Monday Musings No. 215 | Easter Monday, A New Book, and a New York Townhouse

A joyful Easter, a grey day that was exactly right, a new book about wartime Paris, and a New York townhouse worth watching twice.

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I woke up on Holy Saturday with a sore throat. I was hoping it was nothing — allergies, dry air, wishful thinking — but by the time we were supposed to leave for the Easter egg hunt it had gotten worse and a headache had joined the party. So I did the sensible thing, which I do not always do, and went back to bed. I read, I rested, I was essentially a slug a bug, and by Sunday morning I was well enough for mass and lunch with the family. Which is what I wanted most anyway. The restful Saturday was worth it, even knowing that somewhere across town hundreds of happy children were hunting for eggs and eating candy without me.

Easter Sunday was everything I had hoped for. We woke to a little sun and a warm breeze — not always a given in early April — and church was one of those mornings I want to remember. Happy families in their Easter finery, the kind of sight that makes you feel like the world is, in fact, going to be all right. The bagpiper playing as we sauntered into the church. Mass was beautiful. The family was loud, the laughs and stories were many, and the table was full. And my brother’s carrot cake was one of his best.

He is an amazing baker. We both got it from our mother and grandmother, that particular love for time in the kitchen, but I will admit he has surpassed me in the complicated things — croissants, crepes, anything that involves fondant. I am happy to concede those are not my things. He can have them. I will take the cookies, the brownies, quick breads and the candy and the satisfaction of knowing the gene did not skip either of us.

And thank you — truly — for all of your kind messages on the Easter post. I am touched every single time that I read them. I love hearing about your Easters, your families, your tables. You are very good to me.

The weather was grey and cool for some of the weekend, not what the calendar promised, but I did not mind. Cloudy days slow things down and give you permission to light the lamps and candles early, which I consider a gift. We needed heavy rain but only got a sprinkle. Easter Monday is a holiday in most of Europe, which has always seemed like an excellent idea. One day is simply not enough.

What I Am Reading

A few weeks ago I shared Rose Valland’s story — the curator who quietly saved thousands of works of art from the Nazis while working at the Jeu de Paume — and the algorithm apparently took note. It has been feeding me art history and wartime Paris ever since. I love art. I could spend a week at the Louvre and still not see everything, which is exactly why The Lady at the Louvre by Helen Constantine went immediately onto my Kindle.

It is a historical novel inspired by the true story of a female spy in Nazi-occupied Paris — courage, resistance, and the Louvre itself as the backdrop. Art, war, Paris, a woman doing something extraordinary and largely unrecognized. If you loved The Art Spy, this one belongs on your list.

The Lady at the Louvre — find it here.

You can find all of my book recommendations at My Bookshop. Most are also available from Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org and on Libby through your local library.

This Week’s Home Tour

I cannot let a week go by without sharing a beautiful space, and this one stopped me completely.

Photographer and art collector Clara Aich opened the doors to her 19th-century New York City townhouse, and it is unlike anything I have seen. In 1978 she fell in love with a crumbling, snow-filled building — skylights collapsed, plaster sculptures scattered, the roof half-fallen — and refused to be deterred. What followed was a lifetime of restoration, collecting, and curation. African artifacts, antique carpets, rescued architectural plasters, graffiti photography, paintings gifted by close friends. Every wall, every nook, every surface carries a memory or a story that spans continents. There is a lion relief left by the building’s previous owners. A portrait of her grandfather, a World War I hussar. A mirror from her family in Vienna. The whole house feels like a living museum, a creative salon, and a very personal universe all at once. I watched it twice and have it saved.

Spring Style

Green seems to be the color of the moment, there are dresses, skirts, shirt, shoes and bags. I think it’t the perfect spring color, as I said when I shared all of my favorite “Spring green” finds. Today I am pairing a green shirt, with blue and white slides, a blue and white woven tote and a plain white t-shirt.

Outfit Details ~ Click for Details

If you missed it, I joined Kim and Juliet for Weekend Meanderings — go say hello.

How was your Easter? Traveling, celebrating, or taking the day quietly at home? Tell me in the comments — I always want to know.

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Have a beautiful week, friends.

You might also enjoy:

Monday Musings No. 214 | Holy Week, Rose Valland and a Paris Apartment

Monday Musings No. 213 | Beautiful, Itchy and Completely Worth It

Monday Musings No. 210 | A Lazy Weekend