April Food Day

Do you know that...
One in eight Americans are at risk for hunger?
Four million Americans receive assistance from Feeding America each week?
Children who are hungry have slower emotional, social and educational development?
Millions of elderly Americans go to bed hungry every night?
It is so critical that those of us who are not in this position help those that are.

So many people who never thought they would need food assistance are now asking for help from their local food bank. They have lost their jobs through the massive down-sizings and layoffs. They have exhausted all of their resources. Elderly people on fixed incomes are finding that costs are out-pacing their incomes.

When they look for help what are they met with? More than 90 percent of food banks reported that they are not currently able to meet the needs of their community. We can help.

Don't you have some extra stuff..boxes of pasta, cans of tuna, beans, jam, plum tomatoes, sauce, mac n cheese...just sitting in your pantry? That food gathering dust could feed a hungry child or senior, right in your community.

In my area: The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County, Inc. 461 Glenbrook Road, Stamford, CT 06906 Phone (203) 358-8898 https://www.foodbanklfc.org

Hosting a party? Host a food drive too! People love to help but sometimes might not know how to. Every can of tuna makes a difference. Get your kids involved. Your school. Your church. Your knitting group. Your book club. Your office.


For More Info: the blog is: http://aprilfoodday.blogspot.com/
the feeding america site is: www.feedingamerica.org
the donation page is:
https://secure2.convio.net/a2h/site/Donation2?idb=1375441249&df_id=1560&1560.donation=form1

I found out about this today at www.pigtowndesign.com she seems like someone I would like to bread bread with.

Bon Voyage Store Bought Cards!

Picked these two stacking creamsicle vintage office-on-the-go babies at a tag sale. $1 buck each. I am sure that Sir Terry Conran would love to reproduce these. I wish I could stop by his store and buy four more. I bet my friend Chip would know where to find some. By the way, don't you love that coffee mug! So retro.
I use these two filing cabinets to keep my envelopes, blank note cards and glue sticks organized and handy. Just as easy to create a handmade thank you card as buying one and in my opinion twice as nice to receive and send. Shows you really gave it some thought. No offense Hallmark. As our hosts for the bon voyage dinner last night are sailors, and giving it all up for a sail around the world on their Concordia, I cut out some burgees/flags, strung them on a piece of yarn, glue-sticked the flags together and tied the yarn to the card. Done.
I used a pre-made card with matching envelope, you can buy packs of these anywhere, art supply stores, chain craft stores, Target dollar aisle, on-line.

If you click on this photo it will enlarge and you can see what I wrote on the flags. You could use this style for any occasion. B'day banner greetings? Write the year i.e. circa 1982, monogram, astrological sign...endless possibilities. These cute cards make for a smooth sail to etiquette town!

Dirty Fingernails 101

It's time...time to get dirty. From here on in, well at least until thanksgiving, my nails are going to be dirty. Dirty from many blissful hours in the garden digging, dividing, seeding, weeding, clipping and sighing. Just the thought of it makes me happy.



You know what else makes me happy? Going to a dinner party and meeting an unexpected soulmate. I did tonight. Her name is Aileen and she is wonderful, we just clicked. Surely we will share many new gardening tips and trades for years to come. Did I mention she writes for the New York Times?! Perhaps you read her article this Sunday, here it is

Well I can't wait to get back in the garden tomorrow and plant some pansies. Perhaps see what I can divide up for my new friend!

Fly Away...lahhhaa lah lah lah lah lah lah

Free to fly.....la la la la...What was that bad 70s 80s song....Fly Away? I am sure it still makes heavy rotation on that Danbury rock station.

How you say in French ? Papillon?

Butterflies? 

How about these chairs for outdoors?

 Hipper than directors chairs and very comfy. 

warning: can be hard to launch your butt out of

 after a nap or nip.

the enormous american wetwing butterfly

I love these faux butterflies, 

they bring a sense of wonder

 and springtime to anything.

 You can pick them up 

at Michael's Crafts or online.

I first found them when I was working on an Alice in Wonderland themed Tea Party with Discovery TV's Party Girl Click on this

I love to stick them in care packages ~ a winged surprise! They pop out like a jack in the box...or should I say Jacqueline?

How sweet is this 'monarch' suspended from pussy willow branches? They weigh nothing and fit in anywhere ~ in a flower arrangement, as a bow on a gift, hidden in your garden, placed on a chignon or an easter corsage perhaps? 

oui oui oui.....

It's Not My Bag Baby

I have not made any yet..but man do I have plans..with all this vintage fabric I need to either make slipcovers for the Land Rover, and I mean for over the Land Rover or lots of bags. In the meantime:
Everybody's got some dirty laundry and could use a cute way to tote it around. Especially if you live in an apartment or are bringing home your stinky things to Mom. I thought this was kitchy cute. Not only for toting your washday best but how about for an overnight bag or boat bag? The Ahoy There one above is from a great online shop called Three Potato Four


Hey, Money Bags, how about this for a super klassy, that's classy with a K, way to wrap a birthday gift? Or for storing loose change? Also from Three Potato Four LOVE that shop

Here are some fun graphic ones to take to the flea or the farmer's market from HappyFamily sellers on etsy.com

Some bags can help the environment by not creating waste and some can F E E D children. Feed bags. What a great birthday gift ~ loving, caring and stylish too.



