The January days ahead -

With apologies to Hieronymus Bosch, this is my own small winter 

'garden of earthly delights.'  Simple, manageable, pleasant to view 

in the dining room now devoid of somewhat bright and dazzling

 Christmas decor, and giving me hope I will soon have amaryllis

 blooming and sharing exquisite flowers on dreary days. . . . .which

 are possibly heading our way according to the forecast.

We could get a long awaited light snowfall tomorrow morning when this

crazy 'heatwave' ends and a cold front blasts through. It was 80F yesterday

and we cranked up the a/c after taking down outdoor Christmas decor, other

than the tree in the gazebo which I like to leave up a while longer. Then 

we tackled the indoor decorations, wrapping in tissue, packing carefully

 into green boxes and stashing in the far reaches of the attic in hopes they

 will make their way out come next December!

Fragrance of Christmas!

With Christmas preparations in full steam ahead mode, one really needs 

to stop and smell the pine and fir trees now and then.  My dining room

 table vignette was casually gathered together yesterday. It includes fresh

 fir branches. I also recycled a few of my autumn pumpkins stored in 

the potting shed after Halloween . . . . . my favorite grey green one, 

and two golden beauties which I've spray painted nickel silver for the

 holiday season.

Yesterday my special friend Jeannette and I managed to meet for a pot of

 calming hot tea at a favorite coffee shop - and shared a delicious Asiago

 cheese scone while catching up on news.  We exchanged Christmas

 gifts and one of my pretties is a candle with the fragrance named

 'Tree Farm'.  

Awaking to a heavy fog early this morning, I stumbled into a still dark

 kitchen and lit the candle (Jeannette thoughtfully added a cute box of

 old fashioned matches) on the island. In minutes I was transported

 to the the winter woods of my childhood.  It was lovely.

Do special scents at Christmastime bring back childhood memories for you?

At the table, and planning a makeover -

I know what you're thinking. . . . . . . she's gone nuts with the bread baking!

I definitely am enjoying my long forgotten joy at actually taking a loaf of

crusty golden bread from my very own oven, however this post is really to

 share my idea about tablecloths, so keep reading please.

These loaves are not sourdough, just the quick and easy no-knead white boules, 

but they are so good. Have sliced and frozen most of these two for morning toast 

or grilled cheese sandwiches later.

Big news is that my sourdough starter is now ready! In fact, during the night it

 bubbled and grew so much it overflowed it's glass container - which luckily I'd

 stood in a large bowl just in case - when I noticed it really going to town last

 evening around 11:00 pm.

Just amazing what flour and water can accomplish!

This evening I'll be making my first real sourdough loaf. It will do its bulk rise

over night (8-10 hours). Tomorrow morning I'll coax the dough onto a lightly

 floured board for folding, let it rest about an hour for a second rise, then bake.

Fingers will be crossed.

So, on to the tablecloths as promised.

Notice my indigo blue one here. I've wanted a raw-edged linen cloth to layer

with the French antique linens I often use on the rectangular farm table.

After pricing them and finding them very expensive, I decided to 'make' my own.

I bought a twin sized linen sheet (Garnet Hill), large enough for a good drop

 so that it's visible under the other cloths. . . . .  .and literally ripped off all four

 stitched edges. Dropped it into the washing machine, then pulled off 

all the loose, somewhat tangled threads it ended up with. Dried in dryer,

no ironing required if you're looking for that rustic/country look.

Can work for a round table such as this one also.

I'm excited today as I've also started on a new project which will keep me busy

over the next couple of months. Our master bedroom - which is downstairs and

 will most likely be a godsend in these so-called golden years - needs a total 

makeover from floor to ceiling.  Yesterday I squeezed in a painter visit for an 

estimate, spent several hours looking at paint colors (but still have to make a

 decision and go buy samples to slap on the wall!). . . . and we furniture shopped. 

More on this makeover as it progresses.

Anyone else working on a winter house project?

Good time of year to get started, especially as decluttering can be done

 at the same time and, let's face it, staying indoors requires more creative

moments than just knitting whilst TV binge watching, and eating comfort foods!

It will also mean one less room to 'spring clean' as that part is built into

a room makeover. Yes, there's method in my madness!

Moving along with Christmas decorating. . . . . . .

A brighter day. . . . . . . . . 

. . . . . . . . as this morning, following another dismal weather day of rain and heavy fog

shrouding the landscape, I awoke to sunshine creating light and shadows in the 

dining room.

