Christmas 2016, for the Record

Your Chronicler had a very difficult time celebrating Christmas 2016, but she trudged through the holidays and produced daily Christmas in New York videos on Facebook, combined them into seven Christmas in New York 2016 videos on YouTube (you can see them on the Gallery page here), put up Hillary, the Hovel Tree, and added additional Sagas to the PM Saga Archive.

Hillary, the Hovel Tree, Christmas 2016

Christmas in New York 2016

I posted daily videos on Facebook showing Christmas in New York, then combined them for seven videos on YouTube. I've put them all in a page on this site, so you can binge watch if you want. Below you will see the final posting, my video ode to Hillary, the Hovel Tree. I used a recording of Silent Night I made several years ago with Woody Regan in this, so be prepared!

Here are some of the photos from the Hovel at Christmas. First you see the editorial assistant who came home with Hillary from the lot on 79th Street and Broadway. You then see Hillary with her lights of many colors, with ornaments, and fully bedecked with ornaments, bead garlands and tinsel. Some new ornaments are included, and some older ones, plus the house shoes that Santa brought the Chronicler (she also got a new shower curtain — your Chronicler believes in warmth and cleanliness!).

The Christmas 2016 page has photos from all seven videos, including the Central Park video, which, as always, was near and dear to your Chronicler.

Sagas Added to the Archives

Four more Sagas were added to the PM Sagas Archives. Most Sagas have now been posted, and the rest will appear soon. I have tried to gain perspective and inspiration during these trying times by reading about the exploits of Purple Monster again. She really fights for Christmas and the Christmas Spirit!

The Good SEGWACian, The PM Saga, Book VIII

The Christmas crew receives help from an unexpected source, and PM gobbles chocolate and champagne in preparation for a Christmas Day mating ritual.

Summit At the North Pole, The PM Saga, Book XI

Viper Carrion and St. Nick confer at the North Pole, and the SEGWACian despot is presented with a magical silver ornament. (A factoid: the cover glows in the dark.)

The Sublime State of Christmasness, The PM Saga, Book XIV

During teletransportation, PM evaporates into a higher level of Christmas consciousness.

The Magic Garden of the Christmas Star, The PM Saga, Book XV

The North Pole is bankrupt, and only the Christmas Star and magic flowers can save Santa's ride. Crystal Camellia is born to Relicta and Dove.

The Joys of the Winter Solstice!

Dec. 21 was a glorious day in Central Park, for I was able to see my first male green-winged teal, plus Woody, a young male pintail duck, lots of mallards, and a couple of hawks. I was also able to feed chickadees, nuthatches, tufted titmice, sparrows, woodpeckers, squirrels, pigeons and other hungry wildlife in the park (no pictures of the smaller birds on this day, because the birds were on my hands or on my hat or camera).

Green-winged teal drake at the Pond in Central Park, Dec. 21, 2016

On the Christmas front, I posted a short version of the Christmas story told in art at the Cloisters on Facebook, but a longer one on YouTube. I hope you enjoy it!

Another photo of the green-winged teal, our dear Woody!, the little pintail duck (now called Pinny), and some foliage visible from Gapstow Bridge. Look for some of these characters to appear in the Christmas in New York Central Park video!

Young red-tailed hawk near the Boathouse, Central Park, Dec. 21, 2016

Addicted to Christmas

Your Daily Christmas Videos!

I am putting up daily Christmas in New York videos on Facebook, on my personal page (you can follow me) or the Purple Monster page (in Facebook, search for @NorthPoleAmbassador, then like the page, and you'll get the daily videos in your feed). 

The stars of changing colors in the Time Warner Center, from Christmas in New York, Video No. 2

After Christmas Day, I will combine the videos into a Christmas in New York series (you can check out what I did last year on my Christmas 2015 page). So far, I've posted three videos: Bernardaud (a porcelain store at East 59th and Park Avenue), the Time Warner Center atrium stars with their changing colors, and the windows at Bloomingdale's. Lots more to come!

Sparkle, one of the Light (Chandeliers) windows at Bloomingdale's, Christmas in New York, Video No. 3

Coming soon: The Barneys windows, and the New York Public Library lions. Plus Bryant Park, the windows at Lord & Taylor, and many, many more! And don't worry, there will be a Central Park video!

One of the Barneys windows, featuring the Love Boat, coming soon!

A New York Public Library lion, decked out in holiday style, coming soon!

Two of my favorite videos from last year were the Central Park entry (in which Woody Wood Duck, Prince of the Pond, writes a letter to Santa) and the Metropolitan Museum Christmas story (the holiday tree and creche, plus annunciation, nativity and Madonna and Child paintings and sculptures). Check them out here: