End of summer

31 Wednesday Aug 2016

Posted by Karen B. in Family, Gardening, House and Home, Outdoor living, Personal Information, Summer

I’m back and ready to pick up where we left off—where was that, exactly? Happy Wednesday! Summer is not quite finished yet. The summer weather here in SoCal has been manageable overall. We typically get really hot in September, just when I start to think about cool weather, fires in the fireplace and turtleneck sweaters!

Labor Day marks the ceremonial end of summer, but there are still a good few weeks to enjoy the season, even after the three-day weekend ends and schools begin their calendar year. This year, the last day of summer is officially on Sept. 22.

As I mentioned on National Ice Cream Day (third Sunday in July), I’ve worked hard on relaxing during my off hours. I know it’s weird to say I have to work hard to relax, but it’s the truth. As my mother used to say, “Karen, sit still!”

This is what I’ve been up to…

I did a lot of gardening, made plenty of time for entertaining friends and family and actually relaxed a little more than usual.

I shared the patio garden reveal back in March. I wanted to update you with it’s progress.

March 30, 2016: Newly planted patio garden

June 22, 2016: My, how you’ve grown!

The heliotrope and Polygala ‘petite butterfly’ have filled in nicely. Yes, I share the garden with a variety of caterpillars who have been munching on the leaves of the heliotrope as you can see on the leaves in this picture. The delphinium are getting ready to bloom for the second time and the iceberg roses are photo bombing this image (in the background). They’re such show offs. 😉

About the time I feel as if maybe I’m pretty good at gardening I try my hand at planting a few tomato plants and this happens. Gardening can keep you humble with the ~~frequent~~ occasional failure.

I don’t usually plant edibles, except for a few herbs. I have only one spot in the yard that gets “full sun”. So this year I planted 3 small tomato plants in the large clay pot (above-right), in the sunniest location we have. Did I over water? Possibly. The leaves started turning yellow and then shriveling up. Experts on growing tomatoes [in blogland] weigh in, please. I’d love to be able to grow a tomato in this planter.

Here are the other tomato plants, they seem to be surviving. They are in the ground. Wish me luck. We’ve already seen evidence of a critter taking the green tomatoes off the vine and sampling them! {Note to self: This is why I buy my produce at the market} 🙂

One of our close friend’s had a milestone birthday and we hosted a small dinner party for him. It was very fun and since he’s the first to hit this “milestone” birthday, we teased him unmercifully about age!

I used the Portmerion Botanic Garden dishes, my wooden handled flatware, and my green and white plaid napkins for the summer party.

The handsome guy with the apron is our guest of honor. We found the apron HERE. It’s a fun gift for a guy that enjoys grilling!

Recipe and table settings for summer entertaining.

We logged in some wonderful family time, complete with our Austin son and family. Seeing the cousins enjoy themselves while the “adult kids” caught up warmed my heart beyond measure. Icing on the cake! Olivia, our 5 years old granddaughter marching and singing, which tickled Fae our 1 1/2 year old! {bottom picture: Fae at our local park—playing at the “cafe”}

We celebrated with long time friends (almost family) at the wedding of their oldest daughter in a spot that is so swoon worthy—add a romantic wedding and I’m a puddle of warmth and emotions.

Congratulations to the wonderful couple and best wishes to our dear friends, Gretchen and Stu!

I read a few books and by far, my favorite was Eligible: A Modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfeld. It was a fun read that stayed mostly true to Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

This pretty much sums up summer. My day job is great and I enjoy the challenges and the camaraderie it provides. What have you been up to?

Karen♥

{Garden, Home and Party} A return to the party. Outdoor Rooms

10 Wednesday Sep 2014

Posted by Karen B. in House and Home, Outdoor living

≈ 37 Comments

Tags

outdoor rooms

I’m back and ready to pick up where I left off. Some of you read my post about (and were so supportive of) my hiatus from blogging [read: writers block]. Its surprising what a little mindless relaxation and rest from a hobby will do for you. I was so touched by all of your kindness and encouragement. Thank you! ♥ Karen

The Real Work

by Wendell Berry

It may be that when we no longer know what to do
we have come to our real work,

and that when we no longer know which way to go
we have come to our real journey.

