Baker's Delight

Have you ever given someone a cookie cutter?

I have a huge collection of cookie cutters (easily over 250) and I can tell you where I got each and every one.

There is the giant tree from my friend Toni. A Dr. Seussian candy cane that my Dad was sure I had to have. One year, my brother even gave me the entire alphabet. When I sort through my collection, I remember everything.

The next time you see a display of cookie cutters, think of the casual bakers in your life and choose the perfect cookie cutter for them. Pick something unusual like a sweater or a house (My craziest cookie cutter is a sewing machine!).

They will think of you every time they use it, I guarantee.

Now that is a Baker's Delight.

Cookie Ornaments

When I move into the Edible phase of my holiday preparations, I'll be making scores of gingerbread men. Tied with a ribbon and hung on the tree, nothing beats the sweet tradition of having edible ornaments.

It is also important to me that I show you simpler ways of getting the same effect. Want cookie ornaments but don't have time to actually roll, cut & bake them?

This time of year, IKEA sells ginger heart cookies (baked with a hole!) that you can hang on the tree. In this photo, you can see that I simply tied each one with chocolate satin ribbon.

Now this is edible art!

Holiday Preparations

I love Christmas and I thought I would explain my approach to preparing for the holidays.

This system has worked for me for years and I thought it might help you to make the most out of the next 33 days. I think of everything in terms of whether it is: Visual, Edible or Givable. I realized long ago that taking care of the visual part of the holidays first always makes things run smoothly.

When the house is decorated, I am ready for unexpected guests, I can have neighbors over for a cup of tea, I can step in and "host" something if plans go awry. I do not bake, or shop or experiment in the kitchen during this first phase. If it doesn't get me closer to a decorated house, I don't do it. This time is dedicated to making the holidays beautiful. These few days go quickly and then I can sit back and enjoy the atmosphere.

So this week I will be posting some visual touches for the holidays. Think of me covered in glitter, dotted with glue and happy as a clam.

Advent Calendar 2009

Would you believe that this is a single piece of cardstock that I bought for $1?

December 1st is right around the corner, so today I am making an advent calendar from a We R Merry & Bright Advent Calendar die cut. The 25 days have pre-punched windows that open - what could be better?

I am going to cut a piece of poster board to be the same size as this house. Then I will affix a holiday sticker (sled, candy cane, ornament) behind each window and then glue around the perimeter of the house to attach it to the poster board. I'll staple a striped ribbon to the back of the board (at the corners) so my calendar can hang on the wall. Love it!

Have you found (or made) yourself an advent calendar?

Good Girls Go To Paris

Is that a great name for a creperie or what? I made my first trip to Good Girls Go To Paris (on Kirby near the Detroit Institute of Arts) this week when my friend and I went on a "field trip" to Detroit for crepes and yarn.

We talked and talked over a late breakfast (I had a jambon & fromage crepe that was perfection) and had every intention of ordering dessert crepes too, but, alas our eyes were bigger than our stomachs. We loved this little spot, though, and vowed to return another day for something sweet!

Then we made our way to City Knits, a shop that we had been hearing about for ages. We combed the store for treasures and I left with some kiwi green wool to knit (and then felt) a bowl for the living room. Fun! Now I just need to find a pattern for a simple bowl...and apparantly some double pointed needles - eek!

As the whirl of the holidays starts, make sure you carve out some time to be with your girlfriends. Thank you, Liz, for a lovely morning!

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you a
delightful Thanksgiving
filled with family traditions,
great food and
a thankful spirit.

Love, Anne

Cooking with Martha

If you have been with me a while, you know that today (the day before Thanksgiving) is when I spend the day in my kitchen "cooking with Martha." I cue up my Tivo with some recent episodes of the MARTHA show and get to work.

In honor of today's tasks (3-D turkey made of cornbread, cranberry jello mold and green bean prep), I am posting a photo directly from the set of Martha's television show. I was in the audience a few years back and took this photo between segments.

Good luck with all of your holiday preparations and tell me, are you cooking with Martha?

Turkey Butter

Honestly, it all started with a lamb butter. My Mom has been buying "butter shaped like a lamb" to have on the table at Easter dinner my entire life. When my dear friend, Melanie joined us for Easter one year, she was floored. She had never heard of such a thing and started quizzing us for details. How long has this been going on? Do they do this for all of the holidays? Then she said it...Is there turkey butter?

We didn't know. Our butter sculpture stopped with lambs. Until the following November when we all started seeing turkey butter in the dairy section of some independent grocery stores. From then on, we've had to have a turkey butter too.

So when I was in my favorite cake & candy supply store last week, I noticed a turkey-shaped mold for making chocolates. Naturally I thought "Butter!" and here it is. You simply press one stick softened butter into the 3-D mold and place it in the freezer. After about an hour, pop the plastic apart and voila!

