Blithe Spirit, Abbey Players, and a group of 12 fabulous friends = recipe for a tremendously enjoyable evening. If you haven't yet seen the play in Abbeville, a visit is required. Well acted, well produced. Hat tips to theatre legend Gloria Breaux for her masterful performance as the Medium in this Noel Coward classic. The theatre visit first included the two of us and another couple, but within 24 hours, we had a three car caravan.
Pain makes you think. Thinking makes you wise. Wisdom makes life endurable.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
We lift them up unto the Lord
Sir Hubert Parry's stunning anthem -- this video is the prescription to combat chronic symptoms of High Church Deficiency (HCD) one suffers now and again. A steady diet of "smells and bells" coupled with the solid text of prayer book Rite I may not be altogether as healthful as a balanced mixture of many good things, but, just as the body leaps for joy at the prospect of a Ruth's Chris steak, so too does the soul rejoice in the uplifting orderliness of tradition. It is meet and right so to do.
Martini Thursdays
We've been frequenting a local chain restaurant lately. It's practicaly equidistant from our respective places of business, so O'Charley's is a convenient meeting point for after-work dinner. Thursdays feature "2 for 1 martinis". We've sampled a number of the martini concoctions from their menu, but the Cranberry Apple Martini wins hands down. It's made with Smirnoff Apple. Quite often such fruity martinis have much visual appeal, but one sip reveals them as artificially colored vodka shots in trendy glassware. This particular apple cocktail bashes the stereotype. After a busy Thursday, it's just what the doctor ordered.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
For a perfect cup
Among the various items in Blaine's birthday gift basket, I included a bag of ground breakfast blend coffee from Starbucks. While arranging the goodies for presentation and encasing the whole business in celophane, the aroma of the coffee was intoxicating. Last Sunday evening, we broke open the bag and tried it out. A full bodied, flavorful coffee. Easily my new favorite. Not only for breakfast.
Rather nice, I think.
It was time to clean house...or at least to the clean the closet. The dust rule went into effect: if hangers and/or shoes carry an adequate layer of it, then, they're destined for the donation bin. Two weeks ago, it was time. I tackled the job, creating a distinct deficiency of brown shoes suitable for work attire. Plenty of black in the storehouse -- including a few that require a trip to the cobbler for new soles and heels. And, with the upcoming season of earthtones and neutrals, brown shoes are a must. Here's one pair that I found recently. An interesting shape, these, very out of the norm for the rather conservative styles I would usually select. Change is good, I suppose. Of course, you'll need to use your imagination here a bit. The only photograph I could find of the shoe was in black. Due to the odd shape of the shoe, my size dropped by half to a petite 11. So far, I've received favorable comments on the Borelli Miamis. And, although they appear they might be torturous on the feet, they are quite comfortable.
Rowan Spring/Summer Collection
Knitwear pattern collections seldom have many designs for men. Three or so garment offerings is typical, and this season's Rowan Magazine is no exception. Of the handful of items for men, this open fabric design stands out. This photograph from the Rowan homepage has truncated the lower half of the model. The piece features overly long sleeves and a very long torso. I generally must add to the length of a sweater, but this one seems a bit too long, even for my tall frame. The same is true for sleeves. I almost always lengthen the arm before launching into the sleeve cap shaping, but here, the long sleeves are sure to get dragged through the salsa. After a few minor alterations, it's certainly a garment that's on my list.
A Chloris
Precisely to the point. The music of Reynaldo Hahn, text by Theophile de Viau. Performed immaculately by Phillipe Jaroussky.
S'il est vrai, Chloris, que tu m'aimes,
Mais j'entends, que tu m'aimes bien,
Je ne crois point que les rois mêmes
Aient un bonheur pareil au mien.
Que la mort serait importune
De venir changer ma fortune
A la félicité des cieux!
Tout ce qu'on dit de l'ambroisie
Ne touche point ma fantaisie
Au prix des grâces de tes yeux.
Mais j'entends, que tu m'aimes bien,
Je ne crois point que les rois mêmes
Aient un bonheur pareil au mien.
Que la mort serait importune
De venir changer ma fortune
A la félicité des cieux!
Tout ce qu'on dit de l'ambroisie
Ne touche point ma fantaisie
Au prix des grâces de tes yeux.
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