The mind that is not baffled is not employed.

The impeded stream is the one that sings.

Thank you, Anita of Castles, Crowns and Cottages, for the introduction to the above quote. It truly made me feel better about writing and the ideas required to feel creative.

My vacation gave me time to ponder what I want the blog to be about and I’ve decided I really do enjoy writing about home interests. Nothing all that deep, I’m more about the fluff of it all. I tried imagining me writing about other topics but it always came back to the uncomplicated fact that when asked, “what interests you?” the answer was elementary. Gardens (both working in and learning new things about); my home (making the occasional improvements and tweaking, always tweaking, this and that); and entertaining friends and family therein. These are what brings me the most pleasure. Simple, right?

So…for a new post after a long vacation I decided to share some inspiring garden rooms, as I refer to them. Summer is near its end but here in Southern California we will ~~suffer~~ experience heat through September.

When I was growing up I don’t recall there being the vast array of options for creating rooms outdoors the way they exist today. Did we have a patio? Absolutely. Did we have a table and seating for outdoor dining? Yes, indeed. My dad grilled all through the summer months. But would you have looked at this space and imagined some of the additional comforts and decorative bits and pieces we now include in our ‘outdoor dining rooms’? NO.

{T&G}

So, these are a few of my favorite dining spaces and a few outdoor living spaces as well. I’ve included an image of my current patio and the newer pea gravel space under the cooling shade of two very large Ficus Benjamina trees. (Are roots an issue? Yes they are. My gardener takes great pains annually to cut off the roots that creep out from about a 5′ radius of the trees base and that seems to stem their destructive ways). He also strongly recommends that we prune the 2 trees often, this gives them a reason to put new growth at the top, not at the roots.

So, without further ado…here are some wonderful outdoor spaces that can give us one last relaxing sigh as summer heads out and fall comes into focus.

{BHG}

{Libbey Ranch, Ojai}

{Enchanted Home}

{Emily Followill Photography}

{Providence Design}

{Enchanted Home}

{unknown}

Finally, truth be told, I wouldn’t mind this outdoor experience as well. I know I’m being naive, I’ve never lived where it snows and I’ve been told by some with experience in such weather conditions, that it would only take one brutal winter in the east to cure me of the romantic notions I have about snow!

Do you have outdoor room(s) you enjoy during the warmer months of the year?

{Garden} Inspiration for the garden – Chelsea Flower Show

18 Friday Jul 2014

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

≈ 70 Comments

Tags

Chelsea Garden Show, Garden Tours in England

RERUN ALERT: I shared this post at the end of April but I couldn’t resist re-posting so that I could join Anita over at her beautiful blog site Castles Crowns and Cottages, where she’s inviting all of us to share our favorite destination. England captured my heart years ago and I will share a bit about the Chelsea Flower Show. I’ve never been but it’s a dream! Because this post coincided with an eye to spring in the garden I am sharing additional inspiration for creating a pretty garden. I hope you enjoy and will stop by for a visit sometime. ♥

Here we find ourselves on the last day of the month of April (where’s the time going?). There’s been weeks of activity in the garden if you are an enthusiast and if you happen to live in a climate like my neck of the woods, Southern California. Gardening is pretty much a year-round hobby here.

Still, there’s always interest for me to see what others are doing to their own yards and as usual, I gain the inspiration I’m seeking to create a new corner or change out a fledgling flower bed, from fellow blogging friends and international gardens posted on the internet.

{Charlotte Moss}

{Restoring our 1890 Victorian, Victoria Elizabeth Barnes}

Above, I’ve added Helebores to my wish list when they’re available. Below, don’t you love this clever use of grass and concrete squares. Not to mention, it would be so great to have an outdoor fireplace.

{5th and State}

Tone on Tone just published a great post on his blue garden, published in Southern Living magazine. I’ve made a list of blue flowers for my own garden.