I am sending you my warm wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving. And when you are in your little grocery store this week, ask them if they have turkey butter!

A Delightful Gift

I wanted to do my part to bring delight to your holiday shopping list.

My idea? Design something that would be lovely to receive, compliment many different style sensibilities and (most importantly) be reasonable.

My answer is a small silver watchface with a ruffle-edge black ribbon band. It arrives gift-wrapped in my signature clear bag with hot pink tissue & ribbons.

For $22 (plus $3 s/h), this could be the answer to your teacher/hairdresser/babysitter gift list. Available on my blog only - see sidebar.

It's a delightful gift...right on time.

Swedish Christmas Fair 2009

Oh happy day! I just got back from a Swedish Christmas Fair. I walked through the doors and was greeted with a "God Jul!" and a cup of glogg with almonds & raisins. Now that is how I want to start a Saturday.

My Mom & I made fast friends with a table of ladies and talked about Swedish baking and such while we snacked on the plate above (Drommar Dreams, Rye Logs and Cardamom Rolls). The smorgas (open face) sandwich had meatballs on a bed of beet/dill/apple/leek salad over limpa (caraway/rye/fennel) bread. Yum!

We browsed the collection of Swedish dishtowels & decorations for sale, scanned the selection of food items (they had my Swedish Pearl Sugar!) and left with a bag full of homemade Swedish baked goods. Right now I am eating a vanilla-butter taffy called smorkola this is so good I want to book my flight to Sweden right now! I started with a bag of 7 hand-wrapped pieces and there are only 4 left! I love Swedish Sweets!

Cocktail Napkins

I made my own paper napkins. (pause)

Okay, I didn't really make the paper napkins, so much as I embellished them.

I bought an inexpensive set of paper napkins in gold and stuck 3-D stickers on them! Pure genius.

Now I have a set of cocktail napkins that look exactly how I want them to and are better than anything that I could find in a store.

It might seem a little crazy, but crazy beautiful, right?

Touches of Green

As the cold weather approaches, I shift my garden plan indoors. I think touches of green can do so much for the design of a room and I try to have a living plant in every room on the first floor.

But now that Christmas is coming, I am on the hunt for one of my favorite green touches...a rosemary tree!

I like to have a big one next to the sink in my kitchen. It smells like heaven, mimics the look of a Christmas tree and is fabulous in marinades! What more could a girl want?

This photo is of a gorgeous shop called Boxwoods Garden & Gifts. If I lived in Atlanta, I know that a good portion of my Visa bill would read Boxwoods each month.
I literally wanted everything in this greenhouse! This garden mecca would have a rosemary tree for sure. Where is your favorite greenhouse?

Fall Cookies

The ultimate "Fall" cookie - gingerbread cookies shaped like acorns!

For whatever reason, many people have stopped over this week and they all got a cookie. It feels great to be able to offer them something special with a cup of tea.

I made these cookies from a box of Betty Crocker gingerbread cake mix (instructions are on the side panel) and frosted the caps with a bottle (read: easy to dispense) of Wilton white cookie icing. You can find an acorn-shaped cookie cutter here.

Note: Stores often run low on the red box of Betty Crocker gingerbread cake mix. Seriously, one year I had to scour the local markets looking for (what felt like) the last 6 boxes of Betty Crocker gingerbread mix. So now I buy them when I see them and always have a few on hand. If you go to the Betty Crocker website, this mix (in the red box) is strangely absent. Is it limited edition? Seasonal? Top secret? All I know is that it makes wonderful gingerbread cookies and you should buy a box when you see it.

Doux & Delicat

Isn't this pretty tea packaging? My hotel in Paris gave us these herbal teas to try and I loved them on sight, strictly because of the packaging. Is that so wrong?

I want to shake hands with the person that proposed this color palette. It is very Laura Ashley meets House Beautiful and I love it! The one I am drinking today (center top) is Tilleul (Linden) which is described as doux & delicat (smooth & delicate).

Refrigerator-worthy

I am a firm believer in paper invitations. Yes, Evites are convenient and perfect for say, a book club or a committee meeting. But if you are cleaning the house, making special food and having a party (no matter how small) I think you should send something that is refrigerator-worthy.

We are hosting a potluck dinner for fourteen this December. Our group had to "iron out" a good date via email, so they know the day they are coming over and why. But I won't be happy until this is in their mailbox. Something that says I'm excited that they are coming for dinner and have already starting planning.

Honor your parties by sending real invitations. It will make your guests feel special and be a wonderful visual cue for the fun times ahead.

Women Entrepreneurs

Remember when I had a book-signing for Moments of Delight as part of a progressive tea event in Ohio?

