Serendipity

A series of extremely fortunate events.

This afternoon I took myself to breakfast at the Beaterville cafe. They use an interesting font on their menus. I copied this one:


I realized as I was finishing that I'd left my wallet at home, so I 'fessed up to the server and she let me run home to get it. Whew. After I paid and was unlocking my bike, a denizen of the neighborhood asked if I wanted to see the crucifix collection next door at the little vintage shop.

I'd never been into this shop before, but had always wondered what treasures were inside. The proprietress showed me the lot of crucifixes she'd bought at an estate sale, AND I found the most awesome thing for my mom. Which I shan't write here in case someone who knows her relates the info...

Anyway, I have to go back tomorrow because she doesn't take cards. Hopefully tomorrow is as glorious as today and I can ride my bike down there.

Later...

I was going to set up my desk to do some work, but realized that I didn't have a bulb for my lamp. I rode my bike to Fred Meyer and on the way home got to witness an amazing sunset. Think Maxfield Parrish on ACID. Unfortunately my photos don't do the glory of nature justice, however, upon approaching my apartment, I was surrounded by a mob of Santas.





Sigh, what a day.

This book makes me feel gemütlich.

I was at Powell's on a me-date looking for some books on typography and i found Fraktur Mon Amour, by Judith Schalansky. It's so beautiful; I love it. This fat little sexy book isn't like any typography book I've ever seen.

It's 8 x 5 inces of black, white, and pink and includes a disc of 150 fonts for your delectation. The 720 pages are filled with Blackletter fonts and crazy beautiful patterns made from an element of the type.

from the amazing and wonderful website/blog i love typography:




After my visit with this book at Powell's I convinced my boss to get it for the library. I now have it at home and am trying not to drool all over the pages. I'm not sure what it is about Blackletter and its babies that make me feel enraptured, but there it is. To see more glorious images from this book, take a look at the site Ministry of Type. Ooooooh.

We have the English-language (second edition) version and in the forward by the author I found this word:

Gemütlichkeit.

A German word that has been adopted into the English language, Gemülichkeit, is a noun that connotes coziness. (See schadenfreude.) But it's not just the coziness of a cup of tea at a toasty fireside. It's a feeling of warmth and belonging. What a great word for the holidays. Now I just need to figure out how to say it.

here's another book i look forward to perusing:

Mexican Blackletter