Going to Mecca

In the little town of Benzonia, there is a darling artist-owned gift shop called Mecca. This little house is filled with paper butterflies, glitter trophies and hand-crafted cake toppers. I make the trip to this shop at least twice a year and stay more than an hour each time soaking up the scene. One area of the store has an ever-changing collection of antique bottles. I found this wonderful blue "ear of corn" bottle and had to have it. The glass is designed to show individual kernels of corn and has "old fashion maize concoction" stamped in the glass. I keep it by the kitchen sink filled with flowers. Love it!

Oh, Graham...

I am on a first name basis with my roses. "Abraham...looking good. Bill, how are you doing? Eden, you look fantastic." I think it started as a way to help the garden club girls learn the names for our garden walk (Abraham Darby, Bill Warriner, Eden Climber). This beauty is a David Austin English rose named Graham Thomas. Over the last week or so the roses have been in a lull - hardly a bloom between them. So when I walked out to the patio and saw this I simply said, "Oh, Graham!"

Person, Place, Thing

My Mom and I cleaned out the "art drawer" at the cottage and found our watercolor postcards, a pile of brushes and a never-opened set of watercolor tubes. By the time we had carried out the supplies, filled the enamelware bowl with water and situated ourselves by the garden, I was happy just to sit there and talk. The verb painting became the least important part of our plan to "paint the garden." All I needed was the person and the place.

Leland Michigan's Safe Harbor

Can you see the silhouette of people in the distance? They are doing what is fondly called "walking on the rocks." 

The breakwater in Leland Harbor makes for a fun "after ice cream" walk for vacationers. When you've had a lovely dinner in town, you've peeked in all the shop windows and you still can't bear to let the day end, a "walk on the rocks" is a fun way for the sure-footed to watch the sun go down over the harbor.

I used to "walk on the rocks" with my dad all the time when I was around 10 years old.  A little fresh air and what seemed like a very adventurous route across the harbor made for some great memories.

Now when I look at the harbor, I see a beautiful place where time stands still.

Gourmet Sandwiches

Now this is taking lunch to the next level! One of my favorite spots to have lunch in the summertime is a tiny Scandinavian Gift Shop called Punzel. It is about 15 minutes south of the Interlochen Center for the Arts and is a local treasure. Open-face sandwiches with edible flowers, soft cheese & broiled fruit make a lunch that is too pretty to eat. There is no menu, you simply make a reservation for "lunch" and you'll be delighted every time.

Blueberry Dessert

What have I baked three times this week? My beloved blueberry gateau. Neighbors, friends, brothers - all have gotten their fill lately. Discovered years ago in Country Living magazine, this recipe from Vermont's Blueberry Hill Inn is becoming my signature dish for blueberry season. When I mention that I have/want/need blueberries, more & more people are asking "Are you making gateau?" (My neighbor even gave me a huge box of blueberries this week with a glance that said "You know what to do.") Delicious with a cup of tea, wonderful as a snack, perfect for company...I love this recipe. Try it. I know you will make it time and time again. And soon your friends and family will be asking...Are you making gateau?

Quiet Time

When I am at the lake, I drop everything when the sun starts to set. At home, I can't see the sun go down, so I consider it a special occasion when I can. I suspend the gin rummy game, the dishes, the movie...whatever it is that I am doing can wait 20 minutes while I soak up the sunset. This overcast day evolved into quite the "inspirational poster," don't you think? The phase below it could read, "Every day should end with a little quiet time."

Bee Hive Cake

Want to create a buzz? Build a hive! I bought this cake pan years ago through Martha By Mail and I love it. You can order your own hive pan (a little different from mine, but the same idea) from Nordic Ware. A simple box of pound cake mix (add 1/4 cup of fresh lemon zest when you are mixing) makes the cutest bee hive cake ever. After it is baked and the two halves are "glued" together with icing (made of powdered sugar and lemon juice) drizzle more icing over the seam and down the hive. What should you serve on the side? A scoop of Haagen Dazs' limited edition Vanilla Honey Bee ice cream. Yum!

