Leonard Cohen and the Webb Sisters

A few days ago, I watched this Leonard Cohen tribute concert via Netflix instant play, and it was amazing. I'm in complete awe of Leonard Cohen, and I've been on the lookout for a song to cover on my upcoming album. "Hallelujah" has long been one of my favorites, but it's been done by so many artists that I don't think I would have anything new or original to bring to it. This song is most often associated with Rufus Wainwright, and although I love his version (and this one by Bon Jovi), I think this acoustic performance by Sheryl Crow is my alltime favorite.





So anyway, I heard a few new (to me) songs on the tribute concert, and the one that captivated me most was "If It Be Your Will." The words are deceptively simple, and the song is almost a prayer. The performance by Antony on the film was powerful, but when I searched on youtube, I came across the song being performed by Leonard Cohen with the Webb Sisters. Oh my goodness. I could rack my brain for words to describe how incredible this is, but I think I'm going to take the easy (and more effective) way out, by urging you to drop what you're doing this very second and watch this.



I had never heard of the Webb Sisters before, but now I'm completely obsessed. The British sisters, Charley and Hattie, have the most captivating harmony, tight in a way that only family harmonies can be, and both are multi-instrumentalists, although it seems that performance wise, one sister usually plays guitar and the other accompanies with a small harp. I've always thought the harp to be one of the most beautiful instruments, both it's physical self as well as the sound. It lends an air of other worldliness to a song, in a fragile, delicate, ethereal way. I spent the past half hour perusing their website and listening to their latest EP, Comes in Twos, which is definitely going on my Christmas list, and if Santa doesn't come through, I'm buying it myself. :)

Apples for Jam and Food Photography

Lately, I’ve been reading cookbooks like they were trashy romance novels. I mean, who cares about burning loins when you could whip up an apple stuffed pork loin roast , and Danielle Steele can just keep those heaving bosoms, thank you very much, I’m lusting after sparkling ginger chip cookies.
One of my favorite cookbooks of late is Apples for Jam, by Tessa Kiros. Seriously, who could resist this cover? Just look at those red shoes! Red shoes are one of my obsessions, so any thoughts of not judging books by their covers just flew right out the window when I saw this. And thankfully I wasn’t disappointed. Apples to Jam is one of the most gorgeous cookbooks you’ll find. When I was finished flipping through the book, there were about 50 post-its sticking out where I’d marked recipes I wanted to try. Like meringue with strawberries and chocolate or vanilla cake or honey cake! Can you tell my sweet tooth rules the roost around here?

As yummy and delectable as all this sounds, the main thing that sets this book apart from similar cookbooks is the photography. Using whimsical props, gorgeous color (I forgot to mention that the entire organizational premise of the recipes is based on color, how cool is that?), and super close-ups and interesting angles, Tessa Kiros not only has me itching to tie on my apron and get in the kitchen, but also encourages me to get better acquainted with my camera.

Food styling and still-life photography is not something I ever gave a lot of thought to before I started frequenting cooking blogs. After seeing such pretty pictures as this, or this, or this, I thought, well, that looks like fun, I'll give it a whirl. Well, turns out, taking a good picture of food is definitely not as easy as it looks. I quickly discovered that there is a true art form to it, as well as a lot of technical know how (about lighting, shutter speeds, etc.) that I didn’t have a clue about. Not to mention the infinite possibilities in Photoshop, about which I only know the tip of the iceberg. Well, I still don’t have a clue, but it’s something I’d like to explore. I know there are oodles of online tutorials, or maybe I might even take a spring semester class at our local community college. And, ever the bookworm, here are a few books on the subject I’m thinking about ordering:

A few of my favorite cooking blogs, where gorgeous food photography (and brilliant writing!) abounds!

Tartlette
Smitten Kitchen

101 Cookbooks

Orangette

What are your favorite cookbooks or cooking blogs?

