A Moment in the Snow in Manhattan

I had a very different post planned for today. But as I opened my photo folder I saw what Google had done with a picture I took this afternoon while I was waiting for the bus. The snow had just started falling and I wanted to capture the moment. The sepia tone is perfect for the Church, which is over one hundred years old. It's not what I planned, but it's just the right picture for a snowy winter evening.

I was up and out early, meeting a friend for a morning movie. We stopped with what seemed like all of the Upper West Side at Trader Joe's for some pre-storm food shopping hysteria and then had a late lunch. By the time I reached the library, my last errand of the day, the snow was falling. More snow is predicted for Thursday, but peeking at the weather for next week the numbers begin with 4. It may rain, but any day above 40 degrees sounds like a gift and I will be grateful for it. 

I'm joining my friends at The Enchanting Rose, one of my favorite places in BlogLand, for Roses of Inspiration. Please stop by, you'll meet some sweet bloggers.

As ever, thanks for visiting. Take good care and keep cozy! 

Three Tips for Surviving -- Flourishing -- in Single Digits

The temperature in New York City this morning was seven -- yes, seven -- degrees. Generally New York City apartments are overheated, but not in my corner of New York City this morning. My apartment is now comfortable, but that wasn't the situation first thing this morning. I was beginning to feel that this long, long winter had gotten the best of me, and I was about to descend into single digit doldrums when I remembered a few tried and true ways to cheer up. I knew a cruise somewhere warm would be one answer, but for less than ten dollars I could cheer up right away.

Here are my quick and inexpensive tips.

1) Fun and cozy socks.

I'm not sure when and where I bought these fleecy slipper socks, but I'm glad I did. They are not only warm, but fun, and the pink and orange brightened my day right away.

2) Something green and growing, preferably with a pretty scent.

I bought this hyacinth at Trader Joe's last week for $2.99. It was an impulse at the end of my shopping trip. I have gotten infinite pleasure every time I walk into my kitchen and the aroma alone is a treat. There are still buds to come and I am enjoying it immensely. The Delft tile in the background was bought during a trip to the Netherlands in 1966 and was in my mother's kitchen for many years. This plant may be the best purchase of the winter.

3) Hot Beverages

I started the day with a pot of coffee and enjoyed it with vanilla creamer. I moved on to spearmint herbal tea and both made for a cozy day. I usually drink out of a mug, but for my tea I switched to this pretty cup.

I'm not posting a picture of myself in my single digit attire, but it includes my favorite winter fabric, fleece. I'm wearing a lilac fleece sweater and feeling very cozy.

There's nothing fancy, expensive or complicated in this post, but the combination of the three has lifted my spirits immeasurably. Until the next warm day -- which is looking like Sunday -- I'll be in fleece and fun socks, enjoying coffee and the aroma of hyacinths.

I'm joining The Enchanting Rose, one of my favorite places in BlogLand for Roses of Inspiration.

As always, thanks for visiting. Take good care and keep cozy.

An Ode to Homemade Cookies Foodie Friday

I like many things about food. I like eating it, shopping for it, cooking and reading about it. In the last year I've come to enjoy writing about it, too. I especially enjoy writing about food in New York City. I tend to write about luxury items, like the fabled macarons of Laduree or very New York centric foods, like bagels at the local bagel shop. This Foodie Friday post is about food, but its focus is on neither luxury or local specialties. I'm toasting perhaps my favorite food, one found throughout America and many other countries as well, the homemade cookie.

I've not been known to throw away a store bought or restaurant cookie and I have fabulous memories of biscotti in Rome or the simple pleasure of an oreo and a glass of milk. However I can think of few food items that vie with the homemade cookie, especially the really good homemade cookie.  

Patricia's linzer tart Christmas stars

 

A favorite part of Christmas is sampling my friends' homemade cookies. This year there were no homemade cookies until New Year's Day, when my patience was richly rewarded. I had the pleasure of a being invited to a wonderful lunch at my friend Betsy's apartment. The main course was black eyed peas, but the dessert was two kinds of cookies and at risk of gaining five pounds on the first day of the new year, I refrained from eating every cookie on both plates. It was a struggle.

 

The linzer tarts pictured above were made by one of the guests' sister. I am not generally a fan of jam cookies, but these were so buttery and delicious that I may have become a fan, at least of Patricia's cookies. The other variety was Betsy's molasses cookies. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture, but they are one of my favorite kinds of cookies. I have memories of eating warm molasses cookies during our fifth grade trip to Sturbridge Village. Yes, that trip was fifty-four years ago, but such is the power of a really good cookie right out of the oven.  

 

What is your favorite homemade cookie?

 

My goals for this weekend are movies, exercise and putting the stuffed animals and snowmen away. I will be back this evening with my last photos of Christmas in New York for Pink Saturday and tomorrow I will be once again joining Sunlit Sunday. 

 

As always thanks for visiting and take very good care! 

 

I'm happy to join the fun with sweet Stephanie at the Roses of Inspiration link party. Guaranteed you will meet some of the nicest bloggers in all of BlogLand.