All things old and new to enhance your home and holidays
Inspiration for cooking, crafting, home decorating and celebrating
In Beverly Hills, CA, an architectural gem that was once known as the Nine Gables and home and playground of the golden era of Hollywood celebrities has undergone a makeover by Michael S. Smith. In the update featured in the July 2012 issue of Architectural Digest, the living stands out as a space that epitomizes…
Kiawah Island is one of the most beautiful ocean side towns in the country with pristine beaches and miles of breathtaking natural landscape that serve as sanctuary to a diverse wildlife population. No wonder it is one of the most desirable places to visit and live. It was named No. 1 in Coastal Living’s America’s…
Fragrant spices and dried fruit bring to mind an old delicacy called Scripture Cake. This old-time confection traditionally made around Easter is aptly named because the ingredients come directly from the Bible. Making the cake was a group occasion where the scripture verses were recited as the cake batter was prepared. In our family, my…
The day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent is traditionally known as Doughnut (or Fastnatcht) Day. My great-grandmother would keep a kettle of fat on the stove all day make these tasty doughnut-like confections on demand for friends and family that would stop by during the day.
Crisp, crumbly, buttery and nutty. These old-fashioned walnut shortbread cookies are a delightful treat with milk for the holidays, or a glass of lemonade on a warm summer’s day.
New life is being breathed into an old Newport, RI mansion from the Gilded Age. Now known as Carey Mansion, but more famously as Seaview Terrace, this 40,000 sqft home is more widely recognized as Collinwood from the 1960s daytime drama ‘Dark Shadows.’
The full Oak Moon has risen and the total eclipse has occurred! What a solstice eve this was and with my new Canon G12, I had a blast taking pictures despite the frigid temperatures and high wind. The converging of the Full Oak moon, the Winter Solstice and total lunar eclipse only occurs once every…
On a crisp Autumn morning when the wind is blowing and leaves are falling, what better to warm your inners than a comforting breakfast of hot and fluffy pancakes and sausage? For an autumnal twist to this standard breakfast fare, add in some flavorful spices evocative of the season and a bit of pumpkin puree….
It’s twilight and the brisk autumn air is filled with the fragrance of waning leaves and bonfires. Off in the distance, lantern-light is seen dancing in the darkness. People have gathered to celebrate the end of the harvest and to honor the dead. Guided by the light glowing from within carved turnips, they leave apples…
Victorian Christmases were truly handmade and full of bustle. Specialty Christmas shops didn’t exist. Acres of malls from which to buy presents were unknown. Through Victorian ingenuity and hard work that brought the family together for every task, the holiday celebration was equally resplendent with joy and beauty. Outside, the air is cold and crisp,…
One of the best gifts you can give for the holidays is something you make yourself. We always make extra sweets and wrap them up to give as holiday gifts. Last year we presented this whole tray as a single gift.
The egg is the eternal and quintessential symbol of springtime. Here are some of our favorite egg crafts using blown eggs. Blowing an egg is very easy. Using a corsage pin, make holes in each end of the egg, with a large hole on one end. Swish the pin around to break up the yoke…