A Royal Novel Surprise
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A Royal Novel Surprise

My very first blog post in September 2016 was about a charitable English tea we had here at Bella Terra with New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling author, Rhys Bowen. Not only was the event a wonderful fundraiser for Family to Family, (they provides scholarships to students in rural El Salvador)…

Valentine’s Day Table Inspiration
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Valentine’s Day Table Inspiration

For many years, we would host our annual Valentine formal dinner party for 12 people. So why not this year? It took me all of January to recover from the holidays! And before I knew it, it’s February. Lack of good planning on my part. Instead, this Valentine’s Day table inspiration is a romantic setting…

A Few of my Favorite Things
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A Few of my Favorite Things

Do you have a favorite item or part of your home that brings a smile to your face or a boost to your spirit? These are the things that if you had to move, you would definitely take them with you. I suppose organizing guru, Marie Kondo would say these items “spark joy”. In the…

Meyer Lemon Marmalade
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Meyer Lemon Marmalade

I stumbled across this 2008 recipe from Simply Recipes and just happened to have several Meyer lemons that needed to be used. I am one of those people who love marmalade~~on freshly made bread with a cup of tea or coffee. There is something so romantic and very British about it. Meyer lemons are a…

The Fireplaces at Bella Terra
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The Fireplaces at Bella Terra

With our recent chilly weather, we are getting good use out of the multiple fireplaces at our 1910 home. Fireplaces in the mid to later 19th century were a way to heat houses. Many of the original fireplaces were restored and upgraded during the renovation. There is a total of 5 indoors~~ in the breakfast…