Friday Snowing Buddha

Pride Birthdays and Memorials for the Week ~ February 22nd to February 28th

Romeo's Favorite Haiku

And a Very Veggie Dinner, too.

Left over Sautéed Spinach and Carrots with Garlic.  And Roasted Cauliflower with Golden Raisins, Capers, Roasted Pine Nuts and Celery Greens in a dressing made from Vermouth, dried Oregano and Indian Chili-Mango sauce.

Pepper Rings For Breakfast!

Stuffed with egg, sausage and cheddar cheese, topped with freshly made salsa.  ¡Muy rico!

Facebook Advice

I appreciate Facebook, I really do. And I've noticed how over the years they've used everything I've posted to refine the ads that run down the side of my page. I got no problem with that either--it's gotta pay for itself somehow, right? 

For the longest while now there have been ads for meeting other gay men. These I find annoying. Sometimes the banner reads "I need a boyfriend" over the face of some Colgate toothpaste spokes-boy smiling. Gack! Who needs anybody who needs a generic somebody? That's just trouble from the get go! 

But I digress, because the real point is that I'm celibate and happily so. I'm not against sex--sex is still awesome. But I'd rather direct my energies in other directions. And FYI--Facebook, you don't get my "type" anyways. So here a little chart to help you better hone your algorithms. Calculate on sweet FB.

Polish Consolate Interior

 I've shared this one before, it's based on the old Polish Consulate in New York City.  I have completed the first three floors.

 I photographed the process of the detailing of the interior of the first floor.  Here you can see the foyer and staircase with the dining room to the right.  Below the dining room in greater detail with the built in china cabinets.

 Another view of the two areas of the ground floor.

 Here is he lavatory with toilet (WC).  There are double sinks and you can see even TP in the detail below.

 The kitchen is in the back left quadrant with its own exit into the alley.  It's feathers a huge refrigerator/freezer and as you will see two photos a pastry oven.

 A freshly baked croissant sits ready to be eaten.

 The rest of the first floor is taken up by a music room with grand piano.  It the site of both private and public recitals

 Moving on to the second floor you have two bedrooms on the right side of the structure.  In the front overlooking the street a single adult room suitable for an au pair, and in the back a nursery complete with a cradle.  A bathroom is located behind the stairway.

 Across the foyer is the main living area with comfortable seating before the fireplace, and a cozy sitting area (detail below).

The first floor has a bedroom that has been converted to a sewing room.

 The master bedroom is located on the opposite side with an on suite that has a generous shower, double sinks and Lego City's only bidet.

 The fourth floor has yet to be renovated.

Lego City Brownstone: Interiors

 This is the façade.  It is a Lego model that I bought two of so that I could add an an extra story.  Below is the first floor with a modest living room.

 The second floor is all kitchen.

 The third floor is a bedroom. (There is a bathroom on the first floor under the stairs).

The view from the third floor is really a nice one, too.

Goulash: Comfort Food!

I do not pretend that my version of Goulash would pass the test for any truly Hungarian person.  It's based on the Goulash my mother would make for us as kids.  My mother who grew up on the flat dustbowl plains of western Oklahoma with a German father and an Irish mother.  But it is the Goulash I know, and it is spiced with Paprika, oregano and black pepper.  Made with ground beef, onions, peppers, tomatoes and pasta.  Mom would always use elbow macaroni, in this instant I used a boutique Orecchiette.  Sometimes I also use mushrooms, but not this time.  Oh, and I kick started it by frying up 8 oz of Pancetta before adding the beef and then onions, etc....

There's Got To Be A Morning After

If we just hold on through the night!  Jeez, it was windy last night.  Thankfully, we didn't loose power.  It was cold--with the 60 mph gusts windchill in the negative teens.  There was some early bizarre blizzard snow.

This morning lots of sunshine! but no desire to venture out into the bone brittling frigid air that plans to spend the day.

Birthday Boy's Big Day!

Started with a walk in the park.  His favorite ritual and given the weather one that we were able to do for a couple of days, and aren't likely to do tomorrow.  SO it was special for the way the weather conspired to make it possible.

When Romeo arrived in my life from Costa Rica back in April of 2013, the vet there placed his age at 14 months.  I backtracked to a birth month and year of February 2012.  Then placing it on the 14th was a no brainer, right?

After our walk we went to the doggy boutique in Hyattesville called "Big Bad Woof."  Since it was his birthday, he got a $10 dollar coupon to spend and then I literally let him sniff his way around and make choices--3 choices, for his presents.

It was a very exciting morning, which always necessitates a serious nap!

Damn I live a fortunate life!

Pride Birthdays and Memorials for the Week ~ February 15th to February 21st

What I'm Reading #77

Mr. Mac And Me is an historical novel about a time when the Art Deco Scottish architect Renny MackIntosh sought refuge in a coast English town during World War I.  In this imagining he befriends a 12-year-old boy who becomes the narrator.  It's a wonderful premise for a lovely story.  And that is exactly what it is.

I also love the way it is written in these vignette length chapters that sort of stand as short SHORT stories all on their own.  Simply lovely.

Winter Flowers

Winter is usually thought of as a rather desolate season for the garden.  But there are some stalwart denizens of the winter woods.  Lovers of shade in the heat of summer, who take advantage of the sun in a woods full of naked trees.  Hellebores they are!

What I'm Reading #76

What would you do if you suddenly found yourself bed ridden and without any explanation to your condition; All that you did and were was no longer within your grasp--A world in which you once moved and flourished retracted to a bed upon which you languished and lingered?  And what if a friend brought you a flower pot with a wild violet from your beloved woods and a little snail?  If you are Elisabeth Tova Bailey, you would create an entirely new world!  And I've never read anything so amazing and tender and insightful from a source so authoritative and gracious.

What I'm Reading #75

This is a wonderful "stream of consciousness" set of vignettes that are strung together like pearls of great price on a satin tread made of hemp.  The format lets you read this in a episodic way very conducive to modernity.  Each chapter reads like a prose poem.  Though brief, they often inspire a second or third reading, like all good poetry.  And the bottom line: this is a book that is a window into a world most fascinating a foreign to this avid reader.

Vermont Teddy Bear--50 Shades of Adorable!

There is a company called the Vermont Teddy Bear Company that makes....wait for it, Teddy Bears! Their latest Banal little Bear is "Christian" from 50 Shades of Grey--complete with "accessories". So Originally, I was thinking about posting this as a joke, but then I started looking at some of the their other bears. I get it--I can totally see how this would become an addiction.

This one is for Coco Chanel, but all I see Ella Fitzgerald and I love it!