Holiday Aftermath

These penguins and snowmen are permanently displayed on a bookcase shelf

Happy New Year, once again, Patrick and myself hope that everyone had a holiday season filled with memorable experiences of good times and good food shared with family, friends or both.

As mentioned in a previous post, we were home in Nashua, NH, for both major holidays, Christmas and New Year's and the eves that preceded these days. Our Thanksgiving road trip a few weeks before included visits with most family members who also spent these holidays with their respective families. It's a sure thing that we will be see all of them on 2026 road trips.

We are still enjoying the tree nightly

Our indoor holiday decorations remain in place, including the tree which will remain up for at least another week. We enjoy seeing the multi-color lights in late afternoon and evening. The teddy bear and moose families will also go back into storage.

Georgie and Everest now reside in our apt

This year we added a couple of newcomers to our holiday collection thanks to a 75% off sale at the local CVS store and some discount coupons. Above left is Georgie and right is Everest, and yes we named them both. 

Together now, a snow couple

Georgie is now a companion to Fred the snowman who traveled from our VA home to NH. They make a sweet pair and both will remain in the apt after the decorations are put away in a storage unit. Everest will also be a permanent resident (when not off hiking).

We set up our dining room table and another one as buffets

The day before New Year's Eve we hosted a get together and invited 14 fellow neighbors. We set up two tables in our dining area and arranged everything buffet style and did all the food preparation; a couple of neighbors brought items to share as well. Since everyone lives in the mill apartments, it was very convenient, no driving required, just walking in the hallway.

Plus, there was enough food left over to bring to another get together with fellow neighbors the day of New Year's Eve as we played games of dominoes and rummikub. This week, party leftovers were finished up, aside from candies and some cookies.

The weather for New Year's Eve was gloomy with a dusting of light snow. We heard fireworks at midnight but were already comfortable in bed and falling asleep as 2026 arrived in our dreams.

The first day of 2026 was cold with a snow cover

The first day of 2006 was better as the snow had stopped by early morning; however the temperatures remained in the 20s. Indoors was the best place to stay so we did.

The Wolf Moon was obscured by clouds

A few days ago, we had hoped to see the Wolf Moon. This is the traditional name for the full moon in January. It's so named for the belief that wolves howl more often in cold months to communicate or locate food. We were disappointed because as soon as the moon rose it was enveloped in clouds.However, the lights along the riverwalk and in the nearby river park were beautifully reflecting on the Nashua River.

A couple of days this week was spent sorting through supermarket recipe booklets collected over the past few months and photo reprints, some of which will be framed or put into albums; others will be sent to family and friends.

I also tallied up my 2025 books read (75) to see how it compared with totals in the past the past five years: Last year's tally was a bit less than in 2024 which was 83, and 2023 was a really big reading year with 132. There were 74 reads in 2021 and only 58 in 2020. These totals include audio, e-books and library borrows and both fiction and non-fiction with most in the form of mysteries or historical fiction. 

My 2026 reading count has started with two newly-published books borrowed from the Nashua Public Library:  A Slowly Dying Cause (Elizabeth George) is an Inspector Lynley novel and The Impossible Fortune (Richard Osman) is the latest Thursday Murder Club novel.

We both enjoyed cold weather days between the two holidays indoors with several mugs of hot chocolate (complete with whipped cream) and leftover holiday cookies.

Your Turn — did 2025 end well; if it did or didn't has 2026 started better?

Friday Funnies

This first post for 2025 is a Friday Funnies of 2026 featuring some NYC iconic bird life.

Perhaps, this flock (or flight) was waiting for the traffic light to change as city traffic can be quite dangerous.

Contrary to what some popular opinion, pigeons are far from being bird-brained. They have shown impressive memory and problem-solving skills and are well known for their intelligence and navigation skills. It's been shown that pigeons can learn complex tasks, can recognize themselves in mirrors, learn abstract concepts, distinguish words from nonsense; trained pigeons have been able to identify cancer in medical images. (Who knew?)

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone

Are you planning to un-decorate?

We're leaving our decos up until at least mid-January.

Happy New Year

Home Alone (but together) best describes what we will be doing on New Year's Eve. And, we may watch that holiday classic and the follow-up.

Christmas Eve was celebrated at home with an invite to a fellow resident and the 25th we were comfortably settled in our cozies as we watched all three films in the Santa Clause trilogy (a must-see for Grenville) and later enjoyed a dinner-for-two. 

