Quote of the Day: "I'm housekeeping with my mouth."
What I'm reading: Damsel in Distress, by PG Wodehouse

I've been looking at a lot of pictures of kitchens lately, trying to decide on light fixtures, countertops etc. etc. I found one picture that at first was really cute-- an Aga stove, painted wood ceiling and walls, quirky open shelving-- until I counted, in this one little corner kitchen, THREE roosters! One ceramic painted rooster hogged precious counter space; one rooster adorned a kitchen towel; and one rooster strutted ornamentally on the rug.

People, I do not understand the kitchen rooster. Nor do I like it. It's worse when the fowl wear clothes-- the duck in a bonnet, the hen with an apron. Who needs this hackneyed country shorthand? I know, I feel like Mr. Gradgrind in Hard Times, who says flowers shouldn't go on carpets, because it is sentimental and illogical. Still, I say, if you want country, go with the gingham curtains and keep it charming.

Is there an analogous decorative item in an ultramodern kitchen? I doubt it would make me feel as dirty as I did after liking a picture of a kitchen revealed to have roosters.