“There is little chance that meteorologists can solve the mysteries of weather until they gain an understanding of the mutual attraction of rain and weekends.”
– Arnot Sheppard

Life may be dull, but we must press on, darlings.  As hard as Fall makes me want to up sticks and hitchhike to London now, it is still my favorite season and I’m throwing myself into it.  The other day I came home and immediately was seized with the baking frenzy – apple turnovers in cheddar cheese crusts and a spiced apple cake were the result and I’m still smug about them.  Today was also the first morning that required a light coat (specifically my stylish new trench that I bought on sale and in preparation for the London move, a trench being an absolute necessity for British life), which made me a bit giddy to be honest.  Fall has the best fashion, the best food, what else is there?

I’m also getting revved up for the holiday season, which when properly and liturgically observed lasts well into the new year!  Any excuse for good food and good company.  Marie and her husband Janus survived the adopted family trial period of last Christmas and are going to spend Thanksgiving with us in Virginia this year!  Anyone else who shows up will be very welcome, we’ll have pie.

Here are your links, well-beloved minions.  You’ve earned them.

I spend an average of an hour and a half working out, and my salary hasn’t changed one iota.  I call foul.

I cannot begin to express how upset this makes me.  My family is involved in scouting, both my brothers and my husband are Eagle Scouts, my father and grandfather participated in the program, I was a Venture Scout (the co-ed version of Boy Scouts – you should have seen the boys’ faces when our car rolled up with girls in it at camp.  An equally mix of offended, elated, and panicked), my brothers have jamboree-d on Lord Baden-Powell’s estate.  We like scouts.  But this is unacceptable.  BSA has been making a lot of decisions lately that have deeply disappointed me and caused me to rethink my support, which is saddening.

Since various misinformed, misogynistic nincompoops politicians have been throwing out “facts” lately, here’s a good introductory guide as to what birth control is, what it does, and what it doesn’t do.  The more you know, kittens.  Page four is political so be aware.

Social media tells me that another reason to look forward to fall are pumpkin lattes, which are apparently The Best Thing Ever.  I’m a tea over coffee girl, myself, so this rather stumps me.  Latte minded minions weigh in.

I have been to Italy multiple times, but when I was in Venice I was a child.  But I remember it (particularly the pigeons and the rather bad time we had at the glassblowing island, but after that it was lovely).  And this photo makes me want to go back and go to dinner.

The appeal…is utterly lost on me.

You may have watched the debate this week.  Good.  It’s important to take political involvement seriously.

People being decent.

I plan on being the reincarnation of this character when I’m old.  And I plan on enjoying it tremendously.

It’s October and the witching hour is upon us, so in that spirit (see what I did there?), here’s a tale of superstition to whet your appetites.

This excites me to an embarrassing degree, I cannot wait to see how the revamped season will go (and I especially Maeby with Catherine of Braganza hair).

The weekly sheep, a bit more grotesque than usual.

*photo from Glamour.com

“I do like escapism.  I like going to the movies on a Friday night and seeing something fun.”
– Charlie Kaufman

It’s another game weekend, which means an awful lot of scurrying about to prepare for it – and a lot of sympathy for the poor football player who came in earlier to report that someone hit his car in the parking lot.  Shake it off, dude, we need you!

I have a Girl’s Day with the ladies of my godfamily planned for tomorrow, laundry to fold, and I fully intend on blackmailing J. to taking me to seep “Looper,” since he unwittingly revealed a major spoiler and must atone for such a mistake.  What soirees/minor acts of revenge are you participating in this weekend, ducklings?

You may remember a while back that an incredibly impressive computer was developed.  When this paragon was set up with the ability to search the web, it immediately started “viewing” cat videos.  In that spirit, some enterprising soul condensed the internets down for you to one video for you.  You’re welcome.

Kate Spade New York has some really nice city guides for the travel minded.  Of course I checked out the London one to compare notes, but now I’m craving a jaunt to Copenhagen.

The Queen talks back!

