June 10

Raffles Hotel in Singapore. As their website says, it really is "more legend than hotel." I had the great pleasure of being there recently. They have a wonderful museum, and next to it you can even purchase your own Raffles treasures to take home, though you can also find many at http://www.raffleshotelgifts.com (please note I shopped in person and can't vouch for this site). You can also read about its history at http://www.raffles.com , though an actual visit is without compare!

You can send e-postcards from their site like this one via http://www.raffles.com/media-room/gallery/photo-gallery/photo-gallery/ :

Imagine you're there...in its cool, shady, endless corridors and marble stairways...and staying in one of the most gracious rooms you've ever seen. As a resident you'll have many private areas where others won't disturb you....

P.S. We'll revisit Raffles, going to some of its suites dedicated to some of the fascinating people who stayed there in days gone by.


Today is Judy Garland's birthday!

June 9

Cole Porter was born today in 1891. I enjoy his songs...and enjoy them even without the words, like in Oscar Peterson Plays The Cole Porter Song Book.

 

June 8

Today's so-called exotic dish suggestion from the 365 Foreign Dishes, published in 1908, is what they call Italian Coffee [Ice] Cream.

Today in 1867 Mark Twain started his trip that inspired his hilarious Innocents Abroad!

June 7

 A little while ago I recommended Susan Branch's wonderful site. I recently read an amazing post about a truly beautiful time she's having...
http://www.susanbranch.com/2012/05/english-cottage-in-the-peaks-district-marylebone/

June 6

I'm going to attempt presenting my own beautiful day, but I'm not as eloquent about these things as my friends! I might come back and edit this!

After a very long bout of minor illness I was finally able to get out of the house and go enjoy some amazing food! It's very hot here in India so I chose a sleeveless dress I found years ago in Vancouver, blue with tropical flowers, and paired it with an ivory cool cotton short-sleeved jacket. My face was surprised to get a bit of makeup onto it for the first time in months. Then I grabbed a blue hat and was ready! The driver had arrived and my husband as usual had checked what I was wearing and had pulled out one of his many polo shirts in a color to go with mine. We both were ready with our iPod for me, Dell Venue for him to let the world pass by outside without thinking too long about the awful bits! Then we arrived at the beautiful hotel in town that has for many many years consistently had the best food in their four restaurants; we were heading for their French restaurant, indoors and cool but set in a garden and with huge arched windows. We were a little early for lunch so went to their gift shop first, where I found a little cookbook for refreshing beverages and my husband found a National Geographic on barrier reefs and other stuff; I also found some great gifts including for my son....Then we went and ate...and ate. Dishes included perfect potatoes and green beans in a Salade Niçoise; the best gnocchi I've had since the VP's press secretary and his wife took me out to eat in DC except this gnocchi's sauce was even better! tomatoes and mushrooms and basil; and for dessert fresh perfect fruits in a coconut-milky sauce; and then almond shortbread cookies with hot tea. Our favorite waiter was even there! and we had a nice chat.

And the day wasn't over! When we got home we watched an hilarious episode of Psych, which I'm sure my dad would love -- cowboys! And then in the evening after like a tiny bowl of cereal for supper, since we were still stuffed, we Skyped an old New York writer-friend and talked about America with her for two hours! And then to bed, where I listened to some of a D.E. Stevenson novel. I have a wonderful husband and wonderful friends and we'd had a wonderful day!

June 5

Richard Scarry was born today in 1919! His books made me and my kids laugh and laugh!

Accolades for Trader Joe's publishing department! From a sales slip:
This wine reminds me of myself: classic, medium-bodied, and full of chocolate.

June 4

Another guest post, from the same dear friend...

My son just stopped by after taking his grandson home, who probably loved the trip because Papaw took him home on his motorcycle. He had helped Papaw as he planted several vegetables, and got the front beds cleaned, and planted 2 butterfly bushes, and the wild flower seed mix he's been wanting to put in for a long time.

I have loved 3 days of sunny skies. Worked very long and hard on Friday and got lots done, looks so nice as I've finally gotten the coral bells back in on the north side, lifted and amended those beds by the back door, and also planted 2 kinds of flowers that can't survive our winters, elephant ears and cannas. And now I'm hoping that tomorrow's predictions of 80% rain doesn't really make as much show as they are saying, 2 garden tours at herb members' homes is scheduled, starting at 6. My friends have worked SO hard getting their yards ready.

