summer studio

This former machine shop/garage has been transformed into a studio which I use for photo shoots, dinner parties, and movie nights...This is the time of year I look forward to setting it up again now that the snow has melted and I can get back in there...I've framed a collection of black and white photographs and posters in white frames, rolled out a seagrass rug, slipcovered a big sofa in charcoal grey canvas, and found great folding cafe chairs at Ikea to use with the painted picnic table. Now it's ready for the season...
photographs by marili forastieri

lemons

just filled a big wooden bowl with lemons and have plans to put sliced ones in a water pitcher, take a stain out of a white shirt, and brighten up some linens... there may be a lemon tart in my future too!
photograph by michael skott from The Natural Home

for saint patricks day...

the land girls

in england during world war II, with a shortage of food and no men to work on the farms, the country called on its women to volunteer and go out to the farms to work: to milk the cows and grow vegetables to support the cause, all under government direction. This division was called the land girls... beauticians, aristocrats, secretaries and housewives, all lived together in dorms on farms from coast to coast... i love this "can do" spirit and had the opportunity to create an interpretation of this movement many years ago in victoria magazine...at this time of year, with things sprouting and the growing interest in gardening and local farming, I keep thinking of my days in england at combermere abbey creating this inspirational story and wanted to share it!


the english country look: tweed jackets, handknit sweaters, flowered skirts and wellies never go out of style



The Land Girls by Angela Huth is the historical novel which we based our feature on, and it was made into a film in 1998...now there is a new BBC series...hope we'll be seeing it on masterpiece theater soon!



photographs by pia tryde

my pantry

pine nuts
red pepper flakes
penne pasta
rosemary olive oil
scarpetta Marinara sauce
sundried tomatoes
black olives
sea salt

granola
english breakfast tea
lemon verbena tea
almond thins
lemon biscotti