Another from the gentleman's collection. Found in Michigan (as the rather large "M" hanging on the tree might suggest). Trimmed with popcorn strings, paper hearts and tinsel bows. I always love Victorian Christmas trees! {click image to view larger}
The gentleman and I are off on our long drive north first thing tomorrow morning. These photographs are from our Boxing Day sleigh ride last year. Judging by the weather report, it's looking like we'll have another white Christmas.
Tonight, for the first time in 372 years, a lunar eclipse will occur on the winter solstice. It is the sort of event worth staying up for ~ and I have a feeling I won't get much sleep! However, last night I noticed the moon shining brightly on my pillow at about 2:00am, so I might not even have to get out of bed to see it.
1. Éljúðnir, 2. Stopping by woods..., 3. snowpocalypse 8, 4. Snowflake
Not a good day for a lunch-time walk. But, I took one anyway.
A few last photographs from the day! We took our formal portraits after lunch, walking around Old Town Alexandria. We were full of sparkling rosé, which in hindsight probably made us a little sleepy. But, it was the perfect way to wind down a bit before rejoining our friends and family for more drinks in the evening.
To be honest, our reception was all about the food and wine. We were adamant about having a long, boozy lunch, rather than the usual dinner with dancing. In fact, the first thing we did after we were engaged was call our favorite restaurant to check availability in October. It was one of the best decisions we made. Looking around and seeing our loved ones sharing a good meal was one of my favorite parts of the day.
The restaurant completely outdid itself. We worked with the chef to put together a special menu for the occasion. First up, butternut squash soup (to warm everyone's tummy on a chilly autumn day). Followed by either salmon with wild mushroom purée, or veal meatballs with polenta. Each course paired with its own wine.
In lieu of traditional wedding cake for dessert, we decided on warm pear crisp with ginger ice cream. However, the pastry chef did make us a mini three-layer wedding cake, which we sliced with great ceremony! (I had only a few bites before my niece and nephew ran off with the rest.)
Decorations were kept to the bare minimum. Because I knew there would be so many wine glasses on the tables, I simply assembled small nosegays of flowers in glass rose bowls. The place cards were done by the same calligrapher who addressed our invitations, Kathryn Murray. And my 12-year-old niece made paper origami cranes (a symbol of honor and loyalty), which she placed at each setting. 
At last! Our wedding photos! Taken by the most amazing photographer, Kate Headley, who is as nice as she is talented. Using no less than six cameras, and shooting in a combination of film and digital, she perfectly captured the relaxed spirit of our day.
The ceremony lasted no more than a few minutes, but was so beautiful in its simplicity. My sister-in-law sang Giacomo Puccini's "O mio babbino caro" as I walked down the aisle, and my brother read Jorge Luis Borges' haunting poem "To the Nightingale" before we exchanged our vows. My father concluded with two traditional Irish blessings. 
Following the ceremony, the wedding party walked through town to the restaurant. I am not sure I have ever felt happier or more content, than strolling hand-in-hand with my new husband to our reception.
This one comes from the gentleman's collection ~ a young librarian with some heavy reading. Uninscribed, but likely dating to the 1880s.
Two summers ago, when the gentleman and I were courting (long distance), most nights I would take a photo of the sky on my iPhone. And then send it to him so he would know I was thinking of him. I recently downloaded them all, and put them in a folder together. They seem really wistful to me now. Like old love notes.
It is cold in Washington this week, but no snow. The gentleman and I have been making soup and eating turkey sandwiches with left-over cranberry sauce. And I started my paperwhites on monday. A small nod to the season. 
This has to be my hands-down favorite find of the year. I picked it up in Texas this past April and I have been chuckling ever since. Inscribed: "This is Garnet & I as / we were shopping in / Decatur / Garnet was talking / so her mouth was / open Ha Ha as it / usually is." {click image to view larger}
A few more bits from our wintery garden chores. 
Lots of yard work over the holiday weekend (working off the pumpkin pie). There's something so beautiful about a garden in winter. So calm and monochromatic.
Home from Michigan, where winter taunted us with grey skies and snow flurries.
For. . . beautiful autumn days, my husband's soft kiss, our family's warm embrace, little boys in bowties, magnolia leaves and yummy white cake, and the cheers of good friends as two hearts joined as one. Our first holiday together will be full of much love. From our table to yours ~ happy, happy Thanksgiving.
Lazy days and breakfast in bed (oatmeal and sliced pears). Reading mystery novels. Those are the best sorts of weekends. 
When a copy of The Irish Country House landed in my mailbox several weeks ago, I knew it would be the perfect thing with which to wrap up book week. Being of Irish descent myself, I have to admit that I was thrilled to see such a beautiful publication about the Irish house, which has been somewhat neglected (at least by publishers). Following on the heels of last year's Romantic Irish Homes (see The Architecturalist for more), this is the first significant publication in almost 10 years to take a good look at the houses of that emerald isle. And it does not disappoint.
Students of architecture and decorative arts will be delighted with the large, elegant views of landscapes and interior rooms, such as the library at Glin (above) with its indigo-hued walls and piles of Asian porcelain. However, I found myself charmed by the stories of each house, poignantly illustrated through details of family mementos such as hunting journals and old photographs at Lisnavaugh (below) ~ and my personal favorite, a glimpse of a darkroom at Birr Castle, still containing the Countess of Rosse's photographic developing chemicals from the 1850s.
Each room is a treasure trove, with layers of history and extraordinary objects to be discovered. When I first saw the entrance hall at Kiladoon (below) I was struck by the pale green walls, scarlet curtains, and unusual early 19th-century hall chairs. Then I noticed those magnificent Irish elk antlers, so gloriously incongruent. And the libraries. . . well, for more on those, read Courtney's post on Style Court. She has a few of her own interesting observations!
Finally, as a photographer, I would be remiss not to highlight James Fennell's glorious images. His work has previously appeared in, Irish Furniture (also authored by the Knight of Glin and James Piell), Vanishing Ireland and The Irish Pub. 
Before I wrap up book week with one last post of my own, I thought it would be fun to hear from some of you. I asked on monday what your own favorites are, and you did not disappoint ~ delighting me with everything from luscious photographic essays of brick and mortar houses to the fictional homes of childhood tales. Some I know well, while others are revelations:
Little did I know when I enlisted the help of three fellow bloggers for book week that they would so brilliantly out do themselves. Writing for one's own blog is challenge enough, so I am grateful that they took the time to stop by and share a few words here. Today I am delighted to have Courtney Barnes, whose seminal blog, Style Court, stands in a class of its own. She has graciously agreed to tell us about a beautiful publication so fresh off the presses, the ink has barely dried:
Fans of Mrs. Rheinstein’s work know this house well. Its slow evolution has been documented by so many shelter magazines over the years. The treat of the book is the expanded coverage—detailed views of the tailored dressmaker details for which the designer is known, the patina of painted 18th-century Italian chairs, nooks and crannies, fresh angles of her “object-driven” rooms.
And the same holds true for the other houses featured. Special attention is paid to butler’s pantries, laundry rooms and outbuildings.
I hope this peek into the Hancock Park house whets your appetite to see more. The dining room (chock-a-block with light-reflecting surfaces including glaze-painted striped walls, old glass, Sheffield plate silver, and a Russian chandelier) is set for a Southern-style breakfast that is calling my name!
Civic-minded Rheinstein is a good teacher. She sums up her book by paraphrasing her friend William Yeoward: “All design is an opinion, and this happens to be mine.”
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