O Happy Day of Love

Wishing everyone a love-filled day…
, R.

NYSD

My current obsession is the New York Social Diary. You can spend far too much time (or maybe I can) reading about the old-money families of the leisure class. Like Mrs. T. Charlton Henry photographed in 1965 by Diane Arbus. Not only does the site cover people, but huge estates including all the beautiful interiors. This picture is actually from a different, though similar, site. I think reading “That Woman” has perked my interest, though I’ve always been attracted to this sort of thing: mansions, antiques, the eccentric, and finer things of olden days.

BFFFs: Best fur friends forever

These two love to be together. Secretly, I think it’s more Gwyneth that loves Saylor. Saylor kind of puts up with it. We call her G-O-D (grumpy old dog). This was yesterday’s nap. Gwynnie claims her spot, not taking no for an answer.

That Woman

Just starting “That Woman,” by Anne Seba. Taking a break from Proust. The book is all about the life of Wallis Simpson. She has such amazingly classic style… Quite a while ago, I jumped on the very crowded bandwagon of people who are fascinated with her. Madonna made a movie about her life with the would-be King. It’s called W.E. It’s loaded with fashion, lush interiors, music—the whole 9 yards. Pure fantasy, of course, but one that sure had some great parties! (Trailer for the movie.)

And if you’re really interested, this is a documentary about the movie.

It’s finally warming up

How gorgeous is he? I say he, but she could be a she. From this tumblr page.

I happened upon this tumblr page. It’s images, obviously, and then some “notes.” Here’s one that I thought was meaningful. Something we all kind of know, but may not practice enough:

“ One of the saddest realities is most people never know when their lives have reached the summit. Only after it is over and we have some kind of perspective do we realize how good we had it a day, a month, five years ago. The walk together in the December snow, the phone call that changed everything, that lovely evening in the bar by the Aegean. Back then you thought “this is so nice.” Only later did you realize it was the rarest bliss.
— Jonathan Carroll

Cozy place to sit

I think for a while I need to post quiet corners, images of places I want to sit and read or just be quiet. Aren’t you drawn to these sorts of places? What I love about this is, well, everything. But in particular, the way the bookshelf is built in, and of a darker wood than the light wall. The chair looks beyond comfortable. The big basket trunk as a coffee table is perfect. A roaring fire: check. The blanket on the chair – all ready to snuggle under.

I’m craving about a 6-month hiatus from work. Gee, do you think my work folks will sign off on that?
I hope everyone is having a lovely week, with enough quiet time to keep you sane.
The image is from here.

Let me live here

I got this gorgeous image from a blog I enjoy, and it just grabbed me. Actually, I would like to take her walking tour, exactly as she laid it out. Then, I’ll move into this house. I want to sit in that chair for like 4 hours and just sit. Maybe there’s a fire to the right. Maybe there’s a cat just waiting to jump in my lap as I sit.
What would we do without our imaginations?
Image: [8 Fitzroy Street Vanessa Bell (Eastbourne)]

A new year is here

Today makes day one of a clear-headed New Year. I know we're 10 days in, but it feels like the first day to me. What would we do without antibiotics? Though it's been a decade since I took them, boy oh boy, they sure were needed this time.

Enough "cold talk," does anyone have any resolutions?

Just one of those days

“For it is in giving that we receive.”
~ St. Francis of Assisi

For all those out there who are in need…people, dogs, cats, the tiniest bug. Sending a little prayer that they get what that thing is, in time to make a difference. Sending love and more love, to a universe of souls.

Happy new year

There should be something more lively to tell you to kick off a New Year post other than I’ve had a cold since December 20th. But my head is so full of snot (sorry), that I can barely think straight, let alone breath out a nice happy greeting. There were a few days of reprieve, but I’ve generally been sick now for about 20 days. Ten more makes a month. I emailed my doctor tonight.
A few holiday highlights…
Me, in my new orangey-red coat (a gift to me from me) for pre-Christmas. We went to the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe for lunch with Mom and Dad on New Year’s Day.

