The Journey of 8,065.8 Miles

 

On the Sidewalks of New York...

...Providence, Rhode Island; Sedona, Arizona; Wildwood, NJ; Litchfield, Connecticut; Boothbay Harbor, Maine; Boston, Massachusetts; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Halifax, Nova Scotia and Paris, France. I walked in eight states and three countries and my mileage total for 2024 was 1135.2 miles. My goal for 2024 was 1100 miles, which I met in mid-December.

I've done a Thousand Mile Walking Challenge for the last eight years and have walked 8,056.8 miles. Last year I decided to really challenge myself and upped my goal to 1100 miles. It took effort, but was doable. I'm giving myself leeway this year and my goal for 2025 is 1,000 miles. I'm not sure how many states and countries I will walk in this year, but at  this time in 2024 half of the places I walked weren't even in my thoughts. 

A few years ago I decided to walk 10,000 miles (over a number of years) and it looks like over the next two years I'll complete that challenge. I've "only" got 1,934.2 miles to walk, circumstances permitting. I'm smiling/laughing as I type this. As we see every day so much is out of our control and the thought that a woman in her mid 70's with a myriad of orthopedic conditions will walk thousands of miles seems definitely ambitious and optimistic. But if all is well in December 2026 I will complete a 10,000 mile walk, the distance from New York City to Sydney, Australia. Sydney, here I come.

My Walking Goal: Sydney, Australia 

The last few weeks I've been walking around New York City and mostly staying in the neighborhood. I did brave the cold and get down to the Times Square neighborhood on Wednesday for breakfast with a visiting friend. It's been cold, cold, cold and I've enjoyed keeping cozy, reading and working on cards. I've also returned to decluttering, which took a break for the  holiday festivities.  I've got lots of shredding to do. 

No-Spending January is going well. I've bought nothing, except for groceries and cleaning supplies. I have been very tempted and the sales don't make it easy. But when I think about the purchases I might have made I realize that there's nothing I need. How is No-Spending going for anyone else who is doing the challenge?

Dear California friends, know that you're in my heart and prayers.

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.  

       

Welcome Back, No Spending January

 

Stayed in the store!

Once again, we welcome back a dear friend, No Spending January. While I saved up, shopped ahead and thought I was being prudent, December was still a pricy month. No surprise. I was royally spoiled and am so grateful for all the goodies that appeared in my mailbox, and I have no need to indulge myself with spending and treats in January. I planned for No Spending by ordering one gift, buying a gift and a shirt I had been looking at for months (now marked down to 25% of original price) and shampoo before the clock struck midnight yesterday. 

My rules for No Spending January are simple, no buying things. I can still buy groceries, tickets and household supplies, like the paper towels I need to buy this week. I am making a few exceptions to my rule. If I happen to find the holiday tissue paper I'd like for next year, it will go in my cart. So far there's no half-price tissue paper anywhere in New York City, but I'm still on the lookout. 

As in the past, I'm tracking my spending when I do spend in January. I spent $2.26 this morning for two greeting cards using my $2.00 discount at CVS. I also spent $25.00 on a gift. I'm optimistic that $27.26 will be the extent of my spending for January.  

Anyone else joining me in No Spending January?

I got my walk in this morning and looking forward to seeing friends this evening to celebrate Chanukah. Chanukah will officially be over at sundown, but our scheduling deferred to those who are still working. I'm also pleased to be blogging two days in a row. I've been a haphazard blogger and definitely glad to be less haphazard (so far) in 2025.

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.         

My Perfect Word for 2025

 

And there it was right in front of me

I've been struggling with choosing my word for 2025. Sometimes in the fifteen years I've been  choosing a perfect word the word seems to magically appear. In other years no word comes to mind and it's a struggle. This year was a little of both.

Dream came to mind a few weeks ago and I was sure I'd found my perfect word. But then doubt seeped in. Dream seemed like a frivolous word for someone of almost 75. Isn't dreaming something for young people? But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I don't really have dreams for the future. No mistake, I have a lot of plans and there are things I'd like to do, but it's not the big and grand dreams I had when I was younger. So I tucked dream aside and tried out many other words. But nothing seemed right for this year. 

