Pumpkin Ginger Vanilla Pudding

The cat-pudding has repaired to the room with The Dragon (a heater), freeing up my Aran pullover upon which she snoozes quite often (see grainy photograph). One more holiday do-gooder event in which I have admin duties.

I did make a pumpkin ginger vanilla pudding & it went over well. More of a custard but the word 'pudding' is much more fun to say. It's a combination of three recipes, so a codified version is forthcoming. If the power stays on. (Hiss)

A few notes: Angie has a Romanian childhood holiday memory & chocolate recipe, here. Also, Vanessa's very helpful & delicious index of recipes. Carina in Copenhagen's "I want to" series is fun.

Change in the Weather

This illustrates what happens when you haven't really done the seasonal clothes rotation. Yet. UK Tights is a good tight-site. If you order enough & get them on the right day, little to no delivery charge from UK to US. Wolford are gorgeous but out of my reach (for now).

Just about everyone I know in the States, Canada, & Europe is trudging around in the snow. Here it's been in the 50s/60s & now zooming to a freeze. The last 15 hours have brought torrential rain, winds, & who knows what this afternoon-into-evening. This is mainly to switch over to December. Strasbourg at Christmas holiday soon, I hope, but things are still rather tangled here. Oops, there flickers zee lights.

Everyone in my sidebar & also on the profile page if I've not linked yet, have some great suggestions for holidays. (Joanna's always-entertaining Cup of Jo Gift Guide has just begun.) Giulia Geranium has ideas for good gifts that help. (photograph via audrey hepburn complex)

Don't Wait Up

I've been left for dead before/but I still fight on./Don't wait up, leave the light on/I'll be home soon.--Leave the Light On

It's raining cats & dogs. Severe weather on the way. Rats, double rats. Plans for today - virtual & real - on hold. (You really should click on the video or the link. Chris is not employing hyperbole in the lyric - straight from his life.)

Thanks so much for all the best wishes, cards, & gifts, too. Cheers.

PS: On Julie's blog - "cat macros." Seriously.

(Umbrella by SaikoroKitty via deviantArt)

Tempest

A great storm is on the way. Exciting if, big IF, we don't lose power for a week+. Julie is causing/having a mini-tempest; off to see to HRH's latest complaint about the service. Go to the link to see the original size of this very cool photograph by Giampaolo. All those punctuation marks are birds... ciao

Here's Your Hat...

Though it sounds very Blondie (the comic strip, not Deborah Harry), I need one more (hat). It's so hot outside that I'm delaying errands until early evening (when the hail & thunder will no doubt arrive...timing is not my forté), hence the hat hunting. The b&w Nina Leen photographs were shot for fun. Perhaps that's why Suzy Parker popped the goofy number on her head. It's definitely a case of "one of these things is not like the others." (I love the blue dress.) And that's why I need one more hat; I miss my beloved messed-up (real) Panama. It's less girly when that is necessary & it has a coolness factor that I need.

Unfortunately, a few years ago, I left the hat in my mother's car. It was a somewhat contentious weekend & very hot, as well. I painted a lot of trellises, pruned a lot of roses, & whatever else was on her list. She popped out to do some errands & a pint of Ben & Jerry's was placed in the upended hat. Panama hats can withstand a lot of abuse, but a desert-battered chapeau will go to hat heaven when it becomes a Chunky Monkey Lake. I don't even like that flavor!

[I can't remember where I got the color Suzy pix but myvintagevogue has a very nice selection, so here's that link. The Panama is via Village Hat Shop (dot) com]

White Room

Too darn hot. It was 90 degrees today; hotter tomorrow. I'm offended. With everything else happening in the world, I'll be quiet about personal discomfort & go toss myself onto white sheets. I was going to do a Beirut/Middle East, let's party post. Nah. The news from West Virginia is just too awful. I covered the coal industry when starting out. Also, I'm originally from western PA. Never make excuses for coal mining companies around me. I'm fuming. Which I just remembered I'm not supposed to do (fume) for health reasons. Om.

[image by likes tumblr/via we heart it]

The Wind Blows

You don’t need a weatherman
To know which way the wind blows...Subterranean Homesick Blues

It nearly blew me right off my feet. The wind is howling, though it could be the shrieks of villagers with pitchforks & torches.

Good night!

[Photograph via bohemea ]

Week's End - Capucine in Black & White

NPR just referred to the snowstorm on its way to Washington as "maybe apocalyptic." OK, a news person said it. That's weird (& I hope, incorrect) on so many levels. So, why Capucine? I was thinking about Cortina d'Ampezzo (the reason is too dumb to go into here) & how pretty it is there. The original Pink Panther (Capucine plays Simone Clouseau) has some winter ski scenes & I think they were filmed in Cortina. So maybe it's just that I wish I looked that chic in snow wear. Not sure. Too rattled to think what with an impending snowpocalypse, & so forth. Eek.

Friday afternoon update: OK, here's why I don't watch TV during the day. It's scaring the bleep out of me (thinking power outages, truly would be a disaster). If no week's end by midnight, someone send out a search party of DC bloggers 'cause Julie the Cat & self will be popsicles.

Friday early evening: Power is flickering already & the major blizzard hasn't begun yet. Very bad news. No post tonight. I wish I had Capucine's skis on & I was in Cortina. Click the link & it takes you to a NYTimes article about skiing to restaurants. It was not like that when I was there, I assure you.

Saturday morning update: No power.

