I expect less from my paper towels

Have you given much thought to your paper towels today? Probably not, as paper towels fall into the same category as bath tubs and scissors - the Uncomplicated Things That Always Work category. The beauty of these things is that we don't have to think about them and there are no decisions to make while using them.

And that's why I don't like these:

My husband purchased these recently because our normal 'select-a-size' white paper towels were out of stock. These have a retro-ish design and the ubiquitous 'Live-Love-Laugh' motto sprinkled over each sheet.

Are they supposed to be inspirational? To provide you with a subliminal wake-up call whenever you wipe up a spill? You know, you're thinking about whether that red wine will stain the floor and suddenly you see the word 'Live' and think, "Today is the first day of the rest of my life . . . and, gosh-darnit, I'm gonna make the most of it!" Or maybe other people find these cheery without taking the message to heart?

If you're a fan of these, I'd love to hear from you! As for me, I just want plain, white PTs with no message! I'm off to spill something in hopes of using the last of this roll . . .

Things For People Who Don't Like Things

Canned food with pop-top lids! Whose idea was this? If I manufactured canned food, I would realize that my product is not the favorite of most cooks these days - it's hard to compete with fresh-from-the-garden and flash-frozen produce. Knowing this, I would not antagonize my customers with these pull tabs that are guaranteed to break nails and create spills when they're finally tugged open!

My pantry isn't stocked with lots of canned items and I bet yours isn't either, but sometimes even the best cook needs a can of beans or crushed tomatoes or (as was the case recently when I made Russian Salad) canned pineapple. And canned fish may also be in your larder - either tuna, or some smaller, smellier fish like the ones being canned below in 1915.

As a side note - I'm going to think of this woman the next time I have a tedious job to do. Imagine having to arrange little fish in little cans all day! When you think of the pop-top can in this light, it seems a small thing, but the point is, until recently most cans were can opener ready. And while some, like the pineapple, can be opened with a can opener on the other end, many cannot. Take tuna - the opposite end is rounded so you're forced to use the pull-tab which (for me, anyway) guarantees a little blob of tuna flying across the counter. It's not like there's a shortage of can openers - they're widely available and cheap. And, as the ad below (from 1902) says, a sure method to avoid blood poisoning!

This is my message to you people who make canned food - stop putting pull-tabs on your cans! Go back to the standard can and let us use our trusty openers. After all, that's what Napoleon had in mind when he prepared for the Russian campaign by stocking up on canned food! And we all know how well things ended for him . . .

I'm off to open some cans while daydreaming of a vacation on Elba!

Don't Let Your Newspaper Melt!

It's that time of year again - warm weather is on the way and your days will be filled with picnics, cookouts (aka barbecues, for our friends north of the Mason-Dixon), and grocery shopping in the sweltering sun. In other words, it's Cooler Season! And when you get your favorite cooler out of the garage, basement, or attic it may need a little TLC. You're on your own for the cleaning, but here's a great tip if your cooler smells, well, less than fresh:

Put a few sheets of newspaper in it and close it for a few days - the ink will absorb the smells and your cooler will be as good as new! (This works for any plastic item - go ahead, try it!) And for bag coolers like the one seen above, it's a great thing to leave newspaper in the cooler when it isn't in use as small amounts of water often hide in the corners and the paper will take care of that, too!

And if you're in the market for a more exotic cooler - check out the selection at Hammacher Schlemmer. They offer this model that's can be controlled remotely:


Think how great this would be at your next family picnic - no more serving drinks on a tray, simply grab the remote and send the cooler over instead! The drawback is that your guests must be within forty feet of the remote control. Not to worry though, if you and your beverages need to travel longer distances. There's a cooler that will let you ride into the sunset with plenty of ice and several bottles of pop:

That's right - it's a cooler vehicle! Imagine a car lot full of these beauties - each one with a 13 m.p.h sign on the handle bars . . . and to paraphrase Henry Ford, you can have any color you like as long as it's red. So don't take your cooler for granted this summer - it doesn't have to be boring and it certainly doesn't have to be stuffy . . .

Must run, I'm off to snag some papers from the recycling bin - oh, I just had a thought, maybe I can convert our recycling bin into a remote controlled bin. What do you think?

The Good, the Fresh, the Hot, and the Hideous

I'm off on a short road trip later today and will, therefore, be away from the blogworld until Saturday or Sunday. While I'm away, I'll be thinking of these things that occupied me over the past few days.

