My husband and I unfortunately caught one of the flu variants over the Christmas holiday, I don’t get the flu vaccine because I’m allergic to eggs, but my husband had the vaccine, so I’m surprised he caught the flu, we were both recovering over the New Year’s, but I have ulcers that flared up and started bleeding so they had to rushed me to the hospital on New Year’s and I had to get blood transfusions and be in the hospital for the week.
It’s good to be home and catch up with everyone’s blogs, while I continue to recover.
So my wish for you this New Year’s is to have a very healthy and happy 2023 🕊️
Rockefeller Center tree in 2020 (Scott Lynch)
Nov 16, 2022By Scott Lynch
No one does the holiday season better than New York City—literally millions of people come from all over the world every year just to bask in our holiday spirit. And Rockefeller Center is at the heart of it all.
There’s the famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, of course, which has lit up the Midtown plaza for more than 80 years, with the iconic ice skating rink below. Complementing it all is the holiday light show put on by Saks Fifth Avenue right across the way, which in recent years has become its own attraction, all adding to the huge crowds at the historic art deco complex.
Rock Center has also made a huge push to amp up its food and beverage game recently, adding a bunch of first-rate fast-casual spots to the concourse as well as an impressive number of exciting (and even hip!) new restaurants from some of the city’s best chefs.
Whether you’re a New Yorker or visiting, find a complete guide to getting the most out of this NYC treasure over the holiday season below.
The 2022 tree arrived as scheduled before dawn on November 12th, and the ritual of getting it off the flatbed truck, driving the spike into the trunk, and then hoisting the magnificent Norway Spruce up and into its stand attracted a larger crowd than usual to this under-publicized spectacle, probably due to the unusually warm weather.
The tree this year is a gift from the Liebowitz family, and it comes from Queensbury, New York. It’s 82-feet tall, 50-feet wide, and weighs about 14 tons. The spruce was about 85 to 90 years old when it was felled for its role as the world’s most famous Christmas tree. And as far as anyone could tell there were no owls still nestled in its brancheswhen it arrived in the big city. However, there was an owl mascot on hand for the festivities.Roxy the Owl greets spectators.
In 2020 an actual owl was found hiding in the branches of the tree.
(Scott Lynch)The 82-foot-tall Norway Spruce arrived on November 12th (Scott Lynch)
A crowd watches the 82-foot-tall Norway Spruce arrive on November 12th (Scott Lynch)
The tree lighting extravaganza will be held on the evening of November 30th, but before then the spruce gets decorated with more than 50,000 multi-colored LEDs strung over five miles of wire, powered in part by hundreds of solar panels on the roof of one of Rock Center’s buildings. Topping things off is a glittering 900-pound star, a three-dimensional stunner featuring 70 spikes covered in three million Swarovski crystals.
There will be huge crowds at the lighting ceremony, but you can enjoy the end result in a slightly less hectic setting between December 1st through mid-January, every day from 6 a.m. to midnight, and for all 24 hours of Christmas Day.
Saks Fifth Avenue’s holiday facade in 2020 (Getty for Saks Fifth Avenue)
The Christmas windows in all of the luxury shops along this part of Fifth Avenue have long been a big draw for festive-feeling seekers, but in 2004 Saks Fifth Avenue really upped the ante with its spectacular Holiday Light Show, which has evolved into a repeating three-and-a-half minute performance involving hundreds of thousands of LEDs dancing across the entire facade of the department store.
Located right across the street from the Rockefeller Center tree and including a seasonal soundtrack blasted at an incredibly loud volume, the Holiday Light Show really solidifies this spot as NYC’s Christmas Central. The show runs once every ten minutes between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. nightly, starting on November 22nd until the New Year.
Note: Fifth Avenue from 49th Street to 57th Street will be closed to vehicular traffic for three Sundays in December ( 4th, 11th, and 18th) between the hours of noon and 6 p.m. as part of “Fifth Avenue for All.”
Rockefeller Center ice skating rink (Scott Lynch)
The Rockefeller Center Rink is open for the season, which means you can go skating here anytime through the beginning of April. But the best time to take a few laps around this iconic patch of ice is during the holidays, when the tree is twinkling, the music is merry and bright, and it’s easy to feel like you’re right in the middle of the best Christmas city in the world.
Advance tickets are available now for hour-long sessions through the New Year, and they are selling out fast.
Chicken Shawarma from Samesa (Scott Lynch)
One of the most surprising developments in the NYC restaurant scene these past few years has been the sudden rise of Rockefeller Center as an actual dining destination.
On the casual, counter-service side of things, start withSamesa, Eli and Max Sussman’s superb Mediterranean spot starring one of the best chicken shawarmas in town. There are lots of vegan and vegetarian options here too.
