It has been a bittersweet season in Connecticut, with the loss of the children and teachers in Newtown. We are reminded through them of what matters most -- each other. So I hope that wherever you spend Christmas, that you will be surrounded by those you love, with lots of good food, laughter, and happy memories. May you experience the peace and hope of this season, and may we all have a bright new beginning in 2013.
It seems like ages since I've seen a meme on a knitting blog. Ms. Musings (not a knit blogger) tagged me for one that I almost missed, but I thought it would be a fun midweek post.
1. How do you mark the end of the week and the beginning of the weekend?
Sleeping in on Saturday morning, followed by breakfast eaten at the table (not standing up at the island). Or, breakfast with Chris at our favorite pancake place.
2. What is your idea of luxury?
An afternoon with a good book, a cup of tea, and our cats. Time at a day spa. Being able to hire someone to do the home improvement projects we can't do ourselves. A vacation outside of our normal driving range.
3. Tell me a book, a drink and a food that all complement each other.
English cozy mysteries like the Daisy Dalrymple series, tea, and scones or blueberry muffins.
4. What is one thing you love about the house (flat, apartment, yurt, whatever) you live in, and one thing you would change?
I love that our house is a mile from the ocean, and that we have large-sized rooms so our furniture isn't crammed against the walls. One thing I would change is our master bathroom, an afterthought where the sink is outside of the shower and toilet like a motel bathroom. Maybe this was popular in the 80s? I dream of a whirlpool tub, with toilet *and* sink inside the same walls. Someday.
5. What is something about yourself that you have made peace with?
I'm an introvert. I've mostly made peace with the fact that large groups of people, and talking with anyone I don't know well, are always going to be challenges for me. And even if I'm with a large group of people I know well, it's going to wear me out after a while. "Working a room?" Eek.
6. If you’re browsing in a real world bookshop, what will make you pick up a book that you’ve never heard of by an author you aren’t familiar with?
If the cover has an ocean scene, or fantastic nature photography, I'll definitely pick it up. And almost always discover that the plot has nothing to do with the cover image, and is nothing I would ever want to read.
7. If you could (or do) have it your own way, what’s your decorating style? (Plain, floral, girly, austere, classic…?)
This is hard to answer, as I'm going through a style transition right now. I used to like formal dark furniture, lots of vintage accessories and knicknacks. I think I'm moving toward Domino-magazine-meets-beach-cottage with vintage accessories. I like light walls with the mirrored Regency dresser, white wood furniture (but not the chipped paint stuff/shabby chic!), an antique lamp, and those bleached gray/white wooden floors with a light wool rug on top. It's lighter, more simplified, but still a little on the formal side.
8. What never fails to cheer you up?
My cats when they are especially loving or goofy, a hot, sunny day, or a new skirt/top/dress I fall in love with when shopping. I don't shop very often, but there's something about a new piece of clothing that seems like it was designed for me that can change the whole course of my day.
9. What are you going to do when you retire that you don’t have time for now?
More reading, writing, knitting, gardening, art lessons, cycling, learning Italian, learning piano, volunteering again at a cat shelter, traveling, yoga...
New columbine plants for my garden. I have a little garden now, but when I retire, I hope to have a much larger one, and have vegetables too.
10. Given the chance, which house in literature would you move into, and why?
The English country house in The Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie (the Joan Dixon version on TV). It has an amazing garden, and a path down to the sea. Heaven.
11. What don’t you wear, not because it doesn’t suit you, but because you don’t think you’re the type of person who wears that style/colour/a poncho?
I'm not good with sports clothes -- I only wear my yoga clothes to yoga, and when I wear sneakers out with my jeans (esp. if my foot is sore and it needs the padding), I feel extremely uncomfortable. I wish I were the sporty type to carry them off, but I'm not.
I'm not going to tag anyone; feel free to answer the questions on your blog, and if you do, let me know! If you don't have a blog, please share in the comments below.
We hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful holiday filled with joy and peace, lots of good food and laughter, and armloads of flowers.
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas or Hanukkah with your family and friends.
It was sunny and unusually warm here -- not a snowflake in sight -- so it didn't feel quite like Christmas. We had a quiet day with family members, lots of good food & conversation, and some generous gifts.
Lilly Pulitzer is one of my favorites; from time to time I post things here with her prints on them. Chris surprised me with a Lilly yoga mat, and a pair of fun watches. His brother gave me a book with recipes and ideas for yearly holidays.
Other books I received were from two mystery series I follow. The Haunted Bookshop mysteries have a ghost detective, Jack Shepard, who lives in and haunts Penelope's modern day bookshop. He died in the shop in the late 1940s while on a case, and speaks and acts just like the detectives in the films from that period. He can't get past some of the modern notions, like bottled water, but he has a crush on Penelope and helps her to solve the murders in her town. These could be lame, but they are very well-written.The other two mysteries are from the Crimes of Fashion series. Lacey Smithsonian is the fashion reporter for a D.C. newspaper, who constantly tries to move beyond fashion into current events. These events turn out to be related to murders, which get her into trouble with her boss Mac (until of course, she brings more attention, and readers, to the paper).This is another series that could be lame, but often unfolds into unbelievable adventure.
