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…
The first stop on our Baltic Sea tour (in 2007) was Amsterdam. Though it was not tulip season, we quickly learned about the importance of the tulip in their history. During many palace tours, I would spot one gorgeous tulipiere after another. What is a tulipiere? A tulipiere or tulip-holder is an ornate vessel in which to grow…
As promised, here is our 2018 holiday home tour. I tried a few new things this year. There are several pictures so please pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee/tea and enjoy! The Entry Since the outside of the front door is rather magical, I wanted to make the entry feel as special….
When I was in my 20s, I offered to take a work shift for my friend, Gwen allowing her to escape on a weekend mountain trip. When Gwen returned, she presented, as a thank you, a collection of wild grasses and cattails she had gathered on her trip, wrapped in burlap with a gorgeous ribbon….
I am not sure why we hang stockings by the chimney with care, but it appears to be a long standing custom. Since 1823 when Clement Clarke Moore wrote “A Visit from St. Nicholas”, Christmas stockings have been an essential part of Christmas traditions. We have 5 handmade stockings for our family and multiple ones…