Things that give Pleasure in March.

New month, new things that warm the heart.

For example, my great great girlfriends. Who just do each for herself what is good for them, really good, and who are so incredibly brave. One just took a Sabattical to the other end of the world and probably just holds her tip of the nose into the sun. Because if you have not to work then you can just as well travel the world. Great, right?!
Another girlfriend has decided to have at the peak of her freelance career a second child. Because it feels right, despite work opportunities. And I’m sure she’s right. It will all sort out as it is best and most beautiful.
And again, a third girlfriend has just met the love of her life and does her utmost to bring this man from an unsafe country that functions based on non imaginable rules to Germany, despite official resistance of any kind.
I am so grateful to have these inspiring women in my life, who boldly go their way, individually and strong. And I’m sure you, too, have such friends. Who have faith and the courage and simply do the best in their own wonderful way. And to this we should raise our glass.

And with some of these great women I did just that and have spent a magical evening, with pink favorite champagne, Bürli bread with lemon zest, lots of wine and Theresa’s fantastic recipe for vegetarian (even vegan) Bolognese (use google translate). I’ve tried some lentil Bolognese recipes before, but this one featuring beluga lentils and mushrooms is just perfect and very deep in flavor, pure umami. In addition we had my favorite pepper with it – and it was bomb.

This wonderful laptop bag, discovered and bookmarked on Stephanie’s blog for the day when I would dress up a new laptop, came to me as a gift. Beautifully handmade, becoming more beautiful with every day and every week. Gorgeous.

And this book, discovered thru one of my great friends made me add for the third time London to my wishlist  to meet the creator of sensual pleasures of this simple and yet (or just therefore) sensational kind. The book is from front to back goosebumps: just look at the golden cut. And the typography. And the recipes, of course. But what really makes it special is the passion behind it, which is so noticeable. It speaks of team and cooperation and friendship, dialogue and debate about taste and hospitality. Taste to touch others and hospitality which is  quite comprehensively thought and realized. Just wonderful.

Wonderful is also the music of the new band project of the great Nils Frahm. At first not easy to listen to, the first and second hearing. Meanwhile, I cannot get enough of the fine dynamic of rhythm, melody and surfaces. Best on repeat.

The new season of my favorite series. I do not want to know what that says about me, but I like the precise choreography of the dialogues, razor-sharp sentences, wise and beautifully dressed women, men in suits who are always one step ahead or their opponents, embodied by great actresses and actors. Of course it plays in New York, the metropolis of power.
I do like this series, despite everything, not only because it saved me when I was barely sleeping for a long time during last year and eventually staggered through zombilike life. How comforting Gabriel Macht’s voice carried my thru, “Previously on Suits …”, by dark night hours, until it was light enough for turning on the coffee machine. And despite all the criticism that you could bring to the content of this series, I am more than pleased  to know that it got renewed for another season.

And something else for geeks. I do not know if I will ever be standing on top of a high mountain, straigthening the hat on the sweaty forehead and think “now a nice espresso, that would be it.” … But if this were to happen, then I would be prepared, as I now know about this little device.

Have a joyful start into the week! ***