Monday update: Julie & I have been in 40 F (or below?) since Friday. No heat for another week. Trying to go somewhere else. Thanks to Julie at Being Ruby & Penney at Just Penney's for msging me. Piggybacking wireless & using a few moments of battery power. I'll have more to say about how angry & upset I am soon. Meanwhile, check on your neighbors, OK? It's not all snowball fights at Dupont Circle. It's a true disaster for many people.

Tuesday update: For those who have messaged me. We were rescued by an urbane Arlingtonienne. Julie the Cat & I are in a lovely home, with heat. Upon our arrival, the power went off-- no doubt because I am a jinx. However this house is fully equipped with electric lanterns, enough flashlights for a battalion, & cheerful folks & a darling cat, Hermione, of whom I have written previously. The power came back on a bit ago & we're madly making market lists, charging cell phones, laptops, etc. & will be cooking up a storm before the next one arrives. Later today. With ice & high winds. Yippee. Ciao, mes amis.

[photographer names soon; found on two Blogger blogs: Loose Leaf Tigers & Sanity Fair. Both rather nice names.]

Baby, It's Cold Inside

No, you didn't. Photographs of Bridget Jones & Mooch the Cat as The Dude? Yes, I did. As much as I'd like to indulge a Lara fantasy, this is not Dr. Zhivago. Virtual visits recommence when my fingers unfreeze or I get those fingerless glove thingies. Julie's fur & my hair are slightly blowing in the breeze--inside. ciao

[film stills via imdb & Patrick McDonnell cartoon via San Luis Obispo blog -- ironically enough]

Week's End - Winter Lace

The house at Varykino has been transformed into a sublime white and icy landscape. [by Ken Danvers, still photographer for David Lean's Dr. Zhivago. via BFI.uk.org]

Wednesday, 30 Dec. update: I'm way under-the-weather. Off & on & unpredictable. Hence, more uninspired-than-usual images, etc. Trying to keep stuff current on the GG blog through New Year's Day. Also wondering how nervy I have to be to stretch (in my opinion) fair-use policy. Believe me, I see photographs & images that are cool &/or useful but...it seems, dare I say, wrong. Somehow. Does this keep anyone else awake or at least worried? I've asked this before...over & again on both blogs.

Weather Report

'Now wherefore, thus, by day and night,
In rain, in tempest, and in snow,
Thus to the dreary mountain-top
Does this poor Woman go?--Wordsworth

Only to the post office, actually. Just feeling floopy (e.g., bunny feels floopy, ears go droopy) & Sarah Bernhardt-y.

For excellent suggestions to keeping on track, see Scrap Basket at Work-in-Progress (it can involve wine, if you wish--always a welcome notion.)

[LIFE Archives photographs by Gjon Mili & David Scherman]

Cat in the Rain

Back from successful crossing of many streets. After watching Z last night (Netflix Fairy), I just couldn't help but be wary of errant vehicles. If you know not of what I speak, rent it. Please. (And after the giggling about late 1960s fashion stuff, the 'hey, where are the women?' thing, etc..you'll think, more seriously about it. Plus, what great faces in that film.) [[Note: I can't find the photo/image I want to go with a favorite Hemingway story & it's annoying me. So that's the why of this title.]

Weather report: Storm, rain, possible hail & all kinds of mess later. I didn't believe it last night & returned to rain inside the apartment & a damp Julie the Cat. So umbrellas, shades of gray, stripes (les rayures), bridges, reflections, etc.

I have not been able to do a real post on Jessica at myvintagevogue. Not one that would do her justice. So I'll let her speak for herself (below) & catch up to her apres le deluge. Jessica does a great job & sources, sources, sources. Her sites are below & her tumblr blog is in my right sidebar. As I've remarked before, usually at the top (to the unitiated, that means 'recency'); she is one busy lady. I hope that you will pay her a visit on one of her sites. Her collections have been essential for memory re-collection--priceless, in fact. [Direct link to photograph above.] Update: I'm trying to format this type properly; Blogger is driving me crazy. And storms have commenced...

From Jessica's flickr account:

"Welcome to my time machine - I like to think of myself as a curator or historian. The fashion photos are from 1920 through 1965. The lovely ladies of the silver screen were themselves’ style icons and so must be included in a page representing fashion from those years. I hope you enjoy and tell a friend.

Thank you all so much for all your kind word regarding this collection and for making this such a great experience for me.

Check out my website and blogs www.myvintagevogue.com or myvintagevogue.livejournal.com or @ photobucket s577.photobucket.com/albums/ss213/myvintagevogue & myvintagevogue.tumblr.com

Disclaimer: All photos unless otherwise indicated are not taken or owned by me. They are used solely for the purpose of discussion, education and inspiration. These images are not intended for any commercial purpose."

A Foggy View - Bay of Naples

Screech. How can it be nearly 1pm? I was expecting to fly through errands & laundry & &&...this photograph will not upload properly. I feel as grounded as I did that day in a (lovely) flat, not mine, with three gorgeous views...this one of the Bay of Naples. Which I love. Vesuvius looms over all, of course. Hmmm. OK. Well, that's that for now. Will post someone else's great photo & get ready for more thunderstorms, running through the rain. So the story about this place is on hold. Did I say bleep already? No, bleep. (Apologies for language.) [Update of three minutes later. No I'm not going to waste the permission to use someone else's gorgeous Polaroid so bricolage looks pretty-through-thumbnail. Ugliness-as-virtue? Hmmm.]