Home
An Attic Tragedy; Losing a Filmed History of Childhood
I'll never forget when we opened a Sarasota, Florida attic after my father's death. The humidity and heat had destroyed the 16mm film that recorded my first years and on into preteenhood. more »
My Mother’s Cookbook — Winter Salads: Jell-o, Salads of the Era, and Pickled Beets
The winter salad creations of my childhood memory seem quaint, if not downright silly. For instance, the Candlestick Salad, dating back to the 1920s, probably elicited a few adult comments unfit for younger ears to hear. The tapered banana top received a decorative finishing touch of miracle whip and a maraschino cherry, meant to resemble the candle's melting wax and flame more »
I'm Going to Get Organized One of These Days
My friend Jane could teach PhD classes in minimalism. You can actually walk into Jane’s closets — and they’re not walk-in closets. Once she asked if I had an extra postage stamp. I tried to give her two. "No" she said, "I need only one right now."I suggested she might have something else to mail in a couple of days. "Then I’ll go to the post office, I don’t want the clutter" more »
Design Shopping: Placewares.com
Baggalini Urban Backpack: Developed by two retired Delta Airlines flight attendants, this versatile bag converts from a shoulder bag to backpack by unzipping and rehooking the shoulder strap. Interior has numerous compartments for items you normally carry in your wallet plus slots for your cell phone and pen and zippered spaces for coins and cosmetics. Two exterior pockets zip shut. Magnetic catch at top of bag conceals the zipper ends of main compartment. And there's still room for a small book and a bottle of water. more »