Ezra’s Birthday
Posted on February 3, 2010
Filed Under Literary, art, daytripping, dining, music | 4 Comments
Yesterday was Ezra’s extra-fantastic birthday. He took the day off and we (Ez, Rainey, and me) all had such a nice time. We had yummalicious brunch at the S&S–haven’t been there in ages. (I had a boursin omelet and wheat toast, because I know you’re wondering!) There were at least four babies there besides Rainey, and overall it was pretty busy. It gave me a cozy feeling to see that they’re still packin’ ‘em in after 90 years. A woman sat down next to us and ordered borscht and chopped liver.
Then we hopped in the car. Well, we shimmied into the car. The S&S parking lot is a bit snug–all side mirrors had to be tucked in. We headed northward and did a little light birthday shopping in Kittery. Ez got a sweater, a cute hat, and funky shoes; Rainey got a few goodies, including a Steelers shirt for next season; and I even found something.
A trip northward is never complete without a stop in Portsmouth. Some years back–I think it was 2007–we wandered into Nahcotta Gallery on one such stop in Portsmouth and found ourselves surrounded by lots of the most wonderful little pieces of artwork. We had stumbled upon the very first Enormous Tiny Art Show. We wandered the pieces for a long time–probably more than an hour–and picked a piece or two that we hoped to buy. Alas, we were very much novices at the whole art buying thing, and all the pieces that interested us were already sold. The Enormous Tiny Art Show has become a biannual event at Nahcotta, and it’s even expanded to their sister gallery, Three Graces, as The Teeny Tiny Art Show. The Enormous Tiny Art Show 7 and The Teeny Tiny Art Show VI open this Friday, February 5th. It so happens that the folks at Nahcotta were busy hanging the art for ETA 7 yesterday, so we got near first pick of all the glorious goods. And, as it was Ezra’s birthday, we couldn’t say no. May I introduce…
Tiny Village
8×8
Gouache on panel
Laura Berger
and…
Her Past was Never Far Behind
4×7
Encaustic and mixed media diptych on panel
Beth Billups
Happiness!
Our trip to Portsmouth also included visits to River Run Books and BullMoose Music. Add American Rust by Philipp Meyer to my to-read list. Musically, I’ve recently been most interested in picking up jazz albums. In the last couple of weeks, those have included Giants Three: Nat Cole, Lester Young, and Buddy Rich (Verve, Recorded in Los Angeles in December 1945, vinyl), RCA Victor Vintage Series: Dizzy Gillespie (Recorded in the 30s and 40s, this collection released in 1966, vinyl), The Amazing Bud Powell (Blue Note, Recorded between 1949 and 1953, vinyl, some tracks feature Max Roach, Roy Haynes, Sonny Rollins), Atmosphere for Lovers and Thieves by Ben Webster (On Black Lion, 1965, vinyl), and Dizzy on the French Riviera (Dizzy Gillespie, Recorded 1962, Verve CD).
(I couldn’t find a good picture of the RCA Victor Dizzy record.)
Actually, I found the first two of those last Sunday at Twisted Village in Cambridge. I wasn’t sure if they were still kicking, but they ARE, thank goodness.
Ezra’s birthday was appropriately rounded off by dinner at The Portsmouth Brewery (where I had delicious smoked tofu and polenta) and caffeine at Breaking New Grounds. It happened to be game night at Breaking New Grounds, so we got in a round of Bananagrams before heading home.
Here’s to another year of Ezra!!
A slice of January
Posted on February 3, 2010
Filed Under christmas, collections, family, friends, me and my brain | 1 Comment
Most people probably agree that the cold months following Christmas and New Year’s can be a little bit of a letdown. But there are always good little moments. Here are some of mine so far in 2010.
One long weekend I finished up the Santa puzzle my mom gave me for Christmas in 2008. It was a lot of fun… a really good cozy winter activity. I think it looked better put together than it did in the picture on the box.
During our holiday visit to the farm, Ezra’s sister Abby introduced us to Bananagrams. It’s so completely up my alley–a word game, sort of like Scrabble and Boggle put together, but better (well, definitely better than Scrabble anyway). So on that long weekend I mentioned we gave Bananagrams to Amy and Doug for Christmas. Of course, we played several rounds.
Amy’s fabulous creation with the Bananagrams tiles… not a part of the actual game
And, of course, we had to get it for ourselves shortly after that.
I’m still going through my Christmas postcards. I promise to share more about them soon (take that as a “coming attractions” or a warning, as you wish).
And… we’re back!
Posted on January 22, 2010
Filed Under the interweb | 2 Comments
I’m told ze comments are back in action. Sorry for the delay.
