It's that Time Again

 It's time for the annual Blogging from A to Z April Challenge

I'm not sure what I was thinking or not thinking, but as I was making coffee yesterday morning a light bulb went off in my head and I realized that it was almost April. Maybe it was the weather forecast for the day -- real spring weather -- and the fact that it actually officially is spring.  Since I got back from South Carolina earlier this month, only two weeks ago, it's been busy. Medical appointments, classes and while I've thought of blog topics, it hasn't  translated into posts.   

One thing that had completely slipped my mind is the annual April Blogging from A to Z Challenge. The goal is to blog daily, Sunday if I remember correctly excluded, for the month of April. The other goal is to visit blogs that are also part of the challenge. I've enjoyed being part of it since 2013. I haven't always completed it, but it's been a good refocus and incentive to post regularly. I've also met some new blogger buddies and definitely widened my blogger world. 

I am returning to the Challenge in 2026 and my theme this year is "Here, There and Everywhere," in homage to one of my favorite songs by the Beatles.  It will be mostly posts about travel, but also life in New York City, and maybe a favorite author or book title or both. I've enjoyed it every year and if anyone is looking for a fun project for April, I recommend joining. 

It's totally spring in New York City and I'm loving no gloves or scarf. Flowers are blooming and the tulips will soon be here. I'm trying to focus on paperwork and catching up with at home tasks because since the weather is nice -- and getting nicer -- I will want to be outside more. Time to catch up with all the chores I didn't finish during the winter. Anyone else feel the same way?

As ever, thanks for visiting and a very happy spring. 

Return to the Emerald Isle

 

Memories of Dublin, 2019

It's the waning hours of Saint Patrick's Day and today my thoughts have gone to memories of my two trips to Ireland. I visited Dublin twice and enjoyed my visits very much. I don't have a long list of places that I want to visit, but a return trip to Ireland to see the Atlantic coast was still waiting for me. I can happily share that this June I have plans to return to Ireland. As part of a cruise from Newcastle upon Tyne in England via Edinburgh, I'll be visiting Ireland once again, with stops in Belfast, Killybegs and Galway. Ireland, here I come!

I stopped at the library this afternoon for a guide book for Ireland. The cruise ship has tours I can sign up for, but I want to do more research before I commit the precious time I have in these ports to something that might not be a good choice for me.  I enjoy having a structure to the trip, but I very much enjoy the planning and research, too. There is so much that I want to see and so little time. I also want to make sure that there's time to wander through the ports, take lots of pictures and have a scone at a tea shop. Does anyone else enjoy the planning phase of the trip, almost as much as the trip itself? 

Not my usual greeting, but this sign caught my eye on the way to the library. You, my dear blog friends, Sham-Rock! 

And on the reverse side of the sign, a truth about weather in New York City, on a day when I needed my down coat and gloves. 

Definitely, second winter today!

   

I hope you had a happy Saint Patrick's Day and, dear friends in the Midwest, I hope you're digging out of the massive snowstorm. I also hope that our second winter -- a new phrase to me -- is soon history. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. 

Happy 3.1415 Day

 

One of my favorite pie flavors

Mathematics was never one of my favorite subjects and it was a struggle all through school. But amazingly one thing I do remember sixty plus years after my last math class was the first five digits of Pi. 3.1415 begins the mathematical constant that is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. I don't use this in daily life, but when I miss posting on 3.14 for Pi Day, it's completely appropriate to post on 3.15. 

I was all set to post the beautiful slice of key lime pie that I so enjoyed in Myrtle Beach when I remembered that I mentioned it in my last post. Fortunately I have photographs of other pies/slices of pie available. This cherry pie beauty was given to me by my dear friend, Betsy, to celebrate my 70th birthday. It was as delicious at it looks. I'm a fan of the lattice crust and this one was especially handsome. 

Cherry is my favorite fruit flavor, though I wouldn't dismiss a slice of apple pie, with vanilla ice cream, please. Though it's technically a fruit, I don't think of pumpkin pie the same as cherry or apple. I am, however, a fan of pumpkin pie, and I like it with a little whipped cream. What's your favorite fruit pie choice?

There are two citrus pies that are favorites, the aforementioned key lime and lemon meringue. As much as I like cherry and apple and pumpkin, I love lime and lemon. When I was a waitress in college, the restaurant where I worked made fabulous lemon meringue pie. If a slice was damaged in cutting -- easy to do with meringue -- it went to the staff. I ate and enjoyed a lot of lemon meringue in the three summers I worked there and have yet to find a better or equal lemon meringue pie. Lemon meringue -- yay or nay?

It's still winter in New York, but we're at the very end. I'm eager to put my down coat away and my gloves, but it's at least another week for the former. I know some of us are already in spring and some in summer weather, but almost for spring. Not many flowers yet, but I know they'll be here soon. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and happy 3.1415 Day.

Warmer Days, Longer Days

 

Up, up and away!

Last Saturday I made my way out to Newark Airport and flew south to Myrtle Beach, S.C. It was a quick two hour flight and I emerged into a warmer, sunnier universe than the land of snow that I left in New York City. 

One of the first signs of spring that I encountered was a group of new turtle friends sunning themselves on a rock near where I was staying. It was spring -- not summer -- and what a pleasure. I had been warned that it might be very warm, but I was content/elated with sixty degrees. The turtles and I had no complaints.

