City Views, Country Dreams

Good evening from New York on 12.12.12, a date considered auspicious and lucky by many.  It is a date that found me realizing that I still have many Christmas preparations to complete.

I have also realized that I'd promised you all a link to my friend Elizabeth's marvelous December 4 post about a very enjoyable afternoon Open House at the New York Public Library.  Of course, by now Elizabeth has also created several additional posts, so you will now have extra dividends if you visit her site.

In between some actual required days working at the shop, I have been knitting and crocheting gifts, doing some other gift shopping, visiting the Post Office and thinking about greenery, cookie baking and keeping to a true Christmas spirit.

While out and about in my west side neighborhood today, I did remember to take my camera along, but forgot to check the battery strength.  Nonetheless, some seasonal images did get captured before the camera surrendered.

Neighborhood florists each seem to carry a unique selection of greenery and flowers, so it's fun to see which shop has what.

So far, I have started forcing  some paperwhite narcissus bulbs on a cool, deep windowsill.  I am hoping that there might be at least one bloom by Christmas.

My neighborhood has lots of churches.  I admit that I have not been inside most of them, but I do enjoy knowing that they are nearby.

The church pictured above is a Baptist church.  The church pictured below is a Catholic church.

I saw a holly bush with lots of red berries near the entrance to a rather bland apartment house and thought it was great that the bush was doing such a fine decorating job.  Someone had also been taking care to keep it neatly trimmed.

Nearby was flower stand outside a small corner grocery/deli shop.  Many different types of branches were for sale.  If my camera's battery had not begun sending me warnings, I would have taken more photos right then and there.

Here is another neighborhood Catholic church.  This church is quite large, but is located on a narrow side street.  I could not manage to take a photo of its entire facade.  You might be able to see the small wreath hung over its doorway.  The wreath seems a very modest choice.

Cyclamen are tempting at this time of the year.  Their colorful flowers and pretty leaves put on a very good show.   

It's possible to buy narcissus plants that are all ready to bloom, but I prefer to have the suspense of waiting for foliage, and then blooms, to emerge my bare bulbs, nestled in river rock beds in heavy glass vases.

This final photo is of a Lutheran church that once featured as a location in the original Ghostbusters movie.  Every year, on Advent Sundays, it is a treat to attend Bach vespers services here.  The church is always beautifully decorated and the music is sublime.  I have not gone to any of these services in some years, but might manage to attend at least one this December. 

Perhaps this post will have given you all a neighborhood view of Christmastime in New York that is very different from the bright lights of midtown Fifth Avenue.  I think that I am lucky to be able to enjoy the variety that the city offers.