Night on the Town

View of the Empire State Building from our hotel window on the 33rd floor. Yesterday we rode the elevators to the 86th floor of that building to look down on New York City under 10" of freshly fallen snow!

Last night was a special night on the town. In a nutshell, we left our hotel room after sunset....................

..........walked gingerly along the slushy, slippery sidewalks.........through charming Bryant Park (Janet, thanks for telling us about this lovely place which is opposite our hotel!), complete with European style Christmas Village shops, and packed skating rink and carousel.......

.......sighing over Saks windows full of amazing red dresses.......

........shoes and accessories.........

.............and sparkling decor.............

We arrived here at Radio City Music Hall, great tickets in hand (center stage, fourteen rows back!) excited and and ready to enjoy the Christmas Spectacular with the world famous Rockettes.

A great night of beauty and fun.

.........ending with the true meaning of Christmas, thankfully!

The Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, Dec. 20, 2009

Winter in New York City

Evening at Rockefeller Plaza, NYC

Thankfully we made it here before the 'epic storm' hit the city streets.

Jasmin and Mary - Times Square before the snow arrived.

Window - Bergdorf Goodman

Window - Bloomingdale's

Anthropologie's amazing windows were already 'snowy'.

Will show more of the city later...........more beautiful windows dressed for Christmas, the sights, shopping venues, parks in the snow, and all that fabulous New York City offers the traveler. Off now to venture out into the snowy streets.....see you later.

Pink Saturday - Christmas Traditions

A tree to decorate - not Christmas without one.

I'm in New York City! Arrived ahead of the storm which will be hitting the city this afternoon. Heavy snow, up to 8" predicted so don't know what we're in for. New York City, an amazing place which actually holds no traditional memories of Christmas for me. I first arrived here many years ago on my way to Washington, D.C. All I remember of that cold night, following a long flight across the pond (my first time ever in a plane), was having all my luggage opened and examined by Customs & Immigration because, after all, I was an emigrant!

So, like most of us, my Christmas traditions go back to my childhood. In England we celebrated in a much simpler way in the 1940's and '50's, the years when I was growing up. These images were not taken that far back, but they will give you an idea as to some of the things that still mean 'tradition' to me.

Stockings that actually were everyday stockings or socks.

Snuggling by a roaring fire and reading this, the most wonderful story ever of British Christmas traditions. Best is the audio version actually read by the author, Dylan Thomas.

A British must, festive Christmas Crackers to pull at Christmas dinner - so you have a silly paper hat to wear.

Definitely a must, Christmas china to serve all those holiday foods - this set was at SuzAnna's Antiques a couple of years ago. Love the simple design of a holly sprig - now that's tradition.

Of course there's plenty more that is traditional in my home but the city calls, time to pull on boots, bundle up warmly as it's freezing here, leave you and head out to see the Big Apple sights before they're blanketed in snow.

Be sure to visit Beverly at How Sweet The Sound where all the Pink Saturday participants are sharing their holiday traditions.

Not the North Pole

I'm heading to New York City today with DH and 'traveling granddaughter' Jasmin. Hold that snow, sleet or rain, please! Send it Santa's way, he knows how to deal with it. You may remember we planned this same trip for last year. Then, just as I stepped on the gas and headed toward the airport, phone rang and dear Delta told me all flights to the Northeast were canceled.........due to snow, ice, and wind, a powerful storm.

Fingers crossed please. I would really like to share images of the city dressed for Christmas. Hoping and wishing it all works out for us this year.

Weather Update:

It's beginning to look and feel a lot like Christmas, all around the town we're leaving. A chance of snow flurries here in North Carolina later today........after we fly out. BUT, an accumulation due in New York later tomorrow and Sunday..........looks like we will enjoy an early White Christmas in the city and that will be awesome.

Thank goodness we bought real snow boots, they may get a workout on the snowy pavements of New York! I'll be posting from the city during the coming days.

Hidden Christmas Beauty

I thought my Christmas decorating was complete! Have you ever done this....................opened the door to a little storage/hiding place only to discover more beauty?

Yesterday, while searching for something while packing my travel bag, I found these perfectly lovely trees staring back at me from the cupboard of a little hallway table. Oh yes, I do remember buying them early in the year, knowing they'd be perfect for this Christmas. Tucked them away in the cabinet as I didn't want to crawl through the attic to stuff them in the monstrous green storage boxes.

I thought these filigreed trees very lovely topped with stars. Their soft patina is similar to mercury glass, but with a matte rather than shiny finish. I'm so happy I found them in time!

Kick off the covers...........................

.................and get going. Lots to do today.

