sweet nothings

The East coast had a little warmer weather yesterday, but today we are back to a blustery winter's day! Quite chilly! So I put some sweet little treats out to warm up the day inside. The children love the different holiday colors they make m&m's in. These are peanut.

the more things change...

These are some coins from Europe - pre-EU, of course. (see if you find one very old dime!) I used to love to see the different coins, and saved them on a little writing desk. My son is especially fascinated by them. There used to be more, but they seem to drift away over the years. Snowing here again, and oh so cold. Stay warm!

reflections

Sometimes, it is nice to find a small quiet corner of your life and reflect. On what makes you happy, even if it is just something simple. Look at things a different way. Just sit quietly, and let your mind simply wander. Find a creative outlet for your meanderings. Or just give your mind a rest in a harried world.

turquoise dreaming

Don't get me wrong - I do like the winter! But I would love just a short trip away to somewhere warm and wonderful. With sand, and turquoise waters and palm trees swaying along in the soft, warm wind. I don't really have a favorite time of year, but I think the very best days of all are
the first warm day of spring, when you throw open all of your windows and breathe in fresh, clean air; the balmy days of summer where it is not too hot yet, but the air is hot and dry, and the best thing to do is to find a good book and a spot of shade; the first crisp night of fall when you bundle up in front of an outdoor fire; and the very first snow day, when you can smell it in the air before the first snowflake falls. Still, there is nothing like those turquoise dreams...

brrr...

Well, now you can see what is happening here today! This started shortly after we woke up today, and look how much snow is already on the ground in less than two hours! The snow is falling so fast, you really have to look for it in the photograph! Stay warm, wherever you are, and if you are somewhere warm: invite me over!

oh, I wish I was there!

Last night, I saw a friend's pictures from her trip to Greece last summer! It made me want to be there so very much! It has been so long since I have been, that I did not have a digital camera then. But I had scanned in this old photograph, and thought I would share. I am the one in the blue top. That is one of my sisters next to me. I have no idea who the gentleman in the white shorts is!

sunny days

Here is a colorful shot from a summer visit to Newport this year. (Lucky me! I got to go twice this year - once in summer, and once just before Christmas to see the mansions decorated.) Some new additions to the bookstore: I added some books my children have been enjoying lately. For those of you who don't know, James is 11, twelve in two months, and Kate is 8. (Or "Kate the Great is Eight!" as we say around here!)

Anyway, couldn't you just dive into that blue sky? As usual, I recommend that you click to really see the shot well. I would love a terrace overlooking the water! I'd invite all my friends to just come and sit and enjoy. Where would you live if you could live anywhere?

something is new around here

If you'll notice, I added a bookstore link. All you need to do is click on the green bar, and you will go right in. If you click the book that is highlighted, you will go right to that book. If that happens, just click on the book store link on the right. All of this is provided by those nice people at Amazon, so you get their amazing prices on these great books.

I will continue to add more books, but these are some of my all time favorites. Here's why:

Slim Aarons: Each of the books offers a look into an earlier era of jet-setting and generally looking marvelous. Lush and fabulous photography perfectly capture both the era and the look.

Bunny Williams: Traditional style, extraordinary results. I want the house in "An Affair with a House", which chronicles her wonderful decorating style in her own home.

Charlotte Moss: Another favorite decorator. I go to her books again and again for inspiration.

Colin Cowie: Have you seen this man's parties? Or his closet? Or his refrigerator? A chic and elegant lifestyle to aspire to.

Kelly Klein: Amazing pools from many different places and eras. From Esther Williams to contemporary Hamptonites. Dive right in.

Katie Lee Joel: Because I did not want to like the cookbook, but I really did. A lot.

Jeanne Kelly: Her cookbook is so beautifully photographed, and the recipes are yummy! Worth it for the ziti and cauliflower gratin alone, but for many others as well.

Dana Slatkin: Shutters on the Beach Cookbook. Before you buy this book, check out the hotel website. Oh, I want to go there! My husband promised we can stay there if we get out to California. Absolutely stunning. I have made several recipes from this book, also with rave results. I especially recommend the raspberry coconut bars. Scrumptious!

