Cool Guy- Dominique Browning

In the early days of this blog I would periodically raise the question "Where's Dominique?". Everyone seemed to have an online presence but her. Dominique's devoted fans would email me questions about her whereabouts/comings and goings, as if I knew, I answered their queries as best as I could.

After about the fourth "where's D" her publicist commented that Dominique was engaged in the finishing touches of her latest book,Slow Love which would be published in the not too distant future. Shortly before Slow Love was published, Dominique emailed, and we have maintained an irregular ecorrespondence since, one thread of which led to my standing her up on my first trip East. I must have been out of my mind.

Today is her birthday. I trust she won't object to being included as one of the "cool guys". She is far more than the woman who once... Besides being a gifted writer, blogger and editor, mother and mentor, she is a concerned citizen donating her considerable talents writing for The Environmental Defense Fund. Her work there will have a far more lasting impact than whatever came before.

Happy Birthday Mrs. B.

Toad and Mrs. T

Now in Injia's sunny clime

Whether you are celebrating Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, Sunday or my late father's birthday today, the day after is always somewhat of a let down.



You didn't get what you really wanted for Christmas. Not due to any naughtiness on your part. Now is the time to give yourself what you really wanted.



Go to India.



Author,raconteusse (I may have just invented that word) and friend of the Toad's Dominique Browning is looking for adventursome souls to join her in February, as she visit the sub-continent.

Margaret at Elevated Destinations will handle all the details for you.

You are even welcome to go if you got everything you ever dreamed of for the holidays, and just wish to escape the Northern Hemisphere winter for a while.

I got what I wanted on my Christmas list, yet sadly shall not be attending. Should you go, I do have a small shopping list. Nothing bulky, expensive, illegal or large I assure you, so please get in touch.

Whatever your tastes, enjoy your Boxing Day, Kwanzaa or Sabbath or Sunday.

Toad

all photos from the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Frozen Grapes

Our peach and Kashi fetish has been outed. If this is news, Ms. Browning will explain here. In my defense, I absolutely, positively forgot granola existed. Is it still grown? I remember believing for a time, that granola grew on trail mix bushes, but maybe not.

I have another confession to make. We freeze grapes too. Red Seedless. Year round. As far as I know, we are the only earthlings to do so.

Try as you might, you'll never be able to wrap your head around the why of this.

My beloved bride snacks on a bowlful overnight, in her sleep. I used to wake in the middle of the night thinking we had mice. Not so lucky. There is a boy expression, goes like this, "I wouldn't throw her out for eating crackers." He'd think again if it were grape sticks and stems.

Over the years we've modified the plan by destemming before freezing. That way I can sleep soundly knowing half the choking risk has been eliminated.

Surprisingly, they do make a pretty good snack while awake too.

Toad

Dominique? The last word.

Long time readers know that I was for a time somewhat besotted with Ms. Dominique Browning, formerly Editor of House and Garden Magazine's U.S. edition. On these pages I have promised to read telephone books if only she would write them. All to no avail.

In the mean time I have developed a trick, which may help some of you pass the lonely months without your favorite magazine. I'll share.

Each month, around the time the mail is deluged with incoming magazines, I go to my stash of old H&G's, gently retrieve a then current month's issue and respectfully insert the prior month into its protective plastic sleeve. Since my memory is not so great, what do I care if I am currently reading April 2001? It's all new to me. Next month might be May 2005. What do I care?

That said, I was surprised to get an email from Ms. Browning's people. In its entirety it said, "Toad, enuf already with your attacks on Ms. Browning. Go bother Julia Reed. Get over it. Any more and I'll sic our other people on you."

Harsh words, I thought, but I wouldn't let it go.

I wrote back, in my own inimitable way. "D, waz up?"

The Queen herself wrote back.

" God, I'm so glad that magazine thing is over. Me, an attractive single woman, in the prime of my life, surrounded by gay, yes men. I haven't seen daylight since I don't know when. Haven't seen a straight man in forever.

Since I was under contract when the magazine folded, our publisher, Mr. Newhouse graciously allowed me to become one of his personal assistants. The pay is good, but the conditions are a cross between Annie, and Cinderella. You can, for serious, pre-order my book covering the past year here, it will be released soon. Now, leave me alone!"

For those half dozen of you, who find this blog each day by Googling Dominique, this is my last word on this subject.

D? She ain't here. However, her blog may be found here.

Toad

EXTRA EXTRA READ All ABOUT IT

For all you Dominique Browning fans, and I know there are thousands, her blog and web site just went live.

You may catch it here.

Toad

Dear Ms. Browning

Dear Ms. Dominique Browning:

I believe that you truly exist, although I can't prove it.

In this world of instant communications, Google, Twitter, Facebook and other attractions I know you must have people who are paid to report web stories about you. If you do not, Google will automatically search and report to you for free.

Dominique, half tongue in cheek, I wrote several blog entries about where devoted fans could find some of your recent writings. I even swore to read telephone directories if you wrote them. I've heard nothing from you. Not that I expected to.

None the less, EVERY GD day since, half a dozen ardent fans Google you and land on my blogs doorstep. The world is curious. Stop in and say hello. Catch us up on life after House and Garden.

We miss you.

Toad

A Dominique Browning sighting.

Once upon a time I posted that I would read telephone books if Dominique Browning wrote them. She hasn't resorted to that yet, but she did appear in Sunday's NY Times Book Review. Her Gardening Books review appears here.

Toad

Fellow Dominique Browning fans

I almost cried when House and Garden went away. I had promised myself I would read telephone books if Dominique Browning wrote them, if only H&G wouldn't die. I miss her monthly column. For those of you who need a DB fix, I direct you to the latest Garden and Gun.

http://gardenandgun.com/article/down-home

Toad