This has been a quiet week and colder than usual for this area (Washington County, Maryland.) I’ve spent a lot of time painting, writing, sketching, and other good cold-weather pursuits. While it’s been in the single digits and teens much of the week, with a layer of crunchy snow on the ground, I’m already thinking about the garden waking up in a few weeks and what I want to tackle in the yard this year. But, there are a few more weeks of reading, knitting, and indoor projects before we get there. I’ll enjoy my hoodies, wool socks, and soup as long as I can.
Here are my favorites from this winter week…
what I’m reading
I received an advance copy of Patina Homes & Gardens by the ever-talented Steve and Brooke Giannetti. It comes out in just five days! I have their other books, Patina Homes and Patina Farms, which are both beautiful. The homes and gardens featured in this latest book are definitely high-end and more aspirational than attainable for most people, but I like to take away ideas I can implement in my own suburban home. In this book, I’m looking at the way they use boxwood hedges to define outdoor spaces, the sophisticated color palettes used throughout, and the way textures are layered inside and out. As always, I love studying Steve’s drawings and plans, too.
I’m already eyeballing those supports for our future potager garden…
what I’m watching
Jeff and I rewatched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty last week. I watched it shortly after it came out and then encouraged Jeff to watch it with me a few years later. It’s become one of our favorite movies. There is some silly humor you expect from Ben Stiller, but this movie is much deeper than that. It’s about unfulfilled dreams and what happens when you step out of a comfortable, controlled life. I love the way they use LIFE magazine’s slogan to underpin the plot of the movie. It’s really so well done and, if you haven’t seen it, I can’t recommend it enough. We’ve watched it with our boys and they love it, too.
what I’m loving
I never cared much for van Gogh’s paintings, but I have come to love and respect it as I’ve studied his life and work. It makes me sad because he never experienced success in his lifetime despite clear talent, an innovative approach, and years devoted to his art. I found this quote recently and appreciate it all the more because it came from him.
“If I am worth anything later, I am worth something now. For wheat is wheat, even if people think it is a grass in the beginning.”
-Vincent Van Gogh
what I’m working on
I’ve been writing, painting, and getting ready for my upcoming original art sale! It launches tomorrow (Friday, January 23, 2025) at noon Eastern. If you missed it, you can find a preview of the available works, sizes, and prices HERE.
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On which streaming service did you watch the movie? I always look forward to these!
You can rent or buy it on Amazon for under $5.00
How is your basement coming?
Made your famous potato soup and its truly the best!!
I live about 50 miles north of New Orleans and we had snow
on Tuesday, like 5 inches and I’m not a fan!! I am so happy we get
snow every few years. Looking forward to Spring.
Love reading your email everyday, you are so very talented.
Walter Mitty is one of my favorites. Seen it a few times. The soundtrack is awesome too. This week I made your chicken patties. They were very good and easy to pack for lunch each day. Family liked them, so they will probably be on rotation. I’m organizing sewing fabric and purging this week. These frigid temps though make me want to just hibernate.
I don’t recall if you ever listen to historical fiction novels but The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar is very absorbing. It’s based on the true story of Johanna Bonger, Vincent van Gogh’s sister-in-law. She inherited van Gogh’s paintings and made it her mission to give his work their legacy.
The story is woven with a second story line of an auctioneer that inherits Bonger’s diary.
It’s available on Audible.
Stay warm!
I also recommend “ The Secret Life of Sunflowers”. Came to appreciate Van Gogh from reading this book .
Funny that you named that film! I watched the original with Danny Kaye about 5 days ago on Turner Classic movies ..so fun..now I need to watch this one!!
I so love van Gogh’s artwork. To truly appreciate it, IMO you must see it in person. The way he layered the paint and his brushstrokes speak to the level of his genius. His story is so sad with both the level of his mental illness and the fact that his work was unappreciated. I have an opportunity to go to the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam and i’m beyond excited. I would love to start painting when i return. Do you have a suggestion as to a good starter medium for a beginner? Thanks for sharing that quote.
Secret Life of Walter Mitty was quite poignant. I watched it in the theatres just the once. I should watch again.
Forgot all about it. Hope your sale went well. The thing about Van Gogh is that he was SO unique – was one of the first of that style and it is ALWAYS difficult to be a pioneer. Sad life, much too short.
Have you seen the original version of the Walter Mitty movie with Danny Kaye? I recommend it! I haven’t seen the Ben Stiller version.