It's (Almost) A Wrap for 2025

I joined this crowd of elves and visitors to attempt to see the most iconic 

holiday landmark in New York City. What was I thinking? 

In short I was thinking that it was relatively warm out, I had no set plans and I wanted to see everything I'd missed this season. Everything was not possible and it's highly unlikely that I will visit the Metropolitan Museum or Macy's, but I did get to see the most iconic sight, the tree at Rockefeller Center. 

The view facing west and the Rockefeller Center tree

I've been to Rockefeller Center many times at Christmas and it's always crowded, but this was a new record for crowd. There was a line from Sixth Avenue to the Plaza where the tree is situated to get close to the tree. I've never seen a line before, and it didn't appear to be moving quickly. I skipped standing in line, and walked on West 49th Street (closed to traffic) and took most of my photos from a distance. They're not my best, but it's not really all about the pictures. I was still excited when the tree came into sight and I saw it with the lights shining. The excitement never gets old. 

I was able to get enjoy the windows at Saks Fifth Avenue, across Fifth Avenue from Rockefeller Center. They were lovely and I enjoyed them a lot. Here's a few. 

 

This window celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Rockettes

 and the Parade of the Wooden Soldiers 

Ever since I had the panic attack earlier this month about running out of time to finish my cards, the passage of time has been on my mind, a lot. I ran out of time to finish my cards. I ran out of time to see all the holiday highlights in New York City. This thought led me to realize that I'd (just about) run out of time to do everything I'd hoped to get done in 2025. I didn't read the 52 books I'd set as my Goodreads Challenge and I'm not as thin as I'd hoped to be. As in every season, every year and to extend the thought, in my life, there will come a moment when I run out of time. I'm not here to beat myself up for all that I haven't accomplished. I'm happy for what I did get done, enjoyed, shared and lived. I'm looking forward to what 2026 holds. I pray it's a year of peace and good health for all of us. I've got a perfect word chosen for 2026 and a goal, both of which I'll share on January 1, 2026. I'll be back tomorrow night to bid adieu to 2025. 

Until then, as ever, thanks for visiting and wishes for sweet moments in the waning hours of  2025. 

On the Sixth Day of December

I figured out how to download a video

A still photo, just for fun!

It took a lot longer than I expected, which is why I am posting this close to midnight. But hooray, Buttercupland has entered the video age with this video of the Viewmaster that was part of the windows of Saks Fifth Avenue. I need to do a little research to see how I can make this process a little less cumbersome, but until then enjoy 20 seconds on Fifth Avenue. 

I'm one tired Buttercup, so this will be a quick post. Until tomorrow, my friends!

As ever, thanks for visiting and sweet dreams.   

On the Fourth Day of December : Pink Saturday Goes to Saks Fifth Avenue

Buttercup appears at one of the favorite events of the week, Pink Saturday

One of my favorite memories of growing up were the department stores of Hartford (CT) at Christmas. I loved the lights, the decorations and the amazing toy department at the premier store downtown, G. Fox and Co. I spent hours looking at the toys, especially the dolls and the big train exhibit. I imagine that many of us in Buttercupland remember the magic of the big department stores in the 1950's and 1960's.

We weren't the only people who came to see the lights and decorations on Fifth Avenue

Sadly the department stores of my childhood are now gone and most of the New York Department stores are history, too. But there are two big department stores left on Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale's on Lexington Avenue and they all still decorate for Christmas. I've got pictures from Bergdorf Goodman's that I'll post later this month and I will make a trip to Bloomingdale's and post those pictures, too. Tonight we're at Saks Fifth Avenue. 

There were beautiful clothes 

Fun windows

And a wonderful light show

I hope to get back to Saks to take a video of the light show, but I have learned that of all  my intentions on the fourth of Decembers only half of them will be accomplished. If I do get a video, I will happily share it with Buttercupland. 

Today was a quieter day, but I made sure to get to the local Christmas tree stand, which was a hub of activity. Tomorrow we'll visit the stand and have a Charlie Brown Christmas.

As ever, thanks for visiting and sweet dreams.

 

On the Third Day of December

 

My favorite window at Saks Fifth Avenue this year

On the third day of December, yesterday, I fell asleep while reading and when I woke up it was the fourth day of December. It was after midnight and I then proceeded to brush my teeth, etc. and figure out if I was going to skip a day or do a "duo," and post twice today. I've decided that I may not post every day, but I'm going to post 31 times in December.

I spent a wonderful with friends visiting from Rochester and we braved Fifth Avenue and Rockefeller Center. It was (really!) crowded, but for the first time in years I got close enough to the windows at Saks Fifth Avenue to get clear photographs. Rockefeller Center was too crowded for all the photographs I hoped for, but I got some great pictures and more importantly my friends and I found a place to sit and watch the dazzling lights of the Rock Center Christmas tree, and it was even more magical than I remembered.

I will be doing a separate post on my visit to Rockefeller Center and will be back later today for a Pink Saturday post of more of the windows at Saks.

