Happy September -- Early Signs of Fall

September 1, 2012, 6:13 pm

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A maple tree at my house, already tinged in red. 

Happy September! As much as I love summer, this year I'm more than ready to see fall. Boring it may be to talk about the weather, but when summer temps break records set during the 1936 Dust Bowl, it seems to be everyone's favorite topic. Now that it's cooling off-- I'm finding early signs of fall everywhere, not the least of which is in my kitchen. At my house, the start of fall is synonymous with a good bowl of chili.

Nancy's Black Bean Chili from Carolyne Roehm's book At Home with Carolyne Roehm.

Before finding this recipe from Carolyne Roehm created by her cook, Nancy, I was not an avid chili fan. I find most chili to be too heavy, too greasy, too spicy and/or to have too many beans. This is a good recipe for the not-so-big-chili-lover.

RECIPE for Nancy's Black Bean Chili, 6 to 8 servings:

4 tablespoons olive oil

8 garlic cloves, sliced

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

1 each red, yellow, and jalapeno pepper, coarsely chopped

1-1/2 pounds ground sirloin

2 tablespons chili powder

1 pound black beans, cooked (*I use canned black beans, well-rinsed and drained.)

One 28-oz can crushed tomatoes, with juice 

1/2 cup water

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. *I use Lawry's Seasoning Salt

**My add-ins & purely optional: extra jalapenos to taste, seeds removed, 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, 1 can dark red kidney beans, extra chili powder to taste.

For garnish: 1 bunch scallions, diced, 1/4 pound Cheddar cheese, shredded, and 2 cups sour cream

1. In a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Saute garlic, onion, and peppers for 5 min.

2. Add ground sirloin and chili powder and saute until meat browns, 5 min. (*I add salt to the meat at this point.)

3. Add black beans, tomatoes, and water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

4. Serve chili with garnishes in individual bowls.

Let me know if you try it out! 

Now, I have a big thank-you to all of you for your supportive comments that you sent about my decision to home-school. Your support is SO appreciated.

And lastly, my husband came home with this single rose. 

"It's your blog's 1st birthday!" 

I had completely forgotten. Happy Birthday, little blog.

And Happy Labor Day weekend to you!

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Attic Living Spaces

September 21, 2012, 5:55 pm

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A wonderful attic room by Axel Vervoodt published in Veranda with exposed white-washed beams, bleached wood floors and doors, casual slipcovered furniture and stacks of books and a warm fire at the ready. 

Shel  Silverstein's quirky books of poetry were among my favorite fun reads as a child. In fact, my copy of A Light in the Attic that I owned in the third grade still sits on a bookshelf in my house. I take it down every now and then when I need a dose of some odd bit of of silliness.

Attics are so intriguing. When I was growing up I used to imagine that it would be so much fun to hide in one for hours and read. Tucked under the eaves of a house, their odd corners, dormer windows and low ceilings are cozy. In newly constructed homes in the U.S. they are something of a novelty; they usually appear as long, narrow rooms occupying the space over an attached two or three-car garage in an average-sized house and are widely referred to as "bonus rooms". 

The same design elements that make them charming can also make them challenging; irregular wall heights and low-slung ceilings require more creativity when finding storage space. Small windows and limited natural light require attention as well. I am working with some of these challenges in an attic room in my own house, so I compiled this post as a reference for inspiration. 

The hallway leading to the attic room, shown below. 

An attic room with a limited color palette and casual vibe with comfortable slipcovered chair, stacks of books, family photos and extra throws nearby. These rooms seem to cuddle you with their calm. Interiors by At Ease Interiors via The Paper Mulberry's terrific post on relaxed country living.

The owners of this wonderful living space are fortunate to have some height on the far wall of this room, the perfect place for nestling in bookcase around the fireplace. Look closely at the far right, lower corner of the bookcases-- electronic equipment has found a home there next to beautiful leather-bound books. Kelly Harmon Interior Design via Splenderosa

In a beautiful, old restored barn in Normandy that is the home and studio of Russian painter Yuri Kuper, shelves run just above the floor in the room for storage space. A wooden trunk behind the sofa provides additional storage. Windows in the ceiling to the right let the natural light flood in.

In another view of the room, the height in the recessed window above is used to allow room for a storage cabinet. The weathered beams are wonderful. See more of this beautiful home and studio in a beautiful post by The Essence of the Good Life.

Soft creams and whites mix with blue and natural textures for another relaxing room. Floor cushions encourage lounging. The blue and white striped dhurrie is fabulous. The weathered wood trunk and shelves with baskets help with storage. Via Cote de Texas' post on Houston-style interiors

In a wonderfuly-planned family room, the walls and ceiling are painted the same color easing the dominance of ceiling over walls. The tall mirror at the end of the room reflects a window increasing the light; skylights in the ceiling really let the light flood in. Small lights in the recesses above the bookshelves remove potentially dark corners. The shape of this room is more typical of attic living spaces in newer American houses than some of the spaces shown above, but its decor is in a class by itself. Gorgeous lanterns catch the eye and break up the long rectangular shape. via That Inspirational Girl. (If you know the designer, please leave a comment and let me know!)

While special attention has to be paid to the placement of the bed to insure no one bumps their head when they sit up in bed, attic rooms can be used to great effect as bedrooms filled with character.

