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~ My love of gardening, making home comfortable and entertaining friends and family.

Garden, Home & Party

Category Archives: Traditions

What Makes a Dad

17 Friday Jun 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Family, Traditions

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Father's Day

God took the strength of a mountain,

The majesty of a tree,

The warmth of summer sun,

The calm of a quiet sea,

The generous soul of nature,

The comforting arm of night,

The wisdom of the ages,

The power of the eagle’s flight,

The joy of a morning in spring,

The faith of a mustard seed,

The patience of eternity,

The depth of a family need,

Then God combined these qualities,

When there was nothing more to add,

He knew His masterpiece was complete,

 

And so,

He called it…Dad

-Anonymous

I wish all fathers, young and old, a very Happy Father’s Day!  I am grateful for the wonderful father my Hubby proved to be and I know Son #1 (and one day, Son #2) will follow his lead.

Gift ideas for the man of the house

13 Monday Jun 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Personal Information, Traditions

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Father's Day

Father’s Day is this Sunday and I was thinking it would be fun to shop.  Where, you ask?…the World Wide Web, of course.

There’s something so masculine about a crest, isn’t there? (I apologize for becoming side tracked so early in my post)

Be advised, the following gift ideas are items that may tend more towards what I wish Hubby would ask for, as opposed to what he actually wants although there are a few things contained herein that I’m sure he’d like (even if they are out of our price range).

Unlike most women, I don’t think men remember to upgrade or replace their travel bag…isn’t there a formal name for these.  I call it a make-up bag but not in front of Hubby.

Hubby already has the pocket briefcase and the cards but he enjoys using them so much I thought it would be helpful to others to know what a great gift this is for the man who likes lists. {Source}

This little desk clock is totally out of my price range but if you can afford it for the man in your life I’d bet he’d think it was pretty cool…or is Cartier a woman’s passion?

If your man loves his Starbucks, so much that he spends $20 or more a week on those Grande Lattes, I highly recommend an espresso maker.  I know they are expensive but they sure make a great latte and amortized over 1 year they pay for themselves—if you’re a Starbuck’s / Peet’s latte frequent-drinker.

Okay, maybe Hermes is out of my price range as well as the Cartier clock, but this particular throw looks so soft and I just love the colors and it seems to be more masculine than some throws…is that justification enough?


On to more practical, and affordable items…these RayBan’s are a classic favorite.

 

 

There’s nothing like a gift with a history…William Penhaligon, founder of the English perfume house in 1860 was Court Barber and Perfumer to Queen Victoria…the Duke of Malborough {and my hubby} wore Blenneim Buoguet (the fragrance above).

Now I realize that Sperry red canvas shoes may seem like a lousy gift, but I happen to know Hubby would like a pair…shhh, don’t tell him I’ve gotten him a pair!

 

 

xxx

What’s in a name?

01 Friday Apr 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Traditions, Trends

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Naming your house

 

Naming a house seems to be the norm in England and maybe on the east coast of the U.S. but you don’t hear of too many homes in Southern California having been given names…unless they are grand manor houses.

Like this lovely little abode in Santa Barbara…

~or~

 

The above entry is from an amazing French-inspired home designed by Architect Steve Giannetti.  See more of this beauty at Velvet & Linen HERE.  I don’t see a name sign but I hope the owners have named it.
~~~
In Atlanta, where incredible homes reign, I wonder if they name them?

This beauty was posted on Limestone & Boxwoods blog site.

…and Things that Inspire always  posts beautiful images of the Atlanta Homes she finds inspiring.

~~~

We live on Bethany Drive and for some reason, from the moment I knew this house would become our home, I wanted to name it.  It was probably 8 years after we moved in that I purchased an antique-brass name plate that declared our humble abode as “Bethany House”.  The plaque also has the words “Est. 1982” which was the year we moved in.

It may seem silly but I always  smile when I see the plaque and am reminded of how happy we’ve been in this home.

