It's the weekend, or just another two days stuck at home, depending on where you are and what you do for a living. Either way, stay safe! (And RIP, Bill Withers.)
We're pressing ahead with our same old open thread poll. Talk about anything you like — the fragrance you’re wearing today, the fragrance that is keeping you calm lately, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: top image is Magnolienblüte [cropped] by David Schiersner at flickr; some rights reserved.
I am starting a week at home, since all city departments are working split shifts, week by week. My library has been closed since March 17. Sometimes without customers, we can accomplish a lot, but the whole reason we exist is the customers. I expect to do a lot of continuing education this week, as well as revising policies. I’m commando right now, but I’m going to wear something Hermes.
Ha – I used to work in a school office and we could always get so much done when there were no students around…
yes to Hermes!
hope the quiet time at work is good to you.
Diorissimo today from a small decant. I don’t think it’s vintage, but it’s not the most recent Diorissimo either. I don’t wear florals often, but this one is so pretty. And today is a lovely spring day.
We watched Knives Out recently – anyone have recs for movies like that? Clever and not gruesomely violent? (I also love The Sting and the first Ocean’s – Ocean’s Eleven).
I love clever, nonviolent crime/caper movies and spy comedies with smart, no-nonsense women, so in the former category I can highly recommend 1998’s Out Of Sight and the sublime 1999 version of The Thomas Crown Affair: they both have romantic chemistry out the wazoo, and Out Of Sight has one of the best closing shots in the history of cinema, one single image that immediately suggests a whole second movie. As for the latter category, the 2015 Spy and the 2018 The Spy Who Dumped Me are tremendous fun: both very adult, so don’t watch them with young kids in the room.
If you liked Knives Out (I did) and can stand a certain amount of gore, you might like last year’s Ready Or Not, which is unexpectedly hilarious: there will be a few cover-your-eyes moments, but a lot of the awfulness is implicit — vivid, but brief or offscreen. The trailer gives away a bit too much of the plot, but it will let you know if you can handle the movie or not.
Excellent – I haven’t seen any of those. Will check them out. Thanks.
Definitely agree with Out of Sight and Thomas Crown.
Ready or Not is a hoot. Spy made me laugh out loud. Anton.
I also like Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (the first with new cast) as highly entertaining.
(Murder on the Orient Express was disappointing.)
Thanks!
I loved MotOE just for the visuals – sets, costuming, etc.
Sorry – MotOE??
Murder on the Orient Express (referring to LizzieB’s post above
)
Ah – thx, kpaint.
Have you ever seen Gosford Park? I believe it was one of Robert Altman’s last movies.
I adore Gosford Park! It’s one of a few movies I can watch over and over again. Lost in Translation (certainly a different genre!) is another.
Yes – Lost in Translation is another one I always “meant to” see. Thanks.
Oh gosh I loved Lost in Translation so much. Bill Murray was perfection. It broke my heart though.
Hmmm, I’m not sure but will definitely check it out. Robert Altman and the writing of Julian Fellowes!
We watched that recently too and loved it. I also like mysteries and a couple that come to mind are Crooked House with Glenn Close and The ABC murder mysteries on prime. Neither is nearly as witty as knives and the later does have some gore, but John Malkovich is just so excellent (when is he not?!) that it was worth watching imo.
Thanks!
All the new amazon Agatha Christie films are quite good, but emphasize the dark & gothic aspects. Creepy but worth watching, IMO.
Great, thanks!
It’s not easy to find (maybe ebay or the TCM store), but Gambit starring Shirley Maclaine and Michael Caine is an extremely engaging caper movie. Dvr’d it the last time it was on TCM–might have to revisit soon.
Thanks!
galbanum gal – my DVR is 90% TCM. Like you say, some classic films can be hard to access (without buying on DVD.) It’s also become my go-to “safe place” now that I’m really trying to avoid news.
I am with ya on TCM – maybe I need a Bette Davis festival here for the weekend. Watch Along the Rhine, Dark Victory, Now Voyager just for starters.
Sadly, I find myself falling into the news as hard as I try not to. I go downstairs from my office and end of day and try to get into something on my kindle but the events of the day take over.
Today is the first day I have worn fragrance in a week?
Really in a funk/fear/anger/worry/ all the feelings.
Got out my pretty bottle of JM Cade and Cedarwood and sprayed away. Its nice out, we have rain coming for several days and so perhaps and walk before evening will lift my spirits.
My sister and I keep texting each other about all the stories our mom and dad told us about the depression and I know if mom was alive she would be sewing up a storm of masks right now.
stay safe all
David Mamet’s House of Games…twists
L.A. Confidential…crime, easy viewing
Sunset Boulevard….classic
The Big Sleep….classy classic
The Interview ( Australian)…psychological twists
The Big Easy….1980s, New Orleans, easy viewing
The Dancer Upstairs…Peru, John Malkovich directs, political
Parasite…Korean, twists
Early Tom Tywker movies….Wintereise etc. German
Force Majeure…Swedish in ski resort, family , humour, psychological
Degrees of Separation (?) New York, Will Smith crashes wealthy wasps
One more, Killing of the Sacred Deer…careful who you let into your life, great movie
Thanks for all of these.
I’ve been meaning to rewatch the 1955 version of ‘The Ladykillers’… what a cast!
Another great watch and listen, though not a caper movie, is ‘Oliver!’ from 1968. Maybe it is a bit caper-esque with all those little pickpockets being dispatched to London’s streets by Fagin. I was six when this came out and have seen it quite a few times – the Artful Dodger is up there as one of my favourite film characters/performances. Wear a bit of lavender if you watch either of these!
I don’t have a subscription but those looking for arthouse, obscure or foreign movies could take a look at ‘The Criterion Channel’ a streaming service which launched just about a year ago. I purchased Criterion DVDs over the years which always seemed to come with great extras in addition to the film.
great list Kanuka! I can hear the zydeco music from Big Easy sitting here at my laptop! hey now… hey now!!
Talk about sexual chemistry! Hooo!
Charade, with Audrey Hepburn and Carey Grant
I have seen that one and loved it! You’ve definitely got down what I want to see.
We watched Knives Out last night and really enjoyed it. It’s always fun to see Daniel Craig stretch his considerable acting talent beyond Bond.
He was in an amazing movie about Francis Bacon, where he played Bacon’s lover. Bacon was played by Derek Jacobi. Dark and squalid, but beautifully filmed in a style meant to emulate Bacon’s own painting style.
I’m not sure if it’s clever enough, but there are strong women and divine costumes in the new Phryne Fisher movie–Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears.
Oh, I was wondering about that one and if it was any good — reviews very mixed.
It was OK, not as good at the series. However, I watched it with a bunch of friends via videoconference, and we were able to snark about it in the chat window, so that helped make it a fun social event. I liked the film, just didn’t love it. It’s worth it just for the costumes though.
Oh, that sounds like great fun!
We watched The Two Popes this week, and Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce were both fantastic.
I am craving iris. I’ve been *this close* to buying a bottle of Hiris (Hermès) any number of times over the past few years. Lately I’ve been enjoying a sample of The White (The Sum, a house that had flown under my radar), and think maybe I would prefer that one, instead. Then there is 28 La Pausa, my fastest-ever draining of a full bottle. I remain sad about its lasting power but utterly besotted with the fragrance. Thoughts? Our wedding anniversary is coming at the end of the month and, since I know we will not be going out to dinner, I may be ready to splurge on a gift to mark the occasion (it will be seven years married, but 18 as a couple).
Spending the day working (from home). I have a student working on a really interesting honors project, and this is the big push to the end (next few weeks). So lots of work, but engaging in a way that doesn’t always happen.
