Mushrooms

Warm and damp conditions have proven to be perfect for fungi formation in the woods behind my house.

Addendum: Please, do not put these little lovelies in a fry pan with some olive oil! They are not edible as one can see here.  

a glimpse of Florida...

I have recently returned from the condo in Florida where it was warm and lovely, sans hurricanes and tropical storms, oddly enough. 

Built in the Spanish Mission Style, the building has a stucco surface with a clay barrelled roof as well as arches, balconies, wrought ironworks and an irregular roof line.

While I was in Florida, I was the keeper of Izzy, the wonder dog, the dau's fabulous pooch, while she was away for a bit. 

 small wrought iron, glass-topped  side table on the lanai

French apothecary jar

 My Grandmother's desk

 Wrought iron lantern with seeded glass panes suspended in the entryway.

 The Colonel's parent's desk

Giant custom made curtain

 which covers the extremely large sliding glass door.

wine enjoyed...

We have recently subscribed to Laithwaites Wine Club and are pleased with the selections which are arriving.  The delivery is so much easier than lugging the bottles home from the shop yourself. 

Sticklers unite!

Just finished this easy-to-read treatise on punctuation.  Worth a read, for sure.

I bet Aunt Josephine did as well. 

Considering a visit to the United Kingdom?

With the 2012 Olympics to take place in London, a fantastic ad campaign has arisen to encourage travel to the UK.  There is something for everyone... Dame Judi Dench, Rupert Everett, Dev Patel, Jamie Oliver and even Twiggy. Be sure to watch them all.  You're invited!

Curb appeal: Palma Ceia

While visiting the dau in Tampa, we took the pup for a stroll down a street lined with classic and restored to perfection homes and bungalows, close by to her latest residence in Palma Ceia. Click on the photos for a larger example and to see all the wonderful detail.

 This was the dau's favorite, by far. Love the coral door and cushions. Love that the mail is delivered through a slot in the entrance...tres charming!

Porch swing, plantation shutters, brick veranda, existing and preserved oaks.

Lovely fanlight above the door and sidelights.  Perfectly  landscaped for minimal upkeep. Captain's walk on first floor roofing.  Clerestory window above.

Lovely corbels under the detailed portico. 

Unique garage doors

Again, a gorgeous fanlight and sidelights.  Lantern suspended in the carport. Gas-lighted lanterns flanking the front entrance. Upstairs bay window.

Canopy road

Trellis surrounding the front door with what looks to be a jasmine training upward.

 Fabulous brick walkway, columned portico, gas lit lanterns.

Loved the tree cut-outs on the shutters

This home had a large planting of Boston ferns in a portion of the front space...just amazing.

Tree-lined street with sidewalks on both sides of the street. So quaint.

Many of these houses had plantation shutters only on the bottom half of the window to allow plenty of light, though provide privacy to its inhabitants.

... a cooling beverage



photo source



Strawberry, Lemon, and Basil Soda... a refreshing summer beverage and fabulous way to use a bit of the abounding crop of fresh basil.

...brew up

Time to brew up, indeed!