5bN_OVgWb_5CA1m_uAGIz1ATDnvm8Ut9B2avE8pLUWDLtvnqd3kRTwvswRDScKVc17KGpB0e1LkLxhvpO9YplWgXzvvW0Q92pdRx8QMKlF8Nd-lp1q6O7rx5bBGoqomjVbWL_50yrlHAwEfLFZof3DhlE1DrIzLReaGCFvS/s960/Breezy%20Point%20Christmas%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nYFm2Vx-QrCKEdWzUOBHh5bN_OVgWb_5CA1m_uAGIz1ATDnvm8Ut9B2avE8pLUWDLtvnqd3kRTwvswRDScKVc17KGpB0e1LkLxhvpO9YplWgXzvvW0Q92pdRx8QMKlF8Nd-lp1q6O7rx5bBGoqomjVbWL_50yrlHAwEfLFZof3DhlE1DrIzLReaGCFvS/w480-h640/Breezy%20Point%20Christmas%202023.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Christmas in New York City</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yes, friends, this is Christmas in New York City. It's not Rockefeller Center or the department store windows in Manhattan, but it's still New York City. And if it looks like the beach, that's because it is the beach, and it's where I spent the 2023 Christmas weekend. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thanks to dear friends I enjoyed Christmas at the beach without leaving New York City. Though it sounds like a complete contradiction New York City has 520 miles of shorefront and this area at the far end of Queens (one of the five boroughs that make up New York City) has some of the nicest beaches I know. Though it's just an hour from home it's a million miles away for peace and quiet and that is a wonderful gift. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you celebrate Christmas I hope that your celebration was filled with laughter and fun, good food, perhaps a holiday movie or two and moments of peace and joy. I hope your day was bright with family, friends and good times. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> I've purposely left the week ahead very unscheduled. I still have cards to write -- same as every year -- and I want to get to the gym, enjoy walking in the mild weather predicted for the week and finish up a couple of books I've started. What's on your agenda for the last week of 2023?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As ever, thanks for visiting and wishes for a week of peace and rest. </span></span></div><p></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-58449197352928747162023-12-19T23:40:00.002-05:002023-12-19T23:40:48.395-05:00It's Beginning to Look Exactly Like Christmas<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6A6ijDlDL3GZ9MV9XewHkYVK2etOSPOqId20m3a9hT5fKlMsKQ9pMxOA5LpVVaA_RnEZ_UxO0UDRWIWeX-f4OcEH5zfA1TxsPLeLolwkXDzSC1rGILm5KAqTUaTFXCbdHEU5zvtFZUBlfo1bAOYjGzRCPn_w0Olyo_3XKPVYMdFtTrJQQdkBZw-kSdi46/s960/Tree%20stand%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6A6ijDlDL3GZ9MV9XewHkYVK2etOSPOqId20m3a9hT5fKlMsKQ9pMxOA5LpVVaA_RnEZ_UxO0UDRWIWeX-f4OcEH5zfA1TxsPLeLolwkXDzSC1rGILm5KAqTUaTFXCbdHEU5zvtFZUBlfo1bAOYjGzRCPn_w0Olyo_3XKPVYMdFtTrJQQdkBZw-kSdi46/w480-h640/Tree%20stand%202023.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>In five more days the tree stands a</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>and the aroma of the trees</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"> will once again be memory</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">December 2023 went right on schedule. I start off with a dozen lists and right after Thanksgiving I'm checking items off, quick, quick, quick. Cards are ordered, stamps are bought and I've bought almost everything I need to get. The first week goes great. I've mailed half a dozen packages and sent off a dozen cards. This year is going to be different. I'm ahead of schedule. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">And then somehow real life gets in the way of the lists. I realize that some of the presents that were bought in the beginning of November -- and really perfectly chosen -- are nowhere to be found and I've ransacked the apartment. This event leads to figuring out the shopping websites of Europe and after some slips and slides I've now ordered in two countries and two languages and figured out free shipping in both. No more standing in the post office line waving the duty declaration slips and getting glares all around. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">There will be cards, but in some cases not before Christmas.