31 Sunday Mar 2013
Hi Friends,
I’m enjoying Easter with our oldest son, his lovely wife and our darling granddaughter. Spring has sprung in Austin.
I hope you’re enjoying warm weather and all of the excitement and joy of spring.
{source~two images above}
I’ll be back on Wednesday, I look forward to seeing you then.
Happy Easter & Happy Spring ♥
27 Wednesday Mar 2013
Posted in House and Home, Misc
Tags
If you’re anything like me you’ve got more blog sites to read and follow than you ever imagined. Like the back-up on our DVR recorder (of TV programs), I start feeling like the homework assignments are piling up and I’m behind. I’m a huge fan of an article on time management written by William Oncken Jr. and Donald L. Wass, “Management Time: Who’s Got the Monkey?” published in Harvard Business Review in 1974*. I can’t stand to have the monkey on my back…if I have an assignment, even one I love, i.e. gardening, reading blog sites, etc., (self-imposed or otherwise) I’m happiest once I’ve caught up with all of it. Does that happen to you?
Lately I have too many pulls on my time. I’ve informed Mr. B that my television viewing will include fewer programs and he can start watching some of the recorded TV shows on his own. I’ve become more discerning where my blog reading is concerned as well, but I confess, it has been more challenging than paring down my television viewing. The reason is the producers and actors on TV aren’t my friends! Silly? Maybe, but when I’ve received comments from fellow bloggers, I’m so appreciative, and I immediately feel a sense of loyalty to read their posts and comment, as time permits. If you manage a blog, you’ll understand.
As time continues to evaporate, I’m attempting to be more selective with my blog-reading. I’ve noticed there are several sites that seem like a present waiting to be opened. When I receive an email in my inbox that they have a new post waiting for me, I’m actually excited. I can hardly wait to click over and read what’s new in their world. So, not to minimize any of my other must-read blog sites, here is a list of some of my favorites, they are always entertaining. I won’t give them their due with my summary of each, but I can tell you this, you won’t be disappointed if you take the time to click over to their site.
Tone on Tone, Loi :: I clicked a link to Tone on Tone via Velvet Linen several months ago. Loi’s site never ceases to wow me with the beauty of his home, and the furnishings sold at their (his and Thomas’) antiques store. He features incredible photographs of some of the homes of friends and always shares entertaining ideas and inspires his readers. I should also add, he is generous with his time and almost always leaves thoughtful and fun comments on my blog site.
5th and State, Debra :: I can’t remember where I found the link to 5th and State, but I know it was sometime around the holidays the year I discovered the talented Debra. She has three stores in the Chicago area, is a landscape designer and leads tours through England, and still manages to post incredible pictures of her trips and ideas for landscape and outdoor space as well as some beautiful interior designs. When I get a comment from Debra I feel like I’m hearing from a dear friend!
For the Love of a House, Joan :: I cannot remember where I found this site either (it should actually be considered a ticket to an ongoing class on how to transform a historic, run down house into a beautiful, warm and inviting home. Dan and Joan are a husband and wife team that have created a fabulous home. They both approach each project with such thoughtful creative spirit, and offer inspiring ideas. Be sure to visit each room she has links for. Oh, and she’s had lunch with Bunny Williams, how cool is that? Joan often provides lists of her “must haves”. I would have to rate the items I’ve tried as 5 star tips!
Other must-read sites I’ve mentioned before: Victoria Elizabeth Barnes, French Kissed, Adventures of Tartanscot, Design Chic, Slim Paley…I love them all! A new blog I’m enjoying is written by my friend Whitney, her blog, Sandpaper and Silly Putty, is fresh, filled with creative ideas, and always inspires me.
You can see how this time-crunch problem developed. So many lovely and talented bloggers, so little time!
I don’t think Mary had these time related issues, do you?
This doesn’t mean I won’t discover new blog sites to love…its like window shopping, you sometimes find something you aren’t sure you can live without. You can subscribe, it’s free, and you can always unsubscribe if you don’t find yourself in sync with what they’re all about.
Blogging is such a pleasurable adventure, don’t you agree?
I’m off to Austin to spend Easter with my granddaughter, oh, and her parents! See you when I return. Have a glorious Easter and may spring provide plenty of sunshine for your celebration. Karen ♥
20 Wednesday Mar 2013
Posted in Flowers, Gardening, Gardens, House and Home
Tags
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Those of us that enjoy our gardens, especially in the U.S., are still anticipating the full glory of spring. I thought I’d provide you with a little inspiration by sharing some pretty flower arrangements for you to enjoy. Some are simple and some are elaborate, all are beautiful [i.m.h.o].
