Speaking of Maxfield Parrish, last night’s sunset had me running for the camera saying, “That’s a Maxfield Parrish sky.”
It’s as if the universe heard me oohing and aahing over Parrish this past week and decided to show me just where the inspiration for Mr. Parrish’s work came from.
You can’t beat Mother Nature, though Maxfield Parrish comes pretty darned close.
It’s Saturday. I lose track of what day it is in the midst of holidays and winter days and below zero wind chills. I routinely have to check the calendar when I get up. What’s the date? What day of the week is it?
Our Christmas Tree is still up.
Yes, it has been up over a month, it’s a real tree, but there’s been very little needle shedding. Every day, Don and I consider taking it down and then we turn to each other and say, “Naaah. Let’s wait a day.” Yesterday afternoon we decided it will be up through the weekend and Monday will be the day we take it down. But that could change. I do believe this is the longest we have ever had the tree up and that makes me very happy. I feel a bit rebellious! In the blogging world where everyone has their tree up and their house decorated to the max soon after Thanksgiving, I’ve opted for a Slow Christmas. Get it? There’s Slow Blogging (a term that’s been used more and more lately) and a few other “Slows” out there. I’m coining “Slow Christmas.”
Remember, you read it here first.
Marianne asked if I could list the book titles that are on the shelf behind the Parrish print. Let’s see what I can decipher, starting on the far left:
Very Good Jeeves – a vintage copy. Don loves Wodehouse and did a one-person show many years ago entitled, Jeeves Takes Charge. He was performing in it when we got married. He was brilliant. That’s another Jeeves just to the left of Very Good Jeeves, but I can’t make out the title. I got them on eBay.
Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster – A childhood favorite. I found this vintage edition several years ago.
A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter – another childhood favorite. This is the same edition that my grandmother gave to me when I was a young girl. It disappeared over the years, so I had to find another one just like it.
Lyrics of Love – a vintage book I bought because of its beautiful design and impeccable condition. I wrote about it somewhere on this blog, but who knows where?
A Girl of the Limberlost – another edition – this one is very, very old, from 1909, the year it was published.
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens – a vintage edition sent to me by a friend.
Behind the Parrish is another section of books that I’ll share with you another time.
On the right:
Kiss Me Like a Stranger by Gene Wilder – Wilder’s autobiography. This is Don’s book. Shortly after we moved East, we got to see Gene Wilder act onstage at the Westport Country Playhouse. What a great treat that was!
Jack Be Nimble by Jack O’Brien – Jack is the well-known Tony Award winning director, who was also the Artistic Director of The Old Globe when I was working there, and part of the time Don was working there. Don has had a connection to that theater (he’s an Associate Artist there) since he was a young lad. Jack is brilliant, can use words like no one else I’ve ever known, and his autobiography (this is the first volume) doesn’t disappoint.
The Letters of Noel Coward by Noel Coward – I have always loved Noel Coward. I’ve read just about everything about and by him. I’ve acted in Blithe Spirit and Private Lives. I’ve coached his plays several times. Brilliant. Brilliant. Brilliant.
Not shown, but to the right of Coward:
The Collected Plays of Sean O’Casey – given to Don many years ago by the late, great actor Howard Da Silva and inscribed by him. Howard Da Silva was simply one of the best. He was also blacklisted for many years during the McCarthy era.
Josh by Josh Logan – the autobiography of one of the greatest directors ever. He directed so many great plays and musicals, among them, South Pacific. In Logan’s later years, Don worked with him in two plays. Again, inscribed from Logan to Don.
These are very precious books.
There you go. A guide to the books you can see on the shelf!
More Parrish-y sunset:
Happy Saturday.
Your print is beautiful…i love the golden hour too! Yesterday I had to go out of town on business and was able to visit my son – his tree is still up and he turned on the lights and it was oh so pretty. We visited and chatted by glow of the tree. You should keep yours up as long as you are enjoying it! Jen
It’s so pretty at night, we hate to lose it, Jen!
Just decorate that sucker with hearts and white lights and call it a valentines bush. Let’s hear it for rebels!!!
Yay!
Claudia, So glad you are enjoying your tree. I read where one blogger puts hers out in the yard near her feeders for the birds to gather in. I thought that’s a good use of a tree. I love your sky photos. You sound as bad as me…if I see a glorious sky, sunset or sunrise, I have to take a picture. Blessings for s fun weekend, xoxo,Susie
We will eventually put it in the clearing near the woods for birds to take shelter in, Susie.
Hi Claudia. I remember reading Daddy Long Legs when I was much younger and I thought this is my first grown up book. Thanks for the great memory flashback! Doris
Such a wonderful story, Doris!
