Entertaining in the autumn

23 Wednesday Sep 2015

Posted by Karen B. in Autumn, Entertaining, Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Holiday/Seasonal cooking, Simple Meals for the Avid Cook

≈ 37 Comments

I always jump the gun on fall…which is particularly defeatist since Southern California typically doesn’t see truly cool (a relative term) weather ~~ever~~ until late October or early November. Still, it’s my favorite season {with spring a close second} and I can hardly wait.

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The acorns and sycamore leaves were gathered on my walk that first weekend in September

When our Austin family visited earlier this month, I found myself decorating the dining room table for fall. We have several September birthdays in the family and since September always reminds me that fall is close at hand, I thought why not?! Besides, we had the a/c running so you could pretend it was cool outside. 🙂

I saved the oak leaves from a visit to Big Bear and wrote the name of each guest on a leaf to use as place cards.

Redfern the pheasant is in his usual spot for the fall season.

There were lively conversations among the guests…Olivia (4 years) & Fae (1 year next month) {granddaughters}

I’ve dropped the ball where entertaining / cooking posts are concerned. So in addition to the table setting, I’ve included the menu items I served for our birthday celebration {in the season of almost autumn}. 🙂

Our dinner menu was very simple and due to the heat, instead of birthday cake I created an ice cream bar with a variety of flavors and toppings for each guest to create their own sundae.

assorted appetizers

Costco’s Bill Baily’s Santa Maria Tri Tip [Mr. B. grilled] served with Chimichurri Sauce

Crispy English Potatoes from Barefoot Contessa/Foolproof book

grilled green beans

Happy Birthday Sundaes

The Costco tri tip is pre-seasoned and can be grilled or roasted in the oven. The fresh herbs and bright lemon flavor of the Chimichurri sauce were a hit. I prepared Crispy English Potatoes from Ina Garten’s Foolproof Cookbook and you can prepare them earlier in the day and reheat when ready to serve. Mr. B. grilled the green beans on the grill using a veggie basket. Son #1 assisted since his signature seasonings for the beans are a family favorite.

I will add some pumpkins and mums during the later part of the month…

spruce up my autumn wreath for the front door, borrowing inspiration from creative people such as Studio Choo…

and give some thought to a dinner for sometime in October…which will be here before we know it.

Happy Autumn to you all! Are you decorated for the season, please tell me I’m not the only one overly eager for the season.

Living small(er) — minimalism and small spaces

16 Wednesday Sep 2015

Posted by Karen B. in Cottages, House and Home

≈ 40 Comments

Tags

paring down, small space

It seems there is a trend towards minimizing. Living a full life with less stuff…the ‘less is more’ theory is alive and well. There are several blog sites dedicated to helping those interested in accomplishing this task. I confess I drank the kool-aid. I too, find myself paring down, weeding out. I assumed my motivation was due to where I’m at in my life [read: age]. After 7 months of actively working on selling, giving away, or tossing items, I really like the feeling of living with what I love. This, for me, is not minimalist in the usual sense, since much of what I love involves stuff that I’ve collected along life’s journey and I treasure those items. For me it’s culling the boxes of things that are no longer useful, my adult kids don’t want, or that maybe someone might treasure.

Minimalism is not a lack of something. It’s simply the perfect amount of something. – Nicholas Burroughs

In the same area of interest, I’ve read a lot of articles about smaller houses being in demand. I think that part of living with less space is so very personal. One man’s 4,200sf house may seem small for their lifestyle, family needs, etc. Our 1,750sf house is feeling large in the way of the maintenance involved in caring for it. Don’t get me wrong, we’re not ready to sell and buy an Airstream, but there have been conversations about the possibility of townhome living in the future. All of this got me to thinking about that cottage I’ve always dreamt of and what that might look like, as well as some of the larger homes that are labeled as “cottages”. So here are some pretty cottages, and a couple of homes that aren’t quite cottage-sized by U.S. standards.

I’ve written on this topic before, HERE, HERE and HERE.

Is this the Brit’s idea of a small house? I doubt it, but I have to share a line from an all time favorite Jane Austen movie…

Are there any Sense & Sensibility movie fans out there? Preferably the 1995 Ang Lee version, starring Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet & Hugh Grant? Fanny, the not so nice sister-in-law, says this of Barton Cottage, “Oh, a cottage! How charming. A little cottage is always very snug” [while knowing that she [Fanny & her husband] will be moving into the beautiful, large, estate that Elinor and her mom and sisters are forced to move from due to British law. Does this look like a cottage to you?! -below-

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This is what I envision as a cottage…stone walls, nice roofline and a soft, welcoming glow from the windows. For more images of the interior of this dreamy cottage visit Caroline Holdaway Designs.

