Cozyland

Singing in the Rain (with a little help from Chanel!)

Leslie Patson — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:49:53 +0000

That’s right – not all Wellies have to come from REI or the hardware store! This very fashionable Seattlelite stumbled (gracefully) amongst a pair of true Chanel Wellies in of all places TJMaxx (paying under $50!). If anything is going to keep you warm and dry during a storm this would be it! We’re talking weather glam-o-rama! I gotta say if anything would make me sing in the rain, that would certainly be it!!!!

Just Because…..

Leslie Patson — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:09:23 +0000

Just because it’s funny and it made me laugh! But I do hope Bully doesn’t see this – it might give him ideas and poor little Chloe wouldn’t stand a chance! (thanks Jefford Jefford for sending!)

So Not Cozy…Tom and Gisele

Leslie Patson — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 02:12:45 +0000

I’m not really sure why I’m taking the time to post about this – I just think this new “house” of Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen is so gross and ridiculous that I just had to. Apparently lots of extended family. And by lots I guess they means hundreds – a small village perhaps? Cost: $20 million. Location: Brentwood, California. Details: 8 bedrooms, 6 car garage, spa, wine cellar, weight room and totals 22,000 sq. feet. Is it me or does it look more like a business compound than a home? Why do people think they need so much space? I’m just saying….

Book Clubs are Cozy: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Leslie Patson — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:21:23 +0000

Last night the Bad Boy and Girls book club finally got it together and met to discuss Never Let Meg Go by Kashuo Ishiguru. With Miriam working and not able to attend and myself sky ping in we had 5 participating and by the raucous discussion you’d think it was 20! As is routine with the club, whoever chooses the book hosts the club and in this case it was Sara. We did not have a very good % of those members who actually read the book (you know who you are – but after all, we are the Bad Boy and Girls club…) but the topic of human cloning (which this book covers in a “charmingling English boarding school kind of style) gave everyone something to say. The story centers on 3 clones – Kathy, Ruth and Tommy and how they grow up in what we learn to be the somewhat “exclusive” center Hailsham. When will they become “donors”? Who will be a “carer”, why does Madame take their art away to the “gallery” and when will they “complete”? We all agreed that the book was at first difficult to grasp what was going on – many new “terms” and concepts not fully explained but as it went on we really go sucked in and ended up enjoying it very much (except Elizabeth who didn’t want to donate anything!!!!) The evening started with lovely h’or doevres (what no Liver pate?…) Sticking to the English theme of the book Sara served amazing Beef Bourguignon pies what, no steak and kidney pies?), shredded brussel sprouts and a gorgeous salad. Desert was an amazing medley of mince pies, Dr. Bobs vanilla ice cream and fabulous chocolate bars recently brought over from England by Sara and David’s friends! Never Let Me Go has already been made into a movie (as well has author Kazuo Ishiguro’s previous book Remains of the Day) so we decided to take a different spin on our casting this time making the stipulation by trying to cast members served time in jail. What can I say, we are a “creative” and semi dark group of people!
Director (we didn’t discuss this so I will take the liberty to assign ROMAN POLANSKI).
CAST:
Ruth – Lindsay Lohan (jail)
Kathy – Elle Fanning (jail option Paris Hilton)
Tommy – Michael Cera (jail option Chase Crawford (marijuana possession)
Madame – Tilda Swinton/Cher (jail option Marilyn Manson)
Miss Emily – Maggie Smith (jail option Heather Locklear)
Hannah – Miley Cyrus (probably will go to jail at some point)
Rodney – Mickey Rourke (jail)
Chrissie – Nicole Ritchie (jail)
Lenny – Vince Neil (jail)
Cottage Groundskeeper – Phil Spector (jail)
EXTRA “DONERS” – all jailed
Robert Downey Jr.
Hugh Grant
Nick Nolte

EXTRA “CARERS” – all jailed
Martha Stewart
Snookie
James Brown
Dennis Rodman
Mel Gibson

And there you have it! another riveting adventure of the Bad Boy and Girls Book Club! Sara, a fabulous and beautiful dinner and thanks to Craig for supplying the photos and to everyone for rigging up the Skype for me to join in!
I’ll be emailing every one with this years “OFFICIAL BOOK CLUB SCHEDULE” so be on the look out! Meanwhile, the next book is Craig’s book meeting on SUNDAY MARCH 4th: The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy.
Until then, we remain the Bad Boy and Girls Book Club!

Northwest Cozy = Snowmaggedon!

Leslie Patson — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:22:52 +0000

Yup, this is how our Head Digitech got to work today. Of course he lives blocks away but still, crazy huh? This tells you a little how it is in Seattle right now! Here is a shot of the many many people sledding in the streets. Queen Anne hill (you know, how you get to my house!!!) is closed and becomes a sledding phenomena! Stephanie and Gavin were brave enough to give the hill a go and here is a list of the impromptu sleds they witnessed:
1) on garbage bags and cardboard boxes
2) on children’s’ toys like wooden horses
3) 4 adults in a children’s’ blow up kiddy pool
4) on a camping double blow up bed (3 adults)
5) on snowboards and skis- one guy piggy backing another adult down the hill on skis- ended badly (as you can imagine)
Lots of pics on the web! The crowds go wild- who needs the mountains? Tomorrow snow is supposed to turn to rain and hopefully life will turn back to normal – although it certainly has been nice (and cozy!).

Winter Wonderland!