Phooey… Blog comments aren’t working
Posted on January 22, 2010
Filed Under the interweb | Leave a Comment
If you’ve tried to comment on my blog lately, your comment probably hasn’t gone through. Something seems to be amiss. We’re working on it!!
Don’t Blame Me, I Voted for Mike Capuano
Posted on January 20, 2010
Filed Under me and my brain, politics, rant, the 'hood | Leave a Comment
… in the Democratic primary for the special election to replace Ted Kennedy in the U.S. Senate. Here’s a link to Capuano’s official web site, in case you’re not familiar with him and his positions. He was the mayor of Somerville and we loved him. He’s currently our representative in the U.S. House and I still think he does a great job. He’s got a lot more spunk than Martha Coakley. I’d like to think he’d have beaten Scott Brown, but maybe the outcome of the election would have just been that much more depressing had it been him instead of Coakley. It would have been a much more spirited campaign–I’m sure of that.
On to brighter topics…
And finally… My Collections: Vintage Christmas Ornaments–Miscellaneous
Posted on January 18, 2010
Filed Under christmas, collections, nostalgia | Leave a Comment
I’ll finish up with some favorite odds and ends.
Red and yellow with flowers
This one looks (to me) like a round grenade.
Red with blue dots
Gold with pink dots
Flowers
Tree
Silver, Red, and Green
Unsilvered lantern with pink and mica
This one is stamped West Germany.
Blue-green lantern
Pink and white with mica
Candles
Silver striped lantern
I really love these last two.
Plaid with red and blue
Plaid with red and white
And even more… My Collections: Vintage Christmas ornaments–Flocked and painted words and images
Posted on January 18, 2010
Filed Under christmas, collections, nostalgia | Leave a Comment
I found this one at an antique shop in Montreal.
I have a larger one very similar to this but in worse condition.
Joyous Christmas
Silent Night
Merry Christmas
Santa on skis
Merry Christmas w/holly
Red Merry Christmas
Santa and stars
Now Dasher!
My Collections: Vintage Christmas Ornaments–Bells
Posted on January 15, 2010
Filed Under christmas, collections, nostalgia | Leave a Comment
I promised the ornaments would keep on coming! I’m wishing now that I’d taken better photos of them. Ah well… maybe next year.
So! Onto the bells! My guess is that these are from the 40s or 50s.
This one looks a little older.
It has a clapper inside it, so it rings.
My Collections: Vintage Christmas Ornaments–Hand-painted leaf and feather shapes
Posted on January 13, 2010
Filed Under christmas, collections, nostalgia | Leave a Comment
I am especially drawn to these ornaments, many of which I believe are from the 1930s, though some are probably newer.
1. Probably 30s
2. One side
2. Another side
3. Probably 30s. This is a recent addition to my collection.
4. Probably 30s.
5. 30s or 40s
6.
7. Probably 30s
8.
9. Most likely from the 1930s, this is one of my absolute favorite ornaments.
10. This one looks a bit newer.
11.
12. Probably from the 1930s.
13. I love the translucent red glass of this one.
14.
15.
My Collections: Vintage Christmas Ornaments–Fruits, Seeds, Flowers, etc.
Posted on January 12, 2010
Filed Under christmas, collections, nostalgia | 4 Comments
Most of these ornaments are much older–probably from the 1930s, possibly 1920s.
Pine cones
I just got another lovely silver pine cone ornament, but I haven’t photographed it yet. I like the lightly frosted pine cones a lot.
Acorn
Grapes, berries, fruits
This next one might be a little newer. Note that the top is not as narrow as some of the others.
I’m not sure about this one. Cluster of berries?
Flowers, baskets of flowers, etc.
The rose
The top on this next one has definitely been replaced.
This one is tiny and would have likely been used on a feather tree.
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Rhapsody in Tweed cabled pullover for Ezra! using Tahki Donegal Tweed in Forest, from Fall 2004 Interweave Knits. I've just picked this one up again, so it's moving up in the queue!
Sweater with Cable Patterns pullover using Araucania Nature Wool Chunky in Mauve, from Rebecca Magazine Number 28
Heather Pullover using Classic Elite Wings in Larkspur, from Rowan’s A Season’s Tale... This needs the knit doctor. I'm going to have to frog back a little bit and redo the shoulder area. Long story.
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Recently
- Ezra’s Birthday
- A slice of January
- And… we’re back!
- Phooey… Blog comments aren’t working
- Don’t Blame Me, I Voted for Mike Capuano
- And finally… My Collections: Vintage Christmas Ornaments–Miscellaneous
- And even more… My Collections: Vintage Christmas ornaments–Flocked and painted words and images
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