Live Gram and Emmy

Unpolished, live performances of Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris are somewhat rare, so I was thrilled to discover this. The video quality is not perfect, but you can still get a real feel for the dynamic, dare I say frenzied, excitement I imagine most of their shows held. Emmy is playing the fool out of that tambourine, no? :)

Tis the Season

My, what a bad blogger I am! My blogging habits bear a striking resemblance to my adolescent diary keeping habits, characterized by brief bursts of intensity lasting about a week or so, and then a sparse desert of nothingness for months at a time. I apologize for my absence. I've been a busy little bee during the past month or more that I have neglected this space. Autumn and early winter are without a doubt my favorite seasons, and what with all the cider to be drunk and pumpkin pies to be baked and eaten, I've just been swamped. You understand.

And it's already the first day of December (!!!), so the holiday frenzy is creeping in. The tree and all the Christmas decorations went up the day after Thanksgiving, and our little cabin is simply magical. When I opened up the box of ornaments, I was so surprised to find, instead of the jumbled, tangled mess of family history that usually greets me, all of our ornaments neatly and carefully wrapped in tissue paper. I know, I couldn't believe it either. It's very unlike me to be so organized, and I secretly wondered what sort of little Type A elves had been in the storage shed rearranging my stuff. But then I remembered that last year, when it came time to take the tree down was not only the beginning of a new year, but also the beginning of my new life, staying at home with my little one. And so, without the pressures of the working world beckoning, properly storing Christmas treasures fell within the realm of possibility. Really, it was so much more pleasant, unwrapping each one, eagerly anticipating which one it might be, and the flood of stories and memories it would bring with it. It's amazing, the power those little trinkets have to bring smiles and tears and that oh so familiar ache in the heart that seems to permeate this season. For my daughter, who will be two in February, these holiday times are pure bliss and joy, full of twinkling lights, wonder, and sweet tastes and smells. For me, the wonder is still present, but the shadows of time creep in as well. At no other time of the year are joy and sadness so jumbled up together as we think about those we have lost and the bittersweet passage of time. And perhaps that's the ultimate beauty of this season.

Hank Williams and Anita Carter Duet

This gives me chills!

Winter Hat

It's supposed to be a cold day today, so I thought I'd take this opportunity and show off my fancy new winter hat. I just ordered it from Portland based designer Liza Rietz. She has a lovely etsy shop, and I'm so pleased with my hat. I love the glamorous 1920s-esque cloche style, but it's also made of warm black wool, so it keeps my head nice and cozy.

Simply Breakfast

Wishing my breakfasts were always so pretty!

(Simply Breakfast/Jennifer Causey)

Bright Star and Weekend Travels

Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend. I certainly did. Friday night I went to see Bright Star with some girlfriends. It's the film about Romantic poet John Keats. There's no way Mark would have gone to see that one with me. When he asked me who John Keats was, I told him he was sort of an 18th century literary Hank Williams. Well, they both were brilliant wordsmiths who died tragically while still in their 20s, right? Anyway, I had high hopes for the movie, and while I don't mean to bash it, I must say I was a wee bit disappointed. It was, of course, really sad, but that's almost like going to see Titanic and then complaining that it was sad. If you know the story, you know it's not going to end well, so I was prepared for that. But, the movie was sooooo slow. One film critic called it "restrained," which I suppose means "boring for long stretches with the occasional burst of interest." Also, I didn't find any of the main characters very likable, even Mr. Keats himself! But, since my mama taught me that if you can't say anything good, don't say anything at all, I will say that, in terms of sheer cinematography, it was one of the most beautiful films I've seen of late. It was full of such exquisite imagery, I almost wanted to pause certain frames, take a picture, and hang it on the wall.

Saturday, we drove up to Boone (about two hours north of us) to visit Mark's folks. The autumn leaves are at their peak in the High Country, and it was a gorgeous drive. We spent the night with Kate's Grandbob and Mimi and then came home Sunday afternoon, where we spent the rest of the afternoon taking a short hike and then settling in for an Andy Griffith marathon.

Really a lovely weekend. And yours?

Caroline Herring

I just bought this album by Atlanta based artist, Caroline Herring. Completely mesmerizing! Imagine if Eudora Wetly had chosen to write songs instead of short stories and you have Lantana. Herring is a Mississippi native herself, and actually sites Welty as a huge influence on her songs. The album falls squarely within the southern gothic tradition, unflinchingly delving into the troubled past (and present) of the region. The song "Paper Gown" (about the infamous South Carolina woman, Susan Smith, who murdered her two children) is utterly chilling and disturbing, but hauntingly beautiful at the same time. The entire album is powerful, soulful, and brilliant.

