I love it when seemingly unrelated problems get together and solve themselves. It saves me a lot of work. In this case the problems were as follows: Don’t get me wrong: I own multiple pairs of tights. They are unbeatable for cycling and cross-country skiing, also climbing and running (in the winter). And I amContinue reading “Upcycled Cashmere CYA Mini-Skirt”
Author Archives: mourningdove
Friday Favorites: Feedly Clean-up (Arts Edition)
Wednesday’s Child: The Sword of Damocles
For all of us who are a few years past AP History… “The Sword of Damocles” was an Ancient Greek morality tale about a courtier who wanted to be king. Damocles was a hanger-on in the court of the tyrant Dionysius II of Sicily, and one day he got carried away with his flattery andContinue reading “Wednesday’s Child: The Sword of Damocles”
Wednesday’s Child: With your shield or on it
Among the ancient Greeks the Spartans fielded the most feared and skillful hoplites, or infantrymen. They were famous for their ascetic lifestyles, training in martial arts from the age of seven. Spartans disdained luxuries of every sort in order to harden themselves for battle and keep their egos in check. (A visiting traveler once quippedContinue reading “Wednesday’s Child: With your shield or on it”
Ceramics Saturdays: Ippodo Gallery NYC
I was in New York last weekend for a concert, but it was also Asia Week while we were in town–an annual Asian art fair that always features a couple big auctions, great shows at galleries and museums, etc. I’ve always wanted to go, so even though we were busy with the concert and eatingContinue reading “Ceramics Saturdays: Ippodo Gallery NYC”
Aikido and Rhetoric: Opposites Attract
The heart of a human being is no different from the soul of heaven and earth. In your practice always keep in your thoughts the interaction of heaven and earth, fire and water, yin and yang. Morihei Ueshiba, The Art of Peace I think that if one were to order all mankind to bring togetherContinue reading “Aikido and Rhetoric: Opposites Attract”
Wednesday’s Child: Emotional Stereovision
During the process of being discarded by my ex-husband, the toughest part to wrap my head around was how, in his head in the space of a week or so, I could go from his beloved wife–whom he posted glowing pictures of and tributes to on social media, whom he told how lucky he wasContinue reading “Wednesday’s Child: Emotional Stereovision”
Ceramics Saturdays: Swedish Ceramics
While I was in Stockholm, we took a bus out to Gustavsberg to visit the old porcelain factory and museum. Gustavsberg has been around since the early 1800s, when it mostly produced knock-offs of popular Chinese ceramics. But then it shifted into Scandinavian designs, and in the 20th century it fostered a stable of giftedContinue reading “Ceramics Saturdays: Swedish Ceramics”
Norway & Sweden
I really am terrible about taking pictures when I travel, mostly because I’m too busy either having fun or running to catch a train. This time–on a trip to Trondheim, Norway, for a conference and a follow-up trip to Stockholm, Sweden, to visit friends-of-friends–I was fortunate enough to travel with some folks who are muchContinue reading “Norway & Sweden”
Wednesday’s Child: Vertigo
On a Friday, I know…. This essay was written about three years ago. Vertigo is what you feel when your brain fails to reconcile two different sets of sensory cues about your situation: say, when you’re reading a book in the car, and your eyes tell your brain you’re sitting still, but the swaying carContinue reading “Wednesday’s Child: Vertigo”
The Rookery 