Another very good choice for something both hearty and healthy is chef JJ Johnson’s Field Trip, an outpost of his Harlem hit that highlights rice-based dishes from different cultures around the world.
Rock Center also now has excellent pizza, at Ace’s, the Williamsburg-based parlor that specializes in thick, cheesy, generously topped Detroit-style pies for one, two, or a whole crew. There’s also a Black Seed down here, slinging Dianna Daoheung’s extremely popular Montreal-ish bagels topped or stuffed in all sorts of crowd-pleasing ways.
Ace’s Pizza (Scott Lynch)Half Pepperoni, half Buffalo Chicken, from Ace’s Pizza (Scott Lynch)
The New York Pretzel, at the brand new Rockefeller Center Breads Bakery (Scott Lynch)
The New York Pretzel, at the brand new Rockefeller Center Breads Bakery (Scott Lynch)
All of the above, and many other fast-casual spots, sit in the concourse level of the complex, hard by The Rink. But another terrific eating option just opened out on Sixth Avenue, a new location of the great Breads Bakery mini-chain. In addition to all of Breads usual array of first-rate baked goods, both sweet and savory, the new place features two Rock Center exclusives: an updated version of the iconic New York pretzel, made with rye sourdough and served with mustard; and a “Pockets of Sunshine Babka,” a citrus-infused collab with the “Mayor of 30 Rock,” Al Roker.
Ignacio Mattos’ acclaimed cafe Lodi (Scott lynch)
Chocolate Croissant and Lemon and Poppyseed Girella from Lodi (Scott Lynch)
The first of the new breed of high-end restaurants to open here was the acclaimed bakery-cafe Lodifrom Ignacio Mattos, which landed in the southern plaza in the summer of 2021. This place has everything from soups, porchetta panini, and one of the best chocolate croissants you’ll ever eat (it’s shaped like a mini loaf of bread) to cocktails and fancy wines poured at sit-down dinners.
Le Rock (Scott Lynch)
Speaking of acclaimed, Le Rock, located in the complex’s northern plaza, just earned a rare three-star review from the New York Times, so don’t expect to be able to waltz in and get a table during prime time. But definitely try to eat here sometime soon; run by the team behind the sceney Frenchette down in Tribeca, this is instantly one of NYC’s must-try restaurants.
21 Greenpoint (Scott Lynch)Crab Toast at 21 Greenpoint (Scott Lynch)
Even cool Brooklyn spots are coming to Midtown now!
Currently in soft-open mode, the brand new 21 Greenpoint in the concourse level has a limited menu of delightful dishes like their Open Faced Crab Toast, Crunchy Broccoli Salad, and a delicious Ceviche.
The brand new tasting menu restaurant Naro, from the owners of Atomix (Scott Lynch)
The sleek and sophisticated Naro also opened just recently, from Junghyun “JP” and Ellia Park, the couple behind the much-lauded Atomix. Located right near The Rink, Naro offers a 12-course, Korean-inspired, $195 tasting menu at dinner.
Coming soon, hopefully by the time the tree is lit: Five Acres, a “vegetable-forward” spot from Greg Baxtrom, whose other restaurants, Olmstead, Maison Yaki, and Patti Ann’s, all within blocks of each other in Prospects Heights, are among the best in Brooklyn.
And then there’s the elegant, 145-seat Jupiter, a pasta-and-wine place from the owners of the beloved King in Hudson Square, Jess Shadbolt, Annie Shi, and Clare de Boer.
Jupiter, from the team behind the beloved King (Scott Lynch)The sceney Pebble Bar sit above Magnolia Bakery (Scott Lynch)
If you just want to hang out and enjoy a holiday spirit, Rockefeller Center has got you covered. City Winery has a nifty “Winter Domes” outdoor setup; The Other Half brewery, with an entrance on Fifth Avenue, sells lots of different canned beers; and the Pebble Bar is a happening cocktail spot located in that historic townhouse on the corner of Sixth Avenue, the only holdout from when they demolished the area in the 1930s, and where Hurley’s held it down for more than a century.
And remember, by far the easiest way to get to the center of it all is via the MTA, with multiple subway lines putting you within a block or two of the complex, including the B, D, F, and M trains to the 47-50 Street station, the E train to 5th Avenue-53 Street, the 1 train to 50th Street, and the N, Q, R, W to 49th Street. The M1, M2, M3, and M4 buses stop right nearby on Fifth Avenue as well.
https://away.mta.info/articles/rockefeller-center-holiday-guide-2022/
Thank you, Lord, that you fill a mother’s heart with love,
That you have instilled in her very being the need to protect her children if at all possible,
Thank you for giving her the gift of nurturing her children, of teaching them, of comforting them,
for feeding them and making a safe place for them.
