Saturday, January 7, 2012

City Views, Country Dreams

Good evening from New York.

This New Year is so different from 2011.  Truly, it is.  In early January 2011, New York was still trying to recover from a massive snowstorm.  I clearly remember the depth of the snow, and the energy required to shovel that heavy, icy snow from the sidewalks in front of the shop.  How my muscles did ache for the first few days of that shoveling.  How surprising it was to realize that even though the shoveling continued, the aching did not.

Today's weather was much more spring like, with the temperature almost reaching 60 degrees F.  How odd it was to walk past the skating rink at Rockefeller Center this afternoon, and see skaters in light sweaters and sweat shirts trying to execute their favorite moves on slushy ice.  You can also see the large orange crane that allowed some workers to remove all those glittering lights.  Pretty soon the Tree will be removed from its place of honor.


I was on my way to meet some friends for a long-postponed Christmas lunch.  


Since my last visit to this part of Rockefeller Center, a large Lego shop has opened.  I did not have time to go inside for a proper browse, but loved the sculptures in place over one of the entrances.



Eventually, I reached my lunch destination and met up with my friends, an artist couple I have know for many decades.  We always have much to discuss, and laughing plays a big part of our conversations.

We also brought along the Christmas gifts that we wanted to exchange with each other, and elected to wait to open these festively wrapped packages after we'd returned home.  Too much drama might have ensued if we'd done the unwrapping at the restaurant.

So, after lunch we took a bit of a walk, enjoying the blue sky and mild January afternoon, and then parted with the knowledge that we'd be seeing each again very soon.

I am going to try to be more frequent with these posts, even if this might mean a shorter post.  I'm going to try to change a lot of my routines this year and see if this shake up gives me more relaxation and even fun.  I hope to be able to find some new city views to share with you, as I also explore making some of my country dreams more of a reality.

Best wishes to you all for a New Year that will amaze with its positive possibilities.


27 comments:

  1. Dear Frances,

    I love visiting you here and I wish you all the joy, peace, creativity, and excitment a new year can bring.

    I am looking forward to seeing what you make of 2012.

    Warmes wishes from France,

    Stephanie

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  2. I wish you everything you wish for yourself for this New Year and I'm looking forward to seeing where this year takes you.

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  3. Happy New Year to you! Here in Edmonton Alberta we are enjoying a mild and pleasurable January as we did a mild December. Last January was totally different and similar to what you experienced in New York. Here's hoping for a continued mild winter. Cheers!

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  4. Yes, I remember the wild start you had to 2011 and I'm glad that 2012 has come in a little more gently.
    I'll be interested to hear about how your deliberate change in routine goes. I think it's a brilliant idea, especially given your new work schedule. Good luck!

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  5. Awfully warm up here as well. Either just above or just below freezing.

    Blessings and Bear hugs for the new year.

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  6. Happy New Year Frances! I hope you enjoy your four day working week. I am sure you will make the most of your new found freedom and wonder what creative endeavors are about to be unleashed.

    The Lego shop looks amazing. I know my eldest son would love this, although he is now is in his thirties! I can only imagine the logistics of actually building a piece so huge.

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  7. A very happy New Year to you too, Frances. I'm looking forwards to reading more of your delightful posts. I loved the model in the new Lego shop, but I was also hoping for a glimpse of your present! I hope you enjoyed it whatever it was! Cx

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  8. Happy New Year Frances - it was lovely to hear from you on Christmas Day. We are having a mild winter too (thankfully!) and today it is almost like spring is putting a tentative shoot out.

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  9. This mild winter feels very strange after the last couple of years, doesn't it? It's the same here in the UK and I keep wondering if it will suddenly surprise us and get very cold. Our flowering things are very confused! I really look forward to seeing things through your eyes this year and hope it's full of good things and new adventures for you!

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  10. Look forward to more posts, Frances.
    Yes, in keeping with my suggestion that we just receive your New York weather secondhand, as it were, we are experiencing a mild spell, too. Bulbs are shooting and the buds on the flowering current are ready to burst. Yes, change all you can. One new thing every day, keeps you young and healthy.

