(Not So) Wordless Wednesday: It's the Season

 

Be on the lookout for this group delivering treats around the world

The honeymoon is over for Nessie and E. Bunny and the busy work season has arrived. In years past E. Bunny and Pep were responsible for the entire egg and candy delivery. But now that Nessie is part of the Bunny family she has become an integral part of the operation. I'm also happy to announce that Bongo has joined the delivery group as an intern. 

Memories of Easter past 

You may notice that Pep is not in Easter attire, but is wearing his Yankee uniform. I'm pretty sure the deliveries tomorrow will include the Bronx and Pep will do a quick drop-in at Yankee Stadium for opening day of baseball season. 

E. Bunny and Nessie are traditionalists and their Easter basket choices are eggs and candy, but Pep and Bongo lean to bananas and oranges. If you see fruit in your Easter basket you'll know that Pep has been in your neighborhood. 

We start the A to Z Challenge tomorrow. I hope you'll join us for this always fun month of posts. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.  

A Bulletin from the Buttercupland Department of Public Health: The Eyes You Save May Be Your Own

 

The local decore to welcome Easter. It has nothing directly to do with the post, but definitely fun and eye catching.   

In July 2019 I wrote about a visit to my retina specialist to remind us that every time is a good time to pay attention to the health of our eyes. That spring I was diagnosed with macular degeneration, and subsequently started seeing a retina specialist for my eye care. The diagnosis was changed to a macular pucker, which, simply put, is scar tissue that forms on the retina. Thankfully, my condition has remained stable and there is very little vision loss. But to make sure that any changes in my vision are found before there is vision loss, I continue appointments every three months. 

My visit last summer was my first post-pandemic venture out of the neighborhood and I went with great anxiety. My great comfort was that the office had been open throughout the spring in order to treat people with macular degeneration. I knew that their protocol of spraying, sanitizing and temperature taking had kept them safe throughout the worst months for New York. 

My latest visit was yesterday. There were still the same precautions, but my anxiety was a lot lower. I was also happy to see that the neighborhood in Midtown where the office is located is livelier. My appointment went well. My condition is stable and doesn't interfere with reading, though I don't see quite as well with my left eye.

Please remember to take care of your health, including your eye sight. You may have heard our Buttercupland Department of Public Health message on television (as I just did), but so many conditions don't have early symptoms. My condition was found in a routine annual visit to the ophthalmologist. I had no symptoms whatsoever.   

Amazingly, at least to me, tomorrow is the last day of March. We'll have some cold(er) weather for a few days and then, blessedly, spring should fully arrive. Starting on Thursday, it's April and Buttercupland will be beginning the A to Z Challenge with my favorite things. I'm not 100% set on all of my topics, but I'm sure about A, which will include a Tiffany window.    

As ever, thanks for visiting. Take care of your health and take care of your eyes.  

Pink Saturday Celebrates Spring

 

The flowers of spring have arrived

Though yesterday felt like summer in New York with a beautiful and balmy eighty degrees, by the calendar it's still spring. The phrase that keeps coming to mind is one of my favorite's from the Song of Songs,  "For lo the winter has past...the flowers appear on the earth and the time of singing has come." I think this every spring, but this year the spring and the verse have a special sweetness. 

If you look very carefully in the center of the tree, you'll see a bird feeder. The "song of the turtledove" -- or more likely a robin in New York -- is heard in the land.  

On the way home from my park visit and walk with Betsy I found this art work down the block from my building. I was taken with both the pink chalk and the subject matter, modes of transportation. There were also blue chalk cars and buses, but the pink was my choice for Pink Saturday.

The orange tulips came home with me

In just a few hours Passover begins. Last year I was grateful to celebrate via Zoom, but my wish was to celebrate in-person. This year I will still gather with friends via Zoom, but these beautiful tulips will be going with me for an in-person celebration. We'll be a small gathering, but no less joyful. My wishes to all who are celebrating Passover for a sweet and healthy holiday. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and wishes to all for the beauty and gift of spring. 

Mug Monday Goes to Connecticut

 

Today, Mug Monday goes to Kitchen Little in Mystic, Connecticut

Today, we're taking Mug Monday on the road. Despite my resolve not to buy any new mugs in 2020, I couldn't resist a mug from Kitchen Little in Mystic, Connecticut. The question on the mug, "Is there life before coffee" spoke to me and the mug in the corner of the photograph came home with me. I was at Kitchen Little last September when I had the good fortune to spend a few beautiful autumn days at the Connecticut shore. After cooking for myself for months I did go wild with this breakfast and splurged on corned beef hash. It was worth all of the calories. 