I say go for La Pausa. I have yet to try that one but it gets a lot of love on here. If it has been your fastest drained bottle then it’s a true love. Happy anniversary!?
Is the Prada Absolue still around? That would be my vote.
I have a (small) bottle of that — and a large bottle of the regular (“plain”?) Infusion d’Iris. I probably should have written that I am “craving MORE iris”!
La Pausa is gorgeous but fleeting! Do know Masque L’Attesa or Belles Rives from La Parfumerie Moderne?
No, I have never smelled either of these. Perhaps time to order some more samples! Thanks for the suggestions!
Prada Infusion d’Iris Absolue is nicer than the regular Prada Iris, but might be too close if you already have the latter. Lucasi’s suggestion of Masque Milano L’Attesa is great. It’s my favourite iris and is reasonably long-lasting, but ml for ml might not be much cheaper than the Chanel. If you’re at home you can spritz La Pausa as much as you like…
I can still smell a little Passage d’Enfer on my wrists, from when I put a bit on several hours ago.
Nice!
You smell great!!
Thank you!
I’m in Dune today. Jalapeño wore it yesterday which reminded me to dig my bottle out.
The weather forecast was wrong and luckily we have a beautiful blue sky and sun today.? Not much on the agenda except trying to get outside for a couple of walks and then shepherds pie for dinner. Maybe we’ll get really ambitious and put the canoe in the water this weekend. I love being out on the water.
Still in search of the perfect skin scent, recommendations?
Summer weight? TDC Pure eVe came to mind right away. It’s a soft, musky almondy kind of thing. I have a full bottle, so can share some if you’re interested. ?
I also just tested Reminiscence Musc from a dabber vial and was smitten.
Looking forward to the other responses!
Thanks! I’ve tried Pure Eve and even though I like powdery scents, it was just not right for me, same with Perfect Veil. I do have a decant of Reminiscence Musc and like it too!
Yeah, there was something off about Perfect Veil, a plasticky thing….something artificial. Is that what you didn’t care for?
It’s been awhile since I tried it, but it seemed to go almost “musty” on my skin.
We’ve got cloudy, boo. I hope we get our promised 65 & sunny on Monday.
Sun really does make all the difference. We had one of those bluebird skies without a cloud. Hope you get sunny skies on Monday too! I’ll try and send them your way.?
Thank you, I will certainly take them when you’re done!
Chanel 1957? White musks so maybe it just seemed like a nice skin scent because I couldn’t smell all of it? But I liked it.
That is a good one! I got a decant of that one when it first came out and went through it right away.
Have you tried AG Musc Nomade?
Ahh, good one.
My favorite!
No, but I will add that to the list, thanks! I just ordered a handful of musks to try from TPC but they didn’t have that one.☹️
Penhaligon’s Artemisia is a great skin scent, imo.
Feeling summery, so I put on Camelia Chinois by Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier, a nice herby tea scent with good lasting powers.
Yesterday I blindbought a bottle of Climat EdT on the parfumo website, so I hope I will like it.
Now I am enjoying the sun on my balcony and knit a cardigan, watching Time Travelers.
We need to do a poll and see if people are blind buying more than usual! I suspect so.
A good idea, would be an interesting poll
I hope you like it! That’s one I’ve considered blind buying, myself.
I am wearing Hermes Eau de Pamplemousse Rose on this cloudy day. It is bringing me some brightness
Mmm, you smell like sunshiney goodness!
Thank you…and the sun came finally came out
Lazy day – made gingerbread (from a mix) solely to make the apartment smell nice. And decided to add Gourmand Coquin to the mix of scents. Have had coffee. Maybe I’ll have some chai to add more delicious smells… or light my chai candle.
Even the cats seem lazier than usual. I am not in sweats, though. I had a Zoom call this morning at 8 am, so I put on a striped top, a necklace, lipstick but was wearing pajama bottoms. I’ve since changed those out for jeans…
I seem to be having a lazy day too! My husband kindly made buckwheat blueberry pancakes again this morning, and now he is outside painting the porch railings, so I am feeling guilty and need to accomplish something.
Buckwheat pancakes were always my favorite as a kid. Yum.
I’m in Veil, from La Curie, an oil blend of labdanum, amber and some incense. I could swear I get some cinnamon in this, too. Great for the uncharacteristically cold weather: 53 degrees in Houston in April.
Thank you pixel for sharing this with me! ?
Wow, we are having nearly the same weather!
I grabbed Twiily from my decant box.
This morning I wore L’âme perdue, this is such a beautiful spicy floral and its also quite uplifting.
This afternoon I wore Mizunara by Satori (from a sample) for first time. A lovely, smooth and discrete aromatic/greenish amber.
If you are looking for a calming ??♂️fragrance in these turbulent times, check this one out. ?☀️
Its a beauty, I bought it blind when it became available last fall.
Bill Withers was a personal inspiration to me – musically. What a talent and what a special and wonderful person. He left an indelible mark on our music our culture and the 70’s!
Commando today – have my list for next week.
Maybe my poem should be some of his lyrics.
I may put one up later.
excellent idea! song lyrics are poetry. I’ve been listening to Lovely Day on repeat this morning.
❣️❣️❣️
It’s my birthday today, and with all the bakeries closed I’m making my own birthday cake — lemon olive oil cake since flour and butter are in short supply, with raspberry-rose compote and whipped cream. I’m in Sa Majeste la Rose again, because nothing makes me feel gladder or more comforted. Watching it mizzle outside and not sure what else I’ll do besides make cake, and eat it too…
Happy birthday! ? Your cake plans sound divine!
Happy Birthday!?
Happy birthday!! Your cake sounds delicious.
Happy birthday! And “mizzle” – what a great word! I grew up in Seattle and assume it’s hybrid for mist and drizzle – surprised not to have heard that term before.
Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday Isabella !
Happy birthday and the cake sounds wonderful.
Have a nice birthday, olive oil cake is really good, enjoy!
Happy birthday! Your cake sounds delightful.
oh, wishing you a lovely and happy day, Isabella! I wish I could smell your cake and your perfume. Perfection!
Happy birthday! Your cake sounds amazing.
I wish you a healthy and happy year, and a fabulous day today.
Have a happy cake fest!
Happy birthday Isabella! Enjoy that cake, I am jealous.
Many happy returns.
Happy birthday! You smell wonderful ❤️
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday! ?
Happy Birthday, your cake sounds delish ?!
Happy birthday and OMG YOUR CAKE! That sounds like a present indeed!
Yum to that cake, and Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! Your cake sounds delicious! ???
Happy birthday, and enjoy your cake! ?
Happy (belated) Birthday Isabella! I agree, that cake sounds delicious.
I hope you enjoyed your day.
Happy birthday! Your cake sounds wonderful! I hope you enjoy it and have many happy returns of the day.
Belated Happy Birthday!
Yum, happy birthday!
I’m wearing Wood Sage and Sea Salt today. So far my day has included the glamorous yet necessary task of cleaning the bathrooms. Trying to figure out what to make for dinner from the ingredients in the house – I really want shepherds pie (thanks madtowngirl!) but have none of the ingredients, and I won’t be heading to the grocery store until at least Thursday.
Have a great day! You all smell beautiful.
I actually do have all the ingredients and was similarly inspired
You smell lovely! This is the recipe I follow:
https://www.paleorunningmomma.com/paleo-shepherds-pie-whole30-dairy-free/
I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve made it this winter. It’s delicious and it took until the third time I made it and my teenager was actually shopping with me before she realized there were brussel sprouts in it, lol.?
Okay girl, this is a terrific, recipe, my hubby loves shepherd’s pie and I have no excuse not to try it now, it looks amaZing.
Thanks for the reminder about shepherd’s pie — I haven’t made it in ages but it would be perfect for this chilly weekend. I’ve noticed that recipes always seem to call for beef, but my dad used to make it with lamb and that makes intuitive sense to me, since the shepherd would have had lamb at hand.
I was thinking that Cottage Pie was the version made with turnip mash, but upon googling it, it turns out Cottage Pie is the version made with beef, while Shepherds is traditionally made with lamb. (I think I got that right…)
I also happened upon a recipe where the mash is a mix of potatoes and rutabagas, which I might try since I happen to have some rutabagas on hand (and never quite know what to do with them.)
I’ve never done anything with a rutabaga — one of the few vegetables I’ve never engaged with. I love doing a half-and-half mash of potatoes and celery root, though.
I think Rutabagas are the golden-fleshed root vegetables called “swedes” in the UK, “neeps” in Scotland and “turnips” in Ireland (where we don’t, or at least didn’t when I was growing up there, have the white-fleshed turnip for some reason)?
A typical preparation is to boil/ steam and then mash with butter and white pepper – as featured in the famous Haggis, neeps and tatties from Scotland. Also used diced, boiled and mixed with similarly diced white potatoes, onions and a tiny amount of miced (ground) lamb as the filling of a Cornish pasty, which you could simplify as a simple pie using shortcrust pastry.
Finally, a little discovery that is very useful at a time like this: you can roast almost any vegetable in a roasting tin, either alone (e.g. the classic parsnips with honey) or in a mix (Rutabagas, carrots, parsnips, beetroot & onions with cumin seeds and chili flakes. Or with smoked paprika, or with Ras al Hanout, or garlic and parsley). Just toss the raw chopped veg in oil and roast at 170C for a longer time or 200C for a shorter time. And I do mean any vegetable – I have happily added mushrooms, asparagus, tenderstem broccoli or chopped cabbage to the mix.
*minced lamb. Not ‘miced’ lamb. Hey, teacher, leave those mice alone!
Ahhhh. I have always wondered what neeps are.
When looking for rutabaga recipes I ran across a blog post clarifying that turnips and rutabagas are indeed different vegetables. As I’ve always had access to both, I didn’t understand why this needed clarification – now I do
I recently put some rutabaga in a curry (haven’t eaten it yet – it went straight into the freezer.) In the past, I’ve used a mix of root veg (parsnip, rutabaga, carrot, etc) in a braise with beef chuck roast (with beef stock, herbs, white wine) in my own version of pot roast (that bears no resemblance to traditional pot roast, I later learned.)
My Scottish parents always called rutabaga turnip or neeps. I didn’t have white turnips probably until my 30s or 40s. Another traditional dish we have at Thanksgiving or Christmas is called skirlie… we just call it stuffing and you can eat it anytime, all year! Melt some butter or turkey drippings in a pan. Add some chopped onions and cook until they’ve softened then add steel cut oats and continue to stir. Though it’s not in most recipes I’ve seen, we throw in some sage for flavour, plus salt and ground pepper. To further soften the mixture, add some of the stock from the roasted turkey and a bit of water and keep it on low heat until the liquid is absorbed. You could probably make this with wheat berries as well.
So interesting viridiaan, I had never heard of skirlie.
I’m wearing Reflection Man. The Amouage SA at Saks in Chicago said it was a great fragrance and it is. It’s a woody floral (jasmine, neroli, orris) with some interesting side notes of pink pepper and rosemary.
Today I am cutting back on baking and junk food because my pants are too tight. With nowhere to take my baked goods I have been eating them, ruh-roh…. I finished all the Ruth Galloway series and so I have been reading this and that, nothing great, but nothing too awful either. I watched the first season of a show called Flack with Anna Pacquin on the Pop channel, but season 2, though filmed, was canceled from the schedule. Maybe they’ll put it elsewhere now networks are desperate for content. I think I may rewatch Mrs. Maisel, it’s so good.
Thank you for posting the link below w/ projections yesterday…it is supposed to be refreshed today I think. I am kind of a data fiend and wish they had major cities as parameters in the dropdown…a girl can dream
https://covid19.healthdata.org/projections
You are welcome! The NY Times front page, under the US cases tab, will let you search by state and then by county. No info on PPE or ventilators, though.
Thanks again, I see that now w/ the counties.
I was sad when the last kid left the nest because I couldn’t justify all the goodies I loved to bake. ?
Solstice Scents Lavender Vanilla in the new EDP today.
Tried Lui yesterday which was not a winner for me…almost but not quite a scrubber. Carnation, in perfumes, is not my friend I think which is interesting b/c I enjoy the smell of real carnations.
I am watching the last season of Homeland which is a great diversion in these stressful times. I will catch up on S3 of Westworld next and may start Ozark next. The past 10 to 15 years has really been the Golden Age of TV so thankfully there is plenty for us to stream.
Big vanilla hugs to all! Stay strong.
You smell yummy! I’m not sure about carnation but I get a ton of clove in Lui. I enjoy it but I can see why many would not.
Vanilla hugs back to you!
Watched Ozark last weekend; binge-watched the new season. Jason Bateman is so good! For something a bit lighter, we now started watching Schitt’s Creek; really funny.
Schitt’s Creek is great! Funny and feel-good, perfect for these trying times.
SOTD is SSS Equestrian.
Poem of the day is by THE grand master wordsmith Wallace Stevens. Contrary to many this week, I have thoroughly enjoyed this weeks CP.
The Emperor of Ice-Cream
BY WALLACE STEVENS
Highlight Actions Disable annotations
Call the roller of big cigars,
The muscular one, and bid him whip
In kitchen cups concupiscent curds.
Let the wenches dawdle in such dress
As they are used to wear, and let the boys
Bring flowers in last month’s newspapers.
Let be be finale of seem.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream.
Take from the dresser of deal,
Lacking the three glass knobs, that sheet
On which she embroidered fantails once
And spread it so as to cover her face.
If her horny feet protrude, they come
To show how cold she is, and dumb.
Let the lamp affix its beam.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream.
Oops! Skip the first two lines, which appeared out of nowhere..?
honestly “highlight actions disable annotations” is not THAT un-Wallace-Stevensy ?
I spent some serious time with that line before I read Deva’s direction to ignore it…
Lol, I have no clue what happened there! I’m a disgrace to Stevens!
Well I hate to delete them now when they’ve already inspired so much discussion
hi Deva! I loved the CP this week, and that is a wonderful poem, I adore Stevens. We happen to share the same birthday, and Stevens is a family name. His Sunday Morning is one of my favorite poems.
That’s one of my favorites, too! My ALL time favorite is Domination of Black, which triggered an anxiety response when I first read it. Decided to skip that one for the CP. ?
OMG! I’m paralyzed and bedazzled by “concupiscent curds”!!
Right?!?
Hope everyone is staying healthy and safe!
My mum is returning from rehabilitation hospital next week and I look forward to welcome her back home. We haven’t seen each other for 5 weeks!
SotD is Van Cleef & Arpels Bois d’Iris.
Very sweet ! What a happy reunion !
That’s wonderful news!
How wonderful!
that’s wonderful, congratulations to you and your mum on her successful return home.
Yay!!
Hurray for your mom coming home! That’s great news!
The day started off gloomy and gray, but thankfully the sun has come out and is lifting my mood. Wearing rose vanilla today in the form of Kilian Woman in Gold. It reminds me a lot of the original Tocade, which I stupidly sold years ago.