Leslie Patson — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:38:46 +0000

You can’t say they didn’t warn us! I kept hearing something about the biggest snowfall in 30 years? Weather like this is exciting but it sure throws a wrench in the work situation. Since I work in a big photo studio with models, stylists and photographers flying in and out of town all the time calling a snow day gets pretty complicated. I don’t get to just sit back and make a cup of cocoa (or make snow angels!). However there have to be cozy moments like this view out my kitchen window – don’t ask me why I like to light candles in the morning in my kitchen – I just do. Below a view from our dining room window. Marc went out to take some photos and came back covered in snow! Needless to say Chloe and Bully are same old same old – just cozy and snoozing away purrrr…. but for us, it’s pure brrrrr……

Happy Friday!

Leslie Patson — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:12:48 +0000

Looks like some of us are more ready for the weekend than others – hey Chloe, some of us still have to get through the day! And I thought cats only liked to lay in sinks and bathtubs when it was hot outside – hardly the case now. Oh to presume what a cat is thinking….
Hope everyone has a great weekend!

New Year, New Adventure: Seattle’s Tin Table

Leslie Patson — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:11:38 +0000

This past Saturday night, through a series of what I suppose you could call mishaps Marc, Gavin and I ended up having dinner at a really cool restaurant called Tin Table. Located in the super busy especially on the weekend neighborhood of Capitol Hill we ended up there more by default and boy was I glad! First stop was Oddfellows with it’s industrial French-ish charm – and not surprisingly, totally packed. A couple blocks away, a bar called Quinns – also jammed to capacity. Across the street the 1.5 hour wait at Poquitos (same owners as Bastille in Ballard). We had scored the primo parking space (and it only took 10ish minutes of driving around) now we just needed the “restaurant Gods” to smile upon us. That’s when Gavin asked if we’d ever been to Tin Table. Never heard of it we said as we found ourselves headed back in the direction of Oddfellows which I now know is in the Oddfellows Building – which also houses the cool sustainable gift shop Nube Green and up a large creaky wooden staircase who woulda guessed – The Century Ballroom and finally the Tin Table. So romantic, like a trip back in time, very elegant! The wall of glasses (top photo) leads you into the bar with small lounge areas (and several “tin tables”). We had badly needed and delicious cocktails – Marc and Gavin, gin lovers that they are ordered the humorously named Corpse Reviver #2 consisting of Millers Gin, cointreau, cocchi americano & lemon juice served with an absinthe rinse & brandied cherry – hello momma! Champagne seems to be a speciality of the restaurant so a dash of it in my drink – the Bijou – an addicting mixture of Grapefruit juice, ruby red vodka, lemon juice Simple Syrup topped with champagne and served with a Sugar rim & lemon twist – wow! This makes me want to be a Mixologist in my next life, so creative! Dinner was excellent and considering how crowded they were I was surprised at our service – cool waiter and everything came pretty quickly. Each of us in the mood for something totally different. Gavin had Gnocchi, Marc the “floozy burger” with the thinnest most delicious french fries ever and for me the rockfish with Saffron Farrotto and Peppadew Marmalade (which was unusual and amazing!). My dish was $17 and I was the “high roller” amongst us (it was really really delicious). I would be happy to try anything on that menu and certainly to go back to the bar. Tango or Salsa dance lessons across the hall at the ballroom? I think we’ll be happy to sit that one out (conveniently across the hall at Tin Table!).

Christmas Catch up!

Leslie Patson — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:54:05 +0000

By the time I finish this post it will be time to say Happy New Year but before that a mini wrap up of Christmas once again in Asheville, North Carolina. I’m happy to say that we actually survived flying on Christmas Eve with dare I say no hassle at all? Hard to believe, but somehow it is true. (and we even flew on SouthWest!). There were no snowstorms anywhere to screw things up (coming or going) and I didn’t even see people tying to overstuff their carry ons with tons of travel mangled pre wrapped gifts. Even the babies (and there were several) didn’t cry! The first quick stop of our flight was in Denver, cheers to whoever organized the roving airport Christmas parade – the kids as well as the grown ups loved it! We landed in Greenville/Spartanburg South Carolina by John, Vinnie and LuAnn who had the forethought to pack a Christmas Eve picnic of sorts (since they only served peanuts on our flights) so they could whisk us off to Christmas Eve cocktails at Asheville’s Grand Bohemian hotel. Lots delicious cocktail concoctions, Bohemian decor including antlers of many descriptions and even a roaring fire complete with roasted chestnuts for the peeling and nibbling (much better than airline peanuts!) Speaking of cozy (and we always are) John and Vinnie (and their critters) are the ultimate hosts! Every morning in their spacious kitchen coffee and tea (in my own little tea pot) awaiting us, lovely guest rooms, our own guest bathrobes (wow) and a kitchen and bar stocked with all kinds of goodies! And pictured above and always looking for a lap to nap on, their trio of dotson’s – Gigi, Stretch and William – always in the mood for a cuddle (yes, there’s 3 of them in there!). Four cats also add to the fun but as Marc was wishing they was a tad less cozy when he tried A) to eat (watch out, there’s milk in that cereal!) and B) de-fur his coat (good luck with that!). Christmas dinner was a group effort – baked crab imperial and perfect filet mignon, asparagus and potatoes. Lu glows as much as the table centerpiece (only she is not off balance! – right Lu?!!!) An unusual, adventurous and beautiful ending to our Christmas evening – we bundled up for a quick car ride to Beaver Lake to light our Wish Lanterns. What a perfectly clear and chilly night to launch our glowing lanterns! When the flame goes out the eco friendly bamboo and rice paper lantern falls to the ground. Make a wish!

Happy and Cozy New Year!

Leslie Patson — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:53:51 +0000

Cozyland wishes everyone a Very Happy New Year! As seen from the Seattle Space Needle (but not in person, are you kidding me, too cold!). A big year in front of us with lots of room for improvement in the world! Let’s hope some of those positive vibrations we’re all to putting out there really result in something! Happy 2012 everyone!