{GHP} Summer Lovin’

20 Wednesday Jun 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Family, Gardening, Outdoor living, Simple Meals for the Avid Cook

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When I was young I loved summer. I grew up before the days of club sports, classes to teach what the schools have decided can’t be taught anymore due to budget constraints and overly structured childhood. I didn’t have a care in the world and besides a few household chores I was asked to do since my mother worked, I would get on my bike and ride to may friends house so we could play all day and into the evening. The time between the last day of school and the first day of a new school year loomed large and held promise of sleepovers, bike riding, walking to the drugstore for ice cream and candy, hide and seek, baseball, movies and fun.

Then I began to dread summer…I’m not sure when this happened but I believe it was when I was in my gardening business. I didn’t want to be in my own garden during overly warm days and I certainly didn’t want to be in our client’s yards (this might be a bit of an overstatement, but I sure grew to dislike the heat).

Yes, I needed an attitude adjustment…

I’ve come full circle and look forward to warmer, longer days and the relaxed way of eating, dining outdoors, taking advantage of the mild evenings and enjoying a concert under the stars or a ride in the harbor with several couples on a Duffy boat. There’s a relaxed feel to the season and I’m embracing it! {honest}

So with top down, radio on, enjoy the images I find to be a symbol of summer…

Happy Summer Solstice! Enjoy your summer.

I’ve stopped in at Sherry’s Open House – No Minimalist Here

{Garden} Boxwood Basics

19 Tuesday Jun 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Flowers, Gardening, Gardens, Outdoor living, Uncategorized

≈ 13 Comments

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Boxwood

As some of you may know from reading my posts {thank you!} I am a staunch anglophile. My first trip to England took place in 1985 and I fell in love with all things British. We’ve vacationed in the country many times since.

English Cottage ~ love the boxwood and urns.

So when it came to landscaping my smallish yard I knew I wanted it to reflect, on a much smaller scale, an English cottage garden.

We’ve been in our house 30 years, and only now am I beginning to see the image I’ve had in my mind for all these years. What’s taken you so long you may ask? In short, life, children and sometimes funding. ♥

We had a wooden swing set in the yard during the kids “formative” years and it had plenty of use, then we’ve had baseball practice, soccer practice, a sandbox [don’t try to plant a cottage garden near a sandbox, trust me on this one] and dogs to somewhat stall or hinder me.

I’ve trained a row of English ivy along the stone border in the back yard.

The hedge of boxwoods around the patio were transplants from another area of the yard, they are still recovering, but all in all have survived and are showing signs of new growth.

On the side yard I’ve started a hedge of Texas privet (ligustrom) to cover the neighbor’s wall, in front is a low hedge of Japanese boxwood.

In any event, even while my garden business was thriving, I chipped away at areas of the yard and got most of the boxwood (Buxus microphylla japonica) hedges going. The great thing about boxwood hedges in Southern California is the fact that they are pretty easy to grow and require only reasonable amounts of water. I buy the variety that stands up to cool temperatures, even though we don’t get frost where I live. I still have lost the occasional boxwood but in many cases they will fill in where the loss occurs, or I simply buy a 1-gallon replacement.

via Jennings & Gates ~ don’t you love this picture of boxwood with white Crepe Myrtle planted in each section, and the fabulous fountain in the center?

via Atlanta Home and Garden

When my roses are in bloom the formal garden shines.

Here are a few easy tips to keep your boxwood happy:

They prefer well-drained soil

When trimming boxwood be sure to remove all cuttings. If you don’t clean up trimmings you can create an environment for fungus which can cause the plant to die.
Exposure: Full sun or light shade

Carla’s garden…my friend always inspires me.

Dunham Classic American House ~ the boxwood breaks up the expanse of brick leading to the entrance of this lovely home.

via Nest Egg ~ this New Orleans business used boxwood in the planter and as an architectural accent with the rounded hedge spaced between classic boxwood.

Side note: I’ve always been a huge fan of gardening, proof follows. We lived in Texas for 2 years, when my mom came to visit we bought these crazy overalls as we prepared to plant the yard. My orange overalls made me look like an escaped prisoner…LOL! Hubby took the picture to imply I made my mom work during her visit…which was true, in part. 🙂 Can you see our toddler son in the image, still in his footed jammies?

