While we #StayatHome, my family has resolved to learn something new or perfect a skill. My husband is pursuing further general aviation certifications; my daughters (home from college–so much for that empty-nesting!) are working on their cooking and baking skills, & adding to their workout goals (via Zoom with friends, of course!). As for me,…
Usually one greets the New Year with a sense of calm, of peace: the Christmas frenzy is over, the cooking and baking has stopped in favor of a fridge full of glorious leftovers, and everyone is in a food coma, anyway. Yeah…not this year. Back in November, in a fit of supreme over-ambitiousness, I committed…
Wishing you the Merriest of Christmases! Enjoy this video tour “Christmas House 2019” of our home decor this season….I had amore time than usual to decorate this year, and changed up a few things… although I will say, true to type, I’ve still been tweaking up to the last minute! And, as Daughter #1 isn’t…
Every year, I style my Christmas mantle using a variation on a theme. This year, I decided to abandon my usual and go for “traditional-simple” …at least, where my family room mantle was concerned. Usually, this mantle is draped from floor-across the top to-floor with a gorgeous faux pre-lit Frontgate garland, and then hung with…
Sadly, my husband and I became empty nesters this year. It’s a lonely transition for us. Believe me, you never know how precious a sink full of dishes or a bedroom floor covered in discarded clothing is until you don’t have them anymore. Here’s my two “angels”: Happily, there is an upside (besides a cleaner…
**SIGH** It’s time to put the gardens to bed for the Winter, which has none of the glamour and allure of Spring garden planting. I’ve already cleaned out the perennial bed — the only sunny spot in an otherwise shady backyard. Everybody is tucked in tight and waiting for a nice mulchy blanket covering to…
I was definitely born in the wrong era. I’ve always had an affinity for flapper skirts, vintage music, and opulent old hotels. So, on a recent visit to Palm Beach, a tour of The Breakers did not disappoint. Built in 1896 and rebuilt (due to fire) in the ‘20’s by great American Industrialist Henry M….
Before you open those bins and boxes, I thought I’d share my list of handy decorating helpers: Pipe cleaners (black, green) I use pipe cleaners to easily bind up my hand created bows and tie them to various things that need embellishment…. wreaths, garland, trees, outdoor lights. No worries about harming woods on staircase railings…
What a lucky find is Graylyn Estate and Conference Center. Built in the years 1928-1932 by Bowman & Nathalie Gray (he was Chairman of the Board for iconic RJ Reynolds Tobacco— can’t swing a bat around here without the “Reynolds” name coming up!) ….it was their dream home at the height of the roaring twenties…….
THIS.TABLE. She is my all-time favorite find, and I knew she was special the minute I saw her. I’m usually apathetic about Victorian furniture, but given the detail, I went to see her anyway. She was being used as a TV/Entertainment center, LOL…. After a light cleanup, I realized that the “wooden feet” were actually…