Frigid

 

Haven't ventured out into the cold much in the past several days. This photo was from January 16, 2022. Just goes to show that this week in January is often one of the coldest of the year here.

Wove Finish

 

Looking forward to trying this Strathmore product. It's acid free and specifically made for use with calligraphy nibs, pen, and ink.

Here's a little info I found about this paper's so-called "wove finish":

"Wove finish is one of the most commonly used finishes for general printing. It’s the standard paper finish, so if your paper package doesn’t indicate a finish, it’s probably wove.

Wove paper is slightly textured but mostly smooth to the touch. It’s similar to laid paper, but without the textured patterns" -- The Paper Mill Blog

Handwriting

 

Speaking (or writing!) of handwriting. I bought this workbook a year or so ago and have really enjoyed practicing some of the author's suggestions. Published in 2021 by Simon & Schuster, it includes "dozens of practice pages to help you create beautiful cursive letters and distinctive hand printing." It also includes recommendations for such things as flourishes, loops, and letter variations. 

Practicing French

 

Cantique

 

So I've started work on Fauré's Cantique, which means my going through the proper French pronunciation of the lyrics line by line with the help of a coach for whom French is her native language. So many subtle distinctions in vowel sounds! 

Epiphany 2024

 

Happy Epiphany everyone! Kind of sad to see all the Christmas decorations coming down, but I know there's lot more to look forward to in 2024. So buckle up and let's go! :-)

Hail!

 

Finished Lazarus' book a couple of days ago. Some familiar stories here, namely Theismann's injury, Riggins' ground game, Art Monk's productivity, etc. But there also were some unfamiliar stories, like Dexter Manley's battle with drug addiction, Gibbs' return after retiring, and Jay Schroeder's trade to the Raiders.

Now what will the renamed Commanders do after this season's over? Will Sam Howell or Jacoby Brissett be back? Will Rivera be back? Speculation is rife.