{Tone on Tone – Loi’s beautiful blue garden}

This year my friend, Carla, happens to be going to the Chelsea Flower Show (May 20 – 24th). With the show’s 100 year anniversary behind them (2013), I’d guess this year may be an impressive show of innovative and unique gardens. Maybe it’s that way every year, but I like to think there’s always a wave of extra talent after a big anniversary of something as wonderful as the Chelsea Flower Show.

The first year (1913) Chelsea Flower Show was introduced there were 244 exhibitors, last year there were over 500. The show attracts over 150,000 visitors each year. It’s on my bucket list. I know I’d love it

{via}

…and for those of you who would like to have their very own folly…here is a company that will build it for you. They entered the Chelsea Garden Show with this little gem.

{via}

Since we’re speaking of gardens in England, this past fall the Los Angeles Times travel section featured a list of gardens you can visit more than once per year in England. The Stone House Garden in Cheltenham, Goucestershire was appealing to me for the home as much as the grounds. Started by a garden hobbyist, Katie Lukas, she developed her garden on the 2 1/2 acres surrounding her Cotswold home.

{photo by Nan Sterman}

No surprise, Cambridge University Botanic Garden, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire offers a learning experience in addition to the wonderful gardens presented. There’s a garden where plants are grouped by the era in which they were introduced to the British Isles. I selected this image since I was surprised the garden features our own California Poppy!

{photo by Nan Sterman}

What would a garden tour be without a garden by a castle? Broughton Castle, Banbury, Oxfordshire is a 700-year old castle. There are sheep on the grounds (wouldn’t it be great to look out your window to green rolling hills, dotted with sheep? {Maybe I’ve seen one too many period piece movies and PBS presentations?} Climbing roses, “lushly planted garden borders” and more, this one is on my list. To read more and to get ideas for your garden visit HERE.

My own garden can always use a little tweaking. I hope to work on the area under the bottle brush tree (the red blossoming tree in this picture). The roots are so prohibitive to digging and such. I am currently doing some homework on finding plants that need next to nothing but will grow and thrive in spite of adverse conditions. Any suggestions?

Have you started planning / planting your garden? Any new projects on the table?

It’s summertime and the livin’ is easy

18 Wednesday Jun 2014

Posted by Karen B. in Outdoor living

≈ 23 Comments

Tags

summer living

Saturday, June 21, 6:51 AM officially marks the beginning of summer solstice. If you visit my blog regularly, it comes as no surprise that as I’ve matured I find summer doesn’t hold as much joy for me as it did when I was in school. This is attributable to one main fact…I ~~hate~~ really don’t like the heat. But, a few years back I made up my mind to make the best of every season, to live in the now and be grateful for whatever the hour, day, month, season has to offer. As opposed to wishing for Autumn sometime around July 15th.

{Hatfield House}

So, I thought it would be helpful to reinforce my positive attitude towards summer; an exercise to remind me of the joys of each season. Try to show myself, and you, that I mean what I say. I am embracing the season of summer!

This will be a little personal, since not everyone feels the same about summer’s features/benefits, but hopefully there will be a few images that make you happy for this upcoming season. In fact, I hope you’ll share with me what you love most about summer, maybe some of your summer-joy will rub off on me.

{source}

Summer vegetables, especially if you’re able to grow them in your own backyard. If life were perfect I’d have a vegetable plot like the above, but in reality I don’t have enough sun to grow more than herbs. If I had more sun, this planter below would be my speed. I like the simplicity of it. Function over form?!

{source}

Outdoor living. After most of us have been trapped indoors for several months due to weather, we all long to be outdoors, right? It’s the juxtaposition of the seasons that make us appreciate the change in weather. Whether you’re enjoying the shade of a tree with a cool beverage, or sitting on a porch swing watching the world [or neighbors] go by, summer creates the ideal climate (most of the time) to slow down and smell the barbecue.

{design chic}

{tumblr}

Outdoor Dining. Ahhh, one of the best things about summer for me is dining al fresco. We are fortunate to have a minimal number of bugs, i.e. mosquitoes, so we can enjoy the cooler evenings outside on the patio. What is it about eating outdoors that feels so special? I don’t know, but I love it.

