I hope everyone had a nice (cold) Easter weekend. Seems like winter wanted to see what Easter was like in many locations, including Chicago. At least we didn’t get rain.
I spent Saturday making the cookies pictured above. The carrot cookie cutter had been sitting on my kitchen counter, taunting me, since March 1 or so. My original, Martha-esque plan was to make and decorate thte cookies during the week while my son was at school. Funny how that didn’t happen. I woke up at 2:30 Saturday morning, obviously thinking about this project. Could I pull it off? What recipes should I use? I got out of bed (at 2:30 am!) and printed off a cookie recipe from the Williams-Sonoma website. By the time I woke up again, I was much less stressed, and chose a different recipe. I went with Ina Garten’s recipe for shortbread from the very first Barefoot Contessa cookbook. The recipe for royal icing is courtesy of Martha Stewart, because when you’re decorating cookies, she is the go-to source. (The secret is meringue powder. The second secret, equally important, is disposable pastry bags.) I am quite pleased with the results, both in taste and appearance, though I can’t recommend the 11th-hour aspect. I will start earlier next time.
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Further evidence of my addiction to Flickr: my aunt and I are trading photos each morning, inspired by 3191. I found myself trying to add a note to the emailed photo. Oops! That’s a Flickr-only feature.
Here are this week’s Five:
- Tulips
- dandelions
- vår
- untitled
- azalea had to end with this lovely sign of spring to balance the cold but gorgeous “untitled”
The photo above is a bird’s-eye view of my desk. It’s not clean, but it no longer looks like a paper storm rained todan. Or maybe it does, to you.
Have a wonderful Easter weekend. I’m sure it’s warm and spring-like somewhere! See you Monday.
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This is not what I’d planned to write about today. I’ll include that too, but when reading Daily Candy this morning, I found this too cute to pass up. Check out Daily Bunny, full of adorable bunny photos. My favorite is Why Hello There. I have no bunny photos to add, but I know that we have bunnies in our yard. They are eating the bottom branches of our new willow bushes, because that is what bunnies do best. (With apologies to Tigger.) Haven’t caught them in the act just yet, and you know that they’ll deny it!
For the Prince fans out there: this week’s New Yorker has a review/profile of his Las Vegas show. Let me tell you, it only makes me want to see it more. Any takers? It will not be cheap, as I’d like a table, but come on, it’s Prince! Check out Sasha Frere-Jones piece at newyorker.com (the website includes an audio extra).
Stay warm, fellow Chicagoans! See you tomorrow.
Here’s a glimpse into how my mind works when reading magazines: I was flipping through Charleston Home magazine, and reading the mini profiles of contributors. I note that Brie Williams, who photographed the CH story “A Study in Sublime” has also recently finished a book on flower arranging for the New York Flower School. I remember that Vogue covered the New York Flower School (a socialite whose name escapes me was involved), and becoming interested, check out Amazon for information about said book. Nothing. I visit the Flower School website, and inquire about the book. Success! The book will be published in September. I make a mental note to remember to think about buying this book, and write a real note in my Moleskine.
So yes, I’m crazy, but check out photographer Brie Williams’ website. It’s gorgeous. I particularly love photo #15 from Interiors and Still Lifes – what an elegant kitchen! – but really, it’s all good. I think I will buy that book.
The story “Study in Sublime” is also worth a look. You can read it at the Charleston Home website.
My son started outdoor soccer training yesterday, which means that I am back to sitting in the car with a pile of stuff to read in the passenger seat. When soccer is in season (when isn’t it?) I have no problem keeping up with the onslaugh of weekly New Yorkers plus the rest of my magazine deliveries. More on that another day :)
Yesterday, I read Charleston Home and Savannah (planning my “move”) and flipped through Vanity Fair. AS I am all about anticipation, I am eagerly awaiting this week’s New York magazine in the mail, for the “Office Life” feature. Check out the cute picture of Dwight from The Office at nymag.com. Plus there are photos of offices, including Martha Stewart’s here. No surprise that it’s totally neat, though “The Devil Wears Prada” feel was unexpected.
Speaking of “The Devil”, I picked up the dvd at Target yesterday for $10. I adored Emily Blunt in that movie (and Meryl, of course.)
Did you catch Jennifer Murphy on Martha yesterday? She demonstrated pom-pom bunnies that were über cute, and she had the sweetest collection of her bears and other animals on display. A great segment. Wish there were more crafters and fewer celebrities as guests!