A little spring cleaning brought organization to my sideboard drawers, including this big improvement. This antique tea set has rattled every time the bottom drawer was opened - for several years. Now it's nestled in its own basket ~ shhhh.

Also in the 'good' category - this little teacup ornament that was hiding behind some napkin rings. Once forgotten, but now waiting to grace next year's Christmas tree!

On the fresh side, the first herbs from our kitchen garden. Well, we've had rosemary all winter, but the others spent the cold months under heavy plastic and have emerged green and healthy.

During this week of fabulous cool spring weather, you might wonder what was hot. This feeder, that's what. It holds Hot Meats! From the Cole's company, Hot Meats are sunflower meats coated in hot chili peppers . . . squirrels won't touch them! Our birds love the Hot Meats though (and, yes, that's an orange slice on the other hook.).

So this brings us to the hideous - this pole and transformer. If this is what's the norm in your neighborhood then it's not unappealing, it's just what is. But, our end of the block has had underground utilities for almost twenty years and this pole is a new and unwelcome change. And I'm not even showing you the guy wire with its fluorescent orange sleeve! So, we'll have to wait and see how this little drama unfolds.

That's what's going on in my world. I hope things in your world are cheery! I'll be back over the weekend to chat about garden etiquette.

Liberty of London for Target . . . but, not for me

Too young to remember the British Invasion? You know . . . the Beatles on Ed Sullivan and all that? Me, too, but not to worry because there's a new wave of British goodness coming your way. The famous and fabulous Liberty of London has arrived!
That's right, the iconic designs and fabrics that made Liberty famous on both sides of the Atlantic are now available in the US. The flagship London store, seen below, is a wonderful mix of modern and classic - offering everything from designer clothes to antique arts and crafts furniture, and, of course, their beautiful Tana Lawn fabrics which I always coveted during my smocking days!

Having been a huge fan of Liberty for years, I was really excited to learn that Target was going to carry a line of Liberty items. Classic Liberty designs have been used to create bedding, lingerie, and all types of housewares. And apparently this line has been quite a hit because most items are sold out in the local Target stores and online. I've visited four different locations (sadly, to no avail) looking for this teapot:
That's not as drastic as it sounds, I was close to the different stores for other reasons (really!). The quality of the clothing/fabric items may not be a high as items purchased at Liberty - but, then again, the price isn't as high either. If you'd like to add a little Liberty to your home or wardrobe, check out the whole Liberty of London collection here and visit your local Target for items not seen online - the garden and storage items are especially appealing!

And Liberty's British Invasion doesn't stop with Target - M A C Cosmetics is also collaborating with them on a fun range of makeup and accessories inspired by those classic Liberty designs. Check out the collection here.

The lipgloss is especially fun, although it hardly compares to the teapot!

Hope your week is off to a great start . . . and maybe I'll see you at Target!

If the Moon's made of cheese, Pluto must be nougat

Okay, how did you learn the names and order of the planets? Did your 7th grade science teacher use the usual mnemonic device? Mine did, and that's still how I remember the correct sequence: My very educated mother just served us nine pies. Some people learned the 'nine pizzas' version - perhaps that was for kids living above the Mason Dixon Line? And one version has the educated mother just showing the pies to the kids . . . that doesn't sound very smart, and, in fact, it's rather mean! Anyway, we learned the planets thanks to whichever saying we used: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto! Then a few years ago, Pluto was downgraded leaving only eight planets.

The devolution of Pluto resulted in a new mnemonic: My very educated mother just served us nougat. Nougat? Really . . . nougat? Who eats nougat - besides the Italians and the French? Was that really the best word that starts with 'N'?

I'm hoping that the people who are trying to get Pluto reinstated will be successful - it has lots of supporters and in some circles is even being called "The People's Planet", so maybe we can drop the nougat and return to the nine pies! According to National Geographic, Pluto was demoted because "it does not dominate its neighborhood" and it has an "untidy" orbit. Perhaps with a bit of counseling, it can become more aggressive and sweep up some of the asteroids and comets in its path - then we can once again consider it a planet!

Until then we're stuck with nougat . . . and what two candy bars have nougat (I know, it's not real nougat, but it's close enough)? Mars and Milky Way! So nougat has a space connection after all and maybe it is a good choice for the the very educated mother to serve . . . what do you think?

One Lovely Blog Award, How Lovely!

"I have nothing to say, and I am saying it, and that is poetry." - John Cage (who, incidentally, was not primarily known for his poetry!)

