I'm thinking spring. It's hard not to (despite the snow) when you see bouquets of tulips and daffodils in the grocery store. So I've gathered some photos I took of the flowers we enjoyed last year to tide me through the next couple of months of winter.
The first spring flowers that grace our land are the blossoming fruit trees — they are absolutely breathtaking.
These were the first peonies I clipped at the flower farm. They were so gorgeous and delicate and their pink blossoms enormous!
We have some very old lilac bushes that probably need some serious pruning. They are a bit tattered and worse for wear, but still produce the most fragrant smelling flowers. I take this as my cue to gather them up in bunches and spread them throughout the house.
This was the bouquet I was most proud of last summer as it was the very first clipping from our newly planted rose and peony bushes.
These are the first clippings from the Little Lamb Hydrangea bushes I planted.
These are also Little Lamb Hydrangea but were clipped towards the end of summer, after they turned from milky white to a blushing pink.
And these were the last of the rose clippings before the frost came and lulled everything to sleep. I've missed my petaled friends and can't wait to see them again this spring.
G reetings! I hope that everyone had the happiest of holidays — I can hardly believe we're into the New Year! As you can imagine, things have been busy around here. I did find a moment to take a quick photo of the kitchen shelves — which happens to be the only photograph I took of the house over the holidays! The transfer ware used to belong to my Grandmother (Margaret's namesake). They have become part of our traditional holiday display. All of the other photographs I've taken over the past several weeks have been of the babies (which I'm learning are not such easy subjects due to their wiggle worm factor). I started to learn this shortly after we brought the babies home from the hospital, when we took some photos of them in their Christmas stockings. We thought that one day they'd have fun seeing just how tiny they once were.
J ust a quick note... F OOD & WINE magazine included a picture of our kitchen in a piece entitled, Food Bloggers' Best Kitchen Design Ideas (page 56) in their January 2011 issue. It came out while Trina was in the hospital, so we've just picked up a copy ourselves. Here's the digital version as shown on their web site. Wishing you all the happiest holiday season. All the best, Mike
It's beginning to look more like Christmas around here. We hung our stockings....
....and Hubby built us a warm toasty fire.
We also put our Christmas tree up. I was in the kitchen when he called to me, "is this straight?"
We straightened it out and found all of our favorite ornaments to hang. Hubby's parents made it a tradition to give each of their six children (Hubby is the baby of six in his family) an ornament every year so there are lots of ornaments on our tree with a strong Hubby theme. By far, my favorite, and the one ornament I'm sure to hang most prominently on our tree, is the ornament I call, "Hunk of Love."
Here it is being showcased with careful consideration that plenty of light is cast its way. This ornament was given to him when he was in high school. He was on the basketball team, hence the basketball themed ornament. How cute is that! You want a closer look you say?
Well I'm glad you asked because the very first Christmas we spent together, I made a larger copy in order to better appreciate all the fine details. The mullet (business in the front, party in the back), the 1980's tank top and the best part, the teenager stare.... are what makes this ornament so special. I can't help but smile each time I look at it! Hubby finds this very amusing and always asks, "what mullet?" Do you have any favorite childhood ornaments?
It was so nice to sit by the tree last night. Hubby read some David Sedaris holiday tales and we played several rounds of Backgammon in front of the fire. Hubby loves Backgammon, and I'm more of a Scrabble girl. So I'm sure we'll be playing lots of both over the holidays. Happy holidays!
T he nursery is finally complete and ready for the arrival of our sweet babies.
At first we thought we'd wallpaper the nursery but we never did find a pattern we absolutely loved, nor a pattern that was in our price range. We also considered stenciling the walls but couldn't find a pattern worth the effort or cost. I have been wanting to do panel wainscoting ever since I tore out a 'how to' article on it from This Old House magazine years ago. It turned out that the nursery was the perfect room to do this. It added a wonderful detail and even better, was very affordable ($200 for materials). The walls are painted with Benjamin Moore's Simply White in flat. The trim, doors, windows and wainscot are painted with semi-gloss Simply White. You can go here to see what we started with when planning the nursery.
From the very beginning, I knew I wanted the nursery to have a natural earthy warmth. I find rich wood hues provide that warmth, especially with abundant natural light. I used white and gold colors to provide additional lightness to the room. I also thought that this color scheme would offer a nice neutrality for our baby boy and girl.
