Friday Friday the 13th

Scary!

"Winter" is over

The cold spell is like a distant dream, and it's all over now.

Now we're getting lots of sunshine and fresh air.


(Friday spotted a pelican.)

Weather here

While those of you in the North are making snowmen, and Australia is scorching, here in Florida we're somewhere in between. We've had a good amount of rain, it's windy, and cold enough for us to have to blanket some of the trees & shrubs.

Normally, we don't need a mudroom, but definitely could have used one this morning.

Silly me, I let him in.

Best in Category, "All-American"

Griffin and I were watching the Eukanuba Dog Show this weekend and he got all excited and said, "We should enter Friday!"
I thought it was funny and cute, but it kind of makes me sad, too!!

Our Favorite Books II - Kate's greats

My friend Kate is a super-reader, and she's very much like an English heroine from a favorite novel come to life. She likes to write; takes long walks along windswept landscapes; travels the world on adventures; and is surrounded by adorable animal characters, like "Uncle Bob" the Jack Russell, and "Chippy" the chipmunk. Add to this her dashing husband, and the fact that she is a teacher beloved by children, and, well, it almost seems as if I'm making her up!
Take a look at her beautiful photographs on her blog, It's the Norm, but first, check out her booklist.

Kate's Favorites
OK, here goes...
This has been quite a challenge! Rob and I discussed this late into the night, pondering how one could/should define the important books in one's life. I'm not sure that the list I have eventually settled on is an accurate representation of the books that I generally read, but after much deliberation I think that these are the books that have somehow changed me, be it in my outlook, my opinions or my lifestyle.

'The Twits' by Roald Dahl (illustrated by Quentin Blake)
I'm starting with a book that has been with me for the majority of my life. I must have read it first when I was about 7, and I am reading it at the moment to my current class of 6,7 and 8 year olds. There's something very special about watching the captivated faces and riotous laughter of small children and being able to recall feeling the exact same way about the exact same book 25 years earlier. Timeless comic genius from the Dahl/Blake partnership.

'I Capture the Castle' by Dodie Smith
I consider myself fortunate to come from a family of keen readers, and this is a book that I consider to be almost part of the family. It was a firm favourite of both my Grandmother and my Mother, and I remember the delight I felt when first reading it and realising that I loved it too; it seemed so right that I would. I was probably a similar age to Cassandra, the charming narrator, when I first read it, but I have read it again as an adult and been charmed anew. This book also spawned that rare thing, a film that lived up to the novel.

'Lady Chatterley's Lover' by DH Lawrence
As a teen I went through rather a Lawrence-phase, something I recall my English A-level teacher rolling his eyes over (rather rudely, I now think!), but this novel remained my favourite. I think it is probably a rather sweet way for a teenager to read about relationships and sex nowadays...

'Neither Here nor There' by Bill Bryson
Perhaps it's wrong that this is one of my choices from my University years... I mean, I studied English Literature and Classical Civilisation for heaven's sake! But this is one of the books which holds the strongest memories for me. I am naturally quite a 'home bird' but this book made me want to explore Europe and helped me to view the world with a certain sense of humour. Laugh out loud funny.

The Complete Short Fiction of Oscar Wilde
I wrote my University dissertation on this collection of Wilde's works. Many are little-known, overshadowed by his humorous plays, but these short stories move me every time I read them. Some are ostensibly for children, but are so multi-layered that they can be enjoyed by adults and children alike. I can never read The Selfish Giant without crying just a little at the ending. (Which baffles the children to whom I am reading! One day I hope they'll read it again and understand).

'How to Be a Domestic Goddess' by Nigella Lawson
I have been interested in food for as long as I can remember, but was a bit of a late-starter when it came to cooking. I spent many years feeding myself by cooking through instinct, and I remember when I first met my husband he was quite shocked that I rarely ever used a recipe. I love that I had that intuitive experience of cookery, but it was Nigella that opened my eyes to the joy of a good recipe, and a good recipe book. The rest, as they say, is history!

