An Eye For Detail

THIS IS WHERE YOU WILL FIND ME

2012-02-23T22:26:00.000-05:00

This is what I will be doing this weekend: Helping many others to celebrate a 100th Birthday! It's going to be a big P A R T Y with lots of good people, the guest of honor, delicious food and fine wine. Maybe we'll be treated to a cake like this one! {via} And this is where I will be doing it: And I will be stopping here: Metropolitan Museum of

FUN WITH "BE FUNKY" FOR PHOTOS

2012-02-19T22:55:00.000-05:00

With the imminent demise of Picnik, we're all scrambling to find g o o d substitutes. On Friday I mentioned Google+. Today I'll show you BeFunky. The first few times I tried it, my computer froze and I had to restart several times. Then yesterday I played with it on my iPad where it works beautifully...but I have to transfer the photos to my main computer for the blog. So.. to make a

FRIDAY FLOWERS: CAMELLIAS AND THOUGHTS ON GOOGLE+

2012-02-16T21:40:00.000-05:00

Camellias Picnik Google+ Calling all bloggers out there who use Picnik!!!! You DO know, DON'T YOU, that Picnik, that wonderful image editing program, is ENDING on March 15th? There has been a lot of noise and traffic in blogland, Twitter-land, and Facebook-land about the demise of this great program. I actually use Photoshop for a lot/most of my photo editing work, but there are

VALENTINES DAY

2012-02-14T12:50:00.000-05:00

I dropped HUGE hints that these were available to buy! We will see. In any case, here is what I'm making for dinner tonight: French Pan-Fried Trout! Take a look at Chez Bonne Femme and while you're there do browse and see all that Wini Moranville has to offer both on the blog and her cookbook: The Bonne Femme Cookbook. And then for dessert: We will

WALL POPS! BY JONATHAN ADLER

2012-02-12T22:58:00.002-05:00

There's a new kid in town! Wall Pop's by Jonathan Adler and they're really cool. The news appeared in my inbox just as I was starting my search for wall decals... serendipity indeed. This is the one I just might buy: And this is where I want them to go. I was thinking of decals, or possibly a stencil. Considered wallpaper, but I'm not

FRIDAY FLOWERS: HELLEBORES

2012-02-09T20:22:00.001-05:00

The Hellebores are here! With their pale pink and pale, creamy white flowers they are making a statement in my winter garden. Very spring-like here mixed with daffodils, all in a yellow pitcher And here is THE book to buy for the best information on Hellebores: "Hellebores: A Comprehensive Guide" by Burrell & Tyler. The authors just happen to own Pine

MY FAVORITE BAG: MADE FROM FELT

2012-02-08T20:36:00.001-05:00

A year ago I received this GREAT bag for Christmas: Read the post: "Santa Heard Me" It's from Graf & Lantz in San Francisco, made of felt and leather. These bags are made in the United States! It comes in other fun colors: and more serious, business-like colors: But I can tell you: it is a WONDERFUL bag! It works. Period. It holds lots (oh so perfect for the iPad) and yet

IT'S COLD IN PROVENCE

2012-02-07T21:39:00.000-05:00

We've been hearing about the cold... and snow.... and ice.... and wind in Provence. Here's a video of the wheels (still turning...) in Isle sur la Sorgue. Les roues gelées des Teinturiers from Michel84 on Vimeo. And how about these ice laden wheels? These two photos from Avignon: etats et lieux And for a total change of season here are some scenes of the wheels I had

THE CLOSET: PART II

2012-02-05T22:56:00.000-05:00

On with THE CLOSET reno.... You can see the first part here and some of the pictures of the interior of the master bedroom closet. We tore out all the shelves and rods from one entire side. Patched and tested different paint colors. I tried Ben Moore "Pale Oak", then "Soft Chamois", then "Butte Rock", all of which we had used in other parts of the house. No, none was right. Finally, with

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES: THE BEST!

2012-02-02T21:00:00.000-05:00

These are some of the best cookies anywhere! They are from my blogging friend, Ellise of Cowgirl Chef. And here's the direct link to her post about the cookies. Ellise calls these "Flat and Bumpy Chocolate Chip-Walnut Cookies". Here's some of what she has to say about these goodies: I wish I could tell you that because of the thinness, these cookies are somehow less in the

TEA AND COFFEE ACCESSORIES ON HOUZZ

2012-01-31T21:40:00.000-05:00

I do product research for Houzz every month and it's a project I am really enjoying.I get to choose the category of products which I then research, dig around the internet, write the accompanying blurb and "go public" with my Ideabook.Here's the latest one which seems to be quite popular! "Tea and Coffee Accessories" Houzz- One of the questions I received on Houzz was asking

GARDEN TRELLIS

2012-01-30T13:19:00.001-05:00

This is NOT your average garden trellis! I've been looking around on line this morning, for a totally different project, when I came upon this FABULOUS trellis. It's from TerraTrellis and it's made in the U.S.A. lots of other colors available or this "Akoris Garden Tuteur Jr.": or the "Gracie Modern Arbor" Such fun ideas and colors for the garden... take a look! I'm

TIME FOR SOME ANTHROPOLOGIE

2012-01-26T22:19:00.000-05:00

They've done it again: the designers at Anthropologie have come out with some mighty fine designs! From cute shoes to asymmetrical hem skirts and dresses to delightful scarves to fun jewelry...what a collection. Take a look at the Anthropologie site and see if you're not tempted. Such fun shoes in every color and texture Bright, whimsical scarf: Some Tangerine Tango anyone? I

