Friday Favorites: Flamingos, witches, and greasy little burgers

September 30, 2022September 30, 2022Leave a comment

I am busy most of this weekend but tonight is all about Hocus Pocus 2. How can it be 29 years since the original was released? I’m serious, 1993 is like yesterday in my mind and it’s been almost three decades!

Tragedy has a way of shining a light on our most humane tendencies. This story about flamingos sheltering Hurricane Ian in a bathroom at Zoo Miami proves it.

There is no way I’d spend time making apple cider donuts, but I could get behind baking this Apple Cider Donut Cake for my next potluck. Which is next Friday BTW.

Out of Ink podcast has been making me laugh on my commute to and from work all week. Molly Lemon and Bea Baranowska are talented artists and so funny. Further proof that no one does self-deprecating humor like the British. The thing is, this is not scripted, they are just so self-conscious and funny.

If you’re a sucker for roadside attractions and vintage signage, The Retrologist Instagram is right up your alley.

I was catapulted back to the early nineties with this post about Little Tavern, a Maryland/Washington DC mainstay. There was a Little Tavern on Wisconsin Avenue next door to the restaurant where I used to sling pasta, pizza, and pizazz in Georgetown. The tell-tale sign of a massive hangover was walking through the front doors in the morning with a greasy bag of those mini burgers and a giant Coca-Cola.

WIP Wednesday: Spooky Kitties

September 28, 2022October 31, 2022Leave a comment

Halloween Cat Bunting spans about seven feet... perfect for our built-in book shelves. — *Halloween Cat Bunting spans about seven feet… purrfect for our built-in book shelves.*

These past two days have felt like an entire week. Fall is such a busy time for magazine publishing as issues are crammed with booze, holiday, and winter travel advertising. I am busy printing, knitting, and bookbinding for Luna Market and other fall and holiday maker markets while my work days have become increasingly busy.

*Nine hand-printed Halloween Cat heads are strung on seven feet of black hemp twine. Drawn and carved by hand.*

Yesterday was a particularly problem-solving kind of day. I carved this block on Sunday knowing I would come home to a quiet house last night to print, trim, and string this Halloween Cat bunting was just what I needed. Sometimes a little project just for fun is the balm I need to soothe my overworked brain.

This project has me in the mood to watch some witchy movies this weekend.

October is just around the corner and that means lots of celebrations at Chez Vee*.

* Chez Vee (for Van Landingham) is what I’ve named our charming red cottage style home.

Watching and Knitting: Bad Sisters

September 21, 2022September 21, 2022Leave a comment

Bad Sisters

Sharon Horgan’s dark comedy has the same fierceness as Pulling and Catastrophe, both co-created by Horgan. Her talent for creating and writing comedy roles for women is unrivaled.

Bad Sisters is about the five Garvey sisters and begins with the death of one of their husbands, whom the other four sisters refer to as “The Prick”. The opening credits with PJ Harvey singing Leonard Cohen’s Who by Fire is inspired. The soundtrack is amazingly eclectic with tunes from The Pogues (it is Irish after all), Fiona Apple, and Stringbean. Apple TV+ Watch the trailer

The Durrells in Corfu

I watched this on a recommendation and it’s surprisingly funny. The series is based on a true story and series of novels by the youngest Durrell about their widowed mother transplanting them from England to the island of Corfu. The sister Margo has quickly become my favorite Durrell. PBS and Amazon Prime Watch the trailer

Current WIPS

Crocheting a lovely shell stitch scarf with this beautiful Louisa Harding Giardino in Rosabella. I made a granny square throw with this yarn and think this scarf should use up the 3 remaining balls. IMHO this yarn looks better crocheted than knit.

I’m still deciding whether I want to knit more wooly garlands to have enough to sell this holiday season. They sold well last year, almost too well… which leads me to believe I was charging too little. I may just knit fewer and limit them to a couple holiday markets… though pretty sure I sold out in 2 hours at Luna Market.