{source}

Pools and Picnics. I don’t get the opportunity to do either of these activities often enough, but they are a strong symbol of summer’s potential for me. We’ll be hitting the pool in our community when our granddaughter visits in August, and we may pack a picnic or two during that same time. Even if it’s in the backyard, that’s the beauty of a 3 1/2 year old…they aren’t fussy about the particulars.

{tumblr}

{source unknown}

Summer indoors. I’ve read many a blog post that confirms this: Most of us like to lighten things up a bit during the warmer months. I confess, there’s a part of me that wishes I had a second home by a lake or bay. I would consider using a few wicker pieces and a blue and white color palate. Stripes would play a roll and I’d probably set some of natures summer bounty around, as accessories.

{source}

{source unknown}

Summer plants. One of my favorite things about summer are the plants in gardens, parks and neighborhoods. Even without blossoms, trees and shrubs usually look happy and healthy. Who doesn’t love hydrangea?

{My good friend, Cayley, her courtyard garden}

{source unknown}

{source}

Indoor plants. I tend to buy more indoor plants during the warmer months. It seems easier to rotate them around as needed and I can give them some outdoor time on a nice day. They add so much to a room.

{source}

{source unknown}

Something to sip. Whether you’re sipping sweet tea, or at day’s end, something stronger, a bar set-up seems summery to me. I guess I could find a good reason to admire a well laid bar during any season, but these examples are especially summer-like.

{source}

Read a book, or two! Summer has always seemed an ideal time to put my feet up and read. I listen to Audible books while working around the house, but I still love a book in my hands, that tactile experience takes me back, and I’m sentimental about that experience.

So tell me, what are your favorite things about Summer? I wish you a summer filled with all you wish for.

{GHP} Summer Heat ~ cool pools

21 Wednesday Aug 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Outdoor living

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

pools

We have had a very mild spring and summer by most accounts, and by mild I mean it wasn’t that warm. That’s unusual for Southern California. It is August and it is summer so I’m going to embrace the what little heat we have had. Besides, I’ve been wanting to do this post on the topic of water features, from pools to ponds. So here goes…

{tumblr}

Some people in my region depend on the ocean to cool them down. As a red head, the “beach / sunbathing” option left me some years ago…actually, it should have never been an option.

{tumblr}

In light of the heat that usually hits this time of year, I thought I’d take the opportunity to share some some of my favorite water features…mostly swimming pools, but there are a few reflecting pools and other images that will hopefully cool you down (if you’re experiencing hot weather), if only in your mind.

{Catalano Architects}

{Persephone’s Box}

{This Ivy House}

{Bungalow Classic}

Wouldn’t this folly be wonderful in a backyard…of an estate?

{unknown}

{Bungalow Classic}

{Wonderful Palmetto Life}

{Things that Inspire}

{The Fuller View}

{Bungalow Classic}

{Fresh as a Daisy}

So, what are you doing to stay cool this summer?

{The Fuller View}

~or~

{WASPing through the country side}

Oh, and remember, when swimming it’s always wise to swim with someone (the buddy system)…

So what are you doing this summer, plenty of time in a pool or on a veranda sipping a cool drink?

{GHP} Happy 4th of July

01 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Independence Day, Outdoor living, Party Planning

≈ 17 Comments

Tags

Independence Day

{source}

Note: I’m in Austin spending time with family and our granddaughter. I hope you all enjoy your holiday. ♥ Karen

Independence day is my favorite patriotic holiday. For me it always signals the true start of summer, its a reminder of what a great country we live in, and we usually eat some wonderfully simple and delicious foods.

{Pottery Barn}

I found this recipe on Food TV and thought I’d share it. It sounds pretty simple and really fits the bill for the holiday at hand.

Fruit-Tart Flag

Directions
Fill premade miniature tart shells or phyllo cups with sweet mascarpone cream (recipe below), then arrange on a tray and top with blueberries and halved strawberry slices to create stars and stripes.