Beautiful sunset! Wonderful books. My tree is still up also. Feeling blah today…it will pass.
hugs,
Linda
Oh, I’m sorry, Linda! It’s sort of a tough time – January and February – I often feel blah. Hugs to you!
I didn’t comment the other day on your post about blogging. You know I read you and enjoy all of your thoughts. You can build a post about a simple thought or view and make it charming and good to read. I constantly am amazed at how you do daily posts when all around you people are just posting pictures that any of us can find on our own. Blogging has changed, I don’t like the facebook, instagram or twitter route. You really don’t get to know the writer. But that is life today, fast and impersonal. Keep your posting up and if you don’t truly feel the urge skip a day or two. Comments are down for everyone because we are too busy reading too many blogs and comments take extra effort.
Exactly! Myself, included! Thanks so much, Gayle.
OH, my friend moved her tree (with only the lights left on it) to her deck. It shines through her breakfast window!
Lovely! We still have our outdoor lights on!
“Slow Christmas” – I like that. Our faux fir has now been put away, but last weekend I transplanted a lovely pink-toned poinsettia (gift) into a blue pot from Mexico. It is so nice to have a bit of living colour about. We have been in a deep freeze for about a week now with warnings of frostbite in less than five minutes. I decided I’ll wait to watch my b-day gift of “Ice Station Zebra” until I’m done living it.
I liked hearing about your books. After I read your post, I realized that my dollhouse books are shelved in the same manner as my real life books – according to their subject matter. Maybe it’s time to think outside the box (shelf?). I recently came across “Books Do Furnish A Room” by Leslie Geddes-Brown with all sorts of inspiring ideas about living/decorating with books. It has begun to snow (again!), so I may just stay in and continue (slowly) with my present read. I need to work on my second-language skills (plans for 2015), but I’m quite enjoying the read – Zola seems to me a lot like Dickens.
I always intend to brush up on my French, Barbara, but never get around to it. I think when we are able to take a dream trip to Paris (someday!) I’ll get a move on!
I’m determined to go abroad this year, but budget will dictate just how far abroad we go! (My daughter informed me last week that her university tuition fees go up by 25% starting in September.) She was fascinated to learn that Don knew Howard Da Silva – she loves the film “1776” and knows all the songs by heart.
Ah yes, he played Ben Franklin, right? I saw that show (a revival) on Broadway. It’s a wonderful, wonderful musical.
Ah, the books. Aren’t you beyond thankful and thrilled that you have your bookshelves up and being used? Each book brings a memory and a bit of a story. Just perfect! They truly can chronicle ‘bits & bobs :-) of our lives.
I am so happy that we put those darned shelves up! It’s made an incredible difference in the feeling of this room.
Gorgeous sunset shots Claudia. Just beautiful. There was a copy of “Girl of the Limberlost” at the lake house we stayed at in VT when I was a child. I never read it then, but later bought a copy to read. Beautiful book! Have you ever read anything by Sarah Orne Jewett? Coming up soon on my reading list is “The Country of the Pointed Firs” which is supposed to be quite good. Happy weekend to you — enjoy!
I’ve heard of her but not read anything of hers as of yet, Vera. Happy weekend.
Good golly, Claudia, is there truly anyone you and Don don’t know or somehow have a connection to? At least once a week I tell my daughters about someone else you two know! I’m pretty sure they think I am making it up! You both have been truly blessed in knowing some of the finest writers, directors , actors and actresses of our time. What else is there to say except WOW!
I’m glad you still have your tree up and it gives you both so much pleasure. Our tree the last two years has been a small artificial one and it is pretty sad looking! Laura and I have been wanting to have a tree up year-round and re-decorate it every month. We still may do that. I would like to find one of the artificial weeping fig trees and put twinkle lights on it. We both love twinkle lights!
Tell Don that I, too, love Wodehouse. Has he ever seen the Jeeves and Wooster with Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry? I laugh so much at their antics that I normally end up choking! I wish I could have seen Don in Jeeves Takes Charge. I can imagine how fabulous he was!
I hope you have a warm weekend. They say it will be a balmy 20 tomorrow. Not holding my breath!
Hugs to both of you and pets to the Dame!
Deb
Don was great doing the Jeeves show, but he played lots of different characters and it was a real physical workout! We’ve both seen the Jeeves series and loved it. Two of my favorite actors.
And yes, we are very lucky to have met and worked with lots of well known, even famous, actors, directors and producers and designers. It is definitely one of the perks in our line of work.
Wow, Howard Da Silva, that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time! You and Don have had interesting lives, and I bet you have great conversations about your work. I really love your photo of the golden hour outside your door. My favorite part of the day, and your Maxfield Parrish is the perfect piece for someone who enjoys that time of day, isn’t it?