These are favorites that I turn to again and again. I hope you like them too.

at least the weather was wrong

They said up to ten inches of snow yesterday, but we only got about an inch and a half! Phew! But it is definitely a winter's day here: the sun is very bright against the snow, and the roads are icy. Thankfully, we laid in provisions so we don't need to leave! A warm toasty breakfast today. I tried Colin Cowie's almond pancakes from his website. Quite yummy, and very filling. And made with heart healthy almonds and whole wheat flour. My eight year old daughter says it is a definite do-again!
If you are not familiar with Colin Cowie, I strongly recommend his website, and his books. He is a party planner and lifestyle guru extraordinaire! Think Martha Stewart with the panache of Cary Grant! Honestly? I want to be him when I grow up!

pink and sweet

Here are some cupcakes I made for my daughter and her friends. When you are their age, the pinker and sweeter the better! This was a white cupcake, with buttercream frosting and royal icing roses. I made the roses during the week before I baked them. They were baked in the morning, and iced. Then I rolled the edges in pink sparkling sugar, and popped a rose on top.
What do you think?

Still sunny over here ...

... though it is supposed to snow tomorrow! So I am enjoying the sun while it is here. But it is sooo cold out! The kids are adjusting to the routine of back to school, but that morning bus stop sure is cold! I am so glad my oldest is big enough to go on his own! (NOT that mom is allowed to go out there and embarrass him even when it is warm out, but still.) This is one more sculpture from the exhibit I posted yesterday.

More glass sculptures

Here is another installation at the same exhibit. It looks so peaceful and serene! I hope you enjoy the view!

I love the sound of breaking glass ...

An old Nick Lowe song, and a goodie! It reminded me of an exhibit at a conservatory that we went to when we visited my sister in Pittsburgh, so I looked for the photographs. I don't recall the name of the artist, but this particular installation makes me think of a Dr. Seuss forest. Definitely click on the photo to enlarge. The work on this was amazing. I will post more from this exhibit in a little while.

here comes the sun ...

The sun is out! Finally!! I can't tell you how good it feels, even though it is still cold out. It is funny how a few cloudy days in a row will get to you in the winter months! These sunny hibiscus were from last year. They make me think of warm, tropical places.

rain, rain, go away ...

I cannot believe it is still gray and rainy out! I was outside for much of the day, and my toes are cold and wet. So I was looking for something that looked warm and lovely, and came across this. The orchid is beautiful isn't it? I did not grow it, but caught it right after it had been misted and watered. Its colors are so radiant, at the top of the photograph, it almost looks as though there was sun on it. This was not photo-shopped at all - other than adding the signature - what you see is exactly what it is.

UPDATE: I liked this so much, I made it the background on my phone!

a little more color ...

Still gray and rainy out, so here is a bright and sunny cake I made. It looks so cheerful, doesn't it? No special occasion, just a practice run. I happen to love daisies. This is a chocolate cake, with buttercream frosting, covered in fondant. The daisies are fondant too. I usually don't like commercial fondant - the ones I have tasted are not my favorites. So I tend to make my own, time permitting. Though sometimes, the ready-made kind is a lifesaver. Here, I used ready made fondant. I would make this cake in lime green too, with pink daisies! By the way, I did not eat that slice!

A little bit of color on a cloudy day.

It is so gray out today! I took this photo earlier this week. I love the pop of color on a gloomy winter day! If you click on the image, you should be able to see a larger shot of it. The way the petals of the violets glisten make them look like candy to me. You can see this if you are able to enlarge the image.

Today I am reading ...

Trap Door, by Sarah Graves. It is the tenth book in a series - the Home Repair is Homocide series - and I really have enjoyed them all. The series follows two friends and their families as they try to solve murders and mysteries in coastal Maine, and renovate a colonial home. I like reading mysteries, and especially series, where you get to know the characters over several books. I think you get more involved in the characters that way. And if I enjoy a series, I always look for the next one!

Let me know what you are reading today.

Out with the old ...

Hello! Thanks for stopping by. This is where I will post things that I am up to - musings, creative projects, cooking, photography, and so on... The main idea is to encourage you to find the beauty and creativity in the small things, and to show you what I think makes life sweet. I hope you enjoy!

For today, the Christmas tree comes down. The room looks so bare as the tree comes down. I took this picture just yesterday. I loved the way the light looked across the flowers. I made about two dozen of them, and they are all over the tree. I did not make the butterflies, but there are about four dozen of them flitting around the tree each year. I always put the butterflies and flowers up first, so I can scatter them throughout the tree, because they make me happy!