Ladies in Waiting

What's so amazing about this picture? It was taken on July 17th! My peonies bloom in early June, so how do I have a fresh bouquet 6 weeks later? I have found a florist's trick that really works. When peony buds are about the size of a ping pong ball and showing color, cut them from the plant leaving a 6-8 inch stem. Dip the cut end in hot wax to seal. Wrap bud & stem in damp paper toweling and seal in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to two months. When you are ready for a spectacular bouquet, simply recut the stems to remove the wax and place the buds in room temperature water. Your "ladies in waiting" should open within a day or two. Love it!

Top 10 Herb Gardens

The Herb Society of America has listed the Top 10 Not-To-Miss Herb Gardens in the United States. To check it out, simply click here and open their pdf. I was talking "herbs" one day with a Master Gardener and she suggested that I visit Greenfield Village and photograph the garden they have dedicated to herbs. So cute - it makes me want to edge everything with brick! They have a vine-covered sitting area to the right where I sat in the shade and drained an icy lemonade.

Moments of Delight, Local Press

Remember the photo shoot in my rose garden? The rain held off that day and the photographer got some beautiful shots. I want you to see the article written about my first book (the article was aptly titled, Moments of Delight) that ran in the Observer & Eccentric newspapers all over metro Detroit on July 3rd. They did such a nice job. You can read the article and see the photos as a pdf here.

Lavender Festival Delights in Romeo

The 3-day Lavender Festival in Romeo, Michigan is going on now. There are booths of lavender products, "Make & Take" lavender workshops and wonderful salads and sandwiches for sale (with lavender lemonade, of course). When I saw on the schedule that a french pastry chef would be doing a demonstration called "French Lavender Sweets," I was a goner. So yesterday I rearranged my schedule and found myself eating honey lavender ice cream and listening to instructions like "put ze lavender in ze pan." It was fun. An open-air demonstration on bringing lavender's essence to everything from creme brulee to cookie dough. Magnifique!

Candy Couture

I took my first trip to New York City in 2005. I had a "must see" list of shops and my friend Kerry skillfully mapped out our route for the weekend. 

Ribbon stores, a paper emporium and the tearoom of a Japanese department store were all on my list. But it was when I said that I needed to see Dylan's Candy Bar that my friend really perked up. 

A store devoted to candy candy candy - yum! My photo of their shop window (featuring a mannequin in a candy gown) combined with the skyline reflecting behind, became my "signature shot" for our amazing weekend. 

Can you tell I am dreaming of New York City...

Poppy

My college roommate had a poster of a crimson poppy by Georgia O'Keeffe over her dresser in our room. It was bright and dramatic and she loved it. You can see an example of it here. So whenever I see an Oriental poppy in bloom, I think of my dear friend, Heidi. In this picture, I love how the orange petals are set off by the bright greens of Spring.

Dinner Cruise

There is nothing more romantic than a slow cruise up the river in a classic wooden boat. Have you ever gone to dinner by boat? At The Riverside Inn in Leland, you can arrive by boat and tie up at their dock. I love to dine on the patio where the sounds of dinner mingle with the low thrum of antique boats cruising by.

Lavender Farm

My mom and I went to my favorite lavender farm in northern Michigan (Michigan Lavender in Northport, E. Johnson Road) on Saturday and photographed these perfect purple tufts. They usually advertise when the lavender is in bloom, but aren't open to the public on other days.  Call before you head out 231-386-9256. 

A sunny day, interesting products for sale (I am going to use their culinary lavender in a roasted potato dish tonight) and an icy cup of lavender lemonade. 

What more could a girl want?  

Some Fruit

We have the tiniest "berry garden" ever. A few strawberry plants, a few raspberries and two lone blueberry bushes. I don't expect a lot from this plot, but it's fun to watch the berries develop and we do get a few cups of fruit over the Summer. Today, when I rounded the brick wall, I saw that we had blueberries! Beautiful, perfect blueberries. There are only about ten total, but aren't they gorgeous? I am very proud. If Charlotte were here, I know she would spin a web that said "Some Fruit."

Super Cute Necklace

I knew that I was onto something when I mentioned making a necklace out of novelty buttons here. I thought that the colors and shapes would be just right with "the T-shirts of Summer." 

 Well, I wore it last night to a card party and it was a hit. Everybody loves something bright and pretty to jazz up a simple tee. I am going to wear it with pink and orange and green, oh my!