I've got a walking date with myself this afternoon and then there's cards and wrapping on my schedule. What are your plans today?

As ever, thanks for visiting and see you later.   

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.  

City Sidewalks, Busy Sidewalks

It's the Saks Fifth Avenue holiday look and

Rockefeller Center is in the background

My goal for the first few weeks of December was to be out and about taking pictures of holiday decorations every day. Yesterday and today were not days to be running around New York City, especially for someone who has big concerns about slipping and falling. Fortunately I took pictures a couple of weeks ago of the fashion windows at Saks Fifth Avenue. Saks is among the last of the big New York City Department stores and alas, there were easily a dozen more when I moved to New York in 1975. I'd look very out of place at any of my holiday events in these elegant gowns, but it's fun to window shop. 

I'm especially pleased to have the hot dog cart captured in the reflection.

A yellow taxi joins the hot dog cart in this picture. 

It's been a quiet day and the high points of the day were working on cards and reading the weekend New York Times.  One of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon is drinking coffee and doing the Sunday crossword puzzle. I also joined in Cyber Monday shopping. I renewed my AMC movie pass, which I'd been meaning to do for quite awhile and then took advantage of sale prices and bought THM low-carb baking blend. I also indulged in a new fleece shirt and a turtleneck from my friends at J.C. Penney's.  I don't buy a lot of new clothes, but I realized I've worn through a lot of my post-retirement casual clothes and need replacements. Of course, most of my wardrobe needs now are casual clothes. 

The snow seems to have tapered off and I'm hoping to get to Yoga tomorrow and then some holiday decoration picture taking. What are your terrific Tuesday plans?

As ever, thanks for visiting and keep cozy. 

Saks Fifth Avenue Pink Saturday

There's nothing like jumbo bright candy to catch my eye at the doorway of Saks Fifth Avenue  

I've got a long list of places I'd like to visit in the next month and I started yesterday with a walk down Fifth Avenue. I walked from 59th Street to 30th Street and got to see almost all of the sights along the Avenue that I hoped to see. I do want to return to Saks Fifth Avenue for a few more pictures -- the lines to see the windows were a little overwhelming -- and I will stop by Rockefeller Center after the tree lighting to get the full effect of the decorations. But yesterday was a spectacular day to start my expeditions. It was sunny and warm (for November) and it seemed everyone who lived in New York and everyone who was visiting had the same idea that I had.

I decided to begin this year's holiday pictures with these windows at Saks -- because I couldn't think of a more perfect picture than the one above for Pink Saturday. These are the "fashion" windows, but they are pretty enough for holiday decorations.
 

This one featured red with candy décor, too. I love to look at the clothes, but even in my most fashionable days I don't think this would have been my look. Now my idea of dressing up is a tunic dress over my "good" leggings, and I go most places in my sneakers.
 

Visions of sugar plums and lollipops for the well-dressed New Yorker. 

This beautiful scene is part of the holiday display. The reflection in the background is Rockefeller Center.

 

Today was another perfect day for enjoying New York. I took a subway trip to Queens and made a few fun discoveries and had some very good coffee. I'm going to be doing a series of posts in the next month about visiting New York City at Christmas time and my journey today will be featured early next week.

 

Please stop by tomorrow for a visit to the New York Public Library, some book chat and a giveaway. 

 

As ever, thanks for visiting and wishes for a great rest of Thanksgiving weekend. Enjoy! 

 



 

Pink Saturday Night at Radio City Music Hall

Beautiful Sound and Light show at Saks Fifth Avenue, first stop on our Radio City Night.

 

This was the year that I was going to see everything in New York at Christmas. At best it was an ambitious plan, but with bronchitis, impossible. I've cut drastically on my activity this week and am feeling better. I'm not bouncing back as quickly as I'd like, but I'm much improved. There will be a number of things I hoped to do that won't get done and I won't have all the pictures I'd like to share. Of course every year I have the same feeling -- too much that I want to do between December 1 and December 25.

 

 

I did get to share the Radio City Christmas show with Lonni, my friend of 50+ years last weekend. The weather was great and we both pronounced it our best Christmas in New York weekend ever. Not worrying about slipping on ice greatly contributed and having orchestra seats for Radio City helped, too. Our seats were terrific for seeing the show, but not great for photographs. I did get some that I'd like to share for Pink Saturday fun.

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

My favorite parts of the show are the Rockettes -- so wish I had the feet to take up tap dancing now -- and the living Nativity. This year the Nativity seemed unusually beautiful and the appearance of the angel was a breathtaking moment.

 

This week flew by and it's time to let the winner of the Minions giveaway know the happy news. It's Melinda at Country Dreaming. Melinda, I'll be in touch and will try to mail your DVD this week. I've got one more giveaway for December and it will be a book. I love to share books and give them as gifts. I'll post this last giveaway for the year the week after Christmas. 

 

I hope everyone had a good weekend and wishes for a blessed Christmas week!