The end of 2025 was celebrated with an informal get together of fellow neighbors at our apartment yesterday sharing friendship, wine and snacks. Leftovers will be enjoyed today and tomorrow as will watching the Call the Midwife 2025 holiday special (streaming on PBS).

This past year has been a good one overall with family milestones (wedding and high school graduation) coupled with our travels to places near and far, Alaska and Portugal. 

Our Christmas cards to family and friends reflected these events. Yes, we got all dressed up and acted silly as well at the wedding. This was the first year, for creating holiday greeting cards; it will be continued in future years. I also sent traditional printed cards. Every card also includes a handwritten greeting.

We are thankful to have received cards from family and friends, including several blogger friends. All of which are on display on the back of our apartment door and also on the hall closet doors. It's enjoyable to look at them daily — at least for another couple of weeks. They will stay up until mid-January. 

The holiday card tradition began in England. In 1843 Sir Henry Cole commissioned artist John Callcott Horsley to create a card with the message A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to You. The idea gained popularity in the U.S. when a Boston printer Louis Prang mass-produced them in 1875 and has since been dubbed as the father of the American Christmas Card. 

For myself sending cards with photos and personalized notes is special, especially at the holidays (despite rising postage and text messages). It's a tradition, I enjoy and will continue.

Christmas greetings displayed in our apt

There's a wide variety of images and greetings

Growing up holiday cards sent to my parents and family were never displayed, perhaps this wasn't unusual years ago. Ever since I've had my own home, they've always been on display.

This display has its special place in our apt home as all these Santa cards are the creations of fellow blogger, Linda (Linda's Life Journal). The most recent Santa is on the bottom far right. Another Santa is framed and included with our Nativity. We look forward to Linda's card each year and are thankful to be on her list.

Another special display features these snowman cards painted by our artist friend, neighbor and my Scrabble playing friend, Solange, who passed away earlier this year. We miss her and she is a part of our holiday.

As always, there were similarities in cards received this year. There were far more with birds. Cardinals are traditionally linked to Christmas due to their vibrant red color, which matches seasonal holiday decor and symbolizes love and hope and doves connect to Christmas through Christian symbolism. But, I'm not certain about the holiday connection of other birds.

Followed by those with religious themes in keeping with the meaning of the season.

Some cards bore wishes for a Merry Christmas or a generic Season's Greetings with or without a winter scene. 

Of course, there were several with penguins as friends know our preferences; but there was only one with a trio of caroling frogs in beachwear.

A few cards featured cats and dogs.

There were cards with themes of peace, one had a lighthouse and several with poinsettias. I learned that poinsettias are known as the Christmas Eve flower through a legend about a poor Mexican girl, Pepita, who had no gifts for baby Jesus so gathered weeds which miraculously transformed into vibrant red flowers at the church altar. 

This final card display is of the cards that Patrick and myself exchange with one another. As you can see, we have a long-standing tradition of not just doing one card for any occasion.

Aside from the good things we've experienced in 2025, there have also been the deaths of several friends, all within a 3-month timespan in late fall, one we met on our October travels. We know that many others have suffered the loss of a family member, spouse, friend or pet and our condolences to them.

There are many fellow bloggers who have been dealing with serious health issues either their own or a loved one — or both. We hope that the New Year will be a better one for them

So at this year end, we thank everyone who has read and/or commented on our blog posts and for sharing your lives online, the joys, sorrows and everything in between. We appreciate and are grateful to you — Dorothy & Patrick (aka Beatrice & Grenville)

Happy & Healthy New Year to All

Cherish the time with those you love and who love you.

We'll be back in 2026 with more adventures.

It's Grand in NYC

As described in a previous post, my last 2025 trip was a NYC holiday tour that included not only seeing festive lights, but also several of the city's iconic sites, which are grand both in name and fame.

The day of our flight, there had been a significant snowfall (for NYC) snowfall with up to 6 inches. It was enough to play havoc with airline schedules. My flight from Boston to LaGuardia was cancelled and then rescheduled within a few hours. After all passengers were onboard, the plane underwent icing treatment on the runway.

