Merry Christmas

Love came down at Christmas; love all lovely, love divine; love was born at Christmas, stars and angels gave the sign. –Christina G. Rossetti

 

Leather and Gold

A dear friend just gave me a lovely leather bookmark stamped with gold. It is one of the many handmade products produced by Holzer Book Bindery in Vermont. Marianna Holzer is a third generation book binder. I love my Kindle e-book reader, and have very happily published my book in as an e-book as well as a paperback. Yet, embossed leather books with the unique, musty paper smell still call to me. There is something deeply satisfying about reading from a thick paged book. The weight of the book in my hands, the way the cover warms where I’ve touched it, the hush of a page turned, the grace of the type, all these things and more make reading a well-bound book a decadent pleasure in the age of electronics.

My Kindle is already out dated. In another year it will be ground up as e-waste, the small bits of gold leached out, and the plastic recycled. But a book, a real, well made book, will last hundreds of years and never require a battery or back-version. Thank goodness there are artisans like Marianna Holzer who still know how to use glue and leather, gold and thread, to preserve treasured books and to create new treasures to last generations.

 

Wax On; Wax Off–the Packing Tape Beauty Tip

Here’s a cool and thrifty tip for getting the most body out of your body wax: packing tape. I’m a fan of Honey Wax because 1) it works, and 2) the remnants easily wash off in the shower. But, no matter what wax you use, they all seem to share the same flaw–too few hair removal strips. I’m always left with over half a jar of wax after the strips are gone. Substitutes are difficult to come by. Cotton fabric scraps soak up too much wax, paper tears. Recently I discovered the perfect, thrifty solution. Packing tape is strong, flexible enough for all your curves, cheap, and is easily cut to length. Wax adheres to it perfectly. The tape’s own stickiness is not an issue. Just remember to use packing tape (the clear stuff in the fat rolls) NOT duct tape (the silver stuff).

Keep it clean!

K

 

How to Cook Squirrels

As I type this entry there is a big, bushy tailed squirrel on the woodpile outside my window stuffing his fat cheeks with acorns. Leroy, as I call him, has been entertaining me for weeks with his bravado. Yes, I know squirrels are just rats with fluffy tails, but that fluff makes all the difference. Leroy twitches his magnificent plume to warn off Neville, the spare ebony squirrel with the threadbare tail, and Tippy, the skittish juvenile. At other times Leroy snakes his tail into a graceful question mark and sits absolutely still as if to say, “observe my exquisite appendage, you naked human.” Then, suddenly he’s off again, filling his face in anticipation of the lean winter months. Cold weather makes me want to fill my face too. Lately donuts have been singing their sirens song. Last night I dreamt of gooey, warm chocolate chip cookies. <sigh> If only I had the metabolism of a squirrel. Or at least one’s luxurious pelt on the collar of a jacket!