Fanciful painting envelops wall and ceilings for a room that any young girl would love. American Girl dolls Samantha and Felicity have tea. via Castles, Crowns and Cottages on Pinterest

In another bedroom where the attic angles are pronounced, whimsical paintings and continuity of color keep the angles from seeming harsh. Look at the charming, irregular doorway in the center-left of the room. via Gigi Thibodeau on Pinterest

I can tell you for sure, I would be quite happy as a guest in this serene little room. 

Southern Accents

Who wouldn't want to spend a night or two here? Or just move in? A perfect companionship of white and cream on the walls keeps things light and airy and lets your eyes continue to the view through the open patio door. Pinterest

This attic room appears as a little gem swathed in periwinkle blue and toile.

Storage space is made under this bed by elevating it and by taking advantage of nooks and crannies. Like all kids, my two love tiny spaces and would find this room so fun.

Can you smell the salt air? This quiet room speaks "sea cottage". Pinterest

And just so you're sure that attic spaces can serve just about every purpose, here are a couple of beautiful bathrooms tucked under the eaves...

via The Paper Mulberry

And here's a view of an attic window from the outside.. I am sure it is just as charming on the inside.

cheers!

keri

A 1-Year-Old's Party ... for the Adults

October 5, 2012, 11:42 pm

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I have a confession: One-year-old babies' parties aren't highest on my list for fun social outings. Don't get me wrong, I have willingly and happily gone to many such events for the children of close friends and family. But I seem to always think during the party that the baby-of-honor couldn't care less that there's a party going on and would rather his naptime be undisturbed.

News flash: the party may be about the baby, but it's really for the adults! For the ones who have been up with him until the wee hours of the morning for most of the past year, this is a major milestone! One-year-old signals: all systems are a go; life is headed back into quasi-normal territory. The party is also for the small army of wonderful people who help parents and baby brave that first year, and are likely to be delighted with the prospect of spending a portion of the day hanging out with each other and doting on the honored little one.

The first reason I loved the looks of the first birthday party Martha Stewart hosted for her first grandchild, Jude, was the attractiveness it held for the adults who as Martha put it-- supported the baby's first year. Held at Perry St in New York, the setting was perfect for a work-day lunch for the adult party-goers, while the shortened length of the party suited Baby's nap schedule. The decor of the restaurant is mid-century modern and was, as you might expect from any fete coordinated by Martha Stewart, a perfect blend with the style and theme of the party.

Like most well-dressed parties, this one had a color scheme. "Tables for two" were pushed together to make one long luncheon table. Clear and white 15" bubble balloons from jrballoon.com tied in Divine Twine in Oyster from whiskergraphics.com help create the fun and unobtrusive centerpiece along with Steiff stuffed animals, http://www.steiffusa.com/. Lasercut animals from http://enormouschampion.com, ($60 each) were painted white and set up on parade along the seat backs. For similar laser cut animal shape options (and a lower price), see Lindahl Woodcrafts HERE. 

Images of Steiff animals were printed onto paper placemats and affixed to pine wood blocks with guests names. Personalized menus sit on top of white cotton napkins. For templates from Martha Stewart for placemats and blocks, go HERE. For similar blocks, go HERE.

The cake stands are from Martha's collection for Macy's HERE, $115, on sale this week for $69. Williams Sonoma also has very pretty white cake stands, $24-$34 HERE. Colored gel pastes are from nycake.com and Odense marzipan, odense.com.

A menagerie of color-scheme-complimenting sugar cookies baked by Sweet Dani B replicated the Steiff stuffed animals and were the party favors. 

The cake was a Brown-Sugar Layer Cake with Caramel Buttercream Frosting. In true Martha fashion, she has provided the recipes and instructions for the cake and icing and for creating the sweet marzipan characters that accompanied each slice of cake. The recipes are HERE. Similar plates at Target.

The marzipan creatures How-To is HERE

Giraffe

Lion

Monkey... So cute

Sigh... I shouldn't have complained; I suddenly want to go to a one-year-old's party. My prospects for attending one are quite bright, actually. My sister is expecting a baby girl in a few months, and I will be the doting aunt, the most enthusiastic attendee at her first birthday party... you'll find me near the games with a colorful party blower in my mouth. 

Have a fun weekend!

-Keri

Planting Tulip Bulbs: How and Why

November 1, 2012, 1:10 pm

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This beautiful photo is of the sunken garden at Chenies Manor in Buckinghamshire, UK where some 6,000 tulip bulbs pop up every spring. It graced the cover of the March 2007 issue of The English Garden magazine and was my first inspiration to plant tulip bulbs en masse in the fall. I have read the article and drooled over the pictures dozens of times, and it still inspires me. 

I had planted tulips before seeing this fantastic display and knew what hard work it can be to get even a few dozen bulbs into the ground, so a stunning masterpiece of garden like this one immediately draws my admiration for the minds and hands that create it.

Along the top of the sunken garden at Chenies Manor, a low red brick wall and a pleached hedge of limes (lindens) run the length of the garden providing protection from prevailing southwest winds. You can read my post on the garden art of pleachingHERE.The tulip bulbs are planted in monochromatic blocks. Bedding plants like wallflowers, primulas and forget-me-nots keep color once the tulips have flowered and faded; the remaining sharply-pointed tulip leaves provide a structural contrast to the soft underplanting. Box topiary, yew hedging and wide lawns provide a framework for the spectacular tulip display.

