The Japanese Years

(Grandpa)

How exciting for me to see these color slides sent from my aunt of their time in Japan!  We've always had these two lacquered books full of black and whites my Grandpa (an avid photographer) captured.  Seeing their life in color knocks my Asian slippers right off! 

(My dad)

Father-dear, a wild guy, and always the smallest in class.  Although he hated moving around, he loved Japan.  Still to this day it was his favorite place they lived.  Years later he still can speak some of the Japanese he learned when he went fishing with the villagers for some extra cash.

(Newborn uncle, "The little peach boy")

My uncle was born in Japan and was a citizen until he was 18.   A huge baby, the local paper called him "Little Peach Boy Monteforte."  I love the bottom picture of my grandma and him sleeping on the tatami rugs with the bento box nearby.

My favorite of the lot, Grandma and Aunt Kathy:

Hope you like them! I'll be posting more of these and some of the beautiful black and whites soon!

One Less Egg to Fry

I wonder what Anita Loos and Cecil Beaton would talk about at the beach?  This isn't the most flattering picture of her, but wow was she amazing!  I like to think there was a lot of heavy talking like that going on this weekend, but there was a lot of swimming, laughing and getting sand stuck in our suits instead.  I'm positive they did some o' that too!

"Play Misty for me, would ya?"

Soul mate, codename: Lulu Lockwood, is coming up this weekend for an overall relaxing, beaching, hair do-ing, 70's (her) or 30's (me) movie watching weekend.  Also the Italian side of my family I rarely see is coming up.  Should be interesting.  Lulu promises fur bikini and fake eyelashes through Sunday.

I can't figure out which of the above is which?

Tell it like it is.

I love when she reaches her finger into the glass to get some fresh ice for her drink.  I AM her!

For the Homestead (in Afrika)

I'm in the middle of a taxing imaginary buying trip for my ranch in...(spins globe)...Botswana! My eyes were only half closed.  I can't wait for you all to visit me!

Amazing images from Frank Features, South African editorial agency.

For those who dream of having a farm in Africa...

If you know anything about me, you know that...

The 1920's + Africa + Adultery (I jest) = Perfection!

...So when Tavarua recommended The Bolter to me I couldn't resist.   It tells the fascinating story of a Idina Sackville, known for leaving her husband and two young children and moving clear to Africa.  Nancy Mitford characterized her in Love in a Cold Climate and The Pursuit of Love. Greta Garbo played her in the silent film, The Green Hat. A monster you must be thinking as did I.  As did the the writer, Frances Osborne, Sackville's great-granddaughter.

But when you read what Osborne uncovered reading through family journals, you find out what really was behind her leaving.  Your blood will boil in defence of her and your heart will break. 

Without giving too much away, she was an amazing lady.  When she moved to Kenya, she built a grand home, Clouds, overlooking the Rift Valley.  She would ride her horse and work all day on the farm barefoot in corduroys, then show up to a party wearing the latest Paris Couture flawlessly.  She was in constant search for love, but never seemed to love anyone as much as her first, Euan Wallace, the father of the two boys.

Karen and Bror Blixon were mentioned throughout, as were the other unique characters of the Happy Valley set.

Like all biographies they always end in death, and this one really devastated me.  I didn't want it to end!  Read it.  Then call me and we can cry about it together.

Grow old along with me.

"Grow old along with me!

the best is yet to be..."

-Robert Browning

Sad News

Today my companion for the last 18 years, a dachshund I youthfully named Petals has been laid to rest.

Although, in actuality I was her "parent" she always seemed to be the mother.  She would walk me to the school bus every morning and pick me up. My mom found this book in a dollar store and said it was too perfect.

I don't want to work myself up again, but it's a sad day to see someone you've seen daily die.  I can comfort myself with her being without pain and at rest.  

