Katharine Rose – Page 2 – All Things Good

A Post-Lenten Reflection on the Practice of Self-Denial

Katharine Rose Rose's Ridge April 5, 2016May 28, 201740 days of fasting, 40 days of lent, James Anthony Froude, Lent, Lenten season, meaning of lent, morality, practicing self-denial, practicing self-sacrifice, self-conquest quotes, self-denial quotes, self-discipline quotes, self-sacrifice quotes, Sir Walter Scott quotes, Vince Lombardi quotes, William Ellery Channing quotes 6 Comments

“Mental toughness is many things and rather difficult to explain. Its qualities are sacrifice and self-denial. Also, most importantly, it is combined with a perfectly disciplined will that refuses to give in. It’s a state of mind – you could call it ‘character in action.’” –Vince Lombardi (football player and coach, 1913-1970)

It has been a little over a week since I ended my 40-day chocolate and “things I like most” fast in observance of the Lenten Season – the first time I have willfully committed to “giving up” something since I entered full fledged adulthood nearly five years ago.

A tradition that I gladly embraced at the start of Ash Wednesday during my childhood years, it became significantly less appealing as the demands of adult life made the idea of giving something up seem nearly unbearable.

In fact, it was only during these last 40 days that I came to a greater realization of just how challenging the practice of self-denial is – and how much truth exists in the age-old saying that life’s most valuable lessons are best learned through times of difficulty, struggle and discomfort. Read more

There’s a Saying in Gaelic, “Céad Míle Fáilte”…

Katharine Rose Rose's Ridge March 22, 2016May 28, 2017Brehon Laws, Céad Míle Fáilte, Cliffs of Moher, Doolin accomodation, Doolin band, Doolin hotels, Doolin Ireland, Doolin live music, Doolin pubs, Hotel Doolin, Irish blessings, Irish hospitality, McGann's Pub, McGann's pub Doolin, traditional Irish music, traditional music capital of Ireland, Washington Irving quotes 2 Comments

“Walls for the wind,
And a roof for the rain,
And drinks beside the fire –
Laughter to cheer you
And those you love near you,
And all that your heart may desire!”
– Irish Blessing

McGann's Doolin — Inside McGann’s, Doolin’s local pub

In many ways, it was like a scene right out of a movie. We had entered into a small local pub, tired and hungry from a long day of traveling in the cold, rainy winds of an Irish November. We had stumbled blindly through the dark, a five-minute walk from our hotel along a narrow, winding road set amidst rolling hills.

There were just two other people in the pub, visitors, like us, evidenced by the large, worn backpacks towering next to their table. The bartender greeted us warmly and we asked if he had a menu for food.

“We do, but the kitchen is about to close,” he said. “We only have homemade beef stew and seafood chowder.” We ordered one of each, two pints of Guinness and sat down at a tableside fire for what was to be one of the most memorable stops on our two-week long journey. Read more

In Other Words: Life Lessons from Peyton Manning’s Retirement Speech

Katharine Rose Rose's Ridge March 9, 2016April 4, 2017life lessons, Peyton Manning, Peyton Manning quotes, Peyton Manning retirement speech 2 Comments

There are many reasons to applaud football icon Peyton Manning for the speech he delivered earlier this week announcing his retirement from the NFL.

Delivered with grace and humility, it stands in stark contrast to the dastardly dialogue and vindictive language that we continue to hear during what is bound to be one of the most significant presidential elections in American history.

For football fanatics, his speech was a testimony to the greatness of the game and the ability of any player to rise, against any and all odds, on any given Sunday. For Peyton Manning’s fans, it was bound to confirm their fervent admiration and respect for an athlete who has role modeled hard work, dedication and integrity throughout his 18-year career. Read more

A Blue’s Melody for the January Blues

Katharine Rose Rose's Ridge January 20, 2016April 4, 2017B.B. King, best blues artists of all time, best blues guitarists, Blues music, blues singers, blues songs, Buddy Guy, Buddy Guy albums, Buddy Guy Born to Play Guitar, Buddy Guy Born to Play Guitar review, Buddy Guy Flesh and Bone, Buddy Guy songs, famous blues artists, famous blues songs, Flesh & Bone, Flesh & Bone Lyrics, George Winston, January blues, King of Blues, Rolling Stone, Van Morrison 0 Comment

Please note: This piece was also published in OnBeing.

Following the sparkling glimmer of a light-infused season, the month of January can sometimes feel as if a heavy, wet blanket of snow is descending upon us. It’s a time when the body can feel overindulged and earthbound, a time when we dispiritedly plod through the weight of winter days.

Sliding from the high notes of the holidays to the low notes of mid-January, nature’s force ushers us unwittingly from the warm cheer of family and friends to a still and penetrating solitude. Even our music changes tune, as the festive good tidings of December songs give way to introspective, tranquilizing melodies that help carry us away from the sluggish, gray days of January. Read more

Once Upon a Time…

Katharine Rose Realms Of Gold January 11, 2016May 10, 2017A.C. Perch's, ac perch afternoon tea, ac perch tea room, Christianhavn, Denmark's Royal Family, Hans Christian Anderson, Hincheldey family, King Frederik IX, Niels Brock Perch, oldest tea shop in Europe, oolong tea benefits, Perch's Tea, Queen Margrethe, The Shortbread House of Edinburgh, white tea, white tea benefits, White Temple Tea 0 Comment

Long ago and far away, in the ancient city of Copenhagen – the land of fairy tales as imagined by Hans Christian Anderson – lived a man named Niels Brock Perch who opened a tiny little tea shop in the very old part of the city called “Christianshavn”, where ships from exotic places like China, Ceylon, India, Japan and Africa would arrive with goods to be traded and sold.