The Chenies Manor gardens are the work of Alistair and Elizabeth MacLeod Matthews. The gardens extend to around 5-1/2 acres and are all extensively cultivated. Elizabeth had no formal training but has loved gardening since she was a child. She talks of starting with marigolds and growing sweet peas for showing as a teenager. Clearly, her love and skill have blossomed into something spectacular.

If the images above seem to announce a post that's a bit ahead of its time, after all, spring doesn't come to the Northern Hemisphere for five more months, the ones below will bring you firmly to the here and now. In many growing zones, November is the perfect time to get tulip bulbs into the ground. Where I live, US growing zone 6a, November is cool, but the ground is not yet frozen, which is just right for planting.

The bulbs of the Darwin hybrid 'Pink Impression' tulips, one of my favorites for cheery color after the gray of winter.

From the English Garden article on the Chenies Manor tulip display, here is a list of planting tips from Elizabeth McLeod Matthews that I have used and found to be really helpful.

• We plant our bulbs about 5in (13cm) apart, and only about 4in (10cm) deep, as we lift the bulbs each year. We give the bulbs to our volunteer helpers, and start again afresh each year - we have to do this because we are a display garden and need the flowers to be in tip-top condition each year.
• Plant tulips from October to late December. We tend to plant ours in November, when the ground is still warm but the weather is beginning to get cold.
• We start lifting the tulip bulbs on 18 May and, to avoid tulip blight, ensure no bulbs are left in the ground.
• Some tulips, such as Darwin hybrids and 'Apeldoorn' varieties, can be kept in the ground for a few years, in which case, plant them 6in (15cm) deep. (Note: I have tried this, but in the clay-like Missouri soil, was not happy with the results.)
• Small flowering tulip species will naturalise if planted about 5in (13cm) deep and left undisturbed. 
• We cut the tulips down to the lower leaves, which then add an architectural aspect to the soft underplanting.

There are so many varieties of tulip bulbs from which to choose. I have always purchased mine locally, but there are a number of great online sources as well. Try ColorBlends or Brent and Becky's Bulbs; both are rated as Top 5 companies by Dave's Garden.

I am planting around a hundred bulbs this year, nowhere near the thousands that Chenies Manor does, but that's ok, because visual impact is based on scale, and in a small-ish space such as mine, even a block of twenty tulips of one color can have a great affect. I am again planting the Darwin hybrid 'Pink Impression' and, for the first time, 'White Triumph'. The stems of 'Pink Impression' are sturdy and tall and the blooms are enormous and excellent for cutting.

From my past experiences planting tulips en masse, here is a list of likelihoods should you try it:

• Passing cars will slow down. Watch closely and you'll see a camera furtively lifted from the lap of the passenger who snaps a picture before they pull away.

• The necks of all neighborhood walkers will be firmly tilted in the direction of your house during the blooming season. 

• Silver-haired ladies and gentlemen with sweet smiles will stop to tell you how much they love your garden. (A few years ago, while I was putting in the bulbs, one such gentleman stopped to tell me about his days living in Holland, and how excited he would be watching for the tulips in the spring.)

• Perfect strangers will stop and make friends.

• Within your community you may gain the quirky title, "Tulip Lady/Man".

• If you plant bulbs that bloom in mid-spring, you will have something to break the gloom of Tax Day. (My 'Pink Impressions' seem to always bloom on or just before April 15.) 

Worth it? I definitely think so. But even if you're not up to putting in dozens and dozens, or don't have the space, planting a few small masses, even in pots, will give you a terrific spring display.

You know where I'll be the next few days-- with my hands four inches into the soil!

Until next time!

Keri

Inspiration from Chateau de Gizeux

November 26, 2012, 9:02 pm

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There is a tall, lonely wall in the living room of my house that longs for a painting to keep it company-- something grand, something old, something French. My budget, on the other hand, longs for balance.  My years-long search for that perfectly suited piece has been fruitless, so I went out on a slim limb and asked a friend who directs the drama department at a local high school to send me a talented student artist who would charge modestly. My friend recommended one of his students, a talented stage artist. It was this young artist whom I was waiting to meet on a recent Sunday afternoon to discuss the details while I busily flipped through magazines looking for last-minute inspiration. I had started to wonder if commissioning a painting by a high-school student artist was such a good idea. Then I stumbled on Chateau de Gizeux featured in an October 2012 World of Interiors article.

Chateau de Gizeux in the Loire is a remarkable edifice with walls that tell the fascinating stories of its long and varied history. The grand Francois I salon, shown below, as well as other rooms and corridors, many of which were vandalized or fell into disrepair through lack of maintenance, were commissioned in the mid-16th c. by Rene du Bellay for his wife, Marie d'Yvetot, who was princess of a small kingdom in Normandy. The panels were elaborately painted by Italian artists to suit the tastes for courtly life favored by the then-owners. 

Photo by Caroline Banksof the Francois I Gallery at Chateau Gizeux, painted by Italian artists around 1585. Visit her site HEREfor more beautiful shots of the chateau inside and out. 

A detailed photo by Caroline Banksof the Italian painting in the Francois I gallery at Chateau Gizeux. Visit Caroline Banks' blog for her article and more views of the chateau.