This quote describes how I often feel about my blog - I have nothing to say, yet I am saying it, and that is blogging! And so it's always nice to know that some readers enjoy my 'nothing' and I was especially honored this week when Christine at The Daily Postcard presented this blog the One Lovely Blog Award. It is a pleasure to be selected by The Daily Postcard as it is a blog that I always enjoy - it's interesting, clever, and creative.

This award has simple requirements: paste the award logo on your blog, link to the person who awarded it to you, and award it to other blogs and link to them also. It's difficult to choose other 'lovely blogs' as there are so many wonderful blogs I enjoy. But, here are my choices for the One Lovely Blog Award:

Aspirations of a Southern Housewife where you will always find great design, gardening, and travel ideas - with a little bit of daily life thrown in!

A Baked Creation - a blog I recently discovered that will satisfy your sweet tooth with amazing photos of, and posts about, cupcakes and all things baked! Did I mention cupcakes??

Completely Coastal where coastal meets lovely. When you visit, be sure to check out the holiday photos from coastal town - you'll want to pack your bags and head to the beach straight away!

Hope you have a warm Sunday!

A Peek at the Holiday Things Keeping Me Away from the Blogosphere

Like many of you, I have been pretty busy the past few weeks and, unlike many of you, I have neglected the blog world as a result. Here's a little look at a few things that have taken my attention in the lead-up to Christmas:

Our mantle decorations - perhaps not enough height or color to satisfy a real decorator, but we like for the Three Kings to be the focus (plus, the mirror makes decorating a bit tricky as I found out the year I hung three wreaths of berries - the backs of the wreaths were unfinished - not a good look when reflected!). And the mantel is pretty high - about six feet from the floor - so most people are already looking up (especially those of us in the under 5'5" range!).

I tucked small, clear votives among the greenery, the light from them really makes the garland sparkle at night!

I love live greenery around the house during Christmas and can usually scrounge enough from our yard and our next-door neighbor (who's conveniently out of the country each year when we decorate!).

As you can see, I don't worry about having perfect, symmetrical arrangements. I'm happy with something less formal, like these . . . which are sitting on either end of a sideboard and would probably distract a diner like Hercule Poirot who demands a bit more order. Of course, if Poirot comes to your house for a Christmas meal, you have bigger worries than the flower arrangements because there's sure to be a 'mishap' before the evening ends!

Our tree - which was so close to the ceiling (even after trimming a long piece from the top) that we left the top unadorned - that may become our new standard as we like the look (especially my husband who usually has to get pretty high on the ladder to reach the top of the 9ft+ tree). (Note: these pics were taken before I tidied up the cords!)

And finally, one of my favorite Christmas 'tasks' - wrapping presents! You either love it or hate it - most people I know fall into the latter category, but for me it's a fun way to spend a few hours.

And finally, our little flocked pre-lighted bedroom tree. Isn't it cheery? I hope your week holds some fun Christmas distractions.

Stop by tomorrow for a fun Christmas Carol quiz!

Things for People Who Don't Like Things

Christmas Music performed by pop stars! Obviously for people who don't like Christmas or music . . . but, who must love the singers. Only a fan of them could appreciate their renditions of holiday classics that sound amazingly like the songs that made the singers famous. I'm from the 'holiday songs are best sung like standards' school. Perhaps I'm a musical victim of circumstances - when I was growing up everyone's parents and grandparents had the same Christmas albums: Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Johnny Mathis, Mahalia Jackson, Sinatra, etc. These are still some of my favorites.


If you want to perform a song in your own style - write your own song (think Brenda Lee and her Christmas Tree or McCartney's Wonderful Christmas Time or even Adam Sandler's Hanukkah Song). What you should not do, however, is ruin a perfectly good song by singing it Your Way, I mean even Sinatra stuck to the basic tunes with his holiday renditions!

What I should do is stop tuning in to the all-holiday radio stations - every time I do I hear the same songs that prove this point (to me, anyway) - James Taylor's depressing Jingle Bells, Bob Seger's Little Drummer Boy (I do like Bob Seger, but he's more of a Night Moves kind of guy . . .), or Martina McBride's duet with Dean Martin (was there ever a stranger combination?).


But what actually prompted this post is Bob Dylan's new Christmas From the Heart. I confess I've never seen the genius in Dylan - perhaps I'm just too young. I think you have to be from his generation to think of his lyrics as poetry. With his most famous songs, though, I can see what appeals to the Woodstock generation. I even like his rendition of Froggy Went a-Courtin', but just a few notes of his nasal, raspy version of Adeste Fideles makes me want to punch the radio - or the myriad reviewers who have praised his album. Who are they kidding? This phenomena is a kind of Bob Dylan Rope-a-Dope - his reputation mesmerizes and no matter what he sings it's hailed as a brilliant addition to his body of work - a musical knock-out, if you will!


