Like Paddington

Like Paddington, I am up to my elbows in jammy goodness.  Golden globs of sunshine.  Cumquat marmalade.  I wish you could smell my house.  That citrus tang. OH MY!!! Cumquats are one good thing about Winter.  I don't know why, but to me cumquats are the quintessential marmalade fruit.  My love affair with marmalade began in my uni days when I rented a house with a cumquat tree.  I had almost forgotten about it until one of my uni flatmates posted a picture of her marmalade on toast blaming me for the fact that she is still slightly addicted and then, last Saturday, while pilfering lemons from my friend's tree, I noticed that she had two cumquats loaded with fruit.  A jar of marmalade in return became a very sweet deal.

Now, I promised New York photos.  New York seems like a dream ago now.  But at the time it really was magic.  I didn't ever expect to like it as much as I did.  Central Park was the standout. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.  James has been convinced to make me my own (somewhat smaller) version down the front.  It won't happen for a while as we want to see exactly where the water pools and drains this Winter.

The Birthday Boy outside of Central Park

Strawberry Fields - my new camera makes full use of available light with the flash off so this was captured at night.

I know I am ridiculous but I have such a thing about squirrels! I love the fluid way they move. And they are just way too cute.

Check the lamp posts? And this is near where we saw a blue jay, and a cardinal and a chickadee! I know I get excited about strange things.

Hans Christian Anderson was responsible for my love of fairytales.  I didn't expect to get nostalgic here but I did!

The cherry blossom was just amazing!

The view from Belvedere castle

Tulips - everywhere we went.  I love a city that values its citizens enough to plant tulips in public spaces.

This was one of my favourite spots to just sit and watch the world go by.

Told you my new camera was amazing.  We got some great night time shots.

Believe it or not I do have lots of more touristy photos of Times Square and the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge but they will have to wait until next time.
Happy Monday,
Nell
xxx