My Mazamet

Life at № 42 by E.M. Coutinho

Wishing you all A Life in Roses in 2022

Mike got me a few roses for a nice start to the New Year.

December 31, 2021 · 69 Comments

A very good blue & Larkin

“A Louis XV ormolu-mounted blue and gilt Vernis Martin bureau en pente. By Pierre IV Migeon, circa 1735-40, the vernis decoration attributed to the Martin Frères. Estimate: £120,000-180,000 The brothers … Continue reading

November 1, 2017 · 43 Comments

Teresa Cristina sings Roses Don’t Speak

      “… I complain to the roses. What nonsense. Roses don’t speak. Roses only exhale the scent they steal from you…”

April 28, 2017 · 9 Comments

I don’t know how many souls I have

It’s profoundly problematic that every time I’m confronted with the notion that I’m not immortal, I desperately want to die. Who was that Victorian author who said Germans were incapable … Continue reading

February 17, 2017 · 22 Comments

Reading books is good. Dressed of sea.

because we’re forced to inhabit the perspective of another human being. We should do that all the time. Dedicate a part of the day to that. I’ve never understood lack … Continue reading

February 12, 2017 · 59 Comments

The fire that burns unseen – Luís Vaz de Camões

16th century poetry and also some wonderful music. Amor é um fogo que arde sem se ver, é ferida que doi, e não se sente; é um contentamento descontente, é … Continue reading

January 28, 2017 · 16 Comments

Words. So many words. Rosemonde Gérard.

Lorsque tu seras vieux et que je serai vieille, Lorsque mes cheveux blonds seront des cheveux blancs, Au mois de mai, dans le jardin qui s’ensoleille, Nous irons réchauffer nos … Continue reading

January 8, 2017 · 8 Comments

Julia Engelmann (Poem) with English Subtitles (and good ham!)

I was going to continue writing about existentialism today- but in an effort not to depress anyone before the Reveillon, I’ll give you something rather beautiful instead. You might already … Continue reading

December 30, 2016 · Leave a comment

Stufen

I remember being 10 and sitting in the back seat of the car (a town car), my parents were up front, and I asked them why they thought they should … Continue reading

December 29, 2016 · 80 Comments

Stupid and sometimes not

I’ve been jumping rope for two weeks now to lose weight. It’s ridiculous- but somehow less ridiculous than jogging or doing any other sort of public exercise. My waist is … Continue reading

December 28, 2016 · 58 Comments

Autumnal in G Minor

Time insists on passing. I looked at the calendar today and realized that this time two years ago, we were packing up Villa l’Africaine. Yesterday I received a lovely card … Continue reading

December 3, 2016 · 36 Comments

Love him

August 11, 2016 · 14 Comments

On a night like this Stufen comes to mind

And I found a rather glorious modern translation by Daniel Staechelin to go with it. “Stufen” by Hermann Hesse “Stages” As every blossom withers and every youth calms with age, … Continue reading

December 2, 2014 · 31 Comments