'Rough Music' by Patrick Gale
This was the first Gale novel that I ever read, and I have been trying - and failing - ever since to find one that lives up to it. I find it amazing that one man can write something that I find so sublime, and some things that I find so crassly awful. He is often labelled simply as a 'gay author', but this novel is such a beautiful weaving together of human relationships, gay and straight, and all set in a beautifully evoked English coastal setting.

'Animal, Vegetable, Miracle' by Barbara Kingsolver
This book changed the way I think about food. I remember this book every time I step into a supermarket or a greengrocer, and I think about where that food has come from and what is in season. I don't follow these ideals slavishly, but I think it's important to be aware of it.

'The Post-Birthday World' by Lionel Shriver
Shriver is one of my favourite novelists, a fairly recent discovery for me. This is one of the most perfectly-crafted novels that I have ever read, and kept me pondering for weeks, months, afterwards on the far-reaching consequences of our actions. Brilliant.

That's nine. And I can't do a tenth. In the running were 'By the Shore' by Galaxy Craze, 'The Red Tent' by Anita Diamant, 'The Way I Found Her' by Rose Tremain, 'The Time Traveller's Wife' by Audrey Niffenegger, 'An Equal Music' by Vikram Seth, 'The Odyssey' by Homer, 'The Nation's Favourite Poems' (a BBC publication). All special to me in one way or another, but I find myself utterly paralysed by the choice. But that's what I love about thinking about this kind of question - there's no 'right' answer, and I'm sure my answers will change as I discover more life-changing books!

Conversation at the lunch counter

Lady Sitting Next to Me: Are you humming?

Me: [pausing, thinks] Yes, I guess I am. I'm sorry, is it bothering you?

Lady: Well, sort of.

Me: Oh, sorry. I do that lately, I don't really know why.

Lady: Probably Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Me: Yeah, probably.

Our Favorite Books I ~ Ben 10

Last week, I read an interview with the writer Larry McMurtry, author of 29 novels, including the awesome 19th Century Western, Lonesome Dove (for which he won the Pulitzer prize). McMurtry, who owns a large bookstore in Texas, stated that he doesn't see a great generation of readers coming in nor coming up. He is, therefore, pessimistic about the future of our society's book culture.
His observations really bothered me, and I contemplated the interview all evening. I'm afraid he might be right.
The next day, I felt compelled to start asking my friends about their favorite books, and I wanted to share them here as inspiration. These are the people who (as much as they may love their iPhones and MP3s) are never without a book in hand, and with whom I love to discuss: "What are you reading?" The subject borders on the obsessive for me. I love to surf amazon, browse bookstores, and spy on fellow customers. I love looking at people's bookshelves, for the unspoken insights provided. When I first met Troy, I was impressed to find a worn copy of Les Miserables in his possession (especially as I'd only managed to see the musical) and discover that he was an ardent fan of Victor Hugo. Long live romantic heroism!
In an attempt at literary scattershot, prompted by Mr. McMurtry, and with hope for the future of book culture, I thought it a good idea to present book lists from the avid readers in my life. If you'd like to share your favorites, please email me!
We begin with the selections of my friend Ben, the creative genius behind The Love Bite. While he has traveled the world and lived far and away (now in Los Angeles), Benedict Mannix Johnson is an Australian through and through. As funny and wise as he is talented, he never ceases to make me laugh...or cry.

Ben's Favorites
I sat next to a pickled old journalist at a dinner once. Upon hearing that I was in retail, he more or less wrote me off. About halfway through the meal, he looked over, sneered, and asked, "Do you read?"
I replied that I could in fact read, the consequence of having a mother who had an artificial leg. She had been told by the nuns at school: "Read; it will take you places that your leg can't."
She passed this onto her four kids.
The pickled old bloke looked surprised, and then asked, "What are the 10 books that have changed your life? Not just the ones you like, but the ones that shifted your outlook or perspective."