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…come along, through the magical gate that will place us squarely in spring on the other side…
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Where can I find fuchsia’s this color?
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wouldn’t I love a hedge of hydrangea like this…
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and ranunculus this color?
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Oh, how I wish I lived where lilacs would grow.
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This color (below) is one of Ina Garten’s favorites…
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I’m not sure what kind of bulb this is but it’s pretty even before it blooms.
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Spring’s bounty, flowering branches, pussy willow and some kind of seed pod.
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And for my final floral contestant…possibly a wedding prop, dancing in one direction, dining in the other. Either way, I love the rusty old bicycle used for the flowers.
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Source: 1-13, Tumblr Fresh as a Daisy; 14, Tumblr A Gift Wrapped Life; 15, Tumblr Love French Bulldogs; 16-17, Tumblr Looking for Rainbows in the Moonlight
Spring will be here (in the U.S.) any time now, in fact we’ve been teased with some warm days. Wait for it, it will give us all a lift of spirits and a new level of energy. ♥ Karen
I’m joining Savvy Southern Style for her Wow Us Wednesday and on Thursday, Stone Gable, Tutorials Tips and Tidbits
17 Sunday Mar 2013
I’d like to invite you to drop by my house this morning, Sunday, March 17th,
St. Patrick’s Day…
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We’ll travel through the countryside of Ireland, I’ll drive…
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We’ll stop and visit a few of the stately homes…
Note: This post is pure fantasy. As it turns out this lovely structure (below) is located in Wales {thanks, Rosemary}
Photograph by: Gareth Hughes
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maybe even visit one that offer tours…
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Since the weather is pleasant, I suggest we have lunch at an old church that has been converted into a restaurant.
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The courtyard of the church has a lovely outdoor dining spot…
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if it starts to rain we can eat in the sun room, equally lovely…
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We have to try the restaurant’s specialty St. Paddy’s Day beverage, “Liquid Luck”…
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Remind me to show you a favorite little tree house on the way back…
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Here’s the key…
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I know we’ll have fun visiting, enjoying lunch and laughing…I can’t think of a better way to spend the day! ♥ Karen
♣Happy St. Patrick’s Day♣
Source: {1, 5, 8, 9 – tumblr The Fullerview; 2, 3, 10, 12 – tumblr Wasping through the Countryside; 4, 6, 7 – tumblr Connoisseur; 11 – tumblr Simply Pix; 13, 14 – tumblr Looking for Rainbows in the Moonlight, 15 – tumblr Lavender Colored Glasses}
13 Wednesday Mar 2013
Posted in Antiques, Collections & Accessories, Decorating, House and Home
Tags
For a home to hold great appeal and interest for me it has to have a personality. In fact, my friend Linda recently read a quote from a designer, “I like to surround myself with things I love because I feel that my home is like a scrapbook of my life”. This sums it up nicely. That is where the personality of a home comes in. When done well, a home reads like a scrapbook of where someone has been, their interests, their history and their pursuits.
I’ve lectured posted on this topic before {HERE and HERE}, but I think we’re currently in the midst of a design trend that embraces the use of reclaimed, recycled and antique (previously owned) pieces and I couldn’t be happier for it. For me personally, it’s the ideal way to go ‘green’.
Some of the treasures we love to accessorize with have gotten pricey, even when you can find it on eBay, but if you’re lucky, you have a few items handed down through family. Those are my favorites, although I’m not opposed to adding to the collection by a decade long search of each antique shop or thrift store I encounter on vacations.
Notice the wallpaper (below)…it looks to be antique newsprint, and that mirror, I can only imagine those that stole a glance at themselves as they passed it in a hallway or bedroom!
My father-in-law left us his binoculars in their original black leather case, the smaller pair were from a friend of my mother’s. All rest on the antique French coat rack in our hallway…at the ready for bird watching {joke}.
I believe furniture made from reclaimed woods can be found for reasonable prices, but I’ve seen some that out pace an antique, pricing wise.
{I think the above image is Restoration Hardware, but the antique prints make the wall sconces, mirrors, hanging light and vanity all look vintage or antique}
{Amy Howard via Cote de Texas}
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A closing post of a much loved blog site, Henhurst Interiors, 2.7.13 featured this quote “People who collect out of love are exempt from the dictates that govern traditional design, for there are no rules for true lovers.” – Rose Tarlow in The Private House ♥ Phyllis, we’ll miss you, I hope you will return to your blog sometime in the not too distant future.
