tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85022450002487251182024-03-06T19:34:03.483-08:00Ciao DomenicaSunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.comBlogger425125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-53577837648999328892017-12-19T14:28:00.000-08:002017-12-21T06:47:18.353-08:00Favorite Holiday Cookbooks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello and happy holidays! It's hard to believe that Christmas is one week away. The holidays come around so quickly each year and I am occasionally filled with anxiety at the prospect of all the work. Some years I contemplate not getting a tree or putting the lights on the outside of the house. But each time I suggest these ideas to my family they look at me as if I am possibly losing my mind. And I must say that every year something magical happens to shake me out of my lethargy. This year it was the simple act of writing my Christmas cards. Last week I sat at the kitchen table and wrote messages to friends I don't see very often. Some of them are childhood or college friends that live far away. Others are newer friends, some through the world of blogging, that I also don't see very often. But the simple act of writing a meaningful message to each of them on a festive holiday card contained a powerful emotional charge. When I took my cards to the post office, I walked away with a spring in my step, a lightness of heart, and a renewed enthusiasm for the holidays. <br />
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Christmas classics</div>
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People get into the holiday spirit in different ways. Many people take out their favorite Christmas classics to get them in the mood. Books such as Truman Capote's <i>A Christmas Memory</i>, Charles Dickens' <i>A Christmas Carol</i> and Louisa May Alcott's <i>Little Women.</i> There are so many great Christmas stories. But what I find myself doing is pulling down my favorite cookbooks, the ones that contain the festive foods of the season. In fact, there is no more comforting sight than a stack of these cheerful books on the kitchen table with a notepad and cup of coffee by their side. It's a sight that says it's time to fill the kitchen with Christmas foods. These are the treasured ones I use every year. First of all, the recipes are tried and true. And second, the well-thumbed and food-splattered pages remind me of Christmases in the past and always make me smile. They are books I can easily sit down and read from cover to cover. They contain beautiful images of holiday decor as well as wonderful recipes. Looking at them each year makes me nostalgic and happy to be celebrating another Christmas. With Christmas only a week away I have already made many of these recipes. Here are a few of my favorite holiday cookbooks:<br />
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This book will inspire you to give a cookie exchange party. I did one for years and I have to tell you it was so much fun. In fact, I just may bring it back. Guests would arrive in festive spirits with two dozen home-baked cookies, the cookie recipe, and an empty platter. Conversations about recipes were a great ice breaker. We ate a dinner of comfort foods such as Chicken Pot Pie or Boeuf Bourguignon (both recipes from Barefoot Contessa). Mulled Cider with winter spices simmered on the stove. When it was time to leave guests would fill up their platter with cookies and take home an impressive dessert to serve for the holidays. <br />
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As you can see this Bon Appetit cookbook has many post-its indicating favorite recipes I have used over the years. One of my favorites is Mixed Green Salad with Oranges, Dried Cranberries and Pecans which makes a wonderful first course for Christmas dinner. Go <a href="https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/mixed-green-salad-with-oranges-dried-cranberries-and-pecans-15661">here</a> for the recipe. This book also includes my favorite recipe for Hot Mulled Cider with Winter Spices. Go<a href="https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/mulled-cider-with-winter-spices-200585"> here</a>.<br />
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Another Bon Appetit cookbook reflects a bygone era of many good recipes as well as party ideas. For example, there is a cozy supper for welcoming Carolers to your home. I remember Carolers going from door to door in my neighborhood when I was a child. Does this even happen anymore? I'm not sure but it's comforting to remember a time when it did. The menu for this party is: Smoky Split Pea And Root Vegetable Soup served with Cheddar-Dill Scones. Go <a href="http://ciaodomenica.blogspot.com/2015/11/carolers-warm-up.html">here</a> for the soup recipe. And <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/cheddar-dill-scones-recipe-1937956">here</a> for the scones. I've made them both many times and they are delicious. <br />
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This book is filled with great fruit desserts and all the flavors of the season. The title says it all. These cobblers and crisps are perfect for cold days in December. One of my favorites is Apple and Blackberry Crumble.<br />
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Of course, Nigella is the queen of cozy and her Christmas book is filled so many good ideas. My favorite is her Sticky Gingerbread which I made last week for my family's tree trimming party. </div>
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It fills the house with the most delicious aroma and is probably the most evocative food of the season </div>
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This cookbook contains many great party ideas including an Italian Christmas Eve, Fireside Cocktail Party, A New England Christmas, and a Snow Country Breakfast. This one has me dreaming of old-fashioned holidays on the east coast and plotting new party ideas for next year.<br />
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And then there are the magazine and newspaper articles torn out over the years. This one is from Town and Country UK and includes several great recipes for Hot Toddies and such. This year the Brit in me decided to serve Hot Toddies for my family's Tree Trimming Party. I bought Kentucky Bourbon and added hot water, lemon juice and honey. Served in a mug with a cinnamon stick, it took me back to a Dickensian world where I imagined escaping from the cold into a cozy London tavern. It's simple to do and the results are delicious. Put the following into each glass or mug:<br />
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2 Tablespoons Kentucky Bourbon<br />
1 Tablespoon Honey<br />
2 tsp. lemon juice<br />
1/4 cup of hot water<br />
Stir and garnish with a cinnamon stick and lemon zest<br />
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And speaking of iconic British dishes I have always wanted to make Boxing Day Sausage Rolls and this year I finally did it. They are easy to make if you use Frozen Puff Pastry. Go <a href="https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017083-sausage-rolls">here</a>.</div>
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These were a hit at my tree trimming party which seemed to be turning into a British pub menu!</div>
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If you want to journey back to a Dickensian world, here are two new cookbooks that look enticing. From what I've read they contain many recipes that would work well for the holidays.<br />
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What could be more perfect than recipes inspired by the life and work of Charles Dickens? Did you know that <i>A Christmas Carol </i>was published on this day in 1843? Dickens wrote it in six weeks and the first edition sold out by New Year's Day. People lined up at Hatchard's Bookshop to purchase it. I learned this wonderful detail from the new film "The Man Who Invented Christmas." <br />
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Fortnum & Mason, the venerable food department store on Piccadilly in London, has been selling delectable provisions for the holidays since the 1700's. Now we can learn how to make some of their iconic dishes.<br />
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And one more... this cookbook has gotten very good reviews and sounds perfect for all your baking needs.</div>
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I haven't bought it yet, though I did make the Flourless Cocoa Cookies sprinkled with Sea Salt that was printed in the New York Times. They were delicious! Go to the New York Times for the recipe. <br />
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Wishing you a week of delicious and festive cooking!</div>
Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-70135242079346653582017-11-13T15:59:00.000-08:002017-11-13T16:16:25.719-08:00Embracing Winter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It seemed appropriate to sit down with British food writer Nigel Slater's wonderful new book "The Christmas Chronicles" on a cold November day. The temperatures had finally dropped and we just turned back the clocks. The days are gradually drawing in as they make their steady march towards the winter's solstice and the holidays are right around the corner. Nigel Slater was exactly what I needed to complete the picture. He has mastered the fine art of cultivating coziness. Just listen to the opening lines and you will know what I mean:<br />
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<i>"I loved the crackle of winter. The snap of dry twigs underfoot, boots crunching on frozen grass, a fire spitting in the hearth, ice thawing on the pond, the sound of unwrapping a Christmas present from its paper. The innate crispness of the season appeals to me, like newly fallen snow, frosted hedges, the first fresh page of a diary. Yes, there is softness in the cold months, too, the voluminous jumpers and woolly hats, the steam rising from soup served in a deep bowl, the light from a single candle and the much-loved scarf that would feel like a burden at any other time of the year." </i><br />
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Nigel Slater loves winter. I love it as well. In Los Angeles we have very different winters from the ones he grew up with in England. And very different winters from the ones I grew up with in New England. There's something nostalgic about his evocation of winter in this book that appeals to everyone I think. Even if you didn't lived through those winters they are the winters of our imagination. So many classic films like "A Wonderful Life" and books like "A Christmas Carol" draw us into their winter scenes. I will now have to add Nigel's new book to my winter/holiday collection. Because it is so much more than a cookbook. Like some of my favorite authors, he paints the most delicious scenes of escaping into a cozy interior on a frigid day:<br />
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<i>"You hang up your coat, tug off your boots and light the fire. You will probably put the kettle on or pour yourself a drink. Not so much as a way to get warm, more to welcome yourself home. Home means more to us in cold weather. Making ourselves comfortable is a duty. Making friends and family comfortable is an art. </i><br />
<i>'Come in.' Two short words, heavy with meaning. Step out of the big, bad, wet world and into my home. You'll be safe here, toasty and well fed. 'Come in.' They are two of the loveliest words to say and hear."</i><br />
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He writes of the foods of winter which he calls <i>"The food of fairy tales"</i>:<br />
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<i>"Gingerbread biscuits with icing like melting snow, steaming glasses of wine, savoury puddings of bread and cheese and a goose with golden skin and a puddle of apple sauce. There are stews of game birds with twigs of thyme and rosemary; fish soups the colour of rust and baked apples frothing at the brim. Winter is the time for marzipan-filled stollen, thick with powdered sugar, pork chops as thick as a plank, and rings of Cumberland sausage sweet with dates and bacon." </i><br />
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He captures some of our most beloved holiday traditions such as looking at Christmas windows at our favorite department store:<br />
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<i>"To see Fortnum & Mason's Christmas windows is to step into the pages of a book of fairy tales. Each year they glisten and sparkle, like the frost on a topiary garden, a scene of wonder and delight. The designs are cluttered in the loveliest sense, like looking into a kaleidoscope." </i><br />
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His chapters have the most delicious titles. Here are just a few: <br />
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<i>Panettone, a love story</i><br />
<i>A Christmas list and a fig tart</i><br />
<i>Frost fairs and braised brisket</i><br />
<i>A tale of two polentas</i><br />
<i>Decorating the tree and a lamb roast</i><br />
<i>The prospect of soup </i><br />
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And we can't forget the recipes. Don't these sound delicious?<br />
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<i>Pork Chops, spinach polenta; Apricot and tomato chutney; Bread pudding with ham, Comte and Tallegio; Orange and poppy seed stollen; Banana cardamom cake; Dark chocolate spice cake; Mulled wine </i><br />
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If you are looking for a book to help you get in the holiday spirit look no further than Nigel Slater's "The Christmas Chronicles." Filled with recipes, fables and quick fireside suppers, it will be your trusty companion from November to February. It is filled with so many good ideas for how to make our homes a cozy and welcoming place for the holidays. Happy reading!<br />
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<i></i>Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-9665787311662388022017-11-01T16:36:00.000-07:002017-11-01T18:21:36.729-07:00Reading and other Fall Pleasures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am very happy to say hello to November. Fall has officially arrived in Los Angeles and what a relief it is. Last week we were in deep, deep summertime heat. The temperatures hovered in the eighties throughout most of October and for several days even in the hundreds. Finally the heat wave has broken and we are enjoying some cool weather. Autumn has arrived!<br />
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For me fall is the cozy season. It's all about cooking, nesting, having friends over, making the first fire of the season, and getting ready for the holidays. It is my favorite time of the year. I would also add reading as one of my favorite activities when the weather gets cooler. I tend to read more ambitious books at this time of year, often selecting a classic which I can sink into on a chilly afternoon.<br />
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Right I am rereading "The House of Mirth" by Edith Wharton. This book still takes my breath away. Edith Wharton was a superb writer, story teller, and observer of society. This book is definitely one of her masterpieces and an excellent example of literary fiction, an interesting category that has been on my mind lately. I recently went to a Writing Retreat in Italy (an amazing experience!) and we discussed the difference between literary and commercial fiction. Here is what I learned: in literary fiction character comes before plot, the prose is rich and finely crafted with line by line brilliance, and reading is a deeper experience, one in which the novel's events say something about what it means to be human and what it takes to get by in this world. "The House of Mirth" covers all those bases. Commercial fiction is much more about plot. It is fast-paced, page-turning, and offers instant gratification. I wondered which recent books fall into the literary fiction category? I think the books of Ian McKewan, such as "The Children Act" and "Atonement," would count as literary fiction. I also thought "The Essex Serpent" by Sarah Perry would qualify as such. <br />
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And maybe the book I just finished -- "Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine" by Gail Honeyman. I read it on the flight home from Rome to Los Angeles. I was riveted and couldn't put it down. I'm not sure how to categorize this book except to say it is one of the freshest and most original voices I have read in a long time.<br />
