Impressions of Peace

“We all live together
We belong together
This Mother Earth and I

All this song will always be
Better by reason
God's clear light
Make sure you feel this life
Flow all inside of you now

All this song will always be
Better by children
Let them sing
For always be the Light

It's another day
It's another way
It's another feeling in my heart

So if ever there's a question
So in part there is an answer
Remember that it's always in the heart of you

To begin this conversation
So intent to get the level
In everything your sacred life is going through”

Lyrics by Jon Anderson - Earth Mother Earth

I love the autumn months and for me there is no more beautiful time to be alive in northeast Ohio. I spend my days picking apples, walking in beautiful places, smelling the windfall apples and the fresh grapes that are everywhere this time of the year. I ride a most beautiful horse and we take to the trails on wings jumping the logs in our path, greedily eating the last of the precious berries that are clinging to the vines. The trees are resplendent with their cloaks of plum, rose and gold while acorns bounce playfully from the great oaks that have been my companions for my entire entire life. Fresh pumpkins are everywhere and the harvest is full, rich and abundant. This I take for granted as if it will always be here and yet this year I am brutally aware that time is passing quickly, that every moment is precious.

This is the beginning of my 50th year. For the first time in my life I haven’t known where the path is. I am no longer a child and I don’t remember when that happened. My body is changing, my son is grown, my own mother is recently gone. My world is changing and I feel it in my bones in a such a way that it that I am completely unsettled and yet my life is good, very very good. However there is a lingering question in my heart as to what’s next and sometimes I have felt very very afraid. I have been much quieter than usual, trying to still the cacophony of thoughts banging against the walls of my brain.

Yesterday, I received a package from Roxana Villa of Roxana Illuminated Perfumes. I knew that it would contain a sample of her newest perfume to be released on September the 21st in honor of The United Nations International Day of Peace. I was thrilled to receive it but only later did I really find out why.

I opened the bottle and took a very deep sniff. It was beautiful and very sweet with a tinge of something toasty and satisfying like the fragrance of rich earth , freshly mown hay and tobacco drying in the sun. There was an element of fire woven through it , yet I also sensed notes that were cooling and luscious, full of the dancing energies that only a true botanical perfume can possess. I put some on and drove out to the barn as it was turning towards dusk and I just had the sense of something big, but I didn’t know what. Maybe it's silly, but I do believe in magic, truly I do.

I saddled my horse and as we headed into the woods I felt a shiver run down my spine amazed as I looked up to see a very large bird flying low and fast through the trees. I was intrigued, we kept moving forward as he flew in front of us and yet I couldn’t truly see him. There is only one bird that flies through the forest without a sound and I longed to see him. We continued cantering down the trail but then I stopped and looked directly up and to the right of me. There high in the tree sat a barred owl, eyes unblinking and round with a chest full of the most beautiful feathers that I have ever seen.... a being of absolute and profound power. Suddenly I began to cry and I told him silently of everything , I shared my pain utterly and completely. We stared at each other for quite some time and then something told me that it was time to move on, but as I trotted away I heard the gift in his call...”Remember... Remember ... Remember”.

Suddenly I was filled with laughter recalling the wonder of my life and all of it’s sweetness. Suddenly the pain became part of it all and something to be cherished, just another simple part of the continuing circle of my life. Life is meant to be lived in every moment and by always letting those that you love know exactly how you feel about them.

We speak of peace on earth, we speak of peace between men. I believe that the word means something different and precious to everyone of us and I wonder, how can there be peace between us all if we have not found it in ourselves , if we’re not willing to go into our own dark places to fight long and hard for it? How can we cherish the lives of others if we don’t do the same for our own lives ? How can we possibly save our planet if we're too afraid to save ourselves? I want to believe with my whole being that peace truly does begin deep from within and then spirals outward touching everyone that you meet. I truly believe that we can be our own miracles.

All of Roxana’s perfumes are beautiful, but this precious expression of peace is particularly powerful and utterly lovely. I do not know the individual notes of this perfume and my heart prefers it this way. She has given it no name, focusing instead on the universal symbol of peace, preferring for each of us to be personally inspired without the preconception that a name could bring.

There is something in the alchemy of this perfume that is a shamanic template for personal power, a prayer for the fullest flowering of human expression and a wish for peace between us all. It is my fondest hope that you will feel moved to experience it's magic for yourself.

Roxana will be giving a portion of the proceeds from each of the 7 gram liquid perfume flacons and solid compacts to the POE (Project Peace on Earth) organization to facilitate their vision of a global prayer concert for Peace.Please be sure to visit Roxana's Journal for a chance to win a sample of the glorious new liquid perfume or one of the adorable mini solids in the new fragrance.

