Grandad's Baseball Scrapbook

I've no idea how I came to own my grandfather's baseball scrapbook but it's always been on display in my home, with my father's old baseball and glove. The best I can figure is that the book is from the mid-late 1930s when Grandad Tom was in his teens. Here's a glimpse of what's inside:

Xavier Turns 16!

Here is a frighteningly bad photo taken of the baby brother and I back in 2000. I think I'm holding Tinky Wink from Teletubbies because at the local church carnival the Summer of '99, Xave wore the costume of T.W. and walked around to wave at the kids. (He said it was such fun seeing all these little kids freak out with joy when they saw him.) I was not looking my best as a brassy bottle-blonde, but with those twenty-three year old sassy gams, who'd notice my terrible hair-don't? Can't believe this sweet faced lil' cherub is now thirty seven today. If this photo has proved anything it's that our family ages very well!

Save The McGinley Mansion

Cheap Old Houses on Instagram posted about The McGinley Mansion in their stories and I had to sign the petition to save this glorious home.

The McGinley Mansion (c1925) was designed by Bigelow & Wadsworth, premier architects of their time. Some of their work includes The Boston Athenaeum and frequent partners include the Olmsted brothers.

Hailed as the "Dean of American Women Landscape Architects," Ellen Biddle Shipman designed nearly six hundred gardens throughout the US during the course of her thirty-five year career. She is said to have hired nearly all women as they were starting their careers. The entirety of her work now lives at Cornell’s Rare Book & Manuscript Collection. She described her use of plants as "painting pictures as an artist would." The McGinley gardens remain one of the last residential gardens in existence.

(photos and words kidnapped from @SaveMcGinleyMansion on Instagram)

Poirot and Me

What a delightful book! To hear the man himself read his life with (and without) Hercule Poirot was spectacular. I loved the behind the scenes stories, his impressions of each episode, and of course, the bits of his time away from filming Poirot. David Suchet is a favourite of mine and this book was a wonderful edition to my audio library.

In Flanders Fields

Seeing this piece at M HKA in Antwerp in September 2018 I instantly recalled it's American twin by Deborah Butterfield that I saw at Ground for Sculpture in 2011. A reclining horse ready to spring back onto its feet. Love them both.

Berlinde De Bruyckere

In Flanders Fields

2000

Around the World in 80 Days

I thought it was time to listen to this delightful tale, as read by the inimitable Jim Dale, for the third time. It's as good as it was the first and second time; taking me along with Phileas and Passepartout then Mrs. Aouda and Detective Fix, as they race from continent to continent, crossing the sea to reach their destination in time. One of the great adventure stories of all time.

(gorgeous artwork by Vicky Scott kidnapped from illustrationx)

Postcard of The Depot

I sent this postcard out to Lisa back on April 5th of last year when I was trying to keep everyone's spirits up while in lockdown. I thought it was one of my funnier posties.

The Heavy Sea

Thierry De Cordier

Mer Grosse

2011

Photo taken at the M HKA Museum of Modern Art in Antwerp on 8 September 2018.

December 2020 Books

♥ A Christmas Carol ¹ by Charles Dickens - I started the month off right with Tim Curry reading Charles Dickens' classic.

* The Last Wish ¹ by Andrzej Sapkowski - Xavier recommended the Witcher series and I liked most of the short stories from this first book.

* Born With Teeth ¹ by Kate Mulgrew - I've known of Kate Mulgrew since the mid-eighties when my parents saw and loved the film Remo Williamss. Her career continued steadily but it wasn't until Orange is the New Black that I got to see how versatile an actor she is. Her memoir was gripping and well told but she seemed more a narrator of her life, rather than sharing it. Listening to her I felt that she was very removed from the telling, as if it happened to someone else. This was a bit distracting and odd, but still, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

* The Good Body ¹ by Eve Ensler - I'd read this book years ago and decided to listen to the audio version for a refresher.

♥ Peter Cushing: Past Forgetting by Peter Cushing - I was so sad to finish the last of Peter Cushing's two memoirs. I long for more! He was just a remarkable man. So easy to admire.