Rooftop Garden

Isn't this house charming? 

Notice that they have a rooftop garden, not for vegetables, but for decoration! 

I had never seen such a thing and I simply had to show you. This long narrow house sits right on the lake and feels so European. 
Bravo!

The Perfect Gift

I drove up to my aunt's house and saw the most spectacular peony blooming by her front walk. She said that it was a gift from a friend. Can you think of a lovelier present?

When I tried to identify it online, I came across the neatest peony website. You enter the peony info (color, flower type, bloom time) and it shows you which peony it might be! I think that this is "Lotus Bloom."

Cherry Country

Traverse City, Michigan is in the heart of cherry country. These Cherry Streusel muffins are so delicious you'll think you're at a country inn overlooking Grand Traverse Bay!

2 1/4 cups flour
1 1/4 cups sugar (3/4 cup and 1/2 cup)
1 1/2 sticks butter
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sour cream
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon almond extract


1 (8 oz) 1/3 Less Fat "Neufchâtel" cream cheese
1 egg
48 tart or sweet cherries, pitted


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick spray. In a food processor, pulse flour, butter and 3/4 cup of the sugar until crumbly. Remove 1 cup of this flour mixture and set aside. Pour the remaining flour mixture into a mixing bowl. Add baking powder, baking soda, salt, sour cream, egg, and almond extract and mix well. Using a cookie dough scoop, drop a mound of dough into each muffin tin and spread a bit to create a muffin base. Place 4 cherries on top of dough. In the (now empty) food processor bowl, blend cream cheese, 1 egg and the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar. Spoon a dollop over cherries in each muffin tin. Spoon any remaining dough into each muffin tin and top generously with reserved crumble mixture. Bake for 20 minutes.

The Blue Angels

The Blue Angels put on a magnificent airshow this year at the National Cherry Festival. Watching from a pier on Grand Traverse Bay, I could see every maneuver perfectly. 

It is said that The Blue Angels fly in formation 18 inches apart! Look how close they are in my photo above. 500,000 people visit the 8-day festival and I stood with my camera among the thousands of spectators enjoying the show. I had a "special event ticket" to watch the air show from the pier while enjoying a gourmet picnic of wine and local fare. The chefs offered cherry bar-b-cue chicken, pulled pork with cherry glaze and a chocolate brownie studded with dried cherries & walnuts. Yum. 

My favorite thing that happened? A ten-year-old boy with a camera walked up to me after a particularly close fly-by, gestured to my camera and said "What'd ya get?" So, photographer-to-photographer, we compared our best shots and agreed that The Blue Angels were "cool."

National Cherry Festival

It is hard for me to explain how much I love watching the U.S. Navy Blue Angels airshow. The power and precision of six F/A-18 Hornets flying in tight formation is spectacular. The National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, Michigan hosts the Blue Angels every other year and I haven't missed a show yet. I snapped this shot during a practice flight. Look how the plane is screaming through the blue sky between the sun and an American flag - love it!

Strawberry Delight

Every time someone comes back to the cottage, they seem to be carrying a quart of strawberries. The markets are loaded with berries at their peak and no one can resist! But the kitchen counter is getting crowded with them, so I think it is time to make more jam. I may even make a strawberry tart. 

What if I add strawberry slices to a pitcher of lemonade? Mmmm...I love Summer!

4th of July

A small town, promises of ice cream and my 3 nephews watching the parade. I couldn't have planned a more perfect 4th of July photo. I especially love the red, white & blue t-shirts. I hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend.

A Tisket a Tasket

I've decided to try my hand at embroidery again. I was about 8 when I first learned to cross stitch. I would mark a design in pencil on a flour sack square and then stitch over it with DMC floss. 

I vividly remember making a square for my brother with the outline of a sailboat on it. Lately, I've been seeing embroidered dishtowels in antique stores and I want to try some of those pretty stitches myself! 

Yesterday, I drew this basket of raspberries with a disappearing ink pen and stitched the berries by making lots of french knots. I am really happy with it. Dishtowels here I come!

Order Dessert

While many get offered a bite of some one's fabulous dessert...I get offered a photograph. My friends know how much I love photography and let me take pictures of their desserts before they dig in. This beauty was taken at a luncheon celebrating friendship that I attended in May. It was quite a scene when my friends all pass their desserts to me and when the waiter saw what I was doing, he brought me a stack of colored napkins to use as a backdrop - so thoughtful! 

