peaches for you

At last! Local peaches. They are late this year, but oh-so-divine. In fact, they are so fabulous they need a post all of their own.

The gorgeous Greer was over for brunch yesterday. I made a quiche and sliced up some of those peaches and a local tomato. I tossed them with fresh basil, drizzled them with Balsamic vinegar and a little olive oil, and then finished with a pinch of coarse sea salt and fresh-ground pepper. (Hint: be sure to wash some of the fuzz off before slicing, and use a firmer piece of fruit as it will hold up better when tossed). I love the combination of sweet, savory, and salty. Yum.

Doesn't this look good? Oooooh, and how about a peach in champagne! What is your favorite way to serve them up? Do tell.

trouvée: camping

Found last week in Maine (click to view larger). No inscriptions or date. However, based on the type of postal card on which it was printed, it was taken some time between 1904 and 1918. Honestly, if one is going to insist on going camping, this is the way to go.

Some things:

* Jefferson Hayman
* Anne Schwalbe
* and a honeymoon (lovely!)

Take care. Have a good weekend!

in the woods

My niece is convinced that fairies live in these woods. I am pretty sure she's right. How could they not? Last year my dad planted her a fairy garden, and as you can see the little people have made themselves quite at home.

Have you ever read The Borrowers?

Here's wishing you a little magic in your day.

beachcombing

Doesn't matter what age you are, but there's something about the beach in Maine that draws one's eye to the ground. As a kid I used to collect all sorts of shells, bits of driftwood, sea glass, mica, and stones. And truth be told, I still do it sometimes ~ all part of an uncontrollable tendency to create order out of nature.

I added a few more images to flickr. And lest you think I had a string of beautiful sunny days on my vacation, let me assure you that there was rain. Lots of it! It is just not that fun to photograph in a downpour (which is why they invented books, needlepoint and hot tea). Lots more to share (including a house tour), so stay tuned. Cheers.

a few bits

Back from Maine. Lots of rain, but still wonderful. There is so much catching up to do, but thought I would share a few little bits (more here). Hope you are all well and that the sun is shining where you are.

fiori di zucca & other things

I am off tomorrow morning for a little vacation. Heading north, and unplugging for a few days. For now, I leave you with a bit of culinary inspiration ~ greens from issue 3 of Jamie magazine (I just want to lose myself in those pages!). And, how cute is that zucchini (from the sunday market)!?

Speaking of zucchini, Greer has been frying up some fiori di zucca from her garden, with "just a simple pastella with flour and water and a spray of salt before biting down." However, if you feel like something slightly more sinful, you might try this.

Ok, be well. Type to you later.

P.S. You can catch me over here today (thanks Little Augury!).

welcome summer

What better way to welcome summer than with a mass of flowers? Or in my case, fresh tomato salad, a glass of rosé, and a new iPhone. I lingered on the roof last night until the sun finally set on the longest day. There is something magical about midsummer's night ~ or is it just that Shakespeare has forever romanticized it for us? What do you think?

And not to miss: Little Augury is celebrating the season with a fantastic summer reading series. Be sure to check in daily because you never know who is going to stop by with a bit of literary inspiration, or what goodies "little a" will give away!

trouvée: the gardener

This is my dad in the late 1940s, in his parents' garden in Ireland. He apparently liked to dig up the potatoes and check on their development. While he is somewhat less interested in root vegetables these days, he still likes to garden.

Some links:

* Paula McCartney
* a few botanicals
* and some interiors

Happy father's day to my dad! And a wonderful weekend to all. Summer begins on sunday.

scenes from a picnic

No weekend outing would be complete without some seriously good food (and a few vintage cars!). I always love pulling out the old Polaroid for a picnic...and letting the good times roll.

Speaking of food:

* looking for the perfect summer dish?
* how do I get invited to one of these Sunday Suppers?
* and, are you feeling adventurous? because this is not your grandmother's ice cream!