NYC's Central Park was a winter wonderland after the first snow of 2025

Central Park was transformed into a winter wonderland for several days afterwards. This urban park between the Upper West Side and Upper East Side neighborhoods of Manhattan in NYC was far from more built-up areas of the city when planning for the Park began in 1850s. Central Park was the first landscaped park in the U.S. It is the sixth-largest park in the city at 843 acres. Additionally, it's the most visited U.S. urban park with an estimated 50 million visitors annually. Central Park is a National Historic Landmark (1963) and a Scenic Landscape of the City of New York (1974).

Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, Central Park influenced the development of urban parks nationwide and is widely regarded a masterpiece of landscape architecture. Central Park is a National Historic Landmark (1963) and a Scenic Landscape of the City of New York (1974). Its 843 acres include wide lawns, woodlands, streams and lakes, experienced by traveling through the park along winding paths, a carriage drive and a bridle path. Over time, more features were added: baseball and soccer fields, bicycle paths, carousel, skating rinks, zoo, formal gardens, theater venues and commemoratives.

Imagine mosaic in Central park is dedicated to John Lennon

A black and white mosaic memorial is dedicated to John Lennon, the British rock musician, peace activist and Beatles co-founder who was killed nearby in 1980. It is located in Strawberry Fields, a five-acre landscape near the West 72nd Street entrance, where many come to pay tribute to Lennon. It is located across from the Dakota Apartments where Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, lived and where he loved to walk, Strawberry Fields is a reference to the 1967 song, Strawberry Fields Forever, that Lennon wrote and performed with the Beatles. Strawberry Fields was officially dedicated on October 9, 1985, the 45th anniversary of Lennon’s birth. The memorial was donated by the city of Naples, Italy. (There was no direct connection between Lennon and the city of Naples. The city donated the mosaic as a gesture of peace and artistic tribute to Lennon, honoring his message of unity through the song.)

Exteriors of Central Station in NYC

Another NYC landmark contains the word Central and is also Grand — Grand Central Terminal (known as GCT, Grand Central Station or just Grand Central) is a commuter rail terminal at 42nd St and Park Ave in Midtown Manhattan. 

Main hall inside Grand Central Station

The distinctive architecture and interior design of Grand Central Terminal's station house have earned it several landmark designations, including as a National Historic Landmark. Its Beaux-Arts design incorporates numerous works of art. Grand Central Terminal is one of the world's 10 most-visited tourist attractions. The terminal's Main Concourse is often used as a meeting place and has been featured in films and TV. Grand Central Terminal was built by and named for the New York Central Railroad. 

Concourse at Grand Central Station, NYC

Opened in 1913, GCT was built on the site of two similarly named stations, the first dated to 1871. It covers 48 acres with 44 platforms, more than any other railroad station worldwide. Its platforms, all below ground, serve 30 tracks on the upper level and 26 on the lower with 67 tracks total, including a rail yard and sidings; 43 tracks are in use for passenger service, and the remaining  are used to store trains.

In the mid 1970s, GCT was almost demolished as it had fallen into disrepair and its owners, the Penn Central Railroad planned to demolish it as was done to Penn Station years earlier. Former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis spearhead a campaign to save the terminal and thankfully succeeded. 

Meet me at the clock refers to the timepiece at Grand Central Station 

The iconic GCT clock, a four-faced, brass timepiece atop the Information Booth in the Main Concourse, is famously known as a meeting spot and the phrase, meet me at the clock. Though rumored to be made of solid opal and worth millions, the faces are actually opaline glass, a beautiful, semi-opaque, milky glass popularized in 19th-century France. 

Acorn on GCT clock

The clock was designed by Henry Edward Bedford, a sculptor and executive of the Self Winding Clock Company which built the clock; movements were made by the Seth Thomas Clock Company. The acorn on the top symbolizes the unofficial Vanderbilt family motto, "From a little acorn a mighty oak shall grow," celebrating their legacy and power as builders and financiers of the station. Oak/acorn motifs appear throughout the terminal to symbolize growth from small beginnings. 

The GCT clock is calibrated to the atomic clock at the U.S. Naval Observatory. However, the actual time displayed is set one minute fast for passengers intentionally. This deliberate lag is for safety to help passengers catch trains by creating a buffer for last-minute rushes, reducing accidents and missed connections.

