charting time

my 2008 calendar from Pentagram is waiting patiently for january 1st.

other time keeper's to love:
- nikki mcclure
- papersource
- snow & graham
- sebastian wrong
- tokyo bay

[photo of my workspace from myflickr]

saving daylight

happy daylight savings time ~ enjoy your extra hour in bed!


[photo via myflickr]

books invite all, they constrain none

i finished reading the fountainhead this week. it's the sort of book that stole every open moment of my day.

browsing through our bookshelves, i came across a book that i've never read... i thought now was a good time to try the book.

share books with friends: shelfari and goodreads

share books with the world: bookcrossing


[photo from myflickr]

mulled cider for november

In the autumn spirit, i attempted some hot mulled cider last night.
mmmm, the smell of cinnamon & nutmeg & cloves.

lots of variations of hot cider recipes. here's one...

mulled cider
8 c apple cider
1/2 c packed brown sugar
6 inches cinnamon stick (or ground cinnamon?)
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp cloves

all the sugar was a bit sweet for me... and i might try adding in a few orange slices next time to add some zest.

check out mulled wine bags @ kiosk.

unfortunately, we had 0 trick or treaters for halloween.
but we do have a big plastic pumpkin full of candy!

mrs. lyons' apple crisp

definitely my favorite apple crisp recipe.

delicious with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.


[photo of apple crisp from myflickr]

autumn in LA

So this is my very first fall outside of New England since...ever.

My annual clock expects cider, crisp air, itchy wool sweaters, and falling leaves...But here in Los Angeles, the lovely weather justcontinues. Flowers blooming, trees green, sunshine.

But my innerclock is still reigning, at least in my mind. I'm convinced that I can smell the Fall Smell. I'm craving seasonal beverages: hazelnut coffee, pumpkin beer, hot cider. The sweaters on sale at local stores seem out of place--but I'll happily embrace them! I baked apple crisp just to smell the cinnamon & spice. Now if only I could find a big pile of leaves to crunch through...


[photo from umass campus, fall '05 from myflickr]

...of the moment

drinking... ruby red chai tea from trader joe's

eating... morning croissants from La Dijonaise

reading... god bless you, mr. rosewater by vonnegut

watching... farecast.com for good thanksgiving rates

listening... to morning becomes eclectic on KCRW

sans auto

another almost-carfree monday. i love wandering & exploring on foot, and a camera is the perfect pass to zoom in our this ironic crazy gritty pretty LA world.

i do wish that i could/would live a more carfree life on non-mondays. even working just a few miles from home, it's still hard to decipher a reliable bus route to get there. i know it's just a matter of committing to give it a try. i will. someday. soon?

see greenLAgirl for inspiration to de-car in LA.


[photo from myflickr]

angels vs. rangers

entering angel stadium.

baseball diamond at dusk.

rallying at the bottom of the eighth.
(note the attentive rally monkey.)

[photos from myflickr]

the NEW! "little black dress" rule

i spend too many mornings rushing at the last minute to find "just the right thing" to wear. i try on 3+ closet combinations, and then i'm grumpy. i'm running late, i throw on whatever, and i spend the rest of the day feeling uncomfortable.

i know this can be avoided if i just resort to wearing a standby. something clean, comfortable, and complimentary. a little black dress (or any combination of blacks/solids, for that matter).

for some bizarre reason, a part of me has felt like resorting to the standby is a "cop out."

but no more!

henceforth, all mornings of uncertainty will be solved with the standby, the steadfast&true. sometimes it's okay to take the easy route.