Friday, December 31, 2010

Celebrate




Elements of a party:


First the flowers  --such roses as dreams are made on.....


An amyrillis on the window sill.


Cold without


Champagne, of course....


And a cake fit for an artist*


on an elegant plate.


*Preston Tombley

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Snapshots from Tuesday


The view from my window of winter trees and snow -- always reminds me of Breughel and the Christmas cards my parents sent in the 1950's.


How bright and moderne the Empire State Building looks in the afternoon sun.


Samson and Lily are well outfitted for the season, but Hodges' own coat is enough.


The spire of Holy Apostles church on 9th Avenue and a distant view of the Hudson. Something seems to be on fire on the right.



Harry, a friend's cat, does not want Buster to get hold of his ginger root. No way!



I'm so sad that Tessa Edwards has died. Go here for more thoughts on this splendid friend.




Monday, December 27, 2010

First Snow: Sunday into Monday




Looking out of the window in the early evening

  
the first light snow decorates the bushes.

23rd Street. 8:30pm

Hard to take photos with a dog tugging on your arm.


more of the same

23rd Street. 7:30 am


24th Street 8am

Hope you are warmer at your house.....



Sunday, December 26, 2010

Jolly

I think I like the old ornaments best.


This fish came with my husband's family from Czechoslovakia at the beginning of the last century.


Some rather un-stylishcookies that were fun to bake and eat.
Bobby, Claudia: note the sprinkles....


The dog took a nap on my chair.


How elegantly the glaze abandons the glass!


From the 1950's a little luna-tique if you ask me.


A very very long time ago, when $5 meant something, this Santa was generous indeed.


Light falls on the tablecloth --not to mention red candle-wax...



ps. Claudia, I wish you were here!
OXO from Dad, Buster and me.


Thursday, December 23, 2010

Bling



Coming out of the Lincoln Tunnel, heading towards the bus terminal ...


the low hedge glows with little lights


Santa and his crew surround a window drawings of the German church on 22nd Street.


More is definitely more upon more in the Golden Dolphin diner in Huntington LI


No holds barred in the grand lobby of Radio City Music Hall.


The young are attracted to bright colors

while world-weary subway riders prefer to keep it restrained.

Merry Christmas


Thursday, December 16, 2010

More Signs of the Season



I am a complete sucker for the austere beauty of bare branches.



Here in the park in Northport Village, Long Island.


Here seen from the bus in the late afternoon somewhere in New Jersey.


 In New Jersey too, as the sun was setting.

Union Square. Wednesday.

Such parsnips as dreams are made on....like some small forest of animate
 parsnip-creatures waving their arms in the air.

ABC Carpet

And the very apotheosis of the Christmas cushion.
If you had this you really wouldn't have to bother with any other decorations at all......



Saturday, December 11, 2010

Saturday


The other day it was so cold that the sun was pale and watery looking.


Today was much warmer.


With abundant sign of the season.


Trees to be chosen on 9th Avenue.



And the Santas were everywhere.


Looking very jolly indeed.


There were hats on the subway.


And carol singers too.


I envy the elf shoes.




Great merriment on Penn Station.



Thursday, December 9, 2010

Round Things


Before hibernating, before indulging in the long winter's nap,


animals need to put on a nice little layer of comfortable fat.
An excellent plan.
Herewith my suggestions........
a lemon tart from Bergamot on 9th Avenue.


A mini pumpkin pie from Once Upon a Tart in Soho
 where I went with Frances to discuss knitting and other things.


In an attempt to be virtuous, I include an asian pear,
 an odd fruit, not as good as a real pear, but interesting.




For  the Jane in Winter story go here




Monday, December 6, 2010

Signs of the Season

I always think of the feast of St. Nicholas as the real opening salvo of Christmas.



The birds and the squirrels are enjoying the last berries revealed by the leaves' absence.

Somehow a rather disheveled penguin has arrived
and taken up residence outside an art gallery on 22nd Street.
 

A red amyrillis in Union Square Cafe . 
I think they get all their greenery from the market just near by.


Yesterday Berch was painting the windows of the two diners
on the corner of 23rd Street and 9th Avenue. He works astoundingly quickly.


 I wanted to get a better picture of the little girl in the red coat dressed up so nicely.
Attentive viewers will see Buster's reflection.


These two snowmen look pretty cheerful despite the crutches on the right of the picture.
Did one of them fall over on the ice?

It started snowing very lightly here this morning.........


Go here to read all of  Jane in Winter, my Christmas story set in 1950's England.