 

Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World

The Statue of Liberty, a grand lady overlooking NYC, stands majestically on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, greeting ships and symbolizing freedom. Years ago offered a first glimpse of America for many immigrants

Formally named The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World, it was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the U.S. was conceived by Édouard de Laboulaye in 1865 and designed by sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi with engineering by Gustave Eiffel. It arrived in NY in 1885 and was dedicated in 1886 on Liberty Island by President Grover Cleveland. The statue was designated a National Monument in 1924. It has been managed by the National Park Service since 1933 as part of the National Parks of New York Harbor office.

Lady Liberty was not always green

Uniquely green in color now, the Statue of Liberty was originally a shiny, reddish-brown color, like a new U.S. penny. Most likely, Bartholdi chose copper because of the metal’s durability and malleability. Copper was not only less costly than materials like bronze and stone, but weighed less, making it easier to transport. After about 30 years, exposure to air, salt water and pollution have caused a natural chemical reaction (oxidation), forming the green patina, or copper carbonate, that’s visible today, a process that was complete by the 1920s. There’s a practical reason to leave the bluish-green patina (known as verdigris) — protects the metal underneath from corroding and degrading.

Artwork showing Ellis Island main facility

Immigrants to the U.S. saw this grand lady when arriving at Ellis Island, which was America's main federal immigration station from 1892 to 1954 and processed more than 12 million people who arrived in the U.S. seeking new lives. It's estimated that over 40 percent of America's population can trace ancestry through Ellis Island (that includes my maternal and paternal grandparents). Passengers who entered the U.S. through the Port of New York were legally and medically inspected at Ellis Island.

The Great Hall or Registry Room could be a loud and confusing place for immigrants

There also were other ports of entry in Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, San Francisco and New Orleans. Steamship companies like the White Star, Red Star, Cunard, Holland America and Hamburg-America Lines played significant roles in the history of  immigration as a whole. For most immigrants, the Great Hall epitomized Ellis Island. It was here that immigrants underwent medical and legal examinations.

In the 1920s, Ellis Island's role shifted to a detention center due to the passing of restrictive immigration quota acts. In November 1954, it was officially closed by the U.S. government. After closing, the island was declared surplus federal property; the public desire for a memorial led to its preservation as a monument. 

These display items are original to Ellis Island

A sampling of trunks that immigrants traveled with on their sailings

In 1990, the Main Building on Ellis Island reopened after a massive reconstruction and is now a museum dedicated to the history of immigration. Ellis Island became a U.S. landmark when President Lyndon B. Johnson officially added it to the Statue of Liberty National Monument in May 1965, designating it part of the National Park System to preserve its significant history as America's main immigration station.

Currently, scaffolding surrounds the entire main building at Ellis Island

As of late 2025, scaffolding surrounds the entire building for structural repairs, facade restoration, and upgrading building systems. Ellis Reimagined is a $100 million interior overhaul of the museum, that will modernize exhibits and facilities. It's scheduled for completion in 2026. The museum remains open to visitors with some areas closed off.

There's one final, now iconic, NYC landmark that was visited on my December NYC tour., the 9/11 Memorial Museum. It will be the topic of a final NY post in 2026.

Merry Christmas to ALL

For ourselves and others, this is the reason for the season

If you are celebrating this holiday, we hope it will be one full of joy, love and time spent with those you love and who love you in return. (Comments are off.)

Because while today, has been called the happiest day of the year, it's not always the case for some who are alone.

Our at-home celebration has always included inviting friends to join us for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. We'll follow that tradition this holiday too.

And, like others, we have experienced the loss of a family member and more recently of several friends. We are thankful to have had them in our lives and remember them at the holiday season. 

Today, at home, we will celebrate family and friends, both near and far, friends we have met and those we haven’t yet. Memories and friendships are priceless gifts.

We wish all of you the merriest Christmas and the best for 2026.

Holiday decorations outside the apartments of fellow residents

Christmas in NYC . . .

Is where I spent most of last week on a 5-day tour, really only 3 days in the city as the first and last days were travel days. This was a solo trip (Patrick declined) and my travel mates were fellow members of the Hudson (NH) Senior Center and other travellers from states including Arkansas, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Ohio. 

The trip titled Discover Spotlight on NYC Holiday was once again through Collette Tours. It started with a Delta Airlines flight from Logan Airport, Boston, to LaGuardia Airport, NY. A snowfall last Sunday cancelled the original flight, but within 2 hours myself and fellow travelers were rebooked on another flight. 