Mascarpone Cream:

Beat an 8-ounce container of mascarpone cheese and 3 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar with a mixer until smooth. Gently fold in 1/2 cup freshly whipped cream.

Super simple, right?

I’m joining Alison, author of The Polohouse, for her Favorites on the First ~and~

StoneGable: Tutorials and Tidbits

Have a wonderful Independence Day

{Garden} A porch, atrium, courtyard, or outdoor room—a delight

05 Wednesday Jun 2013

Posted by Karen B. in House and Home, Outdoor living

≈ 23 Comments

Tags

outdoor rooms

What better way to relax a home and the soul than to welcome the outdoors in? In a world that seems to move faster every day, fostering a strong indoor-outdoor connection is one way to take a deep breath. Living inside and out in an antidote to stress. (Country French/Fall Winter 2012 – Meredith Specials Magazine)

In Southern California it’s pretty easy, most of the year, to transition between outdoors and in with outdoor patio/porch space, courtyard, or atrium. Weather makes it not only desirable but doable as well.

I believe the trend toward making the outdoor space around our houses resemble and live like a room that you could expect to see inside a home, has hit the nation over the past 10 or 15 years, so it’s easy to get the materials and furnishings that make outdoor living a luxury most can afford.

I know spring has probably arrived for all of us by now (she was a little reluctant coming to the dance this year)! So, I am offering some outdoor living spaces where we can entertain friends, wind down after a long work week, sip something…

{5th and State}

Our backyard area under the trees (above)—we created this space because the trees offer shade pretty much all day long and it’s the coolest spot to sit on a hot day, besides, the grass needed more sun to thrive in this spot, the pea gravel never complains. We used pea gravel in place of concrete, it’s very comfortable to walk on and was a lot less money than concrete.

If money were no object…

{Andrew Skurman Associates, architect)

My friend Cayley has one of the best courtyards. It’s protected from wind on all sides and they have a beautiful fireplace and fountain to provide extra comfort and a relaxing vibe…

This is our atrium (below) taken this spring.

{source}

{Kevin (son #2) and Sarah (DIL) bought a house that had this space (above) in place when they moved in, there are a couple of large Alder trees that provide shade and it’s always relaxing to sit there and visit. Sarah always has a bouquet of fresh flowers on the table, added ambiance and charm!

{Mark D. Sikes}

I love the star pendant lights on this porch (below).

{unknown}

This barely qualifies as outdoors. Still, I love the fireplace and the high, beamed ceiling. It would be fun to sit in this outdoor room rain or shine.

{Amelia Handegan via Southern Accents (some years ago)…thanks, Kelly}

My favorite outdoor room, the porch that Meryl Streep sat on in the movie Out of Africa. I don’t think this porch was actually in Africa, but it’s beautiful with its bead board ceiling and the ceiling fan and shutters.

{Hooked on Houses}

As the British would say (if you’re still waiting for Spring’s arrival), stiff upper lip old girl, it will show up eventually.

♥

Linking to: Savvy Southern Style & StoneGable & Art @ Home

{Garden, Home and Party} They say it’s your birthday

27 Sunday Jan 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Antiques, Collections & Accessories, Decorating, Gardening, House and Home, Misc, Outdoor living

≈ 33 Comments

Tags

birthdays

Since today is my birthday (me and Mozart) I’m going to share a few of my favorite images. I apologize in advance if you’ve seen these a million times before but they continue to be favorites and I can’t bring myself to delete them. They all bring an immediate smile to my face, hope you will enjoy one or two of them as well.

{1.}

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{5.}

~I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend~

{6.}

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{11.}

The image below is on my wish list…I would like this breakfast nook to be built for my birthday, please.

{12.}

Thank you for taking time out of your busy week to read my posts, and many times, you comment, I love that! I count you all as blog friends and appreciate your interest in my ramblings. Many of you are bloggers yourselves and your sites bring me joy and oftentimes provide inspiration and valuable information/education on topics I know little about, thank you!