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That voice belongs to Eleanor Oliphant, the main character, who may be the loneliest woman in all of literature. She has no friends or family and goes for entire weekends without speaking to a soul. When we first meet her she is leading a very solitary life. She goes to work each day and talks to no one except out of necessity. There is no water cooler chitchat for Eleanor. She goes home each night, eats her dinner, and drinks enough vodka to knock herself out. She wakes up and does the same thing all over again the next day. She is very bright and inadvertently funny. Because she is isolated from most people and out of touch with what they get up to she makes comments about cultural norms and customs that are very humorous. She lives alone and is occasionally visited by a social worker who wants to know how she is doing. Eleanor tells her she is completely fine but even the social worker knows this isn't true. For one thing, one half of Eleanor's body is covered in scars. The reader knows it from the very first sentence of the book and the mystery we want to solve is why Eleanor is the way she is. Fortunately hope comes in the form of an unkempt but kind tech guy at work who takes an interest in Eleanor. <br />
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The story of how this successful debut novel came to be written is fascinating and very inspiring. Gail Honeyman, who is in her forties, wrote the novel while she worked at Glasgow University. She wrote it in bits and pieces whenever she wasn't at work. She entered it in a writing competition where it was discovered. Much to her surprise it ignited a bidding war on the eve of the 2015 Frankfurt Book Fair. It sold to Harper Collins for a high six-figure sum and has subsequently been sold to 28 publishers around the world. Reese Witherspoon's production company bought the film rights. Gail Honeyman is still reeling from this fairy tale ending. It's the kind of story that gives aspiring writers hope!<br />
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I would love to know if you have read "Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine."</div>
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Also, please share anything else you are reading and can recommend. The cozy season has arrived.</div>
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Happy Reading! </div>
<br />Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-33775722826873037452017-09-28T11:08:00.001-07:002017-09-28T11:08:37.209-07:00Memorial Garden for Princess Diana<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Kensington Gardens</div>
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Hello! You may be wondering where I have been and I hope you will forgive me for a very long hiatus. The reason for my absence is some happy family news: a new granddaughter (I now have two!) and a daughter who just got engaged. It's been a busy and wonderful summer. Now that it's fall I am back at my blog and thought the first post should be about Kensington Gardens. It seemed like a good time to write about my visit last May in light of all the films and articles about Princess Diana on the 20th-anniversary of her death.<br />
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Kensington Palace is where Diana lived from the time of her marriage to Prince Charles until her death in 1997. And those gates are where all the flowers were laid -- more than a million bouquets -- in the days following her death. It just so happened that the day we visited was extraordinarily beautiful, one of those gorgeous English days with the bluest sky and huge fluffy white clouds. Prior to this our weather had been gray and chilly. We were delighted to be out and about looking at gardens on such a stunning day. <br />
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Kensington Gardens is adjacent to Kensington Park which is where we started our walk. Everyone in London seemed to be out that day enjoying the lovely weather. The statue in the distance is of Queen Victoria who also lived at Kensington Palace. We walked through these beautiful grounds and felt invigorated by the gorgeous sky and green parkland. <br />
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The historic sunken garden at Kensington Gardens is deservedly famous. The beds of flowers glimpsed through eye-catching arches cut out of the hedges are a treat to see. It's truly such a serene and inspiring place. And this year a white garden was planted in honor of Princess
Diana. It closes at the end of this month and I am so happy to have made it to London in time to see this beautiful and moving tribute to Diana.<br />
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The gardeners planted white flowers and foliage including roses, scented narcissi and a carpet of forget-me-nots around the existing sunken garden. </div>
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They recalled that she was particularly fond of the sunken garden and would often come by to chat with them and admire the changing floral displays.</div>
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The white flowers really stood out in this beautiful setting and reminded me of the beauty and elegance of Princess Diana.</div>
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Looking through one of the hedged arches lining the perimeter<br />
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I enjoyed reading the articles and watching the documentaries about Princess Diana that came out last month. I also watched the film "The Queen" starring Helen Mirren which was about Diana's death and the response or lack of response by the Royal Family. I learned that she was complicated and flawed, filled with insecurity and anxiety, but that's what made her so relatable and real. She was the "people's princess" and is credited with modernizing the monarchy. One thing that was undeniable: she had star power. She was beautiful, photogenic and glamorous. I admired the way she used her celebrity to champion causes that benefited the marginalized, such as people suffering from aids in the early years. I'll never forget the photo of her holding hands with an aids patient and not wearing gloves. I think she would have loved the white garden planted in her honor at Kensington Palace. A garden by its very nature is ephemeral and the fact that it won't last forever made the seeing of it all the more special. Of all the memorials to Diana this may have been the most meaningful. </div>
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I would love to know if you got a chance to see this lovely tribute to Princess Diana!</div>
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<br />Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-66379247665813337072017-06-05T17:13:00.001-07:002017-06-05T17:13:29.468-07:00Haworth and the Bronte Parsonage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Moors above Haworth</div>
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Happy June! I hope you have been enjoying this beautiful month. I've been sorting through photos and souvenirs from my trip to England in May and have finally settled down to write a blog post about Haworth. Visiting Haworth where the Bronte Parsonage Museum is located has been a dream of mine for years. I have been reading the novels by the Bronte sisters since I was in my twenties and their lives became as interesting to me as their books. I wanted to see where they lived and wrote. There was such a romantic and tragic sensibility to it all: the parsonage with its adjoining graveyard where they lived, the wild and beautiful moors where they walked each day, and their creative and talented lives cut so tragically short. Finally my husband and I traveled up to Yorkshire in May and it was everything I'd hoped for and more. I learned so much while we were there.<br />
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The Parsonage<br />
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Walking through these doors was a moving experience. This is the home of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte, authors of some of the most beloved books in the English language. In 1820 their father Patrick Bronte was appointed Curate of Haworth Church and came to live here with his wife Maria and six children. Within eighteen months his wife died and her sister Elizabeth moved into the Parsonage to help with the running of the household. In 1825 the two eldest children Maria and Elizabeth also died after contracting tuberculosis while away at school. </div>
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The Dining Room<br />
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This room is very special. It is where Charlotte, Emily and Anne did most of their writing. <i>Jane Eyre</i>, <i>Wuthering Heights</i> and <i>Agnes Grey</i> were written here. The sisters would walk around the table every evening until about eleven o'clock, reading and discussing their writing plans and projects. After the deaths of Emily and Anne, Charlotte continued the nightly ritual and walked in solitude, unable to sleep before doing so. </div>
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Mr. Bronte's Study<br />
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Patrick Bronte carried out most of his parish business from this room. The magnifying glass on his desk is a reminder of his failing eyesight that happened in his later years. It was in this room that Charlotte first told him that she was a published author. When he traveled to Manchester for an eye operation, Charlotte went with him. It was when she was nursing him in Manchester that she began to write <i>Jane Eyre</i>. </div>
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The Kitchen<br />
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I loved the kitchen scenes in "To Walk Invisible," the recent television
dramatization of the lives of the Brontes, especially those with Emily taking out her frustration on the bread dough! As children the Brontes would gather around the kitchen fire to listen to their servant Tabby's dark tales of the Yorkshire moors. The sisters all helped out with the household chores as they got older and when their Aunt Branwell passed away in 1842, Emily took over as housekeeper, helping in the kitchen and baking bread.</div>
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Patrick Bronte's Bedroom<br />
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When Branwell's alcohol and opium addiction got to the point of serious damage to himself, Patrick insisted that Branwell share this room so he could watch over his son. It was in this room that Branwell died at age 31. </div>
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The Haworth Church where Patrick Bronte preached every Sunday</div>
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Interior of the church </div>
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Charlotte and Emily are buried in a family vault to the right of the altar marked by this brass plaque<br />
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The moors just outside of the Parsonage </div>
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Another view</div>
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Haworth's steep Main Street with a view of the moors</div>
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Penistone Hill Country Park, close to Haworth </div>
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The stone walls that are woven throughout the moors were assembled by hand with no mortar and have lasted for centuries.<br />
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If you are a fan of the Bronte sisters I highly recommend a visit to Haworth and the Bronte Parsonage. It will give you such a strong sense of the influences on their writing. Although there's never a bad time to visit as there is always such great programming at the Parsonage, now is an especially good time as they are currently celebrating the bicentenary year of Branwell Bronte, the troubled brother of Charlotte, Emily and Anne. There is a very interesting exhibition about him curated by the poet Simon Armitage called "Mansions in the Sky." It's an exploration of Branwell's personality through his writings, drawings, and possessions. I also enjoyed seeing the recreation of Branwell's art studio -- he was an aspiring artist -- within the Parsonage. Another fabulous exhibition that we saw was the costumes from the television production "To Walk Invisible." They are beautiful and looked very authentic displayed in the historic setting of the Parsonage.<br />
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During the next three years the Bronte Parsonage will also be celebrating the bicentenary anniversaries of both Emily and Anne. This should be a great time to visit. The town of Haworth has remained much the same as it looked when the family lived there and it is easy to imagine the sisters walking through town to shop or out roaming the moors. I can't think of a more evocative landscape for understanding a writer than this remote little village in Yorkshire and its beautiful surrounding countryside.<br />
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Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-91187819850621154882017-05-22T13:11:00.000-07:002017-05-22T13:11:01.804-07:00Adventures in Yorkshire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We just got back from a wonderful trip to London and Yorkshire. After a week in London our plan was to visit Haworth where the Bronte sisters lived. The question was: where should we stay? I had been told that York was a wonderful destination and only about an hour from Haworth. Once I began reading up on York I discovered so many interesting things. For example, did you know that York was once the capital of England? And that it is the home to the biggest Gothic cathedral in all of Northern Europe, the York Minster? I learned so much on this trip. But, back to the issue of where to stay. I did a little research and discovered what looked to be a lovely country house hotel just outside the city of York called Middlethorpe Hall. It is a Queen Anne country house that was built by Thomas Barlow in the early 18th-century and lived in by his descendants for many years. One of its most famous residents was the letter-writer and traveler Lady Mary Worley Montagu who rented it in 1713. Eventually the house fell into disrepair and was carefully restored in 1980 and turned into a beautiful hotel. I knew it was on a large piece of land but nowhere did I learn about its gorgeous gardens. Here is what we discovered at Middlethorpe Hall on our very first day. And by the way, don't you think the house itself has a sort of a <i>Jane Eyre</i> look about it? To me it looked like the Thornfield Hall of my imagination. Mr. Rochester or Mrs. Fairfax could have easily opened up that front door!<br />
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We entered the foyer and were very happy with what we saw. This is a very authentic and old-fashioned country-house hotel. Inviting and comfortable, it made us feel if we had traveled back in time. Our room was lovely and I wish I had pictures. But to give you a feeling of the authenticity of the building, our bedroom floor was on a slant and creaked like a thunderclap every time we walked on it. Late at night on the way to the bathroom it was easy to imagine ghosts. I loved the ambiance here and it was a great beginning to our Bronte journey. We checked in and quickly unpacked as we wanted to explore.<br />
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There were some very beautiful public rooms</div>
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I could imagine having tea here later</div>
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But our first stop was the terrace at the back of the house where we were told we could get a cocktail</div>
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We walked out the back door and sat at one of these little table and had a glass of wine. We noticed that there seemed to be a garden at the end of the terrace. And so we took a walk.</div>
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We were greeted by this beautiful tree and noticed a pathway leading to a garden</div>
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We followed the path</div>
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The borders were lush and beautiful</div>
