Book
I was sucked into the Twilight vortex. Don't judge.
Music
Anything by Patty Griffin, especially this one:
Perfume
I wonder how many times I've listed Shalimar. I can't help it. But also anything and everything by DSH.
Makeup
Sunday Riley. The more I try the more I love her stuff.
Frequently Worn Item/Outfit
It's still not cold enough for a full-length winter coat, so I'm always reaching for my black short and belted belted LK Bennett one.
Food
Fried (brown) rice with lots of crispy vegetables, smoked tofu and peanuts.
Bane Of My Existence
A cough that will not go away.
Joy
Packages from dear friends.
Anticipation
A new Shins album (due in March).
Wishlist
Alexander McQueen flared wool sweater. Yes, I can wear this color.
Random Thought
Someone arrived at this blog today searching for "bellatrix lestrange nude". What would the Dark Lord say?
Today's special bonus is The Blond's Currents. And a recipe:
Book:
Finally got around to reading "The Help" and loved it. The use dialects and accents can often feel artificial and contrived but she does it beautifully. From the first sentence the world and characters just come to life.
Music
"All the night without love" from Elvis Perkins 2007 Ash Wednesday is a song I can't seem to get out of my head.
Perfume
Parfumerie Generale Cuir D'Iris is a recent acquisition and became a favorite this winter. Warm leather with cool Iris that is comforting but has an edge. The wife will claim equal ownership but it ended up on my side of the shelf.
Frequently Worn
Hats. Maybe the thinning hair has something to do with it, but I'm suddenly a hat person.
Food
Asian fried rice with tofu. It takes a bit more prep time (and fresh vegetables in the fridge) but the result is awesome. Not sure why I never tried it at home before. Short version of the recipe:
Into a Wok or a deep pan with few tablespoons of very hot peanut oil throw chopped ginger, garlic and chili flakes.
Stir for a few seconds and add a whole bunch of thinly diced or julliened vegetables (carrots, peppers, zucchini, snow or snap peas) and mix for a few minutes until the vegetables soften a little
Mix in some diced hard tofu (I also add some steamed Broccoli at this stage)
Add the pre-cooked rice and fry the rice a bit.
Add Soy sauce and roasted sesame oil to taste.
Bane of my existence
Winter is coming. We've been spared so far but we all know how this story ends. Snow in April.
Joy
My new RAZR is snappy and if I turn the LTE off gets decent battery life. Good piece of hardware.
Anticipation
I'll do this one in reverse. After more than 6 years of enjoying amazing food and company at 4 Course Vegan, Matteo is closing shop and starting a new place in Sonoma Valley. A trip to California is now a must.
Please share your loves, banes, recommendations and more!
Art: Butterfly by Deborah Klein (mine), Man With A Cat by Cecilia Beaux (his).
Pleasure/Bane: My new Nook Color. It was one that shipped with the outdated software, so getting it booted correctly took more angst than necessary. Also, it took quite a while, and a lot of tech support to get the WiFi aspect to work correctly. Other than that, I am really liking it; far more than I thought I would. It was a Christmas gift from loving, geographically distant family.
ReplyDeleteEating? Carbs, carbs, carbs. Gooder ones like whole grains, and badder ones like candy and real soda.
Clothing? A new pullover sweater in Cinnamon with grey and blue argyles.
Fragrance? Vintage Jicky EDP.
Song? At The Other End (of the telescope) by Elvis Costello, from the All This Useless Beauty cd.
Do Not Want-----the brutality of the upcoming Presidential campaign.
January's Book Group book? The Little Prince. Been years since I read it, and had forgotten not only how sad it was, but also how very French it was. Now trying to decide what to take for the potluck.....something French/ish? or something I cooked in the late 1970s, when I first read-encountered this book? (It has been equally horrifying, enlightening, and enjoyable to go through my food files from that time.)
Delight? My great-nephew (born 29 September 2011) will be bringing his parents to Ohio from Minnesota on the 19th of this month, and they are staying through the 23rd!
Confidential to Blond, Mr. Blond-
I like your list, thank you.
Lawrence from Ohio
Oh! Twilight is that kind of a phenomenon (I got sucked in some years ago and still can't believe it happened). :)
ReplyDeleteBane of my existence, all the parties that happened and the alcohol that went with them (and still does).
As for perfume, I'd have to go with Shalimar - my go-to evening perfume these days.
I'm anticipating/waiting for snow. It's supposed to be winter! And we are having spring. :(
Gaia, thanks for this great list, and thanks to Mr. Blond for doubling the fun.
ReplyDeleteRe the cough, I'm currently reaching for hypertonic saline nose spray to counter the parched air of winter and central heating. Also keep intending to get a dehumidifier for the bed room...
Guilty pleasure: Xerjoff exploration sets. Also adore the photos you post of Kate and Will.
A salad recipe from a yoga magazine: cooked spaghetti squash; orange, lime and lemon juices; lime rind; olive oil; sliced red sweet pepper; shredded carrot; dash of soy sauce; lots of toasted slivered almonds; chopped mint and cilantro.
Best wishes for 2012 ~~nozknoz
For your cough - try this foul-tasting/smelling old -fashioned concoction called "Buckley's." You can usually find or order it in drugstores - quite inexpensive and it really works! (I'm not affiliated with them in any way - but when I get a cough, it never goes away...)
ReplyDeleteY'all have such eclectic tastes ~ Oy, I always get boons when you do a Currently :)
ReplyDeleteBook: The Pacific by Mark Helprin ~ each story marinates with me long after and reveals an elemental truth ~ and, Helprin writes like an angel
Music: Pitbull (I've a mad crush)
Perfume: Making sillage recipes ~ a recent fave is Theorema, Kilian's plum masterpiece Dangerous Liasons, and JM Pomegranite Noir - my winter fruit heaven! I don't mix them, just wear them near each other and inhale in turn. Wowza Wowza
Frequently Worn Item: my very old black Ariat cowboy boots
Food: I didn't make it but I experienced rapture over the Pear and Gorgonzola Flatbread I ate at my birthday dinner ~ spiced pears on flatbread, smothered with cinnamon-sprinkled gorgonzola, with a rosemary sprig on da side - Oh! OH!! Complimented by the restaurant's finest Chardonnay - I nearly tore off my clothes, fled the restaurant naked, and burst into flames.
Bane: Well, I messed up a recipe yesterday and my house still stinks. Dammit. My nose must Always be Happy. Windows open, fans on, ... trying to be patient
Joy: When my cat Gwen goes love-crazy rubbing her ears on mine :)
Anticipation: a few drops of vintage Emeraude make their way to me ~ this was my grandmother's perfume, a widowed lady who ran an entire farm by herself well into her 80's ~ milked the cows, mowed the acres, harvested the corn, sweaty dirty work ~ and always kept a French 'sitting room' and a vanity with a bottle of Emeraude. My kindof lady. I haven't smelled this in 27 years.
Cheerz, all!!
Zanne :)
Lawrence, the joys of eReaders are life-changing. Between the immediate satisfaction of the instant download and no longer facing the problem of non-existent shelf space, I'm one happy bookworm.
ReplyDeleteInes, the weather is wacky here, too. But I can't say that lack of snow bothers me.
ReplyDeleteNozknoz, thank you for the cough advice and the recipe. It sounds delish.
ReplyDeleteNina, I'll have to seek those out. At this point I'm willing to sell my soul to feel better.
ReplyDeleteZanne, your comments are always a heart-warming pleasure. Thank you for reading and participating, and love to you and to Gwen.
ReplyDelete