I was walking home this afternoon thinking about my word for this year. I wanted to write this post and as of 4:00 PM I had no idea what word to choose. And then Dream chose me. I looked up as I was walking and there was literally a sign right in front of me, "Dream until it's your reality." My perfect word was waiting for me a block from home. 

Since Dream claimed me, it's time to start dreaming. It's been a long time since I've dreamed and I'm not sure where to begin. But in honor of my perfect word for 2025 I'm going to start dreaming, not planning. I'm going to take January and let my mind wander until my perfect dreams come to me. I'm not sure if they'll be waiting for me on the sidewalk, but I know that I'm meant to dream this year. 

Has anyone else chosen a word for the new year?

My heart and prayers are in New Orleans

I love New Orleans dearly and my heart broke when I heard of the violence that shattered the city this morning. New Orleans, my prayers are with you.

As ever, thanks for visiting and prayers for peace in 2025. 

These Were (Some of) the Days

 

I wasn't  expecting to say thank you to 2024. I'd had some really nice times, but on the whole I didn't think it was a great year. If I had to grade 2024 this morning, it would have been a C+ year, maybe a B- if I was to grade generously. But I discovered the template above on Instagram and started looking through my photographs. I was only choosing four and I could have chosen four that stood out in the last month, let alone the entire year. I think I need closer to four dozen photos to begin to capture the richness of the year. How could I have passed on photos of the fabulous wedding in Maine this summer, the cruise up the coast of New England with my dear work friends in September and the memorable, fabulous week in Arizona in March! 

And that, my friends, is only the tip of the iceberg. There are so many moments of 2024 that aren't captured in photographs. This is the first year since 2012 that I have not spent a minute in physical therapy. I have also spent no time this year in the intensive care waiting room, where I've spent so much time in the past. My spine is actually in better shape than it was last December 31 and the same for my eyes. For those last two miracles I thank my Pilates classes and my wonderful ophthalmologist. For those last two blessings I give 2024 an A+.  

It took a very simple template on Instagram to bring me to the realization that even a "C+ year," on reflection was actually an A+ year, filled with good times and good health. Approaching 75 it doesn't get better. 2025 will be the year I turn 75 -- G'd willing -- and my synagogue turns 200 years old. I've got a high school reunion coming up in May and the wedding of my sweet cousin in April. I don't plan to travel as much as last year, but I've got a once-in-a-lifetime trip planned for May. There are miles to walk, books to read and photographs to take. And there is coffee, every single day of 2025. 

As we move on -- very quickly -- to the year ahead, I have an enormous thank you to all of my Buttercupland friends. Thank you for comments, support and continuing to be here throughout the years. Buttercupland turns Sweet Sixteen next month. I'm not sure of how we'll celebrate, but we will celebrate. Can't resist a Sweet Sixteen Party. My wishes to all for good health, happy times and loved one to share our days with. Most of all, my prayers for peace.

As ever, thanks for visiting and happy, happy 2025.

On the Fifth Night of Chanukah...

 

...I  lit five candles

Yesterday was the  fifth night of Chanukah, the festival of lights. Chanukah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem over two thousand years ago. The menorah -- eight flame candle holder -- pictured above is the one my family used when I was growing up that I am still using. 

My last post was about the December whirlwind. Now Christmas is over, Chanukah is mostly over and New Years feels just about a nanosecond away. The end of the whirlwind is in sight. As much as I felt I was being blown all over I'm beginning to look at January and know I will miss the excitement and fun of December. I'm definitely returning to regularly scheduled programming in activities, food and spending. 

I'll be back with New Year wishes tomorrow and then it's on the 2025. We'll be looking back at 2024's Journey of 1100 Miles, my reading goals for 2024 and for 2025 and another year of No-Spending January. January is also Sweet-Sixteen for Buttercupland and there will be a giveaway.  I hope you'll stop by for all the Buttercupland fun in the new year.

As ever, thanks for visiting and take care.

It's Been a Whirlwind

 

My most recent seasonal fun discovery, Gingerbread Lane

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

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

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

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

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

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

A moment of our very fun Jellycat Diner Experience

The Bryant Park Holiday Market

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

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

As ever, thanks for visiting and keep cozy! 

  

Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

Join me in Rockefeller Center for snowman time

 

My friend Lorrie came to town and we built snowmen

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

It was 60 degrees so the little guy was melting fast

Fortunately he lasted long enough to be photographed

The setting for our snowman fun

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

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