To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Because Atticus Finch is the perfect role model, and because, in moments of conflict, it helps to 'walk a mile in someone's shoes.'

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
I picked this book up half a dozen times and put it back down. I could never connect with it. The journalist brought this book up in his list and the next day he gave me his copy, notes in margins and all, and I read it straight through and to this day I get tears in my eyes just reading the last page.

When We Were Very Young / Now We are Six by A.A. Milne
To be introduced to poetry as a child is a gift. to learn the rhythm, humour, and pattern of your language is like being taught to dance; it makes you nimble and graceful and a much better listener.

All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy
I had to put this book down 3, 4 times. It took me a year to read it. His writing is too brutal, but punctuated with moments of sheer beauty. There are passages that I would read. Stop. Read again and sigh. And in the end, I was overwhelmed by the sheer force of justice in it.

The Poems of Alfred, Lord Tennyson
In particular, "The Lotus Eaters" ('There is sweet music here which softer falls...'). I try to imagine this place when I need a refuge.

The Merry-Go-Round in the Sea by Randolph Stow
This is the first Australian writer that I loved reading and his story is so set in its place that it made me consider "how can anyone who wasn't born here appreciate this?" It's like looking at a snapshot and not being able to see what must continue beyond the four sides of the image. This changed the way that I read, or at least how I try and imagine the world beyond the page.

The Maffra Cookbook
This is the first cookbook that I ever read. It is the go-to book for any cook in my family. This is where I learnt that words could create food. And food has always been a motive for me!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory / James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Can there be a better instructor in the art of creative mischief?

The Odyssey by Homer
This book inspired me all the way through to an Arts Degree in Classical Studies.

The Pumpkin Eater by Penelope Mortimer
There is just something about this book, and by those other British women writers of this era. You read the books in a grainy black and white David Bailey vision. L. Reid Banks, Edna O'Brien. Their characters are trying so hard to find shape, form, permission and direction. That resonates beyond gender or generation.

Friday Friday

It's been a cold week. Good for snuggling with your favorite people and animals.

Valentine's Day is the new Christmas

Christmas was sort of a blur this year. Maybe because Thanksgiving was late, maybe because I was preoccupied, but I enter January feeling as if I've been steamrolled and left with amnesia.
Valentine's Day is coming up, and I think it's the perfect holiday to get into.

Venus & Cupid, Lorenzo Lotto

There's enough cushion-space that it's not going to take me by surprise -- I recognize that it is 26 days away, which is half the battle of any event. There's no religion involved, no real pressure to decorate or gift a thousand fringe people like the UPS driver (who, in my case, is so efficiently speedy I still have his Christmas card sitting by the door).
While it's true that some people will lament the lack of a lover, I maintain that we all have someone to love. I appreciate a holiday, symbolized by the heart, that exists solely to encourage the expression of love; the eating of chocolate; and the wearing of red, which happens to be my favorite color.

My mom had a dear friend with whom she exchanged valentines every year, and I have taken over the tradition with her. She's a great fan of all things vintage, so I'm looking for the perfect valentine to send her.
My other VD plans include making red velvet cupcakes, and participating in a romantic novel chain with some friends -- I can't wait to find out who "my person" is.
I'm eyeing this Blondie album for a certain special someone...

...and this book on all things Italian for someone else (me, ha).

But like JLo says, my love don't cost a thing, so while a small token of affection is lovely, the gift of love is priceless & perfect, and my Cupid's bow will be taking aim.
If you remain unconvinced, or are tempted to utter a pessimistic grumbling about a commercial/Hallmark holiday, your assignment is to go watch one or all of these films, stat, with a bowl of M&Ms nearby.




"Houseboat" with Cary Grant & Sophia Loren.

Cappuccino art XI

Great White Heron

Action!

