May 2016

8 years ago General

I found this lovely little watercolor on Pinterest, (nestofposies-blog.com).  I think it says all there needs to be said!  I think everyone can relate to opening the windows after a long winter.  The first wafting of fresh air through the house, the unavoidable first ‘SLAM!’ of one of the bedroom doors upstairs when a stiff breeze brazenly enters. Aaaahhhh, the smell, the feel, the joy, the warmth.  Driving along a beautiful stretch of road one day, I saw a car pulled over, the trunk was open and spread out wide were all the necessities for a day of plein air painting.  An elderly man sat on a make-shift stool, wearing a slouchy hat and a large shirt over a t-shirt, sleeves sloppily rolled-up.  Easel before him, he sat quietly painting the beautiful view of the valley and farms below.  I thought to myself, in our hurry up world, what a great way to just toss aside the chores and sieze the day.  I encourage you in this beautiful season, when the earth re-awakens to try to grab a moment, hour, day to yourself.  Take in the view.  Open the windows.

April 2016

8 years ago General

April showers bring May flowers it is said.  Here in the northeast we have had such a mild winter that the May flowers are coming a little earlier than usual.  Nonetheless, it’s always nice to see some color again.  Every now and again there is a day that is warm enough to open some windows and invite the fresh air into the house.  Out with the old, in with the new, the fresh, the turn of another season.  Us gardeners feel the excitement of another growing season.  We can’t wait to get going, planting, pruning, planning.  Outdoor house projects are ready to be tackled.  It’s like waiting for the start of a race.  However, April can be fickle, and the unexpected cold snap and snow flurries cannot be ruled out.  Not to worry, the days are noticeably longer and the buds are thickening.  Spring is certainly here.  Use April to make your plans, the warm weather will be here soon enough.

March 2016

8 years ago General

If your anything like me, you probably felt like last week was the beginning of February, you blinked and now it’s March!  Somehow March comes creeping in from the sidelines and suddenly it’s here!  I’ve said it before I know, but I do feel like March is the beginning to the end.  The end of winters’ icy grip and shortened days.  Hope does spring eternal and I feel March brings that hope.  I have already composed my spring “to do” list for inside and out and made my plans for the garden, even though that is a solid month or so away.  My decorating projects taken on last month are almost done and that alone gives a fresh perspective, (look for updates in Décor).  As nature slowly awakens so too do our senses to a certain excitement of warmer and longer days ahead.  The maple sap has started to run, the days are gradually getting longer and the birds are changing their song.  March is here.

February 2016

8 years ago General

Groundhogs, valentines, presidents, and this year….voting caucuses!! Seems like a lot to pack into the shortest month of the year, but lets face it, we are a nation of achievers and do-ers.
We like action, celebration, busy-ness.  At this time of the year, much of the nation is still buried in a blanket of white, but make no mistake, that doesn’t mean we are indoors.  Those living in wintry climes tend to make the most of it – get outside and do all the “S’s”……ski, snowboard, skate, snowmobile, snowshoe, sled, slip, slide and yes, shovel!  Plenty to do for sure.  As evidenced by my ski room above – we too are very into getting out there……weekend warriors they call us, into living life fast and full.  This is the time of year I also seem to get itchy to have a decorating project.  In my travels (in stores or on the web), something invariably inspires me and I have to do it.  I think this year it will be my home office….hhmm.  I’ll keep you posted.  So before this month slips by, get out, get inspired and I’ll try my best to get you motivated as well.  Happy February!

January 2016

8 years ago General

Another year over, a new one just begun.  A fresh start, a new beginning.  For whatever reason, we all like newness and a chance to begin again.  It gives us a sense of relief and comfort to put the old behind us and resolve to do better this time.  The quiet and calm that accompany January are conducive to this as well, a time for reflection.  I always like the quiet of January, the holidays are over, the decorations are carefully put away, waiting to be unwrapped once again in another magical season.  The quiet falling snow beckons us to retreat indoors and be cozy, perhaps after a day enjoying winter sports. Resolve to make this your month to do something for yourself, whatever that may be which gives you fulfillment or purpose, or just clears your mind.  Strap on some snowshoes and take a stroll through a wintry landscape.  De-clutter a closet or read that book you’ve been putting off.  Now enter peaceful January.

December

8 years ago General
Our Christmas Tree - typically between 14 - 17' tall. 

Our Christmas Tree – typically between 14 – 17′ tall. 

