Gypsy Wanderings...

Is there nothing as satisfying and exhilarating as a summer's day! One must live in the Northeast..I would surmise...to be able to fully appreciate the long lovely days of summer...the endless  azure blue skies... the flitter of a white cloud across the vista... the many shades of green displayed in the trees and grass....the rolling hills resplendent in summer's bounty... those soft summer's rains...tempered by the simple joys of a rain storm.... All magic....

One of my favorite things to do during the summer is to visit trunk shows...flea markets... venues filled with cast off treasures and vintage finds! Whether it be the grand avenues of Brimfield, Massachusetts... the amazing treasures at Stormville, New York...the keepsake treasures at the Blue Crow in Exmor, Virginia.. historic Shupp's Grove in Adamstown, Pennsylvania or merely one of many local long time favorites.... shopping takes on a whole new light when one strikes out onto the open road...and basks in amazing wanderings.... rare finds... timeless keepsakes..and vintage heirlooms..

The beauty of a vanished world comes alive again.. .a nostalgic glimpse into a bygone age ..rich in the moments of the past!!!

So...pack an old wicker picnic basket,  a charming and colorful quilt..a sun hat.. plenty of freshly brewed lemonade...lots of cash...sun screen...and begin your journey...gypsy vagabonds!


Happy hunting...my friends!

At Home in Winter

And this is the time... my friends...when winter deals it's most memorable blows.... snow..ice..and very frigid temperatures... but winter is indeed giving us a very subtle reward... It encourages us to retreat to the warmth of our homes... our true havens... with our candles, books, loved ones, our beloved animal friends, home cooked comfort foods... afternoon tea...

Soon...spring will beckon us once agin to be outdoors... to tend to the gardens..the yards...

But, for now... for this last brief time... winter reminds us of the simple warmth of home...

The Enchanting Joys of Winter

I have always loved winter....

 There is a special enchantment to this season....beginning with the tranquillity of longer evenings... encouraging us to take to our homes...to build our nest...tend the wood pile.. gather in foods and candles...to ward off the outer cold and the longer darkness. There is a shimmer to the moon ..as it casts it's glow upon a land covered in snow..

There is an enchantment about the holidays... the magic of faith..the wonderment of children... the utterly amazing thought that this world could ponder the words "peace on earth"...

There are the trillions of sparkling lights... everywhere...houses alight with twinkling brilliance ..the night sky filled with the brightness of faraway stars... the blaze of wood burning stoves and the softness of candles... All of these lights, cast atop the stark darkness of the long nights or the pure magic of a fallen snow..

There is the shared friendship of people around us...bustling about...but all aware that nature wins in this season... it governs our pace... it draws us near to others..

And then.. after the business of the holiday season.  ...the "settling in".... the long months ahead...where our homes indeed become our havens... and where we finally have the time to bask in the true comforts of home.. ( that...my friends..is the true purpose of "snow days" !! )  ..of warmth..of comforts which we have created... it is indeed the beginnings of our growth.. all in preparation for the year ahead...

Yes...I have always loved winter..... and I wish my friends and family the warmth of home and comfort and love this winter.... and yes...peace on earth....

Arugula Salad with Toasted Pine Nuts

I have always loved the taste of arugula.. most often alone in a salad..as, to me, it seems to stand well alone. I have created a nice dressing accompaniment to this healthy and tasty green…I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

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Toast a handful of pine nuts ( pignolia nuts ) in a bit of good olive oil until lightly browned. Toasting any nut brings out the true rich flavor.. just be sure to bring them to a toasted light brown..but not beyond or they will taste burnt.

Turn off the flame under your skillet…and add a tablespoon of grated fresh parmesan cheese…toss well…Add a touch of a fine virgin olive oil…

Arrange the arugula on a plate..and top it with the pine nut dressing…to taste…

(In the photos here, I added small bit of slivered carrots, spinach , and a few dried cranberries…which add a touch of sweetness…but this salad and dressing stands well on it's own..)

Tea and Simplicity

It is often said that the simplest things in life bring us the greatest happiness...and I do believe this to be true. For me, one of those cherished "simplicities" is afternoon tea. 

Every afternoon for as many years as I can recall, I have stopped to enjoy a cup of afternoon tea. In every job I have held, I have had a little "tea corner" in my classroom or my office. A small tea pot..several vintage cups and saucers... a brewer in which to heat water.. sometimes a small tin of homemade scones or tea cakes.  So...even the workplace would not interrupt my tea time....albeit brief! Of course, the word would soon spread..and co-workers..in need of a boost ...would often find themselves on my doorstep!! A cup of tea creates such lovely friendships...

This refreshing interlude gave me the "boost" and certainly the inspiration I needed to rejuvenate my spirit...which so often lags in the midst of a busy day..