Santa gave Wyatt a Flip camcorder for Christmas, and it's turned out to be one of the best gifts ever. The Flip is digital, simple, and straightforward, and it costs less than a Nintendo DS, which is what Wyatt was really lobbying for, but leaves certain parents feeling like they've just plugged their kid into The Matrix. Tempting, but hard to do w/a clear conscience.
Watching the boys make movies is endlessly entertaining to me on several levels. The recurring themes are SWAT, alien/monster attacks, mysterious disappearances, and government conspiracies. Lots of guns and some choreographed fight scenes.
As writer/director/actor, Wyatt has been given a natural focus for his inherent bossiness. At first, I thought Griffin would be the DeNiro to Wyatt's Scorsese, but I'm starting to see a little more Herzog-Kinski volatility between them.
The whole house is a giant set, and we've got lots of wardrobe, & even an animal wrangler (me).
Speaking of The Matrix...

A break in the action.

With a name like Harry and that navy blazer, I'm guessing he's producing this one.

F/X...

The Werewolf awaits his cue...

"Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown."

The charlotte finally graces our table

When I was in Montreal, Rachel tutored me in how to make a charlotte, and I was supposed to make this a month or so ago to prove I'd been paying attention. Finally, I got it done, and we ate it after fondue last night.

Rachel's recipe is from her friend's mother and is vrai French. There is no gelatin used, like in most of the recipes in our Madame Charlotte cookbook, and yet it sets up beautifully simply from chilling for a few hours.
The ladyfingers were soaked in a mixture of rum & water, and then the filling is a chocolate mousse made w/over 200 g. of bittersweet chocolate and four separated eggs -- whites whipped. It was very delicious and intensely chocolatey!
I think my teacher will be quite proud.

Happy New Year

"If every time it came to the New Year, you had to change everything, like buy new dogs, buy new cats, buy new clothes, buy new everything, that would be very annoying. I would hate to change everything, I like things this way, we have some very rare stuff."-Griffin

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve is here, and it's getting very festive at our house!

Yesterday I was in the kitchen w/a million eggs. Bûche de Fug...

Pav...

Now I'm off to the market to get everything for our supper.
Love to my friends around the world, and sleep well tonight, knowing the world is being protected from aliens by this band of brothers.

Merry Christmas!

So happy!

Just looking at these pictures calms me down.

Lucky loves so much to swim and romp around on the beach. Troy took him for a boat ride and then they combed the little island in the bay. I should have gone! But I was at home stressing about stupid stuff -- such a waste of time!
Lucky came home so content, and when I saw these pictures, I realized I'd made the wrong choice today (and so many days!). When will I learn?
It makes me happy to see my beautiful, loving dog -- who does nothing but give me happiness -- so happy!
Pure pleasure.

Haute water

The repair of our fridge coincided with the discovery of this beautiful Christian Lacroix-designed Evian bottle at Target.

Isn't it pretty? And so cold & delicious.
I remain committed to San Pellegrino (bit of an addict), but do have a weak spot for French luxury goods.

Friday Friday

The nutcracker.

Here's Friday frozen in an "Uh-oh" moment (that's similar to an Oprah "Ah-ha" moment) after frolicking with a hazelnut from the holiday nut bowl. He's not really sure about its legitimacy as a chew toy -- is he going to get a lecture?
Nah.
What he should be pondering is whether or not it's a great idea to wake me up at 3:16 a.m. to go outside on a Sniffabout.

Distillery update

Troy & his Dad have been working like madmen this month! Here's Jim working on the platform & stairs that they're building behind the tanks.


Lucky & Grif guarding the lumber.

Yesterday, Troy had his final interview w/the Feds in the process of being granted a license. If all goes well, we may have rum by January.

My hero!!

The fridge is fixed!!!!
I am SO happy.

Bad haircuts

Poor Bert & Ernie!
They got haircuts this morning. Bad haircuts.
Look at Bert's face: slightly traumatized. I think we've all been there.
The sad part is, I couldn't say, "Don't worry! It'll grow back!"
Ernie looks like the Marc Jacobs of Sesame Street.