Elmo: red, cuddly, fashionista.  Who knew.

This woman is impressive.  And the internet is finally good for undoing some unfortunate behavior.

The hell?!

Tomorrow, tens of thousands of museums across the country will be offering free admission!  Minions are encouraged to take advantage.

You may remember that J. and I picked up some E. H. Shepard prints for Winnie the Pooh while in London, but he also did the original artwork for The Wind in the Willows, another of my childhood favorites.  Here’s a glimpse into some of his drawings.  Toad holding court with the cigar is my favorite.

Here, another animal video.  This one brought J. much joy.

Good grief, it’s Mother Nature’s Little Darlings day, here’s one of the funniest photos I’ve seen in a while.  It’s all fun and games until one of these things stabs Steve Irwin in the heart, kids.

My planned jack-o’lantern for Halloween this year suddenly seems a lot less impressive.

And the weekly sheep.  Endlessly.

“I understand what it’s like to work all week and on Friday night just want to go and leave your brain at the door, buy some popcorn and be thrilled by something.”
– Don Cheadle

Here we are again, minions, and aren’t we glad?  This week has gone by very quickly, which is nice, but generally that implies the weekend will fly by equally fast, which is not nice at all.  Last weekend was almost a total waste: Jeff and I slept in both Saturday and Sunday and went to bed early, so before we knew it Monday had swung back around.  Fingers crossed for more relaxation this time around.  We’re going to catch up on some Dr. Who.  Big, big plans, I know.  Here are you links, enjoy!

Fascinating story on academic cheating.

Slowpokes.

Are you in need of some noir, kittens?  You look like you’re in need of some noir.  Mind you turn on the music first.

J. and I have semi-annual dentist appointments on Monday.  We (the human race) have come a long way.

Wedding season is winding down, but I still found this hysterical.

And this.  This made me giggle as well.

It was inevitable, of course it was.

Christmas is coming, and the goose is getting ordered.

Gah.  Right up there with indoor plumbing, here’s another reason to be glad we live when we do, she-minions.

The weekly sheep, kicking butt and taking names.

“Cheers to the freakin’ weekend, I’ll drink to that…”
– Rhianna

Thank goodness for the end of the  week, muffins.  I’m tired and I want to watch Götterdämmerung tonight in my pajamas and a big football game tomorrow (we’re pancultural like that).  Also, I really should clean the house at some point because it’s getting unfit for human society.  Most importantly, I intend to nap with great enthusiasm.  Let me know what your plans for the weekend are, darlings, and here are you links!

I, for one, am grateful the corsets didn’t make it.

I’ve always wanted to go to Iceland (flying through the airport simply doesn’t count), and this photo log is not making my craving any easier.

As we move forward into this political season, I expect to see a lot more of this going on.  Brace yourselves.

Therefore, in the interest of increased meaningful cultural dialog, here’s an excellent explanatory piece as to just why the film mocking the Prophet Muhammed is as offensive as it is.  I enjoy learning about religions and have tried to learn about Islam, but this explained a few things in a really good way.  The more you know, kittens.

Current beauty craving.  Because there are some days where washing your hair is just going to have to wait until you get back from kickboxing class.

Other beauty craving.  The 90’s style dark lips (thankfully sans darker lip liner!) may not be my thing, but this is totally wearable.

Dr. Who is back (that shrieking you heard was me losing it)!  To that end, here’s a funny t-shirt for the lovers out there.

History Nerds!  This is amazing!

Most of us type it at least once a day, now here’s why.

The weekly sheep.

Fridays are not ‘pants optional’.
– Nancy Cartwright

Better late than never, darlings!  Here are your links, quick and dirty.

Tom and Lorenzo get some well deserved kudos.

Here are the top fifty “Pictures of the Day” for 2012 as chosen by Twisted Sifter.

I wonder if this actually works.  Because this was a week of lethal irritability, kittens.  I could have gleefully stuffed a fist down more than one throat.  Luckily I’m sensible, mature, and much better behaved.  Drat.

