I Heart Rocks

I love rocks, rock walls, rock pathways, Rocky (the movie) One and maybe Two. I really love heart shaped rocks.

When I first started dating my husband, I would find hundreds of heart shaped rocks in his gravel driveway, little ones, but definitely shaped like Love. I took it as a sign from my mother, a sign that this was a solid relationship. She was right.

When I mentioned my finds to my intellectual friend, all giddy one day after finding a particularly nice one, she said....it's not that you are finding heart shaped rocks...it's that you are seeing heart shaped rocks..just pebbles to others that walk by. Hmm. Profound.

Well I have been collecting them, here in now OUR driveway and our travels. What do you see that others don't? Anything special that you collect on your adventures at home and around the globe?


The first photo I found on this blog, the second photo are of some rocks I found in Wadi Rum, Jordan; my house in Vermont; Nantucket and here in CT. The last photo was sent to me by my friend Marcia, I assume hers are from Maine. I'd love to see yours if you have any! Rock on!

The Wedding Planner

Well amazingly enough four of my friends are getting married this summer. You would think that train would slow down once you hit forty but it keeps chuggin along. Hallelujah!

Jeff and I tied the knot a couple years ago and I guess people enjoyed our wedding so much they think of me as a wedding planner. I do know a thing or ten about a good party and am always ready to help out but I just can't seem to get the Martin Short character out of my head from Father of The Bride. What a character. I may get a pompadour.

DO you have any great pointers to make a good wedding a great wedding? Please share I would love your input!

Personalized Postcards from Petra...and Beyond!

People who know me are aware of two things.

 1. I like to travel.

 2. I like to send postcards. 

Alright three things 

3. I also like to illustrate. 

While looking for my cell phone charger (is it bad I have not 'plugged in' in weeks?!) I found these postcards from our trip to Jordan. Oops forgot to mail them, but first need to paint them. Soon.

While in Wadi Rum, Jeff fell in love with the camels, no I wasn't jealous..not THAT kind of love just a sweet admiration ...have you ever been close to a camel? p.u.  Anyhoo I thought our friends and family stateside would like to know that so I illustrated it for them. See below left.

I also ate a 'raw' almond our first breakfast there which did not agree with me. Notice top right postcard (better detail if you click to enlarge) of Indiana Boal and the Almond of Doom? Says it all. Don't eat the almonds, at least not without washing them first.

I love sending postcards, whether we are half-way across the globe or right down the street.
Here is one I did yesterday, this one painted, of our friend's daughter on their balcony overlooking NYC. This is a thank you for a delicious dinner out on that porch Memorial Day Monday.  

Isn't there someone out there you'd like to reach out to? A b'day greeting? A much overdue hello to an older relative? Don't wait to go on vacation to send your postcards. You probably have a stack lying around the house. 

I love finding vintage postcards at thrift shops, buying books of postcards at museums, making my own out of cereal boxes or watercolor paper. The possibilities are endless! Grab a pen, scribble a few lines and post that postcard! Someone wants to hear from you today!

Walk Me Out In The Morning Light, My Honey....

.....alright so the song is 'morning dew' but when I took my daily garden walk the morning light was especially lovely. Love how it illuminates the lantern and the blue fescue grass.
Look at that kale!

Mornin' Morning Glory!
The chartreuse leaves of the begonias are ultra bright in the morning light.
As are these glowing wand fronds by the clump birch.
Any other time of the day, aside from early evening, my white flowers seem to get all washed out when I photograph them,  but with just the early morning rays how lovely are these peony buds? 

This weather, and light, makes me really look forward to morning....a hot cup of coffee, pajamas, barefeet and a cashmere sweater. Summertime is here!

Memorial Day Weekend!

Let the games begin!
Dinner al fresco from now 'till November. Does it get any better than that? Good food, 
Good Friends, Good Times. Have a delightful weekend, and don't forget to honor the men and women who keep us safe and sound. Hug a vet today! Cheers!

Inspiration Via Internet

My husband will sometimes give me a hard time about spending too much time blogging "what is that another photo for your blooooogggg?" but if he knew what I knew. That my whole day, month, week, life can be transformed by a single entry. Like this one. Read Willoughby's entry and you will see what I mean. She inspired me today. Inspired me to slow down, maybe play a game of backgammon with my husband tonight instead of reading or going online... get in gear and volunteer! Call an old friend, aging family member just to say hey. Invite some long lost compadres over for happy hour in the garden...
be an angel and cut a petite bouquet and leave it on my neighbor's doorstep...the ultimate 'ding-dong ditch'....
send a short note to a faraway friendBut more than anything, her blog entry made me remember those dear to me that I have lost and those I have lost touch with. I can do something about the latter.
Life is short but it sure is sweet. Spread the Love!