New album, Golden Apples of the Sun, comes out October 27th!

My Favorite Things

Isn't this the most precious logo you've ever seen? The Sound of Music is one of my all time favorite movies, and when I saw the lovely silhouette of the girl in the white dress with the blue satin sash, I just had to share this fantastic blog full of great finds and inspiration!

A Homemade Life

I knew Molly Wizenberg and I were kindred spirits when I tallied up 5 separate and distinct recipes for banana bread on her fabulous cooking blog, Orangette. My personal favorite is the chocolate chip banana bread, which actually isn’t on the blog, but in her book, A Homemade Life. I read this book over the summer, not knowing that a “cookbook” would evermore be present in my list of favorite books of all time. Seriously, it’s that good.

First of all, it’s only a cookbook in the sense that it includes some absolutely fabulous recipes. But more importantly, it’s a deeply personal story of Molly and her family, told through memories of food and table. The story is not especially unique (therein lies a big part of the charm), but it is warm, generous, heartfelt, funny, and infinitely moving. Molly’s writing style is what really sets this book apart. Yes, all of our stories could probably be told through food, but few of us could tell them as compellingly as Molly. I could read this book over and over again, and probably will.

I’ve also become an avid reader of Molly’s monthly column in Bon Appetit magazine. These blueberry oat scones are scrumptious and I too, now consider myself an apostle of kale!

The September Issue

Another movie to add to the growing list! I always have the best intentions of actually making it to the theatre so I can discuss movies intelligently while they're still current, but more often than not end up waiting for the DVD and the comfort of my own couch. Still, I'm anxious to see this film based on legendary Vogue editor Anna Wintour.

Listening To............Madeleine Peyroux

Lately, I’ve been making an effort to branch out musically. When an artist has recorded tunes made famous by both Patsy Cline and Hank Williams, Sr., one might question how exactly that is expanding my already Americana/country/roots music saturated horizon. But take a listen to Madeleine Peyroux’s smoky, jazz infused versions of “Walkin’ After Midnight” and “Weary Blues” and you’ll get it. Wow! You know, my idol, Emmylou Harris, is often referred to as a “collector of songs” and I think the same could be said of Madeleine Peyroux. Although her latest album, Bare Bones, is comprised of all original songs, much of her earlier work showcased carefully chosen existing songs (to call them covers just seems unfair, because the treatment is so original!) Her taste is impeccable, with each album showcasing an eclectic collection ranging from Elliot Smith’s “Behind the Bars” to Leonard Cohen’s “Dance Me to the End of Love.”

Born in Athens, Georgia, but spending much of her life in Paris, Madeleine Peyroux has a wide array of diverse musical influences converging in her style. Although one might think an album featuring songs by both Hank Williams and Edith Piaf might seem crazy, she makes it work. Beautifully. Peyroux perfectly pairs elegant European sophistication with a down home southern charm. Listening to her music makes me want to drink Champagne and eat banana pudding. And I think I just might.

*I'm loving this video!

Emma Watson

These pictures made the blog rounds a month or so ago when they showed up in the pages of Teen Vogue. Aren’t they stunning?

I thought they were gorgeous the first time I saw them, but now that fall is actually here and the weather is cool enough to make burgundy velvet jackets and leopard tights a reality, I think they’re even more inspiring.

This is why I can’t keep up with fashion week. Who wants to look at all those light flowy spring collections right now, when all I can think about are rich jewel tones and luxurious velvet, corduroy, wool, and cashmere?

Eat Sleep Tweet

Okay, so I'll admit I'm a bit spastic when it comes to twitter. Sometimes I will tweet compulsively throughout day, and then I'll go days on end without a single tweet. I really love Twitter, but I think the fact that I still don't have one of those fancy schmancy smart phones (I know, I'm like so 2007!) keeps me from consistently updating. I'm torn, because on the one hand, I thrive on communication, but on the other, since I'm usually glued to my laptop at home, sometimes it's nice to have a break from information overload when I'm out and about. I have a feeling I'll give in eventually, but in any event, I'm loving this Eat Sleep Tweet T-shirt!