No matter how bad things might seem for you right now, it is nothing compared to what these kids are going through. In a way, we all carry the bag when it comes to the children of our earth.

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

My longtime friend Elise, the Comedy Goddess, posted her version of this celebrity match-up 'game' yesterday, I was amused and thought I'd give it a go...assured that Al Roker and Belinda Carlisle would come up as my celebrity twins. Well, kiss my GoGos, they were nowhere to be found. Here are my results:

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Free family history - Roots
Maybe I should dye my hair blonde and get my eyebrows shaped, might make me a better singer. Perhaps I should grow a (bigger/darker) mustache and chase atoms; put my hair in a chignon and become a french feminist...we are heading to Paris after all.... I could easily see myself brooding over a well worn leather journal at a busy sidewalk cafe, smoking gitanes and drinking lattes. Twins!

Kidding aside, honestly....Jude Law? That boy is prettier than any girl I know! What a hoax.

For The Birds

or as they say in France...for le birds. As we are getting ready to fly the coop to France, the songbirds and others that we have been feeding all winter should start thinking about nesting.

Hmmm.....I say to no one at all, we need more birdhouses for our feathered friends. Not just any old birdhouses will do at Boalder Lodge..they need...savior fare.
More flair than the precut one I bought at the hardware store. You can also cut your own. See here for blueprints.Picked up some wood carving tools at the craft store to carve out some detail. Tried out my wrap around rose and vines design before hand in pencil. Then tried out the different carving tools, in hindsight I wish I did this R&D on a scrap piece of lumber. Watch your hands! The blade is very sharp. Start Carving! (you can click on any of the photos to enlarge) I carved all sides, it's addicting, once you start feeling comfortable with the tools, it's hard to stop. I thought about 'decorating' the workbench top too but stopped myself.

After you have carved your design, nail the box together and hang according to this guide. We hung this house on the side of the barn. I really hope the 'no vacancy' sign is hanging when we get back from our petit voyage.
Bonjour Bleubirds!

So Sorry...

I have been busy working, selling Silver Lining Farm in Vermont and getting prepared for our trip to Paris.

Coming up later today: a craft that is for the birds!

bon jour!

Have you been to glorious Paris? My dear, sweet husband surprised me with a trip to Paris. The pain aux raisins, the museums, the streets, the history, Versailles, the non-pasturized cheeses, the champagne... oh that sounds tres bien but mosttly I can't wait to hit the flea market! I have dreamt of finding Napoleon's  watch fob there since I was a child.

It's all so romantic....where shall we go? And suggestions?
Can you recommend a magnifique brasserie, cafe' or bistro?
Merci friends...see you when it warms up!

As it was when I was a kid, I find myself returning time and time again to National Geographic for unparalleled photos, information and perspective on so many things that interest me.

If you want to see where we are going to be in a few days check this out!

Send Some Love for under 50 cents

I loved the porch on my old house in downtown Greenwich, CT and the privacy it provided three floors up. My tree house. When my dear friend Bonnie came down from VT to visit we spent most of our time sitting on the porch chatting away, drinking coffee, wine and laughing.
Since Bon-Bon moved to sunny California we don't get a chance to catch up over a cup of joe anymore but I do like to keep in touch. We are always sending cards back and forth just to say hello. Here is an easy way to make your own card.

Most of us over 35 have extra photographs lying around the house from the old days when you actually had to print the crappy photos not just delete them. I found three copies of this exact photo (? not sure why) going through a vintage suitcase that holds many of my memories. Trimmed the photo to preferred size then cut out a piece of construction paper a little bit larger than the photo, to create a frame, glued them together, cut a piece of watercolor paper - to give it heft- with pinking shears, glued that (I use rubber cement, stinky but very effective) together. Wrote my little note on the back, stuck the newly born card in an envelope and love was on it's way to CA for under 50 cents! Spread some love today!

Natasha Richardson 1963-2009

Rest in Peace

Dear Friends, May this tragedy show that you should embrace life, interact with those you love and nature. Enjoy your day. Tell those you love just how much you do, often. Donate to Amfar. $5 bucks, anything.
Say a prayer for Natasha's family.
Now unplug, stand up and greet the day!
Check for a new star in the sky tonight. She's out there.


Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Everything remains as it was.
The old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no sorrow in your tone.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effort
Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was.
There is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner.
All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting, when we meet again.

Source: derived from a sermon written by Henry Scott Holland and delivered in St. Paul's (London) on 15 May 1910, at which time the body of King Edward VII was lying in state at Westminster.

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Remember by Christina Rossetti

REMEMBER me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.

Spring Has Arrived!?

Well, on the calendar it has. I took these photos yesterday, before we got more snow this morning!The veining on these large crocus look painted on, don't they?
This iris reticulata looks amazing.

our backyard is glowing lilac with crocus
Frittilaria Persica remind me of artichokes when they start coming up
Love the simplicity of snowdrops. how appropriate with the snow today!
Sunny side up!
Can you see the leopard spots on this iris?
The maroon hellebores are my favorite.
Although they don't last that long, crocus - especially those the squirrels bit off - look super sweet when brought indoors, placed in a tiny glass.

This is NOT my garden, but a good resource for luau party props.

Jeff and I are heading in to see The Orchid Show this weekend at the New York Botanical Garden...running through April 12th. Lunch on Arthur Avenue afterwards? Marone a mi! sounds like a plan.