* The Hound of the Baskervilles ¹ by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Now I know why this is one of the most famous stories of all time - just brilliant. Derek Jacobi's narration was stellar and sucked me right in.

Sword of Destiny ¹ by Andrzej Sapkowski - Another from the Witcher series that I am finding that I increasingly dislike.

♥ Kisses, She Wrote by Katharine Ashe - I read this historical romance Christmas book years ago and since it's more like a novella, I like to re-read it every December.

♥ My Life in France ¹ by Julia Child with Alex Prud'homme - Back in 2013 I listened to the abridged version of Julia Child's memoir and this time I felt like I needed the whole story. Wonderful from start to finish.

* A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas - Another seasonal romance that's short and sweet and perfect for the holiday.

Season of Storms ¹ by Andrzej Sapkowski - I tried like hell to like this series since Xavier really loved the books but ugh, just not my thing.

Seducing the Highlander by Emma Wildes - Another book inherited from the Godmommy. It started out okay and then went quickly downhill.

¹ - audiobook

² - abridged version
* - liked
♥ - loved
Any unmarked titles were, in my opinion, so-so.

FaceTime with Natalia!

Spent two hours gabbing with this adorable gal. She and Teo had a good laugh over me in two sweaters, a scarf, and hat while they relaxed in their shorts and tees in Hawaii. Took a snapshot of her and then we got our first selfie in nearly two years. Such a great time discussing family, books, food, and everything in between.

Pretend It's a City

First discovered Fran Lebowitz in the Summer of 2013 thanks to the Martin Scorsese documentary Public Speaking. When I saw that they were back with a docuseries about all things Ms. Lebowitz I knew I had to check it out. A really phenomenal series. Wish it was longer...

(photo kidnapped from can.newonnetflix.info)

A New Beginning

Finally that monster is out of the White House and a new Presidency has begun. It feels like I can finally breathe again and have some hope for the future of this country.

(photo kidnapped from seattletimes - by Andrew Harnik / The Associated Press)

I'm still hella disappointed that Bernie Sanders is not the president, but it was so great to see him in his super cute mittens. (Where's the matching hat with a pom pom??!)

(photo kidnapped from teenvogue - by Brendan Smialowski / Getty Images)

Blustery Antwerp

9 September 2018 

MLK Jr.

By Fred Carter

1983 - carved wood

Photo taken at Visionary Arts Museum - Baltimore, MD 

6 May 2018

The Gaskets

I house-sat years ago and this note from the owner was too cute not to save!

Best Meal Ever

Since Brussels with Ashlee on April 2nd 2014 I have never had a better meal, even topping the food buffet at Omega. Rudolf Mestdagh, a native of Brussels, told me that I simply had to go to Arcadi Café on Rue d'Arenberg for their famous quiche when I was in town. Ashlee and I are equally awkward and terrified of anything unknown but I knew I couldn't let Rudolf down. We went and ordered the same quiche (why didn't we get more than one is beyond me, plus extras to eat on the way to the train station?!!?) with water and a side of frites. To this day we still talk about it and how it was the most sublimely flavourful thing we had ever eaten. Lasagna and scrambled eggs in a pie combined with a fresh richness. It's really indescribable just how truly scrumptious it was. I went back again in 2018 and ordered a similar quiche but nothing would compare to that first time with Ashlee. 

The Boys in the Band 2020

I really did not think I was gonna like this remake as much as I did. I saw the original back in the early aughts and while I felt these fellas were super bitchy to one another, considering what good friends they were, now seeing the Joe Mantello version plus a couple decades worth of personal growth and experience, I understand them a bit better. (Although I really don't like how they all pick on The Cowboy.) The cast was top notch and every performance really felt authentic and original, something not easy to do with a remake. I'm so glad I finally forced myself to watch it. It was so well done.

