Late yesterday (Friday) afternoon, I taught the almost 17-year-old Young Master a valuable life skill. He learned to to make hamburger patties, prepare and fire up the Weber grill, and cook the meat to medium-well done perfection. He has al…
Snapped these two shots earlier this morning just before hopping in the car to retrieve my larger lawnmower from the repair shop. The shirt has been in the rotation since May 1999 when I packed up my apartment in Madison after five incredib…
I have assembled the last two pieces of flat-pack furniture. EVER. Two all-weather Adirondack chairs from LL Bean, part of my 20th anniversary gift to the Grand Duchess. The od wooden ones have become rickety, and their replacements arrived…
Deep in the throes of summer here in the Grand Duchy. The faded Nantucket Red shorts have been in the rotation since at least 2011 if not 2010. The shirt about three years by contrast. You'll pardon the pale, skipole legs I trust. The shirt…
Recently, I treated myself to a bottle of Royall Mandarin aftershave, something I've meant to do for a few years. And I was not disappointed. The aroma is light and, while there is a very slight note of citrus, it's more something I can't q…
Since the Young Master and Grand Duchess were away over the recent July 4th holiday, visiting family in Germany, we celebrated with the obligatory cookout yesterday (Sunday) evening. Long a difficult eater, the Young Master has recently dec…
Much like climbing into a bed made up with freshly laundered and folded sheets -- The beds my maternal grandmother (a southern transplant) had waiting for us when we visited as children were unequaled. -- there is nothing quite like slippin…
Various old friends reappear for this calm first day of Summer 2026 (on this side of the equator). You can just about make out the ear of Lord Onyx, out old neutered tomcat, who loves to sit for hours purring on the back of my desk chair wi…
Not my vintage seersucker suit, unfortunately, but a recently acquired pair of shorts. Complete with rumpled, slightly furry and dandruffy short-sleeved polo shirt thanks to an hour long visit from our aging neutered tomcat Onyx, who, I am
Since finishing that BIG project at the very end of May -- a few days ahead of the June 1st deadline, thank you very much -- I've been full on into late spring-early summer mode, catching up with flower bed maintenance, planting of annuals,…
After the Young Master climbed aboard the school bus early this Friday morning, I poured a second mug of coffee, headed upstairs, and hit the shower, followed by a shave. I next dressed for a day spent with the Grand Duchess in nearby Ann A…
Saturday. A 10:30 breakfast with the Young Master. Canteloup, a large mug of fresh coffee, and two slices of toasted raisin bread. Clear table. Brush teeth. Shower. Dress for the day. Finish with a small splash of Royall Rugby. All ready to…