Radio Days...

I have been without a radio for many years.
My first radio was a rocket radio gizmo that was more of a toy...
can you believe this?
A few years later I received a Crosley radio that my clever father managed to paint pink to match my bedroom!
When I turned 13 I had a battery powered transistor by Motorola which I took out to local parks and beaches... I thought I was pretty cool...

I remember listening to the sounds of the late 60's... the San Francisco scene, The Beatles and The Stones....while chewing Double Bubble and sipping Coca Cola.

An early favourite band of mine was Buffalo Springfield...oodles of talent, amazing harmony, singing songs with political messages...

I still listen to CSNY...the concert here in town a few years back still makes me smile!

Springsteen's music speaks to me on many levels and Mr. HB and I attend his concerts whenever he comes to the Pacific Northwest...it's been a few years...where are you Bruce?

 Dad...

I bought a Crosley...

wish you could see it

retro looking like the one you gave me 

way back in the day!

and the best part

it has a superior sound

they call it "Sound Around"

I've had to bring in my Aeonium arborium Valour 

zone Z10

the weather is positively beastly

chilly windy and wild

with

snow flurries

Who are your favourite musicians and bands?

Hermes scarf glorious details

Hermes scarves are rich in colour and details... 

hand rolled edges and silk twill 

 the patterns created are intricately balanced

and the Hermes signature is cleverly placed

there are many ways to wear a scarf

and the books that they give to you when you purchase one are full of great ideas

copyright Hermes on the stirrups

Hermes Paris

the classic H

Henri de Linares

artist

and

designer

silk

scarf

circa 1968

I like this with a white top and jeans

it adds a bit of flash

an equestrian air

 my sister lives the life of an equestrian

has loved horses since she was about 10

she

teaches riding

and has many ribbons 

for her

 hunter jumper experise

tacked up in her tack room 

in the barn

she has more than earned the right to wear this scarf

I am totally immersed in Michael Tonello's

Bringing Home The Birkin.....

I want to stay up all night reading !

Yoga Practice and Pepper...

Pepper is teaching me things everyday...
she plays hard,
stays hydrated,
eats small meals
and sleeps often...

cat naps (which are amazingly restorative) can happen at anytime, anywhere
when she awakens she usually moves slowly and takes a few minutes to groom herself
before leaping into action

she loves to stretch...and rolls side to side

In my Yoga practice the cat pose loosens up tension from my neck and back
I imagine that I am a cat when arching and moving through these undulating feline inspired positions.

What seems natural to Pepper, I have had to learn...
I have come to Yoga as an answer to aches, pains and taut tense muscles...
the controlled breathing does wonders to rid unwanted stress and negativity.

I simply adore the last part of the class when we lie on our mats and feel all the energy that we have gained through these gentle movements...savasana.
I like to think of it as Nirvana.

Pepper seems to like it too!

a touch of retail therapy...

I have been out and about shopping and have found a few gifts for people on my Christmas list.
I do not generally overspend at this time of year...in fact, I try not to overspend at any time.

In the spirit of frugality I purchased a very inexpensive cashmere sweater from the GAP.

I spent just over $300 on a similar cardigan only to have it pill so badly that I needed to use the sweater shaver gadgety-thing-ma-bobber ( I only use the technical terminology) and it wore thin in spots and looked decidedly shabby.
Shabby is great for furniture but not so much in garments.
How disappointing,
and the store (grrr!) I purchased it from didn't want to take it back even though I had my original receipt and I considered myself regular clientele...(not so much any longer)
The clerk mentioned that all cashmere pills...not so...my Scottish made Johnson sweater, a gift form Mr. HB, has been a superior sweater and continues to be so after 5 or 6 years and is as new.

a touch of black

Gap cardigan

V neck 

Cozy

 I love this over a white shirt or a white Tee with pearls

a touch of pink...

a touch of white

 "branches" 

that can be shaped

around a wreath or in a vase

I like all white lights

twinkling and sparkling

like bubbles

in a glass of champagne.

amazon delivered

a touch of pink

a touch of blue

can't wait!

a touch of yellow

In a previous post I posed the question asking about your favourite books

and thank you all for your suggestions.

I have 3 waiting for me...

now

a dash of Pepper

 in one of her quieter moments!

There's a man in my kitchen....

Several nights ago there was a man in my kitchen...
and he cooked his way into my heart, yet again.

Mr. HB loves pasta and this love found him cooking up a feast...
he has a fabulous recipe Pasta al Sugo which he discovered watching a PBS Cooks out of Seattle, Washington.
He has made this before for me and it is a winner!

 recipe architect style

Mr. HB at work

olive oil

Marinara Sauce

full bodied red wine

 crusty baguette

Portobello mushrooms, tenderloin of beef,

Marinara sauce, garlic, beef stock, and red wine

all simmering happily in a large pan

(he used our LeCreuset wok)

Pasta cooked until al dente in another pot and added to the sauce.

stir and add in a ladle full of pasta water

top with fresh basil and grated parmesan cheese

serve in a large bowl

Harumi Ota's porcelain is perfect for this

light the candles

pour the wine

(camera image in Reidel glass purely unintended)

dinner is served

Yummy 

darling if you are reading this...

XO