Goodbye and Farewell, 2020

2021 is almost here

Late this morning I realized it might be about twelve hours until I could finally see the rear of 2020, but for friends in New Zealand and Australia, the new year had already arrived. When I checked it was 4:00 a.m. in Auckland and my New Zealand friends had finished their celebrations and were having their first night sleep of 2021. 

In about three hours it will be a wrap on 2020 in New York, too. While this wasn't the year I imagined I would live at this time last year, there are infinite things I am grateful for. Family, friends and good health top the list and Zoom, that kept us all connected. I especially appreciate the friends with whom I walked the streets and parks of New York. I learned that when all the activities that fill my time are taken away, what really mattered -- those I care about -- remained.  

This is my final post of 2020. I'll be back tomorrow with my perfect word for 2021. Later in the weekend we'll go window shopping at Bergdorf Goodman to see their beautiful holiday decorations. 

Now it's time for a Buttercupland New Year's Eve wedding, which will be featured on Wedding Wednesday, January 6. All details are a secret until then.

Many thanks for another year of Buttercupland friendship. My blog friends have meant so much to me over the years, but never more than during this long, difficult year. Every hope and prayer for good health and happiness.

As ever, thanks for visiting and happy new year. Happy 2021!

 

Pink Saturday Goes to Saks Fifth Avenue

 

For our Pink Saturday fun, let's go visit Saks Fifth Avenue.  

After my visit to see the tree at Rockefeller Center I crossed Fifth Avenue to see the windows at Saks Fifth Avenue. We've lost a number of department stores since I moved to New York City in 1975 and I'm so grateful that Saks is still around and creates beautiful windows at Christmas. 

There are a lot of apartment buildings in New York City, but many areas are single family houses that are decorated for Christmas. This scene reminded me of my friends' neighborhood in Brooklyn, which always has lots of fun decorations. I especially liked the penguins, all dressed up for a party. 

I loved this parade  of taxis complete with 

musicians driving to Broadway. 

Over the East River, via the Roosevelt Island

 tram, to celebrate Christmas!

It wouldn't be Christmas in New York without The Nutcracker!

I know some have already put their holiday decorations away, but we'll keep celebrating for a few more days. We've got a visit to Bergdorf Goodman in the next few days and if the weather permits, I'm going to make every effort to get to Macy's. Here, the monkeys will probably retire on New Year's Day, but the snowmen will stay around for another week after that. I've got a few more cards to answer, but hope to have my notes written in the next few days. By New Year's Eve I want to sort all of my cards, wrapping paper and supplies and be organized for next year. When do you put your decorations away?

As ever, thanks for visiting and take care.  

These Gifts We Bring

Merry Christmas from the Frick Collection, New York City

I first wrote a post about The Little Drummer Boy in 2013, and I've written a post about it almost every year since. This year is no exception. 

   From my 2017 post:

The post is about my feelings about the Christmas song, The Little Drummer Boy. I came to really enjoy it in 2013 and the words "I have no gifts to bring..." stood out in my mind. This year the phrase "I am a poor boy..." caught my ear. In the last year I've heard many people I know say that they have nothing to give, that they are poor, old, tired or sad, as if the only gift to give needs to be shiny or expensive or brightly wrapped. The best gifts this year were gifts of friendship, smiles, support and kindness, most of which cost very little, but meant a great deal. Dear Citizens of Buttercupland, thank you for your gifts this year. I've valued every comment, Facebook like and follow. Some might say these are all virtual, but I've had the good fortune to meet a number of my blog buddies and what gifts they are. Those I haven't met I accept the good wishes, kindness and concern demonstrated in comments. Thank you, all.

I thought 2017 was a tough year, but then came 2020. Much of our lives became virtual and Zoom became the way we spent time together with friends and family. We learned once again that the best gifts were friendship, smiles (we learned to smile with our eyes above our masks), support and kindness. I was blessed to have a wonderful virtual community already in my life and Buttercupland has been a refuge in the toughest days of 2020. Thank you all, for the gifts you brought day after day after day. 

I hope your Christmas day held gifts of friendship, kindness and love. Tomorrow we'll have Pink Saturday Christmas fun window shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and thank you all for the gifts you've brought to Buttercupland. 