You can see a different dessert where I used a lilac napkin here. A decadent chocolate cake finished with fresh berries and a pool of chocolate. All I can say is order dessert.

Time to Bake

I couldn't help myself...the darling packaging that was designed to make me buy & bake, actually made me buy & make. I saw this sweet box of cupcake mix and instantly wanted to make a clock out of it. I haven't made the actual cupcakes yet, but I'm in no rush. I know I'll never lose the instructions - they are on the back of the clock! To make, you will need a cute box, a clock movement (from the craft store), 1 AA battery, and tape. 

Make sure to center the hands high enough on the box to allow the hands to tick all the way around (too low and they will hit the table). Follow the clock movement instructions to place the motor of the clock inside the box (open box from the bottom) and the hands of the clock on the face. I used a 3 inch piece of strong tape across the motor inside to keep it secure (just don't tape over the time set wheel). It is super simple and super cute!

Fauchon Cookies

It may not be what Fauchon had in mind when designing their cookie tins, but could there be a prettier vase? I simply slide an empty jam jar inside and have an instant waterproof container for my peony arrangements.

I am trying something new this year. I read that you can "postpone" peony blossoms for over a month! The instructions were to clip buds that were about to open, dip the stems in wax, wrap completely in damp toweling and refrigerate. So right now I have about 12 "ladies in waiting" in my fridge downstairs that I prepared in May. I will try to make them bloom the week of July 7th. Wish me luck!

Easy and Fresh Asparagus Soup

How do I make asparagus soup? I bring together two important factors: easy & delicious. I buy fresh asparagus from the farmer's market (or in this case, I was at the farm!). 

Then wash a bundle of stalks, cut them into 3 inch pieces, cover with water and simmer in a saute pan until tender. Pour off the bright green asparagus water into a measuring cup. Open 2 cans of Campbell's cream of asparagus soup and pour into a sauce pan. Measure asparagus water into one of the empty soup cans and add to soup. Pour in 1/4 cup milk or Fat Free Half & Half to make it creamy. Add cooked aspargus and warm contents over low heat. Enjoy!

The Goody Basket

Every 4th of July, my grandmother would take the 5 hour drive with us and come to the cottage for a week. She'd bring her recipe cards, a coffee can full of "chocolate bits" cookies (announcing the number of cookies in the can when she arrived...92) and The Goody Basket. A lidded wooden basket full of Tootsie Rolls, Smarties, Milky Ways, Lollipops, Taffy and Caramels. 

We needed something "from the goody basket" all the time. During card games, before dinner, after dinner...it was always easy to catch someone chewing as they left that corner of the kitchen. 

As I was packing for the holiday weekend yesterday, I realized I had my own goody basket, except my goodies are crafts. It is brimming with all the projects I want to work on over the 4th. 

The only thing it is missing is a box of Junior Mints!

Wish List

I could look at this photograph all day. In fact, I may make it into a DELIGHT tote so that I can take it with me wherever I go! In the background you can see my favorite quilt - it is blue, green, pink and cream print stars. 

My Mom has an antique quilt collection and I get to borrow them to decorate my house, which I love. Do you see my new rose? 

It is called Honey Dijon and is a dusty dull yellow brown - so cool! I looked everywhere for this variety last year and actually yelped when I found one in stock 2 weeks ago. 

Do you have a rose wish list?

Swedish Bakery in Chicago

The cookbook, Swedish Cakes and Cookies, talks of a traditional coffee klatch where friends gather for coffee, sweets and conversation. I am in! 

I can't wait to try and replicate some of these sweets. This photo was taken at our last stop in Andersonville, "The Swedish Bakery" on North Clark Street. I ate cookies from each shelf and they were delicious!

Salute to Sweden

I would love love love to go to Sweden someday. I find myself drawn to Swedish-style furniture, the paintings of Carl Larsson and even Swedish sweets.

So when I was in Chicago last weekend, I headed straight to Andersonville, a Swedish community.

I shopped the Swedish American Museum (I bought a traditional cookie cookbook & pearl sugar) and then enjoyed lunch at Svea (Swedish meatballs and cold fruit soup). 

