Old Fashion Romantic Roses

The roses are blooming 

What is it about a rose that just shouts romance?

Is it the smell of sweet tea or the loose petticoat like petals?

Or just the fact that when someone give you a bouquet of roses 

you 

know they love you!

I don't really have a favorite rose, but I'm partial to the soft peachy colors and light pinks

When they start to droop a little after a few days... 

I really think they look even more beautiful

I like to gather them up in large bunches 

and squeeze them 

in to the vase

How romantic!

A pretty bouquet just for you

Have a happy weekend

A Few Snap Shots From Country Style Magazine

Hi to all....hope you are enjoying the beginning of Spring and can find some time get out in the fresh air and sunshine this weekend!  

Maybe even do some gardening...

I wanted to share a few photos taken by photographer Michael Garland for Country Style Magazine
(flowers above: coreopsis and lantana...just in case you were wondering)

These were in the Spring 2014 issue, out in March.

The styling was done by my friend, the oh so talented, witty and gorgeous stylist 

Sunday Hendrickson

If you can find the magazine it has a nice little article too, written by Cynthia Vessy

I love this shot, framed by the barn doors into the mud room

the dining area in the kitchen...more pretty lantana in the orchard basket

 The shot above is our guest room/the only other bed room in the house.  I don't think I have ever shown this room....mainly because it is a really awkward space and I use it as a "catch all" when I don't know where to put things!
I'm having wine...come on in.

 What is interesting about these photos compared with others you may have seen is that these are more "real" life shots. All of the things you see are actually ours and we use them every day.  I love that old French quilt and it is usually just a bit off kilter and not folded all that neatly on the bed,

just as it is here.  Sunday had a great time "shopping" for props in my cupboards and the garage!

 Hey...a bucket lamp!  I usually have flowers all around the house because I love them and there is always something in bloom.  Hey.... I'll put weeds in a vase, if that's all I can find!

this  is a interesting old metal lounger in our bedroom...it folds completely flat

 Sunday styled this old Hoosier cabinet using these interesting orange flowers from

a plant called Lions Tail (Leonotis leonurus)  

The flowers bloom in large whirls and hummers love them.  

I think they look like 4th of july sparklers

 Would you believe me if I told you that the living room looks completely different today?  Right after this shoot I went to the Remnants Of The Past show in San Luis Obispo
and sold a lot of things  in these photos.

 We had fun in the kitchen too.  Sunday styles with a very loose look...I think a little romantic and graceful.  I can spot her look in a magazine with out even checking to see if she was the stylist.

All of the apple trees were in season and I always have gobs of citrus, herbs and assorted veggies on hand so we never seem to run short of kitchen foodie props!

 I have my office in the mud room but now have a new modern desk and chair.  In case you are wondering about the black floor...yes I love it and it always looks pretty good 

even when it's covered with gravel, dog hair and oak leaves...which is most of the time

This was a really fun day and it's always a treat to work with professionals. 

 I always learn something new and enjoy hearing about the interesting locations

these guys get to work on each month!  

I gathered up this huge bucket of Plumbago which was growing out of control along our front planter.

Michael shot this against the plain white wall and this photo turned out to be a favorite of mine.

Hope you like the photos too!

Thanks for stopping by....have a wonderful weekend and don't forget to celebrate Spring!

The Art of Simple

 Nothing is quite a wonderful as a simple, quiet room.

Filled with your favorite flowers
and
a soft comfy chair.

pretty white ironstone collections

touches of country blue

rows of white chairs and floppy hydrangea

a furry friend to keep us company

this is the fine art of simple...practice it often

All images from

New Farmhouse Style

Green Goodness

 My garden is filled to the brim with lettuce right now

 I usually plant or sow directly into the vegetable beds 

with really great results

 You can find Mesclun mixes 

in just about every nursery and there are some great Internet sources 

like  Shepard's Seeds and 

Renee's Seeds 

which happens to be my favorite

 Some times I let the plant get a bit to big and the lettuce is tough 

but in the case of Arugula

you can eat the little flower petals too!

 I pretty much toss in anything that is ready for picking

like radishes and peas 

 The spring onions are really big now 

and

I have leeks and red onions this year too  

 If I can't get the onions to pull out easily from the dirt

 I use a sharp paring knife and cut them off right at the base 

which works fine  too

 Back in the kitchen....lets make a salad

 I usually give the newly harvested green a good 5 - 10 minute soak

 in ice cold water in a salad spinner

What that does is it crisps up the greens a little bit

Then I triple wash...sometimes 4 washes are necessary

 I don't use any pesticides but I like to be sure I have gotten off all of the dirt 

and the little bugs that can hide in the leaves

 All the greens get dumped on to a kitchen towel and are sorted into zip lock bags 

this lets me check every thing over one last time 

and get a nice interesting mix of lettuce varieties into each bag

 now that we have our salad greens....how about some vinaigrette!

 This is a heavenly Meyer lemon concoction 

that you will love

 I will list all of the ingredients at the end 

so you can 

jot it down if you like

 I usually use 3 Meyer lemons

( I have 4 large lemon trees but the Meyers always get used up first!)

I you can't find Meyers 

you can use 2 regular lemon's and one orange

 to create a similar taste

 I use olive oil and Canola oil 

( its nice to balance out the flavors with both)

Dijon mustard

 add in some finely chopped shallot

and some vinegar

 salt and pepper to taste

and a bit of tarragon

I never have fresh tarragon and the dried works fine in this recipe 

 whisk it up and then store in a jar 

with a nice tight lid 

suitable for shaking

 This is the best dressing

I use it on salads of course but it is great on: 

Grilled chicken

Grilled Vegetable's like zucchini and peppers

and it is heaven over vine ripe tomatoes!

or to use as a dip for a  big slice of crusty french bread!

Did I say YUMMY?!

Here is the recipe:

Feel free to tweak as you like

juice from 3 Meyer lemons (look for about 3/4 cups of juice)

1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/2 Cup Canola oil

1/4 cup sweet wine vinegar ( I use a Rose' Wine Vinegar because I like the sweetness to balance out the lemon juice)

1/4 cup Dijon mustard ( I usually mix the smooth with the grainy together)

1 large shallot finely minced

1 Tbl dried Tarragon

Salt and Fresh ground pepper to taste

Yield: 2 1/2 cups of Vinaigrette

Shake well before using

Have a fun and relaxing weekend

hope you find time to putter in the garden too!