I’m going to dig out my woman in Gold sample. I’ve never smelled Tocade. Glad you’re getting some sun!
Oh yay! It is amazing what a difference a bit of sun makes, isn’t it? Even when you’re basically stuck inside.
Hi everyone! Cool and raining here today. I went to the grocery store very early to buy hamburger, which is very expensive right now, so didn’t get much. Just for fun, I went past the toilet paper aisle and found rolls and rolls of lavender scented toilet paper. I’ve never ever seen such a thing, and also think this could not be a good thing, but I bought a package anyway, lol… just in case. My hall closet reeks of lavender now.
Poked my head out the door to check the mail, and got hit in the face by an elaborate bird’s nest that has been built on my porch light.
Wearing some of my last drops of Mugler Cuir Impertinent. Cherry tabacco and leather. I love this perfume. Hope everyone is well ?
Not sure how I feel about that toilet paper…
I hope you weren’t hurt by the birds nest!
Part of the nest is hanging down my door, so it looks like one of those old beaded curtains people used instead of doors!
Got to watch out for thise bird’s nests! Have a happy weekend.
It made me feel very close to nature, lol!
I guess it must have been the 70s when scented TP was a thing? IIRC, it overlapped with TP in pastel colors. And possibly one could also find scented, pastel-colored toilet paper…?
Let yours air out before using it!
I remember the pastels, but I imagine this stuff has been sitting in the warehouse for a long time.
Hopefully not for 40 years ?
Pretty sure at least one of my aunts had that scented, pastel TP in her bathroom when I was a kid.
I think lavender TP sounds great.
SotD = Infusion d’Iris EdT + Amande
Id’I always makes me smile, smells like I just took a shower, that trail of soap and warm skin smell that is so lovely and intimate. And Amande is just delicious.
Watched THREE movies yesterday, felt very worn out so I just gave myself over to it. First was Midsommar (yikes, what an absolute mind-bending horror, am not going to a commune in Sweden anytime soon), then Brittany Runs a Marathon (I heart NY!), then Christopher Robin (I’ll watch Ewan McGregor do anything or even nothing at all). I was a satisfyingly restful day.
My neighbor who is a nurse was out walking with her kids this morning. Her daughter is one of my piano students. (I miss teaching and seeing my students.) It was nice to chat from a distance. I asked her if there was anything I could do to help. She said to eat well, sleep well, rest extra if you’re tired, exercise when it feels good, check in with with friends and loved ones, keep on social distancing. Good advice.
Take good care, fragrant friends.
Love those infusions. You smell great!
thank you, irisjasmine!
the prada infusions are joyful.
That’s a great word for them!
I really liked Midsommar!
???????️??
(No its not about flowers, but I loved the costumes, decors and setting of that movie… It was well made )
agree, very well made! the colors, flowers, and visual imagery in Midsommar were powerful.
I really liked it too, but then I am a big horror movie fan. I was very into the tone, setting, decor, and the score. I listen to the score while working sometimes. Listening to movie scores is one my favorite things to do to get focused.
Great idea.
I love movie (and game) scores but I really need to listen to them more often.
The last soundtracks I had on replay were Tron and The Hours. But I am adding Midsommar to my library right now ?
Midsommar seems to be an all-or-nothing kind of movie. Opinions are either very very pro or virulently con. After reading reviews I decided I’d better pass on it.
yah, must agree with you there. If you’re not into unsettliing themes then skip it for sure. I watched Midsommar during the daylight hours then watched two cheerful movies after. If I had watched it late at night I would have been upset with myself, and the movie too I guess.
I think you’re on to something with not watching it too close to bed time, but all the stuff that goes on in bright daylight in that movie makes the day time feel creepier for the first day after you’ve watched it.
you’re so right, it was a stark contrast to have bright colors and sunlight as the backdrop for disturbingly dark action.
Another sunny, warm day. The jasmine (officinale) on the southfacing wall in the garden is heavy with buds. A handful of them have already opened, showing off, and the fragrance is astonishing. The wisteria, which is also in bloom, gets in on the act and our little backyard space is a perfume paradise.
Today, post matières premières sniffing, I’m in Masque Milano’s Romanza, an absolutely intoxicating bright bitter green opening with spikes of hyacinth and narcissus hovering underneath, and a kind of floral gossamer laid over the whole thing. I love it with all my heart and just indulged in a 2nd bottle. It was delivered 10 days ago by the owner of the little niche boutique on her bike. Was amazing just to see her face (from the proper 2 meter distance).
Keep staying safe, everyone!
That reminds me to dig out my sample of Romanza and spend some time with it! Your backyard must smell like paradise right now. My parents used to have a wisteria vine running the length of their front fence, and one day when I went over to visit I found the postman standing there with his nose buried in it. He was a little embarrassed, and told me that he looked forward to smelling it every day on his delivery route.
Aww that’s very sweet of the postman.
It really is!
Oooo! Will be so curious about how you respond to Romanza. It was not love at first sniff for me, but it developed into a long lasting and kinda crazy obsession.
Your postman story rocks! How lovely! Wisteria really is extraordinary, both the smell and the visual. Flower loving postman!
Your backyard sounds like a dream!!! I miss the wisteria we had on our porch when we were living on the West Coast. I don’t repine moving as I’m firmly an East Coast personality, but I do miss spring coming earlier! Enjoy it!
Wisteria really is enchanting! East coast spring is pretty good when it comes, though, isn’t it?
It’s quite staggered here in Montreal is what I find as the transition to warm weather is so gradual. There’s no riotous explosion of flowering trees and bushes and ground cover the way there is out West. But it means that even if you miss some flowers there’s still a chance to see others. I love going to the Botanical Gardens when the crabapple blossoms are flowering (late May) but I don’t know that it will be possible this year!
You smell amazing! I love Romanza ?
It has an uncommon power, doesn’t it? A bit greenwitchy!
I miss my wisteria. Love Romanza as well. When spring eventually comes to Canad1 I will wear it.
Canada.
It (Romanza) really is the perfect accompaniment to early spring. I can’t get enough of it. I can sense the other bottles starting to bristle and mutter!
Good afternoon! SOTD Shalimar
Beautiful sunny day here..
Today is a good friend of mine’s birthday. During this time I had to figure out what to do for her..
I order her yummy pain au chocolat that I picked up curbside. Found a corner store that still sells flowers , made a bouquet and the flowers in an old vase I wasn’t using. Kids made a card. I made a video of myself reciting a Hafez poem and wishing her a happy birthday. Lucky she is also my neighbor so I left everything outside her door, except the video I sent to her.
What a lovely way to celebrate her birthday! Smelling fabulous in your Shalimar!
Thank you!
Day dreaming of the day when the Guerlain spa will open
?
She is lucky to have you as a friend!
How sweet!
Wearing Chanel Paris-Riviera today. A bit cool and gloomy today so I don’t mind being inside. Yesterday we even had 5 minutes of snow. It’s supposed to warm up this week, they promise!
Made a giant breakfast of bacon, scrambled eggs and hash browns plus strong coffee. With the leftover bacon, we planned on making lentil and bacon soup, but there are no lentils anywhere at the grocery store – dried or canned. Had to get yellow split peas instead. On the plus side, tp seems to be back on the grocery store shelves for the moment!
My hubby also asked me to make boursin. Haven’t had it for awhile, so I may kick it up with some artichokes and lemon for extra good measure.
There’s some kind of lentil shortage going on here, too! Not sure what that’s about. There were none of any kind available at the online grocery stores I shop at, though my husband managed to find some in-person.