Reason 666 why European magazines are better than American:

• This 70's Cacharel looking photo shoot for Marie Claire Italia.  (Also by Wendy Bevan)

I'm pretty sure the last 18 times I've looked at our Marie Claire, Rachel Ray was on the cover.

-Do yourself the favor and have a viewing of the entire shoot hither-

Reaching for the Moon

Wendy Bevan's video is totally how when a young lad, I imagined my life would be when "I grew up." 

I can't wait to grow up!

Bring me her heart.

I think this image hath lulled me out of my slump!

via Souvenirs of a Girl

Yes, deer

The other night I had the most vivid dream I was riding a mossy deer with antlers made of peacock feathers.  One can't find pictures of such creatures often, but I stumbled on this one today and thought it a good substitute. 

 Found by way of Portland blogger, Color Collective.

The Snows of Kilimanjaro

For the first time I've had this thing, I seem to be having a sort of writer's block or bloggers block, I can't say I'm a writer. 

Several things have been keeping me busy, working on my garden, work period, running again, learning how to fly-fish, etc. so I guess that's my excuse.  Does that work?

This time of year I want to throw all technology into the sea and work in the yard in my underwear, forgetting the neighbors can still see me.

We're working for a man who looks JUST like Ernest Hemingway at this age.  Even his interests are the same!  His writing came up the other day (after my proding) and I mentioned the two were doppelgangers. 

He said that was the best compliment anyone has ever given him.

Hortulus Decorus

I've been holding off on doing this post. I know none of you care, but let's talk about my garden!

It looks just like this!!!

(Not at all actually)

The terracotta urns are doing quite well, the moss has taken and the ferns are giganticus.  The dichondra took well too, and is oozing its way down to the ground.  The escargot rex begonias look like an under-the-sea creature! A friendly old fella (ask ANYone questions!) told me to prune my rose bush RIGHT NOW, back in early May. I want to send him a bouquet of my most bodacious looking roses.  What a difference!

On the "potted eating things from seed experiment", the mesclun grew like a pubescent boy as did the nasturtiums, but the basil is still lagging behind.  I haven't given up, but let's say there is a bigger, bolder bought basil on the other side of the deck away from view. 

The perennials are quite well, thank you, but are such independent thinkers I let them do their own thing. 

I also let the wild rose go a little crazy, as with this viney thing, which now is blooming the most beautiful flowers!

-Drum Roll-

Reader(s) of this blog, know how I've bitched and moaned about my lavender not growing.  I'd ask many an experienc'd gardener, and they'd grab their stomachs, roll their heads back and guffaw at me.  "Lavender?  In New England?!  Nearly impossible."  Some were friendly and say add lime.  I read to add gravel.  I did all this, along with singing songs at bedtime, playing cat's cradle and watering with my salty tears. 

 But I felt it was no use.  Until...I came back from my trip.  I threw my suitcase down, ran outside and looked down on it.  It's no use!, it looked all ratty and grassy.  And yet I wonder, I thought.  Ratty?  Actually rather verdant...and that's not grass, those are the stems to the THOUSANDS (OK tens) of buds!!!  Not only that, the lavender hath grown in girth and might!  It's....a BUSH! 

So that's that for now...bear with me.  As aan amateur gardener any little improvement is so exciting for me.

 And for the record, when I have children, they will be the only smart ones in the Universe.

The Sculptor and the King

by George de Forest Brush

What a name and what a painting!?  (Although somewhat inaccurate.)  Left me in awe.

I had too much to dream last night...

Nathaniel was playing this song when I was in Portland, and I couldn't stop playing it over and over.  Perfect for those foggy Pacific Northwest mornings driving around in an old gold Volvo.  This picture, which has been saved to my hardrive for about two years, kept popping into my head.  Have a listen and try not to fall in love:

{Thank you Lenaya putting this song on a CD for Anzie, who then let Nathanial borrow it, who then played it for me}

Kötzschenbroda Express

Oh Weimar Berlin...I love thee.