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And there it was -- a series of garden rooms filled with herbaceous borders, fruit trees, pathways, enclosures, long vistas, doorways, hedging, brick walls, and espaliered trees. There was also an 18th-century dovecote. This garden was enchanting and we were the only ones in it! </div>
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There was beautiful hedging and inviting benches</div>
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Enticing vistas</div>
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Dramatic entrances</div>
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Pergolas</div>
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Garden doors</div>
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With views of more enticing gardens</div>
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Espaliered trees</div>
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The tulips were gorgeous</div>
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As were the alliums</div>
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There were arbors</div>
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And brick walls</div>
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We were happy to have made it in time to see the wisteria</div>
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The geometric shapes and symmetry were very inspiring</div>
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We followed along until we reached this park-like expanse which led us to the big lawn at the back of the house</div>
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Where we discovered the "ha-ha," a concealed ditch which allows views across the south lawn </div>
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At this point it was time to change for dinner at the hotel. The wood-paneled dining room was elegant and the food was delicious. We had three wonderful nights at Middlethorpe Hall. Maybe because of its proximity to Bronte Country, staying at Middlethorpe Hall felt a bit like living inside a Victorian novel. The combination of history, beauty, and atmosphere made it the perfect place to stay on our journey to visit the Brontes. <br />
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Next up: Haworth and the Bronte Parsonage </div>
<br />Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-1976515156095923002017-04-11T12:47:00.000-07:002017-04-11T20:35:22.945-07:00English Rose<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Gemma Arterton in the Spring edition of "Town & Country" UK</div>
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I've often said that <i>Harpers Bazzar</i> UK is one of the most beautiful magazines around. The editor-in-chief Justine Picardie brings an artistry, intellect, and literary slant to this fashion magazine unlike anybody else in the fashion world. She is indeed a literary woman herself, a novelist and biographer who has written several books including a novel about Daphne Du Maurier and a biography of Coco Chanel. And so I find that I read the magazine not just for the fashion but also for the excellent articles on books, writers and artists as well as all kinds of cultural things happening in England, of which there is an abundance!<br />
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About a year ago I discovered another magazine edited by Justine Picardie:<i> Town and Country</i> UK which is published four times a year and not that easy to find in Los Angeles. They are very patient with me at my local new stand as I ask about once a week if they have have it in stock. It is equally beautiful. This month's edition has Jenna Arterton on the cover which is a happy coincidence for me as I've just seen the film <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfilms/film/their_finest">Their Finest</a> in which she stars. I was absolutely bowled over by her performance. My husband and I left the theater wondering who she was (she looked very familiar but we couldn't quite place her) and when I picked up the Spring issue of Town and Country she was on the cover. All I had to do was look inside to get the answer. The photo spread is gorgeous and the article contains some interesting facts about this very talented young woman.<br />
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Gemma Arterton is 31-year-old English actress who has been working in films and theater for many years. She has been in several French films, as well as a few Hollywood blockbusters, such as "Clash of the Titans." She is currently starring in the Donmar Warehouse production of the play <i>Saint Joan</i>. She is also working on a new film about Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf in which she plays Vita. It is written by Eileen Atkins. She says she prefers stage over screen and has set up her own production company so that she has control over she what she does. She now has the ability to develop stories she loves for herself and others. One of the things she liked most about the film "Their Finest" is that it is a romance in the vein of the old Hollywood screwball comedies in which two people love each other without knowing it. I think that is such a good description of the film.<br />
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Sam Claflin and Gemma Arterton in the new film "Their Finest"</div>
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Gemma plays an ambitious Welsh woman named Catrina Cole who lives in London during World War II and works as an advertising copywriter. She gets recruited by the government to join the film industry. Britain wants America to enter the war and decides the best way to rally the cause as well as lift the spirits of weary Britons is to make propaganda films celebrating the virtues of British soldiers. She works alongside a young, dispirited screenwriter named Tom Buckley (played by Sam Claflin) and together they start writing the film within the film.<br />
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Sparks start to fly between the two screenwriters but before they ever acknowledge their attraction to each other there are a lot of obstacles and complications along the way. Catrina is married to a penniless artist (played by Jack Huston) and they are living a life of bohemian squalor until she starts to make some money. She quickly rises to the top of her male-dominated film crew as her talent is begrudgingly recognized by the men around her and she begins to come into her own. The story unfolds against the grim backdrop of London during the Blitz, with lots of drama and suspense caused by frequent air raids and explosions. The cast is fabulous and includes Bill Nighy (who practically steals the movie with his comedic turn as an aging actor), Richard E. Grant, and Jeremy Irons. I loved this movie for its sense of time and place, romance, and compelling story of a woman's growing confidence and independence in a male chauvinistic world. I was also thrilled to see the work of this young English actress and look forward to seeing what she does next. Especially in the upcoming Vita Sackville-West film!<br />
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Have you seen her new film "The Finest"?</div>
<br />Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-62722143789295832812017-03-29T15:02:00.000-07:002017-03-30T06:14:15.940-07:00Literary Wanderings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I hope you are enjoying the beginning of spring! Here in Los Angeles the temperatures are rising and everyone seems to have spring fever. When I'm not outside in the garden, I have been inside doing a lot of reading, writing, and watching some great television. Here are a few treasures I have discovered that I want to share with you. They are all connected to some of my favorite writers.<br />
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A Rediscovered Classic</div>
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I just finished reading <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mayor-Casterbridge-Penguin-Classics/dp/0141439785">The Mayor of Casterbridge</a> for the second time, though it felt like the first since its been so many years. This may be Hardy's masterpiece. I was struck by the power of his writing to capture the shocking incident that opens the book: a man sells his wife and a daughter to a stranger. An incredible event. I was also struck by Hardy's ability to depict this man's character. The man in question is Michael Henchard, the "Mayor of Casterbridge," who spends much of the book battling his inner demons. I don't think I've ever read a book that so thoroughly depicted a man unable to escape his character flaws. It's heartbreaking in a way to watch this man sabotage his own personal happiness. I was also struck by Hardy's incredible talent at capturing a time and a place. We're deep in rural England in the 1800's, a place that seems very far away. The customs, manner of speaking, types of people, class differences, farming practises, and town life are all vividly brought to life. The only other writer I can think of that matches Hardy in capturing the quaintness, nuances and minutiae of that other life would be George Eliot, especially in "Middlemarch." These two writers are masters at world-building. I can't recommend this book highly enough!<br />
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House Style: Five Centuries of Fashion at Chatsworth</div>
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Thanks to a couple of friends who alerted me to this fabulous fashion <a href="https://www.chatsworth.org/">exhibition</a> at Chatsworth House in England, it is now on my wish list for my upcoming trip. I have never been to Chatsworth House and have always wanted to go. A big fan of of Nancy Mitford's books, I was excited to learn about her youngest sister Deborah Mitford. After reading Deborah's fabulous memoir <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wait-Me-Memoirs-Deborah-Mitford/dp/0312610645">Wait for Me</a> I found another Mitford to love. Deborah was the youngest of the Mitford sisters and often felt overlooked. Her life took a glamorous turn when she became Duchess of Devonshire after marrying Andrew Cavendish. They lived at Chatsworth House, one of the great treasure houses of England. It is set amid the rolling green hills of the Derbyshire Dales. The Duke and Duchess hosted many celebrities and dignitaries here over the years and their stories will be told as part of this fashion exhibition which is curated by Hamish Bowles of "Vogue." Keeping my fingers crossed I make it there! </div>
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This Article on Jane Austen in "The New Yorker"</div>
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After reading Anthony Lane's fascinating <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/03/13/reading-jane-austens-final-unfinished-novel">article</a> about "Sanditon," Jane Austen's last and unfinished book, I now want to read it. As he writes, "<i>Although--or precisely because--"Sanditon" was composed by a dying woman, the result is robust, unsparing, and alert to all the latest fashions of human foolishness. It brims with life." </i>I learned some interesting facts about Jane Austen from Lane's article.<i> </i>Did you know that of her six mature novels, four were published in her lifetime and none have her name on the title page? Her nephew, who wrote her biography, claimed that she was always sweet of temper. Lane tells us that wasn't always the case and quotes Austen in a letter saying "<i>Pictures of perfection as you know make me sick & wicked</i>." He goes on to give a fascinating review of "Sanditon." Any Jane Austen fan will want to read this excellent article about Austen's last book written when she knew she was dying. That fact gives "Sanditon" an intensity not found in her other novels.</div>
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"To Walk Invisible"</div>
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"To Walk Invisible" is the two-hour film about the Bronte sisters made by British filmmaker Sally Wainwright. It aired on Sunday night as part of Masterpiece Theatre. I loved it and thought it was brilliant. I don't want to give away any spoilers in case you haven't seen it, but there is a fabulous short <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/clips/to-walk-invisible-the-bronte-story/">video</a> on the Masterpiece website that tells what the filmmaker was trying to accomplish. Here are some highlights: </div>
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Sally's intention was to tell the true story of the lives of the Bronte sisters (Charlotte, Emily, and Anne) and to bust some of the myths that have grown up around them. She lived near Haworth as a child and was always taken there. Consequently she grew up knowing all about the Brontes. Her film is about the family, rather than the individual sisters, and the dynamics of that family. They were not at all well-off and the idea of publishing comes about because they are worried about the future. The actor who plays Branwell, the alcoholic, tragic brother, says that although the time covered in the film is a very painful three years it is also hopeful and magical. I agree after seeing the film. The director talks about the fact that people who get hooked on the Brontes get passionate about them and interested in their lives as much as their books. (very true for me!) She goes on to say how remarkable it was to have three geniuses in one family, three separate brilliant people any one of whom would have become famous for what they accomplished. Go <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/clips/to-walk-invisible-the-bronte-story/">here</a> to learn more. <span style="text-align: center;">I absolutely adored this poignant and beautiful production. My favorite line? When Anne Bronte says, "</span><i style="text-align: center;">I feel most alive when I am writing</i><span style="text-align: center;">."</span></div>
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I would love to know if you have read "The Mayor of Casterbridge" and how you liked it. Are you a fan of Nancy and Deborah Mitford and have you been to Chatsworth? And please let me know if you watched "To Walk Invisible." </div>
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Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-31627766451785680442017-03-21T14:42:00.000-07:002017-03-21T14:44:10.653-07:00Preparing for London<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Do you love planning and researching a trip as much as I do? It's almost as fun as the actual journey! I am getting ready for a trip to London and Yorkshire in the spring and have discovered three fabulous books on London to help me create my itinerary. Each one validates the well-known adage that if you are tired of London you are tired of life. They are filled with wonderful suggestions for things to do in London. Some have been on my to-do list forever, some are ones I have never heard of until now, and others are places I have already been to and now can't wait to revisit. Here are the books and some interesting things I learned from them: <br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Literary-London-Eloise-Millar-x/dp/1782435042">Literary London</a> by Eloise Millar & Sam Jordison. This books gives us the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of our literary heroes. It tells the stories behind the stories, giving us fascinating facts about London's best literary landmarks, taking us into publishing houses, cafes, parks and all our favorite authors' stomping grounds. There are charming maps within the pages to help us find the best of literary London. Here are a few fun and quirky things that stood out to me:<br />
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1) A Dickensian pub crawl including the George Inn on Borough High Street, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese (love the name) on Fleet street and the Lamb and Flag in Covent Garden which boasts a little plaque in the alleyway commemorating Dickens' time there. In his days the tavern had a slightly more sinister name: The Bucket of Blood!<br />
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2) Berry Bros & Wine Merchants on St. James Street. I walk past this wine shop every time I am in London. I loved learning that it has had the same slanting floor since 1698 (better for rolling barrels) and was the poet Lord Byron's shop of choice for his wine cellar.<br />
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3) Brown's Hotel. I've been to Brown's for afternoon tea but didn't know it was the model for Agatha Christie's "At Bertram's Hotel." An interesting fact: Brown's Hotel was opened by Lord Byron's former valet a few years after the poet's death in 1837 (and on Albermarle Street, the same road as Byron's publisher). And the tea is supposedly very similar to the one Miss Marple eats.<br />