Do you like the “formality” of boxwood?

I’m over at Fishtail Cottage enjoying her garden party and

Stone Gable for her Tutorial Tips and Tidbits

{Garden} Breakfast outdoors

29 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Food, Gardens, Outdoor living, Recipes, Simple Meals for the Avid Cook

≈ 7 Comments

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cinnamon roll cake

I know I’m not alone in wanting to enjoy every possible minute outdoors before it gets too hot. So I plan to make an extra effort to announce to Hubby in advance that we’re going to be enjoying breakfast on the patio. {He responds so much better to change with advance notice}

To go along with dining outdoors, which always feel special, I’m sharing a recipe I found on a relatively new (to me) blog site. Pine Cones and Acorns is written by Elizabeth and she recently posted a recipe for Cinnamon Roll Cake. It is just what the title implies…the yummy goodness of a rich, buttery cinnamon roll in an easy, make-ahead, cake. That with a cup of steaming hot coffee and a bit of half and half and I’m in heaven.

Note: For original recipe visit the link above or below. I halved the recipe since I knew I was baking for 2 and I didn’t want to be forced to eat all of it and thereby gain 5 lbs. As a result, I cooked it in a loaf pan and baked it the night before. I glazed it the morning I served it. It was delicious!

Cinnamon Roll Cake

Recipe adapted from Pine Cones and Acorns

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour

1/8 tps salt

1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

3/4 cup milk

1 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 Tb. butter, melted

2 sticks (1 cup) butter, softened

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 T flour

1 1/2 Tb cinnamon

nuts (optional)

Glaze:

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1-2 Tb milk

1/2 tsp. vanilla

Directions for cake: With an electric mixer or stand-up mixer, mix flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, milk, eggs, and vanilla. Once combined well, slowly stir in 2 T melted butter. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan pan.

Directions for cinnamon mixture that goes in cake before baked: In a large bowl, mix the 1 stick of softened butter, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nuts (optional) until well combined. Drop evenly over cake batter by the tablespoon and use a knife to marble/swirl through the cake. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes or until toothpick comes out nearly clean from center.

Directions for Glaze: Place powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla in a large bowl. Whisk until smooth. Drizzle over cake. Serve warm or (if you prepare it the night before) at room temperature.

But wait, there’s more, with this recipe I’m including some lovely outdoor dining tablescapes, compliments of hours of on-line searching by moi!

I realize that the images are showing tables with multiple place settings but I trust you can gather some inspiration and set your table for however many folks you are serving.

Don’t you love the little rock on each napkin to hold them if there’s a strong breeze? I also like the small galvanized cup holding a plant. You can get creative and informal outdoors, I say the more rustic the better.

I’ve always liked the idea of using throws when dining outdoors. I’ve even seen them priced so reasonably online.

How lucky are these people (below). I would love to have a body of water in my backyard to dine by. A stream, a lake, a pond…any of those would rock my world.

I really need to update my photo portfolio of my own patio table. This is the table we still use, but these are the “killer chairs” and now we have Kooboo wicker chairs.

Here’s the new chairs. Very comfy and relaxing.

A fireplace would be nice on a chilly morning, don’t you agree?

{via}

Do you have an outdoor dining space?

I’m visiting Fishtail Cottage for her garden party.

{Garden} Appreciating nature, my fine feathered friends

24 Thursday May 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Gardens, Misc

≈ 9 Comments

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Nature, nests

We’re off to Austin to do our first solo gig as babysitters for our sweet granddaughter. I’ve put a few posts in the queue and I’ll be back mid-week next week. Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!

xo, Karen

As we head towards a long weekend, hopefully for everyone, I thought you might have time to enjoy nature…it can be as simple as appreciating the sunset each evening, admiring the lake you may be skiing on, being thankful for the beach or the fabulous scents of pine while hiking or taking a relaxing walk in the forest, or you can observe with wonder the work of our fine feathered friends…

While reading the Sunday paper a couple of weeks ago an news article caught my eye due in part to the beautiful watercolor drawings associated with the feature. The piece, titled “A family’s strong nesting instinct” by Liesl Bradner, told of a family living in Ohio in the mid-1800’s and of their appreciation and love of the “natural world”. Genevieve “Gennie” Jones would ride with her country doctor father to visit patients and her father would discuss nature. This father-daughter practice ultimately resulted in the making of a book titled “America’s Other Audubon”. The fascinating story can be found HERE.

