Carl Larsson

For those of you who follow my blog, {thank you}, you may remember we have 3 pets in our home.  A 15-year old cat, Maggie {the senior pet}, and our two shelter-rescued dogs, Winnie, age 8 and Madison, age 3.  Maggie is a black and white cat, whose grandmother was a Scottish Fold (their ears fold forward).  Maggie’s ears do not fold but our vet says her ears are shorter and she suspected before I told her that Maggie had Scottish Fold in her genes.  Winnie is our giant bear of a dog.  The shelter labeled her “part terrier” when we adopted her.  They also told us she was full-grown when we acquired her petite 30 pounds of puppy!  She now weighs 78 lbs. and still considers herself a lap dog.  Our baby, Madison, is a Border Terrier/Jack Russel Terrier mix.  She has calmed quite a bit but when we first adopted her she was more a terror than terrier!  We love her and she definitely entertains us with her antics.

 If you have a cat you know they sleep where they want…Maggie decided hubby’s briefcase was just the right size for her.

Winnie truly thinks she’s a lap dog.  She puts her 2 front paws on your lap and longs for the days when she could get up with all fours!

Laundry day is one of Madison’s favorites…when the warm laundry is thrown on the bed for folding she assumes that’s her invitation to snuggle in.

Our atrium is a favorite with the pets during warm days of spring and summer.

During the time our sons were growing up {they are now adults} we had a bevy of pets with, at one time, six in all:  Mackenzie, a Scottish terrier; Woody, a Cairn terrier; Skittles, a calico cat; Thomas, a desert tortoise; Lucy, a Dutch bunny and Goldie, a gold fish won at a carnival).

We used to have a wire haired German pointer mix.  Reilly looked very much like this sweetie.

This resembles our Scotty,  Mackenzie.

There are books on the topic of pets/dogs in the home.  Living with Dogs is my all time favorite and I blogged about it last year.

The cottage in this image, as well as the West Highland Terrier, all contribute to my vision of the ideal accessory for a home. {smile}

My husband teases me saying I only buy or adopt pets that look good with the décor.  There may be some truth to that but the bottom line is…in my book they are one of the best home accessories.

The Cavalier King Charles spaniel has become a fixture in so many homes.  I confess, I love they way they look as well as their sweet dispositions.

Our entire family loves animals and we always said yes, when youngest son, Kevin, would ask to bring home or buy a pet (lizards, hamsters, mice).

Providence Ltd.

Splendid Willow

Photo by Roger Davies

Photo by Victoria Pearson

{ahhhh}

I have very dear friends that prefer not to be bothered with the work and planning (when they travel) involved in owning pets but I’m not there quite yet.  Oh, don’t get me wrong, there are days when I wish I didn’t have to perform the morning chores involved with providing good care for our pets.  But at the end of the day there is something so satisfying about their unconditional love and exuberant greeting when I return home from work.

Maybe this sketch by Rupert Till would suffice, or…

…one of Penelope Bianchi’s antique, stone doggies. 

So, dear readers, tell me…do you have a pet.  Could you imagine your home without?  I love your comments…tell me.

If I don’t answer the door, I’m over at Sherry’s Open House Party, No Minimalist Here

I have always liked the looks of a bar tray set up on a table in the right location of a living room or dining room.

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A bar doesn’t have to provide alcohol exclusively, bottled water and soft drinks make an inviting bar as well, don’t you agree?

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Even a bookcase can do double duty as a bar…this one (below) looks cheerful with the flower-filled blue and white vases.

It reminds me of the British colony look that I assume I’ve seen in many of the movies of a certain era.  {Many of my most inspired décor ideas originate from books, magazines or movies, very few original ideas in my brain!}  House of Fifty Winter/Spring online issue has a feature article on the topic of the resurgence of the cocktail party.  This issue also has some delicious recipes for new, fresh cocktails.

Flowers are a definite plus, something I failed to put in my image at the end of this post.

Yeager Antiques

The book case/breakfront below has been converted to a very practical bar.  {Point of interest, shouldn’t the red wine be stored on its side?}

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When you’re really short on space you can improvise like the image below…very clever use of a chair and vintage suitcase.

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I had thought about setting up a small bar in our dining room on the antique sideboard.  This past Christmas Lyn (hubby) received a couple bottles of very nice Scotch and while he doesn’t have a sip nightly, I thought I’d display the 3 varieties we own along with our scotch glasses.  {below ~ We only own 2 of these cute little vessels since when we entertain we generally serve beer or wine}.