I got to kiss the forehead of a pygmy Nigerian goat, while visiting with friends in Florida at Bennett’s for donuts and coffee. Little Lazarus is on the lap of my dear friend, Gail. He was named this because he was born dead, but the guy who owns him massaged his chest for 20 minutes and got a slow heartbeat, then faster, and then “meeeeeehhhhh-hhhhh-hhhhhh,” the wee Lazarus rose from the dead.

Little L. on Gail’s lap, nearly asleep.

All us girls at Goat and Donut Fest, most from high school, all dear friends. From L to R: Christine, Melanie, Gail, Patzi, and me.

A stroll through Adelaide’s florist in La Jolla over the holidays never fails to serve up the holiday goods…

A riot of ornaments on this tree…

Today’s banana bread, part two…is below. I say part two because, the first thing you need to know is my baking is usually inedible. I don’t know what it is, but I mess up so many recipes. Last night I decided I’d make a batch of banana bread and put them in these adorable, rectangular paper baking containers. I’d had them for a while and decided I’d bake them up, taste one, and if they passed the taste test, I’d give them out. Lucky people that didn’t have to eat those. James and I tasted one, and we both spit the bite into the trash at the same time. All you can do is laugh. They were mushy and awful. From the way that bite looked before we tried it, it was pretty obvious it was going to be awful. Not cooked long enough? Who knows. Today I went to my go-to source. This site is tried and true (Simply Recipes). And it turned out great!

Peace, love, and good banana bread,
Robin

Portland Travelogue, contd.

One of the first things we did in Portland was to stop by Washington Park. It was raining (I won’t keep saying that because it applies to all of the days we were there) and pretty cold, but we explored the park in all its green, lush splendor. We saw a blue spruce in the middle of this green field of grass. It looked otherworldly. The international rose test garden was vast. There were blooms in the rose garden, albeit soggy. Must go back.

The gorgeous doorway of the Tiffany Center building.

Shiny streets, freshly washed down with rain.

The van in this picture, as only Portland can provide.

Most amazing bookstore ever.

Election Day

And it's a nail-biter! Here I am at the neighorhood polling site, just around the corner from our house. Peace, y'all.

Birthday in Portland

For my birthday this year, the hubs threw out, “hey, y’wanna go to Portland for your birthday?” To which I replied, “Yes!” I’ve been so curious about the city for so long, for reasons like: the Portland-based blogs I read, like this one and this one; a friend who was born there and went to college there; and of course the show Portlandia that spoofs so many things I consider regular life, like: asking the provenance of a part of your dinner (um, not to this degree, but…), loving owl and bird-inspired stuff and micro brewed beer, and that 1890s look--and so many other things that are so Portland.
So, go we did, and had lots of fun, most of which included eating and drinking, and dodging rain drops—of which there were many.
Below, a tabby sighting on a little side street near Tasty n Sons.

Off the plane early (9 a.m.), and straight to Tasty n Sons, a restaurant that was recommended and serves up some amazing brunch fare. The coffee was great, but what about the little bottle for the cream. Cute factor times ten.

I had the Fried Egg & Cheddar Biscuit with smoked sausage. I left my vegetarian tendencies at home and went for it. That biscuit was incredible. Flaky, herby, cheddary goodness.

James had BBQ Chicken Hash with onion sour cream and an over easy egg. We stabbed the egg pre-photo.

But, we didn’t stop there. We had brunch dessert: a Chocolate Potato Doughnut with crème anglaise. And, yes, we did sop up every drop of that pool of deliciousness that the doughnut was sitting in. We shared it—that wasn’t easy. Hey, wait, you’re taking an extra crumb!

And that was just breakfast. More updates to follow. I don’t want you to get too full.
Peace, love, and Portland,
Robin