For more information:
Roxana Illuminated Perfume
http://www.illuminatedperfume.etsy.com
http://journal.illuminatedperfume.com


Project Peace on Earth
http://www.project-peaceonearth.org

http://www.internationaldayofpeace.org

Please enjoy the beautiful words of others who are writing today to honor this lovely expression of peace:

Bitter Grace Notes: http://bittergracenotes.blogspot.com
Cleveland Fragrance Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/x-5804-Cleveland-Fragrance-Examiner
Portland Fragrance Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/x-4780-Portland-Fragrance-Examiner
Roxana Illuminated Perfume: http://journal.illuminatedperfume.com
Indie Perfume: http://indieperfumes.blogspot.com
Memory and Desire: http://memoryanddesire.typepad.com
Perfume Shrine: http://www.perfumeshrine.com
Perfume Smellin' Things: http://perfumesmellinthings.blogspot.com
Scent hive: http://scenthive.wordpress.com
The Non-Blonde: http://thenonblonde.blogspot.com

Perfume Image courtesy of Roxana Villa

"Peace Has Begun" by Greg Spalenka

Bee Here Now- Diving deep into the hive

"I dedicate these erotic meanderings to playful lovers and, why not?

also to frightened men and melancholy women"

Isabel Allende

 

Warning to all , but no surprise to most who know me well. I am not shy. What I've written here is very intimate, so if you're not ready, turn back now. After that, I'm not responsible......

I love honey......I love to eat it, bathe in it and  make love with it. There is almost nothing as satisfying to me as the smell of  raw honey, not even chocolate, which I adore but only in small quantities these days. I love to break a fresh honeycomb apart with with my fingers and lick the sweetness that drips from it and the beeswax and the pollen that clings to it are ambrosia for my tastebuds.  Honey perfumes are to me among the most coveted of fragrances because of their ability to send my imagination wandering into thoroughly exquisite places.

 Honey has some very practical qualities too, such as it's ability to become an proven antibacterial when mixed with fresh garlic. The next time that you get a cut try a salve of crushed garlic and raw honey . You will be amazed at the swiftness with which it can heal and you can feel good knowing that you've treated yourself and your skin very well! In fact Lush, that fabulously fun company based in the UK that makes the most wonderful vegan products recently had a call from several nurse's in England to make a soap that could naturally kill the MRSA virus. the result was "13- Unlucky for dirt!" and you can find it on their website. Created from essential oils of oregano, rose and filled with honey, it  has been used successfully to fight the spread of this dangerous virus much more successfully then the antibiotics that contributed to creating it.

But all of this practicality is beginning to bore me!

Like Cleopatra and so many of the other wild women before me , I love to warm a potion of fresh honey ,  heavy cream, organic rose petals and drops of ylang ylang oil for my bath.  Raw honey mixed with brown sugar, rose absolute and a bit of olive oil makes a wonderful scrub for the skin, imparting a softness and a beautiful fragrance guaranteed to arouse. Honey in a squeeze bottle  gently  warmed and mixed with a bit of organic vanilla extract and a touch of rose water quite simply becomes dessert for two drizzled in all of the right places. If you're really earthy, mix in a bit of truffle oil in place of the vanilla and rose water. It is a truly ambrosial combination that's sweetly animalistic, dripping with sensuality and infinitely lickable! 

 

For totally unabashed sweetness , apples dipped in  honey are an ancient recipe that you can have fun  feeding to one another and sliced juicy melons drizzled with honey are the ultimate sticky and slippery play toy. To quench my thirst I love to make a simple homemade wine by decanting a bottle of  riesling  and infusing it with sliced meyer lemons, fresh rosemary and a tablespoon or two of a finely spiced honey. Served well chilled on a summers eve it's a delicious accompaniment to the effervescent fireflies and the moonlight. Served with a platter of handpicked grapes, a softly yielding pear , ripe figs and a wedge of Manchego cheese that has a bit of fresh honey comb broken over the top ,  it's a very rich feast indeed. Fed to each other by firelight it's practically Bacchanalian and I dare you to try to stay untangled........

 

There are many exquisite honey fragrances but the solid perfumes created by botanical perfumer Roxana Villa are like dripping butter, so rich are they with beeswax and other sensuous oils. When you open one of them and run your fingers over the surface, the beeswax  instantly melts into your fingertips, sliding down your skin like a precious unguent. I am begging her to make me a body butter that I can use after a warm evening bath or during a massage scented with honey and other wonderful things. I cannot even imagine how good it would feel to be caressed everywhere by such an exquisite potion. If she is good enough to make me one I will let you know and maybe,  just maybe I'll share......

One of my other pleasures is a delicious product made by Kama Sutra called "Honey Dust". Kama Sutra for those of you who haven't made its acquaintance is a wonderful product line that's been around for quite some time now. Kama Sutra uses excellent ingredients and they do not animal test. They are devoted to making the art of lovemaking delicious! They have created delicious warming gels and yummy body souffles, but the Honey Dust made with real powdered honey is just incredible. It comes in 4 flavors, but being a bit of a purist I love the traditional Sweet Honeysuckle flavor the most! Honey Dust is a simple and easy to use product. Entice your lover into bed and open the container. Take the feather brush provided, dip it into the tin and lightly stroke it over any and every place that you want to kiss and be kissed. No further instructions required! You can make your own "Honey Dust" as powdered honey is readily available but I think that you should splurge and buy the real thing. The containers are beautiful and totally enticing and just feel like a very special occasion. They make a little "Weekender Kit" that's filled with delicious things to play with. Go to their site, blush a bit and then order something for the two of you. Trust me, you'll be very glad that you did!