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4) Maison Bertaux. Located at 28 Greek Street, Soho, this is London's oldest French patisserie. The Bloomsbury Group loved to gather here for pastries and coffee.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Art-Lovers-Guide-London-Finest/dp/0789325969">The Art Lovers' Guide, London</a>. This is a fully illustrated guidebook about the finest art in London. I learned a few interesting facts about some very famous paintings.<br />
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1) "Ophelia" by John Everett Millais which is at the Tate Britain was worked on by the artist for four months. He worked on a riverbank in order to copy the background accurately. For the foreground his model Lizzie Siddal posed for days in a cold bath, becoming ill in the process.<br />
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2) "The Swing" by Fragonard is the most famous masterpiece of Rococo art at the Wallace Collection, one of my very favorite places to visit in London. The Wallace Collection is located in London's Hertford House which was once the home of Richard Wallace and his descendants. It is now a national museum exhibiting the family's acquisitions of European art, including London's finest group of 18th-century French paintings. Next time I go I will seek out "The Swing."<br />
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3) "A Bar at the Folies-Bergeres" by Manet is one of my favorite paintings and I have enjoyed seeing it at the Courtauld Gallery. This painting of the famous Paris musical hall was Manet's last major work. The Courtauld is located in beautiful Somerset House and has a fabulous collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Art. I haven't been for many years and after reading details about its impressive collection, I can't wait to go back. The description of the paintings by Degas and Renoir at the Courtauld are especially enticing.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/London-Cookbook-Restaurants-Hole-Wall/dp/1607748134">The London Cookbook</a> by Aleksandra Crapanzano. This wonderful book is both a guide to some of the best restaurants in London as well as a cookbook featuring some of the best recipes from these restaurants. Here are a three that I want to go to that feature some of the the best of British cooking.<br />
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1) La Fromagerie. This is a cheese shop with a cafe that is supposed to be a great place for lunch. The featured recipe in the book is "Alpine Fondue." In the notes for the recipe, the author writes that a great fondue is a balancing act, melding different varieties of cheese so no single one claims center state. This dish is served with bowls of cornichons, ham, boiled potatoes and cubes of crusty bread. I would love to order this dish if I make it to the restaurant!<br />
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2) Bucca Di Luppo. An Italian restaurant that I have been to, it is located on a tiny street in Soho. This is another great place for lunch, especially sitting at the bar where you can watch the cooking. After reading about the featured recipe, Chestnut Straccetti with Mushrooms and Chestnuts, a pasta dish that includes chestnuts, pancetta, sage and mushrooms, I now want to go for dinner.<br />
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3) Nopi. One of Yotam Ottolenghi's restaurants, Nopi is a brasserie located in Soho. I have all of his cookbooks and would love to finally eat at his restaurant. The featured recipe is Purple Sprouting Broccoli with Olive Oil Mash. As the author says, "<i>You may well wonder why I've included a recipe here for what is essentially mashed potatoes and grilled broccoli. The answer is simply Yotam. When Yotam cooks vegetables, magical things happen." </i>That answer is good enough for me. I have been cooking his food for years and have total confidence that this dish will be delicious!<br />
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And one more thing: a good friend just returned from London where she saw the Vanessa Bell retrospective at the Dulwich Picture Gallery. She brought me home a copy of the collector's edition of the March 2017 issue of Harpers Bazaar UK which includes two fabulous articles about Vanessa Bell and Bloomsbury written by Virginia Nicholson as well as a short story by Virginia Woolf that was originally published in Harpers in 1936. I am planning to see the Vanessa Bell exhibition at the Dulwich Picture Gallery and can now read up on it. I will be adding this to my ever-growing pile of research for my trip!</div>
Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-26803348854707614642017-02-17T11:50:00.000-08:002017-02-17T17:31:03.022-08:00Reading and Other Adventures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>"Either write something worth reading, Or do something worth writing</i>."</div>
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-- Benjamin Franklin</div>
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Hello! Happy February. I hope your holidays were good and you've been enjoying the new year. You may have been wondering where I have been! Well, I have been trying my hand at writing some fiction and it has been challenging, satisfying, and completely absorbing. I have enjoyed stretching myself and, if you are at all inclined, I highly recommend it. Finding a creative outlet has to be one of the most enriching of human experiences. As Jean-Jacques Rousseau said, <i>"The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless</i>." <br />
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Fortunately I have been able to keep up with some fabulous books that I am currently reading and wanted to share with you.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nutshell-Novel-Ian-McEwan/dp/0385542070">Nutshell</a> by Ian McEwan:<br />
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I loved this book. Just as he did in "The Children Act," Ian McEwan manages to pack a powerful punch in a small number of pages, just under 200 here. The concept of the book sounds a bit crazy, but if you are willing to "suspend disbelief," it works. The narrator is an unborn baby who can hear everything that is happening around his mother, including the conversation between her and her lover to kill the baby's father. Her lover is the father's brother. Sound familiar? Yes, echoes of Hamlet here. The book is a bit of a sly comedy and I laughed out loud many times. The mother drinks prodigious amounts of wine (which is an awful reality that McEwan mines for some dark humor) during her pregnancy and there is quite a bit of humor as the baby-to-be becomes a wine connoisseur, commenting throughout the book on the quality of the wine as well as enjoying a contact high. The baby has learned about world events through the mother's habit of listening to podcasts and offers observations on the state of the world. He is full of disdain for his mother's lover who is crass and unintelligent. He also ponders the fact that his father is about to be murdered. What will happen to him after he is born, the baby uneasily wonders, since his mother and her lover never seem to consider this about-to-be-born human when plotting the murder. It is a very clever novel written by one of the best writers working today. I highly recommend it! <br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gentleman-Moscow-Novel-Random-House/dp/1524708690">A Gentleman in Moscow</a> by Amor Towles:<br />
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A friend of mine remarked that this book reminded her of the film The Hotel Budapest. I agree. There is a whimsical and light-hearted quality to it. I am only halfway through, but suffice it to say that I am completely entranced by the voice of its central character, the charming and witty Count Rostov. It is 1922 in Russia and, as you can imagine, not a good time to be a Count. His crime was writing a poem. However, the Count's imprisonment will not be Siberia, but rather house arrest in the Metropol Hotel, the nicest hotel in Moscow. The hotel becomes a world unto itself for the Count and the events of the outside world enter only when his friends come to tell him what is going in revolutionary Russia. He shares their dismay. At one point he considers suicide, but decides to move on and manages to live a full and rich life within the confines of the hotel. The key to his contentment seems to be meaningful relationships with hotel guests and staff, an interest in everything around him, reading great books, and a determination to choose optimism over despair. The book is written with all the wit and charm of "Rules of Civility," Amor Towles first book, which I loved. I'm anxious to finish this one and see what ultimately happens to Count Rostov, an unforgettable character who is easy to love. <br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Moonstone-Wordsworth-Classics-Wilkie-Collins/dp/1853260444">The Moonstone</a> by Wilkie Collins:<br />
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A big, sprawling Victorian mystery that I have read before, this is a book I love. T.S. Eliot called it "the first and greatest of English detective novels." As soon as you open the first page you will be pulled into the tale of the moonstone, a famous diamond that originated in India and continues to be stolen from whomever is its unlucky owner. The mystery begins two years after the diamond was stolen from Rachel Verinder, who received it as a gift from her uncle on the occasion of her 18th-birthday. There are multiple narrators including the Robinson Crusoe-loving butler Gabriel Betteridge, Rachel's dashing cousin Franklin Blake, and the detective Sergeant Cuff. They all tell their story of the missing gem and its eventual recovery. Just like a Dickens novel, the book is filled with memorable characters and evocative Victorian atmosphere. This is one of those books that will take you to a cozy place.<br />
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It's raining cats and dogs this weekend in Los Angeles and it will be the perfect time to curl up with a classic novel like "The Moonstone." I'm also reading up on the Brontes as I plan my next trip to England. This time I will visit Haworth in Yorkshire and finally make the pilgrimage to the Bronte Parsonage where the Bronte family lived. Did you know that every night the Bronte sisters would walk around the table in their dining room discussing their writing? After Emily and Anne died, Charlotte continued this tradition to honor her sisters.<br />
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Let me know what you are reading and anything special you may be working on. The new year is the perfect time to follow our dreams!<br />
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Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-58271593077877245142016-12-21T16:17:00.001-08:002016-12-23T13:43:14.490-08:00Happy Holidays!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The holiday weekend is coming up and I have been rushing around buying gifts, wrapping paper, greeting cards, ingredients for cookies, and food for our Christmas celebration on Sunday. The tree is decorated and the house looks festive but I've hardly taken a moment to enjoy them.<br />
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Today I decided to wrap presents and finish my Christmas cards which was a very good idea as I was home most of the afternoon and got into the Christmas spirit. One of the reasons my mood was so merry was that I did it all to the accompaniment of a very charming podcast. Miranda Mills and Sophie Butler are best friends who live in England and the creators of "<a href="https://www.teaandtattlepodcast.com/">Tea and Tattle,</a>" a podcast "for the discerning woman" that covers topics ranging from "fashion to books to well-being and everything in between." Their current podcast is called "Christmas Traditions" in which they talk about their favorite holiday traditions and read passages from books that remind them of those traditions. Their choices include "Anne of Green Gables" by Lucy Maud Montgomery, "Christmas Pudding" by Nancy Mitford, and several others. I found myself smiling the whole time as I was reminded of being young and feeling the magic of Christmas. If you need some Christmas spirit I highly recommend this delightful podcast. Go <a href="https://www.teaandtattlepodcast.com/home/08">here</a> to listen.<br />
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The co- hosts of the podcast ask us to think about our favorite holiday traditions and books that remind us of those traditions. One of my favorite Christmas traditions is baking for my family and friends -- cookies, gingerbread, coffeecakes -- and all the delicious smells that waft through the kitchen and the house. A book that reminds me of this tradition is "A Christmas Memory" by Truman Capote. In that book a young boy remembers making fruitcakes with a beloved elderly relative every year and sending them to friends and strangers alike. It is a heartwarming and poignant story that always makes me a little weepy. I'm very grateful to Miranda and Sophie for encouraging me to think about this topic and reminding me of the power of memory and great books to add layers of meaning to the holidays.<br />
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I hope you are enjoying the build-up to the big holiday weekend and that you get to celebrate with family and friends. Wishing you all the merriest of holidays and a happy and healthy New Year!<br />
<br />Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-5177378418803055632016-12-14T07:07:00.000-08:002016-12-14T07:11:44.091-08:00"To Walk Invisible"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A scene from the television film "To Walk Invisible"<br />
Photo via <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3599403/Sister-act-Filming-begins-BBC-s-lavish-new-Bronte-drama-Walk-Invisible-cast-York-beautiful-period-costumes.html">here</a></div>
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If you are a fan of the Bronte sisters (Charlotte, Emily and Anne), the authors of some of the most iconic novels in the English language, you will be very happy to hear that a dramatization of their lives will soon be airing on PBS. Sally Wainwright, the creator of television shows such as "Happy Valley" and "Last Tango in Halifax," has just completed a new film for the BBC, "To Walk Invisible." It has been shot in Haworth, Yorkshire, where the Bronte family lived, and from the photos I have seen it looks breathtaking. I have always been enthralled by the story of the Brontes -- their humble beginnings, remote setting in Yorkshire, tragically short lives, and the literary masterpieces they produced -- a personal story as riveting as any of their books. Now it will be told in what looks to be a brilliant television production. The lucky viewers in Britain will get to see it this month. We will have to wait until March when it will be broadcast on Masterpiece Theatre.<br />
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Here are a few things I have learned about this upcoming television production:<br />
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Sally Wainwright was approached by the BBC to do something for the 200th anniversary of Charlotte's birth in 2016. Rather than do a series about their entire lives, she decided to focus on the four surviving Bronte siblings (Charlotte, Emily, Anne and Branwell) as mature adults. Siblings Maria and Elizabeth had died of tuberculosis as young children.<br />
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The film will be 90 minutes long and covers the years 1845-1848. These are the last years of their brother Branwell's life. He was a troubled young man and during this time he sank into alcoholism, drug addiction and disturbing behavior. He died from alcoholism in 1848 at age 31.<br />
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The film depicts the domestic situation of these three women living with a disturbed brother and how they dealt with his problems. This is also the time that they tried to publish their books. It was an uncomfortable situation at home and yet they continued to write and create their literary masterpieces. <span style="text-align: center;">I can't wait to see this!</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Another wonderful event in honor of the 200th celebration of Charlotte Bronte's birth is the Charlotte Bronte <a href="http://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/charlotte-bronte">exhibition</a> in New York at the Morgan Library which I just visited for the second time. It's up until January and if you are in New York be sure to see this.</span></span><br />