The expense of maintaining the chateau forced the du Bellays to sell, and in 1661 it was purchased by a widow, Anne de Frezeau, who was once married to the Count of La Roche-Millay. Because she was a widow, she wasn't obliged to visit the court at Versailles and spent her time instead welcoming artists, writers and musicians to her salon at Gizeaux. In 1680, she invited a group of art students between the ages of 12 and 20, along with their teacher, to decorate the gallery adjacent to the Italian-painted Francois I salon. She chose the French royal palaces as the subjects-- Chambord, Vincennes, Fontainebleau and Versailles-- and the non-royal Gizeux for the entrance chamber. The students are thought to be from the school in Fountainbleau, but relevant papers were destroyed by revolutionary ransackers along with all other documents about the chateau. 

via

The roughly 4300 sq. ft. (400 sq m) of space painted by the students appears to have been used to improve their skills. The first scene that was painted was of Chambord and is a bit flat, but there is improvement in artistic talent with each subsequent painting. It is believed that the whole group would work on the same subject together, each with specific parts-- marbling, trees, animals, etc. 

A long view of the student-painted gallery at Chateau de Gizeux, via

The chateau and its beautiful paintings survived the turbulent revolutionary years thanks to the ingenuity and frugality of Julie Constantin de la Lorie who was left the estate by her godmother and who, in 1786, 3 years before the French Revolution, married Louis Gabriel de Contades, a distant relation of the current owners, the De Laffon family. During the Revolution, Louis Gabriel traveled to the French colony that would later become Haiti to fight with an English troop against French forces. His wife was naturally under suspicion. Considering the troubled times, she hired tenants and villagers to install false cob walls and ceilings over the paintings which preserved them from gangs intent on destroying all semblances of the former regime. It wasn't until over 100 years later when a child mistakenly put a hole in one of the false walls that the paintings were discovered beneath. 

Students visiting Chateau de Gizeux compare a current photo to the painting in the entry gallery depicted with formal garden (now gone). photo via

Beside completely fascinating with the rich history of the chateau, the story bolstered my confidence to continue with the commission of a 5 feet by 7 feet landscape painting by my own modern-day student artist. When I met him, his face was bright with eagerness, and he assured me that it would turn out just right. You have to love the faith and optimism of the very young.  The painting should be complete sometime after the new year, and of course, I will share it with you here. 

 jacob & corrie, flickrvia

The De Laffon family has opened Chateau de Gizeux to visitors for tours and overnight stays, and has received high marks from Trip-Advisor contributors. It is certainly on my "To-Go Someday" list. Visit the chateau's website for times and details HERE.

Original story, Chateau in the Shadows, written by Tim Beddow for World of Interiors. Photos are by Tim Beddow, except otherwise noted. 

Until the next time,

Happy, Happy!

Keri

Elegant Simplicity at Christmas

December 10, 2012, 3:44 pm

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December's Bountyby Elizabeth Floyd

8" x 8" - oil on canvas panel

Ah.. it's Christmas again, that time of year when you either revel in the season or feel a strong inclination to grumble a "bah humbug!" My remedy for keeping Christmas cheer is to keep it simple. That was my mantra last Christmas, and it worked so well that I'm giving it another go this year. The truth is that at Christmastime, especially, there are no trimmings more beautiful or elegant than what nature offers. I think the natural elegance of the season is perfectly depicted in Elizabeth Floyd's lovely painting, December's Bounty. 

December's Bounty - 14" x 14" with frame

Framed painting: $300.00 starting bid + S&H

Her composition and talented rendering of pomegranate, holly and hellebore underscore the beauty of some of the season's best offerings. I think it would make a wonderful, treasured Christmas present, don't you? You must read her blog post on how the painting came about, here. The painting is available for purchase via online auction here. 

On Pinterest (that beloved shrine of beauty), I've gathered lots of inspiration for creating a natural Christmas scene. If you have a little do-it-yourself hankering in your fingers, you'll have to go no further than the farmer's market or perhaps your own yard to recreate many of the splendid things you'll find, here.

Around my house this year, the simplest delights include strings of white lights on the shrubs and eves of the house, a Charlie Brown Christmas tree loaded with ornaments, the wood tree trunk peering through the boughs, and an over-sized creche taking center-stage on a bed of sheet moss. 

I hope you're having a happy Christmas! I'll be back a few days from now with a few photos from around my house.

-Keri

For Newtown..

December 16, 2012, 5:08 pm

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 Photo: Chad Marcus Whyrick Photography, here

All of the "important" stuff that I was rushing around doing last week seemed to mean very little in the face of the evil and tragedy that confronted Newtown, Connecticut on Friday. Even for me, so far away from the tragedy and personally knowing no one involved, the stark reminder of the truly important made me give it all a rest for a few days. Even at a distance, my heart is overwhelmed for the unbearable grief that so many are bearing. However inadequate, this is my tribute to the beautiful little ones whose lives were lost and to the brave adults who tried to protect them. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with all who mourn. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and.. those who are crushed in grief. Psalm 34:18

From my Home to Yours, Merry Christmas

December 21, 2012, 7:18 pm

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Merry Christmas, friends! Thank you so much for hanging out with me here during the last year. Wherever in the world you are, I hope your holidays are peaceful and happy. See you soon! 

Cheers, 

Keri

all photos Ivy Clad

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2013!