Hope Santa remembers I've been nice and puts a tiny something in my stocking come Christmas Eve!


No sun peeking out today to flood the dining room with bright Winter light, murky fog and drizzly rain again........................

................but the snowflakes glitter a little in the window.

Sitting here in the early morning I check my 'to do' list......it's long, I must get moving because at the end of this week I'm off on a trip.

No, not Paris unfortunately...............some year I truly would love to experience Christmas in the 'City of Light'. Some of you thought I might be crossing the pond and spending the Christmas holidays at home in England. No such luck..............but I would love to be there, strolling the streets of London in all its Christmas finery, then traveling South to the Devon coast and enjoying some time by the sea in my home town over the holidays.

Keeping fingers crossed for good flying weather later this week. "North Pole"? Someone asked if that's my destination. No, but it can be almost as cold where I'm going!

From the fading Winter garden

Yesterday was cold and dry, chilly rather than freezing. The kind of Winter day when it is still and quiet in the garden without a breeze to rustle the fallen leaves. I bundled up in sweater and scarf, thick socks and tall boots. Wrapped white lights around the front porch railing, then took a break, sipping hot chocolate while watching a bold woodpecker fly back and forth to the feeder for supper. DH raked........and raked, for several hours.

It was hovering around freezing at 5 PM when dusk settled over us like a pale blanket as we pulled the last leaves down to join the mountain at the curb. I'd pruned back some frost-damaged plants, then cut the last hydrangeas to dry, and together we hauled those leaves, brown, crinkled, and dried to such a lightness they can dance in a breeze.

I leaned over the back fence and snipped the pyracantha berries -planted in my neighbor's garden - he doesn't mind. Added trailing variegated ivy from one of the many urns around my garden. Nature now fills the bare spaces around the house.

We will soon be having some large trees removed because they are dangerous. I have a nice feeling that this will mean a much smaller mountain of leaves next year.............hopefully more time sipping hot chocolate and less raking on these cold Winter days.

Pink Saturday

Beverly, our Pink Saturday hostess at How Sweet the Sound, has suggested that we share a favorite holiday decoration today. I really can't pick just one thing so will share some of my favorites around the house which are quite simple vignettes I've gathered together and placed hither and thither. I read somewhere, just recently, that the Christmas spirit should be everywhere in your home, even if just one tiny thing in each room - that's what I'm trying to accomplish.

Meanwhile, outdoors, a favorite for the past several years, is my Victorian gazebo with a Christmas tree decorated with Nature inspired objects such as pine cones and wooden ornaments. There are two large paper stars and strings of clear fairy lights. In the dark of night, the entire gazebo glitters and gives the now somewhat dreary garden a new lease on life for Christmas.

Wishing you each a wonderful weekend. Everyone is very busy now as Christmas draws near. Remember to take time out from your decorating and holiday preparations............stop for a warming cuppa, take a breather in the cool air, sit by a glowing hearth and listen to carols and seasonal music.............or, like me, start packing a suitcase and take a holiday trip!

No, not off across the pond again, but will be somewhere very 'Christmassy' for few days........if the weather doesn't let us down like last year!!!!

Almost too busy for blogging

Feel like you need to put your skates on? The days fly by far too quickly, don't they?

Are you up to your eyeballs in tinsel and glitter,

holly and ivy and no time to 'twitter'?

Your lists grow longer, gifts, food and booze,

all you really want to do is kick off your shoes.........

.......sit down and snooze - or at least have time to blog!!!

I am literally covered in glitter.......after hanging this otherwise very pretty, silvery mistletoe garland from Jo-Ann's in the dining room. Wow did it shed!

I still have to organize my time for baking Christmas cookies.......meanwhile I love these cookie ornaments.
I don't have to shop for a real tree but I did head out to the garden center this week. For my dining room I chose a creamy white Poinsettia named Polar Bear. Just 10 mins. from my home is the second largest Poinsettia grower in the country - wonderful displays and so hard to choose as they are all beautiful, healthy and perfect. I added a lacy fern to soften it and an Aspen candle with an outdoorsy perfume, named Goddess. The engraved 'silver' lid is beautiful, reminds me of antique powder bowls.

Homewood Gardens, Raleigh, NC

Perhaps my Christmas decorations are becoming less traditional now......not so much red and green, much more neutral. I love the softened look which seems to suit my year round decor which has become more decolored. I do love colorful decor, have had it myself over the years, and am always amazed at those of you who pull it all together so well.

Here's some color in the hallway...........do love the 'old world' Santas in rich colored velvets, and their little helpers.

More peeks at Christmas decor next time.