trouvée: o christmas tree

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}

Happy holiday things:

* a very snowy Amsterdam
* buying oneself a little present (!)
* comfort food
* the long road home
* and remembering what it is all about

Merry, merry to you and yours.

See you next week.

glad tidings

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.

There are shiny silver packages, bits of glitter, and brightly-colored ribbons littering the floor of our apartment ~ the sort of happy chaos that makes one smile in anticipation, and at the same time despair that things will ever be ready in time. I think Santa's elves are going to be hard at work tonight! But then it's time for good cheer and good friends, anxious parents and wriggly little dogs!

Glad tidings to you and yours.

Best wishes for the holidays. xo

the long night

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.

Today I have been thinking about winter. As cruel a season as it is, I find it irresistibly beautiful. In fact, I think it is probably my favorite time of year to photograph. The images above are mine from last winter (two I never posted), and below some flickr favorites:

1. Éljúðnir, 2. Stopping by woods..., 3. snowpocalypse 8, 4. Snowflake

For those in the northern hemisphere. Snuggle up. It's going to be a long night. . .

snow day

Not a good day for a lunch-time walk. But, I took one anyway.

Today is the 235th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth. Born in 1775, at the beginning of a bitter cold winter (so cold that it was one of the last times the River Thames froze over). But goodness, how much sunny pleasure has she given us all over the years!

I am also excited (and very honored) to tell you that our wedding is featured over on Style Court today. Throughout the planning process, Courtney was the loveliest of confidants, ever enthusiastic as I pestered her with each and every detail ~ and I am so grateful for her kindness. Thank you all for such nice words as well! I am glad we could share our day with you.

our wedding: part III

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.

(all photographs: Kate Headley)

our wedding: part II

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.

I suspect this sort of reception is not for everyone, but it suited us just perfectly. And several people did tell us it was the "best. wedding. reception. ever." !!!

(all photographs: Kate Headley)

our wedding: part I

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 morning of the wedding dawned clear and sunny, and very, very windy ~ a perfect autumn day, really. We held our ceremony at noon on the garden terrace of the Carlyle House in Alexandria, Virginia, promptly followed by a luncheon at a nearby restaurant. We kept it small (only 45 close friends and family), and very simple. Most everything, from flowers to programs, I did myself, or enlisted the help of friends. And it all turned out perfectly.

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.

Lots more to come over the next couple days!

(all photographs: Kate Headley)

trouvée: the librarian

This one comes from the gentleman's collection ~ a young librarian with some heavy reading. Uninscribed, but likely dating to the 1880s.

Recently the gentleman and I received an extraordinary addition to our already burgeoning library ~ more than a hundred history, art, architecture, and garden books. Along with biographies, published journals and diaries. A carefully curated archive, a treasure trove of information, given to us by a true scholar. Oh, the gift of knowledge is a most glorious thing!

With visions of English pleasure gardens dancing in my head, it is hard to image that I have room for much fiction. But, oh I do! My winter reading list:

* Curiosity, by Joan Thomas (due out in the US in March)
* Walt Whitman's Secret, by George Fetherling (this and the above, via The Overdecorated Bookcase)
* The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, by David Mitchell
* Parrot and Olivier in America, by Peter Carey
* The Professor and the Madman, by Simon Winchester (one piece of non fiction!)
* and of course, finishing up those Stieg Larsson mysteries!

Happy weekend, happy reading. Cheers.

the wild blue yonder

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.

Meanwhile, back on earth, one small thing for Barbara: National Trust gardens in frost and snow.

winter flowers

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.

I love the holidays:

* humming along to the Messiah (hit repeat, start again)

* an inside garden diary

* mini Bundt cakes!

* the annual poinsettias

* and A Christmas Carol at the Morgan

Am working on my winter reading list (after hopping over here for the usual literary inspiration). Hopefully I will have that for you on friday.

trouvée: the shoppers

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}

Counting the days until the March 2011 release of the new Jane Eyre movie. I won't tell you how many times I have watched the trailer (it would be embarrassing to admit). Filmed on locations throughout Derbyshire, including Chatsworth, Haddon Hall, and North Lees Hall (the latter generally thought to be Brontë’s inspiration for Rochester's Thornfield Hall).

Happy weekend. The gentleman and I have some festive plans (which include shopping for a Christmas tree).

winter garden, part II

A few more bits from our wintery garden chores.

I heard there was heavy snow over night in parts of England. And Chatsworth closed due to the inclement weather. Oh, to see that magnificent house dressed in wintery white!