January 8, 2013, 5:58 pm

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2013 is over a week in progress, and guess what?! I'm still keeping my New Year's resolutions! Before you're too impressed, you should ask what they are. My dad used to tell me about his grandfather (my great-grandfather) being teased about how untrained his dog was. My great-grandfather would insist his dog was very trained, then to "prove" it, he would wait until he saw that his dog was good and ready to do something anyway, like sit, then he would give the dog that command as the dog truly went about doing whatever he pleased. I'm afraid my resolutions are a little that way-- things I find completely enjoyable and would be doing anyway, but hey, why not? If keeping one's resolutions increases happiness, I'm on the right track. :D

Resolution #1: Garden more. To this end, just before Christmas, I planted two tiny pear trees which I will pleach in the spring. If you haven't read my article on pleaching, it is HERE. Right now, these two trees hardly appear worth a second glance. They are just little whips braving out the winter with help from the shelter of a fence. But that is where pleaching begins, and I feel thrilled thinking of the long-term results every time I see them. Photos of them later when they're a little more photogenic. photo here via here 

Resolution #2: Live in the garden more. I will try to wait until temperatures are not at sub-freezing levels to do this one. Until then, living in the garden vicariously is suiting me nicely. I've just finished reading Down the Garden Path by Beverley Nichols. It is the tale of 1920s playboy-turned-gardener upon the purchase of an English cottage and accompanying gardens. Recommended by Sunday Taylor of the blog, Ciao Domenica, it had me laughing constantly. It is available HERE or if you are in the UK, HERE. Photo, Clive Nichols Garden Photography

Resolution #3: Collect more art. I am still (eagerly) waiting on my large painting, and I hope it won't be my only acquisition this year. Collecting art is simply thrilling (especially for someone with a number of bare walls :)). 

I hope you'll be as successful keeping your New Year's resolutions as I plan to be keeping mine!

Cheers for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2013!

Growing Now: Hyacinth Bean Vine

January 15, 2013, 9:30 pm

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The sprout of hyacinth bean vine plant, just days old. 

With extremely premature and unbridled enthusiasm for spring and growing things, I started some seeds last week in a temporary, disposable "greenhouse". If you have ever grown a plant from seed, you know the utter thrill of seeing it break through the soil. Of course, the proper thing to do would have been to wait until 6-8 weeks before the last frost of the season before starting any seeds, and that is what I will do for most of the plants I'll grow. But the last frost does not disappear from my part of the world until mid-April, and I had to treat myself to watching something green grow on the typical American schedule of NOW! A package of hyacinth bean vine seeds (Lablab Purpureus, formerly Dolichos Lablab) is what I chose. I first soaked the seeds overnight in a bowl of water, then, with the help of my 3 year-old's tiny fingers, pressed them into potting soil, watered them, topped them with the lid of my miniature "greenhouse" and set them on a table near east and south facing windows. That was a week ago; the photo, above, was taken today. I feel quite rewarded. 

image credit: floridata

Hyacinth bean vine is a perennial in the tropics, but is grown as an annual in areas with frost. It has pretty heart-shaped leaves and small purple flowers that resemble the flowers of sweet peas. It also bears dark purple seed pods on the twining stems of the same color. 

photo credit: Missouri State

The flowers of the hyacinth bean vine in shades of lavender/blue and purple resemble those of the sweet pea vine with dark purple stems. 

photo credit: Missouri State

Like the veins on the leaves and the stems, the seed pods of the hyacinth bean vine are also a deep, glossy purple and continue after the flowers have gone. 

 photo credit: Mengmeng Gu

Hyacinth bean vine covering an arbor.

photo credit: Mengmeng Gu

An up-close look at the vigorous, lush growth of hyacinth bean vine. The flowers stand up about 12 inches from the vine and attract butterflies and bees. 

The vine is fast growing and will cover a structure in no time. When I bought five seed packets the nurseryman warned me that I would have enough vines to cover the entire neighborhood. That being the case, this is a great plant for covering a less-than-attractive fence, like chain-link, creating a wall of green instead. (You may read a few places that the vine grows 20-30 feet tall. This may be the case in the tropics where it is never cut down by frost, but where it grows as an annual, 10-12 feet is more realistic, and has also been my experience.)

I ran across this photo on one of Loi Thai's gorgeous Pinterest boards. The walls of this small garden are covered in what I'm guessing is wisteria. Growing plants along the fence allows more gardening space and gives the garden a feeling of soft enclosure. Imagine if the vines were not growing along this wall or fence. The garden would feel considerably more bare and slightly smaller. Hyacinth bean vine would be a perfect, quick way to create a look similar to this with very little expense. At the end of the growing season, the seed pods will dry. You can then harvest them and save the seeds in an envelope to use the following spring. You will also have plenty to give away to your friends. 

For quick reference:

• hyacinth bean vine will grow in any soil and tolerates drought after its established
• prefers full sun but will grow in partial sun (I have grown it in morning sun only)
• flowers are fragrant and attractive to butterflies and bees
• will grow appx. 10-12 feet tall and 3 ft. wide
• also available in white, but not as commonly available as purple, & reported to be less vigorous and not as easily flowering.

You can find seeds for sale at local nurseries or at large home improvement stores. 

Online, seeds are available here or you might check out seeds offered for trade by Dave's Gardening members, here. White hyacinth bean vine is available here.

You can buy seed starting containers at any home improvement store, but lots of containers from around the house can be repurposed for the the job. Check out these ideas here, here, here.

To see more photos of hyacinth bean vine growing in the garden, visit the beautiful blog, En el Jardinhere.

Until next time! 

Keri

A Blackjack Oak and an Oklahoma Sunset

January 22, 2013, 6:47 pm

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How was your weekend? I hope it was wonderful. I spent mine with family and some good friends in eastern Oklahoma where I snapped these photos of the sun setting over Fort Gibson Lake with the gnarly, black limbs of a native Blackjack Oak tree in the foreground. I had left my camera behind, so I snapped away with my iPhone hoping to catch as much of the color as I could. 

