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Garden, Home & Party

~ My love of gardening, making home comfortable and entertaining friends and family.

Garden, Home & Party

Monthly Archives: September 2011

{Garden Home and Party} Fall installment #2

29 Thursday Sep 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Collections & Accessories, Designer, Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Food

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

fall


Under Spanish Moss blog



By now, hopefully you’ve invited fall into your home and heart!  You’ve gotten into the spirit of the season and maybe grudgingly admitted that the fresh, crisp air invigorates you.

via Ralph Lauren 

Maybe you’ve started a good book and have plans for many cozy weekends relaxing in front of the fire with said book.

Under Spanish Moss blogvia Under Spanish Moss

Maybe you’ve decided to spend your fall season in Europe…me too! {I wish}.

Maybe a trip to Napa Valley, California is in the cards.  What a beautiful time of the year to head up there.  If you go, email me and I’ll send you some information on some of my favorite wineries and shopping.

Maybe you’re taking long walks down a country lane…boy, do I ever wish our “lane” looked like this!

Whatever fall has in store for you, I wish you all of the seasons best and I hope you are enjoying this time, a favorite of mine!

{Garden} Backyard facelift

27 Tuesday Sep 2011

Posted by Karen B. in DIY (do it yourself), Gardening, Maintenance, Outdoor living

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

Kooboo chairs, Outdoor living, pea gravel patio

My readers will remember that Hubby and I were able to take on two over-due facelift projects for the house this summer.  One of the projects is the guest bathroom (to be blogged about later).  The second project is/was the grass in our back yard, along with a pea gravel space for some teak chairs (otherwise known as the killer patio chairs).   The killer chairs were relegated to the back yard when I purchased the Kooboo chairs from Cost Plus.  The teak chairs were always quite comfortable but would NOT slide on the concrete patio and because they were adjustable chairs, they would collapse on our guests when anyone would try to scoot back from the table.  So once again…

Once we placed the chairs under the trees it became clear we needed some kind of surface  under them to create a sort of patio area.  The grass has never  thrived  in this spot since there is so much shade.  My blog friend over at French Kissed posted a picture of a similar area  (she had helped  design the area during a styling job) where she had created this oasis of pea gravel, potted fern and comfortable chairs.  I knew that would work for our yard and voila...the inspiration for our project...

before:

This is after the grass (weeds) had been sprayed to kill out the invasive devil grass and weeds.  Jose, my talented gardener had started the removal process when I remembered the “before” pictures!

You can see the sparse grass and roots of the trees.  Our next door neighbor replaced the fence with a more weather friendly redwood fencing and the design is so much prettier.

after…

Now that our back yard has lush, green grass, sans all of the weeds, and a pea gravel pad where we can enjoy the shade of 2 very large trees when we’re looking for a spot to put our feet up and sip something wonderful we’ll be spending more time out there…that is until it’s too cool, which may be some time.

Amazing how much better the yard looks with green grass, not weeds and bare patches.

We’ve had this teak coffee table stored for years, it is so nice to be able to use existing items around the house.

The white cushions are $5 / Ikea.  the gravel is birds eye pea gravel.  We had our gardener plant a crescent of boxwood (above) which will provide a visual wall behind the chairs.  We have a calliandra vine (below) planted on the fence.  The vine won’t bloom in this much shade but the plant thrives even without sun. 

This sasanqua ‘noel’ will be blooming by November.  The stone border was the result in our changing out the stone bath we used to have leading to the teak bench.  My gardener put the stones on edge to create a nice border for the gravel space and edge of the flower bed.

The white helebore has seen better days but its getting ready to bloom and hopefully will multiply for next season since it was given some new compost nutrition during our back yard re-do/clean up.

I’ve planted some Irish moss in this little metal bird feeder.  I planted Spanish moss in the spaces between the river bed rocks…it’s a very shady area and I’m hoping it takes off.

This calliandra vine has gotten very large (it’s on the patio) and I’m hopeful the 5-gallon vine planted on the fence is as happy as this one.

The side yard was refreshed with additional Krista Mountain gravel; the lantern is lit when we’re outdoors at night.

We added the lattice overhang recently in hopes that it will provide a little break from the constant south facing sun that beats down on our bay window…it’s been a challenge for fabrics and furniture in the library, the room this bay window is in.


I apologize, our garden shoes are by the door…keeping it real.

