Naturetainment

Taa Daa Tape

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 17:28:00 +0000

Today's naturetaining project: prettying-up a boring white vase with some design tape and wildflowers.

Sharing Mother Nature

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 02:35:00 +0000

Sometimes naturetaining is about bringing nature to those who don't have the luxury of enjoying it on a regular basis - like shut-ins or nursing home residents.

When you travel, make it a habit to send a postcard with a nature scene to an older friend or relative who no longer has the ability to explore the great outdoors. Share a line or two about your adventure in your note.

My mother, who lives in a health care facility, recently told me, "When I get your postcards I take them down to the dining room and share them with the other residents. It always starts a conversation about our own memories of great experiences in the outdoors." That is naturetaining!

Can It!

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 20:32:00 +0000

It's always interesting how country stores are stocked differently from urban groceries. The Food Lion in Mt. Jackson, VA has major shelf space devoted to pectin and glass jars with copies of Canning magazine conveniently located at the check out. Naturally, I bought one!

Canning is a great way to bring fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs from the outdoors to your table beyond their natural season. I need a few more supplies to get started, but planning to try making pickles (from locally grown cucumbers), pesto (from our fresh basil), and peppers (from...peppers!)

Return in a few weeks to see how my little experiment worked. Turns out the natural ingredients, pectin and jars aren't enough. I need to buy something called a canner. Fortunately, every local hardware store has them on sale this time of year!

Thin is In!

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 19:39:00 +0000

Apples, almonds, salmon, eggs and tomatoes. What do these have in common? According to a nutritionist at the Case Western Reserve, these are foods that "make you thin." But for a naturetainer, these natural delicacies are what you want to have on hand when guests arrive.

Apples and almonds make a great snack on a picnic or served on the backyard deck with a little cheese. Even Renoir recognized the nice culinary combination (painting at left.) The salmon, eggs and tomatoes - a yummy quiche! (You'll need the cheese for that, too.)

The key to good health, and quality entertaining, stick to foods that haven't been processed, shrink wrapped, nuked or otherwise turned into something that looks nothing like the original state it came in.

Tiny Bubbles Top the Evening

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 23:52:00 +0000

Entertaining away from home requires a little pre-planning, since retail options can be limited and you don't have your personal stash to turn to. We are always pretty good about packing one staple when we head out of town - bubbly! And now that we have established a weekend home at Bryce Resort in Basye, VA, and plan to do more entertaining, having sparkling wine on hand is a must!

To start our new naturetainment tradition, we brought along a bottle of 2007 Roche Lacour for our first night in our moutain house with furniture and other personal belongings delivered after three years of being captive in storage. This description of Roche Lacour sparkler by the Wall Street Journal Wine Club (which I joined to fill out my resume) is spot on:

"The tell-tale sign of quality is the tiny stream of bubbles."

Although it cannot officially be called a champagne due to its origin just to the south of the officially designated region, this bubbly from Limoux proved a wonderful way for us to celebrate our new place for naturetaining.

We prefer our champagne very dry, and this was perhaps just a shade less than we are accustomed to. But the light apple taste was perfect by the crackling fire place with the frozen pizza we picked up at the local Community Store in nearby Orkney Springs. Next time, we remember to pack the pizza fizxings as well.

Sustainable White meets Sunday Leftovers

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 22:25:00 +0000

This summer I've been on a quest to learn what it takes to be a truly sustainable wine. I've visited wineries, conducted research, and tasted a few along the way. The great news is - there are some fabulous ones to choose from.

This week's fave was discovered on a trip to Woodstock, VA at a cool cafe inside the Fort Valley Nursery. Jim and I stopped in to look at native plants and discovered this great little place for a slice of quiche and salad, and a great selection of wines, many local.