After the book signing, I was able to join in the fun and attend the last stop on the progressive (a discussion on steeping & keeping tea) at Summer Kitchen Interiors.

Lots of ladies were gathered around the super-cute shop listening to the speaker and tasting tea and sweets. It was all very "girl-y" and I loved it. I am telling you about it today because I came across the favor we all received. A silverplate teaspoon tied with a teabag and business card (naming the tea on the back). Smart smart smart.

• Mix & match silverware is very popular, so another teaspoon is always welcome.
• The attendees all love tea and now they could sample one at home.
• The tea & tag presentation was so cute I kept it "as is" all this time.

If you are a woman entrepreneur and are planning an event, you could learn a lot from the Summer Kitchen Girls. Bravo!

On another note, the amazing backdrop shown is a paper die cut from BoBunny. Although it is intended for scrapbooking, I use it as a doily! So pretty and dynamic on a wood tray.

Thanksgiving Tablesettings

I wanted to arrange this tray to show you a few simple ideas to enhance your Thanksgiving Table.

First, if you build the look around one showpiece (in this case, the salad plate) it is much easier to find your way. If you need a show-stopper, head to the discount shop (Homegoods, Marshals, TJ Maxx). Right now they are loaded with transferware-like salad/dessert plates with turkeys on them for $6-8 each. They are really handsome, inexpensive and a great way to update a dinner plate that you already own.

Second, I made a "napkin ring" out of laser cut scrapbook paper from Michael's. Just cut the sheet into strips, wrap a strip around a plain white napkin and tape the ring closed on the back.

Third, the placemat shown here is a piece of fabric that I cut in a rectangle and "serged" the edges. If you don't have a serger, my advice is to "pink" the edges with pinking shears and you are ready! This should keep the fabric from fraying and eliminate the need to sew anything.

Need matching glasses for eight? I bought the mocha-colored acrylic glass shown here at Target for $1.99!

My advice is to lay out the plates, linens and candles that you have, look for a color theme and run with it! Even using just one of my ideas could help make your holiday table feel brand new.

Happy Thanksgiving-planning from me to you.

Shadows & Structure

I have a long back yard and I've always wanted a pergola to visually link my patio to the deck. I'd cover it with fragrant wisteria vines and make up reasons to cross under it many times a day.

When I was in Bar Harbor, I found this beautiful pergola in a park across from the main shopping area.

I walked the entire length of it, then pivoted and walked it again. The combination of shadow and structure was so pretty I didn't want to leave.

This is a moment of delight.

Knitting Needles

I have added a new item to my standard packing list.

• Clothes
• Toothbrush
• Knitting Needles

I am serious! Every time I go somewhere, I invariably hunt out the local yarn shop. Then I fall in love with some yarn, want to knit right away and realize I'll have to buy...needles. Again.

As a result of this, I have so many sets of knitting needles that it's silly. I give a set away whenever I teach someone, but still! So from now on I am getting smart and bringing a set of needles along. If you hear me mention a trip on Facebook, remind me, okay?

November Roses

Can you believe it? Roses...real roses in my garden! I tip-toed outside yesterday morning when I saw these beauties from the window. I have them in a jam jar (that I coated with Mod Podge to protect the label) and placed them on my front table.

Do you like my marzipan vegetables? Fall is here!

Pumpkin Pancakes

I just want to put the idea in your head...Pumpkin Pancakes!

A friend of mine suggested brunch after church a few weeks ago. She said that everyone was talking about a local nightclub that serves breakfast (!) and she wanted to check it out. Hmm...okay, I'm game.

We found it (a little bar in Ferndale called Club Bart) and were seated at a high table with bar stools in the window. When we heard the specials, we were hooked. We picked the omelette-of-the-day and the pumpkin pancakes to share. Just look! The syrup was a homemade brandy sauce (yum!) and we devoured every bite.

No matter where you live, it is very likely that the local breakfast spot is whipping up pumpkin pancakes. Maybe its time to invite a friend to brunch.

Happy Whiplash

Now this is a room with a view!

When I was on Little Cranberry Island (Islesford) in Maine, our new friend, Soos, drove us around the island on our own private tour. She loved that I was a photographer and went out of her way to make sure that I got every shot that I wanted.

Every time I gasped, she slammed on the brakes! It was like Happy Whiplash.

The crowning glory was a stop at her family home where I took this photograph.

Thank you, Soos, for making my first trip to Maine so wonderful.

Plant Tulips

Did you plant tulips this year? My greatest tulip achievement (man vs squirrel) was when I planted my bulbs in pots. I planted two large Martha Stewart for Kmart classic pots with Apricot Beauty and left them outside over the Winter on the sunny side of the house.

The trick was that I covered each pot with 2 layers of bricks. The squirrels couldn't get the bricks off to dig down and eat my bulbs! Hallelujah.