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The original manuscript of "Jane Eyre" on loan to the Morgan Library<br />
Photo via<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/09/books/she-was-no-bird-jane-eyre-manuscript-on-first-trip-to-america.html?smid=pl-share"> here</a></div>
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Here are the highlights:</div>
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A portion of the original 1847 manuscript of "Jane Eyre" ( photo above) on loan from the British Library and shown in the U.S. for the first time. It is open to the page on which Jane tells Mr. Rochester: <span style="text-align: center;"><i>"I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will; which I now exert to leave you."</i> Seeing this treasure was very special and I have to admit to getting a little emotional.</span></div>
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The only surviving portrait of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte painted by their brother Branwell which has never been seen in this country before. It resides in the National Portrait Gallery in London.</div>
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A blue floral dress worn by Charlotte in the 1950's </div>
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Drawings and watercolors by Charlotte that demonstrate her artistic talent</div>
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The tiny books written by the Bronte children in a nearly microscopic handwriting. Magnifying glasses are nearby to help viewers read them. The children wrote fantasy fiction set in Glass Town, Angria and Gondall, imaginary lands populated by aristocrats, poets and swashbuckling heroes. </div>
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I walked out of this exhibition touched by the poignancy of Charlotte Bronte's short life. She died three weeks before her 39th birthday while pregnant with her first child. Just nine months earlier she had married the curate at Haworth, Arthur Bell Nicholls. She had watched all of her siblings die, including Emily at age 30 and Anne at age 29. It is awe-inspiring to think of all that she wrote and the celebrity she achieved considering her personal life. After her death her father Patrick Bronte and her husband Arthur Nicholls worked hard to protect her literary legacy. Fans of her books began making the pilgrimage to the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth, England just a few years after her death. The flow of visitors continues to this day. Nothing has changed except the sheer volume of admirers and each year the streets of Haworth teem with devoted fans of the Brontes. I am planning a trip for 2017. I am so happy that I got a chance to see this exhibition twice! </div>
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I would love to know:<br />
Do you have a favorite Bronte sister? What is your favorite Bronte book?<br />
Have you visited the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth?</div>
Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-18002040178760374982016-11-25T15:12:00.003-08:002016-11-29T08:53:20.764-08:00A Little Trip to England...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Now that you are done with all that cooking, you may be craving a little vacation. If you can't get away, you can take a little trip to England without ever getting on a plane. Look no further than Ben Pentreath's new book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/English-Houses-Inspirational-Interiors-Apartments/dp/1849757534">English Houses</a>. Ben is a renowned architectural and interior designer, writer, shopkeeper and blogger. I adore his <a href="http://www.benpentreath.com/inspiration/">blog</a> and his cozy <a href="http://www.benpentreath.com/shop/">shop</a> in London. I think he has the most exquisite taste. He is a classicist but with a sense of fun and youthfulness. From the moment you open his gorgeous book, you will be transported to some of the most beautiful homes in England. Each one is hand-picked by Ben because they exhibit that iconic English style of architecture and interior design that he loves. Since he is both an architect as well as interior designer, several of his own projects are featured, including his own homes which are located in London and Dorset. At the end of each chapter, he gives us paint colors, wall paper names, furniture and lamp designers, and many other sources that we can use in our own homes. You will learn so much. And you will feel as if you have just gone on a little vacation!<br />
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Here are some of my favorite things about this book --</div>
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Ben's London House</div>
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I have been admiring this sitting room, via Ben's <a href="http://www.benpentreath.com/inspiration/">blog</a>, for years and it was so interesting to learn about the details. It is in a rooftop flat in Bloomsbury in an early Georgian house. In this room Ben used layers of contemporary fabrics, furniture and lighting combined with antique furniture and engravings. He wanted to create a mood that is at once modern and traditional, restful yet richly-colored. The walls are covered in grass cloth and the color comes from the chairs, cushions, ottoman and piles of books.<br />
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The map wall features a framed map of John Roque's Cities of London revealing 18th-century London. I love the use of individual framed parts of the map to form a whole.</div>
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The master bedroom is papered in Seaweed Lace by Soane Britain</div>
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The guest bedroom is papered in William Morris's Willow Bough</div>
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The Old Parsonage in Dorset</div>
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This is Ben's country home<br />
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The walls of the drawing room are painted "Parsonage Pink" by <a href="http://www.papersandpaints.co.uk/">Patrick Baty</a>. The lamps on the table behind the couch and the cushions on the couch add so much pattern and charm to this lovely space. This room makes me want to curl up with a cup of tea and my favorite novel.<br />
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The bedroom is painted a velvety olive-brown by <a href="http://www.papersandpaints.co.uk/">Patrick Baty</a></div>
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The kitchen is painted Farrow & Ball's archive color Wet Sand. The Aga stove and the dresser give this country kitchen so much personality.<br />
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The book features 10 additional homes belonging to Ben's good friends. They include apartments in London, manor houses in the countryside, and a castle in Cornwall. One of them is a 17th-century country house in Northumberland. I loved learning about the grand stairwell which is <i>"painted a rich sunny yellow to counter the cold Northumbrian light and bring warmth to the heart of the home." </i>Such a good idea! Another home is the London apartment belonging to Lulu Lytle, the owner of Soane Britain. She has used bold colors, patterns and stripes throughout to create a joyful, beautiful environment. Her apartment is a great lesson on not being afraid of color. Her home has a "snug," a small cozy room for relaxing. I had not heard of this term before, but that word says it all. And in Hardy country there is an ancestral manor house with an exquisite conservatory. It is truly gasp-worthy, if there is such a word. Most of us will never have a conservatory, but as Ben says at the end of the book about all these houses: <i>"...each contains a kernel of an idea that is in some way universal, from which you can draw happily and cheerfully -- and, with increasing confidence, make your own.</i>" I agree, that conservatory makes me want to have more plants in my house. What all of these houses share is a timelessness and sense of personality that make each space a living and breathing place. This book is filled with ideas on how to accomplish that very thing. It is all about the art of making a home. With the holiday season upon us, this book couldn't be more timely. And it would make a great holiday gift!<br />
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Photos via <a href="http://www.benpentreath.com/">here</a></div>
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Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-1095156533103593202016-11-14T09:40:00.000-08:002016-11-15T09:45:28.607-08:00Embracing the Season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: left;">Right now many of us are craving coziness and comfort. We want to make our homes warm and welcoming and spend time with our loved ones. November goes by so fast, culminating in everyone's favorite holiday -- Thanksgiving. In the spirit of creating some "comfort and joy," here are twelve things I am most looking forward to in November. It's all about slowing down and savoring the season.</span><br />
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1. The Days Getting Shorter</div>
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Believe it or not, I look forward to the days getting shorter. Being from the East coast originally, where the weather was cold and nothing felt better than getting home and warming up in front of the fireplace, I always loved the shorter days of winter. We may not have that cold weather right now, especially where I live, but as the nights arrive earlier it feels cozy to light the candles, set the table with flowers, and have friends over for a weeknight dinner. </div>
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2. Some Really Good Television --</div>
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There is so much good television right now. I have been watching "The Crown" which is airing on Netflix. This beautiful new series, created by Peter Morgan, is about the life of Elizabeth II and begins with her accession to the throne at age 25 in 1952. Peter Morgan wrote the film "The Queen" and the play "The Audience;" "The Crown" feels like the natural next step in his work. I have watched the first five episodes and am riveted. I loved the actress Claire Foy as Anne Bolyn in "Wolf Hall" and she is excellent as Queen Elizabeth. And what a sumptuous production. It is filled with so much history, for example the Great Smog of 1952 in London. I didn't know about this. Have you started watching this series? The episode on the coronation is brilliant. Notice what a big role the Duke of Windsor has in this story. Which makes a lot of sense, since Elizabeth wouldn't have become Queen if he hadn't abdicated the throne. He changed history forever. I would love to know what you think!<br />
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3. Reading a Classic Novel --</div>
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It's the time of year to hunker down with some good classic novels and <i>Mrs. Dalloway</i> by Virginia Woolf is the one I am reading right now. "<i>Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers...</i>" And so begins Virginia Woolf's modernist masterpiece which consists of one day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway. As she goes about her day getting ready for her party, we are in her head as she moves back and forth in time -- recalling her youth, interacting with the people around her and evaluating her life. Her loves, regrets, fears, joys, and general observations of life are all woven throughout this stream-of-consciousness novel. Her character is revealed layer by layer. At the same time we are in the head of another character, a young man named Septimus Smith who is suffering from shell shock after World War I. Through this character Virginia Woolf explored the topic of mental illness, a subject with which she was very familiar. Other characters are vividly portrayed: Peter Walsh, Sally Seton, and Richard Dalloway -- all have played an important role in Clarissa's life. And from their perspective, we learn of the impact she has had on them. Woolf was doing something new with <i>Mrs. Dalloway</i> -- writing a novel that reflects the way people really think. She also wrote some of the most beautiful prose you will ever read. </div>
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4. Travel --</div>
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Fall is such a great time to travel, especially to the East Coast to see the glorious fall foliage. We were in New York in October where we saw the amazing exhibition <a href="http://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/charlotte-bronte">Charlotte Bronte: An Independent Will</a> at the <a href="http://www.themorgan.org/">Morgan Library and Museum</a>. If you get to NY before the New Year, be sure to visit the Morgan. The Bronte exhibition will be up until January. This is the kind of exhibition savor. In fact, I will probably go again when I am in NYC in December. If you go, be sure to check out the original manuscript of <i>The Christmas Carol</i> by Charles Dickens which is always on display at The Morgan at this time of the year. The Morgan is a treasure trove and a place to celebrate the written word. It is one of my favorite places to visit and I go every time I am in New York.<br />
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5. Pumpkins and Mums<br />
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This is the classic combination for fall</div>
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6. The color orange<br />
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It really makes things pop! Here is our Thanksgiving table, 2015<br />
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And the garden, 2010</div>
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7. Plaid<br />
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Plaid feels tailored and crisp, just like fall.</div>
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These candles from <a href="http://www.anta.co.uk/stoneware/candles/william-bruce-orange-cinnamon-candle-beaker">Anta</a> in Scotland would be perfect for the holiday season!</div>
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8. Cooking </div>
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This weekend I had my family over for dinner and made Ina Garten's "Roasted Italian Meatballs" and "Kale Salad with Pancetta and Pecorino" from her new cookbook <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Jeffrey-Barefoot-Contessa-Cookbook/dp/030746489X">Cooking for Jeffrey</a>. They were delicious!<br />
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9. Hot Mulled Cider<br />
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Tis' the season for hot mulled cider. Go <a href="http://ciaodomenica.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-memory.html">here</a> for my favorite recipe.<br />
Photo via <a href="http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014401-wassail">here</a><br />
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10. A Delivery from Heywood Hill<br />
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I can't wait to see what <a href="https://www.heywoodhill.com/">Heywood Hill </a>sends me for November. Go <a href="http://ciaodomenica.blogspot.com/2016/07/a-year-in-books.html">here</a> to read more.</div>
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11. Listening to podcasts </div>
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Listening to podcasts is another way to slow down and savor the season. Miranda Mills from <a href="http://mirandasnotebook.com/">Miranda's Notebook</a> has just launched her podcast series <a href="http://mirandasnotebook.com/my-podcast-has-launched/">Tea and Tattle</a> and the first one is about Hygge, the Scandinavian philosophy of togetherness and coziness. Just what we need right now. Go <a href="http://mirandasnotebook.com/my-podcast-has-launched/">here</a> to listen.<br />
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12. Thinking about Christmas</div>
