So I did, Stella and the snow

- I was telling our holiday loving receptionist at my office on Friday how much Christmas decorating paraphernalia I have, but that I haven't really felt the spirit yet. Her eyes sparkled and she said, "You should put up your little tree this weekend, you would enjoy it, I'll bet." So I did and she was right.

- A shopping expedition on Saturday with friend Barbara G, with the best part of the day being the fun lunch. There are all sorts of holiday drinks on the menu - Barb almost gets a rum and coke float (only in the south...), but decides the calories might kill her. She settles on a glass of red wine and I order a beer - Stella Artois, because I like to say that.

- A blustery day on Sunday. I exit the church service, chatting with a friend's son, Brett. He says, "It's snowing!" And indeed, a flake is falling here and there. It didn't amount to much, but I enjoyed my inside snow watch day and ended it by making a soul warming stew that involved a couple of hours of stirring. Yum.

Sweet song, living on and walk in the park

Bob Marley "Three Little Birds"

- Seen in the East Village, New York City, last Saturday. My sister, who loves sweet songs, was taken with this sign and so I photographed it and emailed it to her. She says she will print it out and put it on her refrigerator to smile at every morning.

In memory of Ella - May her rebellious spirit live on

- One in a long series of memorial benches in Central Park West near Strawberry Fields. Another was dedicated to a woman named Elizabeth, who passed away in 2004 at the age of 43: Zizi in the Sky with Diamonds.

The lake in Central Park West, near Strawberry Fields

- A walk in the park with family. I lagged behind because I kept offering to take pictures of couples with their camera. I sure loved my time in New York, can you tell? :)

Have a lovely weekend my friends, and I hope you take time to smile at the rising sun. xo

Crystals, great joy and look out on a summer's day

- The chandelier over the mezzanine in the Lunt Fontanne Theater in New York City, taken last Sunday before I knew that photos are verboten. Yikes. :) We were waiting for the play The Addams Family to begin and I was thinking how clean all those crystals look and how hard they must be to get to.

- Sending out an approval request for a committee activity that I consider somewhat routine and receiving a response from a man who is happy about it: "Approved with great JOY!" I thank him for his exuberance and for making my day.

- A happy accident, but surely a little cyber synchronicity at work among blog friends. Pulling up my blog this morning to see that Talon and Jannie Funster have inadvertently synchronized titles (see my blog roll to the right) that are the opening lyrics to Starry Night by Don McLean. Thanks, beautiful ones, that was lovely to see.

No Rockettes, Cherry Ginger Explosion and proud

- Walking down the street in New York with my sister, looking for the bus, and happening upon Radio City Music Hall. A passing man looks amused when he overhears me say I have no wish to see The Rockettes. :)

- Back home, perusing the cookies at a place called The Cookie Studio for a treat to take to a meeting. A bored teenager goes over the cookie flavors with me and I choose Cherry Ginger Explosion mainly because of its name. The website tells the story of how this cookie came to be: "A lovely woman came into the Studio one day and told us that her dream was always to open a cookie shop. Now in her 70s, she decided that she wanted to share with us a few of her favorite recipes. This cookie is our rendition, with the addition of crystallized ginger and tart lemon. Our reaction when tasting the first samples out of the oven? It was like a flavor explosion in our mouths -- this cookie practically named itself!" ... Aptly named! Yum.

- After the meeting later, listening to the talk of talented kids and their upcoming concerts, plays, good grades and homecomings.

Room with a view, the long way and imagine

- The view from my niece's dining room window. The first night I was there, my sister pointed out the reflection of the lights at the top of the Chrysler building in the glass on the table. The drive into Manhattan from the airport was a magic moment, too. The view of the lights of Manhattan from the Triboro bridge was gorgeous.

- Rockefeller Center and its giant Christmas tree, stumbled upon while we took the long way to Macys.

- A Saturday morning excursion to see the part of Central Park known as Strawberry Fields. My New York family goes to the park all the time, but had never been to this section of it. This was my first trip there and I really loved it. More tomorrow. :)

Camellias, 45s and leaving on a jet plane

- Cold loving camellias at the corner of my sister's house. My grandmother had a similar one at her home in Macon, Georiga, and it was still blooming last time I drove by the house.

- The little thrill that I get to keep my father's collection of 45 records. So much great music - The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Elvis, Al Jolson, etc. etc. They are put away lovingly for now until I figure out how to play them. :)

- Preparing for a trip to meet up with family. And hoping I can get away with a carry-on zip up tote bag that has my purse inside + an extra pair of shoes. Someone will tell me?

Have a great end of the week and weekend, my friends! I will return to posting on Tuesday, but expect to be able to check blogs and comments while I'm away.

Cousins, more pets and the way it should be

- There was a lot of this stare down stuff this weekend at my sister's place, with three dogs and a cat about. These two are the littlest though and seem the most scrappy. :)

- A visit to the vet clinic yesterday, to show them the proof for the calendar we are printing for them, elicited so many pet offerings that I could have left with my car looking like Noah's Ark. The vet (my friend Ronnie) has taken in yet another stray dog that he found wandering loose near his home, so he does his part. He has three rescue dogs at home now - one of them a hemophiliac dalmatian with three legs.

- Another visit - this time to the warehouse club for vitamins - had the nicest employee, who asked if I had everything I needed as if he meant it and called me Ms. M___, after a glance at my card. A nice and unexpected touch.