“My long two-pointed ladder’s sticking through a tree Toward heaven still. And there’s a barrel that I didn’t fill Beside it, and there may be two or three Apples I didn’t pick upon some bough. But I am done with apple-picking now. Essence of winter sleep is on the night, The scent of apples; I…
Luxurious Retreat Tips
Bubbles
by Melissa • • 4 Comments
We bought a bubble maker and put it out on the deck… It has transformed our back yard into something magical. My friend Jana visited me last weekend. After she saw bubbles in our back yard she told me that whenever she visits my house she experiences magic π Watching bubbles has become a relaxing…
Relaxing Rituals
by Melissa • • 2 Comments
Staycation-Day 5
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Staycation-Day 4
by Melissa • • 2 Comments
“The dearest spot on Earth to me is home, sweet home.” ~W.T. Wrighton Today we… had jelly doughnuts and rosepetal tea for breakfast went for a walk with Andie and Madeline May did some reading and writing and I watched Husband make barbecue magic happen in our kitchen and listened to the bees buzz and…
Armchair Travel-My Favorite Travel Memoirs
by Melissa • • 2 Comments
Staycation
by Melissa • • 4 Comments
mushroom crostini
by Melissa • • 2 Comments
βOne of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.βΒ ~Luciano Pavarotti This is a nice appetizer to make for companyβ¦ Baby Bella Crostini (serves 4) 1 lb baby bella mushrooms, washed and sliced 4 slices good quality,…
The Magic of Candle Light
by Melissa • • 4 Comments
“A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.”~James Keller Today I’m writing about the magic of candle light! One of these days I’ll get some spectacular photos of my candle chandeliers. For now these will have to do. You can see my dining room chandelier on my post “Paris Party 2″… and my porch chandelier…
Fresh Air Rooms
by Melissa • • 4 Comments
“And they were canopied by blue sky…so cloudless, clear and purely beautiful.” ~Lord Byron In my book, “Welcome Home-Simple Tips for Turning Your House into a Luxurious Retreat,” on page 54, I wrote all about ‘Fresh Air Rooms.’ Porches, sun rooms, patios, decks, and gazebos would all fall into this category. The wrap around porch…