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This is the month to order tickets for "The Nutcracker." Going to this ballet in December is a magical holiday tradition. <br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">By the way, I hope you had a fun Halloween. We went trick-or-treating with our little granddaughter who was dressed up as Madeline, the character from the </span><i style="text-align: left;">Madeline</i><span style="text-align: left;"> books by Ludwig Bemelmans. She was adorable!</span></div>
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Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-14113377384105850712016-10-24T08:42:00.000-07:002016-10-24T10:45:38.237-07:00A Virginia Woolf Kind of Day <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are times when the perpetually blue skies and sunny weather of Los Angeles make me very happy. In fact, I would say that is the case most of the time. But there are also times when my mood craves "<i>a scene of wet lawn and storm-beat shrub, with ceaseless rain sweeping away wildly before a long and lamentable blast</i>" as Charlotte Bronte described in "Jane Eyre." This is the kind of weather that necessitates staying indoors and for me that means curling up in front of a roaring fire and reading. Or writing. Or maybe just daydreaming. There is something about the darkness of English skies that feels conducive to inner life. It may be confining, but there can be pleasure in confinement. And conversely there is the sense of promise and gratitude that comes when the skies finally clear and we can go outdoors. Something about those contrasts makes life seem a little more vivid.<br />
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Yesterday was one of those days. The sky was filled with dark clouds throughout the morning, making it truly feel like fall. The sun peeked in and out all afternoon, the temperature was in the sixties, and it was the perfect day to get some reading done. Later that evening it rained. Fortunately I had a delightful assignment in front of me. My garden book club has turned out to be a very interesting group. We meet every other month to discuss garden books. However, as with most literature, one things leads to another and garden books have taken us in unexpected directions. For example, many of the gardens we read about belonged to writers. And so we've had some great discussions about Edith Wharton's garden and "The House of Mirth," Vita Sackville-West's garden and "All Passion Spent," and now Virginia Woolf's garden and "Mrs. Dalloway."<br />
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Yesterday I started reading "Virginia Woolf's Garden." This book is very special to me because I have visited Virginia Woolf's garden at Monk's House, Virginia and Leonard's country retreat in Sussex (go <a href="http://ciaodomenica.blogspot.com/2014/03/monks-house.html">here</a> to read more). It is a modest house filled with atmosphere and reminders of the lives lived there: the sitting room painted in Virginia's favorite shade of green (despite her sister Vanessa's disapproval) where the Bloomsbury Group would gather for late night conversation, the dining room chairs with their needlepoint cushions stitched by Duncan Grant's mother, and Virginia's bedroom filled with her beloved books and a mantlepiece decorated with a lighthouse painted by her sister Vanessa. The garden is the biggest surprise. It was Leonard's gift to Virginia, a haven where they could both relax and she could work on her books. From the overgrown land behind the house, they created a brilliant patchwork of garden rooms, linked by brick paths, secluded behind flint walls and yew trees. Virginia wrote most of her major novels at Monk's House. She worked in a little writing hut nestled into a corner of the orchard. She could often be seen walking the grounds as she spun her narratives and created her characters.<br />
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The Foreward to "Virginia Woolf's Garden" was written by Cecil Woolf, Leonard's nephew. He recalls a time before the Second World War when he stayed at Monk's House with his uncle and aunt. He spent an entire weekend there and remembers arriving, pushing open the creaking wooden gate, and being greeted by Leonard and his pack of excited dogs. Virginia, interrupted by the barking of the dogs, came strolling across the lawn from her little writing cabin. He writes,<br />
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"<i>It would take an horticultural epic -- for which my abilities as a poet and my knowledge as a gardener are unequal -- to do full justice to the little Eden I remember. Leonard and Virginia had no children: their books and garden were their children. My recollections of the garden are inevitably somewhat impressionistic. From the overgrown land behind the house that the Woolfs bought twenty years earlier, they had created a spectacular mosaic of brightly coloured flowers...merging into vegetables, gooseberry bushes, pear trees, apple trees, figs. Here and there on the lawn were scattered goldfish ponds. Beside the flower garden and orchard, there were the beehives and the greenhouses, where Leonard had an extensive collection of cacti and succulents. Unlike the grand and formal gardens at Sissinghurst, created by Virginia's close friend Vita Sackville-West, the Woolf's garden was organic, delightfully informal and less self-conscious</i>."<br />
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This book is written by Caroline Zoob who lived with her husband at Monk's House for over a decade as tenants of the National Trust. During those years they tended and planted the garden as other tenants had done before them. She tells the story of how the garden has evolved since 1919, when the Woolfs bought the house, to the present day. I have read that this book will appeal equally to gardeners as well as those with an interest in Virginia and Leonard Woolf. I'm looking forward to reading it alongside "Mrs. Dalloway." It should be interesting to learn about this magical garden that formed a safe haven and inspiring environment for Virginia as she wrote one of her masterpieces. For the next two weeks I will be immersed in the world of Virginia Woolf and I am looking forward to my book group's discussion of one of my favorite authors and her garden.<br />
<br />Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-24215972266158937632016-10-10T18:24:00.000-07:002016-10-13T20:15:29.562-07:00Cookbook Season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy October! This is the month when many of us get into the kitchen in a serious way. With the holidays coming up and all the luscious seasonal ingredients available at the farmer's market, fall is a favorite time to cook. Just thinking about making that first batch of pumpkin bread puts a smile on my face. It is also the month when many new cookbooks get released. I have been looking at a lot of the new releases and have come up with a list of the ones that look really good to me. Please let me know of your favorites as well!</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Diana-Henry/dp/1784722049">Simple</a> by Diana Henry</div>
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Diana Henry is a British food writer who lives in London. Though she is not very well known here, she is one of Britain's best-loved food writers. She has a weekly column in the UK's Sunday Telegraph and writes for several other British publications. I just picked up her most recent cookbook "Simple" and I can already tell that this is no ordinary cookbook. The food looks beautiful and delicious and the recipes look easy. I've already found half a dozen I can't wait to make, such as her Moroccan-spiced chicken with dates and eggplant. I love her philosophy about cooking: if you have a well-stocked refrigerator and pantry you can throw together delicious meals with very little effort. She is admired for the originality of her recipes, especially in the creativity of her flavor combinations. Food writers such as Nigella Lawson and Yotam Ottolenghi sing her praises. I can tell this is going to be one of my go-to cookbooks. </div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Food52-New-Way-Dinner-Strategies/dp/0399578005">A New Way to Dinner</a> by Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs</div>
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Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs are the founders of <a href="https://food52.com/">Food 52</a>, one of the best food websites around. If you love to cook and haven't checked out this website, please do. You will frequently find me there looking for recipes, especially those using seasonal ingredients. Now the two founders of Food 52 have written a cookbook called "A New Way to Dinner." It's all about efficiency for the modern cook. The secret is cooking ahead. It offers complete grocery lists and menus for one-week blocks. I haven't seen this one yet but, if it is anything like Food 52, I know I will love it. This book will go to the top of my wish list for new cookbooks this fall. </div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Jeffrey-Barefoot-Contessa-Cookbook/dp/030746489X">Cooking for Jeffrey</a> by Ina Garten</div>
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Of course, I have to get Ina's most recent cookbook. I have all the others and they truly are my go-to cookbooks. I probably use them more than any other cookbooks in my kitchen. Ina's recipes always work and they are delicious. I remember when her first cookbook came out (so many years ago now!) and I learned about roasting vegetables, a technique I now use all the time. The vegetables cook perfectly and taste delicious, becoming golden-brown and caramelized. If you have Ina's cookbooks and have watched her television show over the years then you know what an important role her husband Jeffrey has in all this cooking. He is her chief taster. Plus he is adorable. Now she has written a book about Jeffrey's favorite recipes. They range from Friday-night roast chicken to the prosciutto-and -Camembert tartines they first tried in Paris. I don't have the book yet, but I noticed in "Food and Wine" magazine that one of the recipes is featured: "Crusty Baked Shells and Cauliflower." Boy, does that one look good!</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Want-Eat-California-Cooking/dp/141972231X">Everything I Want to Eat: Sqirl and the New California Cooking</a> by Jessica Koslow</div>
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Jessica Koslow's tiny cafe Sqirl in east Los Angeles is a gathering spot for Silverlake hipsters. It features global-inspired breakfast and lunch fare with house made jam. I have to admit that I haven't been yet but hear raves from everyone who has. They talk about burnt brioche toast with house-made seasonal jam and jam-stuffed brioche french toast. They also mention delicious, power-packed rice bowls. Now after learning a bit about this cookbook I am determined to go. Jessica's food is said to surprise and engage all of the senses. It looks good, tastes vibrant, and feels fortifying yet refreshing. In her first cookbook she shares 100 of her favorite recipes for health-conscious but delicious dishes. Some of the highlights are: raspberry and cardamom jam; sorrel-pesto rice bowl; lamb merguez with cranberry beans, roasted tomato and yogurt cheese; sticky-toffee whole wheat date cake; and Valrhona chocolate <i>fleur de sel c</i>ookies. Sqirl opens first thing in the morning and closes at 4:00 pm 7 days a week and there is usually a line of people waiting to get in. The menu features morning food, sweets, savories, salads and bowls -- the kind of food you could crave any time of the day. I can't wait to try her restaurant as well as buy her new cookbook. </div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Small-Victories-Recipes-Hundreds-Triumphs/dp/1452143099">Small Victories</a> by Julia Turschen<br />
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I love the sound of this cookbook: "recipes, advice and hundreds of ideas for home-cooking triumphs." Julia Turschen is a writer, recipe developer and co-author for best-selling cookbooks such as Gwyneth Paltrow's "It's All Good," and Dana Cowin's "Mastering My Mistakes in the Kitchen." She shares more than a hundred lessons she's learned in the kitchen through a lifetime of cooking thousands of meals. She celebrates the "aha" moments, the epiphanies of cooking. One example is when she discovered that for a chicken skillet pie recipe she could substitute store-bought creme fraiche for homemade bechamel sauce, saving a lot of work. Each recipe ends with "spin-offs" so that cooking one thing can lead to another meal. Ina Garten has written the foreword and highly recommends this book. It is said to be a beautifully curated, deeply personal collection of easy and delicious recipes. One of the highlights is brisket with apricots and prunes, a dish that can be make entirely ahead of time and reheated in the oven. Sounds perfect for fall!</div>
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Happy cooking! </div>
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Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-26431168759461438272016-10-03T07:47:00.000-07:002016-10-03T07:48:25.402-07:00"The Essex Serpent" by Sarah Perry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Every now and then a book comes out that you know is something special. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Essex-Serpent-Sarah-Perry/dp/178125544X">The Essex Serpent</a> by Sarah Perry is that kind of book. It truly stands out. In fact, there is talk that it will be nominated for many literary prizes. I wouldn't be surprised as it is a book of stunning originality. What I love most is the vivid portrait that emerges of Victorian England at the crossroads of science, religion, and superstition. It is a book that helps us understand what a complex and fascinating time this was. The events of the plot occur under the shadow of a legendary monster that has supposedly returned to Essex, England. This gives the novel a gothic quality and creates an eerie mood that permeates the entire book. While telling her tale, Perry conjures up some of the most memorable atmosphere you will ever encounter.<br />
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The story begins in 1890's London where Cora Seaborne has just lost her husband. She is relieved as he was a cruel and unpleasant man and she is happy that her life can start anew. Like so many other Victorians, she has caught the scientific fervour of the age and rushes off to Essex in search of the rumored Essex Serpent which she thinks may be a previously undiscovered species. She heads to Aldwinter where she meets the rector William Ransome. He has been struggling to calm down his parishioners who are terrorized by tales of the serpent's carnage. She is accompanied by her autistic son Francis and her socialist companion Martha. Cora arrives as the the community's fear is at its height and witnesses mass hysteria amongst the people in the village. The clash between superstition, science and religion has riled everyone up.<br />
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Cora and William develop a powerful friendship borne out of mutual respect, though they disagree on almost everything. She is a wealthy amateur naturalist and he is a man of faith. They come at the world from opposing viewpoints. They form a relationship based on ideas and vibrant discussions. There are many scenes with the two of them striding though the countryside in heated argument. It's not hard for the reader to imagine sparks will begin to fly between these two. Cora grows fond of William's wife Stella and his children. Stella is dying of consumption. Her illness is one of the most fascinating parts of the book. Be sure to read the acknowledgements at the end of the book to learn about the vast research Sarah Perry did on every element of Victorian life she writes about, including consumption. It's very impressive. As Cora becomes entangled in William's family life, the two of them fall in love.<br />
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There are other love stories in the book, though mostly unrequited. Doctor Luke Garrett, aka "The Imp," is in love with Cora from page one, but she sees him only as a friend. He is the doctor who took care of her husband during his illness. He is the most talented surgeon in London and the description of him performing experimental heart surgery is riveting. His character is beautifully drawn in an almost Dickensian way. As are all of the other characters; they are eccentric, fascinating and complex people whom you won't soon forget. And like Dickens' books, this novel deals with the social issues of the time, including poverty and the slums of London.<br />