Happy Christmas Eve

 

 Christmas Time at Rockefeller Center

"Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents, grumbled Jo, lying on the rug." For those of us who are "Little Women" fans, the first line of one of my favorite novels always comes to mind this time of year. For me, it's not Christmas without seeing the two best trees in New York City, the one at the Metropolitan Museum and this one at the Rockefeller Center. I put off this last visit, thinking it might be too crowded, but yesterday morning I realized that Covid, or no Covid, crowds or no crowds, I needed a visit to Rockefeller Center. I would wear a mask, I would keep a distance and I would keep this tradition. The Pandemic has taken so much away, but not a 2020 visit to Rockefeller Center.

This way to the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree 

The Christmas Tree, as seen from Fifth Avenue

Pep, in his holiday finery, was my 2020 companion. I know Pep should have been wearing his mask, but try keeping a mask on a monkey. Instead we maintained a six foot distance as the sign instructed.

There was some discussion at the beginning of December that this year's tree wasn't as magnificent as trees in years past. But, as in every  year past, my heart just leapt when I first saw the tree standing in front of me. The area around the tree wasn't crowded, but there were a lot of people on Fifth Avenue. There weren't nearly as many as December 22 in other years, but enough to make social distancing a challenge.   

It's just about time for Santa to stop by. My Buttercup friends are all on the 'nice" list and I hope Santa leaves generous gifts of love, good health and peace to all of Buttercupland. I'll be back tomorrow with a Christmas post and throughout the weekend there are more stops on our Christmas tour of New York City. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and Merry Christmas. 

The Joys Of Christmas: Baking and Cooking

I didn't make these fabulous Cocoa Bombs, but I'm blessed to have

 a fabulous friend, Nicole, who is wildly talented. 

It gives me infinite joy to do a holiday cooking and baking post. It's something I wasn't able to do last year, and for all the sadness of 2020, I'm grateful to be able to have this experience

as part of my life again. Because of the gas line issues, I didn't keep up with cooking trends very much, but even in my cooking stupor I began to hear about cocoa bombs. In a burst of synchronicity I found Nicole's video -- just click the link above to see the video -- and am now planning a cocoa bomb cooking party sometime in January. For anyone who knows me at all, I am one of the least crafty people anywhere and I'm doubtful that I will have photo ready cocoa bombs, but I'm going to try. The photo above is also thanks to Nicole, who is giving cocoa bombs and cookies as Christmas gifts. Enjoy the video. Spending time with Nicole via video was so much fun, and I hope you enjoy it, too.   

For our baking portion we're visiting a new favorite blog, Mission Food Adventure. I'm not sure how I discovered it, but I'd like to make every recipe. I did make the amazing Pain d'Epice, a French gingerbread loaf, from one of my favorite bakeries, Bouchon Bakery. Bouchon is now history, but I am so delighted to be able to bake one of their treats. I'm skipping a photograph for this post. My cake -- I used a round 8" pan instead of a loaf -- was delicious, but not picture perfect. As with so many treats, it got better on the second (and third and fourth) day. It was a lot of work, but so worth it. Now that I've got blackstrap molasses in the house, I will be making more gingerbread. 

I call this an adult gingerbread. It's very dense and takes a lot of molasses. My blogger buddy at Mission Food explained that French gingerbread is denser and less airy than the American gingerbread most of us are more familiar with. I'm also skipping sharing a photo of my sink afterwards. I thought I was cleaning up as I went along -- the gold standard of baking -- but the sink didn't reflect it. 

Pep and I made it to Rockefeller Center today and we had a wonderful time. I'll be sharing the photographs for our  Christmas Eve post. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and have a cozy Christmas Eve. 

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas: The Most Beautiful Christmas Tree in New York City

 

The Christmas tree and Neapolitan Baroque Creche at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

I have two "must-dos" in New York at this time of the year. One is a visit to Rockefeller Center, which is still on my to-do list this year. My other must is a visit to the Metropolitan Museum and a visit to this beautiful tree and the magnificent figures surrounding it. The creche figures are Eighteenth Century depictions of life in Naples at the time they were created. 

The Holy Family surrounded by townspeople and angels 

Every other year I've made my visit to see the tree it's in a different area of the museum and surrounded by medieval statuary. The lights are dim and the scene is almost otherworldly. 

The 2019 setting for the tree

I miss the previous setting, but so grateful that the museum is open and I can continue my annual tradition of enjoying the tree. Last year there were many visitors to the tree, but this year (and at 11:00 a.m. on a Monday morning) there were no more than a dozen people in the vast room where the tree is located. 

At the far end of the Sculpture Court where the tree is residing this year is a snow covered Central Park and this historic obelisk. 

