'This Happy Isle'

In my loo sits a perfectly tattered book my Grandfather Jack gifted my Grandmother, Gertrude "Trudy" written about a place close to their hearts, Sea Island Georgia. The book's title is a nod to poet Alfred Lord Tennyson's "Ulyssess" published in 1833 (excerpt below) and is perhaps a perfect tribute to an island that so many adore. Sea Island was a special place for my Grandparents and for my family when they were alive as described in this archived post.

"...The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks:

The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep

Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends,

'T is not too late to seek a newer world.

Push off, and sitting well in order smite

The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds

To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths

Of all the western stars, until I die.

It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:

It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,

And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.

Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho'

We are not now that strength which in old days

Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;

One equal temper of heroic hearts,

Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

- Tennyson's "Ulysses"

'Making A Museum Out of a Mountain'

Cool piece in the NY Times that I recently discovered which dates back to November of 2015. The magnificent mountaineer Reinhold Messner, who calls South Tyrol, Italy his home and became a world-wide sensation when he climbed Mount Everest without using bottled oxygen, has cleverly created six high-altitude museums known as the Messner Mountain Museum. Each museum is its own architectural gem and respectfully devoted to a certain theme Messner identifies with. The Corones Museum (pictured above) is devoted to alpine history and "the supreme discipline of mountaineering" for example. Messner is truly one of a kind and highly decorated with a whole slew of accolades and accomplishments in the outdoors. (To physically show for it, he only has three remaining toes from frostbite). The piece is absolutely a worthwhile read.

Vert

I love touches of green and also have a mild obsession with ferns - they remind me of Cedarside, my Grandparents' old camp in the Adirondacks. As such, I've loved this capture by Elle Decor that has seemed to float around for some time. I just wish I knew who is responsible for the space.

Bill Ingram

Bill Ingram, (dapper southern gent-meets-architect extraordinaire) is one to follow. His "Lake Martin House 1" project remains one of my favorites. To view his portfolio, visit here.