I didn’t know of this (above) sign company until about a year ago when The Lettered Cottage hosted a giveaway of a Ramsign.  Ramsign has an amazing selection of classic address plaques.

5th & State, one of my favorite blogs, recently posted a series of pictures from charming door/entry ways in England, all with names attached.

Do you wonder if the person that lives here is named Elizabeth?

As a huge Christmas fan I think the name “Mistletoe Cottage” is inspired!

I’ve read that in some countries they name their house based on the street that the home is located on and that Realtors have been known to suggest that the homeowner change the name to create more appeal if the house is up for sale.

My little name plaque…

Have you named your home?  Does it have a name-tag?

Merry Christmas and happy hoidays…believe

24 Friday Dec 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Christmas, Traditions

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Christmas

No matter what your religion, this is a magical time.  Time for reflections, gratitude for the abundance so many of us enjoy and time for a pause in our typically hectic lives.

image of the family tree, 2010

I’m happy to have good friends and family and to have met many blog land friends this year!  Thank you so much for reading and commenting on my site…it truly warms my heart to have you give your time to drop by!  Happy Christmas

“At one time most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them.  Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound.  Though I’ve grown old, the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe.”

~The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

I hope you and yours can “can hear the bell”  this holiday!

Deck the halls with boughs of holly…

20 Monday Dec 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Party Planning, Traditions

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Entertaining, holiday

…fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la ♪

Each year for the past 10 years one of my friends, Joyce, in our Birthday Group (to read more about that visit HERE or HERE) hosts a caroling party for the 5 couples {Joyce & Russ, Carla & Tom, Linda & John, Wendy & Thomas and Hubby and me}.

Joyce makes her home a Christmas wonderland with no detail left untouched by the magic of elves, angels, reindeer and Santa.  Her table settings are coffee table book worthy and along with all of her beautiful holiday decorations comes a warm welcome and a jolly time had by all!

Wreath

Joyce used to teach elementary school and she is a wonderful pianist (as is my friend Carla, who is also in this group).  We start the evening with wonderful appetizers, dinner and dessert and then the ladies do an ornament exchange.

Christmas floral centerpiece

Following this cavalcade of fun we drag the men in from the family room where they have been discussing everything from football to politics and truth be known, would probably rather just let the ladies sing, and make them participate.  We are not about to let them miss the fun!

Our host, Russ, is our very own Santa for the evening!

...fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!

I hope you are enjoying the activities of the season.

Christmas cards…photo cards

17 Friday Dec 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Traditions, Trends

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Christmas

Growing up I don’t remember a lot of photo Christmas cards and the few that we did receive were usually poor quality photos on photo paper with semi-blurry words stating, “Merry Christmas”.  (Full disclosure, I grew up when “politically correct” wasn’t in existence).

Today, with very little computer skills you can have any kind of card you want, using any photograph you want and many of the companies will even label your envelopes for you!

A couple of weeks ago one of my favorite columnists for the Los Angeles Times, Chris Erskine, wrote a piece about taking the family photo for the Christmas card.  One of the funniest lines in the piece was,

“My wife, Posh, approaches the Christmas card photo like a Vogue editor perusing the perfect cover. She once flew the whole bunch of them to Paris for the right Christmas shot”.

To read this very funny column visit HERE.

holiday card displayimage via Martha Stewart

When did we become so determined to show friends and family the year’s progress in photographs?  Don’t get me wrong, I too realize that I’m just slightly disappointed when I only get a lovely card sans photograph.  Crazy, right?  As if we don’t have enough other important tasks on our list this time of year, we have to include thinking about a photo-op sometime during the 11 ½ months prior to December 25th!

Christmas photo cardsThat said, on our trip this past week to Austin, I went with 2 goals in mind.  1.  Bond with my infant grand daughter so that when I see her next she won’t cry when Grandma wants to hold her; and 2.  Get a card-worthy picture of the little bundle of joy for my Christmas card this year.

I am happy to report that we were successful on both fronts.