J. found more Muppets goodness and insisted, insisted I share them with you.  The whole Small Dog clan loved you, minions!

Downton Abbey is inching closer.  Here’s the full promo, recently released to whet the appetites of ravenous devotees.

Teeth.  I can’t stress how important they are.

Good dog!

The weekly sheep is number nine.  Beware.

“I am somewhat exhausted; I wonder how a battery feels when it pours electricity into a non-conductor?”
― Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure Of The Dying Detective

Any week includes the following in a conversation with your best friend, “Wait, you’re having a torrid, clandestine co-worker affair with a nice Jewish boy?” must have been a good one.  And it has been, busy but good.  This is the same friend who once had a man ask her to be his mistress, for the record.  Apart from being an extraordinary friend and wonderful all around person, she is an excellent dinner guest – her stories are amazing.  Anyway, I’m fiercely glad it’s a long weekend, because good as it’s been, I’m ready for a break.  What are you doing next Monday?  Sound off in the comments.

Check this out, and then respond with your best skewers!  I expect some great zingers in the comments, minions.

What’s that, she-minions?  You’re having a bit of a blah day, and you need something scrumptious to look at.  We live to serve: behold!

Of course.

We had the musical Camelot on VHS when I was a kid (remember VHS?  Did I just out my age?), and though I recall being extremely irritated with several of the characters for their life choices, I loved the look of Vanessa Redgrave’s Guinevere.  I remember being extremely taken by her first knuckle ring and thinking how unusual and elegant I found it.  Alas that my fingers never grew into long aristocratic tapers, so I could never pull them off, but more lengthy she-minions are encouraged to try.

This mouthwatering recipe is brought to you courtesy of the ever lovely Janssen.

New TV seasons are starting up soon and frankly I could leave most of them.  But my guilty pleasure of Downton Abbey will be back before we know it.  Here’s a cheeky cheat sheet just in case you’ve gotten confused as to what’s going on.

Message in a bottle! (Sung to the tune of the Sting and the Police song of the same name)

Impossibly pretty people with impossible access to impossibly high end products lead us lesser life forms in search for the perfect red lipstick.  I only post this because I love red lipstick.  What?  It’s my blog, I’ll link what I want!

This is a horrible product  that would give me heart attacks galore.

The President responds to Clint Eastwood’s (bizarre, odd, discordant, rambling…) bit with the chair at the Republican National Convention.   Politics aside, Twitter burn!

Transporting livestock – get creative.

And speaking of, the weekly sheep.  You know, just being adorable.

“If you must have motivation, think of your paycheck on Friday.”
– Noel Coward

I’m so close to dead, kittens, it’s not even funny.  The week before the new term starts is always dreadful, and this year has been no different.

Here’s your links.  We’ll talk later.

Tumblr of the week.

Confession, I have a seldom indulged love of rosewater.  I had a sweet milk drink at an Indian restaurant that had rosewater as a main ingredient the other day, and it was odd by delicious.  My favorite quirky perfume is Tokyo Milk’s Gin and Rosewater.  I used to have a rosewater face tonic that did magical things to complexion but was far too expensive to keep up.  I’m not nearly crafty enough to try this, but minions who are should report back after making this.

The only thing worse than badly intentioned clever people are well intentioned idiots.  See politics.  And also this dear little old lady…

I’ve been on a stationary kick lately, something about them seems unbelievably adult and finished.  A couple of friends of mine have personalized stationary and whenever I receive anything from them in the mail I’m impressed.  There is a look that comes with well chosen stationary that proclaims to the world, “Here is a person who has his/her act together.  Do not mess.”  Here are a few of the paper goods that have recently caught my eye.

I want this cat, purely for decorative purposes.

Trends might no longer be as all important as they once were in fashion.  Which is good news for me, because as much as I enjoy fashion, I’ve accepted that I will never wear a peplum, and the dark 90’s style lip is great but not for me, but I do love the equestrian style that’s cropping up.  Oh, but I’m poor.  Classics it is!

Sheep of the week.