{Designed by Caroline Holdaway ~ Photography by Simon Brown}

This might be a backyard studio…it appears to be very small, but isn’t it sweet?

The cozy feel of a cottage has been interpreted for us though lots of movies, but I realize I don’t live in England, probably never will, and that rooms in a smaller home in the U.S. will probably have a different feel. Still, here are some of my favorite small space rooms.

This charming home was posted a few years back on Cote de Texas. The home belongs (or did at the time) to artist Melanie Millar. It’s a charming, but smallish home.

{Cote de Texas ~ Artist Melanie Millar}

While I love the open floor plans so popular today, its the the tucked away rooms, the surprises, that appeal to me. The dining nook below may have been something with an entirely different purpose before.

{Cote de Texas ~ Artist Melanie Millar}

Cindy over at Rough Luxe Lifestyle did a post on Musoka Living Interiors last month. I fell in love with their style and this bedroom in particular.

{Rough Luxe Lifestyle ~ Muskoka Living Interiors}

Dan Marty always managed to make any room seem comfortable, large or small.

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Sometimes smaller rooms may force you to employ double-duty of pieces of furniture or rooms. This table, turned desk space, could be wonderful in any living room.

This towel bar serves as a pan holder, clever use for a small kitchen.

The breakfast bar doesn’t have to be strictly utilitarian, the canisters and flowers make this bar such a pretty addition to a small space.

{Chris Barrett Design}

Can you imagine yourself living in a smaller home? Maybe once the nest is empty?

September is California Wine Month

02 Wednesday Sep 2015

Posted by Karen B. in Autumn, Travel

≈ 27 Comments

Tags

Wine Month in CA

Hi friends, I know I’ve been absent. I will try to be better with the season change. Somehow I feel more creative in the cooler months, does that ever happen to you? Thanks for your patience and I’m so happy you’re here. I miss you guys when I’m not around.

September is California Wine Month. {Who knew?!} One of the jewels in the crown of this state is the various vineyards dotted along the coastal regions of California. The Napa Valley is certainly the most well known, but on its heels are Paso Robles, Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez Valley. I’m sure there are many more that I’ve simply not visited or heard about.

Taylor Family Vineyard

Since I have been known to enjoy a glass of good Chardonnay {Rombauer is an expensive favorite} now and again {almost every evening} 😉 I thought I’d share with you one of my favorite vineyards and some of the homes in the Napa Valley region.

Rombauer

I’ll start with my favorite vineyard, Newton. This winery was made known to me about 7 years ago when the business partners I work for planned their annual retreat to the Napa Valley. Their trip included the 3 partners and their wives. One of the wives organized the itinerary and I noted with interest that I had never heard of Newton. We journeyed to the wine country shortly after this discovery and included a reservation for a tour.

The tour, limited to 12, is a relaxing and informative walk around the grounds—ending with a tasting that includes samples of, not only their wines, but small bites of various foods that would enhance each wine. All were served, and wines were considered, at this table in this room with a view that goes forever.

The British phone booth is one of the first things you see upon entering the grounds at Newton…

In addition to the Zen garden on the grounds…

…there’s this…

This (below) was our first visit one rainy day in February {before the California drought}

Mr. B. and I are the couple on the left…our dear, brave friends joined us. Newton provided the umbrellas.

If you’d like to know more of the fascinating story about Newton visit HERE

The Napa Valley region is one that enjoys vistas of rolling hills, many dotted with vineyards.

Some time ago we attended the wedding of the son of some good friends. The reception was held at Beaulieu Gardens in St. Helena, a beautiful little town north of Napa. It was a memorable event not only due to the celebration and marriage of these two lovely young people, but the setting…

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There are some lovely homes in the area and, as expected, many of them are estates with price tags to match. I want to share a few of homes I found on Zillow, in case you’re ready to pack up and move to this slice of paradise. 🙂 All 3 of the homes below are near, or well over the $1,000,000 mark. Crazy, right? But it is a pretty amazing zip code.

This cute little home is located in one of my favorite smallish towns in the region, St. Helena.

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I like the shutters on this beauty. The olive tree and architecture gives this property a French vibe, don’t you think?

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The gray house appealed to me because it looks to be set in a wooded area, something I find so peaceful.

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To end my nod to “Wine Month – California” I also want to share some of the rooms designed by a favorite interior/exterior designer in Napa—Barbara Colvin.

Enjoy the beauty this talented designer creates…

[Barbara Colvin & Co.]