Soup's On!!

Even though Winter is out of here, soups will remain on my menu several times a week. We love soup - I love to make soup - we love it as part of a meal, or as the meal itself with a great salad and a slice of bruschetta or garlic bread, hot and crunchy from the oven. My favorite recipes are from an English vegetarian restaurant named "Cranks" - their cookbook is awesome. Published in 1982, my copy is well worn and I pray it doesn't fall apart in my lifetime! Good, simple, wholesome, non meat food. I use this book more than any other - and I have so many - please say YOU do too so I won't feel so guilty about cookbook overload! Over the years I have often had to debate the vegetarian soup making issue. Many say good soup can only be made with a big old meat bone or chicken broth.................I've managed to prove them wrong as nobody ever pushed a bowl of my soup away - they loved it to the last drop, and usually asked for more ~ ha!

To serve company soup the beautiful TUREEN is necessary - it makes a simple food become elegant on the table - or on the kitchen island where I usually set mine up as we're not formal around here.

The tureen lids are little porcelain gems in their own right.

Here are some of my own collection of tureens. Like to make three hearty soups when having a "soup supper party". Perhaps Lentil Tomato, Squash Bisque with Creme Fraiche & Frizzled Leeks, and Cream of Spinach & Zucchini - served with a selection of crusty breads and crackers. I add two salads, usually classic Ceasar with freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano, and mixed Spring greens with Gorgonzola crumbles, thinly sliced Granny Smith apples, toasted pecans and balsamic vinegar dressing. Of course several desserts are in order and can be enjoyed by not having a heavy entree - friends enjoy English sherry trifle, French pear clafouti (great recipe for this in Ina Garten's "Barefoot in Paris"), and always something for the chocolate lovers - perhaps Grand Marnier brownies with orange buttercream frosting, yummy! Plenty of wine ready to be opened - would be great if you could all come by some evening and enjoy!

"If such be Nature's holy plan......" Wm. Wordsworth

Today I wandered through the beautiful North Carolina Arboretum snapping photos of the gorgeous plants and shrubs already in bloom.
The weather was perfect for strolling slowly and just admiring the beauty of each flower and leaf. Birds were singing, a few butterflies hovered.
The horticultural students from NCSU were busy cleaning out old beds, preparing new test beds, and planting vigorous looking shrubs and plants.
The pinks were so pink! The greens were literally Spring green, or acid, even yellow. Every color was fresh and vivid, new and clean. One's eyes almost hurt from squinting close up to really experience those colors.
"And the Spring arose on the garden fair,

Like the spirit of love felt everywhere;

And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast

Rose from the the dreams of it's wintry rest,

The snowdrop and then the violet,

Arose from the ground with warm rain wet,

And their breath was mixed and sweet odour sent

From the turf like the voice and the instrument. "

................................................................Shelley

Dining Room Dreams

Thought I'd share a few dining room photos. Several blog friends seem to be currently working on, or planning out, their cottage dining room makeovers. Like many of us, they're staring at the walls and thinking "what color shall I paint?" The only thing harder than picking wallpaper has to be picking paint - far too many colors - and if you still can't find the right one they can always mix it for you! The thing is though, paint is cheap (unless you just have to order Farrow & Ball from England!) and you can always paint over it if not happy - wallpaper's a bit more difficult.

My paint colors here are Linen White above the chair rail and White Coffee below (both Benjamin Moore). I hung a very subtle border below the crown just to anchor the walls which seemed to fly away left plain.

My dining room has been deep red, then ballroom gold, but a few years ago I returned to these light neutrals which I love. All the woodwork in my house is stained and dh refuses to let me paint it - have to let him have a little say now and then I suppose. I now enjoy it because it enhances the cottage look, especially all the six paneled doors. At one time I wanted to paint the dining room table and chairs - purchased 30 years ago - but am glad I kept this beautiful dark wood as it blends nicely with the crown and chair rail mouldings and is a contrast with the light walls and carpet. Of course I've recovered the chair seats more times than I care to remember.

The Welsh Dresser I purchased unfinished years ago - first I pickled it (if you're around my age you'll remember when that was popular!) so it had that bland look with the knots showing through. When I did this last makeover I decided to paint it. I used Behr's Sneakers flat latex, waxed with Briwax, polished, sanded the edges, waxed again and polished until smooth. A lot of work but it has held up brilliantly and doesn't mark or chip.
I do love painted pieces and found this cabinet a couple of years ago at Greenfront Interiors (Virginia and N. Carolina readers will know this company - great furniture). I love the shade of green and the delicate handpainted flowers.
More green whimsy - this piece of dyed and frayed burlap embellished with torn lace and ribbon - and that amazing Victorian lady named Miss Rosie Boote stitched in silver thread - this was a great find in a local designer's boutique which was closing and selling all the shop fixtures and decorations.
And finally...............for the special person who left an anonymous comment wondering what on earth to do "below the chair rail", here's the answer! Hang embossed wallpaper which goes on easily on a short wall, and paint it. Roll paint on with a lightly textured type roller - very simple and fast. This looks quite white but is actually the White Coffee color, several shades darker than the wall above.
Good luck dining room decorators - whatever you decide to do I'm sure you will love your finished space.