Smithsonian Institution Libraries on Display

…and all of the plates from the book can be viewed HERE.

Smithsonian Institution Libraries on Display

I realize it may seem as though I’m overly focused on birds lately, but I must admit, I do love watching them during these warmer months. They enrich the garden with their singing and chirping and hopefully they are devouring some of the insects that eat too freely of my flowers. 🙂

Smithsonian Institution Libraries on Display

I found a nest in our Cecile Brunner rose last fall…the birds had nested when the rose was filled with blossoms and leaves. I left it in hopes it would provide materials for another bird family.

{Note: Please ignore the saw fly holes in the leaves, I’m working on the problem}

We have lots of hummingbirds in our garden, they especially love the Mexican sage and lavender. We often think they arrive on cue, it almost seems they are asking us to keep it down, they are dining.

{via}

I have posted about the wren family* that lived in a decorative bird house in our garden, raised a family, sent them to flight school and returned a couple of months later to raise their second set of twins.

{via}

Meanwhile, my roses are now finished with their first bloom cycle. Here are a few of the examples of the best of the lot during the initial spring bloom.

French Lace~ Hybrid Tea Rose

Iceberg Rose ~ considered by some to be “common” but they sure bloom a ton almost all year in Southern California.

This was a no-name rose I picked up at Lowe’s but the yellow is so pretty and the petals so plentiful, I really like it.

This (below) setting must be high rent for birds, so lush and green and peaceful.

{via}

I guess there might be birds that would truly appreciate this little house in the dead of winter! Brrrr!

{via}

I enjoy seeing the use of nature’s best as decorative accessory in a home. If you can’t find nests in and around your yard, {and please make sure the owner is finished with the next before taking possession!} there are hobby shops that sell some realistic imitations.

{via}

And, while I’m on the topic of appreciating nature, while in Austin last month the in-laws took me to a restaurant in San Marcos, just outside of Austin, where this 100+ year old oak tree greets all who visit. Majestic!

San Marcos, Texas

How’s nature in your region? Do you have birds or other creatures visiting your yard this time of year? I love hearing from you!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day, take a minute to be thankful we live in a nation that has been kept safe thanks to those that fight and sometime fall for our freedom.

*By the way, if you click the link to my story about the wren family we housed in our birdhouse, please note that this was my earliest days of blogging and I wasn’t sure how to put an image into the post, so one post has the image of the wren house and one post has the story. 🙂 Oh how far we’ve come.

I’m joining the Garden Party at Fishtail Cottage, have a look.

{GHP} Happy Mother’s Day

10 Thursday May 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Antiques, Decorating, Family, Flowers, Holiday/Seasonal cooking

≈ 14 Comments

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Mother's Day

Parenting is not a duty. It is a privilege and an opportunity; A journey of self-discovery. -Becca Glouzstein

Charles Faudree ~ French Country Living

Oh for the clothing of earlier mom’s!

I lost my mom nearly two years ago to the day. I really never thought about what life would be without her, I miss her.

Since we’re going to celebrate MOTHERS this coming Sunday I thought I would share images that seem to reflect a feminine side to life as it pertains to home life and decor. As a mom, I feel blessed to have two wonderful sons and a wonderful daughter-in-law, with another lovely lady to join our family this December!

Donna Talley

Mary McDonald

The Paper Mulberry

Ralph Lauren Home

So, if you’re lucky enough to have a mom, especially one that lives nearby, be sure to treat her to a relaxing day filled with thoughtful deeds and loving gestures.

Happy Mother’s Day!