I have had my share of tulip-tastrophies too. Note to self: If you make custom-fit wire screens for the inside of your pots to keep the squirrels out, you have to remember to remove the screens from under the dirt in the Spring or your bulbs will be trapped! I kept waiting and waiting and couldn't understand why no green sprouts were coming up. By the time I realized my mistake, the bulbs were beyond saving. The next year I was back to bricks!

My point is, don't be discouraged if you have tulip challenges. Be creative...and then write yourself a note on your calender so you remember what to do in the Spring! The result is SO worth it!

Designer Matches

Looking for a little "wow-factor" in your living room? Cover your own box of large kitchen matches and have the prettiest accent ever.

I used Sobo glue to attach lime green faux crocodile paper to the box. After the glue had dried, carefully use an X-acto knife to trim the extra paper off. I chose a flat gem set from the jewelry section of the craft store (you may need to cut off the attachment loop on the back with needle nose pliers so that it will lay flat - this particular piece was already flat.) Use Gem-Tac to attach gem set to the top of the box. So pretty, right?

When you are shopping for the gem set, start thinking about the holidays. If you find the perfect combination of paper and stones - get enough to make three! They make a unique hostess or teacher gift.

New Fall Show

On a quiet afternoon, I walked into my living room and the world was in technicolor. My front window looked like a giant flat screen television broadcasting the "New Fall Show."

The 5 trees in the cul-de-sac are Bradford Pear. The perfect landscape tree, they are beautiful in Spring, lush green in Summer and magnificent in Fall. What more could a neighborhood want?

Now sit back, relax and enjoy the scheduled programming.

Lemon Knots

I saw a jar of lemon knots (on sale) at my local Williams-Sonoma and was intrigued. They were really pretty and I thought that (in addition to their main use as a cocktail twist) they would add a lot to a cup of tea or a glass of lemonade.

Later, when I tried to look them up online, I couldn't find them. It must have been a limited edition item. So...I made some myself!

I cut inch-wide strips of lemon peel off of the lemon. Cut that piece into 4 narrow strips and tied each in a knot. Any pieces that broke or were too small, ended up in a small jar of sugar for baking (blueberry muffins with lemon sugar!).

I made a batch of simple syrup, allowed it to cool, then poured it into a jam jar with the lemon twists. I am going to store the jar in the refrigerator. When I make hot cranberry glogg later this week, I will drop a lemon twist in each mug!

I think this would be a pretty and inexpensive hostess gift. What do you think?

A Sweet Couple

Can you believe that this couple is made out of Maple Sugar? When my parents took a driving trip through Vermont, I requested a maple sugar souvenir and look what I got! So cute.

Have you started planning your Thanksgiving table? I think one of these at each place setting would make a really neat favor. Or maybe you'd like one shaped like a maple leaf or a turkey. You can consider the entire collection online here.

Maple is the perfect flavor for a Thanksgiving meal and these two make such a sweet couple.

Halloween Traditions 2009

I saw one of the Garden Club Girls after school this week and called out to her, "It's almost Halloween!"

"I know, I can't wait to make pie!" she called back.

You see, baking a "Trick or Pie" on Halloween is a tradition on my street. If you aren't familiar with our story, you can jump to it here.

I am expecting three girls (and now their little brother too) to bake an apple pie with me this afternoon. We have a standing date in the kitchen every October 31st and I just love it. I like to imagine them all grown up, baking a Halloween pie with their children and talking about the fun we had on our street.

Want to make your own "Trick or Pie?" My yummy recipe is posted here.

Oh, and Happy Halloween!

It's The Ritz

I am proud to announce that my limited edition ANA Cigar Box Purses are now available at The Ritz-Carlton (Dearborn).















Each ANA Cigar Box Purses is one-of-a-kind.

I sign and number each handbag, create a custom-fit fabric lining, sew Velcro ribbon closures, fabric gussets (to keep the purse contents private), insert tiny feet and add my hallmark: a kiln-fired ceramic ANA logo tag.

Within my signature customs stamp you can see the letters "I.K.I" in script. They stand for "I'm Keeping It!" which is how I know a piece is finished.

When I start to rationalize why I should keep a particular purse for myself, I know that it is ready for others to enjoy. When you see the ANA tag, you know that your purse has: “Passed As Super Cute!”

It is that kind of attachment to my products that inspires me to continue designing. But believe me when I say limited edition, this labor of love makes them rare, rare, rare.

Call or visit The Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn and tell them you want an ANA!

Cider Mills, Pumpkin Doughnuts and Indian Corn

What says Fall to me?

Cider Mills (going next week), Pumpkin Doughnuts (hoping my parents bring me one) and Indian Corn (check).

