N.M. to H.H.

22/1/70

"The bright hot sunshine comes mainly from my new servant Hassan (shades of James Elroy [Flecker]) who is literally first class cook & adorable man; & who, instead of standing over me & boring as the Belgian lady did, does his work and thinks silently about the desert..."

Nancy Mitford to Heywood Hill



Still from 'Julnar of the Sea,' a vaudeville production from 1919 starring Lillian Powell and Miles Smith, based on one of the tales from 'Arabian Nights.'  Found at the New York Public Library.

Aotearoa

Like Iceland, Bhutan, and Yap, New Zealand is one of those places I've always wanted to go to.  So imagine my surprise when I checked my Google Analytics (exciting and scary) and found that I have a following coming from New Zealand!  What an honor.  I dedicate this to you my faithful Kiwi folk.  Thanks for pissin' on my lemon tree!

Image:  Ville Miettinen

Del Cinema Muto

Pina Menichelli, Italian cinema star of the silent era, and inspiration for this weekends gala, where one knows not the location nor what to wear.  She will be my starting point.  Will I Cecil Beaton my eyes? 

ho trovato allo Stanza di Elena Muti

Hameau de la Reine

Somedays in the imaginary palace, villa, hut of our dreams, life can become very monotonous and tiresome.  The regalia, the gentry, the civility.  THE TEDIUM!

On days like these, I retire to my little hamlet, where "the chicken's are out," the milk's always fresh and life's always bucolic.  Now don your plebeian frock and join me.



photographs by pearled

Letters Between Six Sisters

"I had a letter from you & the Lady* & Henderson** today, wouldn't it be a dread if one had a) no sisters b) sisters who didn't write."

Deborah to Diana, 21 July 1965

*Nancy
**Jessica

The other day I checked out from the library, the tome, The Mitfords: Letters Between Six Sisters, and this lovely quote is on the opening page.  I've also been reading on and off Nancy Mitford and Heywood Hill's letters, so the thought of letter-writing has been really percolating in my coffee pot of a brain.  Why don't we write proper letters anymore?  A few of us send bits and bobbles of wit and curiosity to each other, but I think I'm going to start making time to write.  If you'd like a letter from the Hibernian Homme, do send me your address via email (the last time we'll interchange that way) and I will most assuredly send you a post!  For those of you already near and dear, ask your servants if you've recieved anything - you have.

George Tooker

Self Portrait

George Tooker, a painter in the Magical Realism style, a friend and contemporary to Jared French, Paul Cadmus and George Platt Lynes (my favorite) among others, and one of those people I wish I had the chance to meet and become friends with. 

Lunch

Sleepers

George Tooker photographed by George Platt Lynes

If you get a chance, take a look at the gallery HERE for more of his spectral work.

Icarus

Can't get this song by White Hinterland out of my head!  I think I found my November anthem.

photographer: Chad Pitman
model: Behati Prinsloo

(Thanks to the investigative mastery of Christina at Fashion's Most Wanted in helping me give credit where it was do! :) )