You can find me at Sherry’s Open House, No Minimalist Here

{Garden} Spring planting and the knot garden

08 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Flowers, Gardening, Gardens, Maintenance, Outdoor living

≈ 27 Comments

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Knot garden

I’ve been busy in the garden this past month. The season makes it easy to want to be working the soil and planting new annual flowers you’ve missed seeing during the fall and winter months.

We have a relatively smallish backyard in our home of 30 years. About 10 years ago I happened to be on a home tour of several homes in Newport Beach, California. One of the homes we visited on the tour backed to Newport Bay and the tiny, postage sized yard had a knot garden. I wasted no time, I cleared an area of my yard and planted almost 200 Japanese boxwood’s (believe it or not, I planted each and every one myself; I was younger and more energetic 10 years ago!). 🙂

Inspiration for knot/formal garden dreamers…

I had purchased a sundial from Smith & Hawkins a few years before (boy, do I miss that retail store) and that became the center for my garden. I selected roses (Romantica Roses: Guy de Maupassant and Eden; Hybrid Teas: St. Patrick’s and Pearl) for the center of each boxwood corner and have been happy with it each time I visit the yard. Each year I work on the outer edges of my formal space. Our neighbor has a wonderful, old Alder tree and the roots invade my yard so it’s a bit of a challenge to keep plants happy in this root ridden area. I did plant a Sally Holmes rose that puts on a great show each spring, but even Iceberg planted along the edges seem to struggle a bit.

You can see my neighbor’s alder tree. She always asks if we want her to take it out since she knows of the roots that it sends out…I always say “NO”. I’m a huge supporter of trees and plenty of them. The red flowering tree is a bottle brush. When the kids were little we called it the ‘bee tree’…when its in bloom like this all you have to do is walk nearby and you hear it buzz. No, none of us have allergies to bees and no, we’ve never been stung by our bottle brush bees.

I call my garden a knot garden, but it really isn’t a knot garden, formal garden maybe, the boxwood’s would need to interlink to be a knot garden.

(Above) is a photo of part of our patio, the window is my kitchen bay window.

(Below) is a close up of the Sally Holmes climbing rose.

Sally has a ‘waverly sage’ salvia in front of her…it’s not in bloom yet but will be shortly.

I’ve trained the star jasmine on a wired geometric grid. Sorry for the overexposed photograph. Below is my hydrangea…I wanted to grow them all around the edges but alas, all but this one threw in the towel.

This sitting area was finished last year…the shade of the ficus trees make it the coolest spot in the yard during hot days.

Gotta run, my sundial says it time to get back to work. Have a wonderful week. Let me know what you are planting this year.

I’m visiting Centsational Girl’s Garden Party, let’s have a look!

and

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

and

the Garden Party at Fishtail Cottage

and

Favorite on the First with Alison at The Polo House

{Garden} Birds and their baths

03 Thursday May 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Gardening, Gardens, Outdoor living

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

gates

I’ve had birds on the brain lately. {I was going to try for a chuckle with the whole birds and brains wording, but decided against it 🙂} It might be the season [SPRING] that has created this interest but I think it’s more likely the fact that birds seem to be found in all areas of the décor arena, and this time of year, in most backyards.

This image from an old book would make a great picture for the wall.

tumblr ~ If I Forget Thee

There are so many great toile fabrics that feature birds.

Schumacher

Very cool pillow, I can’t remember where I found this image but I really liked the pillow and the stripes on the wall, nice foyer.

unknown

These would be a great way to keep the garden hose off your newly planted flowers.

Smith and Hawken

I like these little finch!

Crate and Barrel

Today I want to offer images of some pretty bird baths. We have a bird bath and I’m always thrilled when I look out my kitchen window and there are actually birds bathing in it! Needless to say, my camera is always on the other side of the house when this occurs but I will try to keep it handy this spring and summer and attempt to catch one of our feathered friends in the act. It’s quite entertaining and always makes me smile.

This is our birdbath at Easter. The rusty little bird welcomes any and all bathers.

GHP

This birdbath is pretty with it’s faux tree-branch base and the setting doesn’t hurt…this is the talented Penelope Bianchi’s garden/grounds.

