more faves

I'm the first to admit, most of the informative reading I do these
days is online. It's fast and convenient. The internet, as well as the
economy, has had an effect on the magazine industry. There are,
however, a few magazine subscriptions I can't live without. I
subscribe through Amazon and the prices are very reasonable.

Vanity Fair (Johnny Depp happens to be on the cover of July's
edition. Don't you just love him? I think I look a lot like him without
my makeup. I should do some genealogical research to see if we're
long lost cousins. Maybe we have the same Cherokee great-great-
grandmother?), Opera News (my daughter's in the industry and I
like to keep up with all the current happenings), Gourmet (you
already know I love this one, for obvious reasons) and Elle Decor
(I'm often inspired with interior design ideas and just plain love to
look at a beautifully arranged room.)

How about you? Any magazines you can't live without?

Brief Encounter and Reprises

One of my very favorite films is Brief Encounter (1945), from Noel
Coward's play Still Life. Directed by the legendary filmmaker David
Lean, this film is about a chance meeting in a train station of a
married doctor (the dashing Trevor Howard) and a suburban
housewife (Celia Johnson), who begin a quietly passionate, yet
doomed love affair. These two brilliant stars are perfectly paired, as
Lean leads his viewers through the emotions of delight, tenderness
and ultimate pain, all to the haunting strains of Rachmaninoff's
second piano concerto. This film is achingly poignant, simple and
beautiful. I think it may just possibly be THE most romantic movie
ever made. It is now a luminous part of the wonderfully restored
Criterion Collection.
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At the library, I had the good fortune to stumble onto another film in
which these two stars are paired together, nearly 35 years later.
Staying On (HBO,1980) is from the award winning novel The
Jewel in the Crown by Paul Scott. It's about the withered marital
relationship of a retired British Indian Army colonel and his wife,
who stay on in India after the British withdrew in 1947. It was
thrilling to see Howard and Johnson perform together again. An
exceptional and timeless performance, especially by Celia Johnson.
She was marvelous in this role, just two years before her death at
the age of 75.

And hey, did you know that Brief Encounter, the opera, just
premiered last month at Houston Grand Opera, starring Elizabeth
Futral and Nathan Gunn? The music is by Andre Previn and the
libretto by John Caird. I would have LOVED to have seen it!!

Futral and Gunn in Brief Encounter, photo by Felix Sanchez

Plates

The lovely Elizabeth Wix, About New York, proposed we do a blog
on plates for Friday. I, of course, was game, since I adore all kinds
of tableware. And I'm the first to admit, I have entirely too many
sets of plates. I am including just a few of my favorites for you today.
The plate pictured above, is hanging to the right of my kitchen sink.
It's a 1987 Annual Christmas Stamp art plate from the United States
Postal Service. I collect all kinds of Madonna and Child icons, so this
beautiful plate was a must.

This pattern is "Brookline" by Woods Burslem, England. I started out
with only four dinner plates of this vintage set when we were first
married. I had searched everywhere all these years for additional
pieces, but to no avail. Enter eBay. I bid, with no one bidding against
me, and won a complete set of eight table settings, plus serving pieces
for $39.00. The eBay steal of the century!

Over the years I have slowly collected a sizable set of random vintage
pink Staffordshire plates. I like to serve Christmas dinner on them.
This particular plate is "The Ride of Paul Revere".

Most times, I serve dinner on plain white Faltzgraff plates and
matching soup/salad dishes. I like the way food looks on simple
white. But that's no fun to show and tell. So here's another set I
like for everyday. The pattern is the well known "Blue Denmark" by
Johnson Brothers. I like to serve Saturday brunch on them.

My latest obsession are these beauties. Mason's "Bow Bells"
pattern in brown. I found two plates last year at the Scotts Antique
Show for $2 each. I've been keeping my eyes peeled for them and
have added one more since, for a total now of three. They're ironstone
and extra large. I'm nutty about them.

And last, but certainly not least, my tried and true "Blue Willow" also
by Johnson Brothers. I've had these since the late '70s. About 15
years ago, I thought I was tired of them and boxed them up. Last year,
I dragged them back out and fell in love with them all over again.

So there you have it, my bloggy friends. A little sampling of plates
from Willow Manor. Be sure to click on the link to Elizabeth's blog
for a list of other "plate" participants. My real passion is for bowls!

Preach always. If necessary, use words. ~ St. Francis

Do you regularly wear a piece of jewelry, other than an obvious piece
like your wedding ring, that is particularly significant to you? One I've
worn for years, that is especially symbolic to me, is this vintage gold
St. Francis of Assisi medal. The simple life and wonderful words of St.
Francis have long been a source of inspiration to me. When I feel this
lovely charm against my skin, I feel peace.