Of course, music is personal and there must be people out there who love Christmas music and also the James Taylor or Michael McDonald versions - so enjoy . . . and I'll stick to the songs that say 'Christmas' to me, like:

Any song from Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown Christmas score
Nat King Cole The Christmas Song
Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas Cannon
Andy Williams It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Harry Connick Jr I Pray on Christmas
Mahalia Jackson O Holy Night and One for the little Bitty Baby
Charlotte Church Ding, Dong, Merrily on High
etc.

Hope your weekend is full of the music you love!

What is Barbed Wire, Alex?

You Jeopardy fans will recognize my 'answer in the form of a question'. The answer for this question is:

"Collectors of this 'devil's rope' look for 18-inch pieces with unique barbs, prongs, points, prickers, and stickers."

Yes, barbed wire collecting is very popular. Who knew?

Barbed wire is sometimes credited with taming the West, because it enabled ranchers to fence-in their cattle (and you only have to watch one re-run of Gunsmoke, Bonanza, or The Big Valley to know the importance of good fencing!). It was a huge innovation because there was not the money nor the labor to create wooden or stone fencing and for decades inventors were searching for a wire fence that could stand up to herds of cattle. The breakthrough came from someone whose name is well-known to 21st century Americans - Glidden.



Others had ideas for adding barbs to wire, but none were successful. In the 187os, Glidden patented his idea for two strands of wire - one smooth and one barbed - twisted together. Voila! (Okay, if you've watched Deadwood, you know that they didn't say Voila in the west, but you get the idea . . .) As is always the case with a great invention, others inventors copied it and lawmakers legislated it. To find out more about its interesting history, check out the Barbed Wire Museum website or read more about the Supreme Court ruling in Glidden's favor here.

Image courtesy the Devil's Rope Museum

By 1890, fenced pastureland had virtually replaced the open range in the western United States and eventually there were over 570 barbed wire patents and more than 1,000 different patterns. So as a collector there are lots of choices - choose a pattern or even wire from a certain location - like D-Day wire from the Normandy beaches. So, this might be the perfect gift for the person on your list who has everything - odds are he/she does not have any barbed wire.

I'd love to hear about your collections - even if you stick to more typical things like china or stamps!

Things for People Who Don't Like Things

Airline Travel! Obviously for people who don't like either airplanes or travel. Think about the phrase air travel, it conjures up images of a peaceful, relaxing trip to an exotic locale. Perhaps a little glamorous: well-dressed people sipping complimentary drinks while a friendly flight attendant tosses a fresh Caesar salad in the generous aisle; well-behaved children quietly playing with non-electronic, silent toys that keep them so entertained they don't even think of kicking the seats in front of them. You get the idea . . . and you also know this hasn't been the reality for decades!

As the holidays approach, I'm happy that our families are within easy driving distance. Only the bravest and cheeriest people can arrive at their destinations in a festive mood after being wanded, patted down, charged $5 for a bottle of water to replace the unopened one discarded in the security line, held in a grungy waiting area at a gate with seats for less than half the passengers, stuffed into a plane with no food service and bacterial tap water, given a "pillow" that has been drooled on by passengers from the previous 25 flights, and shuffled off to baggage claim where your luggage is the very last to come around the carousel and it's ripped (which doesn't even upset you because you're just so happy it made it at all!). Even Marlene Dietrich couldn't look cool after that!

This might be giving you the wrong idea - I love to travel and I love to fly. I know the air industry is struggling and can't offer even the pre-9/11 level of service, but do things have to be as dreary as they are currently? I think not! And, to avoid breaking one of the cardinal rules of business communications, this will not be just one long complaint - I'm also offering some solutions! Well, perhaps solutions is a bit pretentious, one little non-travel blog can't affect the industry - so what's the plan? You know that saying, "you can't change the behavior of others, only the way you react to them"? Let's apply that here - what little things can we do to make our flights less gloomy?

When I was a 40-week a year traveler, my favorite trick was to arrive at the airport early (that, and to work for companies that flew business class!). This optimizes your chances for: upgrades; switching to the best seats on the plane if you can't upgrade (use Seat Guru to help beforehand); having your luggage arrive with you; and not losing items at security. Always have the airline's phone number handy so you can call them directly if your flight is delayed or cancelled - many times I've gotten myself on a new flight this way while standing in the re-ticketing line. Oh, and avoid any connections on American Airlines through Chicago/O'Hare!