Penelope Bianchi Blog

I would love to have birds this colorful visit my birdbath. We have had a very bright yellow bird visit. I should learn the names of some of Southern California’s common birds.

Pinterest

My friend, Carla, has the same birdbath in a slightly different finish. My birdbath was a gift from her…hey, I’m not above being a copy cat 😉

CJW

This birdbath is spectacular. I don’t know where it is located but I’d imagine it on the grounds of an estate in England…a girl can dream, right?

unknown

Here’s a lovely example of a three tiered bird bath/fountain planted with succulents.

Providence Ltd. Design

This little guy appears to have stuck up a conversation with the bronzed guys.

Pinterest

I really like this terra cotta birdbath and the ‘pennywort’ (?) they’ve planted.

The ever-talented Jermaine at French Kissed shared her bird bath planted with succulents…so pretty.

French Kissed

This bird bath is surrounded by lush green and is planted with wonderful flowers.

Tutti Chic

Do you have a bird bath or bird feeder? Do you like birds…I know some that are frightened by them, might be the Hitchcock link. Happy Spring. I hope you are enjoying the season no matter what your interests. I’d love to hear from you.

I’m over at Sherry’s Open House, join me at No Minimalist Here

I will also visit French Country Cottage for her Feathered Nest Friday!

{Garden} Gates

26 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Gardening, Gardens, Outdoor living

≈ 12 Comments

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garden gates

I’m on a roll with having posted about doors recently, I figure since spring is here I might as well share a few garden gates to go with the doors.

Gates can be inviting i.e. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, there is promise of beauty and serenity. The wonder of what lies beyond. This time of year is especially filled with wonder at what Mother Nature has to offer. Even mundane (simple shrubbery) landscape seems to shine beyond what you might expect this time of year. It seems all leaves are fresh and green beyond imagination.

Wouldn’t it be fun to construct a fence specifically to fit an antique or vintage gate? Debra at Acquired Objects is doing just that. Read her post HERE.

Acquired Objects

This iron gate (below) looks like it was made at the same time the fencing was installed…wouldn’t it be pretty on just about any fencing?

source unknown

tumblr

This is probably my favorite gate, but I’d want the ivy covered stone wall and the probable castle (just beyond)!

tumblr

Isn’t the gate above amazing? It’s gray color makes me think it could be some kind of metal. It reminds me of a Celtic knot.

tumblr

The detailing on the blue fence (above) is the same found on a picket fence designer Amy Meier shared with her readers a few weeks ago.

Amy Meier Design

I love hydrangea. Maybe this gate would be the one I’d most like, provided I could enjoy healthy, beautiful hydrangea.

tumblr

via Pinterest

The Garden Nymph ~ tumblr

Do you have a garden gate? Is there a beautiful garden waiting on the other side?

{Garden, Home and Party} New House

12 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Gardens

≈ 4 Comments

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Note to readers

Hi Dear Readers,

If you follow me, thank you, and you may have noticed I have a new header and font. My oldest son moved me from WordPress to WordPress.com. Being technically challenged, as I am {still} I don’t know the difference other than I will have more control over my site now. Is that a good thing? Really?

I will try to iron out any kinks, Kyle assures me the changes should be minimal. I hope you will continue to visit and leave comments if you want. I’m in Austin and Kyle is walking me through this.

I’m in Austin visiting Kyle, his lovely wife and my darling granddaughter. I’ll be home this weekend. Let me know what you think and if there are any improvements needed, don’t tell me, I won’t know how to fix them…not really.

xo,

Karen B.

{Garden} Here come Peter Cottontail…bunnies in the backyard.

22 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Flowers, Gardening, Holiday/Seasonal cooking, Outdoor living

≈ 17 Comments

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bunnies

Spring his here, at least the calendar says it is. In anticipation of Spring and Easter I puttered in the back yard a bit and thought I’d share some of the bunnies that are visiting my yard.

I think Peter Rabbit is stealing eggs and maybe has his eye on the cabbage!

I also stumbled upon a great deal from a consignment store for the blue and white garden seat. I’ll put the cushions out as soon as the threat of rain leaves our 7-day forecast.