A view of Mystic from the Mystic River bridge 

The trip wasn't all food, but there was definitely food on the schedule. These amazing goodies are from Sift Bake Shop in downtown, Mystic. If you're in the area Sift is a must on your itinerary. 

The beautiful beach at Stonington, Connecticut

 

I grew up in Connecticut and I have a fondness for the coastal towns there. The beaches are rocky and the sand isn't lush, but the views are beautiful. I also love the history and historic architecture that are part of many of these towns. I can't choose a favorite town, but I'm giving an A+ for historic buildings and sea view to Stonington. I'm hoping for a return visit this summer and an opportunity to spend time taking pictures. 

As promised, we have a winner for Craft Coffee. It will be going to Tammy Corvin, a great coffee fan. Tammy, I will follow up with you.

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.  

Pink Saturday Goes to the Balloon Festival

Thanks to our neighbors at Balloon Kings!

One of the things I've missed the most during the last year are the events that were part of New York City life. A lot of them were indoor events, but there were so many fun things that took place out of doors. I was delighted to see that Balloon Kings, a local balloon bouquet business, was sponsoring a balloon event to celebrate the 50% expansion of indoor seating at restaurants. Out of doors and on the first day of spring, I knew I'd be there. 

Looking west towards Broadway

Looking south on Amsterdam Avenue towards downtown

The balloon decorations were at several neighborhood restaurants. One was a favorite (pictured below), but I've never tried the others. The area is a "restaurant row" and the lineup of little buildings that you see on the left belong to the restaurants on the block. This goes on for five or six blocks and there are probably five restaurants on each block and both sides of the street. It's somewhere I often choose when I'm thinking of eating out and there's a terrific variety of cuisines to choose from. Almost all of them put in outdoor seating in the last year and now is the perfect weather to sit outside for a meal.  

A balloon bouquet for March Madness

It was fun to usher in the spring with these perfect Pink Saturday event and pictures. The week ahead is a quiet one, but some prepping and cleaning for Passover, which begins on Saturday. Tomorrow we're doing a Mug Monday in New England and announcing the winner of Craft Coffee. I hope you'll join us for the coffee fun.   

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

(Continuing) The Journey of 10,000 Miles

 

These shoes were made for walking

I don't feel that I've done a whole lot this year, but one thing I have done is wear out a pair of walking shoes. My old ones look okay on the outside, but I'm sure after at least 1,000 miles any padding they once had on the inside is gone. I was glad to find this spiffy dove gray pair -- last season's color -- that fit well and was twenty dollars less expensive than this season's color, a beautiful lavender. I was tempted to go with the lavender, but realized that after two weeks on the gritty sidewalks of New York I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between lavender and dove gray. Here's to the next thousand miles. 

It seemed a little daring, preposterous, overly optimistic to choose a goal of ten thousand miles for my walking. But tracking miles is what I've been doing for years and this is just a more cosmic version. I've read several articles about how keeping a structure was an important way to help get through the last year. It was one thing I could do that was actual and not through a computer screen. 

I've now walked 4,076 miles toward my ten thousand mile goal. I've "only" got 5,924 miles left to walk. It's both a daunting and exciting thought. Daunting, because it's impossible to imagine walking almost 6,000 miles. Exciting, because I'm optimistic my dove gray shoes and I will be walking in places I've never been before. I've made no travel plans, and though I've got some travel ideas, I'm not sure where my shoes and I will go. 

The first day of spring was a beauty in New York City, with perfect sunny weather. I got my walking in with a visit to the post office. I also made a stop at a fun local event and spent time taking pictures for will be tomorrow's Pink Saturday post.   

As ever, thanks for visiting and happy spring!

On Saint Patrick's Day Everyone is Irish

 

On Saint Patrick's Day everyone is Irish 

With thanks to my  Butttercupland friend, Darlene

I've been poking along with this post off and on all evening and Saint Patrick's Day is actually now behind us. It wasn't the holiday of years past -- especially my office years -- when most people were wearing green and there were several home baked soda breads in the lunch room and on the spare desk in my office section. 

