Kent and I are heading for the city.  We are fortunate to have use of an apartment in Mike and Tracy’s building so we are going early to hang out, baby sit, shop, take in some NY holiday sites, bake cookies, and do stuff.  I am excited!

Cookie baking: we go for all vegan recipes and are pretty pleased with ourselves as all are wonderfully tasty—-gingerbread cookies, painted sugar cookies, peanut blossoms, almond cookies, almond butter candy, and black no-bakes.

Decorating: we make our way to the local tree lot just down the block.  They have a huge selection and the guy running it tells a great story promoting the best trees he has.  Kent and Mike head home carrying a beautiful six footer.  Soon it is up and the apartment filled with the wonderful holiday smell.  Out come the lights and decorations—it is almost perfect.  Willa will put on the tree topper tomorrow when everyone is here

Christmas sites in the boroughs: The Dyker Heights neighborhood has a long-standing reputation for magnificent/some might say garish displays.  That sounds about right!  It is pretty cold and it is quite a trek via subway and then by foot but the journey is worth it.  Giant santas.  Huge blow up reindeer.  Carousels.  Armies of nutcrackers.  Thousands of lights on miles of garland.  We end the evening a little cold and tired but I am thrilled with the images dancing around in my head.

Strolls through Astoria residential neighborhoods show off some lovely decorating too.

Willa takes regular Nana and Grandpa breaks up at our place…wonderful for us!

We squeeze in a rainy day stroll through Union Square Holiday Market to work on our shopping.