I’m Stuffy

OMG, Posse!  You jes’ don’t KNOW!

I’ve been fighting this allergy/jammed sinus thing for a few weeks  – almost had it gone…then it dropped 35 degrees in less than 24 hrs, it’s pouring with rain and I had to pop the heat on, which is never great for my sinuses.  I didn’t know one could have a completely runny, post-nasal ick AND have it be totally jammed.  Well, yes I did (because I have this on a pretty regular basis) – but I suspect that sinus crap is like childbirth; once you get over it your body forgets it so you won’t cut your nose off rather than go through it again.

So…no perfume review this week, though as soon as I can I will be yarking on about a couple of fabulous new things:  Liz Zorn’s Carpathian Oud (hint:  IN-FREAKIN’- CREDIBLE!!!)  and a gorgeous new line of Amouage candles, with a very lovely backstory.  But not today, since I can smell……..Vicks.  And that’s it.  And who cares, right?  Hey!  I think I’ll make some peppermint tea and regale you with What’s Going On in MusetteWorld.

Just got back from St. Louis, where I attended my dear friend’s 70th Birthday party – check out the house where the party was held  – in my next life I’m coming back as Frank (the owner of this property, a former movie theatre.  This is the courtyard – living quarters are to the right of the Japanese pool house, gallery and guest quarters are to the left.  Completely private.  Totally gorgeous.  I wanna! My friend K and I have been friends for 40 years.  Stunning.  She’s just an amazing woman and I’m honored to call her friend.  She’s also an inveterate -and phenomenal- shopper, finding the most amazing bargains.  And her eye!  Yikes!  If I had any sense I would just pay her to shop for me.  Instead, I get the privilege of shopping her closet every now and again (she freely admits that it’s the hunt that jazzes her – she wears her stuff, which is great – but nobody can wear that many clothes, not matter how fabulous they are, so she is always offloading Fabulous on me so she doesn’t feel so guilty buying more!).  Among her gifts this time:  this incredible Skif sweater.    These were the sweaters worn in The Matrix films.  Mine doesn’t have any rips or holes – but it does have 4 pockets and bobbins for buttons and I don’t think I’ve been more in love with a sweater in a Very Long Time.

Yahyahyah, Musette – why are all the yakk about a sweater?  Well…because ….I have decided to KNIT ONE MYSELF!  Yeah, bay-bee!  KNIT!  Oh, get up off the floor, people.  I can knit a little bit.  Patty got me hooked on knitting late last year and it stood me in good stead as I watched over my father’s final days on this plane.  But.  I am not a’ knitter’.  I haven’t knitted anything more than a scarf (and that looks like a drug-addled Pomeranian knitted it).  However:  Go Big or Go Home, right?  And this isn’t a very complicated knit pattern, I don’t think.  I bought it off the Skif website.  Then my bffffe Missy Denise started talking about ‘mercerized cotton and knitting and purling and my eyes rolled back in my head..so we’ll see if I can get through this without mayhem. I’m not a ‘knit a washcloth’ kinda girl.  I’ll either get this sweater knitted or I’ll….. What is ‘mercerized cotton’ anyway?

Tea is Not Working.  But it’s hot.  So there’s that.  I think I’ll try a little bit of TheraFlu.  I’ll let you know if my liver leaps out of my body.

That (for Realz) 35degree drop has me really reaching for Body Cremes.  I really am liking the Diptyque Creme Riche for those days when I want a really emollient cream with a subtle scent.  HATE the freakin’ jar!  HATE IT!  a)  It’s glass.  Okay – uh, Dipfolks?  Newsflash:  Most people put on body cream in the bathroom.  Really.  They do.  Glass sucks in the bathroom.  Second (oops.  I meant b) b) the actual shape of the damn jar is almost guaranteed to have it slip out of your hand.  So I hate it.  Love what’s inside, though.  Love it.

Question for y’all?  What is it about Autumn that has me rushing around, battening down the hatches, putting things away and locking everything up (or down).  Come 6p the doors are closed and locked and the blinds are closed and the curtains drawn.  If I forget and walk into the bedroom to open blinds it’s as if someone just threw me outside, naked, in the snow.   El O always jokes about me locking out the Cold Monster but maybe there’s something to that.  My last act last night, as the gloaming approached and temps noticeably dropped, was to haul that blasted, busted hose off the grass and into the garage.   I can throw it out later – it just couldn’t stay on the lawn.  Cold Monster might get it!   Are any of you nutty like that?  Fess up!  I could use the company here in Crazyland.   I know I’ve written about this before but it really does befuddle me. I mean, it’s not like I can crawl into bed and stay until May.  I still have to go out!  So what if a hose is on the lawn?  But woe betide and all that.

Apple butter!  Making a whole lotta apple butter right now.  My neighbor has an abundance of Gala, Rome and some sweet yellow apple in her orchard – I have just processed the third (and last) bag.  First batch of apple butter was in the dutch oven, then I wised up with the slow cooker.  It’s been cooking for the past 18 hrs.  Folks tell me my house smells divine.

I have had to use El O as taster, as I finish up the canning for the season.  He’s not too keen on it, as I use a lot of peppers in salsas (the ones usually not meant for him) – I made a peach salsa with Scorpion peppers and let me tell you, it’s a really bizarre process, cooking via another person’s palate.  I wonder if perfumers ever have to do that; if Olivia G had a head cold (but also a deadline)…how does that work?   Even with a stated recipe, is there something Essentially Olivia that gets lost in translation, if she can’t smell the process and/or final product?  I needed just the right balance of hot/sweet – who knows if I achieved it.  In fact, it’s no longer my creation, is it?  It’s his.  The absence of that last Scorpion effectively changed my intention – or did it?  Because Scorps are so scorching-hot I introduce them in  minute increments…perhaps I would’ve stopped at the point he said “OMG!  this is so freakin’ HOT!!!” (which might’ve been the precise heat level I was intending – this particular salsa is for those who like a bit of heat and sweet) but maybe not …we will not know until my cold abates and I can taste it – but even if it was persackly what I was looking for, is it still mine?  In truth, I couldn’t care less, but in theory, it’s an interesting question.  What are your thoughts?

Okay – TheraFlu is kicking in.  I still can’t breathe but I’m loopy as hell.  Over and out!  .

xoxoxoxoxoyour Stuffy Friend, Musette