But the bottle we took home was from Mendocino, CA. The label beckoned me as it was simply called Sustainable White. It is a blend of chenin blanc, sauvignon blanc (my fave), viognier (which I thought was just a VA thing), muscat canneli, and fruliano. It turned out to be a great accompanientment to our Sunday night leftovers. Tasty but not overwhelming; memorable but no strong after taste. Refreshing, but held its own against the reheated pizza and chicken wings.

Produced by the Parducci Family vineyards, it claims to be the greenest wine in America. I consider myself a pretty learned critic when it comes to greenwashing but if what Parducii claims on its website is true, they are industry leaders. I'll be back for more.

Snowpocalypse Naturetainment

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:47:00 +0000

We've been enjoying the 2010 Snowpocalypse here in Northern Virginia, and I've been racking my brain for naturetainment ideas associated with this snowmageddon.

My husband has an idea worth sharing - make your guests a delicious elixer with fresh show. His favorite ingredients: Sonoma Vanilla Syrup and Coke Zero.

While snowed-in, we've also entertained ourselves by trying out my rubber stamp collection as tatoos. I'm partial to the modest sand dollar that I cleverly imprinted on my lower ankle, while Jim preferred the palm tree that covers the back of his calf.

What are you doing to naturetain yourself in the Blizzard of 2010?

Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:59:00 +0000

I'm not exactly sure how to use this cool photo my husband took as we ate breakfast poolside last month in Key West, but I am inspired by it.

Bring the Stars Inside

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:53:00 +0000

In our travels we've been fortunate to see a wide variety of starfish "in the wild," from the Bahama stars on the floor of shallow waters in Biscayne Bay to this beauty we just found on the edge of the Atlantic in St. Augustine, Florida.

Starfish are said to symbolize guidance, vigilance, brilliance and inspiration - qualities I could always use more of in my life and our home. So, I was delighted to see Coastal Living promoting a number of affordable starfish-themed decor items this holiday season. From Pottery Barn Wine Chokers to a golden starfish shaped paper weight from Jamali Garden.

Starfish symbols on writing paper are also trendy in the stationary world. In fact, I think I'll just head over to Papyrus at the mall and get some today!

Lather up with Nature

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:03:00 +0000

There's no reason to be satisfied with a boring old square of white soap when there are so many wonderful smelling options on the market, many of which gather their essense from nature.

I naturally gravitate towards mildly-scented selections like a Lavendar Confetti bar from Country Girl Gardens or Citrus Blossom from Old Mill Handmade.

Special soaps in a guest bath are a nice touch. Set out a couple options so your guest can select their favorite scent. (Check out the Zum Bundle pictured here from Indigo Wild.) You may need to put out a small, hand-lettered "Please Select Your Favorite!" sign to encourage them to to unwrap something new.

You may choose a bar shaped to minic nature, like a leaf or shells. Just make sure the quality of the soap itself is not comprimised for the cutesy design.

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 03:57:00 +0000

It is getting cool enough in the morning to take a walk in the urban parks around my Arlington, VA apartment before work. This past week as I strolled through the park named for Grace Murray Hopper, I noticed a wide variety of berries, blooms, acorns and other natural adornments to the landscape

A naturetaiment idea arose from this little seasonal surprise. Next time I have guests, I'm going to create a little guide of the natural wonders just a few steps from our home. No need to rush first thing on the metro with a zillion other tourists when we've got some pretty cool stuff to see at hand.

If there are kids visiting, it could be like a scavenger hunt. For the adults, I'll point them to some of the interestingly landscaped homes in the adjacent neighborhood as well as the more natural attributes of the area parks. And I'll leave it up to them to find the three Starbucks within 1/2 square mile.

Bubbling with inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:03:00 +0000

A few days in California Wine Country and I'm once again ready to naturetain. Vineyards are a perfect inspiration for the concept of combining nature with entertaining.

Several ideas are "bubbling" in my head, especially after visiting the Chandon Winery in Napa. But the easiest for any to execute is the simple act of sharing some stories, insights, or history with your guests as you serve a particular food item.

