Miscellany #8
Heatwaves & AC, The Joy of Crafting, Copenhagen, A wedding in Jerez, Colorful Summer Accessories & A few great reads
Hola Friends! It has been a really long time. Way too long. I’m beyond overdue for a post and I’m sorry for it. But at least you can agree that I haven‘t been bombarding you with too much content. Nope! Not me!
We have been traveling a lot. We’ve been dealing with heatwaves. We’ve had all the preparing of the house and preparing of the cats for when we leave town, then all the cleaning of the house and preparing of the laundry that come upon return. Only for the packing to start again, immediately after the last load has been folded. The suitcases go up to the attic, they come down. Rinse and repeat.
However, I am not going to complain about all the wonderful traveling I’ve gotten to do lately. It has been totally delightful. Even if preparing for it has been ever so slightly, momentarily, annoying. As the saying goes “life happens when you‘re busy making plans.” But also, “life moves pretty fast, and if you don‘t stop to look around once in a while you could miss it.”
Well here I am stopping so I don’t miss it. And probably busy making other plans at the same time. We go to Greece next week, after all.
Heatwaves & Air Conditioning
Welp, it is hot here. It seems like it gets hotter every summer in Zürich. I never thought I’d say I felt more comfortable in Southern Spain than in Zürich during summer, but that is God’s honest truth. We are sweltering.
So you understand what I’m talking about, our balcony registered 42 C / 107 F twice this week. While we were miserable and breaking records here, Paris was certainly worse.
Once I was in Palm Springs for a big 50th birthday bash. That weekend it was about 114 F. I remember it well, just being outside in the sun felt painful. Standing in the heat, I didn’t want to move a muscle or do anything apart from get into the pool or go immediately back inside. This, honestly doesn’t feel that far off. Hopping in the lake often is probably the only thing keeping Zürich from going crazy right now.
In Spain, they are prepared for heat, where shops, cafes, banks, and just about everywhere close from 2ish-6ish. The city of Jerez has awnings shading the old town. People take siestas. For good reason. There is an actual breeze. Oh yeah, and lots of places (most places) have AC.
Switzerland is uncomfortable with air conditioning. Like their Germanic neighbors to the north, they don’t really believe in it. And so finding a cool respite during extreme temps is not something you can count on. I say this from experience. Like boarding a packed bus, then getting stuck in traffic while the trams ahead are malfunctioning, with the temperature inside around 45 C/ 113F, people crammed against one another, and ZERO air flow. This happened to me last weekend and I can feel the panic attack rising just by writing about it.
In other famously hot places, like Malaysia or Greece, they have no issues using air conditioning when the heat is extremely high. They have gotten over it. At some point, the country where I live will have to reckon with temperatures that are increasingly soaring, dangerous even. But we are not there yet.
Two years ago I gave in, embraced my Americanness, and got a mobile AC unit. It sits like a gleaming long haul suitcase upright, in the corner of our living room with a white tube inefficiently snaking out of window ajar, and secured with a bungee cord. Elegant, streamlined Swiss design it is not. But I am cooler than my neighbors.
Last winter, we bought a used smaller unit off of friends who were moving away. That one is now in our bedroom, saving my life. They perch like awkward, outdated drones in our alternate Star Wars universe. Not speaking, but doing the real labor in our home.
The Joy of Crafting
I discovered She‘s Scrappy recently and am absolutely smitten with everything Rose creates and shares. I love a simple, thoughtful craft project. I love using the myriad art supplies I have had in my possession since long before I had a child. I love cutting and gluing and scrapbooking. I love a reason to buy a new journal. Since subscribing and consequently being inspired, have started making my own mini travel journals.
Ostensibly, these homemade souvenirs are for Edie and me. But secretly, they might be for me alone. I have been collecting all the little bits from our recent travels and dutifully snipping and pasting them into little journals, then doodling or taping or inserting other little bits on top. The key here is that everything is little.
Coloring and embellishing come next. Then, and ultimately writing about where we went, who we saw, what we ate, and what we did on our trips. I have grand ambitions to print out little photos of us on these trips to also include in the journals. But I haven‘t gotten that far yet. Crossing my little fingers!