Of course...one of my great joys is being able to enjoy tea shoppes...either for high tea... or merely as a place to shop and browse...tea pots, cups and saucers, new tea blends...

My first high tea experience was in the Bahamas...at the British Colonial Hilton in Nassau... that amazing experience set the stage for my love of high tea...or any semblance thereof!

I call this my "Love Affair with Tea"... and so it was with some serendipity...that I came upon a most lovely tea shoppe in a small and charming town of Lititz, Pennsylvania in the famed Lancaster County.

A Tea Affair...tea shoppe and dining room... is completely charming...the selection of loose teas and tea items is a delight , and the decor is both colorful and tranquil.... The owners are very friendly and also quite knowledgeable about their tea blends.. Such a refreshing interlude as one shops along the many little unique boutiques in this charming town.

Their Garden Tea lunch menu is one of several excellent selections...and offers scones.. tea sandwiches, homemade soups...tiny cakes..and of course a wonderful pot of tea! 

Enjoying tea and lunch at The Tea Affair is nothing short of captivating! Lilting French music plays softly in the background...the service is friendly..and one can just relax and enjoy the experience without rushing...

On a recent  summer's afternoon visit...when the outside temps were in the high 90s... I was served a most refreshing chilled gazpacho soup...

. Wherever you may find yourself, take a moment to enjoy a simple cup of tea....

A Full Moon in Autumn...

As a new winter season approaches...we find ourselves preparing our "nest"...  chopping wood... baking casseroles... bringing out the woolen blankets...scarves...knitted caps.... all the welcoming comforts....

This full moon...always a delight to see...was visible though my living room windows....it was quite full and bright...my camera did not do it justice....but the sight brought a touch of autumn comfort to my home...and my spirit.... all to welcome the joys of the new season....soon upon us...

Feather your "nest"...... and enjoy your special comforts....

Glimmer and Glamour...

I love make-up. I admit it..I am not quite an addict but wearing my favorite shade of lipstick and a pale luminous blush can make or break my day!

Why, you may ask? I do not have an answer...I love color...all colors....so shopping for and enjoying new shades of eye shadow or lipstick brings a simple joy to my heart. Jewel tones..pale pastels.. blending various shades... an artistic effort!!

Now I DO love a day at home... bare face, hair tied back, completely natural...that is bliss.... But give me some place to go...and out comes my "cache ".... and with great panache..I wield my brushes, liners..and creams...and I am fit for public view!

Being a "naturalist" in most ways...and certainly being very keen on eco-friendly and organic products, I researched botanicals and other natural cosmetic brands to determine what would be safe as well as pretty..

What I discovered was quite frightening!!!

Most cosmetic lines...even the trendy and expensive ones...use synthetic and downright dangerous ingredients... Parabens...Phalates.... Urea... ( Yep!! It's what you think it is!!!! ) are common ingredients in most  facial and body cleansers, cosmetic and hair products. Many other unsafe additives are used..often disguised with "attractive" names..... And most brands have ingredient lists which are both  lengthy and scientific...that we tend to rationalize..."Well, I just spent $$$$$ on this name brand product...It MUST be okay!!!! "

It isn't.....

This is a partial list of the most dangerous ingredients. If you copy this...keep it in your handbag..and the next time you find yourself in a drug store or department store...and find yourself in need of what I call..."glimmer and glamour"...  use caution in your selections..

*** DMDM- hydartoin and UREA-  breaks down into carcinogens

*** Fragrance and dyes-  synthetic- linked to allergies

*** Parabens-  linked to hormonal disruption

***  Ingredients with the letters "PEG' or "eth" - contaminated with cancer causing Dioxane

*** Treclosan or Trechlocarbon- Antibacterial - contributes to antibiotic-resistant bacteria

*** Triethanolamine -  damages the immune system


Whenever possible, try to purchase pure botanicals...and products using essential oils.... I have remained quite faithful to the Liz Earle line...excellent botanical face and body products and make up which is both attractive and safe to use.

 I do believe we can enjoy our "glimmer and glamour" while maintaining our health and well being...

The Season of Harvest

As summer ends and the cool, crisp days of autumn arrive, the time of harvest is a celebration...  The word "harvest" is defined  as "the process of gathering.." and is also a time of the end of the growing season. Throughout most of human history, the gathering or harvesting was done by hand. That quite simple fact, albeit profound in it's scope, speaks to the significance and enduring value of "harvest"...a time of gathering...

It is interesting to ponder that the end of "growing" and the act of "gathering" speaks to us on many levels.  Growing, growth, the cultivation of new crops, new efforts, new beginnings.... this can mean many things...   Gathering speaks of bringing to us the blessings of growth...our gardens..  but surely also the experiences and progress we have made along the "growing season".  And now...a period a bit more restful...after that final harvest is complete...when we can gather onto ourselves the fruits of our labors... the vegetables we labored over... the trees which bore us fruits...the wood pile prepared to bring us heat in the coming frosts...