It was a beautiful day - perfect for window shopping.

Cottage Style

Enamelware plates & embroidered dishtowels take a lot of the credit for "cottage style" in the magazines these days, but we rarely see examples of sweet cottage exteriors.

Look what I found...a perfect square guest house that I would love to spend the weekend in. One overflowing window box and a hedge of Annabelle hydrangeas - so cute! 

I imagine there is a pan of blueberry muffins cooling on the stovetop in there.

Iris Farm

My bio ends with the line:

"I knit, sew, glue, tape, plant, bake, buy, try, think, feel, and live like I am starring in my own movie."


Well, what could be a better scene in a movie than walking through an iris field cutting stalks for a bouquet?

There are so many fun ways to fill your 90 days of Summer - what about attending a local festival? This link has every possible event by state. Personally, I am hoping to attend a Mint Festival in August...

Strawberry Jam

My new favorite thing to make is strawberry jam. Ball's No Cook Freezer Jam Fruit Pectin works perfectly - you simply blend the envelope of pectin with 1 1/2 cups sugar, then add 4 cups of crushed fresh strawberries and stir for 3 minutes. 

Then ladle the jam into really cute jars and let stand for 30 minutes. I love these tulip jars by Weck's. I have made 2 batches in the last 10 days and between eating and gifting, they are almost gone! Go get yourself some beautiful June berries and give it a try. There is nothing quite like the taste of homemade jam on buttered toast in the morning. Enjoy!

Moments of Delight, Photo Shoot

This morning there was a photo shoot at my house for an article about my book, Moments of Delight. 

The plan was to take some shots "in the rose garden" which sounds lovely, but rain was in the forecast, so I didn't get my hopes up. 

Well...the sun came out! Take a peek at some of my roses putting on a show. I feel very lucky.

Rose: David Austin English Rose "Heritage"

Apricot Chardonnay Fudgsicle

A lovely little chocolate company called Grocer's Daughter (known for their herb infused truffles!) has developed a line of limited edition fudgsicles. Each day they offer a different flavor of frozen chocolate heaven. When I stopped in this Spring, the flavor of the day was Apricot Chardonnay, made from Food For Thought's organic Apricot Chardonnay preserves & rich dark chocolate. 

A dollar and a stack of napkins later, I was whirling down the highway enjoying a delicious frozen cube and thinking about how much I love innovation.

Photo:
An apricot sunset over Lake Michigan.

Mother Goose

A gaggle of geese. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw them set against a perfect white barn - look at the texture! Now imagine them squawking and hurrying as if someone had shouted, "Look! Mother Goose!" They were a sight and I'm glad I was there to capture it. White on white - barnyard photography rarely looks this pristine.

Father's Day

What's better than a necktie? My Dad & I were in the newspaper on Father's Day! I couldn't ask for a nicer way to celebrate Father's Day than to have a newspaper article written about our Father's Day tradition. 

We shop for and plant herb pots together and call it "Father's May." Be sure to click the link on top and read the wonderful article from the Oakland Press.

Travels With Flowers

You should know that my Summer name is Travels with Flowers.

Every time I drive to the cottage for the weekend, I take along a bucket full of whatever is blooming in my garden. How can I not? 

Once I arrive, I arrange them in bouquets all over the house. And what was in my car on the way home this week? Spectacular German Bearded iris in deep blue and soft periwinkle. I cut them myself in the fields of a local iris farm. Needless to say, it was a wonderful weekend.

Dishes by the Pound

I was shopping in Ann Arbor at a store called "Found," when I noticed that they had a table of mismatched china available for sale by the pound.

How fun. I immediately spotted this old Johnson Brothers square bowl and popped it on the scale. It is antique white with sweet beige & pink blossoms - very grandmother-y and perfect to showcase a peony. 

And for 75 cents, how could I go wrong? 

I hope you find an unexpected treasure this weekend - let me know what you found.

Cold Fruit Soup

It has been hot hot hot lately and I wanted to make something cold & light (and easy) to go with grilled chicken. Enter cold fruit soup. 

