Autumn flora in the home

19 Wednesday Oct 2016

Posted by Karen B. in Autumn, Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Flowers, Halloween, House and Home, Thanksgiving

≈ 19 Comments

Good morning, my friends! So much for getting back to regular posting, right?!

I am an avid fan of fresh flowers and plants in my house year round. I’ve used branches from shrubs and trees in the yard, and flowers from the market for our home most of my married life. I also have several living plants in my home. Ivy topiary, Peace Lily ‘spathiphyllum’ and a large pothos live in various rooms of the house. When Christmas rolls around I’m happy to use faux garland, embellished with live cedar and pine.

So it was with some hesitancy that I returned the kind email I received from Silk Plants Direct. They were offering me a shopping visit of their site, where they would ship a product of my choice (with a generous pricing limit) for my honest review. Still doubtful, I visited the link and found many of their plants to look very believable. The item I selected reminds me of bittersweet, something that is sold live per stem by florists this time of year in our area. I’ve always loved the look of bittersweet in autumn arrangements and wreaths, but couldn’t always find fresh stems.

I emailed my contact with Silk Plants Direct and was thrilled with the speedy delivery and the quality of the stems. The flowers filled the large porcelain blue and white vases and finished the mantle decor for the season for me. Thank you Silk Plants Direct!

Silk Plants Direct, a Silk flowers and plants retailer, has a user-friendly site and provides a column on their home page that allows shoppers to narrow their search by topics such as category, size, price, color, variety and season.

If you’re a die hard fan of real live plants and flowers, as I consider myself to be, you may be in for a surprise. I urge you to take a look at Silk Plants Direct.

Disclosure: I received a free product sample in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The honest opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.

Thanksgiving countdown

11 Wednesday Nov 2015

Posted by Karen B. in Autumn, Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Holiday/Seasonal cooking

≈ 28 Comments

With only 18 days until Thanksgiving I thought I’d share some wonderful table setting ideas, compliments of talented folks online, along with a rough draft of our menu for the upcoming long holiday weekend. Williams Sonoma taste has so many great ideas for making this food-intensive holiday easy and delicious.

This year we’re lucky enough to be celebrating Thanksgiving with the entire Bunch clan (our Austin family will be here as well as our California kids). We’re celebrating Olivia’s 5th birthday at Disneyland early in the week. Then the meal planning will begin, a collaborative effort. The fact that our kids like to cook is a great source of joy for me.

This is my favorite season and while I’m thankful for family year round, the Thanksgiving holiday shines a spotlight on family (and friends) and fortunately, we all get along and enjoy each other’s company. Some of the movies they’ve produced on dysfunctional family life brought to light during Thanksgiving are funny, thankfully they don’t apply! 🙂

Layla of The Lettered Cottage shared this simple centerpiece some time ago. It’s a reminder that setting the table can be lovely whether simple or elaborate.

I’m loving the rustic feel of this elegant table. There are flowers but the pussy willow and nest give it a natural, rustic feel.

Have you seen these placemats with space to write down what you are thankful for? I love this idea. A reminder that we all have something to be thankful for. I like the dried maple leaf as a placecard.

Figs, eucalyptus and candles, brilliant! Less is more. For oakleaf name cards…

this lovely free printable can be found HERE. If you’ve never visited EAB Designs, prepare to be amazed at the creative forces at work here.

This is another pretty free printable for place cards if you’re interested.

Our Thanksgiving table sans dinnerware…since I’m posting this early, I don’t have plates and such on the table. Redfern, our beloved pheasant, presides over the feast.

Here are dishes that I often use in the autumn, but this year I think I’ll use my white dishes…food looks good on white (or so I’ve been told).

Traditional, with updates, I love this centerpiece in a planter box. You can never have too many candles.

Our menu will be some version of the following:

I’ll be taking some time off. I know it seems that has become a habit! Family will be arriving and I want to unplug for awhile. I’ll be back with some Christmas cheer. I wish you all a joyous Thanksgiving filled with family, friends and good food. I’m very thankful for my friends here at GHP.

xo, Karen

Orange, it’s not just for pumpkins anymore

28 Wednesday Oct 2015

Posted by Karen B. in Autumn, Decorating, House and Home, Seasons

≈ 38 Comments

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Hi there! Time got away from me (again) and here I am with no solid excuse for my absence. Besides, I don’t believe in excuses for myself, I know in my heart that what I set my mind to I can usually accomplish. So, clearly my mind has been elsewhere. 🙂

Anyway, before “autumn” gets away from me I thought I’d share my new appreciation for the color orange. Of course orange works this time of year, but I’m beginning to see its timeless appeal.

I have never loved “red’s” next door neighbor on the color wheel. But somehow, the magic and beauty created by talented designers using this color has won me over. Maybe Hermès was on to something besides the fabulous scarves, leather goods, jewelry and clothing, when he packaged it all in his coveted, well-made, orange boxes.

I’ve always loved well made gift boxes, Jo Malone boxes are my favorite. Hermès boxes are outstanding when stacked, a bold addition to a table don’t you agree?

The Hermès tray has been a favorite as well…lets see, a piece of furniture or this tray? 🙂

…and the pièce de résistance is this bathroom. That brass piece is wonderful offset by the subway tile and the orange shower curtain.

I guess I’ve always thought of orange as too bold, but I’ve seen so many amazing examples of the power of a bold accent color when used subtly. Chairs in a softer tone of orange make this room happy and inviting.

{unknown}

Burnt orange compliments the British Colonial furnishings of this room, I love it! {Side note: Is anyone watching Masterpiece Theater, “Indian Summers” season one?}

Carol Glasser used a shade of orange in her Santa Barbara living room to great effect.

The coastal vibe BHG achieved with this wallpaper and the lantern above the mirror is charming.

Could a room be more inviting. Just a hint of orange with the pillow and the throw, sign me up.

I love this shade, burnt umber? It appears to me as something ageless, a pigment in the plaster kind of effect.

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Black pairs effortlessly with orange. A clean look with orange adding warmth.

This chair and ottoman, upholstered in window pane orange with black makes me want to add a room with some orange so I can duplicate this. I love the simple botanic and buffalo check drapes…a little bit country with an updated appeal.

Do you use orange any time of the year or do you only introduce it during the autumn months?

Have a safe and sane Halloween!

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.

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.

Menu

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.

September is California Wine Month

02 Wednesday Sep 2015

Posted by Karen B. in Autumn, Travel

≈ 27 Comments

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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.

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…

{via}

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.

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

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

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.]

Have you ever visited Napa Valley?

Happy Birthday to my lovely California daughter-in-law, Sarah. We’ll toast your birthday with your favorite wine in the coming week!