John Kenn is a very busy person who, in his spare time, draws monsters on Post-It notes. I quote Cephalopod Tea Party: It's as if Maurice Sendak and Edward Gorey had a baby, and all that baby did was read HPL.
And keep this in mind: Mr. Kenn writes and directs children's television shows.
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Still reeling from the brilliancy that is John Kenn, but I can relay to you the following:
I STILL LOVE THE BEEKMAN BOYS, POSSIBLY MORE THAN EVER.
B read Josh Kilmer-Purcell's book of their Beekman journey, The Bucolic Plague: How Two Manhattanites Became Gentleman Farmers, last month, and I have just finished reading it.
Let me repeat that: B read a book. In our twelve years together, he has started a handful, but never got far. He read this one in a weekend. He laughed out loud whilst reading, prompting me to make him read those parts to me. And then when I read it, I laughed at other parts, and read those to him. This book is an utter joy. A shamelessly fun read that never takes itself too seriously, it's a clever and insightful character study of city folks, country folks, and those who defy labeling. Accompanied by mounds of goat manure and heirloom vegetables.
It would be difficult to find a more loveable cast of characters, and what struck me is that they are loveable as seen through Josh's eyes. I had to wonder if I, in the same situation, would have made as many friends and have adored them as much. Josh's ability to laugh at himself and see the good in others is inspiring.
And yet, nothing in this book comes off as cloying or overdone. It's a sweet reminder that your Best Life is out there. And that you can be all the Martha you can be. As long as you wear your Wal-Mart barn-mucking boots and don't expect the lattice crust on your apple pie not to burn. Because it will.
Josh and Brent (and Farmer John and Polka Spot and Bubby the Cat and all 124 goats!) are currently filming season two. Thank you, Planet Green, for bringing them into our homes, especially mine. I knew from the first promos I saw months and months ago that I would love this show, and I haven't been disappointed. Since the very first episode, I have fallen in love with the Beekman Boys, and I am so glad to "know" them.
But wait, there's more! B gave me two of my birthday gifts early. (it was either that, or I continued to harass him non-stop)
A Year On The Farm -- 12 months of Beekman goatmilk soap
BLAAK -- Beekman's own cheese, an ash ride softer cheese that is 60/40 goat/cow milk.
We will be sampling the BLAAK later on this week. It's a testament to my love for the Boys that I asked for their cheese. I am not a cheese lover. But B most certainly is. Besides, we must do all we can do, friends, to get Josh out of the city and up at the Beekman full-time with Josh!
For the soaps, I am currently using -- of course! -- September. You can look up all the descriptions at their website, but I will tell you that this one has quickly become addicting. There is something herbal/medicinal about it that reminds me of my childhood, and I can't get enough. I've actually showered twice a day for the last few days, just so I can smell it all over me. And instead of using the hand soap dispenser in the bathroom, I reach in the shower for the soap. I want to bathe in this scent. In addition, we've both remarked on how creamy it is, and how clean you feel afterwards but not dry at all, which is usually the case with soaps and our skin, no matter what they say on the packaging.
You can find both the soap and the cheese and a wealth of Beekman goodness at Beekman 1802. I highly suggest reading their blogs.
SEPTEMBER - The garden in fall: tomato leaves, rosemary, and other woody scents. ..... I often walk past our tomato plants and rub my fingers together on the leaves, just for the smell. Love it! The soaps sound wonderful!
ReplyDeleteMust go look up John Kenn...