VALENTINES FROM ETSY

2012-01-25T22:30:00.000-05:00

Just a few more weeks to go until Valentines Day. I was looking around Etsy (and a few other places), knowing I would find some wonderful things, and sure enough, they did not disappoint me. I went looking for "seasonal items": things that were not necessarily red (or pink), that didn't necessarily have hearts anywhere on them, and items that could/would be used for a while. There were

EASY, EDIBLE GIFTS

2012-01-24T22:42:00.000-05:00

Long ago and far away... well, that's how it seems right now!I was in Provence. Last October. And we went to several 'marches' or outdoor markets.Among many other purchases (!) I bought some Herbes de Provence. Even the label and ribbon make this an easy sell, no? Herbes de Provence contain dried thyme, basil, lavender, fennel and savory. These can vary and others can be added. But it's a

LAUNDRY ROOM REDESIGN

2012-01-22T20:41:00.000-05:00

Time to talk laundry. We have a laundry room: from the garage you go directly into this room, then a few steps into the back hall and you're in the kitchen. It's a nice size room: about 10' x 12' and has an east facing window for lots of morning sun. Those are the basics. What's in it? When we moved in there was a washer and a dryer and a deep, free standing, plastic utility sink. Nothing

CHIC PROVENCE: SPRING TOUR OFFER!

2012-01-19T20:05:00.001-05:00

Please welcome our newest Friend and Sponsor: Chic Provence! Kit Golson is the woman behind this beautiful, dreamy, lovely blog. I've been following Kit for years... after all, as a devoted Francophile I can never get enough of anything French. Here is what Kit has in store for you: Are you longing for some time in sunny Provence? Would you revel in days at open air markets, sitting in

IT'S ALL ABOUT CLUTTER

2012-01-17T20:33:00.000-05:00

Since there have been SO MANY blog posts about organizing, re-organizing, purging your stuff, and all sorts of new year's storage resolutions, I will put in my two cents. Here is the place I search for lots of tips about organization (home, office, kitchen, closets, drawers etc) SeeJaneWork This is THE place to go for anything... anything... for "Office Style and Organization". I get lost in

ONE GREAT SOUP!

2012-01-16T22:18:00.000-05:00

I was over visiting Tina at The Enchanted Home recently and saw this recipe for a minestrone soup: "Pasta e Fagiole Soup". There are so... many out there, but this, I have to say, is one of the best I've ever made! It's quick and easy and really really good! {via} Pasta e Fagiole Soup INGREDIENTS2 tablespoons (2 turns around the pan) extra-virgin olive oil 1/8 pound (about 4 slices)

MAJOR CLOSET RENOVATIONS!

2012-01-15T21:00:00.002-05:00

We have some major closet issues! We've lived here now for over a year and have done a lot of work on the house... as you have all seen.But now it's down to "the details": those not-so-very-minor and very annoying problems that remain. First up: the master bedroom closet. Second: the big storage/guest room closet upstairs. And then, last but really most important, there is THE LAUNDRY ROOM.

NEW BOOK BY MARGARET ROACH

2012-01-12T21:08:00.000-05:00

Remember my Friday Flowers posts? It suddenly occurred to me that it's been a long..... time since I've posted these on a Friday. Yes, well, it was on October 27, 2011 in a post about tuberoses. In honor of Friday Flowers I have this for you: Are you familiar with Margaret Roach? Maybe you remember her from her days at Martha Stewart as Editorial Vice President. Or a stint at Newsday, or the

THOUGHTS ON SPRING STYLE

2012-01-11T21:09:00.000-05:00

I can't resist.It's only January but already I am thinking of Spring.And what to wear this Spring.Which colors?What is it that I need want?Sweaters? Pants? My all time favorite: dresses? And always but always some fun jewelry. This is, sort of, where I'm headed! This came in from Banana Republic: Navy/indigo! yes yes yes. We have been stuck in a "black" rut for too many years!Add some orange (

WRITING A THANK YOU NOTE

2012-01-10T21:00:00.000-05:00

I happened to see a sample of President Obama's thank you note "etiquette" on a Twitter post today, and began thinking about this almost obsolete nicety. Do you write thank you notes? I mean, do you actually take out pen and paper and write a real note? When? After you have received a gift? What about after a dinner party? Or an interview? Or.... gasp.... to say hello and thank someone

NEWEST IDEABOOK ON HOUZZ

2012-01-08T21:00:00.000-05:00

It's winter (well, the calendar says it is!) and many of us are using a fireplace these days. I know, I know.. it's been nice and warm for lots of the country, but we all know that the cold will arrive sonner or later. Here are some fun ideas for fireplace accessories: andirons, screens, even a tabletop "fireplace". I put this Ideabook together in December. If you want to see more ideas, go to

SO....YOU NEED A BREAD BOX?

2012-01-05T21:55:00.000-05:00

I need one.... or rather, I needed one. Last summer I had written this: I want a bread box. I am tired of storing...if you can call hanging out on the counter "storing", my bits of bread in plastic bags, a muffin in another bag, assorted crackers, maybe a small box of cookies etc. etc. I don't like to put the bread in the fridge: it gets so dry and hard after a few days. But out on the