Both the outer world...and our inner world...our homes and cottages...our hearts and spirits... offer a new warmth and welcome as this season of plenty begins... 

As we recreate our inside "space"...our nest.. let us add that "coziness" and warmth to befriend us through the coming months...  a stack of new books to provide us with entertainment during the longer nights... some comfy cushions in a welcoming corner near the hearth... a pair of crocheted slippers to warm our feet against the chill..   touches of the newness of what we have gathered this past season... along with our old and trusted treasures of our past....

 Have we welcomed a new hobby, a new job, a new friend?  Welcome them to share our bounty!!!   And have we ( finally ) shed some old and unneeded possessions, clutter, thoughts, JOBS... (-:   acquaintances.... ?    Bid them a fond "adieu" as we sweep them forward...making space for what we now cherish.... Imagine doing so with a handcrafted  wooden broom.... swoosh...out of our open door.... taken away by the fullness of harvest winds..... as we begin to bask in the "newness" of us.... the gathering of that which speaks to us.....  and harkens us to truly "hear" the enduring message of the harvest.... 

The Autumnal Equinox "equal night", will be on September 22nd..at 4:44pm. This is a special and meaningful time... it heralds the passing of the growth season...summer..and celebrates the new harvest.....the season of gathering...

Celebrate the Solstice in your gardens and in your homes...but most importantly within your spirits....

Happy Autumn!

The Foods of New Orleans... "Laissez le bon temps rouler"...( Let the good times roll...)

I last visited the wonderful city of New Orleans the summer before Katrina. I completely fell in love with it's unique charms.... a perfect mosaic of old world mystery and modern day cosmopolitan  enjoyments.... a morning's cafe au lait and beignets at the famed Cafe du Monde, followed by an Jambalaya Cruise along the Mississippi River, and an afternoon Ghost Tour, visiting old world mansions and famed houses of Ann Rice and Marie Laveau.. ( ending just as the soft shadows of evening begin their advent..) . and then the evenings...the most amazing restaurants...the Creole and Cajun and French cuisine...the famed mint juleps...and delightful strolls along Pirate's Alley and St Charles Street and the most famous Vieux Carre', or French Quarter and ...always...the sweet sounds of jazz....

New Orleans is a city of many cultures...and it is an old city...steeped in the magic and beliefs of the islands..and far off lands...

Even the wrath of Katrina did not destroy New Orleans...there is a strength there..borne of centuries of stalwart people... and yes, the good times still do roll!

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I will return to this topic...the cuisine of New Orleans ..quite often in my Blog... there is much to share....  

Today, I offer you the makings of a New Orleans favorite...

Muffuletta

Muffuletta is a sandwich beyond compare...truly a New Orleans favorite...simple to prepare and one that you will return to often. It is a hearty autumn favorite...and also lends itself perfectly to outdoor picnics and get aways. The olive mix can be prepared and packed separately and then added as your picnic unfolds, adding a piquant taste to the mellow cheeses and flavorful hams...and all enveloped by a true crusty peasant bread...  Perfect!!!!!! Served with a Louisiana brewed tea..or a fresh lemonade...amazing!!!!

Muffuletta begins with the freshest of cheeses and hams....there are variations..but I chose the following:

sliced mozzarella

sliced mild provolone

sliced hard Italian salami

sliced lean low-salt ham

The olive mixture is composed of the following: 

pitted large green olives

pitted kalamata olives

pitted black olives

( optional) artichoke hearts ( from a jar )

a touch of extra virgin olive oil

I chop the olive mixture, blending with the touch of olive oil. refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to marinate. 

Use a crusty peasant bread..or sliced baguette. Arrange the cheeses and hams..and then add a spoonful of the olive mixture at the last minute. Again, for a picnic or day's get away, pack the olive mixture separately.

And....the finished masterpiece...a perfect New Orleans Muffuletta!!!! Let the good times roll!! 

Laissez le bon temps rouler!!!!

Local Farm Stands of the Season

One of our favorite enjoyments is to shop at local farm stands. In addition to the tremendous benefits in supporting local farmers,  shopping for locally grown fruits and vegetables is the most nutritious way to feed our families.

In my local area, there are many small farm stands where one can find a wonderful array of foods....eggs from happy uncaged chickens, cheeses, fruits and vegetables. fresh basil, cilantro, parsley.  One such farm stand is Beets Workin' Farm, near Longswamp, Pennsylvania,  run and tended to by a most devoted local farmer... a friendly fellow with a warm smile and an excellent knowledge of organic growing methods. All of his items are delicious, fresh and SO nutritious! The photos above are of his tomatoes and eggs.  We are frequent shoppers at his farm stand..he represents the very best of local farmers dedicated to the organic life...

