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The Lost Art of Dress and Aunt Laura
Yesterday my lovely 98 year old Aunt Laura died. She was the last of the “American Mitfords” as I called my grandmother and her five sisters. All were elegant and knew how to…
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The Caring Hour
Victoria Magazine called the time before bed, The Caring Hour, an evening interlude devoted to beauty routines and rituals – a tranquilizing hour for pampering oneself and doing those little niceties there never is enough time for. I’ve always had…
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Nothing to Wear
I lost seven sweaters to moths this year. I read I should have sanded down my cedar blocks to refresh and reactivate their repellant properties. Sadly, the sweaters were cashmere and in colors that made…
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Safe Harbor
In my field, we are in the middle of tax season. The best news we give to a client is that their money is in Safe Harbor, a special place where part of…
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The Novel of a Wardrobe
The Novel of a Wardrobe is the title of a lovely Parisian exhibit that just closed. It was housed in the Musée Carnavalet, the museum of Paris history. From 1902 through the 1920’s,…
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The Power of Lipstick
My first foray into lipstick was the night I stole a tube of lipstick from my mother’s dresser and created a work of art on my sister’s face. A Kodak moment to be…
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Belonging to Moonlight and Roses
Recently I read a teenage novel on the recommendation of a friend. It was her favorite high school read and it was lovely, set in the 1950’s. It had lots of the domestic details…
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On Handbags…
My mother worries because she says my handbag is always open. I guess she’s right. It’s just so much easier to have an open bag on the seat in the car so I…
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All Things Ballet
I have long been drawn to all things ballet – afterall, I had my first lesson at age three. I loved my black leather ballet slippers – the wrinkled toes tightened with thin grosgrain ties…
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The February House
“China tea, the scent of hyacinths, wood fires and bowls of violets – that is my mental picture of an agreeable February afternoon.” ~ Constance Spry I would add a ticking clock to Miss…
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Saint Valentine’s Day
I have spent a good many of my adult years without a love of my own. But that never stopped me from embracing Saint Valentine’s Day. I fervently believe it can be enjoyed…
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Charmed, I’m Sure
The day my mother revealed that she had enrolled me in charm school, I pitched an uncharming fit. In fifth grade the last place I wanted to be on Saturday mornings was a classroom at the back of…