Can anything set the “mood” quite like music?  When we hear those first few Christmas carols it can instantly make us feel ready for the season.  Somehow this year, all the holidays seem to be coming quicker than usual and now here we are into December, ready to celebrate all of our respective holidays and begin to reflect on the end of another year.  Time is fleeting and making the most of every moment feels even more important at this time of year, the season of family traditions and lifetime memory-making.  One of our traditions is to cut a Christmas tree on our property.  We cut it on Thanksgiving morning, bring it up to the house and set it up the day after Thanksgiving.  That weekend is devoted entirely to decorating the house and instantly we are into the Christmas season!  This month I will try to inspire you with decorating and entertaining ideas and ways to organize yourself so that the typical holiday pressures are lessened.  Whatever your traditions, may you enjoy the closeness of family and  enjoy the beauty of the season.  My wishes for a glorious holiday season to all.  Peace.

November

8 years ago General

Today I watched a beautiful early sunset.  The air was still as the sun quietly slipped behind the horizon leaving a wake of glorious colored clouds before the evening swallowed them up.  Aaah yes, November has silently entered as the “quiet before the storm”, in so many ways – weather and the onset of the holiday crunch.  The clocks have been turned back and the trees and bushes are barren.  Time to put away the last of the lawn furniture, fill the wood bin and prepare for the cozy days ahead.  Unfortunately with our fast-paced lifestyles, I sometimes feel as though we are so bombarded by the pressure to prepare for the holidays we lose track of really enjoying the moments along the way.  Try to take some time to yourself.  With advance planning and some easy organizing the holidays don’t have to be so crazy.  I love that as a nation, we all celebrate Thanksgiving – which happens to be my favorite holiday.  A day set aside for being thankful for all that we have surrounded by friends and family.  A day with little decorating or gifting pressure.  Just cooking and celebration.  Enter into the beauty of the season……

October 2015

9 years ago General

Autumn has arrived and with it all the spendor of the changing naturescape around us.  Most everyone can agree, Autumn is the most glorious time of year and for many it is their favorite season.  Bittersweet in so many ways, the end of summer, the beginning of the school year, the beautiful cooler weather, the colorful leaves, pumpkins, apples, all coming together at once in what also seems like the shortest season.  Time to get out the sweaters and take long walks.  Visit a pumpkin patch and on those rainy days, bake up something special for those hungry customers coming off the bus in the afternoon.  Cook up a batch of applesauce, light some candles and savor your October.

September

9 years ago General

A year ago, I entered my first ever blog post.  As the leaves gradually hint of their grand show to come, once again, so many changes in life as well.  This year many of my friends are seeing children off to college for the first time.  In light of that, I am re-posting my first ever entry.  To all my friends and parents everywhere…….

Well it only seems fitting that I have launched my blog/website in September, this month that truly heralds the start of so many beginnings.  If you are a parent you are used to September being full of new beginnings, new firsts.  The bittersweet heartache of watching your children step onto a school bus for the first time, or the last, moving off to college or asking for the keys as they slip behind the wheel to drive themselves to school.  Another school year, another fresh start, a clean slate.

There is a certain stillness in the mornings too that gently heralds the change to come.  It is as though nature has taken a collective breath holding onto the last of summers’ sweetness only to finally exhale into autumn.

Roadside stands are brimming with produce, tomatoes, squash of every kind and…..the true symbol of early fall….pumpkins.

In this month I will try to inspire you with fall decor, bringing some of the last of that ‘outdoorness’ inside.  Look for recipes for the last of the summer bounty and some ideas of what to do on those less than perfect days – organizing, cleaning out a closet, maybe a project to tackle.

Time to get out the sweaters and embrace the season.  Welcome to Home.

August

9 years ago General

A sure sign that August has arrived?…. The brimming road-side vegetable stands!  The bounty is here, tomatoes of every kind, sweet corn, squash, peppers, etc.  Time to really savor the true flavors of summer.  Is anything quite as rewarding as cooking with produce from your own garden?  My tomato plants started out a bit shaky with all the rain we had in June here in the northeast.  However, by mid-July they were really starting to thrive.  My kitchen potager isn’t very large but just being able to go out and snip some fresh herbs and collect a few fresh vegetables is hugely rewarding! Ah August, it can either be the ‘beginning of the end’, or the most rewarding month of the summer.  Time for state fairs and getting in the last of those weekend getaways.  Get a good book and out on that hammock, summer is in full swing and the best is here to enjoy.