Why you may wonder, all of this rhapsodizing tonight about honey? It's because my adored honeybees are in grave danger from Colony Collapse Disorder. It is a sad sad state of affairs for them and a dismal omen for our very survival on this gorgeous planet that we call home. It's a very simple truth, no bees.... no food, no flowers, no bees, no food.   We cannot live without the pollinators because we've yet to figure out how to pollinate without them on such a scale that would feed us all. The stunning stark truth of what this means is that every time a hive dies from CCD, we lose a bit more of the fight to sustain ourselves on this planet and we tread much closer to famine on a global level. The realities of this are truly frightening.

Many of us in the perfume community are very concerned about Colony Collapse Disorder, so much so that quite a few of us have devoted our columns today to our beloved honeybees and the joys that they bring into our lives. Please take the time to go to their "Hives" and read the delightful prose of my fellow bloggers. It's our first  "Bee Here Now" event and I know that you will love their Bee-utiful words. Take the time to learn about Colony Collapse Disorder and what it means. It's not to late, but we need to act now. 

 

 

www.perfumeshrine.com 

scenthive.wordpress.com 

 
thenonblonde.blogspot.com 

 
www.examiner.com/x-5804- 

www.examiner.com/x-4780-  

journal.illuminatedperfume.com

Bee Illustration ©Roxana Villa

For Kama Sutra Products- http://www.kamasutra.com/

For 13- Unlucky for Dirt soap - http://www.lushusa.com/shop

To learn more about Colony Collapse Disorder- http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/animals/bees.asp

The Elegant and Mysterious Botanical World of Roxana Illuminated Perfumes

I first became acquainted with Roxana Villa last year when I fell madly in love with her gorgeous Illuminated Journal,  incredibly beautiful botanical perfumes and her delightfully elfin soul. What I didn't realize then was that behind the laughter that floats through the air like the tinkling of the loveliest bell, beat the leonine heart of a fierce environmental artist and activist who was willing to devote her very life and craft to protecting the plants who provide her with such gorgeous tinctures and aromatics. Indeed Roxana's perfumes are of such  an extraordinary quality that you know  with one heavenly sniff that the lady is indeed an alchemist of the rarest sort.

 
                   
The perfumes that Roxana Villa creates are  unusual in the world of fine fragrances because they are completely plant based and without created without the use of any synthetic substances whatsoever. Although the term "Natural Perfumer' is becoming much more common in the marketplace today, a perfume created by Roxana Villa is completely set apart from that pack because she is a Botanical perfumer, in other words, she uses absolutely no synthetics or animal products whatsoever with the exception of beeswax and  some lovingly handcrafted tinctures from the sea. She creates beautiful liquid and solid fragrances that have the longevity of any of the finest perfumes found in the mainstream marketplace but  nothing is ever harmed to create them. The difference between a botanical perfumer and a natural perfumer lies within the ingredients that are used. A natural perfumer will often use an animal ingredients such as civet or a musk (which can still be found in other countries) to create their perfumes. Although  those ingredients are interesting from an historical point of view, this presents a quandary for anyone wanting to wear a fragrance that is cruelty free. A botanical perfumer will not use these products and from my experience a beautifully crafted botanical perfume is absolutely as long lasting and gorgeous as anything traditionally available. To wear a perfume created by Roxana Villa is to wear a fragrance that you can feel wonderful about on so many levels, because she has put her money where her mouth is, donating her time and a portion of her profits to protecting so many of the  strange and wonderful plant species that she loves.  Currently, she gives some of the profit from her  wonderful perfume "Q"  to the  California Oaks Foundation www.californiaoaks.org/   which is  dedicated to teaching about, protecting and preserving the beautiful California Coastal Oaks that she loves.  "Q" , has many wonderful ingredients, but the essence of its magic can truly be found in the tincture of oak leaves that Roxana lovingly gathers and makes herself.

 
 Roxana's perfumes are of the highest quality and  a gift for anyone who has been disappointed by the lack of a natural alternative to the mass marketed perfumes available in any Sephora or Ulta near you. Most people buy a perfume without ever realizing the enormous amount of synthetic ingredients that go into the production of a mass marketed fragrance and then wonder why they are suddenly afflicted with environmental sensitivities or allergies. Many don't realize this, but the skin is the largest organ on our bodies and absorbs with lightening speed anything that you rub into it. Consequently, it's every bit as important to pay attention to the ingredients that you use for the care of your body as with the food that you eat. Also, from a sensual point of view, it's really interesting to observe how you emotionally react to a fragrance.  Our senses don't identify synthetic aromas in the same way that we do a fine botanical. A fine botanical fragrance possesses an  aromatherapeutic potential that is obvious the moment that you put it on. As soon as I started wearing Roxana's perfumes I realized that I love to wear them because they possess the authentic and luxurious quality of  a historical fragrance created long ago, yet are thoroughly modern in their current interpretations. Her solid perfumes are like a precious unguent are instantly absorbed into the skin, leaving only their fragrance and a smooth silky touch.