06 Wednesday Mar 2013
Posted in Entertaining, Food, House and Home, Recipes
Tags
As I mentioned in my Valentine’s Dinner post, meatloaf, especially in the winter months, is a comfort food…for some, not for me. It is one of Mr. B’s favorite meals and it used to be a favorite of my father’s. I can remember mom making a huge meatloaf and then we would eat meatloaf sandwiches for a couple of days after she served the beast.
{1770 House Meatloaf ~ Ina Garten, Foolproof}
Years ago, when my mom fixed meatloaf for Mr. B (shortly after we were married) on our drive home he said, “why don’t you ever fix meatloaf?” To which I stated, “because I don’t really care for it”…yep, I can be selfish that way. After giving it some thought I decided maybe it was my mom’s meatloaf that I really didn’t like (bless you, mom) so I began trying meatloaf recipes from a wide array of sources.
{Charlotte Moss}
I hit upon a recipe that I was certain couldn’t be rivaled in a 2001 Bon Appetit. The March issue featured a meatloaf called “Red-Onion Meat Loaf“. Since Mr. B loved red onion and I didn’t mind it I figured I’d give it a go. It’s a delicious recipe and I’ve given you the link so that you can easily print it and try it yourself.
Then, a few years ago we were watching Bobby Flay’s Throw Down, on Food TV. He threw down for a meatloaf cook-off with the Collucci brothers of Hyannis, Mass. They have been serving their meatloaf recipe for generations at the Collucci’s 4 Brothers Bistro & Last Resort. I seem to remember that Bobby lost the throw down, but it was his recipe that sounded best to Mr. B. and I. I’ve been making the recipe ever since…until Ian Garten’s new Foolproof cookbook had a recipe for 1770 House meatloaf. I had to try it. It’s delicious but Mr. B, and fortunately, I agree that Bobby Flay’s recipe still wins our cravings, hands down.
Click on the link for each recipe and give them a try if you and yours love meat loaf. I’ve included table settings to jazz things up a bit. Hey, if you’re going to eat you have to set the table, right?
{Martha Stewart ~ photo by Maura McEvoy}
Do you like meatloaf? If you have a wonderful recipe, I’d love to borrow it. I’m always searching for the next “best” meatloaf ever for my honey!
{Happy 40th Anniversary, Mr. B}
01 Friday Mar 2013
Posted in Collections & Accessories, Decorating, House and Home
Tags
Chairs…we all have at least a few of them where we live, right? A couple of my best friends make a hobby of collecting them. I confess, I’ve become more fascinated with chairs and their overall design of late and if it weren’t for the fact that there isn’t one square inch of space left in our home, I could see myself buying a few of the beauties I’ve posted here.
{Possibly my favorite chair…the ottoman makes this a ideal spot for me to relax and read. The room is a south-facing room so it’s usually light and warm in the winter months}
![2-_thumb[3]](https://gardenhomeandparty.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/2-_thumb3.jpg?w=450&h=562)
{I have more than one version of the chair above, I love the wood wings on the chair and the slope of the back}
{The chairs on either side of the fireplace are inviting and appear to be comfortable}
{The leather and nail head wing back chair above is something I think could fit in almost anywhere—it’s got a wing-back look but doesn’t have the bulk of a wing back chair}
It was a great coincidence for me that I had started a folder of pictures of chairs in anticipation of writing a post about the topic. Alison of The Polohouse invited her readers to join her “Favorites on the First” with talk of chairs.
{I love it when the planets align!}
{Circa designs via heirloom philosophy}
{This club chair came from a consignment store years ago, it’s been recovered more than once, this Ralph Lauren fabric is the latest. The chair is very comfortable, just ask Madison (our dog) who spends most of her day in it!}
{I love this chair (above) with the flannel plaid on the front and the leather on the back}
{Wicker is always a classic and while the back on this one could use a cushion, in my opinion, its a very pretty chair}
This version of a wing back chair was an instant favorite with the overstuffed seat and nail heads…
{Lydia Chair via Henhurst Interiors}
{sigh}
I love a chair with details, like above and below.
{Gregorius Pineo via T&G Interiors}
{Jane Moore via Cote de Texas}
I like the added beauty of wood and linen or leather on a chair.
{John Saladino}
{Traditional Home}
Do you have a favorite chair? Do you like down-filled cushions? I’m always happy to hear from you!
I’m linking to Alison’s [The Polohouse] Favorites on the First…have a look.
Garden, Home & Party 