What meaning does this dish hold for you? Where did you first learn to prepare it? Did you pick the fruit fresh from the farm yourself? Delight your guests by serving personal favorites, and let them know why they mean so much to you.

Next time I serve a Napa Valley Sparkling Wine...I've got a story!

Bringing Nature Home

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:04:00 +0000

When traveling, Jim and I like to pocket any little treasures of nature that might help us bring the outdoors in when we return home without violating some Park Service rule. Interestingly, he usually picks up big things while I seek out the small, but that's perhaps chalked up to gender differences.

This little vase of natural treasures includes rocks from South Beach - not in Florida but the San Juan Islands, WA. Yes, Jim picked up the big ones and the smaller pebbles were my souvenir. On top are pine cones we found at the top of Skyline Drive in Virginia. Next time we are in the Florida Keys, I will pick up a little sand for the bottom.

It may not be an arrangement worthy of Southern Living, but we enjoy looking at it and remembering two very beautiful spots.

Thumbing Through Nature

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:45:00 +0000

I’m back from Alaska and, as I hoped, after several glorious days in the great outdoors I am recommitted to finding ways to bring nature into our everyday life and entertaining.

Since returning, I’ve spent hours playing with the photos and videos we took (go to www.thismoment.com and search on my name.) I can almost smell the scent of a pine tree or the salt air when I look at photos of places we've traveled. (For more of our travel photos, see Jim's Webshots.)

So, my new trick is to strategically place a few books on nature like the book pictured here which follows the Lewis and Clark Trail. Put one or two on the living room end table or by your bedside. Not only are the covers visually pleasing, but taking a few minutes at the end of a stressful day to thumb through the pictures is very relaxing.

Naturetaining Revival

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:41:00 +0000

It's been two years since my husband I went to Alaska and the concept for Naturetainment was born. This week, we return to our new favorite vacation spot and I plan to use the ocassion to inject new life in this old blog.

My other inspiration is a new shipment of wine from the Wall Street Journal Wine Club. We broke open our first bottle this weekend - a 2008 Pinot Grigio from Italy. The Vina Baccana was a nice pairing for the spicy tuna Jim grilled. Easy on the palette. Not incredibly memorable, but refreshing.

Yes, urban apartment living has made naturetaining a bit of a challenge. But I look forwaad to sharing our vino and some new naturtaining ideas with friends when we return.

Open that Bottle of Wine

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:12:00 +0000

What better time to brush off the "Naturetainment" Website than the 10th annual Open that Bottle of Wine Night?? The concept for this celebration was started by Wall Street Journal Tasting columnists Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher.

This year we celebrated with our good friends Lyn, Gene, Joey, Danielle, Peggy and Jack. While the selections sampled were varied in quality, I have to give "two thumbs up" to Menage a Trois, a red from the Napa Valley. A blend of Zinfendel, Merlot and Cabernet, this modestly priced wine (approx $12/bottle) fit nicely between courses.

Of course, it was particularly special to finally open a 1996 Chateauuneuf du Pape that I purchased ten years ago when visiting Provence with my friend Manda. The bottle traveled all the way to Washington, DC, to Virginia, to Miami, and back to Virginia. I feared it would not be so tasty, but was very pleasantly suprised. I've got one more in our "cellar" and will look forward to the opportunity to OTBW with Manda next time she's in town.

Lessons Learned

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:36:00 +0000

This past weekend my friend Trish renewed her wedding vows with her husband at a beautiful backyard wedding ceremony. Let me just admit up front, I cried several times. I love weddings.

But this one was particularly fun because I also got to practice a little “naturetaining.” My assignment was to help with the flowers, which included the table arrangements, buffet decorations and the bridal bouquet.

I know my limits, so for the bouquet I went straight to a florist. We visited several before choosing Karin’s Florist in Vienna. It took sometime for me to convince them the bride had granted me full proxy for picking the style, colors, and flowers. And I left the flower choice up to their designer, providing guidance only on the style. Little did I know I should have also said something about color.