(photo kidnapped from socialnews.xyz)

Gloria

I first saw Gloria in the Spring of 2006 and unbelievably I didn't get around to viewing it a second time until tonight. Nothing's changed, it's still a phenomenal film with superb performances by Gena Rowlands and John Adames, but this time around I really picked up on the score, which was gorgeous. Of course it was by composer extraordinaire, Bill Conti. A brilliant piece of filmmaking and so great to see those gritty streets of New York of the late 70s.

(photo kidnapped from moviepostershop)

And look at this photo I found online!

(photo kidnapped from wallofcelebrities)

2021

Here's a playlist I created to start off the new year. It's a hodge-podge, mishy-mosh, like most of my mixes.

Johnny Tillotson - (Wait Til You See) My Gidget

Kula Shaker - Let Love Be (With U)

Troye Sivan - THE QUIET

Gabriel-Kane - Carry On

The OK Social Club - She Said, You Said

Julian Lennon - Well I Don't Know

Shirley Bassey - Excuse Me

The Faint - Source of the Sun

Malcolm Vaughan - Wait for Me

Icky Blossoms - Want You So Bad

The Excellents - Coney Island Baby

Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street

Daft Punk - Derezzed

M83 - A Bit of Sweetness

Queen - The Kiss

The Black Keys - Sit Around and Miss You

Celeste - Stop This Flame

Shirley Bassey - I Don't Know What Love Is

London Philharmonic Orchestra - On Earth as It Is in Heaven

Rachel Portman - Theme from "Only You"

The Seahorses - Suicide Drive

Phoenix - Identical

Tentie!

Back in 2007 I bought a child's tent from Ikea and set it up in my living room. It was so cute but totally impractical. I'm pretty sure I passed it along to Zach and that it got destroyed not long after. However, at least I still have this pic to remember it in all its glory!

(My god, look at all the stuffed pals I had on display! I gave almost all of them a new life with my young nieces and nephews.) 

Fortitude

I decided that this year I would resist the urge to buy, buy, buy. I know that constant purchases of books and silly things will only make me happy for an instant and that by fueling that empty happiness I am plunging further in to debt and getting nowhere with my actual life. Today this new process of stopping and realising that the item will only bring fleeting joy was put to the test. In my search for an inexpensive hardcover edition of Dominick Dunne's The Two Mrs. Grenvilles I came across a signed copy of his book, An Inconvenient Woman. It's off Etsy and is ridiculously reasonable. So much so that I can't believe it's for real. Do I need it? Nope. I already have a copy. Is it particularly beautiful. Eh, it's leather bound, so not vegan, and a little too classy for my home. Would I like to own something that Dominick Dunne once held in his hands? Hundred percent. I have a handful of books signed by the author but the ones I really cherish are the ones signed to me. (I'm talking to you, John Waters, Armistead Maupin, and Bruce Campbell!) Those are special. Owning this book would be fantastic, but I don't need it and so I have to summon the stick-to-it-ness and let someone else buy it. 

(book available for purchase as of now via daisylaneantiques)

ps - I completely forgot that I had ordered a hardcover copy of The Two Mrs. Grenvilles back in mid-December but only received it on January 13th. Good thing I didn't find another copy. ;)

"Clue" Stickers!

Bad Cult Paintings over on Etsy has thee bestest stickers and I want ALL of the Clue ones. I'm gonna behave and not splurge but I just had to share because they are phenomenal!

(I especially love the Mrs. White pack since she has the best line in the whole film.)

The Mission

During my days working at the café I was good friends with a lovely woman named Allison. She was kind, warm, and had such a sweet disposition. One day I had asked her what her favourite album was and she said it was the Ennio Morricone soundtrack to the film The Mission. I watched the film, was mesmerised by it, immediately purchased the soundtrack and fell in love with it. Every song is a masterpiece and I never tire of it. 

(photo kidnapped from duluxdreams)

Gidget

I am hooked on this series! I used to watch reruns in grade school over one Summer where it was back to back episodes of Gidget, The Monkees, and Gumby & Pokey but only just decided to watch the whole series. It's cute as can be and the perfect new obsession for 2021. And the theme song? Love it! 

(photo kidnapped from justwatch)