So, the back yard is ready for relaxation and fun…even if it’s only a short time before it’s too cool to be out there!

Thanks for coming by for an update.

Happy fall.  Do you have any fall yard work on your list?

{Home and Party} Trays, a versatile obsession

22 Thursday Sep 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Antiques, Collections & Accessories, Decorating, Entertaining, Personal Information

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

trays

There is something about trays that has always interested me.  I have friends that love and collect chairs, perpetual calendars, bronze figures and oil paintings and while I love a great chair as much as the next avid collector, trays rate right up there with my other obsessions {any kind of pottery or china that strikes my fancy as well as boxes of all kinds}.

The two images below are from one of my favorite blog sites French Kissed.  If you haven’t visited Jermaine at FK you should, all of her photography captures the essence of an inviting home and she always tells a wonderful story…Jermaine, thank you for always inspiring me!

via French Kissed

 

Things just showcase better on a tray…especially “smalls” as antique dealers call the little treasures that truly make a home.

I believe I initially became interested when I was given a footed silver tray by my mother in law.  It was relatively old and I loved the details of the pattern as well as the fact that it was footed.  I later watched antique stores for English oak trays but usually had to pass on purchasing them due to the price…this was several years ago and now I could kick myself that I didn’t splurge and pick one up because they have doubled in price.

via eBay

Silver trays, such as the sterling tray above can cost some serious coin, but there are some wonderful trays at consignment stores and antique stores that mimic this look and may only be silver plate and still offer character and a vehicle for showcasing accessories or serving from.

via adventures of tartanscot, SMW designs

via house beautiful

via better homes and garden

I’m always drawn to the wide variety of ways a tray can be used.  From doubling as a hard surface on a large ottoman substituting as a coffee table, to a venue for featuring small antiques and decorative items on a shelf or buffet.

These antique money trays were featured on WUSLU, they sell a variety of unique items but when they’re gone, they’re gone.

via traditional home

I recently posted HERE  about the tray I made with a basic glass insert (that my frame guy made for me) so that I could use some toile wallpaper that we covered with bead board…you’ll have to read the post.  The good news is that this tray which I purchased from Home Goods can now be made to work for any season or color scheme I choose by simply cutting the fabric or paper to fit and refitting the tray with the glass.  Fun, right?

via west elm

via pottery barn

Straw or woven trays look great on a table or standing up as a backdrop for a kitchen counter.  There is something so timeless about a great straw basket tray.

via restoration hardware

via restoration hardware

via brabourne farm

mary eriksson

The above tray looks like it might be an old soda crate, the use of it on a desk as an organizational display is very creative.

unknown

Are those Hermes boxes stacked on the simple, black tray?  Very nice!  I could see Jo Malone boxes used this way too.

via old painted cottage

This vignette of old silver utensils and tray look very nice in front of the bead board back splash.


Do you have any trays you are especially fond of?

 

{Garden, Home and Party} Exciting news…an engagement

20 Tuesday Sep 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Designer, Entertaining, Family, Flowers, Party Planning, Personal Information, Traditions, Trends

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

weddings

Friends and readers (one in the same) will know that hubby and I have 2 sons…one is happily married and living with his lovely wife, and my very first granddaughter, in Austin.  Son #2 just proposed and she said “yes”!  We’re thrilled for many reasons, not the least of which is we love this girl and believe she and Son #2 are a good match.  Reason number 2, at least for me, is we get to be a part of planning a wedding!  Weddings encompass all manner of great things where HOME is concerned and can cross over into GARDEN and certainly PARTY.

via 100 Layer Cake

As I was typing those very words one of my favorite quotes from one of my all-time favorite movies came to mind.  Father of the Bride, 1991, staring Steve Martin and Diane Keaton, when George Banks (Steve Martin’s character) says,

“I used to think a wedding was a simple affair. Boy and girl meet, they fall in love, he buys a ring, she buys a dress, they say I do. I was wrong. That’s getting married. A wedding is an entirely different proposition.

  I know. I’ve just been through one. Not my own, my daughter’s. Annie Banks Mackenzie. That’s her married name: Mackenzie. You fathers will understand. You have a little girl. An adorable little girl who looks up to you and adores you in a way you could never have imagined. I remember how her little hand used to fit inside mine. Then comes the day when she wants to get her ears pierced, and wants you to drop her off a block before the movie theater. From that moment on you’re in a constant panic. You worry about her meeting the wrong kind of guy, the kind of guy who only wants one thing, and you know exactly what that one thing is, because it’s the same thing you wanted when you were their age. Then, you stop worrying about her meeting the wrong guy, and you worry about her meeting the right guy. That’s the greatest fear of all, because, then you lose her. It was just six months ago that that happened here. Just six months ago, that the storm broke.”