That is one thing I love about seasonal living - it helps me to focus.

You can only drink fresh cider now.
You can only buy Indian corn now.
You can only press Maple leaves now.

I have been thinking about how tricky it is to fit the bounty of each season into just 3 months!

Which makes everything all the more precious. I have a lot to enjoy before the snow flies!

What is on your Fall "must do" list?

Wonderland of Dishes

There is a shop in New York that pulls me like a magnet every time I am in the city.

Fishs Eddy is a wonderland of dishes, cups, glasses and flatware. I walk inside, my heart races and I am in love all over again.

I have wanted this many dishes ever since I saw Martha Stewart's barn full of dishes in her video, Secrets of Entertaining: A Buffet Party.

Heirloom Tomatoes

These are the last of my heirloom tomatoes. The problem is...I don't know which ones are supposed to be green and which ones still need to ripen!

I planted three types: yellow, orangey-red and green. Hmm...hopefully I will get a few clues as I let them ripen indoors. Either way, aren't they beautiful? And the gorgeous French day-of-the-week dishtowel next to them is Mardi.

Fried green tomatoes anyone?

Fall Appetizers

I really enjoyed a "Holiday Hors d'Oeuvres" class I took this weekend at Williams-Sonoma. There is something about Fall that makes me want to buy everything in the store.

I pulled out my set of tiny cookie cutters shaped like leaves and acorns, so I am ready to create these adorable "toppings" out of Pillsbury pie crust. It really elevated "a cracker with spread" into something every guest would want to try. The spread itself was delicious too! Pumpkin butter with cream cheese, green onion and bacon - yum! If you have a chance, I encourage you to register for one of the technique classes at Williams-Sonoma.

One of my favorite Fall appetizers is Hot Olive Cheese Puffs. I find that I can never make enough of these - they are so delicious with a glass of wine that they are always the first to run out! Now that is a successful recipe. Enjoy!

Beyond Kitchen Aid

Don't get me wrong, I love my Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer (in fact, I dream of a day when I can own many of them in different colors). But look at these beauties!

I went to a restaurant supply store (because I love this stuff) and stopped in my tracks when I saw this display. "Ohhhh...dontcha just want one?" I cooed to my husband. To give you an idea, the whisk attachment on the bottom right is larger-than-my-head. I posed with it to show you the scale, but alas, the photo didn't pass muster.

To those of you that have the coveted Kitchen Aid but never use it, I say this: Put it on the counter! I have many friends that say they never use theirs because it is too heavy to bring out all the time.

Bring out? Bring out? I use my every week for everything from box-mix brownies to appetizer cheesecakes - all because I keep it on the counter. With the holidays coming, maybe its time to re-think your counter top "real estate."

Remember, good baking might just rely on one thing:
Location, location, location.

Pumpkin Tower

I think this is just beautiful! A simple tower made of three different pumpkins.

There are so many beautiful squash and pumpkin varieties available - check out this link to see my favorite photo guide of them on the web.

Do you know the phrase "Gilding the Lily?" It refers to when unnecessary adornment is added to something that is naturally beautiful.

I have seen some "paint, carve and glue" tips swirling around and I would like to suggest that you keep it simple.

Just gather a few beautiful shades together and let them speak for themselves. Mother Nature will spark far more comments than anything you can do with a glue gun.

Tunnel Vision

I am working on my tunnel vision.

I have chosen my photo of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key bridge to represent that today.

The cross-bars are all of the different aspects of my brand: ANA purses, writing, book composition, photography, jewelry design, Delight totes and blogging.

The good news is that I don't want to get to the end of the tunnel. I love what I am doing...I just have to give each bar the attention it deserves!

Oh, and look, there are blue skies ahead!

Swiss Cheese

Have you ever tried raclette? It is a delicious and mild semi-firm cheese that originated in Switzerland.

The Leelanau Cheese Company won the American Cheese Society "2007 Best in Show" for their Aged Raclette. What an accomplishment!

Raclette is from the French word "to scrape." I was at a northern Michigan food & wine event and saw the prized cheese-maker herself cranking a Girolle Cheese Cutter around the wheel of raclette. She was serving individual blossom-like tastings with crackers and a glass of wine. Can cheese be gorgeous?

ANA Cigar Box Purses

I simply love the ANA cigar box purse advertisement that I shot in this courtyard in Paris.

It is hard to believe, but this photo wasn't actually part of the grand plan. I was on the lookout for the perfect ad campaign, of course, but at this moment, I was simply waiting for my lunch on the patio of The Hotel D'Aubbusson. When the first course arrived, I looked up and this is what I saw.

"Don't anybody touch anything," I pleaded, "I just need one second."

I picked up my camera and took this shot. My actual purse that day (love it!) is the star, complimented by the wooden planters, posh setting and oh-so-French beverages.