It’s weird. I made lentil soup the other night and had to use my prized green De Puy lentils. It’s all I had. Still came out well, though not creamy in the way you like lentil soup to be.
Love de puy lentils, and we make a yummy lentil and bacon stew with them and also some chicken…
I hope you can see this link:
http://mail.metmuseum.org/q/1mIoiZrTnanGN1NSj4ED/wv
If not, New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is putting their video archives, MET Stories series, and a world premiere opera online.
My nose, which was stuffy for a month, seems to be clearing up a bit and I am getting back into perfume. Later today or tomorrow, I may tear into some packages from Sonoma Scent Studio and Ensar Oud that have been aging in the hallway as a coronavirus precaution. ?
https://blogs.getty.edu/iris/getty-artworks-recreated-with-household-items-by-creative-geniuses-the-world-over/
I was looking at the Getty art challenge and thinking how funny it would be to do a similar ‘perfume advertising challenge’ using our own perfume collections and images from advertising…All those estee lauder with puppies, opium nudes, johnny depp in the desert etc. recreated at home.
Great idea!
You could do My Sin and Miu Miu because of the cats
And Demeter’s Kitten Fur!
https://images.app.goo.gl/ze8sUURUQWPbSLc98
I have a red robe and black tights, so with my hair up in a towel plus a hobby horse, I’d be most of the way there. ?
Shalimar is all yours! Then maybe a Ralph Lauren polo?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bfwtM5khSYs
Your next hobby horse perfume challenge
Lol, gonna need a partner for that one!
What a fabulous idea!
(Lord, I love the woman with the vacuum cleaner!)
Me too. I think we could a couple of good Tabu , Charlie and Calvin Kleins
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UBd19R_5ysE
Here is one for you to recreate ….a lockdown balcony special from Chanel
That one must have been fun to make!
I feel like a slug right now but will be going out soon avec cloth mask and probably a scarf.
SOTD = Guerlain Eau de Cologne Imperiale
… from my beautiful red bottle
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-kZ1eQBR6x/?igshid=1q26qlsdkxbp0
I think people at work are burning out … partially because some think the buck stops with them and the do it fast do it now attitude is causing issues in the backend and the cracks are getting bigger. That said, there’s a nice chain that started yesterday where you can share something inspirational with the first person whose name is on a 2-person list. I have already received 2 requests but I have not yet responded. I got inspiration from yesterday’s CP!
Ugh on having to wipe down groceries!
that bottle is a beauty! I adore that cologne, it’s a real winner.
Agree, grocery shopping is a big “ugh!” and exhausting.
I’m actually quite appreciating pre-washing all the produce. It makes the cooking process so much less laborious. It’s something we’ve always done when we return from the farmers markets in the summer. Not sure why we stop when the summer ends…
Will also add that the whole process is surely much less onerous with a 2nd person and 2nd pair of hands.
yes! you’re so right, groceries are a team effort for sure.
It is a real winner. I just got done with a shower after returning from doing my grocery rounds. Wegmans changed its policy – you can only enter from one of the 4 entrances and is also limiting the number of people going in. You’re supposed to line up 6 feet apart. There are big signs pointing people to the entrance and exit only doors and the little side entrance had two orange cones blocking it. Waiting to be be let in, the guy behind me got too close. WTF! We were outdoors on the sidewalk and he had to get thisclose to be. I turned my body and gave him the Death stare and he backed off. When I left, I saw a shopper moving the two cones blocking the side entrance to let herself and a companion go in. Seriously? They couldn’t even walk the extra step an stand in line like the rest of us did? And guess what, they also were not wearing masks or gloves.
Love the idea of leaving all non perishables out in garage or laundry for a few days if possible. Then just cleaning what goes in the fridge. I don’t clean stuff going into my freezer. ??
This is exactly what I’m going to do except I will leave the bags by the pantry.
Now suffering from Severe Bottle Envy
Heh! I think this may be available at the discounters but ai haven’t looked lately! It really is pretty.
I know you said you don’t display your bottles, but this one should be on a pedestal! Box included!?
lillyjo, we must have been twins separated at birth! I originally just took a picture of the bottle and then I thought, that’s just wrong – the box deserves to be seen as well!
My husband is sewing masks right now for our trip to Costco Tuesday. I ordered some KF94 masks online but they won’t be here for a week. (if they even come as promised). Last night I was watching youtube videos on how to wear a muslim niqab for scarf face covering techniques. This whole situation is pissing me off.
I remember seeing very observant ladies in Egypt so tightly wrapped up that only their eyelashes were very visible, and I want to know how they did that!
Happy Blursend! (I’m reminded of my favorite Downton Abbey quote, from the Dowager Countess: “What is a week-end?” which one must read in Maggie Smith’s voice to appreciate.)
I would love to solicit some input
1) To finish up on last weekend’s polls:
Favorite Nesti Dante and Pre de Provence soap scents? (I’ve got the Linden from the latter; it’s lovely, and very nice soap – creamy, lathers well, less drying than other soaps, scents my bathroom even long after using it.) I’m drawn to the Sea Salt and Milk scents. Also Freesia.
Is Claus Porto worth the splurge? I’ve got my eye on a bar of Ilyria and keep obsessing over it.
2) I’m putting together a bday package for my husband, and I’d like to get him some decants. I’ve been craving barbershop/fougeres – recommendations? (He’s got Chanel Boy, which we both like.) Last summer he kept asking for more bergamot/neroli-forward scents, which must be out of my wheelhouse since I drew a blank (then and now.)
Early this morning I dabbed on some La Chasse aux Papillons but it’s long gone. All I can smell is Weleda Rosemary oil, which I just slathered into my hair. It actually smells quite lovely – mostly sweet lemon and orange, with rosemary in the background. Not at all culinary… and would make a nice soap
It’s warm and sunny here today, lifting my mood and helping me look forward to Springcation, followed by Schlummer.
My favorite Pre de Provence soap scent is milk with linden a close second.I love the smaller travel size soaps they have or the smaller size bar soap for convenience of using.They fit my hands better than the large size.
Thank you! One milk bar ?, coming my way soon.
A friend has what I have to describe as an attache case of Claus Porto soaps, ALL of them. Every time she uses one up, she buys another so she has a no empty spots. It gives her great joy
LOVE this
I’m having a hard time resisting soaps that have a scent pyramid. Just so… luxurious-sounding.
I love Fou d’Absinthe when I’m craving something fougere-ish but not clichéd. Neroli-wise, I spend a lot of time with Eau de Neroli Doré, Neroli Portofino, and Santa Maria Novella’s Caprifoglia, which has honeysuckle front and center but resting on a thirst-quenchingly classic neroli-and-petitgrain cologne base. SMN probably has all kinds of lovelies that I just haven’t discovered yet!
You know, I have had a large vial of Fou d’Absinthe from a L’Artisan sample set sitting around for AGES and I don’t recall ever even giving it a sniff. Thank you! I’ll pull it out and see how it goes over.
Santa Maria Novella Acqua di Colonia Russa is great and has a nice neroli note to it!
It always somehow hints at “the world’s most expensive shaving cream” to me – probably NOT how they intend for it to be perceived, but I love it after a shower to extend that luxuriously clean feeling.
That sounds absolutely perfect – thank you! I had no idea SMN had a US website. Down the rabbit hole I go…
I think Claus Porto is only worth it if you get it on steep discount. I found a three-pack of Porto soaps at a flea market last year, and splurged $10 on them. They’ve been fine, but I’m glad I did not spend more than that. I found some Porto (Favorito, red poppy) hand cream at Marshall’s a few weeks before all the quarantining began, and bought that– again it was 50mL for $3.50, so a very good bargain. Would not have paid more than that.