Wherever you may find yourself...search out your local farm stands... stop along your small back roads...enjoy the lovely wildflowers...and bask in the splendors of the seasons....

Simply Salads....

I am completely in love with salads...and creating them is such a delight! Summer affords us the tremendous nutritional opportunity to create and enjoy seasonal salads...with ingredients grown locally...

The above salad is one of my favorites! If you are unfamiliar with arugula please begin enjoying it. . It blends well with any salad ingredients and is SO very nutritious!

Arugula Salad

Ingredients..any amount...no recipe needed!!

* fresh arugula

* carrots

* black or kalamata olives

* green olives

* dried cranberries or fresh strawberries

* chopped walnuts, they may be toasted beforehand in a bit of olive oil

* sunflower seeds

* feta cheese

A touch of any vinaigrette...using virgin olive oil and any balsamic vinegar

Enjoy!!!!

Lovely nature...

Lovely...lovely nature.... regardless of the season..or the time of day...or the weather ... it offers us an endless gift of enjoyment..  All we must do is venture out..and it welcomes us as a trusted friend..

The scene above was taken by me two weeks ago...a local setting...and after I entered it into my photo application in my computer..I noticed all the nuances and details that I failed to see as I took this photo. I knew the scene was one of beauty and color and tranquillity... but, as so often occurs quite by happenstance..it is after we step back and look closely at our finished photo..that we are able to notice the many details...the shades...the shadows...the flickering lights...

And so it is...above...the scene has many shadows...and it almost appeared to me that some tiny little woodlore creatures delighted in their almost invisible "pose"....I can see almost a twinkling among the greenery which I so enjoyed on that recent summer's afternoon...

Can you see it too?

Go out into nature today...bask in the sheer beauty of this glorious season...and discover some magic....

A Few of My Favorite Things...

Today..let us look around our home...  and ask...what speaks to us?  Which of our things...so many things...really touches us..inspires us..or merely offers us a glimpse of "calm"... ?

Our homes are indeed our "safe harbor"... a place to restore our spirits...our nest..of gathered twigs...

But if we do not..on a regular basis...clear out what no longer has a purpose... we can have a "nest" filled with things which have no meaning..or purpose..

Thrift shops...consignment shops...will gladly take our cast-off items.

I enjoy gathering a few treasured items in a sort of "college"...as above.  In this vignette..which sits on an old oak table in my study... I gathered an old weathered globe...( yard sale find! ) a card from a friend.. a porcelain cat..with such lovely eyes... ( found at a thrift shop... he calms me as I work at my desk...) a glass paperweight of Tinkerbelle..atop a lighted base... ( a thoughtful gift from my dear friend....)   All things gathered together in one special place...

Create vignettes today to beautify your nest... They can change with your mood...with the season.... They can be of whimsy or of a special day..a vacation..a hobby...

As you do so, consider which items can be passed on to new homes?

Take a moment today to review your special space...your home...your comfy nest......

Baked Brie with Honey and Toasted Almonds

This recipe is one of my absolute favorites!! When served fresh from the oven..it oozes such flavor...the tang of the baked cheese...the subtle sweetness of the drizzled honey..and the sharp contrast of the toasted almonds..combine to offer a burst of both magnificent taste and healthy nutrition.

I prefer wildflower honey...preferably from a local beekeeper...

Brie is a French cheese made of cow's milk. You may find many brands of brie in your market...but to be considered a "pure" Brie...ie  French, it must be certified by the French government and will be labeled as such.. Having said that, you may find a Wisconsin brie or other brie which you consider suitable.

Honey...pure honey..is a very nutritious food..almonds are also loaded with vitamin E... and French cheese...well...that is a pure epicurean delight!!!

This recipe is SO simple to make.. 15 minutes start to finish and most of that is baking time..allowing you to slice an apple or a pear or to place some crackers or a sliced baguette on a serving plate.

Voila!!! the cheese is baked and ready to serve!!!!

The Recipe

8 oz French brie

6 oz toasted chopped almonds

a few tablespoons of honey to drizzle

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place brie ( in rind ) on baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes or until brie begins to ooze... Remove from oven. Cover the brie with the honey almond mixture ( described below ) and return to the oven for 5 additional minutes..the honey will sizzle.

While brie is baking , toast almonds  in a small skillet using  a small teaspoon of olive oil or canola oil. When almonds are a light brown, pour a tablespoon of honey over them...sizzle for a few seconds. This mixture is added to the brie for the last 5 minutes of the baking time.

Serve..and enjoy!!!