The Book: Visible City, is a Sparkling Stained-glass Jewel of a Story

Tova Mervis, author of "Visible City" fluidly vacillates like a kaleidoscope between her myriad of characters, painting their true life portraits, and masterfully piecing together their pasts, present fears, needs, and future hopes, like an opalescent John LaFarge stained-glass window. With the change of daylight, the characters morph from the red hot glow of the Noon sun to the cool blue hue of the full moon.

Unfulfilled Nina leers out her Living Room window looking at other people's lives.

Jeremy works late at a job he hates, but in the evenings, scavenges the underground "Ghost Subways" for lost treasures.

Leon, a lonely psychiatrist, longingly gazes at Nina in a coffee shop, as her children run around yelling and screaming despite a sign asking: "Children of All Ages Are Reminded to Use Their Inside Voices."

Claudia spends her time researching John LaFarge stained-bless windows, yet screams out her own window at the construction workers below.

Emma, Claudia's daughter, fears she will end up like her Mother.

Perfect Wendy, whose mother was a screamer, is scared she cannot control her children, and is scared they will discover her secret unhappiness as a 'Stay-at-home-Mom.'

Like an antique stained-glass window, Tova Mervis shows us what happens when marriages gather dust; careers show cracks and fissures, and what transpires when we want to use our outside voices. We can't always be stuck inside the metal constraints of life. Sometimes we need to find out what makes our hearts glow.

This review is posted on line with Real Simple Magazine at: www.realsimple.com/work-life/entertainment/best-books-2014-00100000117742/page7.html 

"Time to Turn", in Dinner Party Conversation on Downton

On Downton Abbey last week while at the dinner table, Edith's new beau, Michael Gregson, Editor of The Sketch, said: "Time to turn." Did anyone catch that? Did y'all get what he meant? Did y'all realize dinner conversation has but two sides: left and right.

The old tradition is, in the middle of the meal one must "turn" if one has been chattering away with only one guest on one side. Simply very politely say to the person with whom you are in conversation  you would love to continue your conversation later, but that you must not ignore the other person on your other side, and nicely excuse yourself.

Nothing worse than to be at a dinner party and you are completely ignored, and besides, leaders always make others feel special!

So, enjoy a nice dinner, and enjoy your "turn."

The Top Lady Behind the Green Baize Door at Downton

In Edwardian England, the Green Baize Door, a thick woollen cloth used on tables and doors, of the grand Manor Houses of the day, separated the paid staff from the family members of the house.

From the 1860's until WWI, around 1.5 million paid career servants served as the largest single occupation in England. To be a member of The Servant Class was considered by the mostly poor, rural society of the day, to be quite dignified as a profession, and a good opportunity for a young person with no opportunity, or no family, to be gainfully employed.

As a paid servant, the room and board was free, one received a small salary and retirement, (although the average  annual salary was about half the cost of one fancy meal of the landed gentry class), one had the chance to meet, and possibly marry a peer, and one had the opportunity to learn the etiquette and manners of the day, and many marketable skills. If successful within this life of servitude, with time, one could move up within the hierarchy of paid servants. The positions towards the top of the hierarchy for women included Housekeeper, Nanny, Governess, and the number one position was the Lady's Maid because in this position, one was the closest person in proximity to the Lady of the Manor House.  

Behind the Green Baize Door last Sunday night we discovered Lady Grantham's long time Lady's Maid, O'Brien, suddenly and stealthily departed Downton to work for another Lady in Scotland. O'Brien met her new employer while she was traveling with her present employer, Cora, Lady Grantham of Downton Abbey. O'Brien's reason for leaving Downton had to do with hair.

The distinguishing quality which separated a Lady's Maid from a House Maid in Edwardian England, and up until the beginning of WWII, was the ability of the Lady's Maid to style hair. Her talent as a hairdresser, which required a course of study and training, assured her employer she could keep up with the latest trends and ever changing hair fashions of the day, and this special skill more than justified her keep. The Lady's Maid also had to be quite proficient as a seamstress, able to sew, mend, alter and refurbish the Lady's wardrobe which saved on the dressmaker's bill. The Lady's Maid as well accompanied the Lady on all her travels, and was responsible for taking care of the Lady's jewels.

So, if one chose to live within this old world order, the Lady's Maid position was the job to have had.

Handwritten Thank You Note APP Now Available!

Yes, there is an APP for Handwritten "Thank-You" notes (available for your iPad, or iTunes only). The APP by the name "Felt" after you pick out the style and type of note, will scan your hand written words, print it, seal it, stamp it and send it for a fee ($4), but you will still have to write the note. So, here are 4 quick steps to help you write the often dreaded "Thank-You" note:

1. Dear __________,     (You are 1/4 of the way done already!)
2. Your lovely Christmas cookies were so pretty, we did not want to touch them, but after longingly gazing at these delectable delights, we dug in and consumed most of your delicious cookies for dessert, then ate the remainder of these treats for breakfast on Boxing Day. (Mention the gift and how you will use it. Never begin with "Thank You for the..." - unless you are 8 yrs old)
3. Thank you so much for your thoughts this Christmas. We will remember your delicious cookies for years to come. Have a nice New Year and we hope to see you soon. (Now, say your 'Thank-You' and add a personal sentiment)
4. Love, your grateful Niece, Susie Q.                                                                                                                                       So, write your Thank-you notes before you sleep and all will be well :))                

Celia's Book Club: Happy Holidays to all, what a fun book swap we had...

Celia's Book Club: Happy Holidays to all, what a fun book swap we had...: As usual, our get-together was filled with fun and laughs, with a great group of well-read people who brought a favorite to put under the ...

Reading books will take you to places you have never been, teach you things about life you did not know, and most importantly, let you know others may have the same or similar problems or circumstances as you have, and let you know you are not alone in your daily struggles and triumphs. Books will set your soul free! Happy New 2014! 

Big Christmas Dinner Dining Tips for the Big Table with the Big People

So, you are eating Christmas Dinner at the big table with the big people. You can do it! Here are a hunk of happy helpful tips for all ages to help you navigate through the big meal: 

• At the very least, treat your chair like a Church pew and sit up straight. Don't forget to smile big:))
• After you sit down, don't touch, eat or drink anything. Don't even put your napkin in your lap until the Host places his or her napkin in their lap, signaling the beginning of the meal.
• Have an age appropriate blessing in your head, just in case you are called upon to say Grace.
•  Just like in the movie "Titanic," do as the famous character the unsinkable Molly Brown says: "Just work your way from the outside in," the key to the place setting universe.
• If you are still, or ever confused about the flat silver or table accouterments, simply pause, look and observe others around the table. 
• Hold your fork like a pencil, not like a shovel.
• As your Mother has told you 1000 times, chew with your mouth closed and keep your elbows off the table.
• If you are passed a dish you dislike, smile broadly, say a polite and enthusiastic "Thank you," and keep the dish moving, passing it immediately to your left.
• If you need to leave the table for any reason, simply say: "Please excuse me," and place your napkin in your chair, the International silent signal for "I will return, please do not take my plate." 
• Pace yourself with others at the table and when you are finished with your meal and are excused from the table, place your napkin to the left of your plate and remember to push your chair back in, under the big table.    

So, impress others with your positive attitude and table appropriate conversation. Laugh, enjoy, and have big fun being with your family and friends at Christmas and during the Holiday Season.

Please remember for the Holidays: "What we keep we lose, only what we give remains our own."

Christmas Giving

My school motto repeated every day was:

   "What we keep we lose; only what we give remains our own."

Good words to live by. Happy Christmas to all.:))