This is going to sound judgmental, and I don’t intend for it to be, but I can’t believe you still have your tree up! You free spirited thing, you!
My favorite time of day, too.
And I am a free spirit! Or at the very least, I don’t like to be told when and how to do things. Stubborn as the day is long!
Our tree is still up too but it’s an artificial one. The pics are lovely Claudia. I bought The Yearling at a thrift store and read it’s 500 plus pages in about 4 days. I love books that are set in old Florida. Hope you all have a relaxing weekend.
The Yearling is a wonderful book and so suited to you, Janie, as a Florida resident!
I love A Girl of the Limberlost, too. I have a very old copy that has been in the family since the early 1900’s and an original copy of Freckles. I was surprised recently when I checked the catalogue at our library that they no longer have any Gene Stratton Porter books available. She is still a favorite author of mine, yours too, I see.
Do you know, I’ve never read Freckles?? I have to fix that ASAP.
I’ve been out of the loop and not for the first time. Most certainly not the last. I am at a loss. What is slow blogging? Is it something I need to think about?:-) Am I already slow blogging?
Our trees are down. In the world of house selling we were told it might not be a good idea to decorate in the first place. That of course is not going to happen here. But we did take it all down fairly quickly. I applaud your decision to leave your tree up passed the 1st of January.
Slow Blogging seems to be going back to where most bloggers started: writing quality posts, not trying to post more than once a day, etc. Not posting unless you want to. It’s about slowing down the pressure to constantly have new projects or ideas or whatever.
Thanks for the explanation, Claudia. Interesting. Laid back approach, I guess.
Yes, a reaction to going full throttle trying to earn a living from blogging. It takes its toll. xo
I like Wodehouse too, but have to admit that Great Expectations is on my “I’ll never read that book again or watch an adaptation of it ever” list. My 9th grade English teacher completely took any interest in Dickens out of me. However, funny that you mention Blythe Spirit. I’m going to see Angela Lansbury in Blythe Spirit at the end of January. My daughters are very excited, as they love Ms. Lansbury, even though they are in their late teens.
I have a friend who just saw that production. Have fun! She’s a treasure, that Angela Lansbury.
Your photo of the sunset is truly beautiful. All the pictures you share with us are.
I love how you hung your new (old) picture on the bookshelf. Hanging a picture that way, always catches my eye. Bonnie in WI, where windchill is now -8. Yea…heat wave
Well, it’s not hanging there now, it’s on the wall. I’m afraid I’ll knock into it on the shelf!
Your sunset was beautiful. I love that so many of your books are vintage and have such meaning to you and your husband. It’s wonderful to be surrounded by the things we love most. We had to part with our tree last week as the branches were definitely all pointing south and the needles were dropping quickly. I would have been perfectly happy to leave it longer – I enjoy the feeling of the season. A happy 2015 to you.
Oh, I’m sorry you had to part with your tree, Susan. We’re lucky, I guess. Ours is hanging in there, but probably only for a few more days.
You always make me feel a little ashamed that I don’t read..I just don’t sit still long enough except when I’m on this stupid computer.That’s enough for me !! One of these days I’ll pick up my Kindle that has about 5 books on it that I really should read..!! Beautiful sky…
Pick up that Kindle, Missy!
Claudia, love the sunsets and the Parrish print. Have three Klimts which never fail to lift my spirits whenever I look at them. Am going to track down the Gene Wilder and Jack O’Brien autobiographies. Read Gilda Radner’s It’s Alway’s Something a while ago and found it sad but very interesting. Still have my Xmas tree and decorations up too and continue to enjoy the resulting afterglow and abundance of spirit. And yes, more power to Slow Christmas and Slow Everything!!!!!
I love Klimt – another ‘luminous’ painter!
I mean three Klimt prints!!!!!!! One can dream.
If only!
Claudia – I’m a frequent reader, but not one to comment – though I just have to leave you this note today. The Hartford Courant published a feature on Darko in the Sunday edition yesterday and he is currently directing Private Lives at Hartford Stage – and ironically in your post today you mention you’ve acted in Private Lives. Here is a link to the article http://www.courant.com/entertainment/arts-theater/hc-private-lives-0111-20150111-story.html#page=1
Love your blog. Karen
Thanks so much, Karen. I know that Darko’s directing it and have an invitation to Opening Night, but it’s too far for us drive round-trip, with little Scout left behind at home. I’m sure it’s an absolutely gorgeous production! Thanks for the link!
I knew I wasn’t the only person who gleefully points out ‘a Maxfield Parrish Sky’!!