Summer Monday Tart

David Lebovitz's tomato tart (recipe here) is wonderful to make when you're pressed for time, but still feel like creating something. Since I have a pie crust-making disability I use pre-made crust, which makes things even quicker.

I bought the tomatoes at the Bad Seed Farmers Market and the basil and thyme I used are growing at my house...heaven.

City Garden

I went for a walk this morning and inspected my neighborhood urban farm. I cannot believe this space is across the street from my house- I walk through the garden often, on my way home from work. If I had any sort of green thumb, how wonderful would it be to pick a lettuce from my very own plot on the way home?

You can see the new performing arts center here- where the Kansas City Symphony will play next year!

totems (or, the roof is on fire) *UPDATED*

I was reading this article by Rob Walker this morning and it got me thinking about the notion of stuff. It's interesting how people view stuff. One friend told me I live like a monk, but when I moved to Kansas City I felt like I had SO MANY things. And these were mostly books- 15 boxes of books....

But I digress. Rob Walker comments that many of the items listed on The Burning House are self consciously hip, or at least say something pretty definite about the writers aesthetic. Looking at the site, this is mostly true- most of the list seemed to be making a statement more about the way the person wants to be perceived than an actual personal statement and that's pretty boring. Rob Walker (and me too) would like to know more about the reasons things are being taken out of the fire. When you can only save some things, those things are elevated to the status of a totem. What makes them totems?

I took an unofficial and small poll. Matt said the things that are most important to him- his photos and music are saved on the Amazon Cloud so he doesn't need to worry too much. He would take:
1. Thom Brown for Brooks Brothers suit
2. Other Thom Brown for Brooks Brothers suit
3. cigarettes
4. sunglasses
5. Samsung Nexus S (his phone)


Matt is one of the most unsentimental people I know. His suits are irreplaceable, the rest are kind of necessary items (though, what are cigarettes if not totems?)

Here's an update on Matts totems, almost a year later:

It's easy to imagine what five things you'd grab in a fire when your house is *always* on fire.

Matt lives sparsely in Afghanistan, so three totems are probably ideal.

Jane (my sister) said she would take:
1. Our mothers wedding ring (why does she even have this?)
2. Barkus (her childhood stuffed animal)
3. Chanel bag
4. Our Nanas (my grandmother Harriet Schussler) wedding ring
5. Wedding poem my parents friend wrote/read to them on their wedding day
6. Photobooth picture of my parents at Disney World (I've never even seen this!)

Here's what I would take:

1. Emily (childhood friend)
2. Robert (another friend, and very uncooperative in this photo shoot)
3. Papa's (My grandfather Seymour Schussler) watch
4. The Laura Ashley quilt I've slept under forever
5. An antler- maybe the most totem-ish thing in the photo. I love deer and I have a few of these antlers, which were actually shed by deers and picked up from the ground.

Looking at what I've chosen, it's clear to me that these are what I would need to build up my new house from the ashes of what's burned down- my cat, a quilt to keep me warm, the antler-totems, and some comforting old things.

Anyone else feel like making a list? I would love to read it.

Mrs. Eaves

 I've been working on a presentation for a creative retreat tomorrow and I realized it's the perfect excuse to buy the font I've been yearning after for a year- say hello to my new Mrs. Eaves font. Anyone need anything typed?

Fashion Surprise

I love surprises and rooftops and I had both last Saturday night-- an entire street in my neigborhood was shut down to stage a fashion show! And even better, I had a birds-eye view from a rooftop party.

to the right...

to the left...(keep going and you'll reach my house)

Hallo KCMO!

lovely sunday

This was a reading in my yoga class this morning and it was a good way to start the day.

Mother Teresa: "The Final Analysis"

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.

           

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

             

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway.

           

 If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.

             

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.

            

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

             

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.

          

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

          

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.

M-A-I-N-E, Maine

I visited Maine over the weekend and attended a wedding that was right out of BHLDN (or Anthropologie for the uninitiated). What a beautiful place- I rode a bicycle through Kennebunkport, drank wine on the beach at midnight, ate a lobster roll and my weight in fried clams, and drank coffee and stared at the ocean while sitting in an Adirondack chair- my definition of heaven. I've missed the ocean, and even Lake Erie. Lovely weekend.

My sister would call these fried clammies

<3

Heaven, complete with a Boston Terrier

In Portland, ME- OH NO!

I can't get enough of the Adirondack chairs. Honestly, I have 3 other pictures just like this. 

 

At 8:30 am, it was so peaceful on the lawn of the Colony Hotel, I had to take a video as a souvenir. Just me and the birds.

Amateur Music Critic

I love everything about this duo, especially her shoes.