Not only are Roxana's fragrances beautiful to wear, but when a parcel from her arrives, it is immediately apparent that as much thought and care went into the packaging as into the perfume itself. I have even been known to wait for a day or two to open a package from her until I am in just the right state of mind! Everything that she touches is precious from her boxes to the labels and the sealing wax that she uses to close the beautiful envelopes that she provides along with her product information. Her bottles are beautiful, Baccarat style flacons that are chosen specifically to present the inherent color and beauty that each fragrance possesses. Roxana's luscious solid perfumes ( the large size ) come enrobed in a beautiful pouch that has been created by her mother, who at one time was the artist responsible for the creation of actress Ali Mcgraw's crocheted caps!  Each perfume is clothed in a different color pouch chosen especially for the fragrance. With Roxana Villa, everything that she does is bathed in her extraordinary creativity.   I've tried many of her perfumes and they are all gorgeous. Go to her website and  see for yourself. One of her lovely perfumes will become your signature and you will have left the earth a healthier and greener place as a result of your choice. Roxana was an artist before she became a perfumer so with anything that she touches, life becomes art and scent becomes passion. Her world is a beautiful one filled with lots of magic and full throttle self expression and to play in it for even a moment will captivate you and thoroughly your experience of fine fragrance forever.



For more info:  
http://www.illuminatedperfume.com/
http://perfumesmellinthings.blogspot.com/2009/05/roxana-illuminated-perfume-q.html

Gorgeous Fragrance Ads - YSL's Opium

Two of my favorite advertisements for one of my favorite fragrances, YSL's Opium.  Although   often too zealously oversprayed, Opium's luscious spicy fragrance still remains one of my very favorites when used gently and in the right company.  Enjoy my review of this very wild and wonderful perfume  at  http://perfumesmellinthings.blogspot.com/2008/01/perfume-review-yves-saint-laurent-opium.html 

"George Washington went shopping here"- The Fine Fragrances and Grooming Products of Caswell Massey!

 

Caswell Massey, one of America's oldest chemists and perfumers opened for business in 1752 under the name of  Dr.Hunters Dispensary in Newport , Rhode Island. At the same time, Benjamin Franklin is believed to have brought the first bathtub to America, although there is some dispute as to the validity of this claim. Wherever the truth lies , it's very clear in the history of Dr. Hunter's Dispensary that this was the time in Revolutionary history that the demand for fines soaps began to escalate. Later , in 1780 , George Washington is reputed to have given a supply of Dr. Hunter's remarkable cologne, simply named Number 6 , as a gift to the Marquis de Lafayette, for his help with the Revolutionary Army.It is said that from that moment on, the Marquis was never without several cases of his beloved Number 6! Caswell Massey Number 6 is a sexy solid scent of Bergamot ,Orange Blossom , Rosemary and "Over 2 dozen aromatic oils"......I swear that you can almost feel the velvet waistcoats and leather boots when you wear it.  

Shortly afterwards the apothecary was renamed Caswell Massey when John Rose Caswell formed a partnership with William Massey of New York. At that moment, Caswell Massey as it's always been known and loved was born! Other famous Caswell Massey customers included John Adams, Dolly Madison, Annie Oakley and Sarah Bernhardt and the very mysterious  Edgar Allen Poe!   

There are many of the original fragrances still available, Tricorn which is wonderfully green and spicy, Newport with it's nautical packaging and bracing citrus notes and Jockey Club which was rumored to have been one of the favorites of President John F. Kennedy. That being said,  Number 6 is my all time favorite "weak in the knees",  Caswell Massey cologne with the exception of their Bay Rum which is simply the sexiest, most sensational skin scent for a man that I have ever smelled. The Bay Rum should truly be renamed "Pirate", because it's just that provocative! It is filled with spice,musk and a bit of the sea, just a wonderfully old fashioned, virile sort of scent.  Each of the fragrances presented come in many forms, there are classic aftershaves and balms, deodorants and soaps. All of the packaging is romantic and harkens back to a time in history when fragrance products were appreciated simply for their quality and not for their advertising dollars!

 Caswell Massey's line of products is still very much intact, most of the fragrances and products that I fell in love with decades ago are still available today for purchase. Their line of toiletries for women are wonderful and the sweet almond and aloe products are simply beautiful. Luscious , creamy and smelling of sweet bitter almond, all of the creams ,lotions and balms in this line are delightful to the touch and wonderful for creating a very relaxing home spa. Their fragrances for woman are wonderful as well, not terribly complicated but  very pretty. They are many single florals available like Lily of the Valley and Lilac and the very pretty and stunningly traditional English Lavender. All of Caswell Massey's fragrances for women come with beautiful add-on gifts like soaps and sachets bath gels and hand creams! They make decadently wonderful gifts for any woman that you'd love to pamper! 

