Pink Saturday Says Eat Sleep Party Repeat

 

I'm doing a lot more eating and sleeping than partying this year, 

but I loved the fun in this window at Bloomingdale's

As promised, we're returning to Bloomingdales to see some of the exterior holiday display. I'm fortunate I made my visit here last week, when it was warm and sunny. It was still sunny today, but also cold. Winter has arrived in time for Christmas. I just have to remember to get out my heavier coat, scarf and hat.   

I'm not quite sure what's going on in this window, but I loved the colors and design. 

I'm again confused by the action here, but love the silly reindeers having fun and the bright colors.   

I couldn't 't omit this bright pink window on Pink Saturday.

Buttercup starring for the first time ever in the holiday windows 

As I have probably written every year, I'm amazed that Christmas is less than a week away. I have one more quick trip to the post office, but happily got just about everything else into the mail last week. And then there's the cards. I'm planning (operative word is planning) to spend time tomorrow and Tuesday getting the rest of them into the mail. But I know I'm being optimistic and it may be the week after Christmas. But besides cards and a few packages to wrap for Christmas, I'm not feeling stressed. There is a quick bakery visit  that isn't mandatory -- but a gingerbread loaf seems like the perfect house gift for Christmas -- but if the line isn't overwhelming I'll be there. What are your plans for this week?

As ever, thanks for visiting. Every happy wish for the week ahead.

One Is Silver and the Other's Gold

Silver (tone)

You'd never know that autumn began today by the weather in Manhattan. It was hot and sunny and by the time I made it to my doctor appointment this afternoon, I was kind of a sweaty mess. It was not what I expected for the first day of autumn. 

But my appointment went well -- a miniscule improvement in my retina, but I'll take it to the alternative -- and I remembered that there more cows of the Cow Parade at Bloomingdale's just a few blocks away. I walked over to Bloomingdale's via a stop at the bank and a stop for a Diet Coke. 

Unfortunately I didn't have sun glasses with me and my eyes were still very sensitive to light. It was easy to take photos of the silver cow, but had a tough time when I stepped outside the store and took pictures of what I believed was a gold cow. On the bus home -- still in my blurry state -- I decided that I would title this post "One is silver and the other's gold," after one of my favorite Girl Scout songs. 

As I was editing the photographs in a non-blurry state I realized that the cow gracing the front of the store is not gold. It's a takeoff on the "Big Brown Bag" that Bloomingdale's gave out to customers. 

Not really gold

If you look carefully you can see the words "big brown cow" on the side of the cow formerly known as golden cow (to me). I've thought of changing the title, but "One is silver and the other is a big brown cow" doesn't quite have the same ring to it. 

That's my story of the first day of autumn. How did your day go?

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

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. 

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. 

"I Will Honour Christmas in My Heart..."

...and try to keep it all the year."

With thanks to Charles Dickens

One of the windows at Bloomingdales

With wishes for joy, wonder and happiness -- today and all through the year.