There are so many options for planning and inspiration, from the ring to the reception, the world wide web now hosts blog sites that feature amazing ideas for every tiny detail of the big event.  As I perused sites that came recommended, my head began swimming.  I was overwhelmed with beautiful images of every imaginable event and all the trimmings that are tied to a wedding, no matter how small and simple.

Snippet & Ink is such a fun blog site where any upcoming bride, or groom for that matter, can find real wedding photos as well as Inspiration Boards created by Snippet & Ink’s author, Kathryn.

 

In fact, when Son #1 got married bride-to-be choose a seaside location and desired a “family only” wedding.  At first I was slightly disappointed because I had hoped to share the day with close friends but in the end, this tiny 11 person wedding was so beautiful and intimate I was happy our DIL had wished for it.  We later hosted a reception for dear friends and enjoyed celebrating the marriage a couple of months later.

My point, although you may be wondering at this point if I have one, is that the wedding of Son #1 and now DIL, took nearly as much planning as a larger version would have.  You still plan for invitations, flowers, food, table settings, music, photographer and all the icing that goes on wedding cakes and receptions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above images: (left) Style me Pretty; (right) 100 Layer Cake

So, we’re off to begin what I believe will be a bonding experience for me with my future DIL #2.  I’ll keep you posted.  We are hosting an engagement party at our home and shopping invitations has begun.

via tiny prints (sample)

via Style me Pretty

 

 

{Home} In-house vignettes

15 Thursday Sep 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Collections & Accessories, Decorating, Renovating

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

vignettes

As I’ve said before, decorative accessories are a weakness of mine.  I pare down in the spring and summer months and seem to want more on display in the fall  and winter. In any event, I find the “icing” on a room to draw me in and I always enjoy re-doing a space where just the right vignette can give me a little lift with the change {it’s always the little things isn’t it?}.

Some of my favorite blog sites excel at excellent vignettes such as French Kissed, Vignette Design, and for the love of a house.

 

via French Kissed

via Vignette Designs

I have a couple of areas in my house that always stump me, vignette/accessories speaking.  The end of the bar in our kitchen, the bay window in the kitchen and the shelf over the kitchen desk are 3 areas that I find need to be changed regularly.  Sometimes I want a change due to the season, but I confess, restlessness with the way something looks is part of it too.   The shelf over our sofa in our family room also came under some decor scrutiny this past weekend and it received a change as well.   Hey, I was on a roll, what can I say?

The above was one of my past vignettes for the bar.

Over Labor Day weekend I decided to  “start off fall cleaning”.   I removed  everything from the shelf over the sofa in the family room to give the existing Toby jugs a good cleaning and to dust the cob webs from the space.  (I know, that’s a terrible admission, but its a fact, we get cob webs).  Clearing the decks really can give you new perspective and open up the doors of creativity.   Hubby and I both thought maybe it was time to store the Toby jugs and maybe re-purpose some of my nick-knacks, as hubby likes to call them.

This is the shelf above our family room sofa, up until the past weekend it had a collection of Royal Dalton Toby jugs and books.  We were tired of that arrangement and re-purposed some of the “smalls” I had hanging around in storage areas of the house.  When you have the ‘bug’ to change things it helps to have a stash of treasures you can draw from! {note to self:  too bad the heater vent is white, need to think about painting that the wall color}

Here is the left side of the shelf above the sofa.  The antique scale has visited several areas of my home, including the bar.  I pray there’s no earthquakes to send it toppling down on our heads!

Here are the other spaces I re-arranged this past weekend.

Barley twist is a favorite of mine and this footed barley twist cake stand (or whatever it was originally intended for} seemed to elevate my wooden ivy planter to just the right level for a traditional English vignette.

Not sure this is making my heart sing, but I’ll keep working on this spot on the bar…certainly something will inspire me soon.

This is the lower bookshelf in the shelves above the kitchen desk.  Being such an accessories nut I chose to restrict the cookbooks to the top shelf only…that way I can put some little nick-knacks on this shelf, like the antique pewter butter dish and my pewter topped dog-cookie canister…doggies are very appreciative.