Cold Fruit Soup

1 qt. watermelon pieces
1 pt. cantaloupe pieces
1 box (33.8 oz) Ceres Apricot juice
1 bottle (15.2 oz) Odwalla Mo'Beta juice
1/4 cup golden raisins
1 bag (16 oz) frozen sliced peaches
1 Granny Smith apple
Fresh mint

Blend watermelon & cantaloupe to liquid in food processor or blender. Transfer melon slush to a large bowl and pour in 1 box of Ceres Apricot juice and 1 bottle of Odwalla Mo'Beta juice. Add 1/4 cup of golden raisins. Add 1/2 a bag of frozen sliced peaches. These transfer a deep chill to the soup, but should be completely defrosted by the time you serve (check with a fork). Ladle soup into each bowl. Chop apple (including skin) into a petite dice and sprinkle 1/4 into the center of each bowl. Top with fresh mint leaves and Enjoy!

Dinner for Two

A little still life in my living room - dinner for two. I like the idea that when you glance in, it looks like I am ready to sit down to a light meal with a friend.

In truth, the sushi is made of soap! I couldn't resist. The darling vase is a piece of brown transferware filled with Lillian Austin English roses. They are the latest addition to my rose garden and were named for David Austin's mother, Lillian. 

My dream is to someday visit the David Austin headquarters in Albrighton, England and tour their rose gardens. They have 700 different varieties of roses on their grounds - can you imagine!

Garden Notebook

My digital camera is my garden notebook. I like to imagine that someday I will have time to keep a journal loaded with all of my plant information and bloom times etc in it. 

But for now I simply look on my computer to see when my pictures from the garden were taken. The date is captured automatically when you upload your shots. 

Today my peonies started blooming and I wondered if they were early, so I looked in my photography folder. I know that this Raspberry Sundae peony (because it looks like a scoop of vanilla ice cream with raspberry sauce poured over it) bloomed on June 2nd last year and on June 10th in 2005. 

Neat, huh? No crazy record keeping for me. The date on my digital camera does it all. When should I have a friend over to see the hydrangeas? My "records" say the third week in July. 

So get out your camera and start your own garden journal.

Stone Age

Petoskey stones are unusual gray stones with spots that are the result of ice sheets, bedrock & coral colliding 350 million years ago and fossilizing. Sort of.

Anyway, they can only be found in the northwestern tip of Michigan's lower peninsula, which makes them a local treasure. Spend more than 15 minutes on the beach and someone will propose a "hunt" for petoskey stones. Shown here are my nieces, combing the beach for petoskey stones and looking a lot like the evolution of early man. Welcome to the Stone Age, baby.

Real Recipe Cards

When a friend asks for a recipe, do you still write it out on a recipe card?  I think you should. 

I treasure the few recipe cards that I have in my grandmother's hand writing. 

And when I sift through my recipe box and see cards written out by my friends, I remember everything...when we ate that dish; what made the party so fun etc. I don't feel that way when I find a page Xeroxed from a cooking magazine. I often don't know who gave it to me or why. 

There are so many cute recipe cards available in gift shops or you can download free ones online. So the next time someone loves your "pineapple salsa," take a little extra time and give a bit of yourself when you pass the recipe along. They will be glad you did.

Marsh Marigolds

Isn't it nice when you have unexpected conversations with someone? 

I was out and about on a sunny Saturday, driving between small towns taking pictures and stopping in little stores I love along the way. 

A shop girl asked what I was "up to" that day and I answered that the marsh marigolds were out and that I had been photographing them.

She said that she had noticed them too and that they were in their full glory (lining streams and marshy areas) along one particular stretch of road. 

I pulled out my camera, showed her the shots I had taken and we agreed that the bright yellow flowers really made it feel like Spring. Have you ever seen marsh marigolds? I love how the sun is shining down on them through the trees. Nature's spotlight.

90 Days of Summer

There is nothing quite like a slice of watermelon on a hot Summer day. Actually, I take that back.

This dessert is quite like a slice of watermelon and will cool you off any day this Summer!

Modeled after a super cute dessert in a 1998 issue of Martha Stewart Living, my version of this mold requires only 3 sorbets (lime sherbet, lemon & raspberry) and a handful of mini chocolate chips to liven up your next party.

And the beautiful paper plates? April Cornell, of course!

Start enjoying the 90 Days of Summer!