Claus Porto soaps have the most beautiful wrappers, and I find they last forever.
I’ve even saved some of the wrappers and taped them shut again to decorate my bathroom shelves. They are stiff enough to hold their shapes quite readily, but it helps to put a bit of weight inside to keep them where you want them.
Also, it’s hard to beat Hermes Eau d’Orange Verte.
The clocks have gone back at hour for wintertime but the dogs haven’t, so I was up at four…which was dark and breezy and clearly the perfect start to a Sunday if you’re a dog. I tidied my poetry books yesterday, read Paterson ( also a good movie with Adam Driver), browsed some of my favourite Australain and NZ poets, gardened until I could no longer lift my arms (thanks overgrown bushes ), picked more cranberries …fought off randy dog, started to watch the series Madmen which I hadn’t watched before. , ate a fanatstic madras curry (thanks Alex)…bed by eight! Ah, the simple pleasures!!
Bas de Soie… Perfect.
Madmen is so great. I wish it had never ended.
I knowwwwww
But it’s also not one I’d ever consider rewatching.
Love Bas de Soie! My dog doesn’t seem to notice the time changes. We just sprang forward an hour and she still wakes us up at 4:30 for breakfast.
Sounds like perfect Sunday!
I find Adam Driver simultaneously so attract and so strange looking. I have to wonder if that isn’t similar to how my ancient ancestors felt on encountering my ancient Neanderthal ancestors.
Hermes “Rose Ikebana” today for a rather listless and unproductive Saturday. We are back to grey skies, boo!
I did end up getting some things done, but not nearly as much as I should have. It is very hard to fight this inertia…
Jonathan Faust is part of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington (IMCW). I think this is his recent class on dealing with “sloth and torpor,” as the Buddhist terms are translated.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knUsmwYoPvs
I found it especially insightful and timely.
You could lie down for 43 minutes and listen to this and feel you’ve that you’ve done something constructive (even if you fall asleep!). Take good care, Robin!
Thanks nozknoz!
Sampling The Harmonist Hypnotizing Fire.
Mini review:
Reminds me a bit of MMM By the Firplace without the ash note. It’s definitely sweeter than BTF. It’s also lighter and has a floral note. Very nice but imo seems better suited for fall/winter.
Be safe and masked my fragrant friends! ?❤️
In Oscar this evening as I’m about to watch a movie (but haven’t yet decided which one).
Ahh, I do love Oscar.
It was still with me this morning
Angel Muse for sitting by the fire pit, pretending it’s not so chilly and dismal out here again!
I just put Angel Muse on. It’s so cozy smelling.
I agree! Sometimes I put it on and feel like I’ll tire of it before it wears off, but it was just perfect yesterday.
After a cheering phone call from a friend, I was invigorated to tackle the bathroom drawers. Winner of oldest first aid item: 2014! Number of largely Yves Rocher shower gels: Plenty (aka a good half dozen).
Rewarded myself with the last piece of frozen pizza, chips and dip and a glass of beer. Will I roll up my sleeves this afternoon for more spring cleaning? We’ll see, possibly after a restorative nap.
Lol, I’ve had finds like that! We had a box of band-aides that were so old the last time I needed one they no longer had any “stick-um”.
Those and a positively ancient bottle of wart remover! Yikes, the stories our cabinets tell on us.
My closets are like an archeological dig. Fortunately, some of the stuff I never threw away is actually useful now, but unearthing it can be a challenge!
Commando today, only because I have some baking to do and don’t like extra scent. I’m making nutmeg cookies and the batter for apple cider baked donuts for tomorrow morning.
Bright sunshine here in Minneapolis, but chilly. We went for a walk just to enjoy the sun and get out of the house.
Both of those treats sound delicious!
Just ordered take out from my local Mexican joint. Took my dogs to the park for a walk today since they were getting bored running around the backyard. Sydney is the one who can really give one a workout while on a walk. Wearing Sycomore edt today. I had such a craving for it.
I’ve been missing Sycamore! I packed it up when Maintenance needed to do some work in my apartment and can’t get to right now. Do you have the EdT or EdP?
I have the edt. Got it way back when there was only the 6.8 ounce bottle and said bottle was only $200. That was a bargain.
Aren’t you glad you got the vat? ?
I am. I think that Chanel has gotten pretty out of control with their prices. No 5 in extrait form used to cost $95 for a quarter ounce but it’s now $130. No 19 used to be $100 for 3.4 ounces but it’s much higher. I get inflation but those kinds of markups?
I’m really enjoying the Pont des Arts A Chaque Instant that I’m wearing today. This and A Ce Soir from the same line are so obviously Duchaufour perfumes. In fact, I’m planning on wearing A Ce Soir this week for the sibling CP. I’ll tell you about the perfume siblings I know of for it when I wear it next. ?
Just hanging around spending time on the Internet and watching movies so far today. I think we’ll fit in a walk around 5 and pick up some takeout dinner.
Sounds like a perfect Sunday — enjoy!
Hehe it was a perfect Saturday actually, but today (Sunday) should be a fairly similar day. We didn’t end up getting takeout because the restaurant we’d planned to order from got very busy. So we ordered pizza delivery instead. Still had a very nice walk in the early evening. Today is grocery day, so I’m trying to mentally prepare for the experience.
Força!
Started off in Hermès Jardin Après la Mousson – so nice, but so fleeting on me – and just added some Victorinox Snowflower to continue with the cool-ginger theme.
Pandemic Body Hacks for Myself after several weeks, sharing in case they might be handy for others:
(1) NO MORE making a triple espresso in the triple espresso Bialetti like I’m used to in the mornings. Using one scoop of ground coffee only and making an allongé (Americano) instead, that caffeine has absolutely nowhere to go but living room workouts and anxiety.
(2) Having a cup of herbal tea or water for every caffeinated cup of coffee or tea. For the love of everything holy, I need to not overcaffeinate.
(3) Sweeping the floors more often; I’m spending a lot more sitting time on them and it’s depressing and allergy inducing when they’re covered in dust.
(4) Spending 2-3 minutes every morning and evening laying with my neck on a mobility peanut propped on a yoga block. I don’t know about you guys, but holy mother of tension in places I don’t normally keep it. I was getting headaches and pain trying to get to sleep until I started addressing that.
“Living room workouts and anxiety” really speaks to my life, too!
And God forbid I skip the workout, then sometimes it’s all anxiety!
I’m really trying to take 2 rest days per week so I’m not overtaxing my body, and yesterday by bedtime I was SO GRUMPY and mentally exhausted but physically not. Ouf.
It’s a fine art, I suppose, and we have time to perfect it! Our non-essential business closures have just been confirmed as extended to mid-May in my city.
I have discovered by doing yoga at home how much dirt, dust and hair accumulates on the floors, even sweeping twice a week and not going outside.
A. Thanks — mobility peanut sounds like the thing I most need that I never knew I needed! ?
B. I have cut WAY back on caffeine and am sleeping so much better. You may have to do it gradually, as it’s possible to get migraine-like caffeine withdrawal headaches.
C. I can’t sweep with my broken arm and the floors are SCARY! Fortunately, I can only lie on my back and look at the ceiling, which is still very tidy. ?
Also thanks for your perfume choice — so glad to find another person who appreciates the weird but refreshing Mousson! Are there others among us?
Yes, I LOVE Mousson too! I find it one of the most perfectly refreshing perfumes in the summer.
YES!