This is the beautiful sunset on the beach. Yes, there were other people, but since it's off season and not warm enough for swimming it wasn't crowded. I was happy to share sunset with my gull friends. 

This isn't my sand castle, but a great one. I love the design around the edge. I was an avid sand castle builder back in the day. Anyone else? 

An amazing key lime pie at Sea Captain's House

The high point of my visit to Myrtle Beach was spending time with friends. Loved seeing my dear friend, K, and members of her family. We shared meals together and I was (re)introduced to jigsaw puzzles. I also met up with another college friend who lives in Myrtle Beach. His choice for lunch was Sea Captain's House, a lovely seafood restaurant on the water. We both had fish entrees and split this fabulous slice of key lime pie. It was one of the best desserts I've had in ages. 

I returned to New York on Friday night and before I knew it the days got longer. I'm not a big fan of Daylight Savings, but I love the longer days. I'm hoping to get back in my habit of taking after dinner walks in the early evening again. I'll be on the lookout for spring flowers. 

I'm getting back into the swing of my New York City life, which usually takes me a few days. The weather is lovely -- as warm as last week in South Carolina -- and with a very few exceptions the snow is gone. I'm calling it early spring. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. 

The Blizzard of 2026

 I was somewhat skeptical about the forecast of snow. I was out yesterday  afternoon and it was just a little light snow. I was thinking that this was just another snowstorm, but on rereading the forecast I saw something that changed my mind. This storm was being compared to the blizzard of 1978, a snowstorm I remember in detail. 

The snow picked up after I got home and really got going in the evening. By the morning Manhattan had 15 inches of snow and by the time it stopped snowing in the early afternoon, the total accumulation was 19.7 inches. The snow and the strong winds made it a blizzard. 

Broadway in the snow

There was a ban on cars to permit the streets to be cleared and it was odd/amazing to walk out to Broadway and see one of the busiest streets in the city virtually carless. The sidewalks on my block were shoveled and with my winter boots -- one of my best investments ever -- it was easy walking. I'm optimistic that by tomorrow noon the cross walks will be cleared and crossing streets won't be an issue. I don't have to go out, but I've got a prescription to pick up and I'm ready to get beyond my block. 

Besides watching almost endless weather reporting, I took a virtual chair Yoga class, made lasagna and started a new book. I also did some of the usual puttering around -- phone calls, email and editing photographs. The only item on my calendar was going to Yoga in person, so I was happy not to have to cancel anything. 

My street with no cars, not the usual sight at 9:00 a.m.

I hope everyone else who was part of Blizzard 2026 has heat, light and and is able to clear the snow quickly. Here's to spring dreams!

As ever, thanks for visiting and keep cozy. 

Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue

 

The scene on Saturday at one of my favorite florists

Roses Are Red (and pink and white and yellow), Violets Are Blue

I Love These Flowers and Most Others, Too.

This may be one of my favorite flower combinations, 

Roses, tulips and peonies

What are your flower favorites? My other favorites are lilacs. We had lilac bushes when I was growing up and the scent of lilacs for that sweet, short season in spring brings back memories of springtime with my parents so long ago.  

Blessedly the weather is above freezing and most of the time it's sunny. I know we will still have a month (or so) of winter, but I'm relatively sure that the worst is over. I've put my heavy boots back into the closet and fingers crossed that it's the last of them for 2026.

To make the most of the sunny and warmer weather, I took an excursion to Rockefeller Center yesterday to see the ice skaters, always one of my favorite activities. 

Today was a day at the gym and a lot of little errands. I'm not sure how the weeks have gotten so busy with things to do, though I think as the years have gone by I'm not able to get as much done in a day as I once did. Has anyone else noticed this? And  where do all these errands come from? They seem to grown like weeds. By the time it's night I find that I'm just tired. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. 

I Say a Little Prayer

 

The set for Going Bacharach, 

a great afternoon enjoying the music of Burt Bacharach  

As I've written many times, I say a little prayer for my friends in Blogland. But that phrase is also the title of one of my favorite songs, "I Say a Little Prayer," by one of my favorite songwriters, Burt Bacharach. I loved it when I first heard it during my senior year in high school, when it was released, and it's still a favorite. Even though the temperature was just about below zero with the wind chill on Saturday, I got myself out to see a great program of Burt Bacharach's music and I'm very glad I did. 

Meeting Adrian Galante, the Musical Director of Going Bacharach

Bacharach's music was part of the soundtrack of my high school years and while "I Say a Little Prayer" comes to mind immediately there are so many other songs that I enjoy and know every word, even after fifty plus years. I didn't sing along to the show, but there was lots of toe tapping. Any other Burt Bacharach fans in Buttercupland? If you are, please share your favorite song with us. 

As promised we have a winner for the Seventeenth Blogaversary giveaway. It's our blog buddy  Respice Prospice. I'll be sending a mystery from one of my favorite mystery series, Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency. The series takes place in Botswana and Precious Ramotswe is one of my favorite detectives ever. 

The deep freeze of last week has ended -- Hurray! -- and we're back to regular winter weather. I so appreciate that it doesn't take me ten minutes just to get ready to go outside and I don't need to wear boots. I had a fun  adventure uptown -- museum and lunch -- and I'll be sharing it in a post soon. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.