When I went to pick up the bouquet on the morning of the ceremony, the bouquet was ready – but it was all white. I’ll admit that it was stunning. But I just didn’t think an all-white look for a backyard springtime event was appropriate. So I had the designer re-do it and add some pink Gerber daises. (He was a tad bit annoyed, but the customer is always right!) I think it came out well.

In the previous blog post, I shared the idea I was experimenting with for the table decorations. I’d decided tulips were the way to go and found a great street vendor right in DC with loads of nice tulips in multiple colors. But alas, when I stopped by the vendor Friday night to purchase the nearly 70 stems I needed, they were practically sold out! I made a mad dash to two stores that evening – nothing. Fortunately, on Saturday morning the Vienna Giant had a wide selection of tulips available, and on sale! So I was clipping and stuffing tulips into floral foam right up until it was time to go. The purple were the freshest, so we went for an all-purple theme.

Using the small bud vases we picked up at the Crate and Barrel outlet, I used a combination of red and yellow ranuncules to decorate the food tables.

All in all, it was a lot of fun. And I learned two important lessons. Don’t wait until the last minute to get the flowers, and I’m more allergic to pollen than I thought.

Backyard Bells

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:46:00 +0000

This weekend we’ve got a major assignment – providing floral arrangements for a wedding!

Our friend is having a backyard ceremony – which is what naturetainment is all about. While the bride will be in a formal bridal gown, immediately after the ceremony the kids will be jumping in a moonbounce and the adults grooving to some cool tunes and noshing on tappas.

With all the high energy, we decided glass should be avoided. In search of something less fragile but still pretty, we set out to antique and craft stores for suitable centerpiece containers. We found what we hope is the perfect solution at the Crate and Barrel Outlet in Old Town – little buckets made out of tin with a slightly rustic, earthy look.

We had to go online to figure out how to use floral foam. And we are actively experimenting with different types of flowers as you can see here. So far we've tried Gerber daises, ranuncules, and tulips.

I remember being somewhat horrified at the décor my caterer added to the buffet table at our wedding. To ensure a little sophistication, we also picked up about a dozen tiny glass bud vases to scatter among the platters to fill with single stems. And, of course, a little vase for a powder room arrangement.

Come back next week to see photos of the final results.

Cherry Delight

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:18:00 +0000

The absolute best way to combine nature with entertainment is to invite friends or family to join you for a spin around the Tidal Basin during Washington’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

Since not everyone can come to DC for this spectacular affair, let us share some highlights of this year's sights courtesy of Mother Nature. You can view more on my husband's cool blog.

Rain Or Shine

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 23:08:00 +0000

By now, readers of this blog know we love water in all forms - the ocean, snow, creeks, lakes, and even rain. One of our favorite pastimes is sitting on the porch of our Florida home and watching an afternoon rain shower.

With the season of April showers just around the corner, it is the perfect time to go shopping for a new umbrella to keep on hand for that vacationing friend or family member who didn't pack their own.

Online museum gift shops, like New York's Museum of Modern Art and the Smithsonian, offer a great selection. Right here in Washington, you can find a variety of choices at the National Cathedral Gift Shop and The Phillips Collection. Jut be sure to pick out something durable that can withstand wind, but bright and hard to leave behind on metro or in a taxi. And while you're at it, splurge and buy yourself a new one, too!

Garbage In, Garbage Out

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 08:44:00 +0000

I never thought much about garbage cans, until I didn’t have one!
This week I’m staying at the lovely La Costa Resort and Spa in San Diego, CA for a company leadership meeting. Places like this are always an inspiration for Naturetainment. The grounds are landscaped with beautiful palms and zillions of birds-of-paradise flowers.

My room is quite nice with an extra-large shower, an Internet-wired desk, and a plush robe. However, there is one amenity that is sorely lacking – adequate trash receptacles. In what is a large room by hotel standards, there is only one small trash can in the bathroom.

