The essence of Saturday

It snowed last night. I awakened to a pristine, stark-white winter wonderland. We northeast Ohioans escaped with a mere 15 inches. Folks to the east of us, in the Mid-Atlantic region, got around two feet.

February 2010

I love a weekend blizzard.  It’s the perfect excuse to hunker down inside the cozy homestead, light the fireplace, listen to the footy, watch teen slasher flicks on the telly (as darling daughter is doing), cook up some comfort food, and waste time on the internet.

I was struck mid-morning by a spirit of weekend enterprise – a rare mood for me these days.  I decided to make the most of it by exercising my slightly atrophied culinary muscles.  I made beef stew with Guinness and spaghetti  bolognese, aka spag bol.  One recipe I consulted decreed that unless you’re using tagliatelle pasta it’s not authentic spag bol.  I went ahead and used capellini. I’m rebellious that way. Besides, bolognese is all about the ragu.

I am also allowing myself the luxury of doing a little online window shopping. Coveting is optional.

Vintage 1960s Rolex Oyster watch

How current is this gorgeous vintage dress?

1920s Paris meets Charleston.

Can't have enough of these!

Antique grain sack pillows

Rolex watch available at Ashton-Blakey Antiques.

Grey silk dupioni dress from this Etsy shop.

Room photo from William Means Real Estate.

Mantel arrangement by Jane Moore; photo courtesy of The Skirted Roundtable.

Pillows from 3 Fine Grains.

On writing (yes, again)

“I think the key to writing good stuff is not thinking about it. If you think about it, it’s not going to be magic.” ~Fran Healy

Upon reading a particularly delightful essay

I cannot even begin to imagine how dull life would be if God hadn’t given us words and language and the ability to express them through the written word.

Revelatory comment of the day

“I kept a diary at the age of 18, 19, 20. Several years ago, when I went back and read those journals, I was astonished. My memory of my younger self didn’t conform to the written evidence in my hand. We have a wardrobe of identities that we use on any given day. When you meet your mother-in-law, your boss or your rival, you slightly adjust yourself to fit that encounter.” ~novelist William Boyd in this WSJ piece.

Resigned comment of the day

“He told us we deserved to win. How is that supposed to make me feel? It makes me feel worse. He’s admitted he cheated. We should have won. He just said, ‘That’s it’. He just said he handled it, he didn’t mean it. Looking at it, it’s quite obvious he did mean it. It’s there for everyone to see and they’re not going to change it now. So what can we do? They’re going to the World Cup and we’re not. That’s it.” ~Ireland defender Richard Dunne on the Thierry Henry “Hand of God” goal in France’s 1-0 win over Ireland.

Wistful comment of the day

“What a charming vision of England,” says Walliams, waving to a skipper.  “You think England’s gone, lost for ever, then some nice people go by on their barge.” The skipper is heavily bearded and pullovered.  “Matt and I would say he’s got The Look. He looks like a character already.” ~David Walliams in his Times London  interview

Inspiring comment of the day

“I’m a striker in everything else I do.  I like to attack things and push, push, push.  Because anyone can do anything, can’t they? World War Two showed us that.  Bankers were made into commandos.  Women were taken from Cheltenham Ladies’ College and put on anti-aircraft batteries.  Everyone can do way more than they think.”

~ British actor/comedian Eddie Izzard

Pithy comment of the day (so far)

“Hoho, just you wait, Rod; a great horde of faux-Hibernian outrage is about to be unleashed in this comments section…” ~ Mr Eugenides in response to the following editorial in the Spectator:

To you Celtic Football Club, I say: Never!

Late August

“Let me enjoy
this late-summer day of my heart
while the leaves are still green
and I won’t look so close
as to see that first tint
of pale yellow slowly creep in.
I will cease endless running
and then look to the sky
ask the sun to embrace me
and then hope she won’t tell
of tomorrows less long than today.
Let me spend just this time
in the slow-cooling glow
of warm afternoon light
and I’d think
I will still have the strength
for just one more
last fling of my heart.”
- John Bohrn

Another goodbye

“While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him behind the veil.”

~John Taylor