Do you like to change things from time to time, maybe only for the season change, but it does make things interesting, don’t you think?

{GHP} 10 days and counting…Autumn arrives

13 Tuesday Sep 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Fall Entertaining and Decorations

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Autumn

For those of you dear friends and family who adore summer, I apologize (for your season as about to pass), but I get downright giddy this time of year.  I’m always energized by fall’s arrival.

Fall, barnvia The Steward

 There are 10 more days of summer, clearly more than that of warm weather, but we can plan, can’t we?  I love everything about this time of year.  Back to school (when I was a student and when my kids were in school), cooler nights (for better sleep), a fire in the fireplace on especially cool evenings, scented candles, [Red Current (Votivo), Pomegranate Noir (Jo Malone), Fig, by almost anyone who makes a candle in this scent], hearty stew with crusty bread, mac and cheese (see a new recipe below), cashmere sweaters, blazers, boots, plaid, warm throw blankets on chairs and sofas, pumpkins…I could go on.

So my nod to the season…images that may inspire you.

for the love of a house, fall in New Hampshire

 

 

 

 

Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Total time: 50 minutes
Servings: 8 to 10

 

Macaroni base
1 (1-pound) box Cellentani (corkscrew) pasta
1/4 cup minced shallot (2 large shallots)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 quart heavy cream
8 ounces Boursin Garlic and Fine Herb Gournay cheese, crumbled

 

1. In a large pot of salted, boiling water, cook the pasta to al dente according to the package instructions, about 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat a medium, heavy-bottom pot over medium-high heat until hot. Saute the shallots in the olive oil until lightly colored, then add the heavy cream. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and reduce by half, 8 to 10 minutes.
3. Whisk in the crumbled cheese until melted and incorporated, then stir in the pasta.
4. Remove from heat and reserve the base, still in the pan, in a warm place.

 

Chicken
4 (6-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper
2 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary

 

Drizzle the chicken breasts with the olive oil, and season each side of each breast with a pinch each of salt and pepper. Sprinkle over the chopped parsley and rosemary. Grill the chicken over moderate heat until the flesh is firm and the juices run clear, and a thermometer inserted reads 165 degrees. Remove from heat, cover and keep warm until needed.

 

Mac ‘n’ cheese assembly
1/2 cup diced pancetta
2 tablespoons oil
1/4 cup bread crumbs
Prepared macaroni base
Prepared chicken
4 teaspoons chopped parsley
4 teaspoons white truffle oil

 

1. In a medium saute pan, cook the pancetta in the oil over medium-high heat until crisp, 5 to 7 minutes
2. Strain the pancetta, leaving any fat in the pan.
3. Heat the pan with the fat over medium-high heat and sprinkle over the bread crumbs.
4. Saute the bread crumbs until darkened and toasted, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and drain the bread crumbs on a paper towel.
5. Heat the macaroni base over medium heat until hot, stirring frequently. While the base is heating, slice the chicken into strips.
6. Stir the chicken into the base, then stir in the crisp pancetta, parsley and white truffle oil, tossing to coat.
7. Divide the mac ‘n’ cheese among 4 serving bowls and top with the crisp bread crumbs. Serve immediately.

 

Copyright © 2011, Los Angeles Times Note: Adapted from The Bistro at Four Points by Sheraton Bakersfield.

{GHP} Meet me at the entrance…a new journey

08 Thursday Sep 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Uncategorized

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

outdoor entrances

As my readers know…I have been feeling a little blogged bogged down lately.  Blocked of creative energy, I took a little break.

 via Velvet & Linen

I’m refreshed and renewed and I’ve missed you.

 

                                                                                                                                     via Heirloom Philosophy

 

 

 

 

via 5th and State

So, I thought it fitting to “meet you at the entry” to a new chapter of Garden, Home and Party.  I’ll be posting twice a week (instead of 3 times a week) for now,  or more if I get a burst of energy/creativity.

 via Content in a Cottage

via Cote de Texas

                                                                                                            via Design Chic

                                                                    via My Blue Hydrangea

These images are some of my favorite entry ways.  There is something so alluring about a great entry, simple cottage or manor house.

via Peggy and Fritz

via French Kissed

via Griege,  Paris

via The Inspired Room

Come along…we’ll have fun!

Recent Posts: Garden, Home & Party

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