From the opposite end of the room, you can see the paneling detail and the antique French armoire. Draped over the chair is my old baby blanket.
Update: we added a changing table a few weeks after I took these photos. The talented Patricia Banner from Cottage by Design made this for me!
I wanted an armoire for easy access to baby clothes and linens. I also liked the idea of having a beautiful antique in the room and the rich warmth of the wood.
Baby girl clothes are on the left and baby boy clothes are on the right.
I chose a Da Vinci Jenny Lind crib in cherry to match the armoire and brightened it with white bedding.
I went with basic cotton bumpers to save on cost, but did dress them up by sewing white satin ribbons to secure them to the spindle railings. The second crib is upstairs in our bedroom where the babies will sleep at night.
I love the ornate detail of this antique frame and its beautiful gold glow. To go in it, I ordered a print of The Screech Owl by Albrecht Durer. In addition to the picture rail, we secured it to the wall as an extra precaution.
The art next to the nursing chair is a beautiful watercolor landscape my Grandmother used to have in her bedroom. I've always loved it and knew that one day it would go in our nursery. To freshen it up, I added a new mat.
The armoire mirror reflects the natural light from the windows.
After a considerable search, we finally settled on a 100% jute braided oval rug, which offers a nice softness to the room. We also like that the oval shape leaves more of the original wood floors exposed.
I bought this beautiful antique crocheted baby blanket years ago.
I absolutely love these curtains! They're a very lovely brown and white old-fashioned rose floral pattern. Putting together the nursery was a unique experience for me. Besides finding the armoire, (which I purchased early on in my pregnancy when I was much more mobile), I wasn't really able to get into Portland to shop for things. All of the items in the room are ones we already had on hand, or were able to purchase online. I hope that you enjoyed visiting our nursery. We know it will evolve over time and we'll be adding things and making adjustments as the babies grow. We're looking forward to welcoming our babies home very soon. xo Here is a resource list of some of the items we used: DaVinci Jenny Lind crib $199. (from Target) Oval 5 x 8 jute rug $130. (from here ) Jenny Lund slipcover chair $199. (from IKEA ) Floral curtains $24.99 per panel (from here ) Antique brass curtain rod and drapery rings $110. (Home Depot) Owl print $40. (from here ) Go here to read posts on the green nursery.
T oday was a very special day for us as I am now 35 weeks pregnant (although my belly measures 45 weeks)! With twins, there is a higher risk of premature labor so this milestone comes as a wonderful relief. After 35 weeks, we are also able to deliver in our hometown as opposed to having to go to a hospital in Portland. Our official due date is December 23rd. However, this is a due date for a singleton pregnancy, twins typically come several weeks earlier. For us, this means that we're expecting in the next couple of weeks! Here's the last 8 months of my growing belly!
After eight months of pregnancy, I am still reveling in the beautiful reality of being pregnant. We cannot wait to meet our sweet little babies. Also, the nursery is finally done! All I have to do now is take pictures!
W e celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary this weekend. I think it's been our favorite anniversary so far. We didn't go on a special getaway or even out for a nice dinner. We were home the entire day working on the nursery and it felt wonderful. Our vision for the nursery has evolved over the last several months. This has been due to our budget and the decorating resources that are available. And as all of our house projects go, we've been following our instincts along the way. But I'm so thrilled to say that Hubby has finished the painting, the wood floors have been mopped, and today the antique French armoire was moved in. Everything else will hopefully come together very soon! A lot of the final details are now dependent on the postal system. This is because I've tried to avoid the arduous task of driving into the city and have ordered several things online. Not too long ago, a trip into the big city was something to look forward to. But at seven months pregnant, my feet begin to swell and my back begins to ache just thinking about it! Happy October wishes to you. xo Image by Thia Konig
H ubby (also known as Mike or Sweetie....or for this post, Pumpkin), has celebrated another birthday. He's forty (again). He's decided to stick with forty for another year....or so, and I couldn't help but oblige him.
Here's the Birthday Boy.
I made him a Pumpkin Spice birthday cake using pumpkins from the garden.
It was really delicious....moist and rich. This is the recipe I used. Happy Birthday Sweetie!