We have pretty yucky weather today and so my walk is out. I decided instead to mop the floors (for exercise). I slept in until after noon because I’ve been having disrupted sleep and spooky dreams. Still unwashed and unscented but the cats don’t care. I am very impressed with Berlin Babylon on Netflix. It manages to have multiple levels of moral ambiguity. And the production values are very high!
On my walk yesterday through a historic section of town I was taking pictures through a wrought iron gate when I noticed a heavenly fragrance. Gardenias in bloom! Swoon!
Gardenias
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-lA2-epPpp/?igshid=kzv6qyb3x656
What beautiful flowers. I was really sorry to read about the death of your wonderful cat. I am sure you were the best and kindest companion he could hope for.
Thank you, Kanuka. It was very sad. I miss him, needless to say, especially because I was sleeping in the guest room with him in his last few weeks, and he always slept right on top of me. It was very cozy and sweet and comforting.
This is what I saw first thing today. So adorable! This is the shelter back home where I found T-Rex as well as my previous dog. They are enjoying themselves immensely! ?
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-mUfNsJLna/?igshid=g1pp9nxp1gfn
How old was T-Rex when you adopted her? And do you know why she was put into a shelter?
She was about 12-16 weeks. The shelter I got her and my previous dog from (https://www.instagram.com/p/Z6b9GrvxEP/?igshid=i8jundd4zsdm) is a no kill shelter that actually takes sick dogs (and cats, as well as birds, pigs, bunnies..!) and animals scheduled for euthanasia. T-Rex was at a kill shelter in the middle of the state and they had no room, so she was going to be euthanized if my local shelter hadn’t picked her up. No other info was available. My previous dog was about a year when I adopted her and she had been at the shelter 6 months. They have a great group of volunteers (like foxbins!) who walk, socialize, train, and foster animals. Several veterinarians volunteer their services for medical and surgical care. It’s a great organization, and very successful at finding homes for hundreds of animals.
Thank you for such a complete answer. She seems a very well balanced dog these days, but Red Heelers are not for everyone.
We have a great shelter like that in Houston, Friends for Life, which is no-kill and takes in “uandoptable” cats and dogs. They even have special rooms for the shy cats (extra quiet) and the feline leukemia cats. Right now they are helping people out by collecting food for pets and sponsoring daily drive-up vet clinics staffed by volunteers.
OMG that is so sweet! The kitty on the top right looks a lot like my beloved Dusty (RIP)–he’s black with white underneath his top fur and has little white toes. I love the sound of kitties munching, although I must say that when I first got my new hearing aids, to hear them all crunching on the dry kibble out in the kitchen nearly drove me mad!
Aren’t they adorable?! I don’t know anyone who doesn’t get a warm fuzzy when seeing this.
As to the hearing aids, I’m sure there must have been a learning curve and adjustment period. Is it a single ear or bilateral?
Both
Happy Sunday! I’m in Box of Eels today. Four days off, and nowhere to go. Alas, I have a job when so many don’t, so I’m not going to complain about anything.
T-Rex met her first woodchuck today, and Lordy Lordy! She turned into the Rottweiler straight out of the graveyard scene in The Omen!
Enjoy your days off! Hope the weather is nice.
I head back to work tomorrow after having a week off (one that was supposed to have been spent in Florida but was instead spent wringing a paper?) and wishing I didn’t have to go but also feeling thankful, like you said, that I have a job and one that is very much needed right now.
Thanks! And I TOTALLY get the conflicted feeling when returning to work. Just talking with another nurse last night about this. Certainly grateful to have a job and income, but also resentful that hospital systems are shutting down nurses and doctors who “complain” about inadequate PPE, and in in some cases, being fired. ☹️
It’s hard not be able to go for a walk, isn’t it?
In theory I can go, but it will be far too busy outside and for my own sanity I’m staying in my back yard as well. I hope you have a good day, nevertheless!
Thanks! There’s a nice trail that borders the backyard, but also is near the Blue Ridge Parkway. So. Now, many people are parking along the parkway and accessing this trail frequently because it’s more remote and all the parks and green spaces in town are closed. Luckily, there a lovely fenced yard that I use to toss the ball around in for the dog. I guess I’ll just be inactive and continue to fluff up and become more increasingly de-conditioned… is there a fat emoji? Cause I need to find one?
I need 4th grade grammar lessons, apparently ?
I understand. I’m a little more well-marbled than I was a couple of weeks ago. ?
Omg this is my new favorite expression for a little harmless weight gain. Well-marbled! Dying ?
Enjoy your time off, Deva?
Thank you!
Poor woodchuck! Nature is so healing — soak it in!
He (she?) can move pretty quick, so I don’t think there will ever be a tussle, thankfully!
She should be careful. Based upon the popular Instagram Chunk the woodchuck, those animals have sharp teeth and very long sharp claws.
Yep, they are pretty large and stout. I wouldn’t want to tangle with one. There’s one (or more) living under the wood shed in the side yard who pops out every morning, hops up on a nearby stump, and does a weather check. Now that doggo has seen this routine, she is fixated on that area.
Sunday on Sunday
Double Milk Oolong Tea
Milk oolong is so delicious!
I’m wearing BK Love, don’t be shy.
Tea is Festin d’Or by MF.
My sister-in-law’s mother died of Covid-19 last Friday, my SIL had to say her last goodbyes over the phone, she has some heart issues so had better not contract the virus herself. She was very, very distraught.
Omg, so sorry to hear this! I think almost all of us are going to be touched by this virus before it’s over. So horrible!
Yep, I’m not very close to my SIL, but I adore my brother and he has a lot on his plate right now. Still, health wise they are making the right decisions. Fortunately my niece, their daughter is living with them at the moment and I’m sure she helps to cheer them up.
All the practicalities are rather complex as well. She has to be buried but most people who would want to pay their respects are very old and are much better off staying at home. I hope they will manage to organise some sort of memorial after the epidemic. That would be a far better idea.
I think this is one of the worst parts of this epidemic, people dying alone, family unable to say a proper goodbye, mourners having to grieve alone without the support of their family & friends. I am so sorry.
Thanks, all the social repercussions are in a way much worse.
So sorry to hear this. Very sad stories in the Spanish press, as you can imagine.
Whenever I see or hear about Spanish or Italian nurses or doctors my heart bleeds. Healthcare in Spain has been so underfunded and they are still working their butts off to get this sorted. Plus all those families not being able to be with their dying family is just ghastly.
I feel very sorry for my SIL. She is going to have a hard time over this.
Not being able to be with loved ones may be the saddest thing about this epidemic.
I think it very well may be.
I am sorry to hear this, Austen. Please accept my condolences.
I am so sorry for your and her loss.
I am so sorry Austenfan! My condolences to you and your family.
That’s terrible. I’m so sorry for your sister-in-law.
That is my personal nightmare and I am so sorry and sad for your s-i-l. I am trying not to panic because we learned yesterday that there has been one person diagnosed with Covid-19 at my mother’s assisted living center. The person is reportedly doing well and in the hospital. The facility has been closed to all visitors except essential staff, are checking everyone’s temperature as they arrive, practicing good sanitation, so I’m trying to stay calm and optimistic. Also they have been providing meals in the residents’ own rooms, not the community dining room. Still, the staff do have to circulate among people and that’s what is worrisome. I do hope they can plan a good memorial for your brother’s mother-in-law later on.
Sympathies to your brother and sister-in-law, that is so hard.
So sorry to hear this.
Im in Spain and I talk to my parents everyday. I’m seriously considering saying all I have to say before it’s too late or just writing a letter and telling them things I have never said… they are fine but you ever know.
I’m so sorry to hear that. What a horrorible way to lose someone. She will be in my thoughts tonight.
