Masochism

Why do I torture myself by looking at Anthropologie?

I love this quilt!! It would look fabulous in my bedroom. It would not look fabulous on my bank balance.

By the way, their Spring clothes are out too. Go. Look, if you must.

Jill Sprat and Her Hubby

"Jack Sprat could eat no fat
His wife could eat no lean
And so betwixt the two of them
They licked the platter clean"

Only in my house it's the wife who can't eat fat. This morning, I discovered that the chicken that I had roasted in the Romertopf had been divvied up into two containers by my husband. One was labeled, "White Meat" and the other, "B's Dark Meat, Fat, Skin, & Connective Tissue." As much as I love him, I almost gagged.

Granted it could be a trick. There could be German chocolate truffles in that box and no power on Earth would persuade me to open it marked as it is.

How about you? What puts you off your feed?

Prayers

Update (8:00 AM Wed.): Liz's family is fine. The town did get hit by a tornado though. Still not getting a lot of information on the news about it.

It's been a hard night in our corner of the world. A series of storms passed over the state this evening. For those of you who read Liz's blog at Mabel's House I ask you to keep her family in your prayers. There is reason to believe her hometown was hit by a tornado. Unfortunately, the phones are down and there is very little information coming out of the area so it is hard to know the extent of the damage. As soon as I know more, I will update.

The news is consumed with Super Tuesday, and right now I couldn't care less about politics.

Of gluttony and painting.

I was thinking about the poem I posted yesterday and hoped that no one took me too seriously. While it is true that there is no "all-you-can-eat" in Europe, I don't know that it is such a good thing that we have it here. There has been many an evening when I wobbled away in gluttonous shame from the buffet at the Chinese restaurant near my home. I've got a weakness for fried drumplings that borders on vice.

My latest artistic endeavor is taking shape. The bad weather last week had prevented me from buying the canvas I needed, but last Friday the heavens relented and I was able to get started. I ended up downsizing from my original plan, partly because the canvas would have been too expensive and partly because I was intimidated. 30" X 40" is still a respectable size.

It's been ages since I last painted. Rediscovering the feel of the paint brush, remembering how to layer color, and the calm of being focused on a single task has been a joy. I've got a long way to go, but I feel like I've made a sold start.

Travel warnings for the picky.

traveling abroad

there is no "all-you-can-eat"
in europe
my sources have confirmed

such a shock to hear
to imagine
the lonely buffet
shabby in its offerings

nothing like the cornucopia
of gaudy delights
the choices
the temptations
enjoyed and consumed
by insatiable palates

there is no "all-you-can-eat" in europe
so you better eat all you can here

september 19, 2000
mrs. fox

Stupid Groundhog (grumble, grumble)

So, Phil saw his shadow. 6 more weeks of winter. I think there's a conspiracy - darn rodents just want to hibernate longer.

If you're interested in new food combinations this Food Pairing guide should be hours of fun. I'm not suggesting you start your day with a grapefruit and licorice breakfast beverage but it does certainly open your eyes to new possibilities. Salmon baked with a grapefruit, mustard glaze sounds pretty tasty to me.

Almost forgot, I started a painting for that big blank wall . I treated myself to new brushes and beautiful tubes of paint this weekend. I'm a bit rusty but the fingers are starting to remember how to paint.

photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/annemiel/

Fabulous Friday!

The dashing gentleman to your left is Thomas Lister, 4th Baron Ribblesdale. In this portrait by John Singer Sargent Lord Ribblesdale is shown elegantly dressed for the hunt. The warm tones are inviting and yet the spartan background and the subjects demeanor definitely give an austere sense of removal from the viewer.

Thomas Lister was the last of the Barons Ribblesdale. Both his sons died in service to the Crown, the eldest in the Somaliland Campaign and the youngest during WWI.

Lord Ribblesdale had three daughters, two of whom have living descendants. His fourth child, Laura, married Simon Fraser, 14th Lord Lovat and the 23rd Chief of the Clan Fraser. His youngest daughter, Diana, married the 14th Earl of Westmorland.

Wishing you a cheerful weekend!

P. S. Keep your fingers crossed on Groundhog Day!!