The neighborhood was pretty sparse for decorations, but I did manage to find this Irish cottage across the street from the post office. It's not quite like being in County Wicklow, but it was a lot more accessible and I didn't need a passport or to quarantine. I've never eaten at this restaurant, but I've added it to my list. 

A visit to Ireland, via Columbus Avenue

In order to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day, I decided to go back in time to my two visits to Ireland in 2014 and 2019. Both visits were add-ons to other trips and I'm so glad I decided to add them on. The photograph above is the River Liffey, which flows through the center of Dublin. The photograph below is the Ha'penny Bridge, which crosses the River. 

Built in 1816, it was the first pedestrian bridge across the river. 

The library at Trinity College, Dublin. 

Trinity College is home of the Book of Kells, a magnificent ninth century manuscript. The campus is beautiful and a place of green and history in the center of Dublin. It's not to be missed if you are fortunate to be able to visit this wonderful city.  

From the sublime of Trinity College Library to the less sublime Pep Le Monkee. Pep is celebrating one of his favorite times of year with a spin around the living room. 

Even in the midst of fun and celebration, I want to express my sorrow to those in Georgia who have suffered losses from the murders in Acworth and Atlanta. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take care.  

A Few Of My Favorite Things

 

Sydney, Australia Harbor

With thanks to Rodgers and Hammerstein for the title of this year's A to Z Blog Challenge...

The 2021 Buttercupland A to Z Challenge topic is "(A Few of) My Favorite Things." 

As I started to think about this topic I realized I have a lot of favorite things, places, people. My first thought was to choose my favorite thing for each letter. But as I kept thinking I realized there was no rule I had to pick one favorite, and only one favorite. Some of the choices will be serious and some will be completely goofy. I'm relatively sure that my "A" choice/s will include Australia, as pictured above, but it might also be animals in clothing and the lovely Willa may appear again.  

I'm really looking forward to this year's challenge. After a year of limited choices, few plans and fewer dreams, I'm using this challenge to recalibrate what I'd like to look forward to in the next few years. I've enjoyed putting together a preliminary list and starting to sort out the photographs that I'll be using. 

 What are a few of your favorite things?

I had a few lazy days recently, but I got back to my usual walking routine today. Happily tomorrow will be much warmer and I hope to go on a little excursion out of the neighborhood. I'm going to be on the lookout for St. Patrick's Day photographs and will be sharing them in a post tomorrow night. I hope you'll stop by and join the fun. Pep will be hosting our shamrock celebration. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.  

Welcome to Mug Monday

 

My mug of the day, a souvenir of a wonderful week in Italy in 2002

I'm a fan of alliterations and I may be criticized for overdoing them. Monkey Monday and Wedding Wednesday are the two I've used the most and today I'm introducing Mug Monday. It's actually a prod to rotate my mug collection and use the ones at the back of the cabinet. After spending the last year either at home or very close to home, I've gotten stuck in a number of ruts. I realize that rotating mugs isn't a giant step, but even a little shake up in one of my ruts/habits is positive. 

Next to my Italian mug is one of my snow globes. I've got about thirty snow globes, most collected during my travels. This one came home with me from a wonderful trip to Northern Spain in 2006. I walked the last part of the Camino, the pilgrim road from Paris to Santiago de Compostela at the Northern tip of Spain.  In the interest of truth in blogging I didn't walk the entire last 65 miles, as I had planned. On the first day out -- a nineteen mile walk for which I was nowhere near ready -- I developed the worst blisters I have ever seen. I went through my supply of band-aids and mole skin in two days and in an effort to remain ambulatory I availed myself of the luggage car instead of walking on several days. 

The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

To celebrate our first Mug Monday, I'm doing a giveaway. I have a copy of  Craft Coffee, a guide to everything you may have ever wanted to know about coffee and how to brew it. All it will take is a comment with your favorite way to brew/drink coffee. If you're not a coffee drinker, just let us know your favorite hot beverage. Entries are open until 11:59 PM on Sunday, March 21. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. 

Pleased to Introduce Willa Pink Saturday

 

This Pink Saturday, please meet the very pretty in pink, Willa

I was on my way to the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Friday morning when I met Miss Willa. I stepped off the bus and there was this adorable vision in pink. My intention was take photographs at the Museum for Pink Saturday -- and I did -- but I knew Willa was the perfect Pink Saturday photograph for this week or any week. 

