a pale christmas...

a nautral color palette inspired by robins egg blue, white flowers and pale greenery,  perfect for keeping my bedroom a calm retreat over the holidays.......photos by john bessler

my family style christmas

On this icy cold day, I remember my brother Dennis taking all the kids out to get the Christmas tree in his vintage pickup as I'm preparing for Christmas Eve with the family at my home...while  pulling out all the old family photos + home movies of Christmas' past, I  found these favorites from my "White Christmas" book...still love these shots by William P Steele!  Hope your Christmas is as warm and filled with family Christmas memories as mine!

a wing chair by the fire

a leather wing chair by the fire, candlelight, and paperwhites ... simple styling for the holidays...
photograph by jeff mcnamara

branches and berries

I love buying simple roping and green wreaths at the local farmstand or garden center, and then adding lots of berries and branches to add texture and subtle color...I like to harvest privet berries from the hedges, snips of cedar and pine and cypress and tuck them into the wreaths or baskets for the doors ...the natural smell of the greenery always says christmas to me!

10 favorite things

getting my gifts ready for christmas and love these choices from the new general store:
1. sheepskin rug $60
2. rosemary olive oil in wood crate $40
3. wood pruning shears $25
4. cream colander  $28
5. wood pizza peel  $18
6. washed cotton bath salts  $21
7. wedgwood stoneware juicer $20
8. zinc thermometer $21
9. paperwhite candle $15
10. belgian linen waiters apron $50

you can shop online at www.thenewgeneralstore.com

a long island christmas

bringing the christmas tree home

love putting the tree on the porch... scallop shells + little white  lights are
perfect for this seaside setting,  keeping it simple and natural

stacks of creamy hand knit sweaters + blankets are stacked on this table in the entry of this country house

a simple sprig of greens + pine cones on the screen door

a collection of  vintage handblown glass carafes + glasses are stacked on an old wood cabinet in the kitchen...a danish ship's lantern hangs above  + a bunch of white hyacinths is a  classic scandinavian holiday touch
photographs by jeff mcnamara;  meadowcroft, west sayville, long island