City Views, Country Dreams

Good afternoon from New York.

This might be my last post for a while.  My vintage PC laptop is suffering from age, and is definitely on its way out.  It's been good to me ever since we got acquainted back in 2005.

I now have to decide what type of laptop to buy.  This purchase might take place next week. The debate is whether to convert to the land of Apple.  I have never used any Apple devices, although many of my friends urge me that Apple is the way to go.

What do you all think?  I welcome all your comments and advice.  Please do be as specific as you like.  There is a lovely Apple store a short walk away, filled with bright helpful folks and shiny Apple products.

It is my hope that this current laptop upon which I now type will hold out long enough for me to be able to read your comments.  In the past week my e-mail sending and receiving has been suffering.

I thank you in advance for any help you all will offer.

Good morning from New York on February 2, celebrated by some as Groundhog Day.

Media teams gather in a few locations around the country, waiting to see if certain designated (and named) groundhogs come out of their burrows and see their shadows.  Shadows depend on available sunlight.  If shadows are seen, groundhogs see their own shadows, and therefore we are deemed to expect six more weeks of wintry weather.  If the designated groundhogs do not see their shadows, spring-like weather will soon be on the way.

It is a brilliantly sunny day here in New York with temperatures well below freezing.  You may draw your individual conclusions.

A while back we did already have some weather that was much warmer and I managed to get over to Central Park to take a few photographs of the pretty little snowdrops that were putting on a show.

There is always something so cheering about these sturdy little blooms.  I recall that the afternoon when I took these photographs was warm enough not to require hat or gloves.

Things have changed since then.

I brought some spring flowers into my apartment to celebrate the end of January.  When I purchased these daffodils, their buds were still tightly wrapped in green.

The daffodils are placed on a very cool and deep windowsill in my bathroom.  Meanwhile, in an overheated part of my little living room, I am still hanging on to some very dried-out ilex branches bought before Christmas.  I still like how they look next to a vintage Christmas edition of The Illustrated London News, a gift from some dear friends.

Let us take another peek at the daffs to see how those buds are doing.  The little green pitcher has to share space with my make-up containers.

Just behind the daffs, are these two towering paperwhite narcissus blooms, the final performers of some bulbs bought in early December.  Their scent is light, and the flowers are  delicate beauties.

This is also flu season.  I elected not to have a flu shot back in November.  Instead, I continue to wash my hands quite often, and have lots of vitamin C.  Clementines are a deliciously sweet way to add vitamin C.  I've also been trying to get lots of rest.

No rest for the daffodils!  Their transformation continues.

Aren't they lovely?

I wonder why some of the buds open up more quickly than others?

Here is a close up view of how sunny yellow spring symbols can be found indoors in early February.  I am cheered with every view.

When venturing outdoors, either to go to work, to do my neighborhood errand runs, or to visit friends, I bundle up in many layers.  My trusty down coat serves me well.

Indoors, on days off, I've been making soups, lots of pasta dishes, enjoying oatmeal with golden raisins for breakfast.  Carbohydrates feature prominently.

Lots of knitting is going on as I continue to attempt to create items for a possible Etsy shop.

Daylight grows longer every day and I seem to stay very busy, always meaning to post blogs more frequently than I seem to manage.

Thank you all for your visits and comments.