Tuesday, November 5, 2013

I wish I had a river


I couldn't bear to leave my flowers from Bow Street behind, so they made the four-hour drive to the country with me, listening to podcasts (I'm so modern) The Moth and Judge John Hodgman.


Saturday we had friends over for dinner, great fun except for the part where Bob sliced his finger on the mandolin (onions not music) and had to go to the hospital for repairs.



But we carried on--there was pumpkin soup, gingerbread ice cream and a typically eclectic Catskills mix of folks--half gay, half straight, lives filled with journalism, art, Harley Davidsons, vegetable gardens, the Bronx Zoo, poetry, and a delightful five-year old named Ruby... 


The high hills were frosted with snow, and the raw days of November have arrived.

 I am stockpiling books for the winter. Loved The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt--great writing and great story. I also enjoyed Elizabeth Gilbert's The Signature of All Things (Victorian botanists. Lots of moss.) Deep hefty books filled with engaging and eccentric characters--you might want them on your own winter list.


On the way home, the flowers and I listened to music, songs that remind me of my California years.

19 comments:

  1. Have flowers, will travel.

    I'm glad the kitchen accident didn't happen the party!

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    1. Sounds like a book title. (The first sentence.)

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    1. I started that list on the post, but it demanded attention and its own post one day. But included Joni Mitchell, Boz Scaggs, Cream and Jimi Hendrix.:)

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  3. I mean, besides Joni.

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    1. Of course you got her. Also Grateful Dead. Jesse Colin Young. Hoyt Axton. It's a Beautiful Day. Joan Armatrading.

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  4. Your friends must give you some special moments as you describe and as these flowers show. I can hear your laughter, Jen.

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  5. Perfect weekend, and this was very much a November weekend, wasn't it? Add Flight Behavior to your Winter list....I've begun it and it's already beautiful.

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    1. Great suggestion--I love Barbara K. Thanks!

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  6. Funny, we had a dinner party on Saturday where we played Herbie Hancock's CD tribute to Joni Mitchell and had great fun and talk, fingers all intact though. Can't blame you for bringing the flowers along, they're gorgeous...as usual.

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    1. Haven't heard that tribute. I wonder if it's to her jazzy Hejira phase. Will look it up. HH is awesome.

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    2. No not really, it's called River and has different singers doing her songs to his arrangements. It won a grammy a few years ago as record of the year. Well deserved. I'm sure you will like.

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  7. Beautiful Peonies, Roses and Hydrangea....kudos, Jen!
    Must have been SOME dinner party!
    I game my mandolin...{slicer,not musical} away!!!
    Far too dangerous!
    I am having dinner guests this weekend...hmmmmm..
    What flowers???
    Decisions.....Decisions....♥
    Enjoy your evening...
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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    1. Let's see whether my husband uses his mandolin again!

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  8. You must get the New York Times Review of books, too. I read positive reviews of both those books there.

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    1. Such a thrill to read two excellent big novels in a row.

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  9. these are beautiful. I can totally understand why you brought them with you!!

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  10. I love an eclectic gathering! I can see why the flowers travelled ... far too beautiful to leave behind.

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