Friday, June 27, 2014

Summer's Joy....the Porch

The porch ...from Old French porche, is a construction external to the walls of the main building proper, but may be enclosed by latticework, broad windows, screen, or other light frame walls extending from the main structure. There are various styles of porches, all of which depend on the architectural tradition of its location. All porches will allow for sufficient space for a person to comfortably pause before entering or after exiting the building...That's the architectural description of a porch....we all know, a porch is so much more. Growing up in the South, it seemed everyone had a porch, some grand, others small...some with large columns, others with simple screened panels. A porch holds many memories...always in use during the summer, spring & fall with small gatherings, dinners...celebrations..and in the winter it's our glimpse into the beauty of the outside, a refuge from being cooped up inside. A porch is also that perfect spot to enjoy a great book, a glass of cold tea or just to relax. My grandparents had a large front porch with scrolly white iron furniture...the ceiling was painted a very light blue. The delight of that light blue ceiling has stayed with me, all the ceilings were white or off white back then :)) On that porch was a metal white settee glider...what a treat for all the cousins..there were also several concrete pots with flowers & my Grandmother had a flower bed of hollyhocks on one side. When I close my eyes I can still see that porch & relive all the wonderful, fun times spent there with my warm, loving family. Sharing with you a few fave ideas for a delightful & memorable porch...

Beautiful Southern porch at twilight...

Charming Cottage Porch...

Southern porch with the typical light blue ceiling..

Gorgeous blue hydrangeas grace this summer porch...

All white country porch..


Lovely hollyhocks...just like my Grandmothers :))

Until next time....Cheers!

Friday, June 13, 2014

Flower Crush....white peonies

My love affair with the peony began many years ago...it is one of my favorite flowers...I love white peonies....I think the peony looks fabulous in most settings from formal to country. For me the peony is a very romantic, old world flower. I love to see a large bouquet in a very rusty french urn or confit pot. I love the tension between the rustic & the delicate petals of the peony. Many years ago when I visited Britain, I saw large bouquets of peonies both the white & pink ones, in the florists & flower markets. I had never seen these large masses of peonies in the US...it seemed everywhere I looked there were gorgeous peonies. I visited the Chelsea Flower Show one year in London, peonies were definitely a favorite of the floral designers...the beauty of the designs were breathtaking. I love to see peonies in a wedding...from the bride's bouquet to the church & reception flowers, they add that special romantic touch and the fragrance is perfect, light & slightly sweet.

The peony is a flowering plant in the genus Paeonia, the only genus in the family Paeoniaceae. They are native to Asia, Southern Europe and Western North America....The peony is named after Paeon (also spelled Paean), a student of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. Asclepius became jealous of his pupil Zeus saving Paeon from the wrath of Asclepius by turning him into the peony flower.
Mischievous nymphs were said to hide in the petals of the Peony, giving it the meaning of Shame or Bashfulness in the Language of Flowers.
Peonies are also extensively grown as ornamental plants for their very large, often scented flowers.

When I went to a local farmers market earlier this week, I came home with lots of organic fruits & vegetables and a large bouquet of white peonies... unfortunately I didn't find any nymphs hiding in the petals..I did look ;)...Sharing with you several ways to enjoy these beautiful flowers...

White peonies at Rue 27 Maison

Gorgeous bridal bouquet...

Perfect for the elegant table...

Love peonies in a rustic setting, this basket is on my courtyard table...

White peonies have a creamy or blush coloring on the white petals...

Blue & white with peonies looks fabulous...

Simply stunning with mercury glass...

Romantic & beautiful peonies..

Until next time...

♥

Happy Fathers Day weekend to all...I was blessed to have an amazing Father, whose loving spirit still guides me...very thankful my husband is a very special, loving Dad to our children..you are more important to your family than you'll ever know..