A man with great vision for opportunities that sailed into port, Mr. Perch couldn’t have known when he opened A.C. Perch’s in 1835 at Kronprinsensgade 5 that it would still be a purveyor of tea – from some of the finest plantations and gardens around the world – 180 years later. Read more

Adele: More Than Words

Katharine Rose Rose's Ridge January 4, 2016April 4, 2017Adele, Adele 19, Adele 21, Adele 25, Adele 25 review, Adele Adkins, Adele albums, Adele interviews, Adele list of awards, Adele million years ago lyrics, Adele new album, Adele quotes, Adele quotes 25, Adele Rolling Stone 2015, Adele song quotes, Adele songs, Adele Time Magazine, Adele turning tables lyrics, krista tippett, OnBeing, OnBeing blog, The Huffington Post 5 Comments

Please note: this piece was also published in On Being.

When it comes to Adele, it’s difficult to find something new to say. She has broken nearly every music record imaginable, received close to 100 music awards and has proven with her latest album, 25, that she is not just a one-hit wonder – that her talent runs exceedingly deep, touching something poignant in the hearts and souls of a fan base that increasingly defies categorization.

Yet, for all the interviews and articles on her music, approach, style and personality, capturing the essence of Adele and her music is surprisingly difficult. To string together a list of adjectives, to make comparisons and analogies, to use memes, gifs, videos or quotes somehow seems inadequate.

Her music is soulful, heartfelt, rare and real – and is undoubtedly “once in a generation” material – but it is also so much more, forcing us to reckon with an unattainable, mysterious quality that only adds to its allure. Read more

Katharine Rose Rose's Ridge December 2, 2015December 9, 2015 0 Comment

Please note: ATG is “traveling” along a rosy “ridge” in a distant “realm” of sparkling light. We’ll be back at the “table” December 7th.

“There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in contrast.” – Charles Dickens

Katharine Rose Around The Table December 2, 2015December 9, 2015 0 Comment

Please note: ATG is “traveling” along a rosy “ridge” in a distant “realm” of sparkling light. We’ll be back at the “table” December 7th.

“A meal doesn’t have to be like a painting by Raphael, but it should be a serious and beautiful thing, no matter how simple…[w]hat nicer way for a family to get together and communicate? Which is what life is all about, really.” – Julia Child, as found in “Thanksgiving, The Julia Child Way“, New York Times, 2015

Ghosts, Goblins and Great Decorations in The Big Apple

Katharine Rose Realms Of Gold October 27, 2015October 23, 2017Halloween decoration ideas, Halloween decorations, Halloween decorations in NYC, Halloween in Manhattan, Halloween on the Upper East Side, Halloween props, Halloween spider decorations, Haunted house props, Outdoor Halloween decor, Outdoor Halloween decorations, Scary Halloween decorations, Scary Halloween props, Spooky Halloween decorations, Trick-or-treat in NYC, Unique Halloween decor 1 Comment

“They call it the ‘Big Apple’ because that’s how big our apartments are!”
–Billboard on the Hudson River Parkway, NYC (2012)

Anyone familiar with New York City knows that tight, close quarters and a small amount of personal space is a sacrifice that must be made for living in what has been deemed, somewhat ironically, “The Big Apple.” Indeed, on a 13.4-mile island populated by 1.6 million people, space is a luxury that many – though not all – can’t afford, which is why New Yorkers are often compelled to get a bit creative.

Such creativity is witnessed firsthand while strolling through the neighborhoods of Manhattan in the weeks leading up to Halloween. With a truly limited and “tricky” amount of space to work with, the elaborate displays, spooky props and ghastly décor that line the stoops, gates, stairs, windows and doors of many apartment buildings is rather impressive – and a pleasant “treat” that lifts your spirits to the festive fun of the season. Read more

Mistress America: So Much To Be, So Little Time

Katharine Rose Rose's Ridge October 19, 2015April 4, 2017Greta Gerwig, Lola Kirke, Mistress America, Mistress America review, New York City, Noah Baumbach, Noah Baumbach Greta Gerwig 2 Comments

Noah Baumbach’s latest film, Mistress America, is an unexpected delight first and foremost for the abundance of laugh-out-loud moments and the many quotable lines delivered in Woody Allan-esque, rapid-fire sequences.

A classic “coming of age” story set in New York City, it follows Tracy (Lola Kirke), a freshman and social outcast at New York City’s Barnard College who finds herself captivated by the seemingly glamorous life of her soon-to-be 30-year-old stepsister, Brooke (Greta Gerwig), only to become disillusioned by the fact that Brooke’s life isn’t as “together” as it appears.

What makes this film particularly brilliant, however, is its ability to capture – with a rare, authentic awareness – both the exhilaration and lamentation of the endless career possibilities available in today’s world of entrepreneurial pioneers. Read more

“Walls for the wind, And a roof for the rain, And drinks beside the fire – Laughter to cheer you And those you love near you, And all that your heart may desire!” – Irish Blessing

“They call it the ‘Big Apple’ because that’s how big our apartments are!” –Billboard on the Hudson River Parkway, NYC (2012)

“Walls for the wind,
And a roof for the rain,
And drinks beside the fire –
Laughter to cheer you
And those you love near you,
And all that your heart may desire!”
– Irish Blessing

“They call it the ‘Big Apple’ because that’s how big our apartments are!”
–Billboard on the Hudson River Parkway, NYC (2012)