1, 2. 10. The Enchanted Home; 3. Things that Inspire; 4. My Notting Hill; 5. Haus Design; 6. House Beautiful; 7. Inspired Design; 8. Traditional Home; 9. Phoebe Howard; 11. Tumblr-That Inspirational Girl; 12. Velvet & Linen; 13. Tumblr-A Gift Wrapped Life.

{Garden} Birdsong in the garden

18 Tuesday Sep 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Collections & Accessories, Flowers, Gardening, Gardens, House and Home, Outdoor living

≈ 18 Comments

Tags

birds in the garden

I’ve talked about angels in the garden and thought I’d share a few bird tales, for good measure.

{John James Audubon}

We mostly avoid pesticides of any kind in our yard and are rewarded with plenty of bird sightings. We’ve had brightly colored birds, and even enjoyed a wren family that moved into a bird house in the garden. They returned later that same year and raised a second family. Unfortunately the post that held their home rotted and we’ve not replaced it, so we haven’t seen them lately. There are several birds that use our bath facilities and we thoroughly enjoy seeing them nibbling unwanted insects off the roses.

Unfortunately we have crows hanging around the neighborhood as well, none in our back yard but they definitely perch on the light post in front of our house. My only objection to them is their predatory habits where baby birds are concerned.

The hummingbirds are plentiful and mainly enjoy the lavender, Penstemon and Lakeview Jasmine tree we have in the knot garden.

{The Angelonia attracts hummingbirds}

As I’ve mentioned before, I really don’t want to get too heavy handed with the garden art as our yard is really compact and Hubby has commented he doesn’t want our home to start resembling the cliché for “old” folk’s homes. But a little metal bird here and there sort of makes up for the brevity of the visits we experience with the real thing.

As I was looking at plant lists that attract birds it turns out, quite by accident, that we have several plants that naturally entice birds into the garden. Here is a very partial list: Oakleaf hydrangea, privet ‘ligustrom’, gaura, columbine, boxwood and lots of trees.

{This variety of lavender, ‘goodwin creek’ attracts hummingbirds and butterflies}

{The Lakeview Jasmine tree is in the upper right corner of this photograph, it’s hard to see due to the espaliered star jasmine}

I particularly enjoy rusty birds…

We may be shopping for new digs for our little wren family, what do you think of these?

{Dovecote}

~or~

{Songbird House}

Does your yard attract birds? I know some of you live in regions that probably have such amazing birds. Maybe I need to get some binoculars and a book on birds!

I’m over at Tracie’s Garden Party, stop by for a visit.

{Garden} Angels in the garden

11 Tuesday Sep 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Flowers, Gardening, Gardens, House and Home, Outdoor living

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

summer living

I’ve never wanted to go overboard with any one item in the yard. I like collections but my yard is small and I didn’t want it to become cluttered with garden art. Then, the other day while strolling through the yard I noticed I have more than a couple of angels and a few birds in the garden art department.

Hopefully, they aren’t too blatantly obvious but more a natural accent and fairly subtle.

So how did this happen, you’re asking? It started innocently enough with this plaque given to me by my friend Carla in honor of my grandmother’s passing. I’ve always liked it and it’s gotten nice and mossy on the wall in the back yard, surrounded by ivy.

Next angel to move in was this fountain, which is no longer a fountain but a planter. A friend of mine owned a great little shop on Balboa Island and she gave me this fountain for a “friendly” price. The sound of the fountain forced me to plant it instead of keeping it as a fountain. The sound of the steady stream of water wasn’t the soothing trickle I’d hoped for…more like a little boy peeing.

The fountain/planter is now planted with white impatiens and sweet potato vine, I’m thinking I need to go back to pink impatiens and fern.

This little angel caught my eye because I could see her sitting on my garden bench. My gardener broke her neck by accident one time, but we were able to give her epoxy surgery and repair her.

Above is her newest home in the formal garden, below is where she used to sit in the side yard.

This next angel is something I picked up in Rosarito Beach, Mexico…what was I thinking?…I’m really getting carried away with angels but these were all bought over a period of 25 years.

This door knocker was a gift, I’ve hung it on the patio post and looking at this photograph it’s kind of creepy looking. She looks mad and her eyes definitely frighten me.