Liszt and Lisitsa

Again, not me. But I have done 'La Campanella'. This performance of 'El Contrabandista' by Lisitsa is inspiring - and as near to perfection as I can imagine.

White Riot

  

The warmer weather has spawned the white riot above us. And immediately, this piece comes to mind, performed by the Empire Brass:

Funnily enough, this little ditty popped in there as well: White Riot.

Happy Saturday, rioters!   tIO x

"Like Ali in the Jungle..."

After downloading this song last week, it's gone to the top of my workout playlist. Time to start the week. Let's go.


Have at it, kids; here's to a wonderful week! (Hope your PT is going well, Ben.)   tIO x

Smooth Operator

"No need to ask." It's Sade: poetry wrapped in dulcet tones and red/hot/blue jazz. Her words carried me through humid summers and frigid winters in my youth. Listening again, I realise there was depth and truth in them that I could not have known then. But I hear it now and it's wonderful. Like a favorite book I've picked-up to read again and found that I'd skipped whole chapters.

In the interim, I have grown older (certainly) and wiser (thankfully). And I have lived. True, I may not have been to Somalia; but in my own way I have collected pearls by the side of the road. I have cherished the day. I have felt like the king of sorrows, experienced the sweetest taboo, and been implored to hang on to my love. And all-the-while wondering how I was going to make a living. It may sound all heart-break and loneliness, but I hear hope and courage. Optimism. With undertones of soundness of spirit. Perhaps I naturally inject a bit more humor into things, but still...  My heart warms when I hear that first song again:


Good Tuesday, blogfriends. Thanks for perusing this blog; blog you again soon.   tIO x

PS: Could I leave Sade alone without Spandau Ballet? No. My girlish memories forbid it.

"Good Day, Sunshine"

I awoke to this:

Which was followed quickly by this:

And then this appeared:

Sincere thanks to the lovely Town and Country Mom for the honor; I am giddy with delight! 'The Sunshine Award' is "awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspire others in the blogging world." How encouraging! And as received, my instructions now are as follows: 

1. Post the award on the blog.
2. Pass the award on to 12 fellow bloggers.
3. Link to the nominees in a post.
4. Let nominees know they have won this award by commenting on their blogs.
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you've received this award.

And so with delight I pass-along this award to the following engaging and inspiring bloggers:
CapeBags

Charlie and Sarah Blog

Collage of Life

Content in a Cottage

High Street Market

Home Girl

ModernJune

Pigtown Design

Pillar Box Post

Preppy Player

Social Climbers

Wellies Make the World Go Round

Have a good day, sunshines.   tIO x

From Where I Sit

Literally. Right now.


What are you looking at?

Today's conundrum: Is love a fancy or a feeling?
Future conundrum: 'Nude' stockings or bare legs?

Thanks for perusing this blog; blog you again soon!   tIO x

Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men

                          I heard the bells on Christmas Day
                              Their old, familiar carols play,
                                   And wild and sweet
                                    The words repeat

                        Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

                      And thought how, as the day had come,
                             The belfries of all Christendom
                                      Had rolled along
                                    The unbroken song
                       Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

                            Till ringing, singing on its way,

                      The world revolved from night to day,
                                     A voice, a chime,
                                      A chant sublime
                       Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

                      Then from each black, accursed mouth
                         The cannon thundered in the South,
                                   And with the sound
                                  The carols drowned
                        Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

                          It was as if an earthquake rent
                        The hearth-stones of a continent,
                                   And made forlorn
                                The households born
                       Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

                         And in despair I bowed my head;
                       "There is no peace on earth," I said;
                                 "For hate is strong,
                                And mocks the song
                       Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

                   Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
                       "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
                                The Wrong shall fail,
                                  The Right prevail,
                     With peace on earth, good-will to men."

                           Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

                             Happy Christmas from tIO x

Knee-deep in Stockings

Last night, The Grey Colt hosted its annual 'stocking competition' to a packed house of artisans, raffle-hopefuls, and various and sundry community notables:
    
Snap of my entry this year: (a chalkcloth, white-polka-dot-on-red oilcloth, and tartan ribbon stocking that, were I to make this again, would be pieced-together on the wrong sides and have the edges pinked)

Supplies via OilclothAddict

Wine was poured, hors d'oeuvres were passed, and a merry time was had by all!

Look for updates throughout the week as the voting continues. TTFN! tIO x

Mid-week Music: Downhere "How Many Kings"

We've reached the midpoint; let's celebrate with a captivating song-for-the-season from Downhere:

Is it just me or does Marc Martel sound like Freddie Mercury? (Just one of the reasons I'm captivated.)

So, turn it up - or slip the headphones on - and hit replay. And have a wonderful mid-week day! (Falalalala-la-la-la-la!)

Thanks for perusing this blog; blog you again soon! tIO x

Good Gravy!

With Thanksgiving upon us, I feel the need to share: I am enamored with gravy boats, also known as saucieres. In fact, any vessel with a spout, really, will capture my attention. Here are some beauties:

Match Pewter gravy boat, available at Manor Home & Gifts 

Emma Bridgewater "Polka Dot" gravy boat, available at Joanne Hudson Basics

19thC Tiffany Repousse Sterling Silver gravy boat, available through GoAntiques.com

Spode 'Stafford White' sauce boat and plate, available online at The Kitchen Clique

The 'Royal White Gravy Boat', available at Target stores and online

I hope these were inspiring; I can't wait to fill our 'boats' tomorrow!
That's all for now, lovelies. Enjoy your Thanksgiving! And know that I am thankful for you.