A gray gloomy day, last day of quarantine thankfully. Tomorrow there is supposed to be sun and I will be able to walk my dog finally. Wearing a heavy dose of patchouli lotion and SL Borneo.
A much needed reprieve. I’m glad you’ll be able to have at least some sense of normalcy, Cazaubon. Stay well.
I’m so glad you’ll finally get to go outside. Little walks have done wonders for my mood and well-being.
? is so comforting after dealing with gloomy skies. Hope you and your pupster have a lovely stroll ?
Oh Borneo is so wonderful!
Yay! Hope it is bright and beautiful tomorrow.
I’m looking forward to tommorow for you!
Hooray! Sunshine and fresh air will be such a treat for you. I’m glad you’ll finally be out of quarantine, but thank you so much for being so responsible and sticking with it.
enjoy your stroll!
I somehow managed to go commando all day yesterday, but was inspired by some late-night online retail browsing to dig out my tiny sample of Knize Ten Golden Edition this morning. Aaaand, nope. It has a little too much cigarette ash and something perilously close to gardenia for me. After a shower I think I’ll switch to PdE Cuir Ottoman. I noticed that LuckyScent is now carrying smaller bottles of several PdE fragrances – am tempted to blind-buy Corsica Furiosa. Anybody want to talk me out of (or into) it?
I’ve never smelled it myself, but I still say buy it?
“a little too much cigarette ash and something perilously close to gardenia” is sometimes just right for me. ? But I always love Cuir Ottoman!
Buy it, but you knew I would say that ☺️.
I have Corsica Furiosa, it’s very green and bracing. It also feels dry. Great stuff but I prefer it when the weather is warmer. Cuir Ottoman is my winter scent.
I’m here to talk you into it! It’s a warm weather staple for me. I bought the 100ml because there wasn’t an alternative size at the time, but I don’t regret it a bit. That initial blast never fails to pick me up. And these days, succumbing to online shopping once in a while is really therapeutic. Hope that helped push you over the edge!?
Thanks, all you enablers – I knew I could count on you!
I’m spending the evening in Jour d’Hermes instead of Cuir Ottoman because it turned out to be a beautiful spring day here and after gardening my tush off I just needed a bit more sunshine rather than leather.
I finally procured a clean N95 mask last week. I wore it and my plastic gloves when I ventured out this morning to pick up a few things and felt a bit more relaxed as I maneuvered around the grocery store. Though I have to say I get quite sad when I think about all those plastic gloves and othersuch that are being used and discarded, just when folks are waking up to the idea of plastic-alternatives.
Commando, and have been since March 15, my last day of work.
I have gloves…bought a box in early March just by instinct. Not convinced they are necessary. I actually prefer holding a Kleenex in my hand when grabbing or touching things and then throwing it away and replacing often. And just using sanitizer and hand washing.
I may actually try that strategy or something like it instead when i go out again; I have plenty of sanitizer.
I use either biodegradable doggie poop bags as gloves, or hand sanitizer and wash with soap & water as soon as feasible. Another person said they bought a multi pack of washable cotton gloves and uses those.
I haven’t gone the mask route. I just wash hands and the kids hands.
Hello NST!
Wearing Poet’s Jasmine since someone was wearing it recently and inspired me. I went for a short socially distant walk this morning, and am about to do some yin yoga.
Hope everyone is staying as healthy as possible.
Great to see you, missionista! Hope you’re doing well!
Hi Haju!
I’m doing relatively well–so far self and family are healthy. I am currently employed, but things are looking murky once we get to the middle or end of the month. Trying not to stress, and taking solitary walk and bike rides whenever possible.
How are you? Good to “see” you as well!
SOTD = Valentino Uomo
Masculine and oh so wearable❣️
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-m9Oyvh8mR/?igshid=1dtl6hwyjdnid
And this brightens my day each time I use it:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-mlfizBxWw/?igshid=5f3f3z3vw23q
I will catch up with posts later. Stay well!
Love the cute purse!
Trésor, which was a nice freebie from a NSTer. I rarely wear this, but as I’m on kind of a kick for scents from some years back, I decided to grab it.
Apparently it was considered powerhouse when introduced? I dint find my formulation to be strong. I’m enjoying the peach. May need to grab this more often.
I do not know what it is like now, but yes, it had some sillage!
We are having far better weather today in Houston with some sunshine and it’s still cool, so will be good for my walk later this afternoon. I am trying to restrict my news consumption (to reduce anxiety and promote better sleep), and so instead yesterday I (a) mopped my floors and (b) polished my stainless steel appliances in the kitchen. Normally I have a cleaning lady but she is staying home now by mutual agreement. (I will still pay her.) I also planned to vacuum but changing out the bags in my machine is unusually challenging and has exceeded my abilities. My ex is stopping over later and will do it for me thank goodness. The cat fur does tend to mount up everywhere! SOTD is COCO!! I wanted to feel more empowered and now I do!
PS My very kind neighbour and I have exchanged some meals yesterday because we are tired of our own cooking. Very nice of her. We both figure that if we handle with care and cook or reheat things they will be safe. Yesterday she brought over (and left on the porch) some yellow squash casserole and Chicken Parmesan. I ate it and something tasted really off about the chicken dish. I sent her a thank you note anyway, and she texted back that it would have been better if she had had any actual Parmesan, but all she had was Brie! I can now inform the world that this is really not a good substitute, alas.
Ewwww! That chicken dish sounds awful. Perhaps she should have called in Chicken Brie so that you would have been forewarned.
But I probably shouldn’t criticize other people’s food, I had Cheetos for breakfast yesterday.
I am eating Ketchup Potato Chips.
Barbeque chips for me right now.
That’s such a great idea to exchange food, but oh my goodness – the brie is hilarious!
I hope you enjoyed your walk!
Ack! A waste of brie and a waste of chicken, that’s too bad. but what a great idea otherwise — I am likewise sick of our cooking.
If Gaia were with us, may her memory be a blessing, she would have posted this on the Non-Blonde.
God save the Queen!
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52176222
God save the Queen
What a perfectly worded speech…I don’t know if it was calculated to make the scofflaws feel like absolute heels, but I should think it would work quite well that way.
She’s been honing her messages for 80 years. It’s weird to think of such a long life of doing nothing unconsidered.
I’m wearing Lys 41 today. I bought it in Berlin on the last vacation my husband and I took together that was just the two of us (we live apart from both of our families so most vacations are either spent visiting family or meeting family). I smell summery and optimistic and joyous, and that’s exactly what I needed. Funny – we’re both working from home now and there are many moments when it feels like a surreal staycation.
Is anyone else ridiculously obsessed with scented candles right now? I think because I’m spending so much time at home that I’m nesting.
Interesting — I finally bought a Cire Trudon Abd El Kader, which had been on my wish list since I sniffed it last August at the now lamented Twisted Lily.
“A gust of freedom blowing from the Mascara coast and the mountains picks up on its way the green scents of fresh mint, the rashness of fights, ginger’s hot and peppered air and the perfume of tea and tobacco from the Ouled Nail tribe…”
I’d been thinking about Cire Trudon for much longer, but that was the first opportunity I’d had to sniff them. I wish luxury candle brands would do birthday candle sized samples!
(And why on earth aren’t there 1- or 2-ml spray samples of room sprays?)
L’Eau D’Hiver for me today. Such a beauty.
Keeping busy this weekend doing chores, cooking, baking etc. I made a batch of kimchi today and am about to bake another loaf of bread. I’ve been trying more bread recipes since all of this began. We ordered some food Mexican from a local place Friday night. It was delicious and we were happy to support one of the restaurants in town.