</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"> Since the remaining cards are for New Years, some friends may be receiving Baby Yoda and Pep cards which are pretty cute. </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">I've still got the previously mentioned New Years cards to write, wrapping to do and in a New York custom preparing the envelopes for my building staff. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">I ask the question I ask every year, where did December go?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">December flew by with long walks on city sidewalks and time spent with friends. It flew by seeing the windows of Fifth Avenue and Macy's and a visit to Rockefeller Center. There was a neighborhood party, a college party and an early Christmas dinner and there were lots of homemade cookies. The gifts will be wrapped, the cards will be written and the last minute errands will be done, some more completely than others. But the errands will matter so much less than the time shared.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">And while we've mentioned Macy's, the windows were extraordinary this year and perhaps my favorites of this New York season.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinn0ramjGBeLFZJMCaFTimNnLmwvtUq-T1tlLruMI1zH0UZLf5jwhrZhrbQ6-pSjJ319deTjlMB5PQkoVxQ8j880SGZoRlo5gYha7PsYixzi6ijvRy1naVHi_kMxn-iYjVyntpnjDNHPSfcPggNpRRpdnoLUfc9GL48WFlP_iCSqFNGRFNSsLezJ3Yjeib/s960/Candy%20Cane%20Carousel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="960" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinn0ramjGBeLFZJMCaFTimNnLmwvtUq-T1tlLruMI1zH0UZLf5jwhrZhrbQ6-pSjJ319deTjlMB5PQkoVxQ8j880SGZoRlo5gYha7PsYixzi6ijvRy1naVHi_kMxn-iYjVyntpnjDNHPSfcPggNpRRpdnoLUfc9GL48WFlP_iCSqFNGRFNSsLezJ3Yjeib/w640-h408/Candy%20Cane%20Carousel.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>The Candy Cane Carousel<p></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid03_XacH-9eF8SBDM82QOL58AhboGmTl3eN3Rq4G7oigj_gzu-fQHKtl1IhRoW9kXMghAPMkeYQN4brZNYgyOkKGLDiKxpz5bZGc9xSfPk5xmg1n321dD6Thj2mEr2oL5IZwMUP6imZK1XAHqeIX_eDy62a_yJWCY0yAXHIQDuPase7swwlFV7wNN1cET/s960/Tiptoe%20the%20reindeer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid03_XacH-9eF8SBDM82QOL58AhboGmTl3eN3Rq4G7oigj_gzu-fQHKtl1IhRoW9kXMghAPMkeYQN4brZNYgyOkKGLDiKxpz5bZGc9xSfPk5xmg1n321dD6Thj2mEr2oL5IZwMUP6imZK1XAHqeIX_eDy62a_yJWCY0yAXHIQDuPase7swwlFV7wNN1cET/w640-h480/Tiptoe%20the%20reindeer.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;">The cutest reindeer, Tiptoe</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9hZRHGpPx9LMsIxcLoEVSCrKZdUHO_sMk_AbEuLR-sG9Eb8MPLnPQQzbFtjEqvIhEmbPnyY72O0ZZQ1MoR4o0hG0p0WdpDejQn1KaIarV_SPDcimZWVFjJlfyOOeUwEmfvcvPF_ml_9moo4qnWj8m9HXcBHs2V8Q4Dh0swmMbvXOHNmr5DJA7XCWIpOh/s960/Macys%20Nutcrackers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="960" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9hZRHGpPx9LMsIxcLoEVSCrKZdUHO_sMk_AbEuLR-sG9Eb8MPLnPQQzbFtjEqvIhEmbPnyY72O0ZZQ1MoR4o0hG0p0WdpDejQn1KaIarV_SPDcimZWVFjJlfyOOeUwEmfvcvPF_ml_9moo4qnWj8m9HXcBHs2V8Q4Dh0swmMbvXOHNmr5DJA7XCWIpOh/w640-h342/Macys%20Nutcrackers.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Nutcrackers of Macy's </span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">Three cheers for walks on city sidewalks or country roads, time spent with those we love, the aroma of pine trees and Christmas cookies. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">As ever, thanks for visiting and wishes for a bright and blessed week. </span></p> <p></p><p></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-40852033961054936062023-12-10T16:54:00.002-05:002023-12-10T16:54:32.788-05:00The Journey of 1,001 Miles<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWN4AlsOHbzlyDcQQYisdBcCPlJDtR9EfzPYc5GcakaxSAfustX5DFHVZ3b4tnVOv2XHgaH1EYCK8O82M1wIb0yiWAvEmNv0ew9HTsFFiR0eBUpZiOnEptKChMj5_TwHI7YlMsq3434rGaywO5XBcKDYcsik277tLKejXbDqlmVfX2YLUgk6AZuB8hJsU/s960/Saks%20Fifth%20Avenue%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWN4AlsOHbzlyDcQQYisdBcCPlJDtR9EfzPYc5GcakaxSAfustX5DFHVZ3b4tnVOv2XHgaH1EYCK8O82M1wIb0yiWAvEmNv0ew9HTsFFiR0eBUpZiOnEptKChMj5_TwHI7YlMsq3434rGaywO5XBcKDYcsik277tLKejXbDqlmVfX2YLUgk6AZuB8hJsU/w640-h480/Saks%20Fifth%20Avenue%202023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Saks Fifth Avenue sound and light show, Fifth Avenue</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Last Wednesday December 6 the "Mileometer" once again passed the 1,000 mile mark, and with a lot of walking for the day, I actually passed the 1,001 marker. As of this afternoon I've walked 1,011 miles and have set a new goal for this year of 1,050 miles. There were a few times of challenge, would I or would I not make it? But with assistance from my orthopedist for a stress fracture in my knee, my spinal team -- a new bout of stenosis -- and my wonderful physical therapist, Sally, who helps keep me going, this 73 year old was able to walk over 1,000 miles. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the seventh year I've had this goal and the fifth where I've achieved it. I had my hip replaced in 2019 and that meant a few months of (much) less walking and in 2020 I only walked 919 miles due to significantly diminished activity. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This year I walked in seven states -- though it was only the corner of Vermont -- Puerto Rico, England and France. I don't have much planned for next year yet, but I hope to walk in at least as many states and a few countries besides the United States, too. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Most of my walking was done in New York City, both in local neighborhood walks and those times I've been a tourist in my own town. One of those times took place last week when I braved the crowds to visit Rockefeller Center and see the sound and light show at Saks Fifth Avenue. Despite the rain the tree and the lights were fabulous and didn't disappoint. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VGqoBCkVrYIkal8bGDXAZ2m8UApyxTOOgvMglBQcW64eLqOsf5Iz8tnz6e98GUkBIwICP9irp9qbN-dYFoO_FFEmTmskdApFMqcXgfZg1osY3_KB8dv41s6FAIlj0q8q-wKiDap3uy8BsBcGtx5Lu68gcUrRUbUiktRWeUekFeO4dh-O0BZludWWsm1K/s960/Rockefeller%20Center%20Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VGqoBCkVrYIkal8bGDXAZ2m8UApyxTOOgvMglBQcW64eLqOsf5Iz8tnz6e98GUkBIwICP9irp9qbN-dYFoO_FFEmTmskdApFMqcXgfZg1osY3_KB8dv41s6FAIlj0q8q-wKiDap3uy8BsBcGtx5Lu68gcUrRUbUiktRWeUekFeO4dh-O0BZludWWsm1K/w480-h640/Rockefeller%20Center%20Tree.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. beautiful even in the rain</span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6iyvMC54UT-0OmK1HT3ALZQFzr5ZJRtFcrhRrVIkrOdOb0AM1Jtc9emHzBG3JbBKrvxCdTJBRx73o4nsIJpyBoOWiDphmVpdBh49tfWqqCMApRA6HgRQW6Mv0lhyphfyLXnvl2q6ZccKyKoaO9-Yx-TURe8HEAC0w2QFSDn7tQtxoVEkCC5AvqOU_bxy/s960/Sixth%20Avenue%20decorations%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="912" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6iyvMC54UT-0OmK1HT3ALZQFzr5ZJRtFcrhRrVIkrOdOb0AM1Jtc9emHzBG3JbBKrvxCdTJBRx73o4nsIJpyBoOWiDphmVpdBh49tfWqqCMApRA6HgRQW6Mv0lhyphfyLXnvl2q6ZccKyKoaO9-Yx-TURe8HEAC0w2QFSDn7tQtxoVEkCC5AvqOU_bxy/w608-h640/Sixth%20Avenue%20decorations%202023.jpg" width="608" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I always enjoy this display on Sixth Avenue, near Radio City Music Hall</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We've entered the super-busy season of the year. On reflection we're well into it. I was keeping up well last week, but as ever my card-writing needs a big boost. I've just got one more trip to the post office and then wrapping and card writing to do. This is not a complaint at all about cards and seasonal activities. I'm so enjoying the cards that are arriving and am grateful for everyone who's taken the time and effort to keep in touch. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-42471946665531092102023-12-07T22:50:00.000-05:002023-12-07T22:50:36.476-05:00On the First Night of Chanukah<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWt_Bp-SbJL4pCFTC5wIYfNgsiN1-2T860gQsdLLzJ0ydVMYmGxmDWRMouMi3JaQ5cLBplBMXw6Sl0PHggVlu1Y31_WGt6w0NOjMr1CKqlKDwFP-_DgpMIbOodkTk_CYJDw_LFZiesXH5P4HCBsg_BMZWIv0QjMZj-BUnLXRRgJxKvtItBBwGfwJI5G9BB/s2048/Menorah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1476" data-original-width="2048" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWt_Bp-SbJL4pCFTC5wIYfNgsiN1-2T860gQsdLLzJ0ydVMYmGxmDWRMouMi3JaQ5cLBplBMXw6Sl0PHggVlu1Y31_WGt6w0NOjMr1CKqlKDwFP-_DgpMIbOodkTk_CYJDw_LFZiesXH5P4HCBsg_BMZWIv0QjMZj-BUnLXRRgJxKvtItBBwGfwJI5G9BB/w640-h462/Menorah.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">We light one candle... </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">And then one more each night until all eight candles are lit. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Chanukah is actually a relatively minor holiday on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Seleucid occupation. The story goes that there was only enough sacred oil to last for one night, but miraculously the oil burned for eight nights. This miracle has been remembered and celebrated since that time, for 2200 hundred years. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I'm borrowing from my Chanukah blog post in 2020, an especially dark time and not the brightest of Chanukah celebrations. I celebrated both alone and virtually and my lone jelly doughnut -- a traditional Chanukah food -- was a lot less tasty then those times when I've enjoyed it at a party with friends. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">From December 2020:</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">I find it extraordinary that 2200 years have gone by since those miraculous eight days and around the world the commemoration is taking place. Candles are lit, blessings are said and sufganiyot (traditional jelly doughnuts) are eaten. Children still spin the dreidel, a four sided top. The letters on the top symbolize the phrase, "A great miracle happened there."</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">But most of all we commemorate the victory of light over darkness and the ability to have hope and believe in miracles, no matter how improbable they may seem. I'm going to hold on to the Chanukah message throughout what may be a dark and cold winter and remember that great miracles are always possible. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">That's my message on this first night of Chanukah, 2023, to believe in miracles, no matter how improbable they may seem. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">As ever, thanks for visiting. Prayers for light and peace and hope! </span></span></p></div>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-24041301772670806142023-11-29T23:16:00.000-05:002023-11-29T23:16:02.802-05:00The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Women<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifgxLIXUdhJ15yQ-Z4Zbi6xT92U6qY8dEseJlJIvbzcl1G1f6J0sFYEHXa0LshDJMPH4IetT5F7uH93DiMStlRS08yCzoA1EqmNKOuz00wz8c4ciLwmVZ_6K2LAN4E6Jy-bmW9xY6EY-dj1dAA0pmaxcMP3bXmaKmHpUse7j6XyO8LgejlX6-V9kIUxSCY/s960/calendar2%20023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="826" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifgxLIXUdhJ15yQ-Z4Zbi6xT92U6qY8dEseJlJIvbzcl1G1f6J0sFYEHXa0LshDJMPH4IetT5F7uH93DiMStlRS08yCzoA1EqmNKOuz00wz8c4ciLwmVZ_6K2LAN4E6Jy-bmW9xY6EY-dj1dAA0pmaxcMP3bXmaKmHpUse7j6XyO8LgejlX6-V9kIUxSCY/w550-h640/calendar2%20023.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;">Keeping it real in Buttercupland tonight</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When I was in college I had a number of jobs. They involved either food or books, except for one that involved food and books, which I especially enjoyed. Besides being paid, I got a lot out of my jobs. I learned multi-tasking in food service and how to make an urn of coffee without a lot of mess. In my library jobs I learned how to work with rare books, as well as the Library of Congress classification system. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This morning all of this came together when my travel mug (seen in my last post) spilled in my tote bag. I was alerted to this disaster via the aroma of coffee and my soggy tote bag. I believed that my tote bag and the bag I had my coffee mug were both waterproof. It turns out that they are both water/liquid resistant. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was rattled when I arrived at my destination dripping coffee. Fortunately, my rare book skills that hadn't been used since 1971, came back to me. I grabbed a zillion napkins -- no acid free paper in the coffee shop where I was meeting my friend -- and placed one between each damp page. Fortunately it's the end of the year, and the 2023 insert will be retired. Unfortunately the faux leather holder seems a lot worse for wear and I think I'm going to treat myself to a new one that doesn't smell of coffee. I guess we know the first place where my coffee savings for 2023 will be directed. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As for keeping it real, I've got to work on my multi-tasking. In the flurry of getting out this morning and trying to do a dozen things, I neglected one critical one. Was the lid on the travel mug sealed tightly? Guess not! But I did manage to pack a peanut butter sandwich for lunch between errands. I "saved" thirteen dollars -- minus the dollar I spent on semi-healthy chips to go with my sandwich -- today. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Despite the coffee disaster I spent time with a friend, got to the gym, the post office, walked four miles, worked on holiday cards and got my RSV vaccination. I also learned a valuable lesson moving forth with my coffee savings project. Make sure the lid is sealed tight. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">How was your day?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As ever thanks for visiting and wishes for a no-spill Thursday. </div></span><p></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-91004695860341103192023-11-27T20:10:00.000-05:002023-11-27T20:10:35.191-05:00It's the Lull Before the Storm<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRrS0jvvOI7ZVSGu1mkn5hjgI5LXgdjN3eFf59hV2xpPoJLpGPAFtmi3oUDFfr8J74zDHaqmxUOKWwLwsEM2rZnKn3_4oN39Ws42-8w1VyshKCLKUw7begWtFdeFfreT3Y7iPIADeHMaYJ0zJBnhzdTDf0oD772A5DfswzZQmqFmtxYIdfdmud6M3Bq7Q/s960/Coffee%20in%20Dante%20Square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="544" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRrS0jvvOI7ZVSGu1mkn5hjgI5LXgdjN3eFf59hV2xpPoJLpGPAFtmi3oUDFfr8J74zDHaqmxUOKWwLwsEM2rZnKn3_4oN39Ws42-8w1VyshKCLKUw7begWtFdeFfreT3Y7iPIADeHMaYJ0zJBnhzdTDf0oD772A5DfswzZQmqFmtxYIdfdmud6M3Bq7Q/w362-h640/Coffee%20in%20Dante%20Square.jpg" width="362" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And I'm not thinking about the busyness of the holiday season. I think that rush has already begun. I'm thinking about the holiday spending season, which is about to descend like a giant wave. Long time friends of Buttercupland know that January is traditionally No-Spending January. It follows Over-Spending December and it's a month where I don't buy any things. I can buy groceries and cleaning supplies, but not the flannel shirt that's on sale, or an extra pair of socks just "because they're cute." It's been a good way to get spending awareness back into my life after the excesses of December.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I was thinking about expenses for the next month and they loomed a little larger than I had anticipated. Nothing drastic, but a little here and a little there and soon, I'm looking at real spending. As a result, in complete innovation I'm calling December, Less-Spending December. It won't be a No-Spending month, but it won't be an Over-Spending month either. I'll buy the gifty things I'm looking for -- actually mostly bought -- and eat out with friends, but I'm cutting down on snacks and coffee out. I realized that I especially enjoy drinking coffee outside. On many nice days I get a cup of coffee, especially iced coffee in the summer, and enjoy people watching and sipping coffee. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Generally the price of a cup of coffee at a coffee cart is $1.50 and at a one of my favorite coffee shops, at least two dollars for hot coffee and closer to $5.00 for iced coffee. Yes, that's a lot of money. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In an effort to change this pattern, I got the jump on Less-Spending December this afternoon. I made coffee at home, at perhaps a cost of forty cents. I added creamer and used my favorite Dartmouth '72 cup that was part of our 50th reunion goodies. I made my way to Dante Park, across from Lincoln Center and drank coffee and people watched to my heart's content. Savings of three dollars, and no loss of enjoyment. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I know some may say that a savings of three dollars isn't worth it. But I know it is. If it becomes a habit of even once a week, that's $150. saved over the course of a year. It's also a habit of awareness of random spending. As I've done for No-Spending January I'm going to be tracking my savings and will include them in a post each week. Anyone else want to join me in the celebration of Less-Spending December? You may choose any Less-Spending idea that works for you. The more the merrier! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I had a great Thanksgiving weekend, enjoying lots of time spent with friends. I began my annual routine of seeing the holiday decorations and there are great ones this year. I'll begin posting later this week once I get my pictures edited. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As ever, thanks for visiting and take care. </span></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-79438699119883062722023-11-25T22:37:00.001-05:002023-11-25T22:37:03.725-05:00These Are the Days of Gratitude<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPM6Qt9939h2D3kr0BSCo_9lReZkdk_7oZoeWpl8M83dzU8AgTA_3gqgAunZMNOWJ4YWIimsFUhwiArCsL13fP81dVecdDSR3L9m18tylYMgDQzWC1AW_JIWIDO1q9NgAJV4f4xMU6xQzG84CMdvIxGj5JLsbO55BQnplBexZ9uBTK-kxHHlBqY_slGcg2/s960/November.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="783" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPM6Qt9939h2D3kr0BSCo_9lReZkdk_7oZoeWpl8M83dzU8AgTA_3gqgAunZMNOWJ4YWIimsFUhwiArCsL13fP81dVecdDSR3L9m18tylYMgDQzWC1AW_JIWIDO1q9NgAJV4f4xMU6xQzG84CMdvIxGj5JLsbO55BQnplBexZ9uBTK-kxHHlBqY_slGcg2/w522-h640/November.jpg" width="522" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">November 2024</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There are moments that change my life. The moment of a first kiss, seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time in 1966 and the moment last week when my radiologist said, "See you next year." Next year.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the rapidly changing landscape of American healthcare I am so fortunate to go to the same radiology practice for twenty years. In the last few years the practice was acquired by a major medical "corporation," but the same doctors are still there and they still read the tests while you wait. I had my annual -- after going every six months for a few years -- mammogram on Tuesday and afterwards the senior physician in the practice who had given me less good news twelve years ago, said, "See you next year." Next year!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I once wrote that the two best words in the English language are benign and peace. Tonight I add that the best phrase is "see you next year." There are a few others that also come to mind, "Love you," and "They're home." For now I'm going with next year and I send my wishes that you hear all of these phrases throughout the rest of this year and often in 2024.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Love you, friends, now and next year and for years to come. </span></div><p></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-49159906156069554042023-11-22T22:20:00.000-05:002023-11-22T22:20:07.107-05:00These Are the Days of Gratitude <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRsaFwdTWnma5NJmbtLIsFbxTpUO_5qr-LvA5Atx5yW7oG3B_rHw85X-neBqI4oqAiCL3-xVdYHPhoVnji2RcYj5nnfiVVHw-SQFNXtprrWi7zj4JUHwnyW8Y3p1A-pTgo16KYNVETzRSGqzqcqVAvqqCgRrd6C9c7dWZglaCAcECPys72Kx_ughId46T/s960/stamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="960" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRsaFwdTWnma5NJmbtLIsFbxTpUO_5qr-LvA5Atx5yW7oG3B_rHw85X-neBqI4oqAiCL3-xVdYHPhoVnji2RcYj5nnfiVVHw-SQFNXtprrWi7zj4JUHwnyW8Y3p1A-pTgo16KYNVETzRSGqzqcqVAvqqCgRrd6C9c7dWZglaCAcECPys72Kx_ughId46T/w640-h490/stamps.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I am a frequent visitor to the local post office. There always seems to be a package to mail or stamps to buy, and as it gets closer to the end of the year, I am there often. This last week I was there twice and my errand both times was to mail to Europe. On my first foray it was a long interaction, but the person helping me was so patient. I ended up not mailing the package -- the duty and fees my friend in France would have to pay was $237.00 (you read that correctly). </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Yesterday I returned to the post office, on a second attempt to mail to France. I walked up to the window and the clerk saw my duty form and literally made a face at me. I asked if I should go to a different window and she replied there was no one else. My temptation was to be snippy -- yes, Buttercup can be very snippy -- but I held my tongue and smiled. After a lot of typing, a number of What's App messages to my friend in France, and the same clerk staying through her lunch hour to finish helping me, my package was on the way to France. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My original thought for this post was my gratitude for stamps -- love the holiday stamps -- but I realize it's not just stamps that I am grateful for. It's the miracle that stamps are part of. I can write a card, pay a bill -- not as much by check these days -- or send a package and almost all of the time they all arrive just as I hoped they would. These little pieces of sticky paper -- remember licking stamps -- will take our fondest dreams and good wishes and send them around the world, and that, my friends, is nothing short of a miracle. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This is my second post of gratitude and there are two more to come. But before I post them we'll celebrate Thanksgiving in America. Grateful for muffins and stamps and my warm and cozy apartment and so much more. Wishing all of Buttercupland a bright and blessed Thanksgiving. </span></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6930223252966474185.post-20784623099443175992023-11-19T23:24:00.002-05:002023-11-19T23:24:31.861-05:00These Are the Days of Gratitude<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqFtpRnS_kretP8Q3Bc-RVtEFjXU8m4WEfOZZ7kwhlqD3gJbhro4ELYZaAZdmCgENEasBZ0uloZmxWKyZmHU_FX2g-qi2Kuqwb4A0HnSLCGvsN9y8sXWVHTI2Em-_xfaxhLHcL4IXvq6TA55qx2Q65nxcsDJozaw5w6HkWOeab2_dPa3uHKmSDhZ1z9wz/s960/muffins.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="775" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqFtpRnS_kretP8Q3Bc-RVtEFjXU8m4WEfOZZ7kwhlqD3gJbhro4ELYZaAZdmCgENEasBZ0uloZmxWKyZmHU_FX2g-qi2Kuqwb4A0HnSLCGvsN9y8sXWVHTI2Em-_xfaxhLHcL4IXvq6TA55qx2Q65nxcsDJozaw5w6HkWOeab2_dPa3uHKmSDhZ1z9wz/w516-h640/muffins.jpg" width="516" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My favorite holiday, Thanksgiving, is this week. With all that's going on in the world it's easy for me to lose track of all that I have to be grateful for, and that, my friends, is not what Buttercupland is all about. The posts -- and there will be posts -- for this next week are things/people/events for which I am grateful. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In no particular order, our first post is about muffins. There will be more serious posts to come, but I'm starting with one of my all-time favorite treats, the muffin. A muffin is not a fancy treat. They're made from a denser flour vs. the cake flour of the cupcake and generally, but not always, are less sweet. They're closer to quick breads, while a cupcake is just that, a cake made in a cup. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I encountered these muffin beauties last week and in an overwhelming burst of restraint opted for a bagel and a cup of coffee. The bagel was delicious, but I am still dreaming of this pumpkin and cranberry muffin. They're all the way across town and it's unlikely that I will make it there this week, so they will remain in my dreams. We will be having home-baked pumpkin bread on Thanksgiving and that's close to a muffin, or as close as I will get for now.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My choice is the pumpkin cranberry, but I wouldn't turn down the banana chocolate chip or the blueberry crumb either. Even the plain corn muffin in the very back of the display would be a welcome treat, perhaps with a little strawberry jam. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Muffin fans, which one would be your choice? If you're not keen on muffins, what breakfast treat is your favorite?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My first post of gratitude. I am grateful that with flour, baking powder, salt, an egg or two, butter, any fruit that I happen to have on hand and a working oven, a muffin is the result. Of course, having been without a working oven for sixteen months, a working oven is no small thing. But that's a post for a different day. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. </span></p><p><br /></p>Buttercuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03804094230127512943noreply@blogger.com7