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!

Leelanau Cheese Company, Swiss Cheese

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

The Leelanau Cheese Company, located at Black Star Farms, 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. Yum.

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.  The shop is beautiful and I could have browsed all afternoon.  But it was our first Fall weather day, and we needed to get on with our drive through the park despite the damp weather.  When we pulled off the road to take photographs, we really felt a sense of calm.

A few days before this, 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 opposite 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 so that you can see the "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 in Ohio

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 - it was pink & delicious!

Country Living Fair 2009, Part 3

I was lucky enough to get a seat front & center for a "Seasonal Wreath" presentation at the Country Living magazine's Country Fair.

The hour-long seminar was hosted by famous design team, Richard Kollath (left) and Ed McCann (right).

Richard used an Oasis wreath base (which, once soaked in water, provides moisture to the flowers/leaves allowing the arrangement to last up to a week!) to make a fresh flower arrangement bursting with Fall colors. It had a beautiful combination of mums, cockscomb, mini gourds, hypericum and bittersweet. So pretty!

Meanwhile, Ed gave suggestions for making in-home arrangements last longer. For example, he recommended "Butchers Wax" as the perfect medium to rub on clean gourds & pumpkins to improve and seal them for an indoor display. Remember when I bought my white pumpkin here?

This weekend I am going to the farmer's market to get a white pumpkin for my front table...and I have added Butchers Wax to my shopping list!

Thank you, Richard & Ed! I had a delightful time.

Country Living Fair 2009, Part 2

Yum! Country Living contributing Food Editor, Cheryl Slocum, was all about the pumpkin at this year's Country Living Fair. She worked her magic with three recipes from the October issue: Pumpkin Bread, Curried Pumpkin & Peas and Pumpkin Cannelloni with Sage Brown Butter Sauce (above).

The genius in the cannelloni recipe is the Barilla "Oven Ready" lasagna sheets. Give them a minute or two in boiling water and they become soft enough to fill and roll! Ricotta, pumpkin, salt & sage made the filling for this delicious entree.

I have started using this magic pasta myself for quick dinners and they work like a dream.

Thanks, Cheryl, for an excellent and entertaining Fall food demonstration!

Country Living Fair 2009, Part 1

How do you maximize your fun when you go to a Country Fair? Have a plan. There was so much going on at the 2009 Country Living magazine's Country Fair, I had to be organized.

10 AM: Gates open. First on my list? Find my Aunt Carol's booth! She has an amazing eye and brought her fine silver, transfer ware, and pink lustre to Columbus to participate as an antiques dealer in this huge Country Living event.

11-12 PM: Cooking Demonstration with Country Living contributing Food Editor, Cheryl Slocum

12:15: Casual Lunch - BBQ

1-2 PM: Country Living Editor-In-Chief, Sarah Gray Miller discusses the 30 year history of Country Living magazine

2-3 PM: Eat Jeni's ice cream (Salty Carmel, Honey Vanilla & Belgian Chocolate) and concentrate on photographing the event

3-4 PM: Seasonal Wreath presentation by Country Living contributors, Richard Kollath and Ed McCann.

4-5 PM: Shop until the gates close at five o'clock.

It worked! I was able to do it all and "see" the entire fair. A favorite moment? When I found a darling square sugar bowl & lid for $10!

Now that you have a general sense of the event, I will be posting highlights over the next few days. My advice? Mark your calendars for next September in Columbus. This Country Fair is worth the trip!

O-hi-o

Today I am attending the Country Living Magazine Country Fair in Columbus, Ohio.

Cooking demonstrations, shopping for antiques and sampling lots of unusual ice cream flavors at Jeni's ice cream! The forecast is clear skies and 74 degrees - my photos should be amazing.

I will tell you all about it when I get back!

Angelina's in Paris

Was I having a good day or what? This is a little something I ordered (and inhaled!) at Angelina's in Paris. My favorite pastry is "Millefeuille" (often called a "Napoleon" in America) and I ate them all over Paris in the name of research. In my opinion, Angelina's on Rue de Rivoli has the best!

Souvenir Teaspoons

Did you gasp too? I saw this hanging in the visitor center at Mount Vernon and my delight was audible.

A display of antique souvenir spoons from George Washington's day. My favorite ones (shown up close) have Washington's entire torso depicted on the handle. Neat, huh?

The Fox Brothers

One afternoon, my nephew (a born naturalist) and I were combing the property looking for signs of our foxes. We had watched all three foxes play in the yard the day before by standing inside our screened porch. We were perfectly still and after a few moments of hesitation, the fox brothers decided that we were not a threat and played for a long time within our view.

We laughed to ourselves later when we imagined the young foxes telling their mother that they seen people out in broad daylight! At which point, we were sure the Fox Mother would have had a fit. "People are dangerous and unpredictable!"

To which the fox brothers would reply, "It's okay, Mom, they were in a cage."

City Series: Washington D.C: The Steps of Lincoln Memorial

I wanted to show you this picture I took from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. It was a gorgeous day and I went up there by myself to see what I could see. I rubbed elbows with boy scouts, families and tourists as we all took turns having our picture taken with Abe.

I rode the elevator down with an older gentleman from Italy. I don't speak Italian and he didn't speak English, but we chatted none the less with gestures, smiles and by showing off our digital pictures.

Little moments like that are why I love people so much. We weren't going to let a little thing like language slow down our enthusiasm for the experience we had just had. That is delight.

Summer Sunsets

I love a Summer sunset. With bright blue still in the sky, pinks and apricots mix it up along the horizon. I am known for "stopping everything" to dedicate time to watch the sun go down. I relax with a cup of decaf coffee (loaded with milk) and appreciate every minute. Have you been stopping to watch the sunset?

Tiny Tomatoes with Balsamic Glaze

Cute and delicious! What more could a girl want? I bought a quart of these beautiful heirloom cherry tomatoes at the farmer's market. If only I had brought a pen with me, I could tell you their names. When I expressed interest in them, the women that grew them started rattling off every variety. So cute! The only name that I can remember is "Jelly Bean."

I served these tiny tomatoes (whole & halved) with mini mozzarella balls and a drizzle of Blaze balsamic glaze. Dinner was grilled salmon with a sesame ginger crust, sticky rice and fresh green beans. Yum!

End-of-Summer Party

The sound of live music lead me to this picture perfect scene. It was Labor Day in Leland and a huge end-of-summer party was happening at The Cove. I walked out on the footbridge over the waterfall and stood in the sun for quite a while just enjoying the scene. Can you see the people who came by kayak?

As you look down the river, you can see historic Fishtown, charter fishing boats and Lake Michigan in the distance. What a glorious day.