Peacock Chair

When I become queen, I'd like for this to be my throne please. Isn't it amazing? Created by artist Victoria Fang , when you sit on the chair a sensor is triggered and the peacock feathers gloriously open up behind you. How regal!

(via cup of jo)

Darling Clementine

Aren't these just, well, darling? I have to confess, I'm a sucker for stationary, although these cards are so adorable, they would most likely end up framed and hanging in my daughter's room. Darling Clementine is the work of two Norwegian artists, Ingrid Reithaug and Tonje Holand who claim a vast well of inspiration: "from the costumes in Hercule Poirot to old Czech animation, Bauhaus, flea markets in October, vintage table wear, contemporary fashion, camping and things made out of felt." I'm most smitten with the Marionette series, pictured above, which reminds me of old-style cartoons. They also offer sweet, whimsical holiday cards, such as the ones pictured below. Check out their etsy shop, where you can find their collection of cards and super cute canvas totes. Too sweet!

And Speaking of Rain....

Should I dare to venture out, I think these lovelies from Target would make puddle hopping ever so much more fun!

Rainy Days

The gloomy weather continues, but I don't really mind so much. Our cabin has a tin roof, which makes a rainstorm more pleasant than not. Besides, Miss Kate and I have kept ourselves entertained with indoor pursuits.

First, we baked ginger molasses cookies, which were a big hit with my personal little taste tester, even before the baking!

Then, we snuggled in to watch the Shirley Temple version of Heidi. As a mountain girl myself, Heidi was always one of my alltime favorite stories when I was a little girl, although I don't believe I ever saw this film in its entirety until today. Needless to say, it was beautiful, nostalgic, and so touching. There may have been some tears, but what a sweet, uplifting story!

A fragrant cup of Earl Gray tea, the smell of ginger and molasses melding together in the oven, a classic film shared with my best girl, and the rhythmic drops of rain pounding on the roof......I think sunshine may be overrated.

Gram Parsons and a High School Reunion

Hello dears! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. It’s been a rainy, gloomy couple of days here, but we’ve had an uncharacteristically busy social calendar this weekend nonetheless.

Thursday night, Mark and I had an official date, something of a rarity since we’ve entered the world of parenthood. It was fun to get dressed up, have my car door opened for me, and wander around downtown Asheville, which really is such a romantic, beautiful city. We went here for a casual dinner and drinks, and then strolled down to the Firestorm Café to see a Gram Parsons tribute show, which was awesome! Any Gram fans out there, be sure to check this out.

Also this weekend was my ten year high school reunion. To tell you the truth, I never envisioned myself attending my reunion. For me, high school was neither so glorious that the rest of my days would pale in comparison, nor so horrific that I would spend the rest of my days atoning for it. I’ve stayed in touch with a few close friends, and beyond that, the marvel that is Facebook has allowed me a peek into the goings on of many of my classmates. So, I didn't really think I would bother going, but, in the end, my curiosity got the better of me, and I just had to go check it out. I was pleasantly surprised to find that really, no one had changed as drastically as I had expected. Some folks had filled out a bit I suppose and there were some new tattoos, but for the most part, everyone was at least recognizable. It’s funny, because although it seemed like everyone made the effort to mingle and chat with folks across the board, in the end, the old high school cliques resurfaced and it wasn’t long before the bar the event was held in faintly resembled the high school cafeteria. I guess ten years isn’t that long after all.

My old crew! We were all in the same Kindergarten class!

This is me with my best friend in the whole wide world. We bonded over a shared love of Popples the first day of Kindergarten, and have been inseparable ever since.

Ruffly Pencil Skirt

(via Anthropologie)

I’m smitten with this ruffled pencil skirt! The silhouette is still classic and elegant enough for the set of Mad Men, but the flirty ruffle adds such a fun, whimsical touch. So pretty!

An Education

I’m dying to see this movie! The coming of age story about a romance between a precocious Oxford bound school girl and a 30 something romantic sounds simply captivating. And will you just look at those 50s/60s era costumes? Stunning! The screenplay was actually written by British writer Nick Hornby (High Fidelity), and the film made a big splash at Sundance. Looks like a perfect date night movie to me.

I Want.....

