Mockingbird Hill Cottage — Page 1193 — Mockingbird Hill Cottage

And That’s Done

December 18, 2014 at 8:09 am by Claudia

I’m posting twice today because I also have a sponsored post going up around 9 am.

I’m happy to do the sponsored post, but I also like to check in with you, dear readers.

I finished my Christmas shopping for Don yesterday. Hallelujah! If I could order everything online, I would be one happy camper. But we were both slow to create our Christmas Lists, which means some things have to be bought in the store. I’m happy to report that I was calm, serene, and I managed to gather everything I was looking for.

Since I dislike shopping in stores, as well as the crowds, calm and serene is a major feat.

We still have to do some shopping for our girl.

A few more photos from NYC:

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I don’t know about you, but I still get a little thrill when I see a book publisher’s name on a building. I know it can be tedious work, but I’ve always had a dream about being a book editor in Manhattan.

Ah well, another life.

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And Scribner’s. Don’t you love the writing on the side of the building? It’s a wonderfully old-fashioned font. New York is full of buildings that have words like this – advertisements for the company that resides in the building. Some are beautifully maintained like this, others are so faded that you can barely read them – a shadowy remnant of another era.

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And one of the buildings at Rockefeller Center, soaring into the sky.

Are you checking off items on your To Do lists? Make sure you give yourself time to stop and rest and look at your tree lights in a darkened room and listen to beautiful music and just be.

New post up on Just Let Me Finish This Page.

Happy Thursday.

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Lights

December 17, 2014 at 9:19 am by Claudia

I love playing around with bokeh at Christmas time – or anytime, really. You’ll be seeing a few Holiday Bokeh shots over the next week because I can’t help myself!

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One of my vintage putz houses and the tree lights in the background.

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This little guy is an ornament on our tree. He graciously agreed to pose for this shot.

Speaking of putz houses, a package arrived on my doorstep yesterday. The return address was unfamiliar. When I opened it up and undid the bubble wrap, this is what I saw:

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I gasped! I had no idea who sent this to me until I read the lovely note attached to the present. A reader named Chris wrote that she read my blog every day and was inspired to start making putz houses when I did my first post about the Necco Snow Globe (which has a putz house as part of the snow scene.)

She made this. Oh my goodness!

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Simply beautiful. And pink bottlebrush trees! I mean, what could be better?

She included a bulb because….

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It lights up!

I’m blown away. Thank you so, so much, Chris!

It’s funny. I haven’t put up the little white tree this year. I don’t know why, but I haven’t felt moved to. I also didn’t put up any of my white bottle brush wreaths. I just wanted ‘simple’ this year. So the only decorations in the living room are the ones in the dollhouse.

After I ran upstairs to show this to Don, he said that this seemed to be the perfect substitute for the little white tree this year. And I think he’s right; it’s the perfect touch for that room. Last night, I turned on the switch and the gentle glow from the light filled the room.

I love it.

I am blessed. For whatever reason, this blog has attracted the most loyal, giving and kind readers. Don thinks I have the best readers in the world.

He’s right.

Happy Wednesday.

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Christmas in NYC: Rockefeller Center

December 16, 2014 at 9:28 am by Claudia

Rockefeller Center is a huge complex situated between between 48th and 51st Street. There are many buildings in the complex, which covers 22 acres. I love the architecture and the design because it was constructed in the thirties – the height of the Art Deco era – and you can see amazing Art Deco details everywhere you look.

This is a picture-heavy post. I’ll add some commentary here and there.

As you approach the complex you’ll see:

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Radio City Music Hall, currently home to the Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes.

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And The Tonight Show, starring Jimmy Fallon.

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And the famous Rainbow Room, the Observation Deck and NBC Studios. Sigh. Love, love that Art Deco look.

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And suddenly, there it is. The massive Christmas Tree. And it is massive. There were people everywhere. Seriously, it was hard to move around. It was, after all, a Sunday, so there were lots and lots of people determined to take in the Christmas displays – just as we were.

The tree is amazing. (It also makes me a little sad to see this glorious tree chopped down.) I wonder how old it is?

It must be stunning at night.

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Next to the tree is an area surrounded by flags and and decorations and people everywhere. The sunken area is the famous skating rink.

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The famous statue of Prometheus.

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Looks like fun, but it’s been a few years since I’ve strapped on some ice skates!

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You can see it was wall-to-wall people. If it was any other kind of day, I would have found it overwhelming and irritating, but it’s the Christmas season, so everyone is full of good cheer, including Don and me.

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Sak’s Fifth Avenue.

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NBC News.

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The sun finally came out.

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Gorgeous Art Deco details at the entrance to 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

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St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

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Need I say more?

Christmas time or not, this area of Manhattan is gorgeous and well worth the visit. Normally, if I’m in the area, I’m too busy to linger. That’s what made Sunday special. We gave ourselves the time to linger and celebrate the season.

From your tour guides:

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Don

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And Claudia.

(New post up on Just Let Me Finish This Page.)

Happy Tuesday.

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And That’s Done

Lights

Christmas in NYC: Rockefeller Center

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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