{quotables}

Hi Blogland!
It's Friday I realise, so I missed my Quotable Thursdays yesterday, because I was in a ridiculously long marathon meeting that ran from 1030-1620!
so.... here's a quote to start the weekend.
In academia, we are often confronted with lots of criticism...and we revise, revise, and then revise some more. This quote is a reminder that even though the revisions are a nightmare, we are only making the work that much better. As with anything, we can stop when we get tired... Or we can pursue, persevere, and produce something that much better.

{don't stop until you're proud!}

HAPPY WEEKEND!
xo,
L
ps: how do you like the new blog design? The background pic is of a door knocker in Paris that I took. I like to think of this blog as a door opening onto new horizons & musings!

{2016 beginnings}

Happy weekend!
Hope you're having a fab fab Sunday!
I've been enjoying 2016 so far--last weekend we rented a car and went to a fab old piano shop (a converted old school house) and also went antiquing:

{my dad testing the pianos}

I found some great mirrors and an old dressing table, which had in one of the drawers all this lace and newspapers dated back to the 1947!

Yesterday I wasn't feeling so well so I stayed close to the fire most of the day (& you can see the bookshelves are almost done!):

Then today, it snowed! so we went for a lovely walk in the snow along the canal:

Must put the roast in the oven.

xo

L

{quotable Thursdays}

It's been a busy day today so I'm only now getting to post-on the train home! I went to a very stimulating seminar at the Warburg institute about the use & abuse of images.

I then went to a lovely dinner with a good friend & caught up over pasta. We went to an iconic Italian restaurant on Lamb's Conduit & I saw this quote on the wall & thought I ought to take  a picture and post: 

Here, Where the sea glitters. I think it's a metaphor for life & good friendship. 

Stay there where the sea shines. Stay true to the friends who lighten up your life  even when times get rough. I'm so fortunate to have so many strong friends in my life who encourage  me and lift me up. 

Xo

L

{quotable thursdays-2016}

Hello lovely readers!
First quotable thursdays of 2016, is a motto for the year ahead:

{happy life}

stop trying to find the happy life, and just make it happen!

One thing I've learned is you can either be a victim of whatever life throws at you, or embrace it and make your life happy, no matter what. I know, this is easier said than done, but it can be done.
Happy 2016 to all of you!!!! Take inspiration from kids around you--they let go of the stress around them, and dance in the streets:

{happiness!}

xo
L

{Happy Epiphany!}

Today marks the day the Magi brought their gifts to the young baby, Jesus. It was a common iconography in the Renaissance, and was a very big feast day during that time too. I first came across the importance of the holiday, when I was an undergrad and had to write a seminar paper on the Magi. I became so enthralled reading all about the celebrations of the Epiphany, when kings and princes would knock at doors to collect proceeds. In Florence, the entire city would be transformed into Bethlehem and a huge procession would take place, organised by the Compagnia de' Magi (for more, read the article by Hatfield). In a lot of Catholic countries they still celebrate this day. In Italy it's called La Beffana, for instance.
There are so many fantastic paintings of the Adoration of the Magi, but some of my favourites are done by Mantegna. In particular, this one at the Getty:

{Andrea Mantegna, Adoration of the Magi, about 1495 - 1505, Getty, LA}

I've been working on this painting as part of a new book project on the exchange of objects between Italian courts and foreign polities. The gifts these Magi bear are not only about what's inside, but the vessels would have been highly-sought collector's items in the fifteenth century.

On a day that is traditionally about giving, even if you don't have a present, perhaps you can just be extra kind today. Why not?

Happy Epiphany!

L

{hello 2016!}

{HAPPY NEW YEAR!}

Hello fab blog readers!
Did you have a great holiday? Are you eager to welcome in 2016 and all the new and exciting things it might bring? Have you spent some time reflecting on 2015? I'd have to say my big accomplishment and life-changing moment of 2015 was buying a house and renovating it (& hosting my first Christmas party in it)!
I spent New Year's Eve with my family in Essex and then the first few days of 2016 were spent with family & friends going for lovely walks...
The pictures say it all!

{my cousin & me}

{new year celebrations}

{champagne anyone??}

{charming walk with lovely little houses}

{a trip to Lavenham}

{crooked houses in Lavenham}

{beautiful doors}

{views from the castle at Clare}

{perfect little car for me!}

{seaside walk at Burnham on Crouch}

Happy Happy 2016!!
x
L

{Christmas 2015}

Did you have a merry Christmas? Mine was fantastic! We were at my Dad's cousins in Essex and it was filled with such merriment and joy! Highlights included fantastic meals, picking up the turkey from the local farm, an all boys carol service and midnight mass in the medieval cathedral, a Boxing Day Meet in Matching Green, and a traditional panto! 

The pictures really say it all!

{me & my Dad walking on the dock at Maldon, Essex}

{cousins!}

{Merry Christmas!}

{cracker heads!}

{Boxing Day Meet}

{typical onlookers}

{pouring sherries for the riders!}

{cheers!}

{my parents & me}

{Choo pouring our mulled ginger wine!}

{the hounds}

{onlookers}

{off they go!}

{bugle call!}

{side saddle!}

{oldest wooden church in the world--Greensted}

{very tiny door!}

Happy New Year! See you in 2016!!
xo
L