Tomorrow we're doing a cooking/baking day and I can't begin to tell you the thrill it gives me to be able to write this. We'll feature a video about making cocoa bombs and the recipe for an amazing French gingerbread. As a taste of holiday baking and cooking I'm including a link to a recipe for chocolate peppermint cookies, created by Bill Telepan, the Museum's Chef and Culinary Director.  

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. Wishes for cozy days!

It's Monkey (and Snowman) Christmas Monday

 What's more fun than a barrel of monkeys? 

A Christmas car full of monkeys!

Holiday greetings from Pep, Bongo, DK, Lucy, Ricky and Coco, joined by  Angel Bear.  

Despite my concerns about using the lobby as the background for our photos, Pep prevailed and the monkeys drove into the lobby for their annual picture. One of our building staff, Victor, was in the lobby when we arrived. I was initially shy about setting up the photo shoot, but Victor was interested in our activity and joined in the monkey fun. He even suggested that I get a remote control car for Pep and friends. I'm not sure that New York is ready for an unlicensed, uninsured monkey driving down the street, but Pep is very excited about the idea. Neighbors, be on the lookout. 

This year, Socko and Sockette joined the snow group annual picture. Mr. Snowman provided the entertainment and a very good time was had by all.  

Today was a beautiful day with bright sunshine, and the temperature was in the high forties. I spent the morning at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and got to see and take pictures of my favorite Christmas tree anywhere. I also got to eat lunch outdoors and even though I was eating outside, the heaters kept me toasty.  

I hope you've enjoyed Pep and friends holiday fun. I see a Pep holiday card in the future. What do you think?

As ever, thanks for visiting and keep cozy. 

Winter Wonderland Message from the Buttercupland Department of Public Safety

 

One of my all time favorite spots in New York City, Riverside Park

I got caught up in Winter Wonderland frenzy this week. New York City hasn't had a major snowstorm in almost a decade and the minute the snow stopped and I could see the it was possible to cross streets -- at least most streets -- I bundled up and walked over to Riverside Park to see the snow while it was still white. 

I wasn't the only one who made the trek to the park. Though it was cold and the sidewalks were barely shoveled, it looked like most of the neighborhood had the same idea. 

There were sledders...

...And there were skiers. 

Dog walkers...

...And snowman builders, including whomever built this "Charley Brown" snowman.

I got so caught up in the excitement of being in a beautiful winter wonderland that I overlooked a critical rule of winter. It is slippery. It is very slippery and even slush is treacherous. I did okay walking to the park and walking on the packed down snow on the sidewalk near the park. The big challenge came crossing Riverside Drive on my way home. Nothing was shoveled out, though some places were less problematic. I thought crossing in a foot of slush would be a good choice and I'm sure it was better than trying to get through a big pile of snow. But slush is deceptive. I sunk into the slush and before I knew it, I was laying down in the slush in the street. 

Not a minute went by but a nice young man came to the rescue of this aging damsel in distress and helped me up. I know New Yorkers aren't known for being thoughtful, but I don't agree. When I got across the street -- none the worse for wear -- a woman walking a baby carriage asked if I was okay. I know I was very lucky -- I've got a relatively new hip that doesn't appreciate falls -- and my only damage is a sore left bottom and my dignity. 

The Department of Public Safety reminds all of us who may get carried away by Winter Wonderland Fever and race out to see the snow in its pristine state that conditions are slippery and slush is deceptively treacherous. Slush is the quicksand of winter. Be safe and be careful. The hip you save may be your own. 

Big, big week coming up in Buttercupland. Tomorrow is Christmas Monkey Monday. On Tuesday we're taking a trip to the Metropolitan Museum. Wednesday is FoodFest, including a video done by my friend, Nicole, demonstrating how to make hot cocoa bombs. Not to be missed!      

As ever, thanks for visiting and stay safe and cozy.

Visions of Dancing Candy Canes Pink Saturday

 

Dancing Candy Canes at Bloomingdales

For many years I've had the pleasure of watching "The Nutcracker" at Lincoln Center at Christmas. It hasn't been every year and less and less as the years have gone by. As the years have gone by I've also grown tired of the first act. But in the second act when the candy canes and cocoa and tea dance, all is forgiven, and I am as mesmerized as a six year old seeing ballet for the first time. 

I won't be returning to Lincoln Center this year, but I will be searching for the best on-line rendition I can find. Until I've found it, the interior design at Bloomingdales will suffice. I zipped in after my eye doctor appointment and was delighted to find a visual replacement for the dancing candy canes I so love. There's nothing that will replace Tchaikovsky's music, but fortunately that's always just a few clicks away.

This was the first group of dancers I saw as I ascended the escalator.