The shots shown here are from our recent trips to Copenhagen and Jerez. They are far from complete. As you can see some pages don’t have lots of writing. I start with the saved snippets and ephemera, adhering them around the pages, and leaving space to add my writing after. Before I had a child When I have more time, I prefer complete one page at a time, so that I can stretch the writing to more pages if I want. But I’m doing the best I can within the limits of my schedule. I like glue sticks, washi tape and staples in a pinch. I also have fun with little glassine envelopes that can be stuck inside which adds a nice transparent layer and feels like a present within a present.
Crafting is fun. It‘s playful. It puts me in touch with my inner child, to cut and glue things again. And it makes for a nice keepsake later. It reignites the memories of what I saw and where we went in a way that snapshots sometimes miss. Plus, seeing those little bits and pieces, ticket stubs and receipts, menus and business cards from a trip evokes the graphic styles, design and everyday living of a place, that I encountered, too.
Also, it’s an analog activity that doesn’t ask much of me. And we could all use a bit more analog to balance out the digital in our lives. It won’t be published anywhere or held up to be judged. It’s a creative thing that is just for me.
Copenhagen, again
In late May, we visited Copenhagen to see friends, eat really really well, take in the sea breezes, and see all the Legos the sites. In short, it was wonderful. The Airbnb I found looked very meh in the photos, but turned out to be picturesque, cozy, and super charming. Inside, there was real art on the walls, an upright piano, not fake plants, plentiful windows to let in fresh air, and a sweet balcony.
I also appreciated the blackout shades. As it goes in Nordic summertime, the sun doesn’t set until lateish, and it stays light out much longer. People without young children must love this! Even though we weren’t lingering outside on some chic terrace, drinks at the ready chatting long into the evening, we made the most of our time in Copenhagen.
It was properly warm most of the time so we walked a ton, and saw varying neighborhoods that each were unique and captivating in their own way. Copenhagen is vast and there are few European cities I’ve visited where I have walked more. Even using their superb public transit, we logged major steps every day.
Juno the Bakery (as famous for it’s delicious buns as it is for its tremendous lines) was just down the block. Our first evening there, just after arrival and settling in at our Airbnb, we wandered around the neighborhood. It was around 6pm as we approached Juno, and I saw that it was not only open, but that there were empty tables on the terrace and no line at the door. I turned to Andy and said, “we have to go in now” as I urgently pushed him and Edie up to the entrance. “I’ll have one of everything” I said confidently, with a gleam in my eye like I’d just found gold. We got a classic cardamom bun, a slice of lemon cake, and a cardamom & rhubarb cream bun to share between the two and a half of us. Everything was delicious and we devoured it. The cardamom cream bun with stewed rhubarb inside was one of the best things I have eaten in ages. Absolute delectable perfection. My mouth waters just thinking about it. I’m sorry, but Juno totally lives up to the hype.
On this fourth visit to Copenhagen in my lifetime, I realized that this is a city I could live in. I love the broad open streets, the tidy and elegant appearance, its general safety, and it’s ample green spaces. In this, it is much like Zürich. But I also love that it is on the sea, a thing I long for and miss often. I love how big it is, because there is always a new area to explore, that feels different enough than other areas of town, yet how it never really feels too crowded. I really like its mild temps (especially in summer), the expressive street style and shopping, and I LOVE its food culture.
I’m going to pause here, because I’ll no doubt do a longer post on this trip to Copenhagen if I ever stop going on trips soon. But enjoy this teaser from a perfect late spring weekend in the superb city.
A Wedding in Jerez
Mid June took us to Jerez in Southern Spain for a family wedding. My cousin from California married a girl from Jerez, so a whole slew of my California family came out for the celebration. It was as joyful, fun and beautiful as you might imagine. And on top of that it was truly special to have so much of my extended family on an excursion together in Europe for such a momentous occasion. My only regret was not booking a longer stay so we could overlap our time together even more.
Jerez isn’t a huge city, and all the festivities, plus all the villas we stayed in were close by one another, so we easily walked everywhere, running into cousins right and left. Impromptu Apero drinks turned into big group dinners, which turned into late night gatherings on the plaza. Everyone could come and go as they pleased to shop, or siesta, or have lunch, or see another site. At nearly every stop I enjoyed stupidly cheap and totally delicious local vermouth, sherry or Verdejo (my wine of choice on this trip. Forget Rose all day, and give me Verdejo all day.
In terms of weather, we got lucky. It was plenty warm, but not atrociously so. And as I already mentioned, Spain operates on siesta hours, so during the hottest parts of the day everything was closed, forcing us, too, to head inside, cool down and rest.