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  11. Meilleurs voeux de France où la neige a aussi manqué au pied du sapin... L'année dernière, il y en avait trop!

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  12. How I would love to visit NY and see that big tree - perhaps one day...

    In the meantime I will continue to look forward to reading your posts!

    Helenxx

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  13. Frances, I hope it all will unwind in the way you hope for it. I am happy for you that a big milestone has been achieved in working only 4 days a week - I hope we all will have also the benefit of it and see more posts from you. But time for your own enjoyment should be top listed. And meeting with friends, like what you described here, is so much fun!

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  14. Happy New Year Frances!
    I hope 2012 brings you lots of joy! I am looking forward to your posts again this year!

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  15. I am sure we have already wished each other a happy New Year several times but good wishes can be repeated forever. Take care of yourself and tell us how you get on.

    So, what was in your parcel? You forgot to say.

    As you already know our weather is pretty mild too, I sincerely hope we will not get a repeat performance of the last two winters. I haven't the energy to cope with snow and ice.

    I am looking forward to being introduced to 'new' corners of 'your' NY. Happy walking and exploring!

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  16. A lovely cheerful, positive post Frances. I enjoyed seeing your NY pictures, and hearing that you are enjoying warmer temperatures this winter, as we are too in the UK. I hope you have a happy, creative and fulfilling year ahead, and I look forward to visiting you here during 2012.
    Helen x

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  17. Hope to hear more from you this year.I love NY and would love to come back.What would your "must do" in your city be?

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  18. Sorry to be so slow getting to your super post.
    Yes, very different from 2011 --and a better year I hope.
    Buster agrees with me that it is more fun to have a longer playtime at the park!
    Claudia shipped out on Sunday back to the salt mines
    so things have quieted down round here!
    Glad you had a festive lunch.
    Hoping to see you very soon.

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  19. I am happy you will be writing more frequently-I so enjoy your posts. I went to see all the Christmas sights after reading your prior post and it definitely increased the pleasure of the day.
    May the new year bring you peace and joy.

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  20. Belated best wishes Frances.

    I too look forward to reading more of your posts from NY.

    Plenty of time for you (and us) to be buried by snowfall yet. Good luck!

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  21. Happy New Year Frances
    Keep going to Central Park for me and I'll go to Paris instead...
    merci carolg

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  22. You are right about the weather. It was on January 14 last year that I wrote my post Atlanta Snow in the New Year when thousand of cars were stopped on our freeways. Ice then came on top of the snow and it looked like meringue but right now it is in the mid 60s. I enjoy reading your posts and will enjoy reading more of them. I am almost caught up reading my blogging friend’s blogs – I only have 15 more to read and then I can write a new post too. I know a little boy who would love to visit that Lego shop in New York City!

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  23. Dear Frances,

    Warmest wishes from Norfolk England. Happy New Year to you too dear Frances, may it be filled with everything your heart desires.

    xx

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  24. It seems we are well into the new year as I meet your blog for the first time, Frances, through Cait. you describe a scenery and life so different from my own and it's fascinating to read your gentle prose. I'm pleased to meet you from Australia.

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  25. Hello Frances,
    It seems you are getting off to a good start in this new year, both with the weather and an enjoyable meeting with dear friends. You sound like this is going to be a good year with plans to really use your newly found free time. Hope that you have a super year and lots of fun.
    Millyx

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  26. Hallo,
    From Sweden, I send you my best wishes!

    By the way did you paint them yourselv, your lovely cups and saucers?

    Interesting to see how NY looks in everytime of the year, I think!
    Coming back here, I promise,

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  27. Wow new Yorkers it’s a giant Christmas tree. It’s something I really like. I'm originally from Perth. We have a tradition over there we decorate the Christmas tree with jewelry. It’s decorated with fake once of course. And replaced the typical star with a Sapphire Ring . It was remarkable!

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