1. That bicycle
2. That perfect little black dress
3. Those snazzy shoes
4. A trip to Copenhagen

(Ellen Page via Cycle Chic from Copenhagen)

The Swell Season

I had almost forgotten how exquisitely beautiful this is. Mesmerizing, captivating, hypnotic.....throw in any fancy adjective of your choice and it still won't do justice to this performance, so just watch it. I'm in awe. And completely heartbroken, because the closest their fall tour comes to Asheville is Washington, D.C. and despite my subtle (and not so subtle) hints that Mark should take me, that's just not quite close enough. So I have to be content with buying their new album (release date is October 27th!) and making my husband watch this movie with me, yet again. One must make do.

Cold Comfort Farm

All signs point to fall: dried leaves fluttering down from the trees, a teensy nip in the evening breeze, goldenrods blooming (six weeks till frost!), and of course, that familiar hankering to pick up a Jane Austen novel. I guess it's partly a holdover from the back to school mentality that us college English majors can never quite get rid of, or maybe it's the fact that fall and winter encourage the return to a focus on home and domesticity. Either way, last fall it was Northanger Abbey, and I'm thinking this fall it will probably be Emma.

But, it's only September, which to me, still qualifies as late summer. Calendar gods aside, I don't really consider it officially fall until October. So, in the interest of saving Emma for October, I've decided to go with a more modern novel of English country manners in the form of Stella Gibbons' Cold Comfort Farm. This 1932 comic novel centers around an orphaned young woman, Flora Poste, who is looking for relatives to live with, and ultimately decides upon some distant cousins who live in the isolated Cold Comfort Farm in Sussex. Upon arrival, she discovers a hodgepodge of extended family with various problems and eccentricities, and makes it her mission to bring civilized order to this chaotic rural existence. Perfect for a rainy September day, no?

Elle Moss Photography

My latest visual obsession: Elle Moss Photography. I'm completely captivated by her dreamy, whimsical images. The colors and textures are rich, yet subtle and simultaneously give off both a vintage and completely modern feel.

I've also been pouring through the archives of both her blogs, Elle Moss Photography and Diary of a Mod Housewife. I love the fact that in addition to showcasing her own incredible work, she offers so many links to other amazing photographers and artists that inspire her. I love folks who share the love!

Mountain State Fair

We inaugurated a new family tradition this weekend: the Mountain State Fair. Until Sunday, it had been ages since I'd been to a real fair, and what a shame! Kate was in heaven, a big toothy grin permanently plastered across her face as she pointed around, taking it all in and squealing with delight at the sights, sounds, and smells. And of course, not at all surprisingly, her favorite thing about the fair was the animals. I made a point to enjoy this as probably the only year she wouldn't be clamoring to ride all the rides and was quite content (and dare I say, enthralled!) watching sheep herding and goat milking demonstrations.

We went with some good friends who have an 8 month old son, and the six of us had the best time gorging ourselves on fair food, browsing exquisite handmade art and mountain crafts, and tromping through the straw lined barn areas to peek in at prize winning goats, llamas, sheep, cattle, chickens, and big floppy eared bunnies. Being a parent seems to give these simple experiences a new level of importance, as you become conscious of the fact that you are making memories and creating traditions your kids will carry with them forever.

Attending the fair puts me in the mood to dive into all things domestic and I immediatley began a mental to do list of winter projects that would make Laura Ingalls Wilder proud. I also felt a rush of sporting blood as we browsed the blue ribbon entries in the preserved food categories. I make a mean black raspberry jelly, and my homemade salsa is nothing to be ashamed of, if I do say so myself. Who knows? That blue ribbon might be mine next year! Well, one can dream.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

I absolutely love this movie. It's a quirky love story, set in the gorgeous city of Barcelona.

My junior year of college, I visited Barcelona for ten days and fell head over heels in love with this mesmerizing city. A lot of my college girlfriends found themselves suffering mega crushes on Paris, but Barcelona was always more my type. This movie takes me back to that magical city, with narrow, winding streets that echo with the haunting sounds of flamenco guitar, the ostentatious beauty of Gaudi archictecture, and late wine-soaked nights spent stumbling over a language I never quite mastered, but never stopped trying.

This film is exquisite. Penelope Cruz is absolutely brilliant. I often forget what an incredible actress she is. Watching this actually put me in a mind to revisit some old Pedro Almodovar films I haven't seen in ages. I sense a Spanish revival coming our way. Uncork the rioja, whip up some tapas and join me, won't you?