Yesterday I decided to go on to the class reunion when I usually see Mom's classmate. She couldn't travel here from down south this year, though, because her daughter has just had a surgery to treat a cancer. She has been cancer free for some time and coped with this with verve and courage. She's quite a gal also, and this surgery has once again been successful. She just must stay at Mayo for a few more days, though. Mom's classmate told me that the other remaining classmate would be there again. He is living with his daughter just a couple hours away. So I decided to go, and had a wonderful time, had delightful conversations with them about growing herbs :), I have another nice memory!

June 3

If you're ever in historic St Charles, Missouri (a fun daytrip not far from St Louis), I highly recommend a homey luncheon or dinner at the Mother-in-Law House. It has a charming decor and service; you'll feel like an honored guest in the 1800s or early 1900s.
http://www.motherinlawhouse.com/

 

For more on St Charles town, see http://rendezvousinstcharles.com/ .

It's national Egg Day!

June 2

Thomas Hardy was born today in 1840, in what's called a thatched cottage. Actually, it looks bigger than a cottage to me. Visitor's info: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hardy-country/ . 

It's national Rocky Road Ice Cream Day!

June 1

And what is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days.

   - James Russell Lowell, "The Vision of Sir Launfal"

A lovely day to plan a lovely summer wardrobe! You can check your  favorite clothing shops for ideas...

It's birthdays today for some favorite entertainers: Rene Auberjonois, Morgan Freeman, and Andy Griffith in 1926. From his official website, a photo by Luigi Rosa:

June is national Fresh Fruit and Vegetable month!

George Bernard Shaw got married today in 1898!
anniversary towels from anthropologie!

May 31

Walt Whitman was born today in 1819.

The luncheon suggestion for today from 365 Luncheon Dishes (from 1902) is Creamy Clam Chowder. Today's so-called exotic dish suggestion from the 365 Foreign Dishes, published in 1908, is what they call French Lemon Cookies. Sounds like they'd both be a lovely part of a nice luncheon!

May 30

Thanks to a wonderful and amazing friend of my mom's, I've discovered the wonderful website of the artist Susan Branch: susanbranch.com, naturellement. From her as she prepares for an amazing journey:

May 29

T.H. White was born today in 1906! His Once and Future King is totally hilarious!

Patrick Henry was born today too, in 1736.

Bob Hope's birthday is today too! He was born in 1903.

May 28

2012: Memorial Day

Hahaha! Here's one of the Amazing Maru's Adventures with Boxes videos, of a wonderful cat!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvnPBZbth3E&feature=related

May 27

The luncheon suggestion for today from 365 Luncheon Dishes (from 1902) is Waldorf Salad.

How about imagining you're having it at, of course, the Waldorf-Astoria? Or of course something else you'd rather have; I'm sure their chefs today will delight you. From their official site, http://waldorfastoria3.hilton.com/en/hotels/new-york/the-waldorf-towers-NYCWTWA/index.html :

May 26

Peggy Lee was born today in 1920. I love her voice and the way she sings. Here's a  funny video of her and Judy Garland, another singer I adore! What cool clothes those ladies wore! Did you even know there was a "Judy Garland Show"?! I didn't; I must find more of them.



It is so good to get a, well, planetary? galactic? perspective sometimes. Here's a picture from the Space Station, of a storm in Brazil, from http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/05/19/the-storm-below :

May 25

How about living on a quiet little street in Paris in the perfect home for 1 or 2? That's what Alexandra designed and enjoys, as profiled in the Janvier-Fevrier 2011 of Viva Deco -- it's what sold me on my copy of this magazine! Just 129 square feet! She bought a little old shop and turned it into her home! as well as her (real estate) office! It includes all you need, including bookcases you can't see here. At night she has thick privacy curtains to pull across the whole front of her home. (There's also a smaller window in the back of the home, so she must get lovely breezes.) Here's the first spread about it; check it out at http://www.vivadeco.fr/ and http://www.zinio.com/browse/issues/index.jsp?skuId=416152097 :

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson was born today in 1803.

The luncheon suggestion for today from 365 Luncheon Dishes (from 1902) is Philadelphia Relish, which sounds like a cole slaw made with cabbage, green peppers, celery seed, mustard, brown sugar, and vinegar. 

It's national Wine Day!

May 24

The luncheon suggestion for today from 365 Luncheon Dishes (from 1902) is Fried Bananas.

May 23

By the way, May is supposed to be national Mediterranean food/diet month. That's easy to do!

May 22

Today Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born! In 1859. I love his Sherlock Holmes stories!

Mary Cassatt was born today too, in 1844. I love her paintings and loved filling my apartment with prints from her when my children were young, especially this one...

The luncheon suggestion for today from 365 Luncheon Dishes (from 1902) is an Asparagus Omelet.