The stretching book wasn't a gift, except to myself. You know how that is -- you're shopping for gifts for others, and then you find lots of things you like! It's arranged by sections of the body (neck & shoulders, back, hips, upper & lower legs, etc.) and has stretches for every kind of sport and/or injury. The diagrams show where the muscles are and how they are used in each of the stretches, so if you have a particular injury, or just woke up with a sore neck or back, you can slowly and safely stretch things out. I bought this book to help with the bursitis in my hip. Last year at this time I started a cycling fitness program, and by week three, had aggravated my hip/IT band too much to continue. I've figured out that before I try that again, I need to get the muscles much looser, one of my goals for the new year. I'll write about them more in my next post.
What were your favorite or most useful gifts? What goals will you strive for in 2012?
I hope you have a happy, healthy new year filled with blessings!
We hope you and your loved ones have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a peaceful, joyous season of health and good fortune!
I first heard of Lilly Pulitzer back in the 80s, when she was featured in The Official Preppy Handbook. (Yes, I still have my copy). At that time, I rarely saw her clothes available in shops, and the company hadn't branched out to things like paper goods or linens yet. But every once in a while, while on vacation, I'd see someone wearing a sundress or skirt that I knew must be Lilly.
The cheerful prints and bright colors called out to me, and I wanted a skirt or dress of my very own "someday." Unfortunately, Lilly's things tend to be in the designer category, and since I could only really wear them in the heat of summer around here, I saved my splurges for other things I would wear mostly year round.
A couple of months ago, some friends and I were checking out a new consignment shop. The store owner had a number of designer things, some with the tags still on. I asked about Lilly, and she said to check back in March and April. Look at what I found!
This has only been worn once or twice, and is of a longer length I can wear. Some of the newest Lilly skirts are too "mini" for me. I love the scalloped hem, and "Lilly" hidden inside the pineapples. I can't wait until it ever warms up around here, so I can put this on with a T-shirt and a pair of sandals. And maybe it needs a hot pink knitted cardigan for the inevitable air conditioning?
When Lilly started making clothes in the 1960s, she definitely wasn't a designer. She bought inexpensive fabric and sewed her own wash-and-wear clothes, like so many people on Etsy. It makes me wonder who on Etsy may be the Lilly or Amy Butler of tomorrow?
If only Target would strike a deal with the Lilly people, and put some of her prints on things the way they did for Orla Kiely or Liberty of London! And while they're at it, if they could also talk to the Laura Ashley and Cath Kidston people and bring back some of that rose chintz...I can dream.
Thank you for your kind comments on Rainy. I took her for an ultrasound this week, to rule out anything terrible going on in her abdomen. Thankfully, "everything looks good." (direct quote from veterinarian). He advised against anything further, unless she were to have more seizures, which she hasn't had. Paws crossed that it was a one-time incident, and that she'll start gaining weight too. We may be the only people who consistently have an underweight cat!
Have a relaxing weekend, and if you are Italian American like me, Happy St. Joseph's Day! Enjoy your zeppole!
Thank you for your Christmas wishes. I hope everyone had a wonderful day and received lots of happy surprises.
It wouldn't be Christmas for me without books, and I was not disappointed.
While sick (I got a sinus infection for Christmas too!!), I finished the newest Seaside Knitters Mystery, A Holiday Yarn. I am now on page two or three of Love's Shadow, but am looking forward to all three Bloomsbury books. They are like Persephone Books; out-of print titles by mostly British authors with cool graphic covers. I think the writing is smart and witty, similar to The Uncommon Reader or Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.
Chris and my sister L also treated me to some art supplies. After not "doing" art for a long time, I started to pick up the pencils again this fall, and am hoping to spend some regular time in 2011 with the practice books and travel sketching set in the photo below. I especially love the manikins, used to practice sketching the body in natural poses. I'm having fun arranging them on my work table. After I took the photo, I turned them into ballet dancers. They need fun names!
Not only am I inspired to draw, but I've also really missed knitting and have been working little by little on my skirt:
I know it doesn't look like very much progress, but on size 3 needles with fingering weight yarn, it's taking forever. I am determined to finish!
What did you receive for Christmas that inspires you? And what are your goals for 2011? I'll share some of mine next post. Happy New Year!
Tim and Rosie wait to open the kitty present: Purr Pads!
Our little tree and train set
Our bigger tree and bigger train set, and Tim, who is waiting for the Santa Kitty.
We hope you have a very Merry Christmas! Happiness, Health, and Peace to everyone in the New Year.
photos by Chris
To My Dear and Loving Husband
Anne Bradstreet
1612-1672
If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee;
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought love but love from thee, give recompense.
Thy love is such I can no way repay,
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let's so persevere
That when we live no more, we may live ever.
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