I hope the rest of your week is fabulous! Talk to you again soon...

xo Keri

Stepping into Spring

February 5, 2013, 6:27 pm

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Spring may still be quite a few weeks away, but I sense it is on the steps-- especially these! And what a clever and charming way to dress up an otherwise strictly utilitarian area. 

The steps pictured first are softened with Campanula, a creeping perennial that will quickly fill in bare spots and blooms in spring and summer. Recommended varieties are Campanula 'Muralis' and Campanula 'EK Toogood', both of which will grow in sun or shade. There are a number of Campanula varieties with various growth habits. Campanula 'Muralis' is reported to be a tidy grower even when flowering. I suspect the second photo could be a Campanula as well, but maybe someone who knows better can tell me for sure. 

How are you passing the time between winter and spring, (or to my friends in the southern hemisphere), summer to fall?

xo Keri

Photo credits: 1 - Flaming Petal Blog, 2 - Pinterest, original source unfortunately unknown

The Long Gracious Table, Part I

February 27, 2013, 4:39 pm

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Hello there, dear friends. Lest you fear that I have fallen off the end of the earth, I am here to say that I'm as alive and well as these lush potted boxwoods, still dreaming of spring while the snowflakes fly, but more than dreaming, I have been away from the computer assisting with a small d-i-y project at my house that I can hardly wait to show you in just a few more days. I will be back shortly to show you my project and to talk about long, gracious outdoor dining tables and warm weather gatherings on the patio.

In the meantime, wish me luck!

xo,
Keri

Long Outdoor Table, 2

March 12, 2013, 5:06 pm

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My New Outdoor Dining Table Build - Easy D-I-Y plans, Cost appx $130

In my last post, I told you I was working on a little d-i-y project. Here it is -- a new outdoor dining table which my husband and I (mostly my husband) built from some free and easy Ana White plans. It seats 8 easily or a few more if needed. The perfect end-of-winter project, it took only about 8-10 hours to complete and cost under $130, not including stain for the finish. The end result: somewhere to eat outside as soon as the weather is in a better mood and the writing on the wall that my entire patio area must be improved... ::sigh:: more endless d-i-y projects in my future..

The plans for the table were inspired by Anthropologie's Modern Farmhouse Table, below, which I have seen in person and must say is beautiful in a rough luxe way. Retail - $1998 here

Another similar design is Ballard's new Sutton Dining Table, retail $1499 here.

The promises of low cost and easy construction from the Ana White plans encouraged us to give it a go. Dreams from my plethora of inspiration photos spurred me on...

Anouska Hempel Design

SMW Design

For my table's finish (below), I used Behr's Semi-transparent Waterproofing Wood Stain in Light Lead (ST-149) after applying a strongly brewed tea followed by a solution of white pickling vinegar and steel wool to oxidize the wood (instructions here) to remove a little of the newness...

Behr's Semi-Transparent Waterproofing Wood Stain in Light Lead from Home Depot is the finish on my table. 

The color for the table was inspired by the pale blue-grays of French courtyards and walled garden entryways...

Vicki Archer's French Courtyard

If you need a sturdy outdoor table that will easily seat 8, or one that is adaptable to various sizes, give Ana's plans a try. Feel free to leave a comment or email me if you have specific questions. 

xo,

Keri

Photos with source not noted: original source unknown via Pinterest. If I have used your photo, and you would rather I did not, please send me an email and I will remove it with my apologies. If you know the original source for any photo I have used and would care to share it, I will note it with gratitude. 

Sunshine Yellow & Olive Oil Lemon Cake

March 21, 2013, 6:12 pm

≫ Next: Let's Talk Tomatoes: Especially 'Jet Star'

≪ Previous: Long Outdoor Table, 2

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 My house on the first day of spring -- just an hour after the snow started.. only the beginning. 

You can see the tulips sticking up about 3 inches from the ground bravely trying to grow.

Happy first day of spring! Here in the Missouri Ozarks, you would think it's the first day of winter instead. Since the sun refuses to show itself, I've decided to dish up a serving of sunshine yellow-- a few snow-laden daffodils bravely trying to show their yellow, some inspiring yellow interiors, and a lemon cake that is the color of sunshine and easier than pie to make.

From another snow-laden flower bed, Narcissus 'Ice Follies' is getting a chance to take its name to heart. A sunshine yellow flower is peaking out from under the snow.

Yellow-- a hard color for me to get just right is done perfectly here. I can almost feel the sunshine! Chinese Pavilion, Drottningholm, Sweden Here & Here

Gray and yellow must be the most happily married couple ever.

 De Gournay 'Le Eden' in a custom monochromatic design on watery sunshine fabric and chair upholstered in Honey silk velvet. 