Last night I worked on dining room decorations as at last I'm getting some relief

 from the shoulder pain. 

I recently sprayed the last of my Fall pumpkins with 'nickel' paint. They are 

still solid and I haven't the heart to just throw them out yet. I'm using them on the

 table, as I've done some other years, and like how they look mixed with

 Christmas themed ornaments.

Note the row of cutout white squirrels on the top of the Welsh dresser - they

 have tiny battery operated lights attached and look cute in the dark evenings. 

 A recent IKEA purchase and perhaps my only new Christmas item as I'm really

 trying to downsize the decorating this year!

How is your holiday decorating going?  Are you doing more or less this year?

Does your neighborhood go to town with outdoor Christmas decor?

Small changes, more space. . . . . .

After clearing and cleaning everything on the dresser recently, I decided to
 work on making the somewhat tight dining room a more useful space for
 everyday living,
All it took was some editing, removing several small pieces from corners, 

and then turning the table from being on the diagonal to straight.
I'm so happy with the outcome, the room feels a lot larger.

Have you noticed how corners can often collect things?
 "Oh, just stick it there in the corner, I'll find a home for it later."

When the wine bottles are more than the wine rack will hold -

 "Just put them in that corner for the time being."

'TO DO' file folders, to be read magazines, a handbag, the extra camera
 and so forth. . . . . .all suddenly seem piled on a chair in the corner.

When it came time to eat with guests, quickly hiding things out of sight,
moving chairs about and doing a fast mop and dust in those corners filled
 with furniture items was required. I knew there had to be a better way to
 manage this small room so it could be used more efficiently at any time of day.

Housework is no longer near the top of my list of favorite things to do - how

about you?  If you still enjoy it you are much younger than me and can bend,

kneel down - and then get up again - and push a vacuum cleaner without 
excruciating shoulder pain. . . . . . no matter how many so-called lightweight 
versions you buy! "Oh Bob," seen struggling up the front steps with a large box.
  "Not another Hoover surely."

Yes, I've been offered, and have considered, hiring a cleaner, some of my friends 

already do this. I don't actually hate cleaning because I do love a clean, neat and tidy

home, but having someone else dealing with my 'stuff' has always worried me to the 

point I know I would be cleaning like a fiend before they arrive, then afterward,
 going around checking everything closely and perhaps discovering they didn't do 
such a great job after all!

I'd love to know your personal feelings regarding having a cleaner/cleaning
 service in your home. Do you leave when they come, or watch through a
 chink in the door as they dust your priceless (to you) heirloom bits and bobs?
 Do you hold back any criticism until you can share with a significant other
 because you're scared to chastise the cleaner? Do you ever wonder why
 on earth you're paying for something you should still be able to do yourself, 
without ending up at the back/hip/knee doctor's office?

"Handle those butter pats with care, please."  More bits & bobs!

Of course you don't have to share whether or not you have a cleaner, unless 
you don't mind us knowing. If you do I will probably be a little envious - well 

actually as jealous as all h--l if I'm totally honest here! So, if you do, please give 

me ideas as to how you handle this service when a complete stranger 

comes into your home to work some cleaning magic. . . . . which hopefully

 matches up to your own standards.

I can now keep four chairs at the table at all times.

I can write, use the laptop, enjoy a coffee or tea, read a magazine. . . . . 

. . . . . . and we are eating more meals here now.

Note there's a nice basket under the corner chair - I'll stash my camera there

 because I need to grab it in a hurry to take photos of birds, snakes (click if you 

missed that story) etc. on the front porch to share with you!

Today I've changed the flowers and added gorgeous pale pink peonies from LIDL 

to enjoy this weekend - will share them later.

FYI - for those of you who were so kind to comment on my hair concerns,

It's looking quite gorgeous today thanks to Suzi who worked her magic 

on my tresses!  No cutting, just beautiful color with the help of foils, posh 

products - they do seem to work so much better than drugstore brands - 

 and a perfect smooth, stick straight blowout.  

Yes, the growing longer will continue. . . . . . .at least for now.

Nearly the weekend - have a great one with those awesome Dads! 

Antique Wedgwood find. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

There are a lot of antiques shops in the sleepy river town of New Bern, NC.

Across from our hotel was also a large, very clean, well organized antiques

 and auction mall. Booths were loaded with everything from a stunning antique

 $7,000 Scottish grandfather clock, to this perfect, for me, $8.00 china beauty!

I almost missed it as it was on a plate hanger down low on the side of a display case.