For guiding them to be all that God has created them to be.
Fill every mother with love, wisdom and endurance,
with strength and patience and joy.
Give them ability to forgive again and again.
Enable her to rely on You and call upon You, because You will give her all she needs.
In Your precious and all powerful name, Amen
Heavenly Father, to you I pray…
On this day called,
“Mother’s Day.”
Let all mother’s on earth give praise,
To you…for the children that you gave.
For you have blessed them from above,
with little souls to nourish and love.
Let them mold each one with care…
And teach them to be kind and share.
Forgiveness is the special key…
Start early on, to help them see.
Their fragile minds are easily impressed.
Please teach them ways, so they’ll be blessed.
Sow godly seeds into their minds.
With careful pruning, you will find…
Young adults with such strong roots,
all through life, will bear rich fruit.
And then have faith for God to show…
Them all the rest they have to know.
Remember they’re His children too.
For they were only lent to you.
God our Creator, we pray:
for new mothers, coming to terms with new responsibility ;
for expectant mothers, wondering and waiting;
for those who are tired, stressed or depressed;
for those who struggle to balance the tasks of work and family;
for those who are unable to feed their children due to poverty;
for those whose children have physical, mental or emotional disabilities;
for those who have children they do not want;
for those who raise children on their own;
for those who have lost a child;
for those who care for the children of others;
for those whose children have left home;
and for those whose desire to be a mother has not been fulfilled.
Bless all mothers, that their love may be deep and tender,
and that they may lead their children to know and do what is good,
living not for themselves alone, but for God and for others.
Amen
We thank you for adopting us into your family through the miracle of your grace, and for calling us to be brothers and sisters to each other. Today, loving God, we pray for our mothers:
Today we pray for:
Keep us united with you and with each other, so that we can be and become all that we are meant to be.
In this intense nine months, when mothers-to-be are realizing that their life is about to change forever, bless them God, because they feel alternately elated and alarmed. Help each mother-in-waiting to understand that she has been carefully chosen, by both you and by her baby, to guide it through its early years on planet Earth. Let her know that she will never be alone in the process. Help her to remember that her baby is your own perfect creation, just as she, herself, is your own perfect creation. Thank you God, for making each of your creations uniquely perfect in its own way. Amen.
– Lauren McLaughlin
https://thoughts-about-god.com/mothers_/sample-mothers-day-prayers
Society of Companion Animal Studies
Remember, you don’t need to be extravagant or extraordinary to mark National Love Your Pet Day 2022, on Sunday 20th February! Here are five ideas to consider…
Hard on the heels of Valentine’s Day, National Love Your Pet Day on Sunday 20 February, is the perfect day to spoil your pet more than usual and show them just how much they mean to you. (Although all pet owners know that every day is National Love Your Pet Day, whether you’re a cat lover, dog lover, rabbit lover or general all-round animal lover!).
You don’t need to spend money to mark this special day. Here are five things you might like to consider: –
If your pet loves attention, then make sure you spend some extra time making them feel special – perhaps play their favourite game or give them a belly rub.
2. Take them on an extra special walk
Figure Photo by Zen Chung from Pexels
If you have a dog, why not take it to one of its favourite places and let them stay there a little bit longer so they can fully enjoy the spot they love most, or why not look up a new walk that you can both discover together.
3. Make a new pet toy
Whether you turn an old t-shirt into a braided tug-of-war rope for your dog or create a cat flat or hideout from old cardboard boxes. It’s super fun and inexpensive to make toys for your pets from materials you might have in the house already, (but please make sure to check that they are safe for pet-use).
All that’s needed is a little creativity, a short amount of time from you – and some love!
4. Teach your pet a new skill
Positive reinforcement with praise or treats (as part of their daily allowance) can help you teach your dog a new command or perhaps train your cat how to high-five. The fun you’ll have training will help strengthen the bond you share.
5. Be in the moment
Put down your phone. Stop thinking about that Zoom call. Make a conscious effort to live in the moment, just like your pet. For our dogs and cats, fish or parrot, there are no worries of about yesterday or tomorrow; they live in the moment. Learning to live in the present can prove to be a present, not just to your pet, but to you as well.
Whatever way you decide to spend National Love Your Pet Day 2022, SCAS hopes you have a safe and enjoyable time with each other.
https://katzenworld.co.uk/2022/02/19/national-love-your-pet-day-on-sunday-20-february/
Whether your love is just starting….
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Did Chevrolet Have To Make America Cry With Its New Christmas Ad?