Sometimes, life is art.

Tailgating

It all went according to plan. It was a gorgeous Fall day and we were on campus for the big Homecoming Game at Michigan State University. My Dad went to MSU, my brothers & I went to MSU and now my oldest niece is a freshman. As many of us as possible made our way to East Lansing to tailgate, watch the game (we won!) and cheer from the stands.

We secured a great parking spot for our tailgate and spent the morning setting up tables and chairs, arranging our picnic fare (see my football-shaped brownies!) and making friends with the families around us. I had not attended a tailgate in years and saw some really fun arrangements that make me want to do this more often! I saw one father cooking french toast for his tailgaters on a flat top griddle - nice! The family across the way had a portable Coleman grill and they cooked pork chops (we tried some - yum!), kielbasa and peppers/onions. The smell was incredible and my Dad is hooked. I definitely think grilling "on site" is in our future.

Thank you, Spartans, for a great day! It was good to be "home."

Homecoming

Today is homecoming at Michigan State!
I'll tell you all about it when I get back...

Fall Tablescapes

Now is the time to start planning your Fall tablescape. Is November your month for book club? Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year?

I saw this display at the Country Living Fair and it really got me in the mood for the rich colors and many textures of autumn. Next week I am going to pull out my cream dinner plates, black raspberry-covered dessert plates, green glassware and a melange of serving pieces and see what I can come up with for a casual "Dinner For Four."

I have a feeling I will be trimming napkins or doing something to pull it all together. This is the year to "use what you have." Join me?

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

Do you love Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice? Have you watched the movie version starring Colin Firth so many times that you know it by heart?

Then have I got a movie recommendation for you! I stumbled upon the DVD of Lost In Austen on Netflix (a movie renting website) and could not believe my eyes.

Lost in Austen is a movie that beautifully re-creates the scenes, costumes and story of Pride and Prejudice, all while weaving in a modern character (a devotee of the book) who gets dropped into the middle of the plot.

She wanders through the story much as you or I would, talking to Caroline Bingley, peeking in the cupboards and imploring Mr. Bennet to "do something!" when Lydia runs off with a man. It is fantastic and I didn't want it to end.

No matter how dedicated you are to the story, the movie, the life of Jane Austen...you can't help but enjoy this light-hearted movie. Now go watch it and then forward this post to every Austen enthusiast you know.

Charm Bracelet

Do you ever wear something to give you courage? When I need a little nudge, I wear my charm bracelet. It reminds me of all the different experiences I have had and "tells me" that I can handle the next big thing. I wore it to my first public speaking engagement and (dare I say), it worked like a charm.

Can you see my new lobster trap (complete with a little lobster inside)?

It is 1/3 in from the left - between the Eiffel Tower and a Hawaiian Pineapple. I have been collecting the charms on here since I was 12. Love it!

Beautiful Vases

Do your vases have necklaces?

I've removed the label from an empty spice jar and placed it inside a clean jam jar.

By gluing a "diamond" trim (similar to this) on the lip of each jar with a glue called Gem-Tac, the result looks like a necklace.

I decoupaged a paper moth on the front of the larger jar with Mod-Podge, which adds a hint of a ball gown.

This arrangement really highlights a single rose and is reminiscent of a woman's neckline, don't you think?

Now this is a lady-like vase!

Blue October

It was a bright and chilly October day in Michigan. Perfect for a Fall Family Fair!

We were invited to spend the afternoon drinking cider, taking hayrides and enjoying the camaraderie of friends and co-workers on a gorgeous Fall day in Plymouth.

It was the perfect way to spend a beautiful Saturday afternoon, don't you think?

My favorite part? Cotton candy!

Fall is here and the activities have begun. Next weekend...tailgating before the football game!

Dim Sum, Anyone?

You know how I love when dollhouses are packed with tiny household objects. Everyday items are just plain cuter when they are small. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw these little Dim Sum erasers!

They are the perfect size for Barbies. What could be more modern than Barbie & Ken sitting down to Dim Sum after a night on the town?

And yes, I said erasers. These are the perfect addition to any fourth-grader's pencil case. Remember, look for things that are beautiful and interesting.

Euchre Night

Last night was my Junior League "Euchre Night" and I wanted to bring something with a little pizazz as my contribution to the snacks. I made Duncan Hines carrot cake cupcakes (yum!) with cream cheese frosting, but wasn't sure how I wanted to finish them.

My first thought was to sprinkle them with tiny Autumn leaves. But when I arrived at the cake supply store (yes, I made a special trip because I love this stuff) I was won over by the playing card cake picks! What could be better for a euchre night? Now, what was trump?

White Pumpkins

I am not a "Halloween" girl.
No orange & purple. No creepy touches. I know that ghosts, bones and dry ice are all the rage, but it is just not me.