Happy thursday to you all.

historic house tour: poplar forest

A bright, sunny (and typically steamy) Virginia Saturday marked the last of the house tours for the season. A very hardy group of six (including our favorite architect) set out for a 4-hour drive to Poplar Forest, the country retreat of Thomas Jefferson. Located some 90 miles south west of Monticello, near Lynchburg, Poplar Forest served as a refuge for Jefferson: “I have fixed myself comfortably, keep some books here, bring others occasionally, am in the solitude of a hermit, and quite at leisure to attend to my absent friends,” he wrote to Benjamin Rush in 1811. He began construction on the house in 1806 and (as with Monticello) continued to work on it until his death in 1826. However, the main hexagonal block of the house was for the most part complete by the time Jefferson decided to add an east wing of offices in 1814. In typical Palladian fashion, Jefferson intended there to be a west wing, though it was never constructed. The house is flanked by two ornamental mounds of earth and necessaries (which look more ornamental than necessary), and a sunken lawn extends out from the south façade of the house.

Over the years the house suffered a devastating fire and several generations of alterations, so the current structure is a restoration based on exhaustive architectural investigation, archeology, and Jefferson’s own meticulous plans and writings. “When finished it will be the best dwelling house in the state, except that of Monticello; perhaps preferable to that, as more proportioned to the faculties of a private citizen,” he wrote to John Wayles Eppes in 1812. Indeed, Mr. Jefferson, it is one of the finest I have seen.

For a bit more, see Stefan’s fantastic post, and my flickr. Special thanks to Mr. Rudder for providing the perfect quotes and inspiring me to make the journey south.

P.S. I couldn't resist posting the obligatory southern magnolia, even though that particular tree wasn't even a seedling when Jefferson inhabited the house. He of course preferred poplars.

green, green

Bright sun and beautiful greens at the market yesterday. It was one of those days where I filled my bag with far more than one person can possibly consume. But, I like a challenge, so we'll see what I can dish up this week. Peas made their debut...and I am dying to get my hands on a certain potato salad recipe with fresh peas and dill (G!).

Overall, a fantastically busy weekend ~ and I have lots to share. So, more tomorrow.

bathing beauties III

Uninscribed and undated, but looking sassy with a camera. In Santa Monica, maybe?

The friday links:

* floating or falling? (artboards in Kansas City)
* Touched by Fire (more here)
* and Rinne Allen's new site

Weekend plans include: a little retreat (!) and some sun bathing (hurrah!). Here's hoping yours is a happy one.

dark and lovely

Yesterday morning I was woken by a huge crack of thunder as another dramatic storm slammed into Washington. Yet another chased me home in the evening, dark clouds casting a green tinge over the city. Funny weather.

Speaking of green ~ for those of you who love the idea of a lemon verbena gimlet, but don't have a ready supply in the backyard, a friend of mine suggested trying this version with basil.

summer evenings

Summer evenings are made for strolling. The shadows are long and the temperatures mild. People sit outdoors on their stoops, sipping cold drinks and smoking cigarettes. And afterwards, a glass of wine, or perhaps a lemon verbena gimlet?

A few lovely things:

* Texture of the Night

* my white table

* an update from Greer ~ the first home-grown salad!

And as the newspaper man yelled at me this morning: "welcome to your tuesday!"

al fresco!

Summer meals al fresco ~ this weekend was full of them. The rain finally cleared out and we were treated to blue skies and warm temperatures. On the menu was homemade quiche Lorraine and tomato salad with fresh basil and asparagus. Cherries made their debut at the market ~ and they didn't last long! Neither did this raspberry buttermilk cake, which I made saturday morning (it didn't even stick around long enough for a photo session!). Very pretty, and so easy to make.

I hope you all had a yummy weekend.

bathing beauties II

Inscribed: "To Brother / This is my girl friend Phyllis and myself getting ready to take a dive. Isn't my bathing suit cute. / Shirley / 7-5-30." Can't remember where I found this...maybe in Maine. Don't you remember the youthful excitement of a new suit?

Some friday photo links:

* lantern slides (thanks jg!)
* the Factory
* and some Stacks

Have a great weekend. I do hope the sun will make an appearance.

rain, rain

We have had a dramatic week of weather here in Washington. Huge dark thunder clouds and monsoon rains. My apartment faces west, so I get quite a lightening show as the storms roll in. I have been sticking close to home, enjoying a new cookbook, and taking the opportunity to get some stitching done.

Things brightening my day:

* Cannelle et Vanille
* ginger lemon cremes (with my evening cuppa)
* and a $4 find at the used book store!

More tomorrow...until then, be well. xo.

gooseberries...anyone?