I’m sure I’ll tire of the set up but it was a nice change for winter.  The little wooden wren was carved by my dear friend’s dad. 

To close, I came across this little computer message at casual-classic-home and thought it was cute:

Be sure to read it…I was a little alarmed when I saw it on my screen but its a joke!

Slainte!

I’m visiting Melissa at The Inspired Room for her linky party on small homes…join me.

I’ve been hooked on Top Chef/Texas.  This season they featured Dallas, San Antonio and Austin.  Since Kyle, Jamie and Olivia live in Austin, Lyn and I thought it would be fun to watch…it was!

The show is now down to the final 6 chefs but before they sent the 7^th contestant/chef home the team had to cook for Charlize Theron who stars in the latest upcoming Snow White movie—Snow White and the Huntsman.  I love Charlize Theron and she apparently loves food.  The cooking team had to prepare courses that reflected what an evil witch might eat.  It was very entertaining and the food, while sometimes scary (black chicken with the foot left on) was, according to the judges, quite tasty.

And…Julia Roberts has a Snow White movie due to be released March 1st titled Mirror, Mirror.

So, {I knew there was a post idea in here somewhere} in honor of these movies due to be released March 1st and June 1^st, respectively, here is your mirror, mirror on the wall(s).♥

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House and Garden

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unknown

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Architectural Digest

Better Homes and Gardens

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So, I wonder if Snow White would have mirrors all over her Fantasyland house or did her minion only speak to her from one?

I’m visiting Sherry at her Open House party today, stop by No Minimalist Here for a visit.

I know Valentine’s Day can be hectic and crazy busy, especially since it’s on a weekday this year.  So…I thought I’d help you by giving you the easiest recipe I know for Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Cookies (or if your Valentine prefers peanut butter), Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies.

This is not gourmet but they taste so darn good no one will care.

 ♥  ♥  ♥

Recipe:

Preheat oven to 350°

1 package Devil’s Food cake mix ~ I use Duncan Hines if available but I’ve used Betty Crocker’s and they are still yummy.

½ cup cooking oil ~ I use canola oil from Trader Joe’s.

2 Tablespoons water ~ I use warm tap water

2 large eggs

1 6-oz. package Chocolate Chips ~ I use Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips because my guys are peanut butter fans.

½ cup nuts (optional)

Blend cake mix, oil water and eggs.  Stir in chocolate (peanut butter) chips and nuts (if you’re using nuts).  Drop by teaspoon on ungreased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart.

Bake at 350° for 10 – 12 minutes.  Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute, then remove to wire rack.  Note:  I add more chips than recipe calls for and I also decrease the oil by just a tiny bit (and by tiny bit I’d say by 1 tablespoon less).

Here’s the map to a woman’s heart…we know the map to a man’s heart is via his stomach, right?

Happy St. Valentine’s Day

Since it’s raining here and since it’s only 5 days until St. Valentine’s Day when most of us will be thinking shades of pink and red, I thought I’d provide an infusion of blue and white.

Martha Stewart

What is it about the combination of blue and white that appeals to so many?  Its classic—I mean it’s never experienced the phrase “So dated!” of say dusty rose and sage green (remember how we all admired that combination even if we didn’t use it?) of the eighties, or chocolate brown and white of the seventies (When I was first married everything had to be chocolate brown and white).  Blue and white clearly knows a popularity that remains timeless.

 French Kissed

I have a few touches of blue and white in my home and a guest room that is blue and white, but I’ve never been able to afford the complete switch.  You know how it is, you get down a path with one color palate and to change would involve some pretty major discarding of items that no longer compliment the blue and white theme, I’ve never been able to convince myself that I want it that bad.  And I don’t mean I have to have everything matchy-matchy, but I do like some cohesion where my color palate is concerned…is this just me?

Color Outside the Lines

Classic Casual Home

 So, for now, I’ll dream in blue and white and delight in the images I find on the various blogs I enjoy reading each week.  I hope you’ll indulge me and maybe get as much pleasure as I do from the clean, crisp look of blue and white in the home.

Lori Tippens Interiors

Tobi Fairley

Joe Minton Designs

Veranda

Ralph Lauren, Jamaica

Belclaire House

Belclaire House

The Enchanted Home

Traditional Home, Joseph Minton

Do you long for a different color palate for your home?

I’m visiting Sherry at No Minimalist Here for her Open House today…stop by.

