@ Blessings

My friend Lauren is one of those women with a signature scent.  In her case, it's Chanel No. 5, but I've never known another woman to wear it with the same finesse.  The perfume joins with her own personal fragrance to create a scent that's distinctly her own--- Tenacious, luxe, Lauren.  You can sense when she enters the room, know when she's just walked past, and track her movements through a crowd.  I hadn't seen Lauren since May, when we were back in Boston and saying sloppy goodbyes after a long night at the F; but we saw her yesterday and picked up right where we left off nine months ago- continued with laughter and stories, photos and dreams.  And Lauren, she smelled exactly the same.  Some things, like friendship, just don't change. 

>  Photos taken at Lauren's friend's new bar in East London, Blessings.  <

Monmouth Coffee

David and I are coffee drinkers.  Drip coffee, filter coffee, french pressed* coffee, we guzzle it like gasoline as our gears warm in the mornings.   We like our coffee hot out of the pot and, when it's good, we drink it black and let the blend of unique flavors wash over our tongues and warm our bellies.  'Round here, we love coffee. 

As you can imagine, we're quite particular about our coffee, and good coffee in these parts is mighty hard to find.  A couple times, my mom has sent my favorite roast all that way from Minneapolis, but too often we've had to pinch our noses and buy something off the grocery shelf.  But not anymore!  Thanks to the good people at our favorite local coffee stop, The Black Dog Café, we can now buy responsibly-sourced and sustainably-harvested coffee by Monmouth Coffee Company.  It may seem a little pricey at £12 per 500 g, but I can assure you that it's worth every pence.  The coffee, it is good, and using our spending power to help support a UK-based roaster, a local café, and two fantastic businesses feels pretty darn fine, too.  Quality, it can't be beat, and I'm looking forward to enjoying more of Monmouth's roasts as well as many more of Black Dog's exquisite flat whites.

Are you a coffee drinker, dear reader?  What are your favorite roasts and how do you drink your coffee?  I'd love to know and I wish you a lovely (snowy?) weekend full of hot coffee, wool socks, and cozy duvets.  xox! 

*Or Cafetère, as they say here.

> Open Hearts, Open Doors <

Let me preface this post by saying that today, I wanted to get personal.  It's been too long since I cracked my heart open like a chestnut and shared some feelings with you.  Truth is, I haven't needed to.  Things have been going well– so well!– and I'd almost forgotten to acknowledge my blessings and show thanks for them.  But these past few days, I've remembered; this post is an offering of thanks and a small representation of my psyche.  I wish I could say it better, but for now this will have to do.

You know that part in Pride and Prejudice when Elizabeth realizes that she's the one who's been too proud, too prejudiced, and too blinded by her own stubborn judgements and vanity to see the goodness that stood directly before her?  Well, you guys, I am Elizabeth, and it turns out that Tunbridge Wells is my Mr. Darcy.

Since hanging up my freelance saddle at the beginning of the year and promising myself that I'd live in the present and experience all this town has to offer, I've been overwhelmed by the diversity, creativity, and kindness of the people I've met.  I've been touched by their helpfulness, flattered by their curiosity, and so encouraged by their spirited discussions and visions for the future.  Already, I have friends I cherish and places in which I know I'll feel welcome.  More than once, I've been moved to tears by the richness of this town and the goodness of its people.  Slowly, I'm finding my tribe, and my only regret is that that I let my spirit be clouded by hasty judgements and fear for all those months before.

As I look back on these first eight months (nine, almost nine), I wanted to implore you to remember that an open heart opens doors and an open mind is keen to grow.  This world is a beautiful place, dear reader, but sometimes we need to stop squinting to see this to be true.  I don't know where these coming months will lead me, but for once I don't feel troubled by uncertainty.  I'm happy here.  Happy to learn, happy to grow, happy to meet new friends and have adventures.  And oh, what a wonderful adventure this is!

Thank you for being here (there), dear reader, thank you for putting up with me, and thank you for reading.  xx 

>   A Captive Audience? by David Reekie, 2000.  Photo taken at the Victoria & Albert museum.  <

Tuesday With Moi

Tuesday, January 22

 Wordless, Mostly

There's a lot I want to say.  Ideas have been churning in my mind and feelings have been gripping my heart and giving movement to my hands.  There's much I want to tell you, but today isn't the day to say these things.  Tomorrow might be, though. 