I have been organizing old photos and came across this one, which I have posted before. But, it reminds me that gooseberries are on the way. They are always really cheap at the market because no one ever seems to know what to do with them. Well, lately I have been a bit obsessed with chutney, and so when I stumbled across this recipe, I thought it sounded too good not to try:

Gooseberry Chutney

3 lbs of gooseberries
1 lb of sugar
½ lb of onions
1 pint of vinegar
½ pint of water
½ oz of salt
1 tablespoon of ground ginger
½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper

Top and tail the gooseberries, and chop roughly. Finely chop the onions; then cook with the berries in the water until they are softened well. Add the remaining ingredients, then simmer until the chutney becomes thick, stirring occasionally. Bottle while still hot, and cover immediately.

summer weekends

My weekends are slipping into a happy summer routine of apartment renovations and sunday morning outings to the farmers' market, followed by evenings at home, cooking. Sometimes, staying close to home feels really nice, even if it makes for quiet posts here on the blog.

Naturally, I am feeling domestically inspired these days:

* House

* Good Things in England

* Swans Island Blankets

* World of Interiors (the June issue ~ gorgeous)

* and anticipating Jamie, issue 3 (hurry up Borders!)

Happy monday!

trouvée: bathing beauties I

No inscription. No date. Just sitting on the dock of the bay...

Some random friday photo links:

* Rinne Allen
* Mary Ellen Bartley
* Juliane Eirich
* and a Gumball Machine on 20x200

A happy weekend to you all!

projects

New pencils! All sharpened and ready to go. I have a few little projects in the works, which I hope to share with you all in the near future. On a related note, one of my favorite images is a photograph of the pencils from Frank Lloyd Wright's desk, taken the day he died in April 1959. Such a simple and beautiful tribute to projects completed...and a poignant reminder of those left undone.

Currently inspired by:

* architectural books
* English Baroque
* and The Grammar of Ornament

I hope you all are making time for something creative in your lives! Cheers.

purple basil

On the menu this week: fresh bread and smoked mozzarella, pasta tossed with asparagus, and tomato salad with basil. For fun, I picked up green and purple basil ~ and I am inspired! This pesto looks divine, and so does this cocktail (from my favorite restaurant, no less).

What to drink with it all? I am in love with Anne Amie Vineyards' Midnight Saignée rosé, and their wonderful 2007 Amrita (grown here!). And, I would love to try this forbidden fruit...wouldn't you?

Happy wednesday!

crazy beautiful

The sunday market was a crazy beautiful assault on the floral senses. Yes, these were for real! A sea of peonies (just for Courtney), and pots of poppies, delphiniums, and lilacs. I did not need to be reminded that it is a two-week peony season to snap some up (even if they were a bit on the pricy side). I spent most of the weekend painting the apartment, so this riot of color was a welcome break from staring at white(ish) walls. More from the market tomorrow...let's just say I will be eating well this week.

And a huge, huge thank you to Anne for including me in her fantastic Boarding Pass series ~ what an honor!

trouvée: dockside

Found in Maine last summer. No inscriptions or date. Just a subtle reminder that it is time to pull out those white shorts (or not!).

Just a few things today:

* Salt Grass
* beach
* and Rabbit to Bee

I hope those of you in the States enjoy the Memorial Day holiday. A happy weekend to all! Until tuesday....

greer's garden

I know it is odd for an urbanite such as myself to be so hopelessly obsessed with dirt. Without a patch of my own to till, I have been cyberstalking my friend Greer's garden. Between writing her dissertation, and whipping off exhibition reviews, she has created her own personal Eden. When she moved into her house several years ago, the only thing in the backyard was a grapevine. Now it brims with lilacs, peonies and lush green ferns. Since early April I have been watching as little seedlings have transformed under her green thumb into a myriad of tomato, eggplant and basil plants, most of which were recently transferred to a wonderful new vegetable container.

Greer confesses to being jealous of her neighbors' well-tended, mature gardens. But personally, I am inspired by her joy in nurturing a fledgling garden. I love getting excited updates on the basil plants, hearing her worry over night-time temperatures and marauding squirrels, and watching as she meticulously records each new growth with her camera.

I think we will have to check back periodically to see what Greer does with all this bounty (I have heard rumors of her culinary skills!).

(top: basil seedlings; bottom: mesclun)