Today's conundrum: My mother, with the broken shoulder, is bringing seven pies to the meal tomorrow. Seven. Is she seriously baking from scratch today? And if so, how does one roll crust with the use of only one arm?

Future conundrum: Will this be the year that we get through Squanto and the football game without anyone falling asleep?

PS  A 'spouted vessel' bonus for your (or perhaps just my) enjoyment:
   "Tuscan pitcher" from Southern Living at Home
Red melamine mixing bowls from Nigella

Happy Thanksgiving! *tIO x

Finding Inspiration

Have you ever flicked through a magazine and encountered "the room"? The one that ticks the boxes and makes your heart beat a bit faster? That stays in your mind for years?

Mine was featured in the November 2003 Elle Decor, and technically is two adjacent rooms. And every time I have a design decision to make for my own home, these rooms come to mind: lacquered walls, coffered ceiling, fabric wallpaper, extended wainscoting, round table, covered chairs, painted cornicing, mouldings, and trim. And those floors.

Detail of the dining room

It almost makes me swoon. But I'm studying everything too intently to do that. The rooms were designed by the immanently talented Ellen Hamilton, president of Hamilton Design Associates in New York.

Even the shop front is clever and creative.

While the two rooms above hooked me, it was the designer's personality - and her shop windows originally full of Cath Kidston fabrics - that solidified my adoration. She seems thoughtful and gracious. And she carries a Bean tote:

Thank you for these gorgeous rooms, Ellen. My design fantasies are richer now - and include this beauty from you as well:

Because who doesn't want a treehouse?

Thanks for perusing this blog; blog you again soon!

PS: When you click-through to the Hamilton Design Associates site, be sure to read Ellen's description of the room she designed for the Hampton Designer Showhouse 2009, too. tIOx


All images in this post from Hamilton Designs Associates, 2009.

Time out for fun!

I need to take a sec to pay homage to Etsy and its founders. I abso-fabulously love the whole concept, and browse daily. I had not imagined that there are so many talented people - and all quietly doing their thing. Here are some of recent faves: (click the photo to see the designer's Etsy name)

Visit www. etsy .com for these and more wonderful inspirations!

Today's conundrum: How can the trees lose leaves and then know when to grow them back again?

Future conundrum: Will the Japanese beetles decimate our roses and hollyhocks again this summer?

Thanks for perusing this blog. Blog you again soon!

The first "post-game analysis"

Blogging, blogging. blogging. It can be a full-time job (not that I would know).

Here we are in the full bloom of May. Anyone else out there under water? My older son stated very matter-of-factly: "God must have plans for all of this rain. But do you think He wants to rain-out ALL of my games?"

We are a Little League family. Given my adoration of the sport, you must imagine how I feel when it hits me every game day that I have a Little Leaguer. Jubilation! I worried about what kind of sports parent I would be. Would I be the one screaming from the sidelines, or pacing behind the bench, or throwing the first punch?

I needn't have been concerned. I was raised by two people who love sports, and who, more importantly, are sportsmen. (PLEASE NOTE: Gender neutrality is observed in all TIO blogs.) My father was a coach - who also instilled a love of the game in his players. Do your best. Have fun. Run it out. Hustle on and off the field. Cut your hair and wipe the dirt off your lip. My mother was the consumate fan - who also kept those around her both informed of the count and the best stain removers and hand sanitizers. Cheer for your team. Never boo anyone. Bring snacks. Don't leave before it's over. They both believed in writing on home-run balls, hot showers for sore muscles, and rewarding effort with kindness and a pat-on-the-back - but rarely ice cream.

So where do I fall? I surprised myself. During the first game, I video-taped my older son's first Little League at-bat, which resulted in a run. I set-up chairs for my younger son and myself, and sat - cheering for each player on both teams - until the game was called for darkness. Then, as it was our turn to bring them, I got up and handed out the snacks to the team. More accurately, I opened the boxes of rice-crispy-treats and CapriSun Sport drinks and stood back to avoid being trampled. The surprise for me was this: I wasn't nervous for him. I didn't think that he was succeeding or failing - regardless of what I did. It's not about me. Further, I don't want to go out there and do it for him. I thought I might. This is his sport to learn - and love - now.

Post-game, my son was giddy, and his younger brother asked him repeatedly how baseball was (to play). "Is it good, John? Is it fun? Is baseball good?" His reply made me misty: "It's the best fun ever, Teddy."

Today's conundrum: Have we become a "my way or the highway" society? Parenting is rough when you're fighting against this societal phenomenon. We all struggle with pride. We all want to feel/be important. But when your child is astute enough to question the difference between obedience and a need to control, where do you go for back-up? I don't want every moment, every decision to be a battle. That's just silly. But, I do want a balance between their "coming to heel" and becoming responsible people. I think back on my life and wonder how I made it this far. Stupidity is sometimes masked by youth and inexperience, you know. But still, how do you govern your home without vascilating between being a Shrek and a pollyanna? The "Golden Rule" still rules as a better way to live, I think.

Future conundrum: Is it possible to have a meal entirely comprised of food with the word "pop" in the names, e.g. popcorn, Poptarts, popovers, soda pop? Is this responsible? Is this healthy? Comment to your heart's content.

Thanks for perusing this blog. Blog you again soon!