City Views, Country Dreams

Good evening from New York.

As we begin to tiptoe into early December, I begin to realize that I do need to keep a list of two with me at all times.  Yes, the Christmas card painting has been coming along nicely, but other aspects of December activities need attention.

I almost forgot to open day three of the above Advent calendar that's pinned up on my kitchen wall.  I've also got the electronic fun of opening windows on another Advent calendar, a Jacquie Lawson design, awarded to my by Elizabethd of Cornish Cream.  It's a pleasure to have each of these beautifully illustrated calendars there to slow me down and remind me to enjoy this season, a day at a time.

This morning my other official appointment calendar called for me to make a semi-annual visit to my skilled dermatologist for a skin cancer check up.  Total body.  My history of Mohs surgery for basal skin cancer has centered on my face, with a few excursions to my chin and shoulder.  I now use sunscreen daily and try to keep out of midday sun.  I'd never wish others to have the facial stitching up that I've experienced, and yet am very grateful to have had excellent surgeons coming to my rescue.

Good news!  I got an all clear verdict today, and will have my next check up in six months.  Unless...I should see something that looks like ... I now know what.

So, after my morning appointment, I stopped by Lord & Taylor on Fifth Avenue to see that department shop's decorations, and to treat myself to a particular eye cream product, with a bonus gift on the side.

The Fifth Avenue entrance to L&T is covered with artificial greenery and lots of lights.  The display windows themselves were a bit underwhelming.  I'll show you just a few samples.

In a few days, I hope to be able to take some other photographs of more dramatic decorations.  This is just a little preview.

The shallow lawn spaces in front of the main 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue New York Public Library have been decorated with a cover of branches of natural greenery, and some red winter berries, and strings of blue LED lights.  I saw many active sparrows seeking some tasty tidbits from these expanses.  Also noticed that brown fallen leaves were layering on top of the designers' efforts.

I'll be retuning to this Library on Sunday afternoon for the annual Holiday Open House and will be interested to see how the ecologically pure decoration is faring.

Now, while all this has been going on in my little life, the news media have been filled with more stories about horrible events.  Here and there.  Lives taken away by bullets.  Lives taken away by reckless drivers and knives, and other means.

My work days stretch into late evenings, and center around pleasing customers with products and service.

There are many challenges to our appreciation of what might be a joyous season.  I am determined to share more city views with you all that do indicate what it is to live here now.  If I show enough variety, it might be easy for you all to make your own conclusions.

Thank you all for your visits.  I am glad to be able to share comments with you all, giving us more notions of what we have in common and what differences intrigue us.  

City Views, Country Dreams

Good afternoon from New York.

I've been meaning to give you all an update on my night at the Metropolitan Opera, but instead seem to have been devoting most of my free time to painting my Christmas tea cup cards.

As of now, I think I will be able to complete this year's supply in time to get them in the mail for delivery prior to December 25.  I've already bought my first batch of Christmas stamps.

Later on today, I will be having my first experience working until 10 p.m., the seasonal closing hour for the shop.  I'll show you a few more photographs of the mall's light fixtures with the changing lights.  Every 30 minutes, these lights put on an extra show with rapidly changing colors and glittery effects, accompanied by really loud version of holiday tunes.  

One gets used to this drama reather quickly.  I am happy to report that I did not feel so jaded about the opera Lulu.  The staging was so imaginative, and the cast sang beautifully, in German.  Subtitles were available on a tiny screen affixed to the back of the seat directly in front of mine.  It was a thrill to hear the full orchestra's performance and to be caught up in the evening's drama.

If Lulu, designed and directed by William Kentridge, is ever due to be performed in your area, I would recommend acquiring tickets.

Fortunately, our shop was closed for Thanksgiving yesterday, although some of the mall's shops were open.


It was a mild day...no hat or gloves were required, and I decided to walk over to 72nd Street to view a bit of the annual Macy's sponsored Thanksgiving Day Parade.

I was curious to see if the crowd numbers would be affected by any safety concerns, in light of recent global events.

Crossing Columbus Avenue, I noticed that some souvenir vendors had set up their endeavors a block away from the Central Park West parade route.

It was also apparent that lots of police security was in place.

All the same, Columbus Avenue looked quiet.

As I neared 72nd Street, I saw more vendors' stands, and more police  officers and vehicles.  Huge Sanitation Department trucks were also being used to block other vehicles from entry to 72nd Street.

The parade had already been in motion for about a half hour by the time I got my first view of one of the large balloons.  I think that this one was a little engine that could.  I also realized that the bright day and back lit clouds meant that my parade photographs would be poor.

I decided to take a few pictures of the viewing crowd, and of some available souvenirs.  I also thought the clouds were lovely.  There was a pretty strong breeze keeping the clouds moving uptown, as the parade progressed downtown.

Many adults had been unable to resist purchasing one of the turkey hats.  

I do not know which character's profile is shown in the next photograph.

It seemed to me that there were fewer folks viewing the parade yesterday than in past years.  However, it was still fun to see the family groups taking photographs of each other, and young children being able to climb onto ladders or parents' shoulders for better views of the balloons. 

I think that I stayed about an hour at the parade, and then just after seeing this delightful young dinosaur pass by, I headed on home.

It was very pleasant to get home, fix myself a mug of hot chocolate, and sit down to paint some more tea cup cards.  I am very thankful for all my blessings, and I thank you all for your visits and comments.

City Views, Country Dreams

Good evening from New York.

Weather continues to be strangely mild for November, and I have resisted bringing out any winter coats from my closet.  Instead, I've been combining various layers to keep warm while out and about.

Tomorrow is what we call Veteran's Day, and I honor that with a view of a poppy bought in London last year.

I've not net quite finished the knitted jacket that's in the background.  Time has been filled with all sorts of other matters needing attention.

About a month ago, I transferred from a downtown work location, reached by a subway commute, to a location that is within a short walk from my home.

My employer remains the same, but now I work in a luxe mall in this skyscraper.  It is the same and not the same.  I like having my routine shaken up a bit.  It's good to have the option of walking to and/or from work, but also good to have the option of a very quick subway ride when my legs are tired.

Just across Columbus Circle from the skyscraper is another tall building that bears the five letter name (begins with a T) of a current contender for the United States Presidency. 

I admit that these two buildings are not amongst my favorite city views, but each serves an economic purpose.  The following photograph from within the mall, shows the seasonal lights that have been installed already as part of the Holiday decorations.  Every few seconds, the fixtures' colors change.  Beyond those starry lights you can see the giant window that provides a view of the southwest corner of Central Park.

I've also been busy on my days off, both enjoying meeting up with friends, and also beginning some of my own Christmas projects.  Having seeing this book mentioned by Emma over at her silverpebble site, I realized that it was a volume I'd love to add to my crowded book shelves.

I was thrilled to find a very inexpensive, used copy of the book in quite good condition, and have been studying its beautiful pages, getting ideas to incorporate into this year's Christmas Tea Cup watercolor painted cards.

Last week, after filling several sketchbook pages with sketches, I settled on a design and the painting has commenced.

Other wintry pursuits are also underway.  I found these red mittens quick to knit, on double pointed needles, using a Lopi yarn, much thicker than yarn I usually select.  Now that I've got the hang of it, I might be making more mittens soon.

I've got some other Christmastime knitting projects underway, but will keep those a secret for now.

I've lived in the same West Side neighborhood for over 25 years.  Lincoln Center is a ten-minute walk away.  Yes, I have attended concerts there, indoors and outdoors.  I have been to plays.  I have been in the audience for many ballet performances, even seeing Fonteyn and Nureyev.  However, I have never been to an opera in the Met.

This deplorable record is about to change on Saturday, when I will be seeing Lulu.  The production was designed and directed by a favorite artist, William Kentridge.  

Long ago, I saw the black and white film, Pandora's Box, starring Louise Brooks, that covers the same tale.  It is not a happy tale, but surely a dramatic one.

I'm going to take a nap on Saturday afternoon, so that I will be able to give my full attention to the production on Saturday evening.

Also on the cultural front, I am about to begin Slade House by David Mitchell, which will have a bit of connection to his recent novel, The Bone Clocks.

On a much lighter note, I thought I'd share with you all this cover of a recent issue of The New Yorker magazine.  It's title is Rolling Out the Gold Carpet.

There are other matters that are consuming lots of my waking hours, but I'll leave any exploration of those to another time.

I'm happy that so many of you all visited my Halloween post and left comments.  It's grand to hear from you.

City Views, Country Dreams

Good evening from New York.

Once again, it is that special time in my neighborhood when strange sights appear on West 69th Street.  Walking along this afternoon, at first I was surprised to see a pumpkin patch had sprung up over night.

And then I realized that there were several pumpkin patches.

And yet another row of pumpkins, with some corn growing at the top of the stairway.  And then, my eyes were caught by something just below a nearby window.

The brownstone row houses began to look just a bit scary.  On these stairs a perfectly gracious couple and their black dog were joined by several skeleton blue grass musicians with flashing red eyes.

Next door things got even creepier.

This collection gave a new meaning to Animal House.  That yellow Police caution tape seemed wise.

Looking up, I realized that lots of spiders of a generous size were settling in as new neighbors.

I'm not too sure about the identity of this spook, but it certainly did have a certain aura.

Jeeeepers!  More spiders.  Along with a warning to folks who were planning to park along this street on October 31.

As I look back at these photographs, it is somewhat tricky to separate the real from the other worldly.

Look carefully if you dare.

There was a steady rain all day yesterday and through most of the night, and so I am pretty sure that none of these creatures appeared before today.

How many skulls do you count in the following photograph?

Perhaps this chap is a tree-hugging environmentalist?

Down on the ground below, this fellow is having a little rest next to the large pumpkin.  Can you tell that he's crossed his legs and has a show on one foot?

Yet more spiders blowing in the breeze.

There's a rather mixed group hanging out at this entrance.

As a nanny passing by with her young charge pointed out, There's the Devil!  And more spiders, of course.

Here is a rather subdued addition to the shrubbery.  Just chilling out.

The rather elaborate entrance to this limestone building has acquired some new residents.  And didn't they just bring along another spider for fun.

Lots and lots of stretchy cobwebs on display, mostly white, but some in an unnatural green shade.

Just across the street, a chorus of ghosties were taking an afternoon break to feel the afternoon breeze and admire their chalky white pumpkins.

I hope that you can discern that the first red letter is a B.  The two jack o'lanterns look rather jolly, but do not be fooled.

This next entryway is quite elegant, and I wondered if perhaps a party might be taking place there on Saturday night.

If there is to be a party, at number 29, I think this gent is all set for a fabulous evening.  See how we waves hello to all who pass by!

I am hoping that you all have enjoyed seeing these amazing sights.  I wish you a very Happy Halloween, and thank you, as always, for your visits and comments.