Now for that cake: I am not really a mix-from-a-box kind of person. I prefer to make nearly everything from scratch, but I make an exception for this recipe. What begins as a humble mix from a box becomes something really yummy. Lately I have substituted its usual vegetable oil with olive oil. The olive oil gives the cake a subtly different richness which I love, but if you prefer vegetable oil, of course that works perfectly as well. Here's the recipe:

The cake:      
1 18.25-oz. Box Yellow (NOT lemon) cake mix
4 eggs
1 3-oz. box of lemon jello
3/4 c. oil (I use good quality extra-virgin olive oil

The glaze:
1 cup confectioner's sugar
1 lemon, juiced (if the lemon is not very juicy, then use the juice of 2 lemons)
(sometimes I double the glaze recipe for extra lemony goodness)

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease & flour pan.
• Empty the jello into a liquid measuring cup. Add water to the jello until the jello & water reach the 1 cup line. Stir a few times until the jello begins to dissolve.
• Mix the cake mix, jello/water, eggs and oil. Pour into cake pan & bake until done. Use the time guide on the back of the cake box based on the type of pan you use. (I usually use and unfluted bundt pan and bake for 30-35 min.)
• Mix the glaze ingredients. Pour the glaze over the cake while the cake is hot.

Happy Sunshiny Days!

Keri

         

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Let's Talk Tomatoes: Especially 'Jet Star'

March 27, 2013, 8:45 pm

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A gorgeous gathering of tomatoes. Doesn't it make you want to plant your own? Source

If you've ever grown tomatoes at home, you know it's one of the most rewarding gardening experiences. If you haven't grown tomatoes at home, you've got to try it. It is beyond easy, especially with the tomato I'm going to tell you about today.

My favorite tomato to eat is called 'Jet Star'. It's also incredibly easy to grow with fantastic results. It was the first tomato I grew, and with no experience (thanks entirely to this beautiful little tomato) I looked like a pro. The plant bears medium-size fruit almost entirely free of cracks and scars all season beginning early and continuing until frost kills it off. 'Jet Star' is quite sweet, low-acid and very low pulp. Even my young daughter likes to eat them. From just 3 plants, I had enough tomatoes for my family (of then-3) for the entire summer plus extra to share.

Five-gallon buckets wrapped in burlap and tied with jute rope serve as an easy place to grow tomatoes.

Growing tomatoes doesn't even require a garden in the traditional sense. They can be grown in simple containers. Recently I heard that some friends had grown tomatoes successfully in 5-gallon buckets. I thought this sounded like a great idea, but didn't like the visual I got thinking of big orange or white 5-gallon buckets hanging around on the patio. The idea (above), photographed by Susann Larsson of the blog Purple Area takes advantage of the burlap/jute trend to make this an instantly more chic looking arrangement.
            
A word to the wise about container gardening:

• You must use potting soil, not just ordinary garden soil. 
• Keep a close eye on moisture. Potted plants dry out more quickly than those planted in-ground.
• For tomatoes, make sure they get plenty of sun, but even if you only have a spot with a half day of sun, give it a try. I grew 'Jet Stars' in about a half day of sunlight (from about 7am - 2pm).
• Plant marigolds close to your tomatoes. They keep the bugs away. This really works. The bugs hate marigolds.

You can find 'Jet Star' as seedlings from many garden centers or you can purchase seeds online. 

Two quick notes about the blog: 
1) I've added a "Pin It" button for each photo. Just hover over any photo you'd like to pin and the button will appear in the top right corner.
2) I hated to add word verification to the comment section, but there has been so much spam lately that it seemed necessary. Thank you for understanding. 
 Until next time,
Keri

Brooklyn Slate Company

April 2, 2013, 10:01 am

≫ Next: Outdoor Living Space with Debra Phillips & Finding Your Personal Style

≪ Previous: Let's Talk Tomatoes: Especially 'Jet Star'

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Around here, friends are making wry jokes about when it will ever warm up. 

"When do you think this cold weather will finally stop?"

"August."

S'mores on a slate presentation board. 

In times like these, useful planning (and buying :)) comes to the rescue. For those yet-to-be-had summer gatherings and soon-to-come summer gardens Brooklyn Slate Company has some utilitarian beauties. Is that an oxymoron? Look at these, then decide. 

Slate coasters in red and black.

The company's presentation boards are natural slate, non-porous and safe for food, come with a soapstone pencil for identifying cheeses or other assortments and, can you believe it?, are dishwasher safe. 

Impress your foodie friends.

Slate markers for the vegetable garden. See what I mean?-- utilitarian beauties.

And a cool tote to carry your veggies home from the Farmers Market. 

In spring and summer when the last thing on your mind is fussing with lots of complicated recipes, simple, delicious ingredients and attractive presentation are the ticket. 

You can see all of Brooklyn Slate's products here. 
A Martha Stewart 'industrial chic' table with a Brooklyn Slate top here.
A recipe for mint lemonade, in case that lemonade picture made you suddenly thirsty here. 

All photos Brooklyn Slate Co.

Outdoor Living Space with Debra Phillips & Finding Your Personal Style

April 2, 2013, 9:39 pm

≫ Next: Annabelle Hydrangea

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If you follow Debra at 5th and State you will already know that she is designing an outdoor living space for me! Debra is a talented garden designer; if you're not already familiar with her work, you must head over to her blog to read the helpful advice she dispenses on garden design and see the beautiful photos from her annual tour to England.

Answering Debra's questions about my personal style has been fairly easy. (read: over-saturation on Pinterest :p) I really believe in the power of the subconscious, and that if you become extremely clear on what you love and want, and vividly imagine yourself living in that environment that your subconscious mind will help you move in that direction.

Before my husband and I purchased our current home, I drove around our town taking photos of homes that fit the style I wanted. I even photographed businesses and store fronts that had the look. In fact, this very house we bought was one of "ideals" on my list.

via

Finding that "it" style isn't really a scientific endeavor. I just started with a picture file and constantly edited out the ones that didn't make me say a definite YES!