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Summer's delight....Cherry Festival in SoCal

Summer is in full swing...beach time....picnics....warm leisurely days....clear starry nights and festivals...fairs...parades...July 4 will be here before we can blink. This weekend is all about a southern Cali Cherry Festival, in Beaumont...pictured above at night from IE Fun Magazine. Every time I type the word cherry...I want to type cheery...maybe its because this little red delicious fruit, the cherry, makes me happy...not quite sure...I just know I cannot remember a time when I didn't anticipate each summer's fresh cherry season. I love cherries, not the ones from a glass jar, not the ones in Shirley Temples, not the ones on the top of ice cream sundaes...the cherries I simply adore, are the fresh ones, sweet & crisp...truly summer's delight for me.
Yesterday, my hubby & I went to the Cherry Festival, just under two hours from us, we also visited an cherry orchard in Cherry Valley, a few miles north of the festival. It was a treat visiting the orchard, the trees are beautiful, the leaves rich, vibrant green & the cherries a brilliant red against the blue sky. There were several varieties of cherries, we left with several bags...happily sampling on the drive home....saving some for a fresh cherry pie. The Cherry Festival is set up close to Beaumont's downtown, in Stewart Park, it has been going on for over 90 years....it is a 4 day event, kicked off by a pancake breakfast, with homemade cherry syrup, a large parade with a grand marshal, the fair & tents are set up in the beautiful grassy park, where vendors sell lots of cherry goodies & other specialty items. There is also a large stage with ample seating and nightly musical performances. The event is well planned and all proceeds go back into the community. It is definitely a special event that this charming town of 30,000 plus looks forward to each year & also draws many out of town visitors. Sharing with you a fun & cherry delicious day...

Rows of white tents ready to open at The Cherry Festival...

The Cherry Festival has an old fashion midway & carnival rides...

The beautiful drive up to the cherry orchard...the golden fields are beautiful here at this time of year...

Guldseth Orchard

A close up of the delicious cherries...

Love the entrance with the cherry wagon...

Doesn't this look delicious...from Cherry on a Cake

Freshly picked...from Brambleberry Cottage

The cherries we picked...ready for the pie & sabayon cream

Cherry trees at Guldseth Orchard...

Mini cherry tarts from Adventuress Heart

Love this idea...fresh cherries as party favors

Always a fave...Cherry Limeade

Rows of cherry trees lined the paths at the orchard...

Leaving the orchard, a beautiful winding lane bordered with stone & white painted fences...

Until next time...Cheers ♥

Sunday, June 1, 2014

collecting...Demijohns

Demijohns....a glass French vessel used to transport wines, have become highly collected, especially the vintage & antique ones. I love to see several grouped together....each one is unique, a collection looks fabulous whether you are an antique lover or have a modern home.
"Demijohn" is an old word that formerly referred to any glass vessel with a large body and small neck, sometimes enclosed in wicker or a woven basket. The word comes from the French dame-jeanne, literally "Lady Jane." The word, demijohn occurred initially in France in the 17th century, and no earlier trace of it has been found elsewhere.

Regardless of their age, they can be artful, decorative and collectible. The shape, imperfections...and the waviness of old glass can’t help but get your attention. A demijohn may be old enough to qualify as an antique or could be categorized as vintage, dating from as recently as the 1930s. Some are reproductions meant to look antiquated. Since the same techniques and equipment have been used to blow glass since 1750, it often is difficult to determine their age The buyer needs to consider the following:

Is it handblown?
The handmade character of an old bottle is key to its value. An uneven shape is to be expected if a bottle was free-blown and dates before 1860. Bubbles and random strands of color in the glass, a bent neck, lack of a regular pattern, and striations are signs that glass was handmade, whether centuries or decades ago.

Does it have a mold seam?
Blown-into-mold glass is considered handblown. Its shape will be more regular than free-blown glass. Molds—first wood and then glass—were made in two pieces and removed, leaving a seam. The mold line on a bottle can indicate its approximate age to an expert.

Do the lip and bottom of the bottle indicate an older style of manufacturing?
The lips of bottles made before 1870 appear crude and irregular. That’s because they were added after the bottle was blown or removed from its mold. There may be “drippy” areas, as well, under the bands applied around the lip.

Bottles with smooth bases usually date after 1870. Most bottles made before that will have marks on their bottoms where the rod (pontil) used by the maker was broken off.

Is the color consistent with age?
Aqua is the natural color of glass, its shade depending on minerals used in production. Clear glass is treated to become transparent. Shades of green and blue-green characterize most old glass. However, amber, blue, dark olive green and other colors appear from time to time and add value because they are unusual.

Sharing with you a few of my fave demijohns...