One of the delightful things about shopping at Caswell Massey is that they still have many of the Dr. Hunter formulations for sale as well as lots of gorgeous grooming products and things to make you feel as though you've stepped completely back in time to a much more civilized yet slightly dangerous place! Rose balms and blotting papers are still available for purchase as well as Sarah Bernhardt's favorite night cream. A romantic fool like me can hardly resist the temptation to own even a small part of Revolutionary History so I'm rarely without the Number 6, but I'm very sure that you'll find your own favorite if you spend enough time perusing the pleasures to be found within their website. There are only a few of the stores left and if you happen to live in a city lucky enough to have one you're in for a treat.  If not, there are plenty of places to find these treats in person. The company website has a complete listing of stores all across the country that sell their products. Try them..you won't be dissapointed! 

For more information please go to: http://www.caswellmassey.com/

Originally published in the Cleveland Examiner : http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-5804-Cleveland-Fragrance-Examiner~y2009m7d1-George-Washington-shopped-here--The-fine-fragrances-and-grooming-products-of-Caswell-Massey

Bond No. 9 - Creating your own New York Mood

"Bond No. 9 is a perfume company that I love because of their undeniable  infatuation with fun and fantastic   marketing! Bond No. 9  is named for it's company's headquarters which live at 9 Bond Street in NOHO. I find the concept of Bond 9 nearly impossible to resist as it was created for the sole purpose of celebrating New York City and it fulfills upon this mission by creating adorable perfumes and fabulous packaging that is undeniably enticing......I mean who can resist the thought of a fragrance called  Andy Warhol, Lexington Avenue? I'm sure that there are those weaker than me but I've yet to meet them!

Bond No. 9 is a series of fragrances built upon the neighborhoods of New York City and each is different and most of them fulfill upon their mission beautifully! I love Central Park with it’s fresh notes of verbena, bergamot and lime Blossom and New Haarlem with it’s jazzy notes of coffee, vanilla and patchouli sends me into a bohemian sort of swoon where I’d sell my soul for a Gitane’s , sans filter. I adore the Andy Warhol Silver Factory  which reeks of incense and amber with it’s sexually androgynous touch of iris and violet and what about the oh so wanton  Astor Place , a heady infusion of violet, freesia ,orris , musk ,amber and the notorious red poppy!  With so many to choose from it’s hard to pick a favorite, but currently I adore Bond No. 9 Saks for Her, which is an absolutely stunning blend of tuberose, jasmine, gardenia ,vanilla and vetiver. Saks for Her  and the equally delicious Saks for him create a balance of scent that is hard to resist. Which brings me to another point, Bond 9 fragrances are made to be layered and many of the fragrances  are also presented in  a delectable body silk that is absolutely luscious!  "

Please enjoy the rest of the review at:

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-5804-Cleveland-Fragrance-Examiner~y2009m6d15-Bond-No-9-New-York--Creating-a-New-York-mood

Cleveland Fragrance Examiner- YSL's Paris

From today's Cleveland Fragrance Examiner:

"There are some fragrances that I always love, regardless of how many different variations of it appear over the years. Yves St. Laurent's fairly irrepressible scent "Paris" is one of them! For some reason, this is the perfume that I travel with the most frequently, maybe it's simply a matter of the power of suggestion, I mean come on, who couldn't resist a perfume named after the "City of Lights"! Yet I think that it's more than that. Paris is a very appropriate fragrance for a lot of different occasions, whether it  be a wedding or an afternoon tea, or even a casual morning shopping in Manhattan with your sweetie. It's a fragrance that works equally well with denim or taffeta and I've definitely worn it with both. " 

Please enjoy the rest of the review at : 

http://www.examiner.com/x-5804-Cleveland-Fragrance-Examiner~y2009m5d29-Yves-St-Laurent--Paris

You're never too old......

Last year on the 25th of July ,  my mother had a terrible stroke. She didn't linger long,  which was a blessing for us all, she wasn't on life support and she  flew gaily out of her body 6 days later.  She and my father had been married for over 66 years, had 3 children together, traveled the world, created an incredible business and cherished each other with a  type of grand passion that rivaled any that  Liz Taylor and Richard Burton had ever known. When she was hospitalized 10 years ago for bypass surgery he never left her side and when he became ill over the last 5 years she spent all of that time taking care of him herself, refusing to let us do anything for them. 