A nd, we're having a girl! We're very excited about our news and love that we can now refer to our sweet little babies as our baby boy and our baby girl. This is often in reference to their kicks and nudges, which are really quite magical. With this wonderful news, I've been busy buying a few baby clothes. As a 38 year old woman, pregnant for the first time in her life, shopping for baby clothes makes me very happy. I hope that everyone had a beautiful September weekend! xo Trina
I have an apron for every occasion. I happened across my apron collection the other day while Hubby was working from home. The conversation we had five minutes before went something like this.... "I have to work for a few more hours," he said. "I promise I won't interrupt," I replied. Less than five minutes later. "IJUSTFOUNDMYAPRONSLET'SDOAPHOTOSHOOT!" His face said no but he indulged me anyway. Here's a few of my favorites....
This red floral is like a dress — perfect for a summer BBQ.
This one screams, "bake a cake!"
Who says I don't dress up for Halloween?
My Grandmother's old Thanksgiving apron.
This classic white apron, a favorite (stains and all), makes everything you cook taste better. It gives you the idea that somewhere along the line, you went to cooking school. I wear this a lot for hubby's sake. Note: wasp on shoulder!
I took the long way into town this morning. I set off by driving down our dirt road and into the valley we look out upon. Winding through hills, past farms and pastures, I came upon this sweet old barn. I love how the barn sits tucked away behind the orchard. It makes the barn all the more alluring. After walking under the canopy of green to the end of the orchard row, I reached the barn. Standing there under the bright morning sun, I suddenly felt like I was someplace I shouldn't be — perhaps because, ahem, I was trespassing. So I didn't stay long.
Walking back to my car, my flip flops crunched through the dry summer grass while my head swirled with the magic of the barn. It made me feel like a kid again, having just discovered a secret new hide-out. P.S. I've updated my blog template (hope you like it!). There have been a few kinks to sort out which have kept me busy but nevertheless, I'm excited about the new layout!
T he talented photographer, designer and author Monica Rich Kosann recently shared her newly published book with me. As with any house design book, I was ever so delighted to sit down for a thorough read. Living With What You Love is beautiful and completely captures all that make a house a home. Whether it is a special collection of seashells, fine art or a menagerie of family photos, Monica expresses how these endearing items offer our homes warmth, character and most of all, soul. The book's celebration of photographs especially inspired me. I was moved to dust off those antique photo frames I've been collecting through the years, and finally fill them with the people and family I love.
I needed a large space so I decided to display them on our bedroom dresser. Joan of Arc is surrounded by the generations of family that have known her (my Great Great Grandmother originally purchased her).
Older generations are mixed in with the new. Pictures of Hubby, as both a little boy and a man, stand next to a picture of my Grandmother on the patio of her California hills home.
The photographs span four generations....my brother and I, my parents, my Grandmother and Great Grandmother.
I've picked up these frames as bargains over the past several years, ranging from $5 to $40. The sweet old pearl frame is one I came across for $5.
This is one of my favorite photos of my mom holding me as a baby.
I love this sweet little miniature Rococo frame holding a picture of my Grandmother as a child.
Here are my brother and I as children in Sequoia National Park, California.
In order to fit the photographs in non-standard size frames, I scanned them onto my computer and then re-sized them to fit each frame. I want to thank Monica for sharing her beautiful book with me. My framing project would not have come about if it weren't for the inspiration I found through her examples that celebrate those items which lend soul to home....in collections, in heirlooms, and in photographs. It's truly nurturing to see the faces of my life, past and present, standing close to each other in heart and home. Go here to read Acanthus and Acorn's review. Also, visit Monica's website to learn more about her, her passionate work and her new book, Living With What You Love.