Weddings in Europe tend to be more fun. Sorry, but it’s true. Rules are less strict about how late it can go, and they usually run into the wee hours. The schedule is looser and more relaxed, the event is focused on conviviality, good food, and multiple generations present. Yet they come to have fun and really celebrate. It’s more about the couple than just the bride. And they are less about the spectacle, the design, and the highly choreographed nature of it all. The attendees come from all over. They definitely speak more languages than you, and are also usually dressed better than you, but with seemingly little effort.
Ok, I jest. Mostly. But these are all things I love about attending a wedding in Europe! Of course, German weddings are different from Spanish weddings, and both are different from Greek weddings. Each country has unique cultural customs and rituals. I’ve been lucky to go to weddings in all three countries.
Kevin and Rocio planned a beautiful celebration and I loved every aspect of it. I honestly wouldn’t have changed a thing. In fact, it reminded me a little of my own wedding. Which, at the end of the night and saying goodbyes, my cousin Kevin told me was one of the most fun weddings he’d ever been to. It warmed my heart to hear this and I was genuinely surprised and delighted to learn I’d helped to create such fond memories, twenty years later.
I grew to become really fond of Jerez as the week went on. There is an easy, relaxed, come as you are vibe about Spain in the summer that I wish I could bottle. We never really struggled to find a place to eat, even if we had 14 in our group. Since the Spanish eat late, the nights are long and warm, and meals stretch to hours. And it is really pretty affordable to be there. Please don’t look at the stats comparing cost of living in Spain to Switzerland like a friend of mine did. It is jaw dropping. Let’s just say it was a good bit cheaper to do everything for us.
Like in Greece, the kids usually stay up late, playing in the plaza where cars are infrequent or nonexistent, and the temperatures are cooler. The people are friendly, warm and generously hospitable.
One memory: At a bar called Cafe Central, we got a couple icy vermouths and a glass of juice for Edie. It was apero hour, and there were some locals at the bar, but most of the chairs and tables near us were empty. We sat and cooled off in these fancy blue velvet seats. I felt like I should be playing blackjack. Moments later, the waiter appears with our drinks and a bowl of candy for Edie. A little while later, after being joined by cousins who’d just arrived, we asked if they had any olives, crackers, or snacks of any kind. In broken Spanish we told the waiter, grapes are ok, and Edith was presented with a plate of them, that he had dug out from behind the bar. Not a plate for the table, but just for her. It was darling. A good sized bowl of candy, and a plate of grapes. He was looking out for her. She was delighted.
They also had a massive table of gummy candy at the wedding. It was as if Willy Wonka himself had done the catering. I didn’t realize…or had forgotten how much the Spanish are into gummy candy? Just like the Danes are! Until I spotted a huge row of it at the grocery store in Jerez…like the one I also saw in Copenhagen. Ladies and gentlemen, it has been a summer of gummy candy!
Thanks so much for reading Photographer’s Miscellany. I am so pleased to have you here. If you enjoyed this post, and would like to keep up with me, please share and subscribe.
Colorful Plastic Jewelry
Now for something that only looks like gummy candy. If you know me personally, you may already have surmised that I do not shy from wearing color. But in the summer, I love to abandon all restraint and really go for it, especially when it comes to my accessories.
I like bold hues, fun patterns and mixing and not so much matching. It started with Sobral, who’s pieces are essentially artistic wearable art. Because of his commitment to using sustainable materials, his innovation and his technique, no two pieces are exactly alike. I discovered Sobral while living in Heidelberg, and have gone on to occasionally collecting a new piece here and there. It isn’t terribly expensive, yet it is super unique. These are chunky, loud, vibrant, playful, conversation starters. They are not shy or demure, and can be challenging when, say, washing your hands. That is to say, these aren’t for everyone.
Though I started with Sobral, I like to mix it with other plastic, resin, lucite, and even stone pieces I have collected over the years. There’s something really fun about hunting at flea markets and second-hand places for a unique one to add into the mix. I love that there is a patina and a story associated with a piece, and that I get to add my own, before it travels onto another future hand.
In summer months, I appreciate how lightweight they are to wear in the summer months, and the joy they bring me. Wintertime is not for most of these, when donning gloves to keep hands warm is par for the course.