My mother was a fabulous cook and known for her dinner parties. I think that was one of the reasons that he adored her. She brought to him the life that he'd always wanted, but had never known how to create for himself.   She was the  always the heart of the ball, the life of the party and her fete's were lavish yet incredibly comfortable. Dinners at their home were always beautiful, she arranged her own flowers and set the table with the gorgeous dishes and sterling silver that had been passed down to her from her great grandmother. She always served things like poached salmon with dill sauce, Scalloped oysters and sweetbreads.Her beef tenderloin was legendary and by the same token, so were her stuffed peppers. My son has informed me that no matter what I do, my mashed potatoes will never be as wonderful as hers. This is probably true because for every 4 or 5 large potatoes used she would cream in a stick of butter. I kid you not and that doesn't even include the sour cream. They were truly delicious! Walking into her house for dinner we  were always greeted by the most amazing fragrances. She truly loved her home and all that were invited to it were treated like family. 

My mother also was the person who introduced me to raw oysters and camembert, Dover sole and  taught me everything that I know about throwing a fabulous party.  We weren't allowed paper napkins and we had to use fine crystal. She believed as do I that using these beautiful things were THE classic act of recycling. Never once did I sit down to dinner at her table where there weren't candles and wine. She loved the theatre of serving first courses and had dozens of recipes for them. I inherited her Coquille St Jacques dishes...darling little porcelain scallop shells for that delectably creamy appetizer of  broiled scallops, cheese and wine. She also served  crab bisque and other soups in her gorgeous collection of demitasse cups. While she was the gourmet cook, my father relished his role as gentleman of the house and he was proud of her. It was fun to watch them and a wonderful example to have growing up in a world where so much is disposable.   

As my fathers condition worsened over over the years and he suffered year after year of mysterious illness we had to hospitalize him often. She would never go to see  him without dressing exquisitely , putting on her lipstick, pearls and perfume.  My dad called her his absolute dream wife and when she died, we worried endlessly about what would happen to him because we discovered very quickly that she had in her usual fashion been covering up for him.

Because dad requires 24/7 care , it was apparent that he wouldn't be able to stay in his home a sad decision but one that needed to be made. We chose a place for him that is right around the corner from me and the adjustment period has been hard  because although it's lovely,  it's nothing like his home and the food is horrible. I filled his room with beautiful things from their home and I sneak treats in there all of the time but he hasn't been very interested. We do have quite a good time though making fun of the Orthodox Rabbi's who patrol the place in search of bacon!

We have a lovely art therapist for dad who comes once a week to paint with him and fortunately there's a lovely young woman named Charlotte who sees my father all of the time and takes him out for coffee , ice cream and the occasional corned beef sandwich .  He hasn't had much of an appetite, he's been so sad, so the time that he spends with her is so wonderful for him. The other day I noticed that he was looking better, a bit more robust than he'd been. I asked him about it and he just smiled and said that he'd met someone and that he was thrilled to be back at work doing open heart surgery and saving lives. 

His nurse told me that he'd started to eat and that he was finally making some friends.  I guess that Springtime works it's magic on the best of us because I got a hilarious text from Charlotte telling me that he'd told her that he couldn't stop looking at her breasts and that he wanted to snuggle up between them. I almost died laughing because Charlotte is a wonderful gay woman with a committed partner. Dad of course doesn't know this and she refuses to tell him. Charlotte is the reason that I actually believe in angels. My father now lives in a beautiful world of his own design and I love playing in it with him. At 90 years young, I think that he deserves it. 

Last night for the holiday he came over for dinner and it was wonderful. I served all of his favorites,  barbecued chipotle rubbed chicken, asparagus with chopped egg and vinaigrette in the French style, homemade guacamole and chips,  fresh corn on the cob rubbed with butter, salt,pepper and herbs, a gruyere, onion and ham tarte' and of course the requisite platter of fine cheeses with fresh fruit and crackers.  My friend Brenda brought a beautiful trifle, which we all knew that he'd love!

He sat in my living room talking with my friends and enjoying a glass of ale. He loved their company and fortunately for me they love his , so including him in the conversation is never difficult. He ate at least a pound of cheese on his own with an absolutely rapturous look on his face, enjoying the creamy brie, savoring the saltiness of the roquefort and devouring the Cotswald with equal abandon. He enjoyed an ear of corn but then went back to the cheese forgoing all else for his beloved camembert and pears!

Shortly afterwards he announced to everyone that it had been a pleasure and that it was time for him to go home. I took him back to his room and instead of the normal tears he thanked me  and told me what a  wonderful time he'd had.  He made me promise to call him when I got home and then he shut his eyes happily and fell asleep.  Walking out of there I realized that it had been worth it, all of it and that he had finally moved on. What I realized, was that there was no way to lesson his pain and that he'd had to go through it himself and in his own time.   Yesterday I learned the greatest lesson that I've learned from him yet and that is that life can go on happily and lustily!

Truly, my heart is full......