I cannot put into words how much your beautiful comments and e-mails have meant to us. We read each and every one of them together, and we're both deeply touched by the outpouring of love and warmth from everyone. Thank you dear, dear friends for extending your blessings, thoughts, well wishes and notes of happiness. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. This photo was taken just yesterday....baby bump is a little over 14 weeks. xoxo
W e met and fell in love in August. By May we were engaged and by October we were married. During our courtship, we talked of fixing up an old house in the country, of small town life and of children....lots of children. Our wedding was six years ago this October. I was 33 and Mike was 35. We followed our dreams and moved to that small town, and even found that old house in the country. But the children, the children never came. We started trying to have a baby before our first year wedding anniversary. Unknowingly, it was the beginning of our long path of infertility. My diagnosis came a few short months after we bought our old farmhouse, a house which was proving to require much more work than we had anticipated and to cause much more stress than we could have possibly imagined. While we struggled to create a home that would provide peace and comfort, we were also going through intensive fertility treatments and procedures....all of which, month after month, year after year, proved to be unsuccessful. The reality of what was happening caused us great sadness, and I personally felt an overwhelming sense of mourning....mourning for the woman I always thought I was, fertile, and mourning for the life I had dreamed of with my husband, with children. I began this blog three years into our infertility journey because I desperately needed to find the calm in the storm and to celebrate all the good we had to be grateful for. At a time when I started to retreat from friends and social gatherings, I found a new community with new friends from around the world. The days in which I couldn't bare to run into anyone in town, were days I found comfort in the words and warmth of bloggers near and far. A year ago we returned once again to the fertility clinic in Portland. We've been going through various medical procedures since then, which ended up leading to an IVF procedure this past April. So it is with great happiness that I share with you something I never thought possible....I am pregnant. We are due just before Christmas. With twins.
W hat I find fascinating about anonymous portraits is the imaginary life we create for those captured for but a moment in time. I've often wondered about the woman in this portrait. I imagined her to be the eldest daughter of three, living on a grand estate and wearing beautiful dresses. I wondered if she was happy and if she lived a long life. I hoped so. Romona, a library acquisitions assistant, wrote me recently after coming across a familiar face. She traced the familiarity back to the post I did on the woman in the portrait....it was, indeed, the same woman. Her name was Enrica Soma, the mother of actress Angelica Huston.
On June 9, 1947 she was featured on the cover of Life magazine, identified only as "Young Ballerina." She was the fourth wife of famed director John Huston. Shortly thereafter, she became the mother to three children. A son named Tony, a daughter Angelica and her sister, Allegra. Many years later in Italy, while driving to her father's house for the holiday, she died in a car accident. She was just 39 years old. Her youngest daughter Allegra, who was four years old at the time of her mother's death, has written a memoir called Lovechild . Of course, I see the portrait differently now. Knowing more about the woman behind the face is bittersweet. She did not live a long life as I imagined, or hoped. In fact, she died at my age. But despite the tragedy that greeted her in her young life, I find myself with an even deeper respect and appreciation for her grace, her beauty and her mystery. And in this portrait, it is the life she lived passionately as a ballerina, and her beauty and presence as a mother, that endures.
T he little pink booties fit Margaret. She had them on several weeks ago but they were still a little big. Today they fit. These sweet booties hold a lot of meaning for me. I bought them many years ago while looking for a baby boy gift for a friend. I couldn't resist them as I always dreamed of having a little girl. Then came the five years of infertility....But I dug them out just before our IVF procedures, of which it just so happens to be the one year anniversary this week. To keep my heart full of hope and faith, I set the booties on my bedside table. Every night I looked at them while Mike gave me my shots. When we learned we were pregnant, they stayed there as a sort of promise for the rest of my pregnancy. Today I put them on my daughter Margaret and I felt very blessed. Little pink booties.... xo
M y Mom always planted ranunculus in my Grandmother's garden every spring. I always think of the them oohing and ahhing over these full feathered flowers whenever I see them.
They make me smile....them and these. I wish they'd last forever.
O ne of my favorite times of the day is bath time. At first I bathed the babies separately by putting them in this bath that sits inside our claw foot tub. Because they both love playing and splashing in the water, I recently started to use these little newborn bath chairs so that they could enjoy bath time together. It's so sweet to see them splash around together.
Photo #1 I told Hubby and Lucy to put their best sweaters on and meet me on the porch.
Photo #2 As long as Hubby kept scratching Lucy's back, she agreed to play along.
The moment he stopped, she'd give him this look.
Photo #3 Hubby was very patient with me. I told him I wanted to take his and Lucy's picture for my blog. He said he didn't think that was such a good idea but I insisted since I talk about them so much. Always in the nicest way of course.
Photo #4 Look, they're both smiling at the same time! Now which photo should I use in my blog margin to represent them best? Photo 1,2,3 or 4?
Hubby thought I should be in a photo, so here's our first attempt.
And our second. I like his facial expression in this one.
