Forget Uggs: I want a pair of these Christian Diors for Christmas

Minding Your Manners at Thanksgiving

A Few Gentle Reminders:
1. Sit up straight at the dinner table. Try not to slouch or lean back in your chair. Remember, you've been invited to Thanksgiving dinner, not a poker game.

2. Make sure, once you're seated, that you introduce yourself to the person on your right and left if you don't know them.

3. Wait for the host to unfold his napkin before unfolding yours. And remember, napkins belong in your lap, and not tucked into your shirt like a bib (children excepted).

A Thanksgiving Sidedish

For the Love of Horses

by Liz Smith
One neigh or two, please

Princess Anne has two loves: children and horses. Her " hippomania" has won her many distinctions. Anne once said, "When I appear in public, people expect me to neigh, grind my teeth, paw the ground and swish my tail." At dinner she once talked about horses to a man on her left the entire night, ignoring the gent on her right completely. During coffee she asked the hapless fellow, "May I have the sugar, please?" The young man put two lumps on his palm, offering them to the Royal hippomane.



Splashdown: The late Princess Anne lands in the drink in 1982

Cakewalk: A book

The fine art of cake decorating is unveiled in a delicious book on baking, by Margaret Braun.

Margaret Braun



Cake detail: tiny citrus fruits & champagne grape clusters

Under the Royal Palms: Plastic Blue Flamingos

A few mango seasons ago in South Florida, my sister and I made a gingerbread Palm Beachesque cottage. Of course it had the requisite swimming pool (like the one in the picture) which we created by melting a blueberry jolly rancher in the microwave and pouring the mixture into the cottage's yard - a couple of tiny candy beach balls completed our tiny masterpiece.

Motion Pictures

The Lodger

Meet Max, permanent lodger, at the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast.

Black cats were once considered witches in disguise. If that's true, then orange ones were surely the devil.

Happy Halloween

VINTAGE 1960'S HITCHCOCK/HALLOWEEN FILM: THE BIRDS

In this classic Hitchcock tale of birds gone wild, based on a short story by Daphne Du Mauier, leading lady Tippi Hepburn "is the picture of cool blond beauty as she lands her man, then attempts to fight off her winged enemies."
The flock gathers prior to its legendary attack on the school children.

The Cheney Pumpkin

Fashion on the Catwalk: Spot On

My dog is half pit bull, half poodle. It's not much of a watchdog, but it's a viscious gossip.

Craig Shoemaker

How to Eat Soup

How do we eat our soup?

We skim our spoon delicately across its surface as if we were sending a ship out to sea, then bring it to our lips and silently sip.
Marjabelle Young Stewart

A NEW TAKE ON SOME OLD FAIRY TALES: "All three were beautiful of face but vile and black of heart."

Amazon.com: Into the Woods: Hudson Talbott, Stephen Sondheim, James Lapine: Books: Cinderella's mother had died, and her father had taken for his new wife a woman with two daughters of her own. All three were beautiful of face but vile and black of heart. And, jealous of Cinderella's good qualities, they cruelly thrust upon her the dirtiest tasks around the house.
'You wish to go to the festival?' the Stepmother asked mockingly.
'Look at your nails!' chuckled Lucinda, one of Cinderella's stepsisters.
'Look at your dress!' giggled Florinda, the other.
'You wish to go to the festival and dance before the Prince?!' they all exclaimed, and fell down laughing out of control.

A Look Back at: Les Midinettes

"The Midinette is one of the most typical and best known characters of Paris. Born in Paris suburbs, she hurries each day to the workroom where she sits, with other girls like herself, sewing the smart clothes for which Paris is so famous. She has but little money, so she cannot afford much of a lunch; instead she goes round to the nearest snack-bar and buys her lunch there, takes it back to her workroom and while she is eating, devours the latest novel. But in spite of her lack of money, she can copy those expensive and elegant models in cheaper material, and sometimes looks smarter in her copies than her
rich clients do in their originals."

