“Love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea.” ~Henry Fielding One of the things I like about the tea ritual is that it can be made as simple or elaborate as you wish. Today I decided to fill a teapot with lilacs, pour iced tea with lemon and mint into our crystal wine glasses,…
Here’s a list of entertaining tips I’ve been compiling since I wrote the last entertaining tips entry. I hope these little ideas inspire you and help keep your next gathering fun and stress free! ~ use frozen grapes and berries to chill cocktails instead of ice cubes ~ freeze edible flower blossoms and petals into…
Today I decided to do a little photo shoot of one of my favorite repurposing projects. When Gracie grew out of her toddler furniture (that had been passed down from Andie…who had received it from Robin…Hi Robin!) I decided to keep the long dresser and turn it into a sideboard. I had been wanting one…
What little things are you doing to survive the rest of this crazy long winter? Confession: Between writing chapters, painting illustrations, taking and editing photos, thrifting, knitting, and episodes of Private Practice… I have baked bread or cake or something every day for the last couple weeks. Thankfully bread freezes and company is coming on…
Before I start talking about my favorite way to make a single serving of tea, without using a tea ball or tea ball infuser, I have to say that the very best way to make tea is in a glass, china or porcelain tea pot. This method has not been improved upon in the last…
One of my favorite ways to sweeten cups of tea and coffee is to serve them with lollipops as “stirrers.” See’s Candy makes awesome “gourmet” lollipops that are perfect for this purpose, but any unfilled lollipop will work. I like to pair the flavors of lollipop to the tea I’m serving… orange and lemon are…
~Make cider floats! Pour real apple orchard cider over cinnamon ice cream ~Harvest grapevines and make homemade wreaths for Christmas gifts…here’s a new twist on this idea. homemade grapevine wreath ~Go to a grape stomp or participate in a grape harvest at a local vineyard. ~Host a harvest party: plan a hayride, have a campfire,…
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 😉 Watching bubbles has become a relaxing…
“The preparation of good food is merely another expression of art, one of the joys of civilized living” ~Dione Lucas I love this time of year for entertaining friends and family. I have a list of a few of my favorite entertaining tips that I thought I’d pass your way. I’m always looking for new,…
photograph by Melissa Placzek Cooking the evening meal is one of my favorite things to do. I light candles, play a soothing CD, and sip a glass of wine as I cook. I like to have a fragrant bouquet of flowers of a bowl of tangy lemons on the counter to delight my senses when…