Welcome to my blog. First things first. Why "A Bloomsbury Life"?
1. Because I have an enduring love affair with the Bloomsbury Group, those chic artistic souls who resided at Charleston House in the south of England in the 1920's. Vanessa Bell (sister of Virginia Woolf), Clive Bell (Vanessa's husband), and Duncan Grant (Vanessa's lover). All broke away from the uptight, judgmental mores of Victorian London and strove fill their lives with art, beauty, wit and the emancipated hedonism of rural living.
2. Because in these uncertain and stress-inducing times, maybe it's time to refocus ourselves on the simpler things in life. Overspending is as out as the "in" bag. And while I've admittedly bought my share of designer purses and suffered pangs of jealousy over Rachel Zoe's archival wardrobe, I'm honestly trying to renumber my priorities. Old habits are hard to break, but slowly and surely, I am beginning to take as much delight in watching the climbing roses grow up and around my balcony as I used to take in being first in line at the warehouse sale at Barneys.
3. Because although I live in citified Hollywood, California, I firmly believe that countryside living is a state of mind. I may not have acres of green grass in my backyard, but my bare feet are just as happy treading on the early morning dew as they would be if I had boundless acreage. Life is made up of a series of delicious moments strung together. The more of those I can accumulate, the better.
4. Because the Bloomsbury Group were fearless explorers of life. Like them, my curiosity is fervent and deep. I want to learn to paint. I want to speak French unflinchingly. I want to learn to compost. I want to cook with confidence. I want to know the Latin names of my favorite plants and flowers. I want to return to India, Cambodia and Tibet. I want to take a welly walk on a rainy August day in Scotland. I want to read all of Cecil Beaton's diaries. I want to do more yoga. I want to be a better wife and mother. I want to make my house a beautiful home. I want to be more grateful. We have just the merest blip of time on this planet and I want to maximize the journey. Join me.
(Photo credits, top and bottom: Charleston Farmhouse in Sussex, England, taken by me in August 2007)