Lisa and I were costumers in our early years. It's how we met-at Chicago's old St. Nicholas Theatre, (NOT-Old St. Nick). When she visited me in NYC we went to lunch (I was at Juilliard then) and we were hit by a truck. So those of you that remember, yes, this is THAT Lisa. Ruined by favorite pair of shoes. So Lisa waved her wand, and we were in Bayeux. Imagine two costumers inspecting a 230 foot embroidered linen-storyboard, really. Now imagine it was created i...

We were up early on the 4th of July, and Lisa drove the two American girls to Colleville sur mer; The American Cemetary at Omaha Beach. It is just short of impossible to imagine that war happened here. There are Jersey cows grazing at the top of the cliff, next to the parking lot. The fence row has wild pink roses ambling alongside (similar to the Hansa roses I have at home). It is so quiet. As you enter the beautiful landscape, you realize you are amidst thron...

I had a stateroom on the night boat to France. At 8:00 the next morning we off-loaded in Le Havre, Normandy, and I was met by my friend, Lisa Hartley Anquetil. It has been 25ish years since I laughed with Lisa. We did what we could to make up for lost time. Imagine docking in a foreign land, making your way through immigration with just a duffle, into a concrete, industrial building--and seeing your chic, warm, brillliant artist of an old friend smiling at you ...

Waterloo Station at 14:00 for the fast ride to Portsmouth Harbour and the haven offered by another precious friend. Ashley met me at the train on her scooter (Ash has MND to you Brits; ALS for the Americans amongst us). Ten years of the nasty thing, and she meets my train--traveling faster than me with my cases, by a long shot. From the train round to the left to the Gosport ferry (lovely ride across the Harbour) to the bus to Ashley's perfect home in Gosport. ...

This is Liberty & Co., the consummate English store. I am an old sewer, working with my grandmother's scissors and a real thimble. I savor fabric and construction. I am an old costumer. To walk to the upper floors of Liberty's is, for me, a walk into time past and future. It's Tudor, inside and out. And filled with all things wonderful from the British Empire. I have a stack of Liberty silk scarves, collected over years of visits. This time I replaced the sho...