This is my #1 dream ever -- to live here, to live like this! It's called Residensea, or maybe now it's called The World, and ever since I saw it advertised years ago in New York I wanted to live there. It's a beautiful ship traveling all over the world where you actually live year-round for the rest of your life if you'd like in one of its 165 homes, where like they say you can attend a brilliant lecture onboard, have some relaxation time, see a beautiful spot in the world off the ship, go to a world-class restaurant on or off the ship, and then on the same day "return to your own personal library and wine collection. You peruse your own photo albums. And listen to your favorite music as you rest your head on your own pillow, thinking about what the next day will bring." Each year the residents plan their next year's itinerary. Homes range from studios to 6-bedrooms, with gorgeous verandahs. You can read their descriptions and see their pictures at their website http://www.aboardtheworld.com/reside . They even have what they call Bali beds, where you can sleep out on your private verandah. This is so the first place I would purchase if I could! Even the studios look wonderful! (That's one in the first picture.) What I'd adore is if someone wrote a series of delicious novels set in such a ship traveling all over the world!

May 21

Happy birthday to Queen Elizabeth II!

A guest today! A dear friend of mine, very talented in so many ways. Her first post...

It's supposed to be a sunny grand day, and even more so tomorrow, 70 degrees :). And I have a great day ahead, the Master Gardeners' annual potluck at the park just down the road, I made deviled eggs to take, and I am taking a few divisions of plants from our yard which I worked on yesterday mostly, a couple coral bells, and a few irises that I had to divide and take out on the south side of our house, they multiply wonderfully, and were overcoming the front sedums and Russian Sage too completely. Will take some of those out to my dear friend's on the way to the park, she always has enjoyed seeing mine bloom on the stopsign spot. Then another friend invited another friend and me to attend the Mother-Daughter occasion that her workplace staff gives for them each spring, that's at 2. I just feel like the socialite who has fun 'stuff' filling her day :).

May 20

I hesitated to give this award to this book, because overall I don't actually like it! Though Alastair Reynolds, the author, is brilliant and gifted, I much prefer other books I've read by him, especially House of Suns. But how could I not award this to a book that has things like...
...Even when someone is really ill, "Everything feels vivid to me now....I've always loved Mingus, but now I hear things in that music I never dreamed of before."
...A hospital where you fall asleep in a beautiful forest, where you're filled with "calm and enchantment" and wake up all well.
...Windows covered with fish tanks.
...Robots who "maintained a discreet presence, only emerging...to offer drinks, sweets, and the occasional helping hand."
...And, lastly, a party of which "just a glimpse...would have sustained her through the darkest days..."
-- Alastair Reynolds, Pushing Ice

Thank you, Dr. Reynolds!

Today in 1845 Robert Browning first visited Elizabeth Barrett!

Today's so-called exotic dish suggestion from the 365 Foreign Dishes, published in 1908, is what they call Italian Ice Cream.

May 19

There is a site I just discovered that I like to visit because it reminds me of a blissful vacation in Singapore. Today I read of a meal I'd love to have, in a place where we ate:

Indulge in a buffet spread fit for royalty at The Terrace on Chinese New Year Eve, as you sit and enjoy a reunion of family members over a wonderful array of dishes. Toss to a good fortune with the lo-hei yu sheng live station, where you’ll have a choice of lobster, salmon, abalone and salmon, or vegetarian.

The buffet also includes a choice of four appetisers – Thai asparagus with shrimp meat and XO sauce, assorted smoked salmon, tako carpaccio with dou ban jiang and garlic oat and BBQ chicken coin; canapés; a salad bar; seafood on ice, which includes prawns, crabs and mussels. Live stations at the buffet feature a wide variety, such as the live sushi and sashimi station, a live station with char siu chicken and steamed bao, a carving station with salmon ‘prime rib’ and roasted rack of pork. You can also indulge in the traditional New Year dish, deep fried nian gao with yam at another live station.

If that’s not enough, choose from ten hot Chinese dishes, including chilli crab, braised Shanghai noodle with seafood and crispy pork belly with red bean sauce. The four hot western dishes features slow cooked beef short ribs. End the special family reunion with more than 18 types of sweet treats, from cakes and tarts to chocolates and a hot chocolate bread and butter pudding, along with traditional goodies like pineapple cookies, love letters, peanut cookies and mini prawn spring rolls.

2 Bukit Manis Road, Sentosa. Tel: 6371 1414 or email theterrace@thesentosa.com

http://appetiteasia.com/eat/newsbites/1990-reunion-dinner-at-the-terrace

May 18

Bertrand Russell was born today in 1872! I love his writings!

