The Private House

I take it that I’m the last to learn of such a thing? Sheer brilliance. Please send your contributions to the Easy and Elegant Life Caravan and Whiskey Relief.

Live the dream (vicariously at least) here.

Thank you.

(Find the image and the tumbler here.)

Mrs. E., the children and I just returned from a family reunion of sorts. Some of the family made it. A couple of favourite cousins. New cousins (most a bit older than my two kids), my grandmother and two uncles — well one uncle and one great-uncle — rounded out our small party. As we were in Oxford Maryland, where my uncle lives and sails, we had steamed blue crabs and shrimp. There were shrimp left when we did…

My uncle’s house is perfect for a man who loves to sail. It is a former captain’s house, a half block from the water, and wall-to-wall wood, brass, glass and trophies. It was funny to see him sit there, at the back of the porch, just off to the left (or right if you were facing him.) It is the same position from which he pilots his boat, Regatta. In a way, I suppose that is what all hosts do — take the helm at the party, get it underway and make sure that it is smooth sailing to (the) port.

Tervis Tumblers make the job easier in high summer.

His would have his boat name, home port and maybe a nautical flag personalizing his tumblers. Yours might have your crest, initials, breed of dog or anything else you may want to make a cocktail flag out of.

Yes, they are a little goofy. But they keep water rings from collecting on the furniture and make ice last a lot longer at the lawn party. Form follows function here. Maybe they do them in madras plaid?

(image: The Bayside Brush Co.)

While we’re on the subject of affordable luxuries, consider the pocket comb. I’ve never been one for using a brush, my hair just doesn’t respond well to them. (Although I would love a pair of military brushes, but I will have to wait for the day when I go more grey and grow my neatly clipped moustache.)

A good comb, on the other hand, is just the ticket. But why use any old black plastic, sharp toothed pocket comb? It may be unbreakable, that’s true. And unless you lose it, you will spend an eternity reading the thing. “Ace” you will read, time and time again. “Ace.”

No, the Ace comb is not for me. My combs were bought in El Corte Inglés. One is made of horn, the other is faux tortoiseshell. Both are beautiful and both have teeth that are rounded and non-damaging to wet hair. They may cost exponentially more than the drugstore variety, but even if you think only in purely aesthetic terms, they are worth every dollar.

If you can’t make it to Spain, and with the exchange rate for the Euro being what it is, there are online sources that offer French handmade combs, English cellulose tortoiseshell look combs by Kent and handmade Swiss numbers by Speert, suppliers of pocket combs to the Little Coriscan.

While you’re at it, pick up a Mason Pearson brush or rake for your significant other. After all, shouldn’t everyone start the day just a little more elegantly?