Spinster Midinettes (25 and older), "clinging to custom", would frequently sew a lock of their hair into the hems of the wedding gowns in the hope of snaring a husband in the future.

Anecdote: Mistress Quickly once met a clothing designer who said she could have employed her as a fit-model in New York City. Bummer I didn't know that sooner.

A Memorable Evening at the Theater

In the fall of 2006 I finally saw Mama Mia on Broadway, and what a memorable occassion it would turn out to be. It started out with a plan to fly to New York City by myself on Labor Day weekend. Once in New York, I was going to stay at the apartment of a colleague who was going out of town. Since this was to be my second trip to New York and I hadn't seen a Broadway show the first time, I decided to splurge and buy a ticket (Mimi Singleton, theater ticket for one) to Mama Mia. This would make up for my having never seen it when it came to San Francisco.

I was very excited about the trip and the theater ticket and when I mentioned to my mother that I was going by myself I could tell ... well, that she really wanted to go. Instead of getting all cobbled up over what my friend might think, I simply called her and asked if I could bring my mom with me. She generously said yes, so the next day I called the theater box-office back to change my ticket. I spoke to a big hearted lady who got a kick when I told her my mother hadn't seen or been to New York in 40 years, and I asked her if I could I exchange my prime seat somewhere up front for two. By the end of our conversation, she assured me it was all taken care of and that I still had good seats.

Several weeks later in September my mom and I boarded a plane together and flew to New York. The night of the performance, as I watched her ease back in her red velvet theater seat, my mind pleasantly drifted back to the conversation with the woman at the box-office; And, just when I thought it couldn't get any better, two musicians looked up and waved to us from the orchestra pit. As we sat in the jam packed theater, taking it all in, I squeezed my mom's hand and peered in the dark again at the talented young man we'd been privileged to be seated next to. It was none other than the young Lead Keyboardist/Conductor himself, and at the end of the performance that included a bonus rendition of Happy Birthday to lead actress, Carolee Carmello, my mom leaned over my lap, shook his hand and told him what a fine performance he'd given.

The Poodle: A Noble Creature Incapable of Deceit

Regrettable Pierrre
In elementary school I went through a phase of intensely disliking three not insignificant things: my middle and last names and my dog's name, Pierre.

Poor Pierre. Our mother had such high hopes when she put a down payment on, what appeared by all accounts, a purebred french poodle from the pound. But, after running away from our house (for the umpteenth time) and peeing on our butane dining room candlesticks, Pierre was regretfully returned to the pound for good.

Romance at short notice was her speciality

The Open Window Saki
Masterpieces of Surprise, Anthology - excerpt

"Then you know practically nothing about my aunt?" pursued the self-possessed young lady.

"Only her name and address," admitted the caller. He was wondering whether Mrs. Sappleton was in the married or widowed state. An undefinable something about the room seemed to suggest masculine habitation.

"Her great tragedy happened just three years ago," said the child; "that would be since your sister's time."

"Her tragedy?" asked Framton; somehow in this restful country spot tragedies seemed out of place."

"You may wonder why we keep that window wide open on an October afternoon," said the niece, indicating a large French window that opened on to a lawn.

"It is quite warm for the time of the year," said Framton; "but has that window got anything to do with the tragedy?"

Expert Advice On: How To Be A Popular Hostess

This charming book makes a good gift for anyone who likes to entertain, or just read about it.

I don't believe anything can do as much for a room as a glowing fire in an attractive fireplace. Men and dogs love an open fire - they show good sense. It is the heart of any room and should be kindled on the slightest provocation.
Dorothy Draper

Always Remember:

'Good manners are made up of petty sacrifices.'

Flower Power

Now this is my idea of a flower girl: one pair tootsie pop colored high tops, matching brown t-shirt & green tutu; it makes perfect autumn wedding attire. click image to enlarge.

Dress Shopping

Whilst bridal shopping with my sister I helped myself to one too many cake samples.

Birthday Cake

Please help yourself to a piece of my birthday cake: My fiftieth.

Trunk Show: A few of my favorite things

Wonderful poofy tulle skirt.