Pops of Color !

Who says you can't use color in small spaces !!!!

Balsam Apple (Momordic charantia)

Balsam Apple Seed Pod(Momordic charantia)September 22, 2010
I have taught my husband well!  He was out on the golf course with a couple of buddies and spotted a rather interesting plant so he brought me home a seed pod for identification.  Despite warnings he should not touch unknown plants just in case apparently this plant did not pose a warning for him.  I now have to get him used to taking

And The Rain Arrives

We had heavy rains the last few days.  It really has been a little too late though.  Now it will become an issue of too much rain for the local farmers to harvest before the crops rot in the fields.  The soybean harvest has been halted due to the rains and this definitely is not good for those trying to harvest tomatoes.  Our average day of first frost (ADFF) falls the end of the first week of

Orange Tree

Orange TreeSeptember 18, 2010
Apparently the oranges are so plentiful here that people put boxes of them to the road hoping someone will take them.  Pictured is one of our neighbour's orange tree.  They said to help ourselves when the fruit is ready for picking.  We rented in the park our first trip here that was meant to purchase a house in the park that we had seen online.  We decided against

Unidentified Moth

Unidentified MothSeptember 16, 2010
During one of out strops a few days ago I spotted this pretty moth fluttering around on the sidewalk.  His wing span was about 3 - inches so a rather impressive size.  He stopped just long enough for me to get this picture showing his gorgeous markings.  I'm not sure what kind of moth he is.  If you can help identify please leave a comment.

Happy Gardening!

Nouvelle Vague

 Last year my friend Patrick Roullier sent me an email with this YOU Tube video, 'Dance with Me'

Intrigued, the song resonated with me but the video remained a mystery  .

France. But was it part of a movie? Staged? Who was the woman, the men? When did this take place, where are they now? Take notice of the decor; tile floor, railings, the men..........swoon

Finally deciding to research and having fun with it, I wanted to share my findings. I would be interested in your thoughts. Were you as intrigued? This beautiful young woman is Anna Karina

And this was a movie clip, 'Bande a part', by the famed French director Jean-Luc Godard, 1964.

Goddard influenced a trend with this film, called Nouvelle Vague, or New Wave. An era of breezy Nova Bosa styled music combined with "youthful frolic and irresponsibility". ( new? a trend?)

And Goddard's favorite was the beautiful Anna, starring in seven of his iconic films

Anna was the new femininity............
"sensual........smoked like a man.........wore fedora's and brandished pistol's.........defining free wheeling nouvelle vague......all while being intellectual"   glad he added the last bit

 

Anna is currently 80 years old. Here she is at 60.............. the blue eyes still glowing

 

This CD which includes 'Dance with me' was created in 2005. A touch of French chanteuse and a mix of Bossa Nova with both period songs and 1980's classic's.

This cover would make great wall art

Artist, Patrick Roullier who started me on this mystery and whom you may remember in this post continues to be in demand. In a few weeks he will begin work with one of my interior clients creating a 'Faux Bois' paneling effect in their foyer. Shortly he may be off to L.A. collaborating with a renown designer. Watch for the before and after's.
What is he up to lately? 

Here is an effect just completed for his client. The dark walnut surround is the actual floor, the "runner" is the work of Patrick. I cannot stop staring at this.

But here is his "piece de resistance"! What are you seeing, a square of crocodile leather?  NON!       

Without revealing the technique he just developed..... you are looking at his "sample board".                     NOTE: No animals were used in this creation.

An entire parsons table received this look, can you imagine the possibilities?!

                                                                   www.sggrand.com

 This Thursday, we hope you can join us! .

                                          
Have a great week!
Debra

Butterfly Bush

Butterfly BushSeptember 16, 2010
We stopped at a Cracker Barrel for breakfast a few days ago.  They had a lot of these gorgeous bushes bordering the parking lot.  As we enjoyed our breakfast I watched a large number of butterflies frequenting the bushes.  I aptly named them butterfly bushes but that likely is not their name.  What I found very interesting is the range of colours in the blooms.  

Christmas sneak peek at Pottery Barn !

I know its very early, but Pottery Barn has a sneak peak of their holiday lines. I have to say, I'm loving that entry way bench and that plaid bedding! If you want to see more, just click on the title of this post!

Across the Garden Fence

I've been emailing with a couple of neighbours at our vacation home.  Here we are experiencing one of the driest summers in ages and apparently the average rainfall where our vacation home is the average monthly rainfall was six inches.  I told them they could send a little our way!  We are experiencing another cold spell so the chances of the organic farmer having another harvest of pickling

A Sad Gardening Day in the Neighbourhood

The weather has turned cool here so the organic pickling cucumbers I was hoping for haven't materialized although there is still a slim chance.  I've been keeping a close eye on my garden.  It is a bit sheltered so can tolerate a bit more adverse weather conditions.  We are quickly approaching our ADFF but most gardens should still be going fairly strong and if fall crops were planted they should

You are cordially invited....................