And happy birthday to the very very talented and funny Tina Fey! Your Ms Palin!!

Here's a home that looks set up for day dreaming, and/or healing if you're under the weather. It's in Italy, and you can see more pictures through http://blogs.cotemaison.fr/visiteprivee/2011/05/08/mon-cottage-en-italie-place-au-jardin ...

May 17

If you're in the mood for baking amazing French cakes...and can read some French (lots of cuisine terms are at http://bestfoodthisweek.blogspot.com/p/french-cuisine-terms.html )...try these! They aren't fancy, but are easy and actually healthy!
http://www.cotemaison.fr/recettes-de-cuisine/dessert/oh-les-bons-gateaux_9147.html?xtor=EPR-63

It's Enya's birthday! I especially adore her first album, actually, "The Celts," which I'm told was for a soundtrack. It seems especially magical. Somehow it really helped me through a difficult time decades ago. Ooo, here's a video where you can learn umm I think it's some Spanish, plus see cool castles:

May 16

I remember my days walking to work in Manhattan...and window-shopping Seaman-Schepps. Their jewelry is truly like a fairy tale or better. You can enjoy their pieces of art online, such as at http://www.seamanschepps.com/press_vintage.html where you can see vintage magazine covers featuring their treasures. Seeing beautiful things like this, and beautiful clothes, and beautiful homes, makes it easier for me to save up to get gorgeous stuff! Though I would be absolutely stunned if I could ever actually get this, it makes me very happy just knowing it exists!

It's Liberace's birthday! He was born in 1919. My big brother and I used to love watching him play; of course part of the attraction was enjoying his cool outfits. I  asked another favorite person of mine, a pianist, his favorite Youtube of Mr. Liberace, and he replied, "It's very difficult to pick a favorite video, but after much thought and careful deliberation I went with this one..." which happens to appear to be from near where a lot of people I love grew up, no wonder he's dressed in furs!

May 15

The author of The Wizard of Oz and many other books, Lyman Frank Baum, was born today in 1856! There's fascinating stuff at http://oz.wikia.com/wiki/L._Frank_Baum , including that one of his books used to come free with breakfast cereal! I wish books still came that way! Of course the guy had some serious flaws, but I still enjoy his books.

 A beautiful job: A Home Stager! She sets up homes for sale in a way that makes any potential buyer really identify with it, want it, etc.! How fun! Like designing the set of a movie, but in a real house! As I discuss in my post http://my30daystofabulous.blogspot.com/2010/08/part-h-set.html , you can think of your home as your own movie set too....My favorite blogger has this sort of career:
http://littleemmaenglishhome.blogspot.com/2011/03/professione-home-stager.html
Her first picture shows me she is doing it right because as soon as I saw it, before I even read her post, I wanted to live in that place!

The luncheon suggestion for today from 365 Luncheon Dishes (from 1902) is a Puree of Dried Beans (they suggest boiling them with bay leaf, onion, carrot, and adding butter and milk as necessary when you drain and puree them).

May 14

Another Good Place...one we came "this close" to building as a guest house cum study! Maybe someday I'll find the blueprints and someone else can build it!

The Hobbitian House: Round, of course. Not underground, but with moss growing on the rounded roof. A round front door, with round windows with diamond panes on each side. You walk into a room with a charming kitchen to the side, with a darling antique cabinet holding handmade pottery. It's also furnished with a dark-wood table, with comfortable cushioned chairs pulled up to it which are also perfect for reading after supper. This room also has long rectangular windows with window seats cushioned in velvet. Back to the entrance area, if you'd instead turn left you'd enter a bedroom complete with bookcases and a desk and plenty of storage. One of those round windows is over your oh-so-comfortable bed with just the right number of velvet cushions. Off the bedroom is a relaxing cozy bath, complete with an oval stone tub and deep windows covered with ivy. If you wanted to leave your comfortable abode and explore the neighborhood, you'd walk down a cobbled private walkway to an arched gate covered with flowers....During the day you'd hear sweet birds, and at night you'd hear faint strains of elven music...
I am extremely sorry I don't know who built these; please please let me know, and meanwhile I'll keep looking! Models of such a home:

 

Thomas Gainsborough was born today in 1727. Here's his "Portrait of the Artist with His Wife and Daughter," from http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/thomas-gainsborough :

And happy birthday to George Lucas! Someone I love very much adored your movies! Thank you for making his far-too-short life far more pleasurable.

The luncheon suggestion for today from 365 Luncheon Dishes (from 1902) is a Beet Salad.