***
My flatmate is wonderful in most ways. He's generous, kind, a fabulous cook, and a pleasure to be around. Unfortunately, he also has deplorable personal hygiene. After watching him lick his fingers while cutting vegetables a few ...Read MoreAncient Grains Archive
“Raising the Tone”: Our New Etiquette Column
Advice, Ancient Grains
Dec 24, 2013
A new feature! Please send your etiquette-based questions to [email protected], subject line: "Ms. Proprietypants."
Lesser-Known Nogs
Ancient Grains, Artwork
Dec 24, 2013
Jess Davis takes us on an illustrated version of some of the lesser-known nogs.
...Read More
Queries
Ancient Grains, Writing
Dec 24, 2013
There I was, a recently 30-year-old woman. Girl? Lady? Who knows. I spent a good amount of time in the run-up to The Birthday thinking about what I would call myself once that milestone was reached. But the many moving parts of my brain never quite settled on one choice. For now,
...Read More
The Gashlyshelf Elfies: A Tribute
Ancient Grains, Fan Fiction
Dec 24, 2013
This post is brought to you by MyEvilTwin, and is spiritually dedicated to the eternal majesty of the late Edward Gorey and also how much we don't like Elf on a Shelf.
A is for Ann skewered on a holly stake
B is for Brighton who ...Read More
I Hate the Macarena: A Christmas Tale
Ancient Grains, Weird True Tales
Dec 24, 2013
This post brought to you by MyEvilTwin.
The sixth graders were performing a hybrid version of The Nutcracker before Christmas break and the eighth graders, as basically the elder statesmen of the school, were going to help. Specifically, anyone with dance “training” was wanted to choreograph the various numbers. I’d had ballet
...Read More
Invisible Barriers: On Being a Female Rock Musician
Ancient Grains, Music
Dec 23, 2013
Music is supposed to be about release, about freeing ourselves from something, (so the romantic’s story goes) yet as I become increasingly dedicated to my craft as a musician, more and more am I struck by its constraints.
The pathetic gender ratio of my personal iTunes library isn’t so surprising when perusing mainstream
...Read More
24 Hours In Witch Country
Ancient Grains, Witches
Dec 23, 2013
The wind is howling on Pendle Hill on Halloween. It lies in Northern England, and has been described to me as a seductive hill with a macabre, dark past. My friend Rachel and I are climbing the hill – it’s only 4pm, but the sun sets in less than hour. We can see the small
...Read More
Putting Your Nails On With Adwoa
Ancient Grains, Beauty
Dec 23, 2013
Previously: Putting your face on.
Darlings! You have been sorely missed -- I'm so glad to be back amongst you Toastinis (Toasterinis? Toasterazzi? I'll get this). Thank you for the incredible Toasty warm welcome to my column last month! You are a lovely and incredible bunch. Please accept these virtual hugsies as a token
...Read More