Loving tulips more each day!

I don't have many faux floral displays around the house. Remember how awful they used to to be? Really FAKE looking then but have improved by leaps and bounds. Couple of years ago when wandering around the local Pottery Barn store, I found these tulips.................... and luckily they were on sale! So beautiful, they look like the real Pink Impression tulips I grow each Spring in the garden. What's amazing is that the stems and leaves are so realistic as well as the actual flowers. Had to have these to fill in until the real ones bloom...................and when I look out my kitchen window this morning I see them starting to open their lovely rich, rosy pink cups with black star centers and yellow stamens. The stems grow taller and taller each day - a beautiful flower - thank goodness for gorgeous Dutch bulbs, just wish I was in Holland right now!

Click on photos for close up views.

My other faux display is outside my front door on the porch and this one changes with the seasons. Love this hanging iron basket from Michael's with lightweight resin basin to hold flowers. Have just removed the Winter leaves and added the daisies...............and who doesn't LOVE daisies, fresh and happy looking, and again not so faux looking now. The cabbages are beginning to look a bit aged, probably because birds enjoy sitting on them - need to give 'em a good hose down - cabbages that is!

Must share this fabulous switchplate cover with you. Was shopping out of town in one of those posh, overpriced, little gift boutiques with a dear friend. She knows I love tulips and she found this for me - of course had to have it and it's in my dining room. Also has a few of my beloved "written words" at the bottom - just perfect.

Wishing you all a great weekend.

Goodbye Winter - Hello Spring

The chill of Winter has just about abandoned the Southern states now. In my garden the cool shades of stone, concrete, painted wood, faded leaves and bare grapevines, will soon be jostled by little green shoots poking through the faded crispy oak leaves. Ivy will creep back again with tiny fresh leaves, and yellow flowered Carolina Jasmine, and pale pink New Dawn climbing roses will dress the back fence. As the month of March advances a tide of green sweeps gently over the garden.


The gate with wreath leads through the arbor into my back garden. This arbor is covered by an orange flowered trumpet vine which stays green all Winter. I hang tiny white lights on it and keep them twinkling year round - it's a welcoming sight when driving home at night.

The stone Mourning Doves are aging but are obviously still lovey dovey! My precious angel stands quietly day after day offering sustenance to all feathered and furry visitors who venture into our friendly garden.

And.............this lazy kitty doesn't bother any of the garden birds, unlike the visiting black cat who appears almost daily and hangs around the feeders looking for lunch I fear!


Thought you might enjoy a few of my garden treasures in their somewhat stark reality. I guarantee you'll be seeing plenty of the garden as it bursts forth with color over the coming months.

Loving lustrous linen

Growing up in England with a dressmaker Mother meant living among beautiful fabrics. Heavy silk embossed bridal fabrics, sheer chiffons, crisp cottons, soft brushed wools, and my favorite, Irish linens. Linen is as ancient as the Egyptians, so sturdy it has survived intact in their tombs. Linen breathes and cools the body in hot weather. As it ages it softens, becoming lustrous and even more wonderful to handle. Its strength allows daily use in the home as tablecloths, placemats and napkins, curtains, and those beautiful antique French bed linens.

Neutral colors of linen are all you need - natural fabric made from the flax plant doesn't require colorful dyes.

Ooh! Linen shirts and tunics - how cool and refreshing - just need the swimming pool, or even better a long stretch of sandy beach to stroll along at sunset.

Love this linen window blind and the adorable French iron birds.

Plan to get my linen clothes out of Winter storage soon. Do you iron your linens? Or, like me, just let them look a bit rumpled - that's part of the comfy cottage look anyway.

Run Rabbit, Run

Well, seems like we are all enticing those cute little bunnies back to our homes................Easter must be around the corner and Spring is officially here at long last. I love these china rabbits which I started collecting a couple of years ago. They are quite large so when the kids see them they want to hold them and pretend they're real. This year I haven't had time to look for new additions to my rabbit hutch - must get out there and start hunting.

I love the Mommy with the pretty porcelain flowers around her neck.

I'm sure this pair, after seeing the daffodils in bloom, know it's that time of year to crank up the bunny factory!

Soon I'll see the nibbled plants in my garden - they love those tender new shoots all juicy and fresh - and you'll find me chasing them off. But.................they are SO cute.

Heading out right now on a rabbit hunt!