Tantalizing Trivia: Paisley

I’ve always had a fondness for paisley.

My grandmother made my Barbie doll a gorgeous Persian pickle jersey dress. (People of my grandmother’s generation referred to paisley as Persian pickle.)

I’ve had two memorable pieces of clothing in paisley–a peanut butter-colored tent dress when I was very young, and a turquoise, fuchsia, and yellow (on white) blouse as an adult. I miss them both.

paisleyAlthough the pattern has its roots in Iran, the name “paisley” comes from a town in Scotland where shawls using these motifs were produced.

Yes, I recently purchased a coloring book with paisley patterns in it.

Sunday Stewpot

Today is National Sunday Supper Day.

TV Stevie and I have differing views on when to have “the big meal” on Sundays. The home in which he grew up always ate the big meal at night. In my family, Sunday dinner was the big meal–around 1pm. But like parenting, marriage requires you to pick your battles and this was one I wasn’t going to win, so why waste the energy?

Regardless, Sunday Suppers at my house are usually simple. I don’t like making a fuss on the nights before I have to go to work. Homemade soups, chili (winter), or a big salad (summer) is usually on the menu. Once in a while I’ll spiralize a zucchini or two and fix it with chicken and seasonings, but I don’t do anything that takes more than 30 minutes prep. I save those meals for Saturdays.

What’s your favorite Sunday Supper?

 

Writing Props: Color, Light, and Janet Fish

Color and light are very important to me. They always have been. I write better when I’m happy, and color and light delight me.

Many years ago, my husband and I attended an exhibit of modern art at the local art museum. That’s where I ran into Spring Party and an artist named Janet Fish. The way the artist depicted light through colored pressed glass captivated me. Awed me.

A couple of years later, leafing through a catalog from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, I discovered a poster of Spring Party was for sale. My budget didn’t allow me to purchase it at the time. But I did cut out the photo from the catalog.  And from the next issue, too. I still have one of those makeshift bookmarks. I keep it on my desk at Day Job.

Ten years later, while my Day Job office was being redecorated, I was told I could pick out any artwork I wanted. I called the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston to see if they had any Spring Party posters left. I was ten years too late.

My husband purchased a coffee table book of Fish’s paintings for me. I keep it handy in my home office. There is a pullout of Spring Party that I will stare at for hours.

What Janet Fish does with color and light is what I want to accomplish with my words.

Slice of Life Sunday

Happy New Year!

I’ll be making some changes around here. It started with a mission statement.

Create a quick & quirky destination blog while still offering guest authors a chance to promote new/current releases.

May 2016 everything you need it to be.

Adult Coloring Books Part 2

X-Chromo, who recently graduated from college, has been looking for a set of 50 colored pencils. She checked every drug store, craft store, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, supermarket in the area looking for them. Most places don’t even have boxes of 24 colors left.

Yesterday, I took her to the Art Store, which is a commercial art supply outlet. We were told there is a world-wide shortage of colored pencils.

I am a writer. I could make this up. But I didn’t.