My tribute to Halloween is a little more... beautiful.

A white pumpkin next to a rose-filled sugar bowl (the one I got at the Country Living Fair!) is much more my style.

What do you think?

The Year of the Crepe

In May, I ordered a crepe right from a street vendor at the Vanves Flea Market in Paris and watched her make a large butter & sugar crepe before my eyes.

In July, I found my Mom's electric crepe maker in a box in the basement (circa 1978 and never been used!) and spent an entire weekend trying to master it well enough to make dessert for four.

In August, I took a free cooking class at Williams-Sonoma titled "Crepes & Croques." And later that month, I gave in and ordered the spectacular jambon & fromage crepe (above) from a little French bistro in town. Yum!

I am not saying that I have thrown in the towel. But I definitely have miles to go before I sleep, as far as crepes are concerned. This, my friends, is the year of the crepe. Any tips would be appreciated.

Retro-stick

I have been loading my calendar with stickers for years. I always get the double-page Monthly At-A-Glance calendar - that way I have plenty of room for fun. I put "birthday candle" stickers to denote some one's birthday, "teacup" stickers when I am meeting someone for coffee and travel stickers when I have a big trip planned. My close friends know this and often kid me when we make plans, "Do you have a sticker for that?"

When Angie came to take me to the airport for our trip to Maine, she arrived with some darling stickers by Jolee's of seagulls, lighthouses and suitcases. The first thing out of her mouth? "Please tell me that you retro-stick!" and I knew exactly what she meant.

The minute I got home, I went back and decorated the third week of September. Thanks, Angie!

Mad For Plaid

I wanted to show you a one-of-a-kind scarf that I made for Fall.

There is no pattern, really. I simply bought 8 different plaid suiting fabrics (1/4 yard each) at JoAnn Fabrics and cut them into strips and sections. I sewed the various pieces together to make two patchwork sections, each 6 inches wide and 48 inches long.

I pinned "the wrong sides" of the patchwork sections together and serged around the perimeter to create a double-sided scarf.

Can you tell that I am truly mad for plaid right now?

Cider Mill here I come!

Knit Vase

Are you enjoying Moments of Delight?

This is my 700th blog post!


Remember my "I knit scarves" proclamation?
Well, a friend came over one evening to knit and ended up talking me into making something for the house. She suggested a lap blanket, I countered with a vase.

I told her that essentially wanted to knit a cover for a coffee can. She then "did the math" (based on the gauge of stitches per inch) on how many stitches should fit snugly around the can and where the knit/purl stitches should be to create a rib. She started me "knitting in the round" for the first time on circular needles and the rest is history.

This project took about 2 hours to knit and I absolutely love it! The master plan was to buy cockscomb (real flowers!) at the farmer's market in complimentary shades. Don't these real flowers look like felted wool ones?

I have this bouquet in my living room and it looks spectacular!

A Letter to Jack Frost

A Letter to Jack Frost

Dear Jack,
I hope this letter finds you well. I know that you are in town because my lawn was opaque yesterday morning when I woke up.

I realize that it is October 2nd already. I have seen the Christmas decorations in the stores and I have even made an apple pie. I love Fall, I really do.

But, Jack, my roses. Do you think you could hold off the freeze warnings for another 10 days or so? My garden is loaded with buds and I really can't bear to lose them.

I've enclosed a picture of my latest bouquet to show you why it is so important - honey dijon roses, magenta zinnias, pale yellow snapdragons and Lillian Austin roses.

I have many "ladies-in-waiting" almost ready to bloom and I really want to photograph them. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Anne Reeves

Alton Brown: Food For Thought

What an inspirational night! Food Network Personality, Alton Brown held 3,200 people in the palm of his hand at his sold-out lecture at Oakland University last night.

His core message was this:
The "best food" is food that has been prepared by loving hands. So cook - for your friends, your family, your neighbors. The love instilled in preparing food for someone has a nutritional value all its own.

• He emphasized that nothing you buy will ever taste as good as something you make.
  
• He stressed the importance of eating a bright and colorful diet.
  
• He renounced products labeled "Diet" or "Lite", adding that the experience of eating one glorious homemade cookie will always beat eating an entire package of diet cookies.

Alton Brown was witty, happy and completely "present" as he inspired the crowd to grown their own vegetables, cook their own meals and be thankful for the food in front of them. I am not sure what I was expecting to hear from Alton Brown last night, but he delivered. He gave us food for thought.

Flight of Ice Cream

Have you ever had a flight of wine? A flight is a small sampling of wine or liquor for the purpose of comparison. I had my first ice cream flight at Mount Desert Island Ice Cream! I chose an all-white flight:

• Kahlua White Chocolate
• Sherry Raisin
• Ginger
• Coconut
  

Each flavor was better than the last. If you are planning an adventure to Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park, you must schedule some ice cream time.