What else can you do? Bring a little fun with you - start with fun luggage tags and a lock that's TSA approved (these were purchased at a local shop that's sadly out of business, but google 'fun luggage tags' to find similar ones).

And, if you're a worried about the cleanliness of the seats, try these Plane Sheets (isn't that a clever name?):

I haven't tried the Plane Sheets, but Tori Spelling is apparently a fan - so let that be your guide! I'd love to hear your tricks for surviving air travel - or perhaps you know other great items every traveller needs . . .

You're free to move about the blogosphere!

Kreative Blogger Award!

As quickly mentioned a few days ago, Emmie at Southern Aspirations has nominated this little blog for the Kreativ Blogger award. First a big thank you to Emmie for that. (And a note to her - I almost died when I saw the pic of you sitting in the surf in your wedding gown!) The last time I won an award was over a decade ago - for having the best witch cackle in my church choir's fundraising musical review (note: I was the only witch!).

And on to the 'business' of the Kreativ Blogger - to tell you seven things about myself that you don't know and to pass the award on to seven other blogs (and add comments/link to their fabulous blogs)! So, here are the seven things:

1. I could never be a professional chef because I don't like eggs, oysters, duck, or mussels (I do, however, make a great omelet!)


2. Ditto #1 because I'm not crazy about cutting up a chicken - I usually wait until my husband is available and then supervise


3. I love champagne - alone or in a Mimosa or punch


4. Relating to #3, my wish list includes some new champagne flutes from Tiffany - the stems are hollow (so pretty!!)


5. My all-time favorite television show is 'Foyle's War' - a perfect combination of British murder mystery/detective/World War II costume drama (yes, even better than Mad Men!)


6. October is my favorite month


7. I love raking fall leaves - the crunch, the autumn smell, the 'look how much progress I've made in an hour' aspect . . . having said that, I should disclose that our yard guys remove (and compost) most of our leaves so perhaps I love it now because it's a small job

And now for the difficult part of the Kreative Blogger award - passing it on. There are so many great blogs that I enjoy regularly that it's not easy to pick seven, but here goes.

• Uniquely Tea which was one of the first blogs I discovered in Blogland. It's a great resource for All Things Tea!


• The Daily Postcard which features a postcard each day with a bit of history and often a fascinating story. There is truly something for everyone here!


• Elderberry Street which is always lovely and where you'll find lots of craft, food, and decorating inspiration!


• The Covered Porch where the idea of creating a beautiful refuge and still living simply is alive and well! (Plus, the Velveteen Rabbit was featured a few days ago - what more can I say?)


• Purdy Wallcovering which will change the way you view wallpaper forever! You must check out the 'Wallpaper as Table Runner' photo!


• Garden Designs + More which is a beautiful garden blog. It's not too late to check out the wonderful Halloween plants featured here!


• Sarah-Jane Down the Lane which will make you want to pack your bags for the English countryside- in time for the Vintage and Handmade Christmas Fair!

I hope you'll check out some of these great blogs! And enjoy the rest of your weekend . . .

Things for People Who Don't Like Things

A sad little tale of being 'Foiled Again' . . .

About a year ago I purchased a small roll of recycled aluminum foil at the grocery store. It was one of those special items at the end of the aisle that was a special price for shoppers with a store card (this particular store's card has the same name as my middle name - which always seems like a bit of a cheery inside joke . . . but that's beside the point). The point is, this foil was decidedly inferior - thin and papery and not really up to the task of wrapping corn or potatoes for grilling. We used it for less strenuous tasks (in other words, tasks that didn't really require foil) and I was happy to see the end of the roll.

What is the probability that I would purchase another roll of recycled foil? Twenty to one? Less? Well, the chance that I would buy that same brand from the same grocery store is slim to none. However, when I saw a different brand that was labeled 'heavy duty' at one of my favorite kitchenware/gourmet grocery stores I reconsidered. It was an extra-long roll and was in a big display beside the line that leads to the checkout area - and (here's what really suckered me in) it was at a greatly reduced price. Cooler heads would have realized that the greatly reduced price was a clue, like a little friend whispering in your ear, "this item isn't worth full price, no one is buying it at full price," etc. But, when the shopper in front of me put three boxes in her basket I was caught up in the frenzy of the moment - looking back I wonder if she was a plant . . .