New York City did not disappoint in providing glitz and glitter for the holiday season. While, I wasn't able to see many 5th Avenue window displays, those that were seen (mostly from the tour bus) were amazing and to say that some were over the top would not be an understatement. 

Some NYC holiday window displays 

There was free time on the tour, but the few hours allotted would have spent getting to and from stores with limited time for ooh-ing and aah-ing over the displays, not to mention getting through bustling shoppers. 

Macy's Herald Square, NYC (Internet image)

I was disappointed to not have visited Macy's Herald Square store, famously known as the world's largest store and recognized as the largest U.S. department store with 11 floors over 2.5 million square feet. Macy's holds this title by popular claim and record for a traditional department store, maybe another holiday season this visit will be possible.

Santa on a bicycle at Bryant Square holiday Market

Without aa doubt, midtown NYC is crowded most any day and season, but at holiday time it's multiplied several times over. People hurrying to and from jobs, delivery folks, construction workers, and visitors all competing for sidewalk space. Crossing signals seemed merely a suggestion as crowds would walk en masse whenever there was a break in traffic. There was also a lot of horns being honked.

Exterior, lobby photos, commemorative ornament; photography prohibited at showtime

There were several tour highlights including the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. Also known simply as Radio City, this landmark in Rockefeller Center has been dubbed The Showplace of the Nation. It's home to the world famous Rockettes dance troupe celebrating their 100 anniversary in 2025. The all female dancers are world-renowned for their signature Rockettes Precision Dance Technique™ combining elements of jazz, tap and ballet.

Radio City Music Hall, designed by Edward Durell Stone and Donald Deskey in the Art Deco style, opened on December 1932 seating 5,960. Back then, the four-tiered auditorium was the world's largest. Initially intended for stage shows, within a year it became a movie palace. The classic holiday film, White Christmas, premiered here in October 1954. I attended a film and show with my parents years ago; now the venue only hosts concerts and the holiday show. In the 1970s, declining attendance almost led to bankruptcy. in 1978, Radio City was designated a NYC landmark and was restored and remained open; another extensive renovation was in 1999.

The 2025 Rockefeller Christmas Tree

A must-see when visiting NYC at the holidays is, of course, going to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, which was a short walk from Radio City. The 2025 tree is a 75-foot tall, 11-ton, 75-year-old Norway Spruce from East Greenbush, NY. It arrived in Manhattan in early November and was lit in early December. It has over 500 LED lights and is topped with a 900-pound Swarovski star with 3 million crystals. The tree will remain on display until mid-January 2026. Chosen from a family yard, the  lumber will later donated to Habitat for Humanity to build homes.

One of 12 angels at Rockefeller Center

Towering 8-foot high angel figures, made from 75 pounds of wire each, stretch along the Channel Gardens annually at Rockefeller Center. The winged, robed and haloed angels each hold a 6-foot-long trumpet. Like the Christmas Tree, these 12 angels, created in 1955 by artist Valerie Clarebout, are an annual holiday earthly presence. Claremong used thousands of miniature lights to complete the celestial display.The angels face one another along the Channel Garden fountains which are turned off.

Another included tour item was the choice of a Broadway show. I attended a performance of The Great Gatsby, a musical play on Broadway for the first time at the Broadway Theatre. This jazzy adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel featured spectacular visuals, two motor cars, lavish costumes, stunning sets and powerful singing. The play starred Jeremy Jordan as Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire and recounted his tragic pursuit of Daisy Buchanan, who he loved for years. The show ran about 2-1/2 hours including intermission. Here's a spoiler alert should you ever go to a Broadway show, theatre seats are far more cramped than current movie theater seating and none recline.

NYC meet-up with fellow blogger Carol at Columbus Circle

Personally, the most wonderful highlight of my short NYC visit was a meet-up with fellow blogger, Carol, (Buttercup Counts Her Blessings). We spent a few hours at Columbus Circle visiting the Holiday Market, talking, then having dinner with a light show in the background. The lights changed color and played holiday music on the hour. This was a wonderful way to spend a free evening in NYC, thanks again, Carol.

There are more highlights to post about my NYC holiday visit, but I wanted to share some of the festive lights of best known places we visited. Blog reading (and posting) have taken a back seat due to travel and other things this time of year. Thanks, as always, for your blog visit and comments. I will be reading as many of your posts as possible the next several days. Thankfully, we're Home for the Holidays.

Your Turn — Are you traveling or celebrating at home?