January was an unusually dismal month for me.  This is surprising since it’s my birthday month and the first month of a new year, a new beginning of sorts, so I surprised, even myself, that I was internally negative the entire month.  No reason, which only makes it more confounding.

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So, I know that if I get down in the dumps, which doesn’t happen very often, I just need to continue to smile, live and wait…the wise words of my grandma (and grandma’s everywhere, I imagine) come to mind, “this too shall pass”.  In my internal musings I self-analyzed, self-critiqued and I pondered the worth of my blog.  No real revelations presented themselves since I believe you have to be cautious making huge decisions when you’re in the dumps, but I did decide I needed to share more of the recipes I try and like.  That fills the “party” part of  Garden, Home and Party. For those not interested in cooking I decided to couple the weekly recipe with a few of my favorite table settings that I’ve collected…kind of a something for everyone philosophy.

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So here you go.  I’m starting with a recipe for chili.  I have always made my chili from my mom’s recipe.  That means for the 39 years I’ve been married I’ve always prepared the same recipe.  Until now.  Pioneer Woman (and if you haven’t visited her site or read her cookbook or seen her Food TV program, I urge you to have a look) demonstrated a recipe for “Simple Perfect Chili” on her show.  My husband had recorded the show for me and happened to be in the room when she was demonstrating the process and he commented that it looked really good.  I took advantage of this segue to say, “Why don’t you cook it for us?”  {Note:  I work full time outside the house and he works from our home}.

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He followed the recipe which you can print from HERE and I have to tell you…it was delicious, I believe it will replace the long time recipe for chili I used to use.  {The only change: we used a large can of chili beans and 1 can of black beans, rinsed, instead of kidney beans and black beans} Below is a picture off Wikipedia and it doesn’t do the dish justice.  But you’ll at least get the jest of it.  This recipe would be good for a group since you can make it well in advance and it gets better by making it a day or two in advance.

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If I were serving chili to friends and family I might set the table like any one of these….

 Since Chili is a simple meal you might just want folks to serve themselves.

Since I usually serve chili in the cooler months I look for a table setting idea that reflect the season.  Vignette Design always features such great ideas for entertaining.

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This Veranda table setting by Toby West is a perennial favorite of mine.  Barley twist candle sticks and horn-handled pewter, what could be better?

Don’t restrict your table to flowers and candles, pull out all the stops, as Delores at Vignette Design has done with the set up below.

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This table looks pretty spring-summer with the white, but I included it because I love the aged wood runner down the center of the table and would like to make something like that for my table…it gives the table such a rustic look and I think you could change the linens and flowers to accommodate seasons and different dish patterns.

Enjoy and bon appetit!

February is a good month and I know it will be the start of a great year!

My friend, Jermaine has planned the most exciting trip and invites anyone interested in visiting Paris for an insiders shopping and dining vacation.  Visit French Kissed for details. 

http://french-kissed.com/archives/11592

As we embark on MONTH TWO of a new year, wait, how is that possible?  Time needs to slow down for just a bit…right?

 National Geographic ~ the groundhog

My mind has been racing with thoughts of things to do…from work to pleasure…I can’t seem to make it slip into neutral long enough for me to focus.  Does that ever happen to you?  You no sooner think of one thing then your mind races to a new topic and before you know it you’re lost in new ideas, forgetting the good idea you just had.  No, I don’t think I’m suffering from early-onset dementia, why do you ask?

Source unknown, but this is the best of both worlds in my mind—a castle cottage.

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So, since it’s Groundhog Day and I’m certain I’ve experienced the above condition before, and because it’s our youngest son’s birthday, {it’s cliché to say it seems like only yesterday he was a tow-headed toddler following his big brother around the house, but I’m just saying…}, I’m providing images of things I like and rooms Kevin might like.  This isn’t a cohesive, all-one-idea kind of post, it’s an all over the place, like this and that kind of post.  {It’s okay if you skip your visit with me today…it might be contagious and you’ll be out of focus if you continue}.

 Veranda Magazine

Southern Accents, 2004

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source unknown

Maybe this is a purge of images that have been intriguing but not really part of a larger subset of rooms.  In any event, I hope you will return when I’m on topic.  Thank you for your patience.

source unknown

Better Homes and Garden  Some of my thoughts are towards planting for spring and a December wedding for Kevin and his darling fiance, Sarah.

Brides Magazine

Have a very Happy Birthday, Kevin!

May your beer brewing be successful.

