2005--->2006 Happy New Year!

On Saturday the 31st we arrived up at Foxwoods for lunch. Our friends joined us a bit later in the day.

We spent the afternoon in the spa and when we got back to the suite our New Year's Chocolate sculpture was waiting.

When we left Danbury I still hadn't decided on a dress (!) so I brought four up to Foxwood's - all black...two short, two long. Well one of the short dresses was altogether too small and in the end I decided against long. So the decision was made - I wore the same short black halter dress I've worn every New Year's eve of this millenium! It's Channel and I love it! So there.

We had a private dinner up on the 25th floor at Paragon.

The champagnes and wines were wonderful and the meal elegant and inventive. This is the Escargot en Croute. Mmmmm

We finished dinner just as the countdown to 2006 was beginning.

Nick and I dance the first dance of 2006. I look pretty cute in my crown, Nick looks pretty dorky in his hat.

Here I am with Sunay and Nesli. They'll be welcoming a new little one soon.

Soon after midnight we left Paragon and headed down to the club. Here are Jill and Sulay underneath a huge butterfly.

...when we got there a show was in progress, featuring athletic boys...

...and scantily clad girls.

Having a laugh with Darcy before hitting the dance floor.

Sulay, taking it all in.

The show went on...

...and the dancing got more feverish.

Nick and Katia join the action.

Everyone had so much fun...

...till well into the morning!

The next day we awoke...just before brunch at 1:00...to this beautiful view from our 23rd floor suite. A light dusting of snow had fallen during the night.

This was the view from the front of the 23rd floor...perfect start to 2006.

We stayed one more night...so were entitled to one more chocolate sculpture. Only the best for 2006!

Christmas 2005 - Great food, a good time. We all love Christmas.

I tried not to over do it...and, I managed to kind of keep it simple; lots of wreaths, our usual big beautiful tree and our favorite holiday dishes. It worked - we had a great time.

We had a casual but festive Christmas Eve dinner at the Hilltop. Dad and Colleen were there. Halim's Dad had come down from Boston too.

Christmas day was at our house. We had all of my favorit holiday dishes, including this apple walnut salad.

It was great to see our friend Feriyal who came all the way from Vienna. And her son Jimmy...he actually came over from Dubai!

Cigars, drinks and friends...make for a festive Christmas celebration...at least at our house they do.

Sweet Selin and lovely Leyla had their Christmas dinner in our kitchen.

The day after Christmas we awoke to an icy drizzle...and this robin collecting berries outside our window.

This is my scary retro santa. He looks like he's about to stab someone the psycho music should play here

Our christmas tree is always really pretty...

Illuminated, it looks really romantic.

My motley crew of snowmen and santas.

I like this hauntingly romantic photo. It's the silouette of a Christmas wreath hanging outside of our stained glass window.

A final reflection of our pretty illuminated tree.

December 17, - Foxwoods ...again.

We took the limo up to Foxwoods on Saturday morning, of course Jiggy slept most of the way. Saturday night we saw George Carlin's Life is Worth Losing show at Foxwood's Theater. It was great...an amazing barrage of verbal dexterity and totallly over-the-top.

After the show Nick went right back to the casino. We headed straight for the club.

Jig just loves those Chippendale's guys.

June was down from Boston...It's always great to see her.

Cat and I got lots of exercise on the dance floor.

The go-go dancers were all dressed up for Christmas. Well, what little they were wearing was really Christmasy ;o}

Jiggy...almost got arrested when she jumped up on stage.

Can't forget this...as always, a distinctive chocolate delight.

December 10, - Must start that Christmas shopping!

I went down to Greenwich supposedly to start my Christmas shopping but spent most of the day relaxing and enjoying the snow covered nature. I took this photo of the cardinal and his friend at Colleen's bird feeder.

Later we went down to Cos Cob and had high tea at a new place in the center of town...and I just love this photo I took of a patriotic snowman.

December 4, - The Deer Hill Avenue Christmas Party

Another light snow fall created a festive atmosphere and the holiday season is officially launched with the neighborhood Christmas Party. Each year we have dinner at one house and desserts at another. The houses are mainly Victorians and always enchantingly decorated. It's the only time we get together with our neighbors so we always have lots to catch up on.

Our privet hedge looks like it's been dusted with powdered sugar...

The first house, where a buffet dinner was served had recently been restored maintaining the character of the house but updating and brightening it. It was elegant and charming...

...and this was the mantle in the pretty front parlor. For dessert we moved on to the next house...

The second house was equally lovely... beautifully restored and elegantly decorated. I counted four Christmas trees, but there may have been more.

Yes, this house was a Victorian marvel with lots of rich dark wood detail. Everyone loved the atmosphere.