Note to self – the guest room at home must always have a wastebasket, perhaps like this Target brand, lavender-theme basket pictured at right. And it should be emptied daily.

Coasting Along

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 01:52:00 +0000

I’ve always had a thing for coasters. They seem an inexpensive yet creative way to add a little flare to entertaining, whether it’s just drinks in the living room or an upscale dinner.

I found quite a few beautiful coaster sets online, but be wary because there are certainly tacky ones. I especially love the tropical theme coasters from one of my new favorite sites, Iomi.

I picked up these beauties at the Miami Beach Art Deco Preservation League Gift Shop for only $1 each!

Coasters on the guest room bedside table are a must. Set out one of these beautiful letterpress style from Papered Together and then put a few additional in a little "take home" bag for your visitors to remember their stay.

Of course, in keeping with our naturetainment theme, its best you pick a style that reflect the native flora, fauna, or history of your own neighborhood.

Unexpected Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 01:54:00 +0000

This week our friends John and Fran kindly hosted us for Valentine's Day dinner. As always, the table was beautifully set with fun wine glasses, beautiful plates, and delicious food all set on a red linen tablecloth. For centerpieces, Fran used three lipstick-red Chineese food containers each holding a bouquet of white mini-tulips.

Casually scattered around the table were Hershey's kisses and small Valentine's chocolates.

A few days later we were on a weekend getaway and as I started unpacking our food bag, I found a handful of the heart-shaped candies in the bottom. What a nice suprise! We gathered that our hostess slipped them in when we weren't looking.

An unexpected gift - what a sweet suprise. Something to keep in mind when a visitor calls.

The All-in-One Flower

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 03:00:00 +0000

One of my first and still favorite coffee table books had as a cover the beautiful lavender fields of Provence. After years of daydreaming about the possibility, my friend Manda and I took a week long vacation to Southern France in the summer of 2002. We had a magnificent time driving from one quaint villa to the next, sipping wines and sampling cheeses.

BUT, our timing was off. Alas, we missed lavender season.

I'm still mesmerized by the flower, the scent, and the beautiful color that is lavender. And I can't think of a better theme for a guestroom. Popular with men and women alike and seasonless in nature, unless you are actually looking for fresh fields of the flower in which case you might want to plan ahead better than I did.

Let's not forget the healing and soothing qualities associated with lavender since the Roman times. An infusion of the flower's buds are added to a cup of boiling water makes a relaxing bedtime drink. An Amazon.com search even revealed a few lavender cookbooks.

I suggest you start simple (in keeping with my '08 KISS resolution)...buy a little lavendar sachet and tuck it into the guest room dresser. And get yourself one for your own sock drawer while you're at it. What a refreshing way to get dressed each

morning.

If you want to do something a little more crafty, this book by Tessa Evelegh looks like a good place to start. It's on my wish list!

Thanks to Wikipedia for the photos.

Keep it Simple

noreply@blogger.com (Ann and Jim, author and photographer respectively) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 03:34:00 +0000

Clearly I haven't blogged for a while, at least not here on Naturetainment. I got too hung up on always having a big idea or an illustration. But no more. The motto for 2008, where I now pen this blog from our temporary one bedroom apartment, is "KISS!"

With that in mind, let me share my latest tip on marrying nature and hospitality. Water. I know I did a big thing on ice not too long ago. But nothing is more appreciated, and more easily served, than a refreshing glass of cold water.

At meals, make sure a glass of ice water is at every place in your prettiest goblet. A small side dish (perhaps a soy sauce holder) with a lemon wedge is a must.

Just before your guests retire, set a pretty pitcher and set of glasses (like these I've been lookikng at for over a year at Anthropolgie) along with a small bucket of fresh ice. Steer away from bottled war since those aren't so environmentally friendly. Finish the "look" with a small rose bud or pretty coasters.

You are thinking, this is way too obvious. But the smallest details are often the most appreciated.