French Salad

Ah un jour magnifique, mon cheri! Summer is here, at least it feels like it. I was craving one of the yummy salads we had in Paris so I decided to make one for lunch. On top of some arugula I placed some sliced rotisserie chicken breast, then on to the dressing.

In a small horseradish jar, I save small lidded jars for just this reason, put in about four glugs of good quality olive oil, squeeze in some fresh lemon juice, a generous splash of white vinegar, add a teaspoon or so of french mustard, some minced shallots, salt from a Parisian farmers market (oh Oui!) put the top on and shake that baby up. The secret to this luscious salad is that I warm up the dressing (in the jar sans top) for about 20 seconds in the microwave. I cut up some fresh chervil and tarragon from the garden, to taste, added some sliced almonds, a bit of crumbled feta, four or five grape tomatoes slided in half, a couple croutons and tossed together. Dress the salad and grind some fresh pepper on top. Viola!
Made me feel like I made something extra special but almost everything was pre-cooked, pre-cut, pre-washed, pre-chopped. It took no time at all. I like to keep these simple ingredients in my fridge/pantry so I can whip up a lovely lunch like this in minutes. Plus just cap the remaining dressing and put it in the fridge for later. Salads just seem to taste better on beautiful days like today, I almost feel like I am at a sidewalk cafe. Crank up the Edith Piaf! Bon Appetite!

My, How You Have Grown!

Certainly been preoccupied the past few days with all our new beds. But perusing my photos tonight I was brought back to the first bed I put in here, the V garden, it was feeling a bit left out with all the new kids in town. Here is Pan Demic, our happy little garden boy, shot taken earlier this spring, notice the iris at his feet.Here he is a couple days ago, my how that garden has grown!

Peony Envy

Here she comes, the Princess of Spring.. The Mother of all garden flowers...the Tree Peony.

This bloom is about as big as my head, and I have a very big head.
Ain't she grand?

Setting In Saturday ~ New Border Part I

For Mother's Day (Step-Mother's day actually) my loving husband Jeff 'gave' me a new border to plant. Took up all the sod and amended the soil with compost. He totally gets me. Some people would prefer jewelry but I say bring on the planties! Here is my black canvas, ready to be created:

and as if that wasn't enough, we also had a credit at Oliver Nursery in Fairfield (MECCA!) so I was able to pick out more than enough plants to accessorize my border tout suite.Here is my sweet sweetie just before we took our new babies home.Well I am very happy, and very sore. It was rough turning all that rocky soil that had not seen the light of day in eons.
But well worth the effort. This border should look amazing next year, always takes some time to settle in. I am so thankful to have a wonderful husband to settle in with. What about you? Who/What makes your life worth living?

Foraging Friday

Here are my baby grape vines, the deer keep eating back any new growth, maybe time to eat some deer!

ahh...the ramps, my spring heroes.....
and some very abundant mushrooms popping up all over.  Wonder if you can eat these? I'm not going to find out. 

Foliage in the Garden

Forever on a quest to find the perfect plant combinations in the garden, moving things here and there until I get it just right, I am delighted when even a small patch starts showing real promise. Here is one section along the shady woodland path that is looking pretty good. To really appreciate the detail click on image to enlarge.
Considering most perennials only flower for a short period, but the leaves remain, I design my garden palate like a crazy quilt of foliage.
Aren't these maidenhair ferns floating above the ajuga, violets and brunnera reminiscent of fireworks? Pretty as any flower out there I think! Still, every garden needs some flowers! Aren't these tulips delicious?

It's A Small, Teeny, Tiny Ball in the Sky.

I know a lot of people that think Facebook is crap. Let me tell you I love it. To be able to reconnect with friends from all corners, groups, cliques, areas of your past...I think it's priceless.


A few days ago I scanned some old photos I found in a leather suitcase.

It got me wondering where all those folks I spent so much time with way back when had gone.


Well thanks to Facebook I reconnected with some old friends, some of my favorite people ever. Turns out my old friends know my old friends.



We are all connected somehow, sometimes by a thread, sometimes by heavy storm sail line but it makes my heart warm to know we are all together. Loving Life.


If you have an reservations about Facebook I urge you to try it..., whatever your age, you never know who will show up.

The planet may be small, but It's a wonderful world.

Mother's Day?

I have actually wanted to start 'Orphan's Day' for people like me who lost their parents way too early....or anyone who lost a parent regardless of age. I don't care how old you are, there is no one like your Mommy when you are sick
or on your birthday,

when you want to share a new discovery: be it a surprise in the garden,
or a yummy new recipe

maybe tell her all about a far off destination I still reach for the phone sometimes. Go to buy her a gift, write her a postcard. Even though it has been almost 15 years since she passed away I miss my mother so much, especially on Mother's Day.
This Sunday we'll be celebrating life with a brunch in our garden along with some other orphans. If your mom is still around, give her a hug for me.