After all, recycling aluminum foil is a good idea and, like recycling itself, not a new one either. Didn't your grandmother have a drawer of recycled aluminum foil - carefully washed, flattened out, and folded? Perhaps stored with the bits of string and paper bags? So the idea of recycled foil is a good one, but the two products I've tried are lousy. This new, improved foil is still papery and tears if you aren't careful when you fold it. It doesn't, however, tear at all when you're trying to get it out of the box - hence the frustration that led me to throw the box in the photo on the floor (I should state here that I am not normally a person who throw things in anger . . . well, throwing things at the deer when they're eating my hydrangea doesn't count!). And as for the box, it's flimsy so that when you grip it in your struggle to tear off a piece of foil, it collapses in your hand. So, I cannot recommend recycled foil to people who like foil or who like the environment - it can't be good to waste half a roll due to tears and flimsiness.

Last week I noticed that Reynolds Wrap now makes recycled foil . . . I wonder if the third time's the charm?

Things for People Who Don't Like Things

Decorating with Books! I love books and I also love decorating with books, so you may well ask how this fits in with the 'people who don't like things' theme. Well, lately I've seen several articles in popular home magazines and segments on home shows about decorating with books, but the crux seems to be that books are not to be read, just scattered about the house. In other words, it's aimed at people who don't like books. Not that there's anything wrong with this, but it seems a shame to have a houseful of books if you don't enjoy reading them. I mean, you wouldn't have a stuffed deer head unless you're a hunter (and perhaps not even then, unless you're single and live in a cabin . . .) or have a mirror if you're a vampire.



Look at these great rooms from the 2005 Kips Bay Decorator Show House. Each one was created by a different designer and shows how beautifully books can enhance a room. (I hesitate to mention it, but if you look closely at the upper left edge of the first photo you can see a bit of the light fixture - it's an antler chandelier, so perhaps my deer head argument is not that sound . . .)



The fact that three rooms from the Show House have books playing an important role shows how useful they are when decorating. But, that does not preclude them having another purpose: to be read.








I think my issue with this decorating advice has been that it's assumed you don't want to read the books, that you don't like the books aside from their antique leather spines or perfect size that matches three others under the big lamp. (Remember the old adage about judging a book? You have to look inside to find out what's great, or not so great, about it.) One article suggested organizing your books by color - so one shelf has all the books with green spines and one the pink. If you have lots of books that will never work - let's see, is Pride and Prejudice on the shelf with Sense and Sensibility . . . no, it's with the other blue books, right between The Tipping Point and 1776. Perhaps you could view books much the way you view your children - you keep them around because you love them, not because they look good in the living room. It's a bonus if they also add to the decor . . .

If you're a book lover who wants to find better ways to live with your books, you'll enjoy these reads:

Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman

This small collection of essays about the author's book collection, favorite books, and the difficulties of combining her library with her husband's, is enjoyable and you will relate to her passion for books and reading.

At Home with Books: How Booklovers Live with and Care for Their Libraries by Estelle Ellis and Caroline Seebohm

A beautiful book with good advice for bibliophiles with growing collections. In addition to expert information on caring for and displaying books, you will also get an inside view of how famous book collectors live with their prizes - including Keith Richards (yes, the Rolling Stone!).

I hope you have time to settle down with a good book this weekend. As for me, I'm off to rearrange my books!

Things for People Who Don't Like Things

Skim Milk?! Blaaagh! Obviously skim milk is for people who don't like milk - it's watery and has a bluish tint - who wants to drink that? Real milk is opaque and . . . white! And when served cold with a slice of chocolate cake or a peanut butter sandwich or warm chocolate chip cookies or over a bowl of crunchy cereal - there's nothing to compare. I'm not proposing we all revert to whole milk, but switch to 1%; it has the look and taste of real milk - because it is.

You can bet Cary Grant wasn't taking Joan Fontaine skim milk in Hitchcock's 1941 classic, Suspicion. After all, skim milk is too watery to hide poison - or, is there poison in the glass? If you haven't seen the movie, I won't spoil the ending here . . . but, if you're a fan of Cary Grant or Joan Fontaine you are in for a treat! As a side note, Fontaine won the best actress Oscar for this role - her sister Olivia de Havilland was also a nominee and this was possibly the beginning of their famous feud. Regardless, Suspicion is a wonderful movie - I haven't seen it in quite a few years, but am going to put it on our Netflix list. In fact, this fall might be a good time to watch all my favorite Hitchcock films again - while nibbling on a warm cookie and drinking a cold glass of milk!