Make me an instrument of Thy peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

St. Francis of Assisi, 13th century

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Little Bread Beast

A few years ago, I bought a bread machine. It was one of those
crazy things I bought on a whim, not knowing if I would like it, or how
much I would actually use it. Now, it is one of those things I can't live
without. Don't get me wrong, I am an old fashioned kind of girl and
enjoy the glories of getting my fingers in the dough and the process of
kneading it. But how many times did I actually do it? Not many.

In five minutes, I can throw the ingredients into this little beast, turn
it on and three hours later, a glorious loaf of homemade bread is
cooling on my cutting board! Here's a simple recipe for super rich and
moist buttermilk bread, I make quite often. It's good fresh and fabulous
the next morning toasted.

Willow's Buttermilk Bread (machine version)

1 5/8 cups buttermilk
1/3 cup honey
2 tsp salt
2 tbsp butter
4 cups bread flour
2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast

Place all ingredients in bread pan.
Select Light Crust setting and press start.
Bake cycle: Standard.

Makes one large 2 lb. loaf

Easy peasy! Pair it with a nice bowl of homemade chicken soup
for a wonderful little supper. Yum-a-licious.

There is something quietly civilizing
about sharing a meal with other people.
The simple act of making someone
something to eat,
even a bowl of soup
or a loaf of bread,
has a many layered meaning.
It suggests an act of protection and caring,
of generosity and intimacy.
It is in itself a sign of respect.
Nigel Slater

What's Hot

Most of you know how nutty I am about portraits. I love the human
face and for some reason, I am especially drawn to portraits of men
and boys. Browsing the Scott's Antique Show at the Franklin County
Fair Grounds, in Columbus, Ohio is one of my favorite things to do
on a grey and bleak winter Saturday. There are usually over 800
exhibitors in this show that is open once month, November through
March. I found this great painting when I went last month, just
before Christmas, and it is currently a hot item at the Manor. I'm
crazy about it! It's by a local artist, now deceased, Richard S. Wagner
(middle initial "S", not to be confused with the great composer) and
is dated 1979. The colors and big brush strokes are wonderful. The
charming exhibitor, who sold it to me, was kind enough to let me
chose two of Wagner's drawings to take along with me for free! One
of them, below, is titled, "Riding on the Grasping Arm, Looking Back
at an Angel".

What's Hot

The hot item at the Manor this week is this great little early pewter

cream and sugar set I found Tuesday at the Heart of Ohio Antique

Center, off I-70 near Springfield, one of my favorite haunts. With

nearly 700 dealers, it is packed with fabulous random vintage stuff.

It takes a whole afternoon to wander through the entire 116,000

square feet of goodies. The creamer and sugar are hallmarked

"P S Ct" and I am assuming the Ct stands for Connecticut. After

doing a few hours of research I came up empty handed. Any clues

out there? I think I'll leave the lovely patina untouched, what do you

think? These little beauties set me back $17. What a steal. And such

a lovely afternoon, too, visiting things from another day, thoughts

from another time.

..

I cannot bear it!" said the pewter soldier. "I have shed pewter

tears! It is too melancholy! Rather let me go to the wars and lose

arms and legs! It would at least be a change. I cannot bear it

longer! Now, I know what it is to have a visit from one's old

thoughts, with what they may bring with them! I have had a visit

from mine, and you may be sure it is no pleasant thing in the end;

I was at last about to jump down from the drawers.

Hans Christian Andersen

Don We Now Our Gay Apparel

It's the season to bring out your favorite holiday music. Do certain

songs conjure a special memory from your childhood? One moment

forever frozen in my mind is, as an eight year old, sitting on the

sofa in the dark of a December evening in 1964, mesmerized by the

glittering live tree, complete with those wonderful big bulbed lights

and streams of long crinkly silver tinsel. On the radio, Bing Crosby

was singing Silver Bells, scooping up lots of that baritone with each

b-e-l-l-l-l-l-s. It was a magical, goose bumpy, childhood memory I

will never forget. The scene fondly pops into my mind every time

I hear the song.

Then there are the silly twists on songs. One from my childhood is

our version of "may your days be Mary and Bright", which was

incredibly funny because we have a great uncle named Bright (a

family name) and his daughter's name was Mary. We would then

sing, "and may all your Christmases be Luella and Joe", the names

of my great aunt and their son. Well, okay, maybe you have to be

part of the family to get the hilariousness of this one. I can also

remember my youngest sister singing her own little version of

Hark the Herald Angels, "with the jelly toast proclaim, Christ is

born in Bethlehem", complete with her own grape jelly mustache.

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Back in his college days, WT made a Christmas album which

included the song Home for the Holidays. The big joke here is the

line "if you want 'Tubby Happy' in a millions ways, for the holidays

you can't beat home sweet home". No pun intended, since none of

us at the Manor eat too much during the holidays. Not us.

Years ago, WT had a business associate named Kahled. I don't know

exactly how this came about, but we filled his name into the words of

Handel's Messiah, "and his name shall be Kah-led". Kahled? If he

only knew how his name gave us chuckles every time we heard this

majestic bit of Handel. And of course, the kids could never sing or

even hear, for that matter, "don we now our gay apparel" without

bursting out laughing.

