I’ve wanted to live on the Isle of Skye since the first time I set foot on it back in 1993. It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. I’ve revisited the island twice in the intervening years, and each time the pull of the place only intensified, like a kind of tide in myContinue reading “Living in…a Skye Croft House”
Category Archives: magpie
One-Minute Reviews
So, the bad news is I have COVID again (Hat Trick). The good news is (a) COVID has never been too mean to me and (b) I’ll be posting to the blog a lot more this week! Starting with super-fast reviews of a bunch of books and audiobooks I cleared over the holidays: Americanah, ChimamandaContinue reading “One-Minute Reviews”
Letter of Recommendation: Songs of Joy & Peace
I’m a little late with this one, but hey! There are still technically 2 days left to Christmas…. Yo-Yo Ma’s Songs of Joy & Peace is perfect for the season–festive and restful and not too Christmasy, for folks who are perhaps not as pro-Christmas as I am. The pieces are almost all collaborations and areContinue reading “Letter of Recommendation: Songs of Joy & Peace”
Merry Xmas from ATEEZ!
youtube.com/watch Yes, they have a new album out. No, it is not that great (though “Silver Light” is really beautiful). But this dance practice where they’re all dressed up as Mito the black moon rabbit (this year was the year of the rabbit in the lunar calendar) is super adorable and festive.
Ceramics Saturdays: Jōmon Ware (and other treasures from the Tokyo National Museum)
Anytime I visit a museum in Japan I’m struck by how much of what we call “modern” art and design in Europe and the U.S. looks like very old Japanese traditions. It’s not just a coincidence of forms, either: when Japan re-opened to Western trade during the Meiji, Japanese arts and crafts flooded the EuropeanContinue reading “Ceramics Saturdays: Jōmon Ware (and other treasures from the Tokyo National Museum)”
Letter of Recommendation: Osprey Ultralight Organizers
I like to carry what I call a “comfort kit” that goes in my tote/travel bags stuffed with things I need to access in meetings or on planes with minimum drama: lip balm, wet wipes, Advil, a pair of cheap readers, pen, phone charger, that kind of thing. Not a full toiletry kit but on-the-goContinue reading “Letter of Recommendation: Osprey Ultralight Organizers”
Friday Favorites: Tomoya Studio
On this YouTube channel by One OK Rock drummer Tomoya Kanki, he usually performs drum tracks from popular songs by the band and then breaks them down for drummers and interested fans. But even if you’re not in one of those categories, I think you’ll find something to like in his videos. He’s a wickedlyContinue reading “Friday Favorites: Tomoya Studio”
Living In: Valley Ford Ranch
Yes, I am one of the legions of middle-aged white women who want to have a farm when they retire. But! I was raised by an actual Michigan farm girl and can ride, shoot, and make preserves. I can use a chainsaw. I own chickens. I know how to change spark plugs and prune appleContinue reading “Living In: Valley Ford Ranch”
Friday Favorites: Feedly Clean-up (Arts Edition)
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”
The Rookery 