My first stop at the Metropolitan Museum was the Temple of Dendur. The woman in pink caught my eye as I walked through this area of the museum. 

I didn't have an agenda for this visit. I've been to the museum more times than I can count and it's one of my favorite places anywhere. I also have a few galleries that  I visit often and I decided I'd spend time in those galleries. 

I had Degas' beautiful little ballerina and much of the Impressionist galleries all to myself. 

After my visit to the Temple of Dendur and a visit to the American wing -- including a cup of coffee in the reopened and now socially distant cafe -- I made my way to the Impressionist galleries to visit old friends.    

One of my favorite Monet paintings at the far end of the galleries.  

It was a wonderful reunion with Monet, Degas, Renoir and Van Gogh and so many other friends. I was at the seaside, in Paris and in gardens throughout France. I might not be getting to Paris very soon, but, nonetheless, I enjoyed Paris much closer to home. I took a lot of pictures during this visit, so I can share my adventures with all of Buttercupland in posts to come. 

Thanks for all of the suggestions for the A to Z Challenge. The ideas are great and I'm going to incorporate some of the suggestions into my topic. I'll be doing a formal A to Z reveal later in the week and I think you'll enjoy my choice. 

I had a relatively quiet weekend, but one of my activities was watching a live video event with one of my favorite mystery authors, Cara Black. Her mysteries take place in Paris -- yes, I've got Paris on my mind -- and her newest book, Three Hours In Paris, looks terrific. She read the first chapter and I enjoyed it a lot. It was almost, almost as though I was attending a book reading again. For more information about Cara Black and Three Hours in Paris, I'm attaching my post from Coffee Light and Mysteries Noir.    

As ever, thanks for visiting and take care. Colorado friends, stay safe!

It's A to Z Challenge Time

 

Not quite yet!

I've been a participant in the A to Z blog challenge since 2013. The premise is simple. A topic is chosen and every day in April -- Sundays excluded -- a post is done featuring the letter of the day. It sounds easy, but for those of us who are not daily bloggers, it's a big project. A few years I've started with A and finished with Z and other years I start skipping days and don't get further than M. 

In years past my themes have included coffee, coffee around the world and the subways of New York. Last year my theme was places I've traveled around the world. Before 2020 I generally chose topics that I would be able to photograph during March and April in New York. Last April was spent in lockdown and I knew I wouldn't get farther than places I could comfortably walk. This year I have more options in New York City and hope to be getting around the city more as the weather gets nicer.  

I didn't keep up with the timing for this year's challenge and totally missed the theme reveal on Monday. In the past I had my theme lined up and was ready for the reveal. I've got an idea, but I'm not 100% committed. This leads me to my Buttercupland question: 

What's your suggestion for my 2021 A to Z Buttercupland theme?

I'm open to sensible or zany, serious or totally frivolous. My only request is that it's something I can photograph, or have photographed already. I appreciate all suggestions. I might not choose your idea for my A to Z theme, but I will do a post based on your suggestion this spring. 

It was another spring day and I enjoyed being outside and taking photographs. I'm looking forward to another few warm days and then March returns to its more normal pattern. I've got an excursion scheduled for tomorrow and I'm hoping to get some pictures to share for Pink Saturday.  

As ever, thanks for visiting and take care. 

 

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: It Might as Well Be Spring

 

Everyone has been outside enjoying the spring weather

This was my view yesterday. The weather was in the sixties and I sat outside and enjoyed an iced coffee without being on the outlook for a heater to keep me warm. Today was a little cooler, but still sunny and comfortable and I walked over six miles. My drink of choice was a decaf latte and I felt positively buoyant as I sat outside enjoying my coffee, the company and the weather. 

My schedule for tomorrow is Weight Watchers in the morning via Zoom and  a walk in the afternoon. Tomorrow night I'll be working on a post with a blog question. I will be asking advice from my dear friends in Buttercupland. I'll leave the question for a surprise, but I hope you'll assist me with a big blog project. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.  

Pink Saturday Goes to the Museum of Modern Art

 

 Audrey Flack at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)

One of the highlights of last week was a visit  to the Museum of Modern Art. In the days before last March I didn't get there very often. It was usually too crowded for my comfort and it was a rare event when I visited there. When I first came to New York in 1975 I worked across the street and our company had passes that let us visit whenever we liked. It was one of the best perks of any job I've had and I spent many lunch hours enjoying the museum. 