So for this patio project, I have tried to send Debra photos of gardens and outdoor living spaces that give me the feeling I want to have when I walk outside my house. Among others, the photos in this post made the 'favorites' list. 

Photo: Gervais de Bedee of Gresgarth Hall, England

All of these photos, especially the two directly above & below, contain so much of what resonates with me in garden design: a design that incorporates rigid formality (with the tightly clipped box and topiary) with ebullient naturalism within that stricter framework. The intimacy of the surrounding "enclosures" of potted and in-ground plantings is, for me, the perfect outdoor shelter.

In her recent post on this project, Debra says to look up at your house to guide the outdoor design. So here it is. She has categorized the style of my house as contemporary country French. Her next post on the project will address the patio floor and foundation of the patio design. 

What material do you think she might recommend for the patio floor? 

Brick?-- to continue the red brickwork on the front of the house (and front steps, by the way).

Stone?-- a reflection of the stone on the front exterior

Or something else entirely?

What do you think? I'd love to know.

xo,

Keri

photos, unless noted: here and here

Annabelle Hydrangea

April 10, 2013, 9:39 am

≫ Next: A Playhouse... to End all Manufactured Playhouses

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         Mature 'Annabelle' hydrangeas poolside. Martha Stewart photo

There are times when first impressions follow our mothers' rule to hang around for all eternity. And then there are times when they take a hike at the moment of second glance. My first impression of hydrangeas was that they were the quintessential cottage-style or beach house garden flower with little room for them in a more formal or restrained landscape. 

 

'Annabelle' hydrangea in a formal garden. Behind the hydrangea is a pleached hedge and beneath it a small, tightly clipped box hedge.

But on second glance, I saw the hydrangea's potential for playing a role in a more formal garden setting. This is especially true of 'Annabelle'. The blooms of this hydrangea range from pale green in the spring to white in the summer and make it a natural in gardens with a  restrained palette. 

'Annabelle' hydrangea from the beautiful garden of The Graceful Gardener. 

As if they are totally in-the-know about the colors of the season, 'Annabelle' blossoms begin as a bright spring green. 

via News from Nowhere

Later in the season when the weather is warmer and your eyes are searching for a cool place to rest, 'Annabelle' is right on cue with blossoms that have matured to a summery white. As summer runs into fall, flowers again change into a deeper mossy green. There's a great photo of 'Annabelle' in the late summer garden of Chiots Run blog.

via Dickerson Landscaping

Its tiny petals are massed together to form a flower ball that can be 12 inches across. Although it make look delicate, 'Annabelle' is a hard-working shrub. Because it blooms on the new season's growth, this hydrangea can withstand even the extreme cold winter temperatures of northern climates, down to US zone 3 and also does well in the heat of the deep south, to zone 8.

Carolyn Parker photo, Rose Notes

Of the many things to love about 'Annabelle', one of my favorite is how well it can be worked into a beautiful flower arrangement. Carolyn Parker of the blog Rose Notes has beautifully arranged & photographed 'Annabelle' alone and in combination with roses from her garden. See her post here. 

'Annabelle' is commonly found at local garden centers. If you are considering planting one (or many),  some very helpful information on their growing requirements can be found here and here.

Cheers!

Keri

A Playhouse... to End all Manufactured Playhouses

April 23, 2013, 6:37 pm

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I am forever spoiled from buying the modern, ready-made playhouse-- not that they don't serve a purpose; I mean, you can entertain a kid with scotch tape and a cardboard box. But when you  need a playhouse for yourself, camouflaged as a play space for the kids, look no further. I'd happily chill out in any of these.

These first four photos are the creations of Judith Needham. She wanted a playhouse for her daughter that would blend in with the surrounding English landscape, so she built the 'Dreaming Spires' playhouse from willow canes. It's as beautiful an asset to the garden in winter as it is in summer.

Another of her creations is the 'Onion Pot', below, for children of all ages.

Available for purchase in the U.K. HERE. She also offers weaving workshops in Surrey and Hampshire.

photo via Hooked on Houses

Anyone who has seen Sense & Sensibility will remember the treehouse where Miss Margaret hides out. I always sympathize with her pouting & mischievous hiding at the start of the movie. 

photo: Jane Austen Film Club

In oh-so-whimsically-charming fashion are the round windows & the door trimmed in small cut branches, the blue-washed, hinged shutters, the octagonal shape and thatched roof, and the rope ladder that can be drawn up for top-secret meetings.

A playhouse that could be straight out of Wind in theWillows from Bunny Guinness' award winning children's garden by that name which she designed for the Chelsea Flower Show and won a gold medal. 

See what I mean?

Bunny Guinness

A thatched mud hut, Bunny Guinness

A smart tree house. As the mom of a 3-year old, I like the little porch that surrounds this elevated house among the trees. Bunny Guinness

Can you guess what I'm thinking? Maybe that sweet man who built the table will humor me-- I mean the kids-- with a playhouse?

Hammer & nails building not your preferred route to charming? Try this version-- a favorite hideout in the Children's Garden at the Fullerton Arboretum in Fullerton, CA. Constructed of bamboo canes and covered in the fast-growing hyacinth bean vine, it's shady, cool and will make everyone say, awww... Instructions from 

Sunset HERE.

If you missed my post on hyacinth bean vine, you can see it HERE. It's so easy to grow and not too late to plant seeds. 

Talk to you again soon!

Keri

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