Children have always loved my accessories (over the top), but they love these pieces best, which look like toys! And they are, in a way. I am a bit proud of how audacious they look. Because life is short and they usually make other people smile, or, at least, start a conversation.
Rapid Fire Book Reviews
Usually I devote an entire post to books that I’ve read lately. But I’m trying to make up for lost time, here. And I also I just want to tell you how good these all are!
Sandwich and Wreck. Oh my God, Catherine Newman, where have you been all my life? I loved these books so so SO much. They made me laugh, they made me cry, they made me knowingly smirk in agreement. While reading about Rocky and her family, I felt like I was being hugged by my daughter, while holding my mother’s hand, in the midst of cooking a meal with my entire family staying in one big house together on vacation. That makes no sense, but if you read the book you might get it.
I think Sandwich is actually almost perfect as a novel. Newman’s books reminded me of both Barbara Trapido and Laurie Colwin who are two writers I hold in the highest esteem. One of whom I was reading when I found out I was pregnant and subsequently named my child (inadvertently) after one of the main characters. That, my friends, is a story for another time.
What I liked most about Rocky and her family was how good they were to one another, yet also how honest and real. They seemed like so much fun, if chaotic and perhaps dramatic at times. I didn’t grow up going to New England for summers, but I can imagine through these books. I think Catherine Newman has a really strong sense of voice as a writer. And I will happily read what else she has written, with gusto.
Heart the Lover. What a beautiful, soulful, thoughtful book Lily King has written. It is enveloping. I loved all the relationships in this book which were deftly nuanced. This book read so easily it was hard for me to put down, like easing into a wonderful conversation that is steady and calm yet deeply compelling. I thought I would immediately read the companion book Writers & Lovers (written years earlier) as soon as I finished this one. In fact I did not. I wanted to sit with Heart the Lover and let it linger before going into another phase of the character’s life. I’m not sure if or when I will read Writers & Lovers. This book reminded me, in the best way, of Hello, Beautiful, by Ann Napolitano, with all of it’s complicated, complex, deep and heartrending relationships. I genuinely mourned some of the characters by the time I finished it. They became so real on the page.
Dandelion is Dead. I picked this up this debut by Rosie Storey on a whim at the bookstore, knowing nothing about it. Lush, dramatic, twisty, even at times pulpy. In terms of tone, this book felt like a film Emerald Fennell might direct. For me the characters veered enough in different directions that most nuance, mystery and inner speculation by the characters was left behind. I did like it, and after putting it down and sort of skipping ahead, I felt compelled to go back and finish it. Which is somewhat rare for me, as I’m all to happy to start something else. The premise is strong and I think the book relies on that to carry it through. I found that by the time the characters, finally come together in the end—after searing highs and deep down lows, after being together then not, together, not—that I had a bit of whiplash. I found the story very messy, visceral and fairly unrelatable. Yet it took me on a bit of a wild ride and I’m curious to see what the writer does next.
The Things We Never Say. My second novel by Elizabeth Strout did not disappoint. Strout is a very talented, very lauded writer, and each new book of hers feels like an impeccably chosen, beautifully wrapped gift. Her prose is pristine in how she can convey so much, in so few words. Nothing is unnecessary. Everything is intentional. In a book like this, each sentence is crafted with care. Artie Dam is such a lovely teacher. The parts of him in class and at school with his students were my favorites. And the way his relationship with his son evolves is extraordinarily beautiful. This book is full of small, unspoken kindnesses that are nevertheless hugely impactful. How Strout deals with loneliness, and the kind of loneliness that exists between people who live together or are of close relations, is superb. I thought the way she momentarily skipped ahead with a character to give us a glimpse of their future was handled incredibly well, and it felt innovative. Strout is so subtle and almost quiet about how powerfully she tells a story. Bravo.
That’s all for now! That was I lot, but I hope you enjoyed all the random things I wanted to share. I shall endeavor to compose my next post sooner. If you’re in Europe, I wish you cool breezes and bracing dips in whatever body of water is nearest. If not, please send us some of that San Francisco fog, already. I’ll be in SF in August for a very short visit, so give me a shout if you will be too. I have the same number as always.
Thank you so very much for being here, especially the new people who I have never met, and thank you, as always, for reading.
Oh, I loved this so much Kassie. Your descriptions of visiting Copenhagen and your cousin's wedding in Jerez were so, so lovely. Also, you've inspired me to start crafting and scrapbooking! And, as always, your photos were gorgeous. xo