From Beach House to Our House
Jul 7th, 2009 by Marilyn
Last week I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon with the delightful Jane, aka Modernemama, from the blog Beach House. Jane hung out with me in Lawrence for hours, but as neither of us love being in front of the camera, there’s just a few self-shot pics of us together. She did manage to sneak a few into her own trip report, found here.
I’ve been following Jane’s blog for some time now. Back in the pre-Simmer days, when I was writing about building our house, I discovered that other people also wrote about lighting, and stove shopping, and doorknobs. Jane’s blog was filled with design inspiration, great pictures of her garden and the Long Island shore, and featured quick sketches of her family, her travels, her dogs. I dropped in, and stayed.
So, if you read someone’s blog for two years, you know them pretty well, right?
Well, yes. And no. Each time I’ve met a blogger in person, the effect has been the same: what you see (or in this case, read) is what you get – plus. That is, you get that voice you read, and more. You fill in certain gaps: the smile behind the words, seeing how the wheels turn, and putting a real sound to the voice.
And oh, was there sound. Talk and talk and talk. We sat in a restaurant downtown, dipping bread from a breadboard Jane recognized right away. So much fun to sit across from real-life Jane – laughing eyes, UK accent still strong – and build on my Tell Simmer knowledge by listening to her journeys, her family, and the things she loves.
The thing about lunching with a fellow blogger is this: you do a lot of talking. Not so much eating. It’s like making up for lost time, I’d tell Greg, later. He’d ask “what can you possibly talk about for five hours?” Fair question, but an easy answer. You’re confirming everything you know, and finding out what you don’t know. Back and forth, between bites. It’s simple – whoever’s fork is down…
…is the one listening.
After the world’s most vocal lunch, we walked a few blocks to my house. Oh, she got a tour, and met Greg and Josie, and made much fuss over Cleo – but mostly we stood around the kitchen, talking. I’d baked rugelach that morning, and they were still on a sheet pan. I pulled them off the parchment while we talked, which allowed us to nibble idly at the burnt, melted sugar left on paper. We sipped Limoncello in little glasses, the last of the stuff I’d made for Josie’s bat mitzvah. Jane brought me a present – gorgeous vintage German cookie molds.
Honestly, why would she think I’d like antique baking stuff? No idea.
We headed back downtown for coffee, and sat around chatting about Kansas, about New York, about prices and people and why we do we what do, about how we’re all different, and same. She met a favorite barista, and some of my friends, and some passers-by. We walked Massachusetts Street, and full of Lawrence booster zeal, I told her more about Lawrence history than she needed to know.
By the time The Guy picked her up and they drove away with rugelach, we’d filled in most of the gaps, lessened the spaces in between. Thank you, Jane, for the gift of a real voice. I know you’ve got Polly & Sadie, your own lovely black dogs, but just look: after you left, Cleo was despondent.
Come back soon!
Great post!! Now, we should all pick a date to go to Tahoe.
Lovely post.
(I am still jealous.) Tahoe sounds nice.
Sounds like a wonderful visit.
Marilyn,
Stop this blog stuff and just write a novel already! Actually, no, don’t stop, this is as close to good reading as I can get right now. And I’m going to Tahoe if Jean gets to go.
Jane had the perfect host to show her around our great town. You’re a great ambassador. In fact, that should be your next vocation.
I’m with Greg. I couldn’t possibly talk with anyone for 5 hours. In fact, my daughter told me this morning on our way to swimming lessons that I needed to work on my “conversation skills” because I don’t talk a lot in the morning or really any part of the day. I’ll work on this.
I still want to know more about these liqueurs. Is your still down by the Kaw?
Cool cookie molds.
So lovely—and what gorgeous baking molds! That is a stunning gift.
now,that was a great 5hrs…love the molds…and, ahem…the breadboard-;)!!
This has made me all wistful, like, “Damn! I want to hang out with Marilyn and other wonderful blogging women and drink limoncello and get the ins and outs of their whole lives in one glorious afternoon!” I haven’t ever met a blog friend, except for my sweet Margaret, and look where THAT got me. But seriously, you Kansans are the bomb–seems like half the bloggers I adore are out their in the Big K (do you even say that?) Maybe we’ll have to arrange a Sister Project road trip one of these days…
I miss Cleo too! I’m thinking we should take a food trip sometime, somewhere with waffels and fresh fruit sounds a good place to start. Thanks for your hospitality, it was so much fun.
Tahoe? I’m ready. Someone find a rental with a great view and a really good stove.
Paige: nothing would please me more than an afternoon of limoncello and life-storying with you. Just say when. And no, they do not say “Big K” – I believe that’s a soda out here – but feel free to do so. I can’t claim full Kansas friendliness because, technically, I’m a high-strung Chicagoan. But I’m working on it.
See?
Jane: waffles and fruit? Sounds like our Tahoe kitchen calling.
Forgot to mention…those molds are beautiful!
For some odd reason, I’m feeling connected at this moment. Thank you for that…It sure does sound like you gals had the most precious of meetings. After almost three years of blogging, I have been hesitant at the thought of meeting another blogging “pal.” Thank you for shedding some light on the realm of possibilities.
I love the way you say the EXACT things other people leave out, which are usually the things I’m most curious about. I haven’t met a fellow blogger, and frankly the idea terrifies me a little — the expectations, the possibility for mutual disappointment. Thank you for making me feel like I was a part of your lunch. (And yes, I too am jealous. I have a strong feeling you are a FABULOUS five-hour lunch date.)
Love this! I love how when I meet bloggy friends…I already “know” them and it’s as if the blog is coming to life before my very eyes. The lovely Jean @ RT is a perfect example.
Those antique molds are fabulous. As is Miss Cleo, despondent and all.
And p.s. – Tahoe? Sign me up.