Tuesday, December 27, 2011








Time to
 eat up all the candy
 and leftovers
make soup
send out cards to everyone who got lost in the shuffle
remember old friends
dither
make plans
and
most importantly
NAP


ps this is this blogs 700th post
more nap needed.....



Friday, December 23, 2011

Last Minute




The local diner has snowmen on the window


though we haven't had any snow since October.


 The bagel shop has similar merry decorations.


I managed to find some real holly in Union Square this morning when I was up there this morning with Mari from Finland and her husband. 


Then home where the decorating and gift wrapping commenced. The troll and the snowman live in boxes all year and get to escape at Christmas,


as do Sponge Bob and the terrifying bug whose head can be pulled away from his body.


MERRY CHRISTMAS




Wednesday, December 21, 2011

The Delights of Shopping


Old Navy on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn


was astoundingly bright.


My sister in law, visiting from England, loves shopping
 in the US where there are much better bargains.  


The guitar shop next to the Chelsea Hotel has instruments signed by important people.


Not a shop exactly but a festive window at the dry cleaners.


What a bizarre melange at the bric-a-brac shop on 9th Avenue!


All peace and love at the pet supplies shop.

Happy shopping.



Saturday, December 17, 2011

Subway Series



Was heading down to Soho this morning.


and discovered that the subway seemed a very popular place to sleep.


The end of the line was about four stops on so I expect they woke up then. 


In the photos the metal rails look like the intestines of a prehistoric fish ....sort of.


Anyway, we get to Spring Street


and emerge into the light


where I see a very jolly Christmas dress
 (which I do not buy since I doubt I would look good in it)


and pretty jewels in another window. I buy rubber weather
 boots and a bar of soap and some other things
 which I will not mention since the recipients
 have been known to read this blog.


A child sleeping in the subway


and another child in a jolly hat heading somewhere nice, I hope.






Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Greenery


Fifth Avenue this morning in search of Christmas presents.


A bewildering choice of possibilities  -- so I probably got the wrong thing.......
so 


I went to look at the natural stuff in Union Square. Here a suitably skinny tree, which, to my mind, shows off the  ornaments better. Others may disagree, and even want an artificial one. Luckily, I am not the Christmas decorations police.....


A wreath is an excellent thing. Round and satisfactory


pine cones are good too though it seems rather odd to buy them.


more greenery


red berries


and roses too


silver balls in a store


and a glimpse of the Met Life Building from Broadway.


Flowers at home left over from a party


and the faithful hound who has escaped from his own blog.


Even though Reya may disapprove I do love my  Hipstermatic  app.



Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Lots of Everything




The Santas have arrived


on the bookshelf


and on 8th Avenue outside


the florist with the cat and the red berries.


In the 60's I spy an antiques shop with treasures within


and the window of Bloomingdales.
ps What splendid silver boots!


Uptown there are tasteful decorations with giant pinecones


and a house swathed and swagged


even the buildings are complex and stunning


and the diner jam-packed.





Friday, December 9, 2011

Magic Journeys and a Giveaway





Huntington Railroad Station on Monday

A time of year to turn inward and let the imagination run wild. Think The Polar Express



and all the cool trains at the Botanical Gardens.


How bright the moon shone last night


and how enchanting the florist on 8th Avenue.


Closer to home we made the first cookies of the season.
 Robert added the nose and Elly the two silver ball eyes. Hm.....


This is the magical estate in Essex in England where I grew up in an old gamekeeper's cottage. It is the setting of my story Jane in Winter which you can read free on line here, download from Nook or iTunes, or buy as an actual book from Amazon here. It's aimed at 9-12 year olds but anyone who grew up in the 1950's (or wishes they did) might enjoy it too



I'm giving away one signed copy of the book to the commenter whose name will be chosen at random on Sunday ---- so I can get the book to the winner before Christmas.

Happy reading!


ps Sunday afternoon.
Just done the drawing and Mr.Paparazzo from Hungary won the book.
I will send it as soon as I have his address.




Tuesday, December 6, 2011

A Red Letter Day



It's the Feast of St Nicholas, so it seemed rather
 a suitable day for Paz and I to go out scouting for Christmas decorations.....


 How well they chose the color of this door!


A bright red wall with a photoshoot going on inside.
The guy with the ripped torso waved like mad at us.


Still a few stubborn leaves....


 A tasteful simple wreath


one of my favorite windows


and sisters heading home from the florists to their convent on 20th Street.


Then, at lunch time, a first. A hawk on 24th Street seen from our window.
Paz is a great photographer of birds so Robert said he had arranged it specially for her.

If you haven't gone there already see Susanna Gordon's post about
a little town in Canada. My favorite post of the season.