Until those words spill forth from my heart to this screen, I'm at a loss.  I don't have the ability to tell you about my Tuesday because the words, they are stuck.  Rest assured, however, that yesterday was a marvelous day.  A marvelous day full of snowfall and new friends, exciting ideas and growth.  I hope you enjoy the pictures and, as always, thank you for checking in.  

Over and out, for now. 

>  photos taken at home, La Roche, The Royal Wells Hotel, Kitsu, & Sankey's  <

BagelMania

When we moved in May, we sold all of our fancy kitchen gadgets- most of which we never used, anyhow- and have yet to regret life without them.  A KitchenAid blender?  I'd rather buy shoes.  A food processor?  That's what knives are for, silly.  Measuring spoons?  REAL SPOONS!  Rolling pin?  Wine bottle.  A can opener?  Who needs one when I can use a screwdriver and hammer*... Are you sensing a theme here?  Do you understand that I'm a bona-fide kitchen rebel?

With that in mind, you can understand why I've been reluctant to tackle something as seemingly difficult as bread baking.  Every recipe I read calls for a bread hook, a bread-maker, or some such cheater device that I do not have and have no desire in procuring, but last week, an intense craving for a proper, American-style bagel stirred me to action and I perused my friend Stephanie's blog for inspiration.  BAM, there it was, a recipe for New York Deli-Style Bagels that didn't call for anything more technologically advanced than a stove and oven.  I rolled up my sleeves, greased my elbows, and rattled around the kitchen until I found things** that would work well enough to get the job done.  Then, I started bagel-making.

Due to laziness and my own taste, I made a few minor adjustments to Stephanie's recipe:

1. Instead of using active dry yeast, I just used a packet of easy bake yeast.  It worked like a charm. 
2. I substituted white baking flour with wholemeal baking flour and used only a tiny sprinkling of sugar because I hate sugar and don't enjoy it in anything other than the occasional Old Fashioned.  (Next time, I'd cut out the sugar completely.  I'm all about savory 'round these parts.) 
3. Before putting the boiled bagels in the oven, I painted (literally, with a paintbrush) a liberal coating of rosemary, Maldon sea salt flakes, and olive oil on top.  

After a little bit of kneading and an almost tropical afternoon in my very warm kitchen, you'll be happy to know that my American-style bagel craving has been cured.  The bagels, they're delicious (just ask David, he'll tell you!).  They're wonderfully springy, toast well, and are perfect for bacon and egg breakfast sandwiches.  Now, I just need to find a recipe for homemade cream cheese and I'll be well on my way to paradise... suggestions are welcome!

* On second thought, maybe a can opener would be a sound investment?
** In lieu of a mixing bowl, I used a Le Creuset casserole thingy and instead of a slotted spoon, I used a slotted spaghetti spoon because I'm fancy.  (Please note: the spaghetti spoon will put holes in your bagels unless you're careful.  Halfway through, I swapped it for a spatula and the results were very successful.  Don't be afraid to get creative in your kitchen, you guys!)

Stuck in the Web

Do you love Jack White?  Do you love Conan O'Brien?  Great!  Watch this. (WARNING: it's 75 minutes long, so, like, make sure you're sitting somewhere comfortable and have a snack and/or beverage on hand before you settle in and enjoy.)

Beginners is one of my favorite films.  I watched it again this past week, this time with David, and it was so lovely to sit beside him and experience the subtlety of the storytelling, the melancholy and beauty of the love story, and the stunning set styling again (check out Brian Ferry's screen captures, here).  Plus, Christopher Plummer has my heart- now and for always- and the entire cast is really terrific.
Fun Fact:  The film's director, Mike Mills, is married to fountain-of-creativity, Miranda July, and if that doesn't make you more inclined to watch it, I don't know what will.

I'm making New York Deli-Style Bagels later today using a recipe by Baker Extraordinaire, Stephanie Wise.  She's always baking the most delicious sounding breads and I'm excited to finally try one for myself.  Obviously, I'll update you on how it goes...

This peek inside the International Space Station is an absolute delight!  No, really.  A DELIGHT.  If you've ever- even for a fleeting second- wondered what it would be like to live in space, you need to check it out.

And finally, prepare to be amazed: How Sewing Works.  So entrancing!

Now, get outta here and have a happy weekend! xox