Mudlark Journal.

These are so pretty, and I love the magnetic closure.  For only my most important to-do lists -- perfect for my new year's resolutions.

Marimekko Umbrella.

I bought this adorable umbrella from one of my favorite travel stores, Flight 001, in San Francisco, before going to Japan.  I was warned that there can be some fierce summer showers, and I wanted something a bit more sturdy than my old Walgreens umbrella.

In Kyoto, at night, on one of the drizzly summer days we experienced.
It’s light, easily packable, and stands out in a crowd, certainly.  The winters in San Francisco can be long and very rainy, so it’s nice to have such a cheerful way to keep the damp away.

I’ve had it for ages now, and it’s such a well-designed piece that it’s become one of my favorite accessories.

What I'm Reading.

As usual, I'm well behind the curve, but I'm currently (finally!) reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  It took me quite a while to get into it, but now I can't put it down.  In fact, I'm not even really going to finish this review, because I have to go finish this book.

It's really a fantastic book, and I am really in love with the characters.  I know next to nothing about Sweden, but the place isn't really a character, as in other books.  I sometimes find the translation a little...interesting, but overall it's really enjoyable and quite engaging.  It's also one of the most violent books I've read in recent memory, but it's not gratuitous.  Just necessary for this kind of plot, I suppose.  I'm sure once I'm done with this one, I'll be picking up the next two, and reading them in quick succession.  I've heard rumors of hidden forth and fifth books, and am quite hopeful that they exist.  In the meantime, back to my book.

Blueberry Grunt.

It’s kind of like a cobbler, but not.  It definitely isn’t a pie either.  It’s a berry-filled, biscuit-topped glorious, easy-as-can-be summertime dessert. 

It looks beautiful and is easy to share.  It’s also a good way to use up berries that are just past their prime.  I’ve made it with just blueberries, but it’s also nice to add strawberries, raspberries or blackberries.

Perfect for potlucks this summer, since it can be served at room temperature and travels well (in the same dish in which it cooks).  I should also mention that it is eye-poppingly delicious served hot with ice cream.  I got the recipe from Vegan Yum Yum (so it’s even better, since I can share it with my vegan buddies).

I made this last weekend for my sweetie, and the results were unanimously satisfactory.  But I kind of forgot to take pictures until we'd eaten the whole thing.  Next time, I promise.

Red Canna.

A birthday gift from my dad years and years ago, which recently and finally found it’s way to my home after years of storage.  I really, really love it (I've seen the original in real life a couple of times).  And it matches the red motif in my apartment really beautifully.

Georgia O'Keefe is one of my favorites of all time, and I was extremely lucky about ten years ago to go to the museum dedicated to her in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  I highly recommend going if you're ever in the area.  I also recently saw her work at the Amon Carter Museum in Ft. Worth, Texas.

The Daily Coyote.

Check out this adorable blog, The Daily Coyote, if you haven't already. I really, really love it.  I've been following for years, and it's an incredible story.  I recently gave the book version of the blog to my mom for her birthday.  She loves animals and is such a friend to all the animals that live in her backyard and around her house, so I knew she’d relate.  She makes sure that all the creatures in her little eco-system are well-fed and tracks their well-being like a mother-hen.  I could absolutely see her taking a similar path, if such a situation presented itself.

Smart Wool.

I really don’t want this blog to just be about buying “stuff” and capitalism and shopping and acquiring more things we all probably could do without if we were really honest with ourselves.  Insert a big however here, because I’m obsessed-in-love with this shirt from Smart Wool. 

It’s amazingly perfect for layering (a crucial skill in San Francisco) and as a coverup for yoga.  I've been wearing it constantly since I bought it at the member's coupon weekend for every occasion: work, yoga, going out, sleeping.  It is so soft yet really sturdy.  It comes in gorgeous colors (I have the purple) and goes beautifully with anything.  I’m already plotting getting it in another color or two.

Yum!

Louise Bourgeois.

I’m not sure if I have anything more to add to what the Guardian had to say, but great celebration and gratitude is in order for the extraordinary Louise Bourgeois.  She lived such an amazing life and created some of my favorite sculpture of all time.  Her work engaged with some of the great themes of women’s lives and reveals an emotional vulnerability of which I am in awe.

I am deeply fortunate to have some of her pieces in my city-- on the roof garden of SFMoMA.  If you're in San Francisco, I strongly recommend going to see her piece, right in front of the Blue Bottle Coffee kiosk.

I was also lucky to see her work in Tokyo at Ropponggi Hills.

Farewell, beautiful woman.  And so many thanks for the incredible body of work you leave behind; I treasure so dearly the experience of witnessing your work.

What I'm Reading.

The Year of The Flood, by Margaret Atwood.

It is, as anticipated, outstanding.  I’ve loved her since I read Lady Oracle by senior year of high school (it changed my life!).  I’ve read Cat’s Eye (one of my top ten favorite novels of all time!) and Surfacing twice, and I loved Oryx and Crake.  I've also devoured several of her other novels, all of which I've adored, to varying degrees.  I'm slowly working my way through all of her poetry and short fiction as well.  She’s so smart and her books are so brilliantly written, and her books have shone such a bright light into my life as a reader. 

It’s been a slow journey through the book so far, but I feel that no one does speculative fiction and magical realism quite like Ms. Atwood.  She imbues the story, setting and characters with her particular brand of politics in a clever and humorous way.  For those of us who share her views, Atwood offers a little wink-wink, nudge-nudge.  Which I happen to love.  I also love all varieties of speculation on potential utopianist leftist societies.  And post-apocalyptic anything.  So this is right up my alley.  I’m only about halfway through, but I’m enjoying the ride.

What are you reading?  What should I read next?

Apple Tart.

One of my favorite recipies is apple tart, from Barefoot Contessa (this one can be found in Back to Basics, my copy of which is sticky and spattered from repeated use).  It is beyond easy, especially if you use the pre-made puff pastry.  Everyone will be impressed.  Sometime Sunday morning calls for staying in.  Some coffee and a few buttery slices of this, and it’s breakfast.

Just out of the oven.

With the apricot glaze.

My tart never comes out as pretty as the photographs in her book, but even when I make the full recipe, two of us usually polish the whole thing off.  I’ve never seen it last twenty-four hours.