Vintage Photo Converter

I have a longstanding love affair with old pictures, so it comes as no surprise that I'm completely obsessed with this website that converts your photos to vintage styled pictures. Fair warning: this is a majorly addictive time waster. I spent an hour there this morning, before realizing my daughter was still in her pajamas and an entire shelf of books had been strewn across my office floor. But it was worth it. I love the faded, blurry quality of old pictures and this site replicates that well, especially considering it only takes a few seconds to do. The site is in Japanese, but it's pretty self-explanatory (if I was able to figure it out, believe me, your chances are good).

Laura Ashley Book

I've only owned one piece of Laura Ashley clothing in my adult life. It was a gorgeous Edwardian style burgundy velvet dress, long and flowy with an empire waist, luxurious velvet covered buttons and an intricately crocheted ivory collar. I found this treasure at my local thrift store, and remember looking around furtively wondering why no one else had already scooped it up. I carried it to the counter, paid the lady my $3.00 and scurried out as quickly as I could, half fearing someone would run me down and say it had all been a mistake and that dress wasn't for sale after all.

Well, I hoarded that dress away in my closet and pulled it out on Christmas Eve. I twirled around in the mirror feeling like a character in a Jane Austen novel (Elizabeth Bennet, of course). And then my husband walked in. "That's a really pretty nightgown," he said. It was 5:00 in the afternoon and we were on our way to Christmas Eve dinner. My bubble was officially burst.

I haven't felt the same about Laura Ashley since then, because although I would never have admitted it at the time, that dress really did look like a very pretty Edwardian nightgown that some romance novel heroine would run around dark, damp castles in. It's the type of thing that looks stunning in the glossy, highly stylized editorial pages of magazines and advertisements, but doesn't translate that well to real life. Or at least my real life.

Still, I saw a blurb about this book in this month's issue of Country Living, and was immediately intrigued. Just look at that cover shot (top photo)! So impractical (seriously who could ride a bike in that dress!), but so beautiful and romantic. And that's what Laura Ashley's vision was all about: not practicality and real life comfort and ease (how boring is that?), but rich textures, soft, romantic ruffles and pleats, and the blurred edges of an ideal bucolic existence.

The story behind the brand is the subject of Martin Wood's new book. Laura Ashley: the woman from Wales who started her fashion empire designing scarves at her kitchen table and grew into an international sensation that would touch every element of style, from her signature blouses and dresses to rustic, romantic home decor. The book features an impressive collection of photographs both from the company archives as well as the family's private collection.

Makin' Whoopie Pies

I've been seeing these delectable desserts all over the place lately. Apparently cupcakes went out with Sex & the City, and the whoopie pie stepped in to fill the trendy overpriced dessert vacuum. The name is rather catchy. In any event, I thought it high time I gave them a try. I mean, what's not to like? Chocolate cake and marshmallow creme, all in a compact, easy to hold sandwich form? I'm sold (but I'm easy). So this afternoon, I donned my happy homemaker apron and used this recipe to whip up some simply lovely whoopie pies, all the while humming this song.

Oh my goodness, can I just tell you how fabulous these are? I'm a southern gal, so the best way I can describe the deliciousness of the whoopie pie, is to say that it is sort of the Yankee version of a Moon Pie. But, even though I feel like a traitor for saying it, a whoopie pie is about a zillion times better than any old moon pie I've ever had. For one thing, I've never had a homemade moon pie. A moon pie is just something you buy at the gas station and unwrap as you crack open your RC cola on the way to the lake. I'm not really knocking the moon pie, I'm just saying whoopie pies are infinitely superior. There's no obnoxious graham crackery crustiness to get through; it's just dense, moist chocolate cake and sweet, fluffy marshmallow cream. There's something so childlike and mischievous about biting into a whoopie pie. You can't think about calories or worry about getting marshmallow creme all over your face. Just dive in and enjoy!

*Update: I've just hit the whoopie pie recipe jackpot! Martha always knows a good thing when she sees it, but damn her and her alphabetized linen closets.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese Filling

Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies

Halloween Whoppie Pies

Banana Whoopie Pies