(One of my backyard blooms.)
Oh, this week was a doozy. It was definitely a week to test my strength and patience, but things are settling down and I’m looking forward to a fun and relaxing weekend. Christmas will be here soon and I’ve still got lots of preparation to do, but I’m excited about it. Here are a few things that caught my eye this week.
It’s hard not to be discouraged by the news lately. The grand jury decision in the death of Eric Garner brings new questions to light.
A local police officer goes to court today after being indicted for killing an unarmed man here.
An essay that demonstrates how deeply rooted racism is in our daily lives.
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg returned to work five days after heart surgery. Because she had to.
“Breakers” are hired to wear your jeans before you do.
Emily Blunt’s gorgeous cover story for Violet Grey.
Photographs from 1989’s malls. I remember when they looked like this.
Portraits of real Peaky Blinders members, taken from actual mugshots.
And a poem that seems appropriate for the week.
Have a wonderful weekend!
(Publicity photo for “Peaky Blinders” via Entertainment Outlook.)
I don’t like action movies, and science fiction doesn’t interest me, but give me a good gangster show, and I’m all in. Goodfellas is one of my favorite movies and “The Sopranos” will forever be in my heart. So when Ryan told me about “Peaky Blinders,” the new Netflix show about a post-World War I gang in Birmingham, England, I was excited to give it a try. We binge-watched both seasons in record time and then decided to start it over again, because it’s worth watching twice. Or three times.
The show is rough and dirty, focusing on the poorest residents of Birmingham and the crime family that rules the town. It’s an interesting departure from my other favorite British shows, “Downton Abbey” and “Call the Midwife,” which are set around the same time period and in the near future. “Peaky Blinders” often references Poplar Docks, the area of London where “Call the Midwife” is set. I actually visited Birmingham a few years ago when my sister was working there, and it’s fun to recognize landmarks mentioned on the show.
Beyond the setting, the story is gripping and addictive, as well as incredibly violent. It’s a good mix of “The Sopranos” and “Deadwood,” and the main character, Thomas Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy, even brings a bit of Don Draper-style coolness to the screen. Murphy’s eyes are so expressive that he barely needs actual dialogue, and as the leader of his brothers and the entire gang, he is smart and sadistic, in a really cool way. He’s also tortured by his experiences in the recent war, and his internal struggles play out quietly while he maintains a cold facade for the members of the Peaky Blinders and his family. There are moments when Thomas Shelby reveals his true feelings, but they are subtle and fleeting, making his character truly dynamic.
Sam Neill is absolutely disgusting as the Chief Inspector obsessed with stopping the Shelby clan, and his voice makes my skin crawl. That’s a testament to his ability as an actor, because he becomes a truly loathsome character as he treads deeper into the crime world of Birmingham. I don’t want to give away too much, but Murphy and Neill’s characters fight over more than the law.
“Peaky Blinders” is such a fun way to spend a cold December night, and I’m excited to see what happens in the third season. Are you watching it?
We had a nice, relaxing Thanksgiving and I can’t believe it’s December! Over the weekend I spruced things up a little and also decorated for Christmas. We’re using the small tree from last year again, and the boys had a blast decorating it Saturday night. Ryan hung lights outside, and now we’re anxiously awaiting James’ birthday and the Christmas season. Here are a few pictures of my little updates around the house.
(New pillow covers from West Elm.)
I added a few new pillow covers for the couch, and I really like the contrast of blue hues and ivory. Sticking with a basic blue color scheme works well with my couch color.
I’ve had my eye on West Elm’s Moroccan Wedding Baskets for a while, and I finally bought one when they went on sale recently. West Elm has become my favorite mainstream home decor store, mostly because they support artisan groups in many countries and have pledged to continue their relationship with makers of handmade goods.
(My baby Fiddle Leaf Fig tree.)
As trendy and ubiquitous as they are, I love Fiddle Leaf Fig trees. I’ve avoided buying one in the past because I didn’t think it would grow well in my house and I didn’t want to risk spending a bunch of money, only to watch it die. But after some research, I decided to order a small tree from Home Depot for $15, and it arrived in perfect condition. At almost three feet, it’s not exactly small, and I’m hoping to nurture this little guy and watch it grow. I’ve placed it in a corner that gets filtered sunlight, and I’m watering it with a cup of water once a week. Hopefully it will adapt to its new surroundings and take off.
(My grandmother’s dessert table.)
My mom is downsizing, and when she offered me my grandmother’s dessert table, I decided to take it, not knowing exactly what to do with it. For now, the table is in a corner of my dining room and I’ve decorated it with a few items for the season. I don’t remember my grandmother actually using the table to serve dessert, but she did use it to display her treasured items, too.
(Our small tree making its second appearance.)
Last year, we switched from our old mega-sized tree to something petite and easy to assemble. I put it up again this year and the boys helped decorate it in under an hour. Decorating the old tree was a two-day process, and it’s nice to celebrate the start of the season without so much stress and perspiration.
(My Christmas mantel.)
After the tree was finished, I still had time and energy left to decorate the mantel in our family room. I always make it pink and feminine, since I get to look at it all day long. Most of the decorations are old, but it’s fun to bring them out year after year. I made the berry trees for our first Christmas in our house, and I like to leave them up through January.
Our halls are definitely decked and we’re ready for the Christmas season. We don’t always decorate during the long Thanksgiving weekend, but the boys were eager to start, and we had time, so it worked out. Have you decorated for Christmas?