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I loved this book. Through its incredible characters and haunting atmosphere the late Victorian era comes to life. So many stereotypes are challenged by this story and Cora Seaborne may be one of the great Victorian heroines. The fears and emotions stirred up by the mythic serpent are symbolic of deeper things, all of which get addressed. As in real life, there are no easy answers for the characters, but their search for the meaning of life is the universal bond that unites us all. The way Sarah Perry sees it, the Victorians were not so very different from us.<br />
<br />Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-30091678481612326582016-09-20T10:35:00.000-07:002016-09-20T10:36:55.878-07:00Dinner in the Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The garden on the morning of our party</div>
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Thursday is the first day of fall but here in Los Angeles we're still hanging onto summer. The daytime temperatures have been in the eighties which makes the nights beautiful. This weekend I gave a birthday party for my sister. Dinner was on the patio and we stayed outside until until after dark. The weather was perfect!</div>
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I set two tables with <a href="https://heathertaylorhome.com/">Heather Taylor Home</a> linens and flowers from <a href="http://www.hollyflora.com/">Hollyflora</a><br />
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Everyone arrived at 5:30 and we had plenty of time to enjoy the garden</div>
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We started with Greek mezze appetizers</div>
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I went to our local Farmer's Market in the morning and bought an array of Greek specialties from a wonderful vendor there. They included stuffed grape leaves, feta with herbs, hummus, tzatziki sauce, roasted red peppers, olives and tapenade. We made our own pita chips. I loved serving it on this three-tiered stand that I found at <a href="http://www.rollinggreensnursery.com/">Rolling Greens Nursery</a>. This appetizer turned out to be a good thing for dinner as well since there were three vegetarians in the group who just piled more of the yummy Greek appetizers onto their dinner plates. </div>
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Buffet table</div>
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I was very excited about the menu. My sister lived in San Francisco for many years and each time I visited her we went to Zuni Cafe, the popular restaurant on Market Street owned by Judy Rodgers. The restaurant's signature dish, the one we always ordered, is Zuni Cafe Chicken with includes luscious croutons soaked in juices from the chicken on a bed of arugula.<br />
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I wanted to recreate that dish for my sister's birthday dinner. I found the perfect recipe from Ina Garten. We made her <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/lemon-chicken-with-croutons-recipe.html">Lemon Chicken with Croutons</a> and served it with a big arugula salad. Everyone just piled the salad onto their plates and topped it with the chicken and croutons. We also served rosemary and Parmesan polenta and a big platter of roasted vegetables.</div>
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Dessert was Pumpkin Spice Cake with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting<br />
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This cake is always a winner and I love to make it in the fall. Decorated with flowers and kumquats from the garden it was special enough to be a birthday cake. Go <a href="http://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/recipes/a1873/pumpkin-cream-cheese-frosting-4014/">here </a>for the recipe.<br />
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Are you still hanging onto summer in your neck of the woods?<br />
Even though our weather feels like summer, I'm very excited to be entering the fall season!<br />
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Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-51077422093150816562016-09-06T17:11:00.001-07:002016-09-06T22:03:47.662-07:00Hello, September!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As soon as we hit September, the cultural calendar heats up. And one of the best events I have gone to recently was a screening of the 25th anniversary restoration of the beautiful Merchant Ivory film "Howards End." I had seen it on the big screen 25 years ago and multiple times on the small. But this screening was memorable. The film looks ravishing, even more so than I remember. The music and setting create an unforgettable ambiance. The directing and acting are excellent. And the story and emotional power of the book have lost nothing in the intervening years.<br />
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"Howards End" by E.M Forster is one of my favorite books. Forster considered it his best book and I agree. It is about the Schlegel sisters, Margaret and Helen, who live in London and are financially comfortable with independent incomes. They take on an impoverished young man, Leonard Bast, as their cause. Advised by the wealthy and successful industrialist Henry Wilcox that the company Leonard is working for is about to go bust, they recommend that the young man quit his job and look for a new one. When Leonard quits his job and gets another one from which he is fired, the girls are horrified to discover that the information from Henry about Leonard's former employer was faulty and the company is just fine. When they ask Henry Wilcox about the mistaken information he is unfazed and doesn't even remember giving it.<br />
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In the meantime, the young man's life begins to unravel and the two sisters encounter many challenges to what was formerly their very happy life. Helen is spurned by Paul Wilcox and returns to her London life with Margaret. Unfortunately the Wilcox family moves across the street, an unpleasant reminder to Helen of her heartbreak. Henry Wilcox's wife, Ruth, who dies shortly after the film begins, forms an unlikely friendship with Margaret Schlegel. Ruth loves her home in the country, Howards End, and decides to leave it to Margaret, whom she sees as a kindred spirit. After her death the Wilcox family finds her handwritten note with instructions that Margaret is to inherit Howards End and they tear it up. But ironically Henry ends up marrying Margaret and eventually leaves Howard End to her after all. The emotional twists and turns to this book are riveting and one of the central stories is the love of a house and the land. Both Ruth Wilcox and Margaret Schlegel believe that some houses have a spirit that only certain people can feel. It's a wonderful book, both a love letter to England's "green and pleasant land" as well as a cautionary tale.<br />
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If this newly restored film is playing in your neighborhood, please go see it. It has stood the test of time and delivers a message just as relevant today as it was 25 years ago when the film came out and 100 years ago when the book was published. E.M. Forster's theme "only connect" is one that resonates.<br />
<br />Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-20374669478120270912016-08-30T09:47:00.000-07:002016-08-30T09:47:15.682-07:00Fall Reading List<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Monks House</div>
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Sussex, England -- October, 2013</div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">With fall right around the corner (and it can't get here soon enough for me!), I have put together a fall reading list. When the weather cools down, I am always in the mood to curl up with a good book and there are so many I want to read. Some lovely books have been accumulating on my "to-be-read" shelf. I love looking at them and wonder if you, like me, have noticed how beautiful books are becoming. It could be that publishers are trying to win over the e-book crowd or perhaps the designers of book covers are feeling especially inspired right now. Whatever the reason, we seem to be experiencing a renaissance of beautiful books. The art work on the dust jackets is simply stunning. Here is my fall reading list. It includes new releases and classics. These books promise enlightenment as well as beauty!</span></div>
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I am more than halfway through <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Essex-Serpent-Sarah-Perry/dp/178125544X">The Essex Serpent</a> and love it. This novel is a Victorian love story with gothic undertones that takes place at the crossroads of science, medicine, superstition, and religion in the late nineteenth century. The events occur under the shadow of a legendary monster in Essex, England. The fears and emotions stirred up by this imaginary creature are symbolic of deeper things. Those things are close to the surface in the three central characters -- the heroine Cora Seaborne, a recent widow, and the two men in her life, the Reverend William Ransome and Doctor Luke Garrett, aka The Imp. With these three Sarah Perry has created vivid characters that jump off the page; they are complicated and fascinating people whom you won't soon forget. The setting is almost a character itself and creates a haunting atmosphere that illuminates the entire book. I am completely under its spell. This is one of my Heywood Hill books (go <a href="http://ciaodomenica.blogspot.com/2016/07/a-year-in-books.html">here</a>) and should be coming out in the U.S. very soon.<br />
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The author of "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" has written a new <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Before-War-Novel/dp/0812993101">novel </a>that is getting very good reviews. It takes place during the summer before World War I and depicts the fraught period just before Britain is to enter the war. Yet during that summer the idyllic countryside of Sussex maintains its charming ways. One reviewer noted that it is the contrast between pastoral peace and the violent chaos of war that gives the book its richness. A few years ago I heard Helen Simonson speak about becoming a writer (go <a href="http://ciaodomenica.blogspot.com/2012/04/major-pettigrew-comes-to-los-angeles.html">here</a>). She was funny and illuminating. I can't wait to read her new book. By the way, this lovely British edition was a gift from my friend Miranda Mills who writes <a href="http://mirandasnotebook.com/">Miranda's Notebook</a>.<br />
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Juliet Nicolson, whose grandmother was Vita Sackville-West, has written <a href="https://www.amazon.com/House-Full-Daughters-Memoir-Generations/dp/0374172455">A House Full of Daughters</a>. It is a biography of her family which covers seven generations of women. Despite the fact that there have been many books about her ancestors, she decided to write her own. She wanted to give it her own spin, look beyond the myths and dig deeper for the hidden truths. It will be interesting to read what she discovered about her famous heritage.</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dust-That-Falls-Dreams-Novel/dp/1101946482">The Dust That Falls From Dreams</a> is written by Louis De Bernieres, author of "Captain Corelli's Mandolin." It is a sweeping, epic story of love told against the background of war. The novel follows the lives of one British family who try to survive the ruins of war and find happiness. I have started this one and am riveted.<br />
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I had to buy <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Weatherland-Writers-Artists-Under-English/dp/0500518114">Weatherland</a> by Alexandra Harris since weather is such a factor in all the British novels I read. It will be a fun one to dip into, especially related to authors such as Dickens and the Bronte sisters. Right now we could use some "English skies" here in Los Angeles!</div>
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A beautiful new edition by Vintage of a classic -- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/All-Passion-Spent-Vita-Sackville-West/dp/1784870552">All Passion Spent</a> by Vita Sackville-West. Vintage has reissued several of her books, including "Pepita" (her Spanish-dancer grandmother) and "The Edwardians." </div>
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Legendary landscape designer Russell Page wrote his <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Education-Gardener-Review-Books-Classics/dp/1590172310">memoirs</a> in 1962 and it has became a garden classic. This book is filled with charming anecdotes about patrons, colleagues and gardens, together with great advice for the gardener. It is a beautifully written book about one man's passion and craft. We are reading this for my garden book club and I can't wait to discuss it.</div>
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I discovered Angela Thirkell's novels a few years ago and she has become one of my favorite writers. Her Barsetshire series include "Wild Strawberries," "High Rising," and "Pomfret Towers," all of which I have read and enjoyed. When I was in England a few years ago I picked up several of her books and now have a wonderful collection. I pulled <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=angela+thirkell+august+folly&tag=googhydr-20&index=stripbooks&hvadid=74769191061&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1564386514151369369&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031022&hvtargid=kwd-1561891701&ref=pd_sl_8mim1qa2s2_b">August Folly</a> off the shelf last week and will read it next.<br />
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This may go under the category of guilty pleasure, but I am definitely under the spell of these books. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Voyager-Outlander-Diana-Gabaldon/dp/0440217563">Voyager</a>, the third installment, may be the best one so far.<br />
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And finally, under the category of rereading favorite books: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mapp-Lucia-F-Benson/dp/1559212322">Mapp and Lucia</a>. We just got back from Hawaii and my family laughed when they saw what I was reading. Only I would take "Mapp and Lucia" to read in Maui. Tilling, England (which is supposed to be Rye) couldn't be further from the white sand, blue ocean and palm trees of Hawaii. But it was the book I pulled off my bookshelf as we were rushing out the door to go to the airport. I have to say I had no regrets. I am finishing it now. If you love British humor, pick this one up. You won't be disappointed. It's just so funny!Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-54083375416054554742016-08-08T17:35:00.000-07:002016-08-27T08:59:33.634-07:00A Very Good Prologue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's not too often that I think about the prologue to a book. In fact, sometimes when I am in a hurry to begin a book, I skip it. But I did take the time to read Claire Harman's brilliant prologue to her fabulous new <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charlotte-Bront%C3%AB-Life-Claire-Harman/dp/0670922269">biography</a> of Charlotte Bronte and I am so glad I did. It was a reminder of the power of literature. It also set the stage and the mood for what has so far been a fascinating read. I am 100 pages into this biography and really enjoying it.<br />
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The prologue tells a fascinating story: in September of 1843 Charlotte Bronte, age 27, is alone at the Pensionnat Heger in Brussels, a girls' school where she is a teacher. Everyone has left for vacation but she cannot afford to go home. She is lonely and unhappy. It is not only her solitude that is making her feel this way. She has fallen in love with the husband of the headmistress of the school and it is obvious he doesn't return her love. When she was a student at the school, he paid her a lot of attention and singled her out as a shining star. But after she became a teacher, his behavior changed and he acted coldly towards her. She feels rejected and ignored by both the husband and wife.<br />
