Last weekend husband and I watched “River and Tides,” a film on the work of artist Andy Goldsworthy. Twigs, leaves, icicles, and thorns. Water and stones. These are the materials of his sculptures. The icicles and leaves last but a few hours in the sun and wind. A fistful of crushed rock explodes into color […]
Last week son the older and I watched a French film, Les Choristes, a story about a music teacher and a boarding school. This week the soundtrack arrives in the mail. That evening son the older fills the kitchen sink with water, then puts on the CD, cranks up the volume, and, lyric sheet on […]
Yesterday the weather turned warm (again). I went out on the front porch to find sunlight glistening on the grass. I fetched a pair of scissors and cut a single rose from the corner bush and a curve of rosemary that had started to bloom. Back inside I gathered my silver tray, some incense and […]
Last night we had guests over for son the younger. I hand out glow sticks and they rush out the door, into the dark of a late winter evening. Whoops of excitement fill the air. It grows quiet as they head down the block. Moments later they return. Glow sticks blue, green and orange are […]
Tuesday night I went to a women’s new moon celebration. I came almost straight from work but arrived very late. I did take time to put on a saffron shalwar kameez, with turquoise and purple embroidery at the hem of the bouffant pants, a sheer purple and silver skirt, and a belt of silver jingles. […]
Saturday friends come to dinner. I make a fish curry; Elizabeth a pound cake with grilled fresh pineapple and a brown sugar rum sauce, the pineapple a perfect complement to the spicy fish. I wear a jeweled “bindi” on my forehead and jeweled sandals on my feet. I listen to Indian music as I cook. […]
It warmed up nearly 30 degrees overnight. This meant that the morning was foggy. When I went out to get the paper, the street light, a replica of the old-fashioned gas lights, glowed softly behind the neighbor’s tropical plant. Three palm-like trunks silhouetted against a yellow mist, their leaves dangling like swords. This morning was […]
Today I bought some freshly baked palmiers, a heart shaped cookie of many buttery layers, a crisp confection that never fails to remind me of Paris. I whip heavy cream into soft peaks, adding powdered sugar and strawberries. This rosy mousse I ladle into white ceramic dishes, the ones I use for creme brule and […]
The cold wave continues and I find it hard to change out of my fleece jammies. They are in fact my dance pants but since they have little white lambs on them, it is clear someone thinks they are jammies. I make a coloring page with a bear in a tutu and type on it […]
This morning I woke to the sound of rain. An irregular but continuous stream of water hits my back deck. At my feet, the black cat stretches, jumps lightly down to the floor, and makes his way into the kitchen. I make my way too, to the other side of the bed, where I throw […]