I gently took it off the hook and turned it over before really even looking at the 

lovely transferware blue flowers. It's more of a shallow bowl (for soup I believe) than

 a plate and seeing the Wedgwood back stamp I knew it was old.

The crack doesn't bother me, I have a lot of well-worn, crazed, cracked and

 chipped, but much loved pieces of china. The flowers are beautiful and the blue

shades are perfection.

This Wedgwood pattern is 'LACE'  and the intricate lace design surrounds the bowl.

I brought it home and spent some time online trying to locate more of this 

china pattern, only coming up with one cup and saucer, described as 'rare',

 for sale on Etsy.

I have however been able to date my piece via a listing of Wedgwood marks.

It was made by Josiah Wedgwood in 1893 at the Etruria Ceramics Factory, 

Staffordshire, England. So it's definitely an 'antique' and I'm enjoying it here

on the Welsh dresser in the dining room.

NO green thumb required!

Word Origin: 

Noun - green thumb

An exceptional aptitude for gardening or for 

growing plants successfully

House plants provide much pleasure for the city dweller with a green thumb. . . . . 

. . . . . and you can always cheat a little bit!

You just knew, didn't you? It didn't take long to realize I was not satisfied with

 two planters taking up all that dining room table space! 

We don't eat every meal there but when we do

it's good not having to move too many items, including faux plants.

Yes, tried placing them UP on the top of the Welsh dresser - much too close to

 the ceiling - I wish I had high ceilings. Cottage style homes don't of course!

I decided to split the planters - leaving just one on the table - and this is working well.

Yesterday morning when granddaughter Jasmin came 
for breakfast (she's dog sitting for my neighbors this weekend), we indulged
in fresh-made fruit smoothies with scrambled egg croissants and had plenty of
 room to eat.

Photo via Jasmin's iPhone

 The second planter I've placed here on the hearth, lightening it up,

bringing a little more of a summery feel to the living room.

Heavy rain last evening - I swear the grass grew an inch over night.

Today is so humid - the only garden activity here will be squirrels, birds,

and I see my very tiny chipmunk already out there munching on 

dropped seeds under the bird feeder.

Have a good Sunday - 'see you' here during the week!

The real Origano di Montagna. . . . . . . . . . .

OREGANO ~ ORIGANUM vulgare
A flowering plant in the mint family(Lamiaceae). Native to temperate western and southwestern Eurasia and the Mediterranean region. Oregano is a perennial herb (although grown as an annual in colder climates as it often does not survive the winter), growing 20-80 cm tall with opposite leaves. Flowers are purple and
produced in erect spikes. Sometimes called wild marjoram.

As we wandered through the charming alleys of Sicilian towns, stopping

 to glance at little shops and their offerings, there were many dried herbs

 bagged and bunched for sale. . . . . . oregano was definitely a favorite.

My own bunch of sweet smelling dried oregano is now on the dining room 

table both as a decoration and also to be used in many Italian dishes 

over the summer months. Have to say it smells and tastes so much

better than the contents of that little glass jar in the kitchen!

There are many subspecies of Oregano each with their unique flavor. 

Tastes range from spicy or astringent to more complicated and sweet.

Sicilian oregano is usually sweet and spicy with little bitterness, and is

prized for flavor and compatibility with various recipes and sauces.

Leaves are more flavorful when dried than fresh, warm and aromatic.

Taormina, Sicily - May 2017

Oregano's most prominent modern use is as the staple herb of Italian-American cuisine.

Its popularity in the US began when soldiers returning from World War II brought back

 with them a taste for the "pizza herb" which had probably been eaten in southern Italy for

 centuries. It is eaten with roasted, fried or grilled vegetables, meat and fish, and combines

 well with spicy foods popular in southern Italy. . . . . . . and of course in pasta sauces.

Italian cooks love their food full of flavors from the countryside and, although

 fresh herbs are often best, dried versions have to be used when they are

 out of season. Perhaps I try to keep my dried herbs purchased from grocery

 stores far too long - you know how they eventually lose their flavor and turn

 into dust in those jars - probably adding little of the original brisk fresh taste.

Do you enjoy using herbs when you cook?

Are you growing fresh herbs this spring?

My annual basil, chives, fennel and parsley are all coming along in large pots -

and my perennial rosemary bushes (2) are now huge and in fact need to be

pruned way back.

I so love walking into the garden and clipping a few leaves to add to 

the evening meal - today it will be basil for the tomatoes and fresh mozzarella.

BUON APPETITO!