The Wild Things Are Coming!

Tonight we bought the CD and I’m am so very excited to see this! Karen O. of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs did the soundtrack for the film and really, does it get any better? I think she is rather amazing…

Beautiful Loneliness

I recently discovered this Etsy artist and I think I am in love…

Gypsy Life goes High Fashion

{from V magazine 09/09}

More Dream Spaces

I am always dreaming of someday being able to buy a house of my very own. I love the freedom of the gypsy wagons I often post about and I also love the coziness of the idea of a tiny house, but ultimately, I have always longed for a big lonely old house full of mystery and character to call my own. These images from Design Sponge evoked my longing for such a space and I thought I would share a couple of them. (In case you haven’t yet discovered this wonderful blog!)

I am especially crazy about old fireplaces and staircases. This fireplace is particularly delightful because it also reminds me of another of my favorite things: theatre! Oh the little scenes I would create there…

I dream of gently renovating and whenever I walk around my neighborhood I check the prices of all the Victorian and Craftsman style houses even though there is no way I could even think such a grown-up thought just yet. Still, it’s lovely to dream.

A Day in Wine Country

Saturday morning Aaron and I decided to head down to Oregon and spend a day doing one of our favorite things: wine tasting! The Willamette Valley in Oregon has a lot of vineyards and the area specializes in Pinto Noir. (my favorite!) We have done this twice before and it is always so much fun! At the wineries the people are usually very friendly and love to tell you all about the wine you are tasting, the grapes, the harvest… If you like wine even a little I highly recommend doing this sometime! We only encountered one truly insufferable person and he was another taster. He and his girlfriend had “flown down to Oregon in a private helicopter” and were being chauffeured to all the wineries of their choice. He was loud, ridiculous, and might have been altogether unbearable except for that fact that: Hey! We were drinking wine straight from the cellar! Despite that guy, it’s usually a pretty informal affair and not at all the snobby experience some might expect. It’s a lot like taking a farm tour and learning more about where the things you love come from. (With plenty of sampling!)

We came home this morning and on the way back up we stopped in Portland at our favorite coffee shop, Stumptown. Now that we have made this little trip three years running we have decided it’s a definite tradition.

Do you have any Indian Summer traditions?

Button up your boots!

There are so many things that I love about fall. Among them:  jackets, scarves, and BOOTS! I’m a pretty tall girl and I have somewhat -eh hem- long feet. I’ve made peace with them long ago, but it doesn’t change the fact that larger shoes can be difficult to find. (in actual stores that is) I’m not a big “shoe girl”, but for years I have planned to allow myself to “invest” in a grand pair of quality boots that I know I will wear for years. Here are some that I particularly love even though most are still far beyond my investment range…

My tastes particularly gravitate toward the Victorian and I really just can’t resist buttons on shoes. What do you think?

And just one non-buttoned beauty

I think my favorites are the second to last pair. I prefer flat shoes and those are just about perfect!

{click on pictures to link to sources}

In the Garden

I am not much of a gardener myself so I am particularly grateful for those who are.  There is a beautiful park filled with wonderfully kept gardens very near to where we live. Despite the swift approach of fall and chillier days, the gardens are still in brilliant full bloom. This past weekend I went there two days in a row.

{photos credits due to Aaron!}

To be a Princess

Alfonso Curon’s A Little Princess was one of my very favorite movies when I was growing up. It still is actually! It is such a beautiful film. Such lush and magical cinematography!

I can’t even count how many childhood games this book inspired. Most involved me and my friends as plucky orphans up against some evil headmistress. (There was also usually an elaborate escape from the orphanage through “secret” passage ways using long forgotten  maps.)

The scene where Sarah dances in the snow and bows to the mysterious Indian man across the rooftops uplifts my soul every time.

And I think perhaps this film was the beginning of my fascination with India…

If you have never seen it: You must!

And if you have: See it again!

A Series of Unfortunate Events

I’ve been feeling a little under the weather lately. Not only in the sickly sense, but I’ve fallen into a pretty downhearted state. I had to call in sick on Friday which has only left me racked with guilt. It was a necessary action, but somehow the three day-turned four day weekend feels rather tarnished. I feel better today, but I’ve been a little depressed. My boy is away for the weekend and I’ve stayed pretty hermited away in my apartment.  With the wedding and all it’s surrounding celebrations behind me, I realize it’s a little difficult to face the mundane humdrum of everyday life. I’m grateful to have a job, but it’s far from my ideal profession and I’m feeling quite uninspired.

However, I really dislike feeling this way so I try to make lists and remind myself of the things that do inspire me and spur creativity. My first step was getting out the apartment and spending some time at the bookstore. This was definitely a big help. I picked up Lucy Gayheart because I adore Willa Cather. I also bought A Passage to India because I want to go there very much and because E.M. Forster also penned another great favorite of mine, Howard’s End. Last, but not least, I purchased Under the Tuscan Sun which I have yet to read and thought might serve for some much needed escapism.

I’m also watching one of my favorite movies, A Series of Unfortunate Events. No matter how many times I see it, I am captivated every time…

One of my favorite parts of the film: the animated sequence during the closing credits. Delightfully Gorey-ish.

What kinds of things pull you out of a gloomy mood and inspire you?

The Aftermath…

What a crazy wonderful week and a half! (or so…) My little brother is now married to a lovely lady and all the wedding wildness is over. Despite the exhaustion, Monday was a little bit of a let down. However, I am now SO looking forward to this three day weekend! Work has gotten crazy and my house is a disaster. Something like the one above… I am really looking forward to having time to clean this weekend.

I’m also hoping to set aside some writing time too! It’s been too long since I’ve worked on a story. The weather is turning decidedly “fall-ish” and nothing inspires me more than cool sunny days and changing leaves!