On that note, you can skip the "Lobster Ice Cream" (yes, it is true) at Ben & Bill's Chocolate Emporium. I "took one for the team" and tried a sample on your behalf. All I can say is, you guys owe me big! I tried to erase the taste by having a scoop of their "Pecan Pie" ice cream - vanilla ice cream studded with chunks of flaky crust and sticky sweet pecans. It worked.

Acadia National Park

The day we designated for exploring Acadia National Park turned out to be damp, chilly and gray. My "to go" cup of English Breakfast tea from the Bar Harbor Tea Company tasted particularly good that afternoon. It was our first Fall day, but we enjoyed our drive through the park despite the weather.

A few days before we went inside the park to have dinner at the famous Jordan Pond House. Tea & popovers have been a tradition here since the late 1800's.

Angie knows how much I love popovers and insisted that our plans included dinner (and popovers) at this historic restaurant.
Yum! Before dinner, we walked out onto the lawn that stretches down to Jordan Pond and looked at the view. We could clearly see "The Bubbles" (hills) in the distance - I have never been anywhere so quiet.

Little Cranberry Island

(This photo is of our arrival at the Islesford Dock.)

One of our adventures was to take the Mail Boat out to Little Cranberry Island. Since I am not particularly "sea worthy," I was really worried about being motion sick on the rough ocean waters.

Can you believe it? The water was like glass the whole way. It was such a beautiful ride and I loved every second of it. The Mail Boat is just that - the Captain, a few passengers and the day's bin of mail. It was really neat to be a part of their daily routine. At one point I called over the wind to the Captain, "Where's Martha Stewart's house?" and he pointed out the long narrow roofline within the trees on the oposite shore.

We stayed on the island a few hours after the last mail boat run, so we hired a water taxi (the boat was named "Delight!") to take us back to northeast harbor. We ripped through the dark open waters on a gorgeous starry night - it is an evening I will never forget.

I've enlarged a portion of the main picture (below) so that you can see "Delight" tied up at the dock.

Lobster Roll

I don't know if you have ever had a lobster roll, but the pictures I had seen in the magazines pale in comparison to this!

Having a lobster roll was at the top of my list when I traveled to Maine. I had heard about this indulgent sandwich many many times over the years and I was ready to try it at the source! Fresh Maine lobster (look at how perfectly they extracted the meat from the claws!) with a light mayonnaise or butter dressing, piled high on a hot dog bun.

My requirements were as follows: I wanted to eat it outside, near the coast, from a place recommended by the townspeople.

I stood on the harbor docks and got two of my new friends to agree that Docksiders was where I should have lunch. Take Sea Street up from Northeast Harbor and you can't miss it. I ordered at the window, "paid dearly" for the best lobster roll around and ate it on a picnic table in the sunshine. (Sigh) Fresh, rich and delicious. Thank you, Maine!

Bar Harbor, Maine

Last week, I had the most glorious time in Bar Harbor, Maine. My dear friend, Angie was going on a trip to "Where America's Day Begins" (as the furthest state East, that is the slogan on their driver's licenses) and she let me come along on her adventure!

Apart from a family trip when I was four-years-old, I had never been to Maine. However, my maternal great-grandparents were from Bethel, Maine and my paternal grandparents loved Bar Harbor so much that they often d-r-o-v-e there from Michigan for vacation.

So I knew, genetically speaking, that Maine would be my kind of place. It was wonderful to photograph (everything!) and imagine it through the eyes of my ancestors. I loved it all, really. Over the next few days, I will tell you some stories and show you what brought me delight.

Ice Cream & Black Olives

Yes, all in one trip! The Black Olive reference is to a wonderful restaurant of the same name in the Short North district of Columbus, Ohio. The restaurant's glass walls swing open, so my friends and I enjoyed dinner "in the night air." I loved everything about it - the super nice staff, my delicious entree (steak with a plum reduction sauce) and the overall vibe of the restaurant. The perfect choice for relaxing after a big day at the fair.

Just across the street is Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream. An imperative stop on any trip to or thru Columbus.

Can I describe ice cream as gorgeous?
I think Jeni's unusual flavors, generous use of core ingredients and overall delight provided warrants the description.

We shared 2 Trios and ranked their deliciousness as follows:
#1 Bourbon Butter Pecan
#2 Pistachio Honey
#3 Sweet Corn with Black Raspberry Swirl
#4 Backyard Mint
#5 Dark Chocolate
#6 Carrot Cake

Mind you, the first four are so good, I would eat them every day for a month if I could. Honorable Mention goes to Red Beets with Lemon and Poppy Seeds - pink & delicious!