 

  

TokyoMilk - Honey and the Moon

 Every now and then , I find a  fragrance that delights me and makes me feel so chic and trendy that I can't possibly resist it. TokyoMilk Parfumerie's "Honey and the Moon  is such a scent!  I had never heard of TokyoMilk, but when I walked into Anthropologie yesterday I was greeted by a beautiful display of their products, lovely fragrances, pretty soaps and lip balms that are sweet  and yummy enough to make you want to turn and kiss the nearest adorable man!  TokyoMilk perfumes make me want to grab my passport and  the next flight to Paris, with nothing but my wonderful husband, a DVF wrap dress  and some La Perla lingerie!

The bottles for the  TokyoMilk perfumes are wonderful, simple glass with vintage pictures on one side and a sleek brown label on the other. The names of their perfumes are   enchanting and take you swiftly into what we marketing types call  "absolute vulnerability!" ,  that land where your imagination is so instantly transported that one push in the right direction is more than enough to make you reach for your purse. What intellectual wouldn't fall for a fragrance called "Poe's Tobacco", which true Bohemian wouldn't dream of a fragrance called "Lapsang su Chong". Could anyone with a case of Paris lust as severe as mine possibly resist anything called, "Let them eat cake", whose notes are sugar cane, coconut milk,vanilla orchids and white musk? I think not.

This aspiring Shakespearean wouldn't dream of passing up a fragrance called "Honey and the Moon" !   "Honey and the Moon" is a lovely and very original confection, coated with notes of sweet Honey, sugared violet, jasmine and sandalwood and one spray took me instantly to High Tea at the Dorchester Hotel in London, probably because this was the first place ever that I experienced the sublime sexy joy that is a candied violet.

Oh, I'll never forget that first violet! My mother and I always made it a habit to have tea every afternoon wherever we traveled and that particular afternoon I was presented with a lovely little tart that had a pastry creme scented with orange flower water  and a crust lined with dark chocolate. Perched on top was a delectable little purple flower and I thought that it must be made of sugar. My mother laughed as I took my first bite and I was  delighted to discover that it was indeed a real violet! It was an amazing thought to wrap my very young mind around, that flowers could be candy and I've hunted for them ever since, even making my own on occasion although I must admit that the violets that my sister brings me back from Fauchon in Paris are my favorites, bested only by the fragrant Laduree macoron's that she lovingly carries  back by hand.  But that's another story!

At just 28.00 dollars for a one ounce bottle, Tokyo Milk fragrances are an affordable and flamboyant indulgence! And while I'm at it, here's my recipe for those candied violets. All of this talk of tea is making me ravenous.......

All you need are violets, beaten egg white thats not frothy, superfine sugar and a soft sable paint brush. This is the time of year to make them because you can find fresh violets everywhere you roam. Just make sure to harvest them from areas that you know haven't been touched with pesticides because you will not be rinsing them. Paths along the woods are usually the best!

Dip the brush into the egg and gently apply the egg white very lightly to the violet, covering the whole flower or petal. Don't use too much , only enough to allow the sugar to stick. Then turn the violet upside down and while holding it  over a plate , sprinkle with the superfine sugar to coat it evenly. Place them on a tray that you've line with parchment and allow them to completely dry. You can hasten the process a bit by putting the tray into a 150 degree oven with the door left ajar . They won't be around this long, but once they are completely dry you can store them for up to a year in an airtight jar. I've also done this with lavender buds and rose petals and this year I'm thinking about candying fresh nasturtium blossoms! Almost any small edible flower will  do. Whichever you choose, you'll find them to be addictive and delicious!

For more information about TokyoMilk Perfumes go to:       http://www.beautyhabit.com/tokyomilk.html 
 

Linked by the Sea.....

My mother's natural Blue Gray pearls were actually her mothers pearls and her grandmother's and great grandmothers before her. They are beautiful and longer than opera length, their three strands wrapped around my neck still lay gently beyond my breasts.  Even at their advanced age they are lustrous still and smell a bit like the essence of all of the women who have loved them. 

They are the most beautiful color, silvery blue like the sea before a storm and I've always wondered about the patience of the divers that found them. Because they are natural pearls and at least 120 years old there is a whole other lineage of women that I'm linked to through them, Free Divers who often risked their lives to obtain these coveted beauties. There was no other way to collect pearls before the 20th century and sometimes the divers had to go as deep as 40 to 125 feet into the sea and because of the extremely fickle nature of natural pearl growth, any pearls found were extremely rare. To harvest the pearls that I now wear, women that I've never met had to brave uncertain tides, dangerous creatures and possible hypothermia. More important even than the stories of these pearls are the untold stories that I will never know, but that I can feel. Women who had no other way to feed themselves became pearl divers and were probably paid what amounted to a pennies to fashionably adorn my my grandmothers. I cannot wear them ever without acknowledging their true cost. 

That being said....they are among the most sensuous things that I own, probably because of the natures of the women who wore them before me.  I don't know anything of my great grandmother's except that they wore these to the operas and ballets and fancy balls that they frequented. 