(Yes, the picture is a bronze statue of Lenin. WT brought it back

from one of his trips to Russia and did actually see Lenin's body in

Red Square, a strange experience. Our Mr. Lenin wears a holiday

hat every year as part of his gay apparel. Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la! )

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Right now, I happen to be listening to this Christmas album by the

mezzo-soprano Anne Sophie von Otter, one of my oh-so-classy

holiday favorites.

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A Bit of John Derian

My daughter's career often takes her to New York and when she
happened to be there a few years ago, on one of her regular trips, she
got me a lovely little handmade decoupaged tray by John Derian. As I
was thumbing through my December copy of Elle Decor, who are they
featuring in their 12 Things I can't Live Without article, but Mr. Derian
himself! One of the things we have in common is our love of the film
I Know Where I'm Going with Wendy Hiller and Roger Livesey. I knew
we were simpatico.


He has a wonderful East Village shop full of charming creations made
from vintage ephemera, something I am crazy about anyway, pasted
onto glass. Here's my darling little bit of John Derian. It's a glass tray
about 9" x 4", with a vintage piece of ephemera with a bird design
decoupaged behind the glass. The photo doesn't do it justice, it's
actually very luminous and lovely!

Raindrops, Roses and Bob

Are any of you out there as crazy about Robert Osborne as I am? I
watch a lot of the Turner Classic Movies channel. At the end of a
busy day it is so comforting to have the dashing and upbeat Bob there
to introduce the evening's eight o'clock movie. He is the consummate
blend of friendliness and sophistication. And he always looks so
handsome and put together in his classy suit and tie. Not only is he
there before the movie, but he comes back to chat with me about it
when it's over! How nice is that? I hate to admit it, but when I watch
a DVD from my own collection, I feel a tad lonely when it’s over,
because he is not there to add his intriguing comments. Here's to
you, Bob. Thanks for sharing so many evenings with me, dear friend.
You are right up there with raindrops on roses.

I Know Where I'm Going

Stevie was talking about Scotland, the land of my roots, over at A Little Birdie Told Me So. It reminded me of another terrific film from The Criterion Collection, I Know Where I'm Going*, 1945, a collaboration of the renowned directing duo Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. I discovered this jewel last year and was bowled over by it! Where had it been hiding all these years?

Set in the Scottish Hebrides, a headstrong young woman, played by the extraordinary Wendy Hiller, (I just can't get enough of her) knows exactly "whereshe's going" with her plans to marry a wealthy lord. A raging stormprevents her from crossing to the island for the lavish wedding, and in the meantime meets a penniless Scottish laird, played by Roger Livesey.

Pamela Brown does an excellent job as one of the earthy villagers, who lives and hunts with a pack of bloodhounds. Finlay Currie and George Carney are also part of the marvelous, quirky cast, along with a very young Petula Clark. A charming village ceilidh scene is complete with authentic pipe music, ethnic Gaelic singing and dancing.

Whether you are an enthusiast for Scotland, or just a true romantic at heart, you will absolutely love this
delightful film full of castle ruins, legends and ancient curses. In my opinion, this is one of the best classic romantic films ever made.


Here's the words to the bewitching theme song:

I know where I'm going,
I know who's going with me,
The Lord knows who I love,
But the de'il knows who I'll marry.

I'll have stockings of silk,
Shoes of fine green leather,
Combs to buckle my hair
And a ring for every finger.

Feather beds are soft,
Painted rooms are bonny;
But I'd leave them all
To go with my love Johnny.

Some say he's dark,
I say he's bonny,
He's the flower of them all
My handsome, coaxing Johnny.

*Click on I know Where I'm Going

in the body of the text for a YouTube video clip

Routine Maintenance

Routine

by Arthur Guiterman

No matter what we are and who,
Some duties everyone must do:

A Poet puts aside his wreath
To wash his face and brush his teeth,

And even Earls
Must comb their curls,

And even Kings
Have underthings.


Age is wreaking havoc on my skin! It is a constant battle to fight
the dryness, especially through the winter months. (The odd thing
is, my face still has oily patches and blemishes along with wrinkles,
which is ever so lovely.) And my heals and elbows have taken on
the strange consistency of pumice. What is this? The curse of
everyone over 50? Spring has arrived and my feet need extra
attention, in order to become sandal worthy. Help!! One product
that really has made a difference is Kroger Gentle Skin Cream,
for dry sensitive skin. (Walmart has a similar Equate product, the
generic form of Cetaphil Skin Cream.) It is fragrance free and
just the right luxurious, creamy consistency. The best thing is that
it's so inexpensive, I can slather it on and not feel guilty. I have
used various high end skin products and this little cheap one wins,
hands down! It has become one of those little things in life that
I can’t live without.