I looked up and this dancer in mid-air greeted me. 

 

This trio bid me farewell as I left my department store Nutcracker visit.

There's a lot of excitement building in Buttercupland. Monday is the annual Christmas Monkey (and Snowman) Monday. The whole group will be assembled in holiday finery for their annual picture. In the past we've taken the photo with everyone posed on the mantel, but we've outgrown that space. Pep has proposed we move to the lobby and I'm considering it. I'm not sure the building staff will appreciate a dozen monkeys racing around the lobby, but it's a tempting idea. 

I hope you've enjoyed our Pink Saturday fun. Please stop by tomorrow for snow time in  New York and a winter update from the Buttercupland Department of Public Safety. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and keep cozy. 

Chappy Chanukah

(C)Happy (C)Hanukah 

 

There are any number of ways to spell Chanukah in English and my favorite New York bakery, Breads, used one version of the transliterated spelling for their greeting this year. In the background are the traditional Chanukah jelly doughnuts, sufganiyot. Breads versions are anything but traditional, including chocolate and dulce de leche filings. Chanukah foods are fried in oil to commemorate the miracle of oil that lasted eight days instead of one. 

I find it extraordinary that 2200 years have gone by since those miraculous eight days and around the world the commemoration has just taken place. Candles were lit, blessings were said and sufganiyot were eaten. Children still spin the dreidel, a four sided top. The letters on the top symbolize the phrase, "A great miracle happened there."

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. 

I hope everyone is digging out of yesterday's snow. We got ten inches and I went out in the afternoon to enjoy it while it was still (mostly) untouched. The pristine look doesn't last long in Manhattan, but I got there soon enough to see the park sparkling in the afternoon sun and will share pictures in the next post. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and keep cozy.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas: Columbus Circle

 

Is your favorite blue...

...Or pink and purple (my two favorite colors)

...or orange?

Though I love pink and purple, separately and together, I can't pick a favorite. I am delighted when each color blends into the next. I've seen this display more times than I can count, but it never fails to dazzle me. For new visitors to Buttercupland, I worked at this site, though it wasn't a glittering glass and steel mall in those days, but a somewhat rundown office building. Despite it's shabbiness and poorly operating air conditioning, it was one of my favorite work sites. We overlooked Central Park, had great access to just about every subway line and I could walk to and from work. I rarely walked to work, but walked all or most of the way home a lot of the time. It broke my heart to move downtown in 1999, but I ended up loving that location, too.  

Right now there's a snowstorm going on and it's more than just a dusting. We've had very little snow for the last few years, but this storm brings us back to the past. Fortunately, I've got nowhere that I have to be, unlike the years when working from home was unknown. My heart and prayers go out to those who have to keep working and whose work keeps New York City running. As I type, I can hear the sound of the snow blowers keeping the sidewalks clear, at least for a little while.   

Tomorrow we'll be having our official Buttercupland Chanukah celebration. Please stop by and join the festivities. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and keep cozy!

It's Really (National) Monkey Monday

 

I couldn't let National Monkey Day go by without a post. Yes, there really is a day to celebrate monkeys, though, in Buttercupland, we celebrate monkeys every day. One of the snowmen and a few of the penguins came to serenade Pep, Bongo and Socko on one of their favorite days.   

One thought to remember for National Monkey Day is that there are 262 species of monkeys and currently, half of those species are endangered, including orangutans. Pep has an adopted sister in Borneo, Joyce, and she and her orangutan friends face many challenges. 

  

Monkey Memory Monday with Pep, Socko and office friend, Screamer

We only had rain today and I was able to get out and take pictures of the lights at 10 Columbus Circle, which will be our post tomorrow. While I was there to take pictures I noticed that there was no line for Whole Foods and decided to see if it was a good time, i.e., relatively empty, to shop. It was and I stocked up on a number of things I've been wanting. I can't remember the last time I was at Whole Foods and it was almost like being at an amusement park. I had forgotten how much fun it was to have the huge selection to choose from. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas: You Never Know Who You'll Meet

 

My new friend, Buddy

I've tried to make the most of this week and the superb weather and I'm happy with the pictures I've been able to put together in the neighborhood. I'm having thoughts of next year's cards, though if I don't get busy writing cards I will lots left to send next year. 

This photograph may be coming to a mailbox near you in 2021

Whenever I think I've walked on every block in the neighborhood (especially during my walks in the spring) I discover a block that looks totally unfamiliar. This happened today and I so enjoyed seeing the beautiful brownstones on West 88th Street. 

