“February is the border between winter and spring.” - Terri Guillemets
READING:
I Always Loved You (Unfortunately, the title sounds like a Harlequin romance so I would never have chosen it. It was suggested to me on Goodreads, based upon my love of historical fiction, particularly stories that include artists such as Luncheon of the Boating Party, Dancing for Degas, and Painted Girls) - “The young Mary Cassatt never thought moving to Belle Epoque Paris after the Civil War to be an artist was going to be easy, but when, after a decade of work, her submission to the Paris Salon is rejected, Mary’s fierce determination wavers. Her father is begging her to return to Philadelphia to find a husband before it is too late, her sister Lydia is falling mysteriously ill, and worse, Mary is beginning to doubt herself. Then one evening a friend introduces her to Edgar Degas and her life changes forever.”
Excerpts of classic works of literature, illustrated by Evan Robertson of Obvious State. Robertson’s brilliant black and white graphics add enrich the experience of masterpieces such as Hope is a Thing (Emily Dickinson), To Live Deliberately (Henry David Thoreau), and Beauty is Truth (Keats).
Book 2 of the Inspector Gamache Series - I enjoyed Louise Penny’s second book, A Fatal Grace more than Still Life (Gamache #1). I was told that once you get through the first two, the others will pull you in, so I’m waiting for #3 The Cruelest Month to become available.
WATCHING:
80’s movies — I’ve seen all of these movies many times, but it’s like visiting old friends.:
This month’s color scheme inspired me to watch Pretty in Pink again. I love the 80’s hair and fashion and especially the music — INXS, New Order, Echo and the Bunnymen, Psychedelic Furs. It’s a perfect 97-minute return to high school (which is just long enough)!
Ghost: Technically this film was released in 1990, but close enough. It was a Netflix suggestion after Pretty in Pink. It has been a while since I watched this film and I remembered it being kind of corny; however Eric and I quite enjoyed it.
Miracle: Sunday was the 40th anniversary of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team’s victory over the Soviets in Lake Placid. I was in seventh grade and I vividly remember watching this match in our hotel room while we were on vacation at Disney World.
We are looking for a new series to binge on Prime or Netflix. Any suggestions?
.LISTENING TO:
Edith Piaf — doesn’t she just sound like Valentine’s Day?
The Earful Tower: I have finally begun to enjoy podcasts — perhaps due to my new Airpods. So far, this one is my favorite. It’s like a 30-minute trip to Paris each week.
ENJOYING:
A weekend in Door County: We enjoyed spending time with friends and family and were refreshed by the pace and beauty of winter up north.
A wonderful birthday week: Door County, the Marquette vs. Georgetown game (great seats and a formidable win), beautiful flowers, a day off that included a lazy morning with coffee, Piper, and Audrey in Paris (Funny Face), spa treatments for both Piper and me, cocktails, dinner, and one of my favorite sailing movies, Wind.
PLANNING:
A day trip to Chicago next Saturday to see Highlights Impressionism at the Art Institute. The weather is supposed to be 50ºF and train tickets are half off.
Spring Break: Our tour with EF may change due to the threat of coronavirus in Italy. Our day and half in Venice could be replaced with Munich, Zurich, or Budapest — better safe than sorry. Now that the trip is less than six weeks away, I have started making a list of things that I want to see and do in Paris. I’m hoping to take lots of different photos and resurrect my French Friday series when I return.
Spring projects: Finishing our deck and shopping for new outdoor furniture, pruning and removing some old trees in the back, planting new shrubs and flowers…It’s a lot of work, but I’m so eager to enjoy being outside again.
