Nov 29, 2012

Silent



Nov 28, 2012

Pissing you off



Hot Coffee is a documentary that raises questions and will very likely piss you off.  I'm a fan of pissing folks off in the best ways - ways that lead to action.  Tort reform sounds like a dry subject until you see the folks screwed over by it.  This film explains a few cases in which people are hurt by award limits and shows how business interests have changed local elections.  It's something that shows how important it is to take part in every election to make a difference locally.

Nov 27, 2012

Meant


Baby, We Were Meant for Each Other is a sweet little memoir written by NPR's Scott Simon.  He talks about the adoption of his two daughters.  It does not dive into issues in any depth, but it is super sweet and honest about his own personal experience.  6/10.

Nov 26, 2012

Little big thing


I treated myself to this darling little whale the other day.

Nov 25, 2012

Cassoulets, soufflés, and pates


My Julia Child obsession is well documented.  Imagine my delight to stumble upon a picture book about the great lady.  Minette's Feast is about Julia and Paul's cat.  It's darling - full of pretty artwork and direct quotes from Julia's letters.  A very sweet book to read to the baby.  I particularly loved the index in the back telling the reader how to pronounce the various French phrases.  8/10.

Nov 24, 2012

So true!

McSweeney's bit on strangers offering advice to new mums.

Lately

I have been on a photo printing binge I'm determined to not rely on electronic storage of photos and actually print the suckers and put them in an album. Here's one I love:
 
Winnifred in the bathtub.

Nov 14, 2012

Fraggles!

Nov 12, 2012

Nov 11, 2012

Facts



The Lifespan of a Fact is a fascinating back and forth between an essayist and a factchecker.  It is at times hysterical and at other times poignant.  The book has an interesting format with the essay in the middle of the page and the conversation happening all around it.  Really good read.  7/10.

Hello!

Want this!

Nov 10, 2012

Rags


I'm tempted to try my hand at making a rag rug.  This pretty one is listed on etsy. 

Any suggested resources for trying my hand at this?

Nov 9, 2012

Hang down your head

Woke up with this song in my head this morning.

Advice from strangers

Sucks.  This McSweeney's piece hit the spot rather well.

As does this onesie on etsy:



Nov 7, 2012

Charming

Bwthyn glan môr by Valériane Leblond
Bwthyn glan môr, a photo by Valériane Leblond on Flickr.

Love this whole set of paintings.

Nov 5, 2012

Pods

I didn't realize that the seed pods on radishes were edible.  So going to harvest them next year.  Useful!

Nov 4, 2012

Illusion as science


Glamour in Glass is the unexpected sequel to Shades of Milk and Honey.  Unexpected mainly by me I suppose.  The first book didn't seem to need a sequel.  Still, it was nice to revisit a world where illusion is a science and art of its own and magic is a normal thing during the time of Napoleon.  I am certain now that there will be a third book, and I suspect I'll read that one too.  6/10. 

Nov 3, 2012

Silly-ish


I think I just don't get Pedro Almodovar most times.  I watched Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown the other day and did not get any amazingness.  It's a silly sort of story that didn't translate itself to much humor.  I much prefered Volver.  2/10.

Nov 2, 2012

Not even the rain



The babe has put this line in my head.  Seemed appropriate to put on the porch blackboard.  Entire poem here.

Nov 1, 2012

Ghost ship


Tiny Beautiful Things is a collection of an advice column but that sounds way too simple.  It's full of gut-wrenching, beautiful, soulful responses.  It's the best thing I've written in a long time. 
 
“I'll never know, and neither will you of the life you don't choose. We'll only know that whatever that sister life was, it was important and beautiful and not ours. It was the ghost ship that didn't carry us. There's nothing to do but salute it from the shore.” 

So good!