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On one of these days alone at the school she takes a long walk through the town and winds up at the city's great cathedral. Although she is not Catholic, she decides to go in and hear the service. Afterwards she enters the confessional and makes a confession to the priest. For the daughter of an Irish Protestant minister, this was very strange behavior. But she was desperate to talk to someone about her feelings. She later wrote to her sister Emily about her sense of relief in unburdening herself. Later, when she wrote her first novel <i>The Professor</i>, she would learn how to deal with her pain by turning it into art.<br />
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Two weeks after Charlotte's visit to the Cathedral, a young Queen Victoria was in Brussels. Charlotte went out to see the royal party procession and wrote to Emily about her excitement at seeing the young queen. Claire Harman ends this little story with the following line:<br />
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"<i>Five years later, the insignificant little Englishwoman in the cheering crowd who had watched Victoria flash by would be keeping that queen and half the nation awake with the novel she had written."</i><br />
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That novel would be <i>Jane Eyre.</i></div>
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Would this prologue make you want to read the book?<br />
It definitely pulled me in!</div>
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Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-54038925377164422782016-08-03T15:33:00.001-07:002016-08-03T15:33:35.564-07:00Amanda Brooks' English-Country Style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The living room in Amanda Brooks' house in England</div>
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If there's one type of architecture that captures my heart, it's an English country farmhouse. The September issue of Architectural Digest arrived just in time to satisfy my passion. There is a great <a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/amanda-brooks-english-country-house#1">article </a>on writer Amanda Brooks' Oxfordshire house which hits all the right notes: timeworn ceiling beams, reclaimed wood counter tops, vintage farmhouse kitchen table, unpainted plaster, pine cabinetry, piggery turned into a painting studio, garden shed, boot room, and rose-filled gardens. Sigh... this is my dream house. Take a look at this lovely place, decorated by Amanda Brooks who brought to the decoration her favorite aesthetic -- English-country style which she loves for its "<i>timelessness and lack of pretension</i>." Oh yes, I could live here! This house simply exudes warmth and coziness.<br />
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The 1820's farmhouse owned by Amanda and Christopher Brooks</div>
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A corner of the living room</div>
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Living room</div>
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Tea tray in a sunny niche of the living room</div>
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Sitting room</div>
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Kitchen</div>
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Landing</div>
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Their daughter's bedroom</div>
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Master bedroom</div>
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Boot room</div>
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Garden shed</div>
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Amanda Brooks in her garden</div>
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Go <a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/amanda-brooks-english-country-house#1">here</a> to read more about Amanda Brooks and her Oxfordshire farmhouse. All photos via<a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/amanda-brooks-english-country-house#1"> here.</a></div>
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What is your dream house?</div>
Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-40734897942411930782016-07-26T10:36:00.000-07:002016-07-26T20:30:05.343-07:00 A Book a Month<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After reading my <a href="http://ciaodomenica.blogspot.com/2016/07/a-year-in-books.html">post</a> about signing up for "A Year In Books" at <a href="http://www.heywoodhill.com/">Heywood Hill</a> in London, some of you asked me to keep you updated about the books I receive. So here we are, my book for July! I was very excited to open up the most recent package from Heywood Hill and find <i>Belgravia</i> by Julian Fellowes. I have loved "A Year in Books" so far! The booksellers at Heywood Hill understand my literary interests and have sent me some wonderful books.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Each book comes with a bookmark designed by Cressida Bell</span></div>
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<i>Belgravia</i> by Julian Fellowes is a book that has definitely been on my radar. I haven't started it yet but here are a few things I know --<br />
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Set in Victorian London, it came out originally as an app with chapters released weekly, each one ending with a cliffhanger -- a 21st-century version of a Victorian serial novel. It has now been published as a complete volume. And just as Julian Fellowes began "Downton Abbey" with a famous historical event -- the sinking of the Titanic -- he begins this book with a famous social event -- the Duchess of Richmond's ball in 1815 which was was held in Brussels, where some of the Allied troops fighting Napoleon were encamped. Many of the guests at the ball were young officers which meant they had to leave at once to go to their regiments. Many of them were killed shortly after while fighting in the battle of Quatre Bras, which turned into Waterloo. This ball was to become one of the most tragic parties of all history, as many of the handsome young men in attendance would be dead within days.</div>
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Most of the book is set in the early 1840s and concerns two families: the aristocratic Ballasises, who live in a mansion on Belgrave Square and the wealthy Trenchards, whose fortune stems from trade and who reside in Eaton Square. At the time there would have been a distinct social divide between the two, even though in London it was easier for the groups to mix than in the country. Events occur that will link these two families together and Julian Fellowes uses this storyline to demonstrate how things were changing back then in terms of the social order. By the end of the century aristocratic families such as the Ballasises became so financially strapped that they had to search for American heiresses to be able to keep their estates. Just like Lord Grantham did with Downton Abbey. </div>
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It seems there are enough Downton Abbey-like qualities in the book to satisfy those of us who are missing the popular series. It has gotten good reviews and I look forward to delving into another world created by Julian Fellowes. One bookshelf in my study is now reserved for my Heywood Hill books. I look forward to seeing the twelve volumes lined up together at the end of the year.<br />
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I would love to know, what are you reading right now? </div>
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Have you read <i>Belgravia</i>?</div>
Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-86070935185354353282016-07-22T14:07:00.000-07:002016-07-22T20:21:34.875-07:00Garden Ramblings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A knot garden at Haddon Hall in England designed by Arne Maynard</div>
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From his new book <i>The Gardens of Arne Maynard</i></div>
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<i>"There is no Frigate like a book to take us lands away, nor any coursers like a page of prancing poetry</i>."</div>
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-- Emily Dickinson</div>
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After spending an hour lost in the pages of the beautiful new garden book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gardens-Arne-Maynard/dp/1858946263">The Gardens of Arne Maynard</a>, I understood the meaning of Emily Dickinson's quote. I was given this book by a dear friend for my birthday and when I finally got around to looking through it, I felt as if I had been on a trip to the East coast and Great Britain and toured some of the most magical and romantic gardens!<br />
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London-based Arne Marnard grew up in rural Dorset and began gardening while still a child. He considers himself more gardener than garden designer. That may be the case, but after reading this beautiful book you will realize what a talented garden designer he is. Wherever the property is located, he is able to read the land and create harmonious landscape designs. He is known for his large country gardens in Great Britain and is celebrated for his ability to draw out the essence of a place. He can design in any style -- a beachside retreat filled with dune grass and scrub, a knot garden on an Elizabethan estate, an intimate manor-house garden enclosed by a yew hedge. They are the stuff of fairytales.<br />
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A few years ago he moved to Wales with his partner and created a beautiful garden there. His new book covers twelve of his gardens, including that of his home in Wales. They include an Oxforshire manor, an East Hampton beach house, an Elizabethan estate, a farmhouse in Devon and a rambling mill house in Wiltshire. One of the things I love most about the book are his detailed essays about the elements that go into his creations: roses, kitchen gardens, borders, topiary, craftsmanship, and pleached, pollarded and trained trees. These sections are very informative and useful to any gardener. The craftsmanship section is especially interesting regarding the materials he favors for plant supports and structures. He prefers to make them <i>"from local materials in order to establish a connection with the surrounding landscape and with its traditions</i>." I also love what he has to say about roses. "<i>I use the rose -- one of my favourite of all flowers -- in three ways: to clothe buildings and soften walls; to add impact and weight in mixed borders with its blowsy, perfumed splendour; and in the wilder parts of the garden, bringing unexpected sophistication to a meadow or tumbling through the tree canopy in great frothy cascades</i>." Yes, I agree, roses bring romance to any garden!<br />
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If you love gardens, be sure to get a copy of <i>The Gardens of Arne Maynard</i>. It is a treasure trove of information as well as inspiration. It is the first book devoted to the work of this talented designer. Not only will it inspire you with ideas for your own garden, but you will be transported to some very magical places. His poetic writing about gardens will sweep you away. Pour yourself a tall glass of iced tea and beat the heat by immersing yourself in this book. In the meantime, take a look at the photos below and enjoy a little tour of his beautiful and evocative gardens. Arne Maynard understands the notion of garden as sanctuary and retreat.<br />
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Beach house in East Hampton, New York<br />
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17th-century farmhouse in Devon</div>
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Oxfordshire Manor</div>
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Haddon Hall in Derbyshire</div>
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Allt-y-bela, Arne Maynard's home in Wales </div>
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Stay cool this weekend!</div>
<br />Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502245000248725118.post-63768433426224377622016-07-13T14:10:00.000-07:002016-07-14T13:42:48.773-07:00Bloomsbury News<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0W-4WoCSEVVQJbLos2BgwiqkpTcBVT7QSm77fBxYxYoQ9Wto5_abM-mi49VoY9UQSXiSd591W3wHfyimv2CZfq7pFAI7v_AJBvP-REKMB43kPvljcQEXMgr7-9f0GsTlFxyz71pTtyqas/s1600/article-2197648-151D1BF1000005DC-738_634x505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0W-4WoCSEVVQJbLos2BgwiqkpTcBVT7QSm77fBxYxYoQ9Wto5_abM-mi49VoY9UQSXiSd591W3wHfyimv2CZfq7pFAI7v_AJBvP-REKMB43kPvljcQEXMgr7-9f0GsTlFxyz71pTtyqas/s640/article-2197648-151D1BF1000005DC-738_634x505.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The studio at Charleston</div>
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After all these years the Bloomsbury Group continues to inspire. <a href="http://www.charleston.org.uk/">Charleston</a>, the country retreat of its members, was a hive of writing and art. The artists who lived there painted and decorated every surface of the house -- the walls, cupboards, doors and mantelpieces -- and created a magical place. Its beauty inside and out, as well as the artists and writers who lived there, have been a source of inspiration to so many. Here are a few exciting Bloomsbury-related arts events that are happening right now! </div>
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"The Other Room" by Vanessa Bell </div>
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The Dulwich Picture Gallery in London will be hosting a Vanessa Bell art <a href="http://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/about/press-media/press-releases/dulwich-announces-major-vanessa-bell-exhibition-for-2017/">exhibition</a>, her first major solo show. Most people know Vanessa as the sister of Virginia Woolf, the husband of Clive Bell, the lover of Duncan Grant and the doyenne of the Bloomsbury set. But many people don't realize what an accomplished artist she was. The curators of the exhibition at Dulwich are making it very clear that she was a talented artist who deserves a show of her own. Oh, how I would love to be in London for this one!<br />
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Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West, the subjects of a new film based on Eileen Atkins' play <i>Vita and Virginia</i></div>
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Eileen Atkins' play <i>Vita and Virginia</i> about the friendship and affair between the writers Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West is finally going to be made into a film. The relationship between the two literary luminaries began in 1922 and lasted around a decade. They remained friends until Woolf's death in 1941. Woolf dedicated her novel <i>Orlando</i> to Vita, a book that has been called "<i>the longest and most charming love letter in literature</i>."<br />
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A fan designed by Duncan Grant</div>
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David Herbert has curated a fascinating exhibition <a href="http://www.victoriagal.org.uk/events/room-their-own-lost-bloomsbury-interiors-1914-30">A Room of Their Own: Lost Bloomsbury Interiors 1914-30</a> at the Victoria Gallery in Bath, England. It brings together rarely seen pieces of fine and decorative art to recreate the essence of lost Bloomsbury spaces. So many of these rooms no longer exist, but fragments still remain. Charleston is the only significant example of a Bloomsbury home to survive. After years of searching for furniture, ceramics, fabric, sculpture and paintings, he has reassembled many Bloomsbury interiors. He has collected pieces by Roger Fry, Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant to create an intimate look at the domestic lives of these artists.<br />
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David Herbert's Bloomsbury Ceramics</div>
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David Herbert has also created a line of Bloomsbury-themed ceramics decorated with foliage and flowers inspired by Duncan Grant's and Vanessa Bell's own designs. Go <a href="http://www.bloomsburyceramics.com/">here</a> to view. I can't wait to order some of these!</div>
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And one more thing -- a restaurant! The <a href="http://dallowayterrace.com/">Dalloway Terrace</a>, named after Virginia Woolf's famous book, has opened in the heart of Bloomsbury. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu for its afternoon tea was inspired by the Bloomsbury group. This restaurant looks lovely and I have read only good reviews!</div>
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<br />Sunday Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148090705938196599noreply@blogger.com10