I think I need a nap…

I’m visiting Sherry’s Open House at No Minimalist Here

My friend, Jermaine has planned the most exciting trip and invites anyone interested in visiting Paris for an insiders shopping and dining vacation.  Visit French Kissed for details.

http://french-kissed.com/archives/11592

NOTE:  I AM HAVING SOME SERIOUS WORDPRESS/SERVER ISSUES.  I’VE BEEN TOLD IT’S FIXED BUT I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE IF YOU’VE HAD PROBLEMS ACCESSING MY POSTS OR LEAVING COMMENTS.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

I waffle on the topic of symmetry because I see great examples of both symmetrical and asymmetrical gardens, furniture layouts, kitchen cupboard arrangements and accessories.  I guess most of the time I’m most comfortable with symmetry, but there’s always an exception.

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 This (above) garden vista is symmetrical for the most part.  The astilbe on the left and pittisporum shurb on the right are pretty and asymmetrical.  The posts on the gate invite you into the formal garden space, so pretty.

Designer, Mary McDonald (via Veranda Magazine) says,

“I always like to pair very symmetrical elements with something that’s asymmetrical, because the symmetry cleans up the asymmetrical parts and keeps them from getting too crazy….You always want to make sure when you’re putting together a tablescape for a vignette that’s symmetrical…that you have groups of all different heights, because that creates an artistic sense of release.”

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It’s my birthday tomorrow and I knew I wanted to celebrate with you!  I thought I’d post some of my favorite rooms (accumulated from my favorite blog sites, which accumulated them from their favorite blog sites, no doubt).

Barclay Butera

source unknown

I would post the number of rooms that correlate with my age but I’m afraid your (and my) computer would crash from the size and number of picture files so…since my birthday is on the 27^th of this month, I’ll show you 27 of my favorite rooms.

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Randy Boyd

Cote de Texas

Some of the images have appeared in earlier posts because I love the room(s) so much but that’s okay, right?  It’s my birthday and I can be repetitive.

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Sorry, many of these images have been in my files since before my awareness of the importance of  providing credit and links.

Southern Accents

In the spirit of 27 Dresses (did you see that movie?), and my birthday on the 27^th day of January I hope you enjoy.

Kristen Panitch

Jill Brinson

griege

House Beautiful {Slim Paley}

French Kissed

for the love of a house

SMW adventures of tartanscot

Badgley via Elle Decor

Douglas Friedman

Randy Boyd via Romantic Homes

Birch & Lily

adventures of tartanscot

Traditional Home

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Thanks for making this a very fun birthday.  I appreciate each and every reader, comment-leaver or not.

I’m visiting Sherry at No Minimalist Here, stop by.

I’ve read a couple of posts from some of my favorite blog sites indicating a return to the popularity of equine accessories in the home.  This is welcome news to me.  I have always enjoyed the country house look that a nice hunt scene etching or re-strike gives a room.

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via – Sir Raymond Greene by Alfred James Munnings (1919)

Our home used to be filled with hunt scene art and horse paraphernalia…which created interest from our youngest son’s friend years ago.  Steven {Kevin’s friend} asked me, after looking around our family room, if I owned a horse.  LOL!  I did ride horses as a teen and my aunt owned a horse but a pony was the one gift Santa never brought me!

It truly baffles me as to why I enjoy the “look” but I guess it may remind me of my youth, coupled with the romance I’ve imagined tied to English manor houses and hunts and feasts in the forest while out of doors, i.e.  Gosford Park.  I know, I’ve been watching too many English period-series and movies!  Downton Abbey, is the latest addiction.

Ralph Lauren has always included country accessories that often included equestrian details.

5th and State

Diamond Baratta Design via Dovecote

 Hollister Hovey

For me, the touches of equestrian art and accessories are classic and timeless, but I do remember seeing a commercial recently that implied that the look might be akin to grandma’s overly sweet nicknacks.  I say, if you love it and don’t over do it, go for it, make it yours!

(above) Amanda Nisbit design

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William Hodgins design via

I love the painting above.  This room is inviting and calming to me…the glow of the fire and button tuck upholstered pieces speaks of comfort and relaxation.

And if you prefer to keep your love of horses to accessories only, there’s always a Hermes scarf and pair of riding boots!  At the end of the long day you can place your Scotch/rocks or your cup of tea on these thoroughbred coasters.

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The chair above, with the stirrup adornment was at a recent design market…the chair looks comfortable, doesn’t it?  Too much?

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Hope you’ve had fun with the horses and me…anybody up for a ride on a carousel?

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/equestrian-deco-156082

dog under table