A few good sources for photo cards:

Cards Direct

Tiny Prints

Costco*note, you must have a membership card for this company.

Martha Stewart Christmas card displayimage via Martha Stewart

Do you do photo cards for the holidays?

Outdoor holiday decorations

13 Monday Dec 2010

Posted by Karen B. in DIY (do it yourself), Gardening, Outdoor living, Traditions

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Christmas, holiday, home

When I think of decorating for Christmas, indoor decorations get more of my attention than outdoor…until this year.  5th and State, a blog site I recently stumbled upon, featured a DIY on planting outdoor planters for Christmas.  If you’d like to see more visit HERE.

I live in Southern California and let’s face it we’re simply NOT going to be celebrating the holidays with freshly fallen snow.

left & right images via 5th and State

image via Country Living

That said when we entertain friends and family they will pull up to the curb and the first thing they see is the entrance to our home.

image via 5th and State

image via 5th and State

I’ve always done wreaths, sometimes fresh sometimes fake faux.   I don’t have a bias since I’ve seen beautiful versions of both.

This year I will attempt to go a little beyond the front door wreath.  (By the way, we do hang a string of lights across the front of the house but due to the design of our roof line it would be suicide for anyone to get up on the peak of the roof to really do the Griswold Family Christmas version of Christmas lights).

I picked up some Ilex berries from a local floral supply store and added them to the cone shaped boxwood in the urn by the front door.

The berries are faux but festive!

I also planted some cardinal ivy geranium in the planter on the right side of the door but, sadly, they are not in full bloom right now.

There will be more red blossoms later in the year, probably after Christmas but maybe in time for St. Valentine’s Day.

image via Martha Stewart Living

I  put a bow and some holy on the lantern that sits by the door, I guess that will be a good start to branching out beyond the front door wreath.

I used a wax battery-operated candle so that I can turn it on and not worry about it catching anything on fire.

Welcome to our home!

image via room service

Maybe next year I’ll put a pre-lit garland around the door!

With all of the options for incredible wreaths I will have to try a new one each year!  {just kidding} What are you doing to welcome guests this year?

A few of my favorite things about the season

08 Wednesday Dec 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Decorating, Entertaining, Traditions

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

details of a home, Entertaining, holiday, Table Settings

I love this time of year…everything about it makes me happy.  I like cooler weather (I realize there are two distinct camps on this, I have friends that are warm-weather fans) I must have lived in Iceland in another life time! Anyway, here are a few of the things I like best about the season…

image via BHG

I guess it goes without saying, I like the decorating part of the season the best.  I think it’s fun to create new ways to dress up the house.  I’m a traditionalist at heart but its fun to try out new ideas for the home using greens and seasonal  fruit, nuts and the like.  I’ve not done this (above image) but once—hanging wreaths in windows side-by-side.  I think it looks great indoors and/or out.  The reason I haven’t hung live wreaths since the first time is that the hardwood floors were constantly filled with pine needles so maybe I need to find a different spot…but it does look festive and pretty, don’t you think?

image via Slim Paley (you will enjoy her site, visit HERE)

Right up there with decorating is entertaining. I’ve said it before, my house is definitely a winter house.  It looks it’s best when I have a fire in the fireplace and candlelight is emanating throughout.  (Maybe we all look better in candle light, I know I do).  But having good friends over for dinner with Christmas music in the background—good conversation, decent wine and comfort food, what could be better?   (Fans of summer need not respond :-))

image via Country Living

Along with entertaining comes using my Christmas Tree dishes by Spode.  Many of you may know of  my disease—I’m addicted to dishes, all patterns and makes, and I’ve read that there is NO cure.  By the way, I don’t have the red transfer ware pattern above but believe me I’ve eyed it with more than faint enthusiasm!

image via Country Living

And at the end of a beautiful day of holiday traditions I like to climb into bed, between my flannel sheets and catch some zzzzz.

Don’t forget to get your rest during this busy month!  Happy December.

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Recent Posts: Garden, Home & Party

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