Joe Cunningham
I am not sure who told Chevrolet that what we really needed this Christmas was to ugly cry over an ad they produced for the holidays, but whoever it was needs to go sit in the corner and think about what they’ve done.
You may have seen the shortened version of this ad, titled “Holiday Ride,” on TV. But you don’t get the full emotional impact without seeing the extended four-minute version, which is a tear-jerker and hit me harder than listening to my child ask me why Mufasa wasn’t waking up.
All the jokes aside, this ad is possibly one of the most needed and uplifting messages of the Christmas season — a season in one of the toughest years Americans have faced. Still reeling from COVID-19 and an economic collapse, we have watched as division and partisanship grew, the negative media coverage got worse, people were unable to get back to work, and inflation and shortages have had families struggling.
And this is all on the heels of a divisive presidential election and a pandemic that has taken our family members and loved ones and kept us separated for (in some cases) over a year.
At a time when all this is going on, this Chevy commercial comes out. It is a message about remembering loved ones and spending the time we have with them. It is, at its heart, a secular but great reminder that this time of year is about our families.
Here, you have a man who appears to have recently lost his wife. In an old barn is her old convertible, covered in dust and clearly unused. It’s an emotional moment as the memories flood back. His daughter sees that he’s struggling, so she goes to their small town auto repair shop and asks for help. They sneak in one night, load up the car, and then restore it. The dad sees the restored car, gets emotional, and drives up to his daughter, who begins to cry as she says “It’s what mom would’ve wanted.”
And it’s at that point that you’ll feel that familiar tingle in your eye, if you haven’t already.
A man lovingly remembers his wife. A daughter sees a father struggling. A community comes together to help one of their own. And an emotional reunion. Also, a dog.
We are a little over week away from Christmas, and now more than ever, we need to stop and remember what’s most important. Yes, we have political battles to fight. But for a few moments, let’s also remember that our families need us for more than fighting those battles. They need us to just be there for and with them.
Merry Christmas.
Evelyn Quintero is an expert in making and arranging Christmas decorations. In fact, she has such excellent creative skills that she earned the grand prize on ABC’s “Great Christmas Light Fight.”
When Quintero lights up her “Peaceful Meadow,” it’s like seeing a scene straight out of a movie. Her residence in Atwater, California, is probably the brightest and merriest home in the whole state this holiday season.
Quintero’s decorations look so good that people from everywhere want to come over just to see it in person. And we’re sure that if they do, they won’t regret it.YouTube
“I think it will put Atwater on the map,” said neighbor Maria Vega of the display.
It took around 80,000 lights to complete the luminous display. It also includes other elements such as deer, mountains, and a waterfall.
One neighbor described it as a “work of art.” And it truly is.
Despite putting up such an incredible display, Quintero never expected to make it to the show, let alone with the top prize.YouTube
“I was in total shock. I just couldn’t believe that they chose me. I’m just a little old great-grandma on a corner here,” she said.
As it turns out, she’s had lots of practice. Before moving to Atwater to be closer to her family four years ago, Quintero and her husband lived in Vacaville, California. They were sort of local celebrities there because of their astonishing Christmas displays. When they moved to Atwater, that seems to be the case still.YouTube
The lot beside her Atwater home was specifically bought for her Christmas displays. She thought it would be great for the people walking on the sidewalk to view the decorations.
“I feel like I’m in a meadow and I feel like I’m out of this world. Like, amazed by these lights,” said a young girl named Kiley Stahlhut.
This display is truly a labor of love, as 90% of it is handmade. She uses a 3D pen to create the ducks, ladybugs, and birds in her decorations.
Quintero also painstakingly hand-painted all 8,000 flowers in the meadow, which are made of icicle lights. The beautiful sea of pink, which took her years to accumulate, is a tribute to her daughter who had passed away.YouTube
“We had a daughter who passed away several years ago and her favorite color was pink so yes, I do have more pink flowers in memory of her,” Quintero said. It’s her way of keeping Andrea’s memory alive.
She loves how people, especially kids, react to her decorations when they see them. As news of her display quickly spread across the country, two Atwater women brought their friend—who just came all the way from Texas—to visit Quintero’s now-famous house.
“I’m amazed at her skills and her imagination and that she even came up with the concept,” she said.YouTube
Quintero wasn’t seeking fame or recognition for this; she just wanted to share her talent and creativity.
“It was like showing your artwork at a New York gallery. That’s what I was thinking,” she said.
Check out the unveiling of Evelyn Quintero’s “Peaceful Meadow” in the video below.
https://mypositiveoutlooks.com/grandma-luminous-christmas-display-gains-national-attention/
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