 DESTINATION?   Chicago!      

Our Chicago shop, SG Grand is in preparation for welcoming those in the arts, those that create and excel in their craft. Don't you feel an affinity towards artisans? They work for their passions, and ultimately ours.

This month on the 23rd we are thrilled to introduce the following women and host a trunk show. It was difficult choosing one image to represent this talented group. We hope you can join us!

 

Thursday September 23rd 5pm until...........

Art is indeed not the bread but the wine of life-
     John Paul Rechter

Our "hood", the 'West End' is fast becoming known as the new "design district" in Chicago. Our collective growth extends to hosting our first major event. An Autumn street fest;
DESIGN HARVEST 2010      Celebrating the Home

Over 50 vendors, some of the city's best in modern, vintage and handmade furniture and home accessories. Oh, and live music................a fest for the senses!

Can you come?
xo
debra

The Weather Has Changed

My gosh!  I think 2010 is going to go down in history as the worst gardening season ever.  I'm not kidding and in some ways it is a bit frustrating but in other ways it just makes me dig in my heels a bit harder and fight back.  Despite the local predictions of a dry spring we had a wet, cool spring.  Then we were hit with high heat and humidity for July and August but very little rainfall.  To

A Small Harvest

A Small HarvestSeptember 7, 2010
This really has been a bad year for gardening here.  August has been so dry that it is more than affecting the local growers.  Irrigating has been the only way to save the crops but still that may not be enough.  I did a clean pick of the garden a couple of days ago.  The tomatoes are producing nicely and despite the weather the sweet peppers are really performing

Swiss Chard

Swiss ChardSeptember 7, 2010
I didn't plant  a lot of Swiss chard this year but the 2 square feet are producing nicely.  I've been cutting the outer leaves then letting the inner leaves mature which seems to be keeping the plants a bit more productive.   I picked enough for freezing a couple of nights ago.  It wasn't a lot but it was enough for about two cups of steamed greens for the freezer. 

Maybe tomorrow............

Today was the day...............all day I have tried, really tried to write a post and the words elude me.

My commitment, with the sweetest blogger, Charlotta Ward of 'Space Inspiration', was to launch today our dual effort in creating a memory blog for our beloved friend Marija Stephens. I find myself in the midst of a "griefburst".

So, may I ask a favor........and forgiveness Charlotta?

I would love to direct you to her beautiful  introduction and hope that you will join us in honoring the memory of our mutual friend.       please click here

with love,
Debra

Dine In

I know a lot of people do not have enough space for a "formal" dining room, but if you can find a corner for a table with one or two chairs, go for it ! Think cozy yet practical...a place to rest your plate is very valuable indeed !

The Finer Art of Pest Control

I have been discussing spider control on my homemaking blog.  In this particular infestation I have had to resort to using chemical insecticidal control because four identified species are venomous and there has been a burst in the funnel spider population so reducing their numbers is important to lessen the risk of a problematic spider bite.

Anytime I have to resort to chemical pest control it

Pink Hibiscus

Pink HibiscusAugust 26, 2010
Daily walking has become my excuse for being a garden snoop.  This way I can check out what other great plants others are growing in their gardens and ones I may want to add to my gardens.  I spotted this pretty pink hibiscus on one of my walks.  Hibiscus is a member of the mallow family and while I haven't grown hibiscus I have grown okra and rose mallow, both

The Grasshopper Incident

King of Denmark is a wonderful heirloom spinach that performs nicely.  One look at the mature plants and you will easily see why this variety is king just from the sheer size of it.  A few days ago I noted that the King of Denmark spinach was looking rather good.  Then I noticed that something had been helping itself to a taste test.  A couple of days later I found the critter responsible for the

VEGGIES EVEN THE KIDS WILL LOVE.........Really!

 

Veggies that taste like a snack...........a snack you cannot put down

Like Potato chips but better tasting and a SUPER food, who knew? Who even thinks of Kale?

Who guessed Kale chips? Wait, stay with me! 

Not the ornamental kind but the variety found in the produce section or farmers markets

Ok, let's go, this is easy............Wash thoroughly. Cut off the tops, discard the lower stems. For a full baking sheet plan on approximately 3 heads

Separate the leaves from the stems, tear into bite size pieces.

Rinse well. Dry well.

Thoroughly coat with Olive Oil............... but lightly,  place on baking sheet and put in the oven at a preheated 450 degrees. Notice the leaves are mounded, no need for single layering.

Bake for 5 minutes, remove and stir to thoroughly mix. Return to oven for another 5-8 minutes until crispy but not browned. Sprinkle the kale with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and liberally with Kosher salt to taste. Stir well.

That is it...........I know it still does not look like a temptress. However the earthy flavor of the greens, crisped with a salty/sweet crunch is irrestible.

Better than popcorn, better than kettle corn and the best part, healthy........shhhhh don't tell them that part!

Ralph says it best!
xo
Debra