jim henson

This exquisite piano is a detail of Monet's Tranquility by K. Madison Moore (see painting below). Part of the Art within Art series, you see Monet's Japanese Footbridge painting behind the piano, which, as Moore says, is "painted just for Monet".

The normally staid couches are colored bright purple and green, with a celebratory bottle of wine awaiting on  the table.  The walls are decorated with paintings of flowers (and perhaps a pond in the upper left corner of the painting.)

The piano itself is indescribably luscious and speaks of the joy that music, art and nature can bring.


The entire room is a colorful celebration of Monet and of art.

Write It When I'm Gone: Remarkable Off-the-Record Conversations with Gerald R. Ford by Thomas M. Defrank

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Write It When I'm Gone is a glimpse into the character of Gerald R. Ford by Thomas M. Defrank, who was first assigned to Ford when Defrank was a new twenty-something reporter and Ford was Nixon's Vice President. The relationship they maintained lasted until the end of Ford's long life. 

This story didn't contain any "smoking guns" or sensationalist revelations, especially compared to the instant news, conspiracy theorist mecca that is the internet these days. Instead, Defrank shows us, through his decades-long interaction with Jerry Ford the person that Ford's integrity was real.

Defrank says that Ford represents the end of an era in politics and while I'm sure that is true, I do think that Ford may have been exceptional even then, particularly given his immediate predecessor, Richard Nixon.

Gerald Ford has been a favorite of mine ever since he took office and I was happy and privileged to have found this book waiting for me (sadly) in the Dollar Store. 

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Michele of Simply Michele has generously offered to give everyone a saint for the year 2011.  If you'd like to participate, leave her a comment at her blog.