Classic Poetry, featuring Henry Howard.

It’s interesting how, despite the passage of centuries, certain sentiments don’t change. Here’s a classic from Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey (1517-1547).

My friend, the things that do attain

The happy life be these, I find:

The riches left, not got with pain,

The fruitful ground; the quiet mind;

The equal friend; no grudge, no strife;

No charge of rule nor governance;

Without disease the healthy life;

The household of continuance;

The mean diet, no dainty fare;

True wisdom joined with simpleness;

The night discharged of all care,

Where wine the wit may not oppress;

The faithful wife, without debate;

Such sleeps as may beguile the night:

Content thyself with thine estate,

Neither wish death, nor fear his might.

SnowPorn.

Some rooms just ooze class; whether it’s in the furnishings, the layout, the way the sun filters in during the afternoon, or the way the moonlight slips through at night. It’s so easy to recognize interior beauty when the exterior grandeur is on point, and this room exemplifies that premise. An incredible view, revealing magnificent snowy peaks, serves as a backdrop to a space replete with class, character, and charm. Bring on the whiskey, coffee, and whatever else you’ve got. Let the daydreams commence.

Light your fire, grab your coffee (or wine), snag your book…and cozy up to the warmth of this week’s great wintry space.

Storytime Saturday, featuring an excerpt from The Passing at Highway 10.

Below is a snippet from an unfinished short story…enjoy, and thank you for reading.

As she stood, I hurried behind her to help slip the jacket on that she’d carried over from behind the bar; it was long and red, and had a faint smell of sweet flowers and summertime.  The back of my hand grazed her bare arm, and it felt warm and smooth, and my heart damn near jumped three feet out of my chest.  “You ready?”, she said out of smiling lips.

A blast of thunder exploded outside with a crazy boom, and it sounded like a fucking nuke got detonated.  She jumped at the sound, and I glanced outside into that swirling mess of a storm.  The wind had picked up rapidly, and I thought to myself that it was going to be a slow, careful drive. I couldn’t have been more wrong. “Yeah”, I said, to answer her question, and I jerked my chair in and walked her to the door; we both flashed a wave and a smile to Jack behind the bar, and readied ourselves for the race out to the rig.

Library Lusting.

This week’s space conjures up a tropical vibe, and I’d say that it’s more than just the addition of the potted plant that contributes to that ambiance. It could be just me, but I’m reminded of a warm, sunlit terrace on a summer afternoon…surrounded by an ocean of books. It’s a great space, with a few clever parallels; the heavy, rustic elements play very well alongside the fragility of the books, and the sunlight adds a splash of color that gives life to the dense, cold stone. It’s a nice, tidy, quiet space to sit alone and collect the thoughts. This is indeed a book lover’s room…let the daydreams commence.