My grandmother who was dead before I was born but who I am said to most resemble wore them in a slightly different fashion. She was a painter, one of the original women in a famous New York City artists colony at the turn of the century, sensuous and very provocative, at least until she married my grandfather, a kind gentleman farmer who was probably a very settling influence. In this highly unorthodox and very worn sepia photograph there is a woman that I could recognize as myself wrapped naked in a bearskin rug and holding a long cigarette holder. She is draped in pearls.....my pearls. 

When she died, my mother inherited them and wore them often. She would always wear them draped against gray silk and satin, nestled against her very ample chest. When I miss her the most, I go to my jewelry box and put them on. They still smell of her and it's a wonderful fragrance, lighthearted and giddy like the woman that she was when she was having fun being herself, always the belle of the ball.

Someday, I will hopefully have a granddaughter of my own to give them to. I will savor that moment and pass them on with all of the stories. They say that pearls contain the essence of the souls of all who have worn them. In that case I am truly blessed. The women in my family were and are all wild and wonderful and the pearls seem to take on the very wild  nature of us all.  I remember my mother wearing them once when I accidentally walked into my fathers studio late at night....she was lying like a beautiful odalisque and he was painting her. It was quiet and the canvas shone like his adoration. I've never forgotten that moment and neither have the pearls. They share their stories with me andI'm busy creating my own stories with them and those will be for another time.....

The smell of love.........

I'll never forget when I first became intrigued by truffles. My husband and I were enjoying  a gorgeous meal at Cafe' Boulud in NYC and I ordered the roasted chicken with truffle sauce. As I ordered, the darling french waiter looked at my husband with a knowing eye and a wink..... When he brought my order he placed it in front of me with grand aplomb and handed my husband an extra sauce spoon. A sauce spoon is one of those strange and in my mind totally essential accoutrements for eating well. It is basically a completely flattened tablespoon fitted with a notch and used to recover every delicious bit of a sauce!

I stopped for a moment and surveyed my plate.....Gorgeous slices of lemony roasted chicken lay before me and the herbs that had been used, some thyme and a bit of sage were still clinging to the crispy , buttery skin. There were beautifully roasted potatoes and a simple haricots vert with a julienne of fennel and feathery dill,  proving to me once again that the French truly know what to do with a vegetable. All incredibly beautiful and lush, but  it was the sauce that brought me to my knees........

It was a simple sauce, made from pan juices, butter and a bit of  white burgundy. That alone would have been wonderful, but there were generous bits of black truffle laced all though the silkiness  and it was impossible to miss the unmistakable scent of lustiness that permeated the dish. I was completely captivated and so was my husband. Eating it became an  act of foreplay, slow and savoring sauce spoons clicking. Bread was used to sop up what the sauce spoons couldn't quite reach and at that moment I became  totally enslaved, it was impossible to resist.

The truffle is legendary for it's supposed ability to excite the appetites. There's  quite a simple reason reason for that...it smells just like the best kind of sex.  French black or Italian white , say what you will of their rarity and of the exoticness of having an ingredient that is hunted by pigs and dogs alike.  Yes , the concept is so very romantic...the image of a truffle hunter out in the woods searching for this fairly common looking bit of culinary treasure. We are simple creatures  and the truffle Goddess as well as the men and women that beg for the fruits of her loins understand our passions well. That is one of the reason that a truffle can and will cost you a small fortune. They're seasonal foods and for that reason alone  please avoid the cans of truffle juice and truffle peelings that you can find. I've never found any that lived up to my expectations and I truly believe that infusing them in  fine oil is the best method for extracting the purest, sexiest flavor.

Give in for it's completely worth it.  Fresh truffles  can be infused into oil and if you place one in a jar of arborio rice for a few days you will have a risotto fit for the Gods...... Get  a glass topped canister and a few fresh eggs and put the truffle in with eggs. Believe it or not the sensual aroma will permeate the shells and the scrambled eggs that you make will be divine. Just remember to cook them slowly, with lots of butter in a double boiler. This way the fine aroma will not be lost, the eggs will be creamy yet fully cooked and the little bits of the truffle that you've chopped and put into the eggs will be nothing short of ambrosial.

Since that first roasted chicken, I've spent a lot of time searching for truffle products, because I love them and my husband has an appetite for them that is never satisfied. You can get a wonderful truffled salt, truffle butters and many different kinds of pate's and infused oils. In the absence of a fresh truffle you can do what Isabel Allende suggests in  her fabulous book Aprodite. She was taught by her grocer to chop up several black olives very fine and rinse them to remove any traces of brine. Placed in bowl that you've added some very good truffle oil to the olives will begin to completely smell of truffles and you can use them in the same way.  Truffled mash potatoes are simply sublime..the ultimate in comfort food.

Which leaves me to one last thought.....a little bit of   truffle oil mixed with a bit of rich dark chocolate dabbed in all of the right places tends to leave my husband just a little bit breathless......

To learn more about the fabulous fungi:

http://www.trufflesinternational.com/

http://www.earthy.com/Fresh_Imported__Domestic_Truffles_C32.cfm