I didn't expect to find anything in pink for Pink Saturday at MOMA, so I was very pleasantly surprised to discover the photorealist painting above by Audrey Flack. I wasn't familiar with her work, but now that I've seen this one I'll be on the lookout for others in museum collections.  

One of my favorite paintings anywhere is Van Gogh's The Starry Night. There were so many people eager to see it that in recent visits past it was almost impossible to see it. It was not the case last week. I wasn't the only person in the museum, but it was definitely not crowded and for some of my visit I had The Starry Night all to myself. 

Social distancing at The Starry Night

Loved discovering the  Modular Artificial Reef Structure, on the left 

The sculpture on the left is actually a ceramic structure used to develop new coral growth. It is a very sculptural response to a critical environmental problem, the demise of coral reefs around the world. 

Now that the icy and cold winter looks to be (mostly) behind us and more people are being vaccinated I'm anticipating being more active. It's not the same as last March, but it's good to see things changing for the better. The movie theaters in New York City reopened on Friday and indoor dining has been extended to permit more customers. I anticipate lots of pictures of the neighborhood, but I'm going to try and plan at least one excursion to a different neighborhood weekly. What's on your schedule for this week?

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. 

Throwback Thursday: A Message from the Buttercupland Department of Records

My mother's side of the family, March 1947

After reading yesterday's post one of the Buttercupland regulars sent me a note asking, "Where is your father?" A good question, and one I'm happy to answer. This was the only wedding photograph I could easily find, and one I've enjoyed looking at through the years. 

I thought that I was very familiar with who was included in the pictures, but I've just spent a good half hour trying to figure out who are some of these people. One of my great aunts appears to be missing and I'm unsure who is standing to the right of my mother. With the exception of the couple in the first row on the right -- they introduced my parents and were as close as family -- everyone else is family (I think), mostly my grandmother's or grandfather's siblings, children and grandchildren. There are also at least two first cousins of my grandmother in the second row. 

Tonight, when I look at this picture, my thought is "I wish...". I wish I had written down the names of everyone in the picture when I had the opportunity. I'm sure there was a time my mother and I looked at this picture together and I'm also sure she told me who everyone was. I was also sure I would remember, but as with so many other things, the names have slipped beyond memory. I wish I could have one more day at the beach with my Aunt Dora and Uncle Nate or one more chat about nail polish colors with my Aunt Lizzie, let alone one more minute with either of my parents. I wish...  

From: The Buttercupland Department of Records 

To: Citizens of Buttercupland

Write it down! Names slip away and faces slip away. Sadly, the day may come when there is no one left to ask and you will be grateful to have the information in front of you.

In our next post we're going to leave 1947 and return to this week in New York City. We're going to visit the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA). I had a wonderful visit and this week and I hope you will enjoy it, too. 

  As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.

  

Wedding Wednesday: March 2, 1947

 

My mother's wedding portrait

In this week's Wedding Wednesday we're going back in time to a wedding that took place on March 2, 1947 in Hartford, Connecticut. The beautiful bride is my mother. I rediscovered this photograph during my most recent round of decluttering. There was a smaller framed version on my parents' dresser when I was growing up, but that was over fifty years ago. When I saw it again last month, it was as though I'd never seen it before. 

My parents met in October, 1946. They were introduced by a couple who was friends with both sets of my grandparents. My mother lived in Hartford and my father in Brooklyn. There was no quick interstate highway between the two cities, just the Merritt Turnpike and the Hartford, New Haven and New York Railroad. In the five months between first meeting and their wedding they decided to get married, became engaged and planned a large, formal wedding. No internet, no cell phones and no texts, just the U.S. mail and the telephone to keep the relationship going and put the wedding together.  

Though they'd spent very little time together before they married, somehow it worked. Their personalities were very different, but their values were right in step together. Family and family time together, faith and country were top of the list. They were both voracious readers, books and newspapers, and they were happy to bring me along in the family pastime. We raked leaves as a family, shoveled snow as a family, visited historic sites as a family and loved summer weekends at the Connecticut shore with extended family.   

Even fairy tale weddings and the stories that follow them come to an end. My parents were married for 34 years, until my father passed away in 1981. But like fairy tales, the memories of the story live on, especially in the memory of those who loved them. 

Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad. Your love and your story live on in my memory.    

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care.