The only black cat that is going to be bullied is that big hairy one that torments my kitty cat.

Sounds like he's in need of corporal cuddling punishment. (No kitties were harmed in the making of that video)

In the spirit of Midsummer, I'm going to post a music recommendation, Tasseomancy's 'Diana'. I've posted it in here before, but it's a wonderfully evocative and usual piece, which complements the mood nicely. Well worth the second mention.

I'm also going to add this:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/9...gy-summer.html

4 Lessons In Creativity From John Cleese | Co.Create: Creativity \ Culture \ Commerce


Oh hey, did I never reply to Cherry vis a vis a readable copy of Pharaohs, Fellahs, and Explorers? It's actually in great condition, I couldn't believe that it wasn't a more recent copy.

That's an interesting article.

I'm glad your copy's good and sturdy!

I love when it gets cold. Snuggly blankets, big poofy comforters, cozy sweaters, knit hats, and a running humidifier equate a very happy Cherry.

I'm very much a fan of bedding, so I'll ask, what's your favorite winter bedding? Year-round, I like jersey knit sheets with one of those thin-yet-dense plush throws. In winter I add a heated blanket between the two. But right now I'm craving a big poofy comforter, like I mentioned above. You wouldn't believe how difficult it is to find something so basic like that in solid colors, though. I've been looking for one in navy, just navy, but I can't find any that aren't reversible with this BRIGHT blue on the other side. Kind of defeats the purpose of a nice neutral.

Well, that's the nice thing about duvet covers, you can find such a range. Especially a good thing if you are going to let Sammy sleep up there

I like a poofy comforter, if it's not to heavy. Upper mid range, I'd say, with a nice weight knitted blanket at the foot of the bed, which can be pulled up at a moment's notice. I like soft but crisp cotton sheets with a decent thread count. Though I did buy some organic cotton sheets at target recently which have a slightly jersey-y texture. I've been craving one of those small Victorian grate fireplaces for my bedroom as the days have gotten colder. I've always loved them but I had one in my room at the bed and breakfast in Cornwall ( a 1790s cottage), and [drool]

I have to admit, I'm still a bit baffled by what exactly a duvet cover is.

Ahh, I can't do crisp cotton sheets any time but in the hottest days of summer. They feel too cold, and I'm one of those perpetually chilly people. That fireplace sounds nice, though!

it's a cover, for your comforter. Like a giant pillowcase. Usually they have buttons to close the opening. IKEA often has nice ones, though I don't see any navy ones, I'm afraid. They do, however, have navy sheets.
I don't know if the room itself is cosy, but I saw this on my tumblr dashboard last night while we were having this conversation, and I wouldn't mind getting in the bed
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7...4l9to1_500.jpg

Ohhhh that looks pretty darn cozy. In bed is my favorite place to be during winter. I don't do cold well.

Hmm, okay. I thought they were those super thin quilt-type-things people put on their beds for no reasons. But no, those are... coverlets? Bedspreads? I don't know. Then yeah, I'll have to look for one of those instead. I do have an old poofy comforter in a pattern I don't like anymore, so that may work out well. Thanks!

Goodness, that room does look cozy.

EDIT: Biggles, you are my savior. I went looking for duvet covers and found a lot of navy ones, but out of my price range, and kind of ugly. And then I found... this flannel navy/gray reversible duvet cover, and it's actually affordable. I had been debating on whether I should get a navy or gray comforter, so this solves everything. [heart]

Woo, glad it was so easy to sort. The good thing about them is you can 'let' your cats throw up on them, and just pop them in the wash, which saves the comforter itself, which will inevitably get lumpy after a hand full of times through the wash cycle.
And yeah, you seem to have been thinking of bedspreads.
I like that room a lot, I just wonder if it would be draughty.

Oh, so that's why my old comforter got so lumpy. [lol] I didn't know you weren't supposed to put them in the dryer. I wonder if enough pushing and tugging can get it to be even again.

Well, I don't think it would be particularly hard to recreate that look in a room that was well sealed.

I like those! I think I'm going to have to make that christmas pickle and stick it on all the gifts for my cousins.

I like to put sourdough pretzels on the tree. That's... okay that's not homemade, but uh, I myself do it, so in that sense it's do-it-yourself.

Pretzels? Do you eat them later?

Merry December

Hello HIM! The same to you.

Yeah, I eat them. They're somewhat stale, but they still have that salty appeal.
http://tygertale.files.wordpress.com...-2012-1823.jpg

Well, we are treeless this year, but I put some lights up in my room today!

http://25.media.tumblr.com/5fae6be81...4nko1_1280.jpg
http://25.media.tumblr.com/e74c0ff8a...4nko2_1280.jpg

It's totally thread-appropriate because Rococo art.

How's the decorating on your front, Biggles? And anyone else passing through.

It's been going alright. I've been wanting to be more low key about decorations in recent years, so the lack of things up is suiting me better than housemates. (psst, did you notice I posted a maurice sendak tree?)

I'm also going to add these in here, because they are worth sharing. CBC Ideas used to be my favourite radio show, but they don't play it here any more. So I have to seek them out as podcasts. Which I don't often get around to doing.

Here's the one I listened to most recently:
Shanghai Ladies | Ideas with Paul Kennedy | CBC Radio

And some of my favourites from past years:
Beauty Will Save the World (Listen) | Ideas with Paul Kennedy | CBC Radio
A Guide to the Good Life | Ideas with Paul Kennedy | CBC Radio
The Enright Files - Robin Hood | Ideas with Paul Kennedy | CBC Radio
Hark! | Ideas with Paul Kennedy | CBC Radio

HIM is ALIVE !!! Slightly food coma still.

Biggles - Am I misunderstanding what you said, or do you have housemates now? Did you move?

HIM - YAY, YOU'RE ALIVE! [hug]

No, I didn't move, I'm just trying to sound like a functioning adult.