I found this fun doorway on the street where I met Buddy. There are so many elements that I like, and I'm especially a fan of the big wreath above the doorway.

I know I think the same thing every year, but I can't believe that Chanukah is half over and that Christmas will be here in less than two weeks. Weather and travel permitting, I'm still planning to visit a few favorite places to visit. The forecast for tomorrow is heavy rain, but Tuesday looks clear. I'm going to make every effort to get to Rockefeller Center and see the tree. Today would have been perfect, but I was concerned that it would be too crowded.  Though this year has been very different than past years, December is rushing by just like it always has.   

As ever, thanks for visiting, stay safe and enjoy the season. 

Pink Saturday Goes Window Shopping

 

For the dazzling mermaid on your shopping list

We've had dazzling weather in New York City -- though the weather forecast predicts a snowstorm or two for next week -- and I took a long walk in the neighborhood yesterday. Fifty plus degree weather made it perfect window shopping (and photographing) weather and I leisurely shopped for many blocks. I'm always on the lookout for material for Pink Saturday, and the stores of Columbus Avenue didn't disappoint me. 

Tie dye, sparkles and unicorns, a modern day version of visions of sugarplums 

Another unicorn sighting on Columbus Avenue

 So cute for Christmas

Tomorrow promises another fifty degree day before the snow arrives and I'm planning on an outdoor lunch in the neighborhood. I'll also do a little grocery shopping and work on my cards. I've also got more photographs of local decorations to edit. What are your Sunday plans? 

As ever, thanks for visiting. Take care and enjoy the season.

Vroom Vroom Vroom

 

Monkey dreams really do come true

I thought that I had hidden Pep's car so well that even the most resourceful (and mischievous) monkey wouldn't find it. But I underestimated our Pep and his faithful buddy, Bongo.  I was engrossed in my regular Thursday morning Weight Watchers Zoom when I heard "Vroom Vroom Vroom." I looked up and I saw Pep and Bongo driving into the living room. 

Either it was monkey intuition or Pep saw me bring in a car sized box, but the monkey duo found their surprise. Pep and Bongo took the first ride and now Socko is waiting his turn. I've asked Pep to watch a driver ed video and review safety rules before he leaves the apartment. He promised that he will do this, but I won't be surprised if I get a call from the lobby letting me know that Pep has been spotted driving down the sidewalk.   

I know Pep has some great driving trips planned, but his first outing will be the stationery store a few blocks away. He and Bongo want to see the train set in the window. 

Pep's first destination

Tonight is the first night of Chanukah. I just finished a wonderful Chanukah Zoom, and am grateful that we could celebrate virtually. So hopeful that next year we will have the gift of celebrating in the same place. I'm going to do a post dedicated to Chanukah in the next few days. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. Happy Chanukah!

It's Beginning ToLook A Lot Like Christmas: Bloomingdale's

 

Happy holidays from Bloomingdale's and Buttercupland

I had an appointment with my ophthalmologist today and realized I was going to be only three blocks away from Bloomingdale's. Even though taking photographs following an eye appointment doesn't always work well -- my eyes are blurry for hours -- I hated to waste the opportunity of being so close to some of the best holiday decorations in Manhattan.   

I'm so glad I walked over. The outside windows were so bright and lively and I was delighted with the decorations inside the store, too. I didn't do too much exploring -- I'm trying to limit my time indoors -- but I found great decorations on the first floor. We'll be revisiting the store for a very fun Pink Saturday.

Loved the "Give Happy" window, a tribute to the pups and kittens who gave so much happiness this year.  

This candy cane fantasy -- Give Love -- would make a great holiday card. I've got lots of cards waiting to be addressed, but I need to remember this for next year. 

So enjoyed these sweet polar bears. Is anyone else a fan of polar bears?

Unfortunately my eye appointment wasn't as much fun as seeing the decorations in Midtown. My eye pressure was great, but my rare macular (retina) condition was just a tad worse than my last appointment in July. I am so profoundly grateful for my kind and intelligent ophthalmologist and the sophisticated tests that measure every possible detail of my eye. I had no symptoms when it was discovered at a routine eye appointment almost two years ago and I can't stress enough the need to keep up with your eye checkups. No treatment needed now, just my almost daily spinach and vitamins, and I will return for my quarterly checkup at the end of March. 

My project for the next few days is writing cards and wrapping the last gifts for mailing. I'm hoping that Friday will be my last visit to the post office. We had snow today and Friday is predicted to be fifty degrees. I'm planning to combine my post office visit with lunch out of doors. I want to take advantage of any good weather we get. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.