I hope you are enjoying your weekend. I love taking some photos after a garden tour because the garden has been whipped into shape and I have a little more free time.
As you can see everything is lush and green now but there is a little lag between the spring show of tulips,daffodils etc. and the perennials.The early peonies are starting to bloom and the lupins as well.
There are lots of alliums in bloom scattered throughout the garden.
The Guernsey Cream clematis is starting to bloom.
This is a new one putting on a little show.
The tree peonies are starting to open their buds.
Immortality Iris is blooming and it will bloom again later-a nice bonus!
I love the lupins and they grow wild here along the roadside.
The Guernsey Cream again.
The Primrose Lilac- it has yellow buds when it first comes out and then changes to white.
Alliums
Beauty of Moscow-you can see we had a sunny day today.
This is the Sensation Lilac but the tree has one light pink bloom on it too-I have never seen this before.
I want to thank all of you who gave me advise on other ways of putting my photos on as they have become fuzzy doing the same way that has worked for years. I will get my son to see which way will work best for me-thanks again! For now, I am putting them on a little smaller to see if that is better.
Yes, for lack of finding my paint brushes after the move, I have not finished the chairs I mentioned in the last post.
Pretty flowing plant growing along my driveway. Do you know what it is?
Actually it was for many more reasons. After removing the fabric from the seat, I realized I wanted to buy new thicker foam and batting.
Then I had to take a day and go antiquing with a friend.
Then I had to......you know....do all of the things that we do every day, lol.
So I will be working on the chairs this weekend. I went to Lowe's and bought new brushes. I went to my local wholesale Foam and Fabric store and had custom foam cushions cut.
Oh...and I did one more thing this week. I watched Mama turkey, take her seven little chicks on a walk through my back yard. Look close, they blend in with the ground.
Hi there! So, whats going on with you this weekend? Today I am finally seeing The best exotic Marigold Hotel I am such a believer in it and confident that its going to be that good, that I have included a trailer. For anyone who has a penchant for movies filmed in India, this is for you! After two attempts, I have been dying to see it ever since I saw the first preview....cannot wait!! Anyone see it? I have heard nothing but rave reviews. Then we are off early to a lacrosse tournament for my son, its going to be a long day under the hot sun, but at least the intense humidity has last died down.
Chose two winners who each get to select any one of my frames from my store. So step up claim your frame, and please email me your shipping details!
Congratulations to-
GRC Ltd. and Sue!
Let me know which of these lovely frames you would like in your home.....
Please contact me via email to the theenchantedhome@gmail.com
And the trailer......
Moving onto a bunch of randomness......
Had a nice time over the Memorial day holiday weekend. Entertained more than I had expected to but it ended up being a lot of fun. I made some dishes that are easy but oh so good. I am always good at getting pictures at the start of the process, but once guests start arriving and I start putting the food out (the prettiest part) I somehow get lost in the chaos and forget to take pics...so the ones featured here are really from the beginning of the process. Sorry will continue to do better next time!
One of my favorite pasta dishes is a light summer pasta dish. Best part it can be served and should be served room temp. I believe I may have originally gotten this idea from Ina Garten. The key is really ripe tomatoes and allowing them to sit for 4 hours plus in the mixture. Its quite simple but so pretty and absolutely delicious with any summer BBQ fare.
It all starts with perfectly ripe tomatoes
With a healthy dose of freshly chopped basil
And about 6-8 garlic cloves cut in half ( I love garlic so you can lose less if you are not a huge fan)
Marinate together with about 1/4 cup olive oil, sea salt and fresh coarse pepper, must marinade wrapped with plastic at room temperature for about 4-5 hours
Once done, cook your pasta ( I use thin spaghetti by Barilla) very al dente. Toss with mixture and serve with a very healthy portion of fresh Parmesan. It is soooo good and best part is its served at room temperature. Bon Appetite!
For appetizers, I love crostinis. I make two varieties which are always a big hit. One is I get two containers of mushrooms, chop them up very fine, add minced garlic a little onion and saute together in olive oil. Season with sea salt and pepper, set aside. Drizzle olive oil over your cut crostinis and bake for about 3 min until one side is lightly golden. Remove, add a small piece of fresh mozzarella to each crostini then top with a spoonful of mushroom mixture. Bake for 4-5 minutes until cheese is melted and starting to bubble. The other variety is prepare the crostinis add the mozzarella and then add a this slice of good quality prosciutto on top, bake for 2 min. Take out and add a pinch of freshly chopped basil. Serve immediately and watch them disappear!
Getting ready for a quick trip into the oven for maybe 3 minutes at most
Second batch getting ready to be inhaled
I also make a mean chicken marsala, its pretty much the typical with mushrooms, butter, marsala wine, fresh parsley but this ones includes chipped proscuitto which gives it fabulous flavor.....it was a hit!
Make the mixture in a saute pan
Have your dredged in flour and seasoned chicken cutlets at the ready
Add butter and sautee
A healthy dose of fresh parsley
Add to chicken and get ready to bake for about 45 min.......that's it!
And for Friday, made my white clam sauce and if I may say so myself, it is very good. One of our guests proclaimed it as the best clam sauce he has had in many years! Key to me is lots of garlic and only vongele or the baby clams.
And sorbet filled fruit are one of my all time favorite summertime desserts, less guilt and pretty too!
If you like salsa, I must say Harry and Davids black bean salsa is one of my all time favorites, it has a generous amount of black beans and corn, is seasoned just right and always a hit; I buy restaurant quality tortillas, they are very thin and this too always gets gobbled up.
I love using my Spanish olive trays sold in my online shop for appetizers.....
I love really thin restaurant quality chips, and have you tried the guacamole chips? Addicting!
Sorry if I am making you hungry....suddenly I am craving a full fledged meal! Moving onto non food items......
My friend Debby from that ever so chic and inspirational blog, Inspired Design recently launched her own online shop of her gorgeous prints all from our favorite places, Nantucket, Paris, Italy...they are absolutely stunning and so well priced. I can think of many creative ways to use her gorgeous prints..... Here's a sampling!
And a sampling of her wonderful prints up for sale-
Beautiful charming Nantucket
And Paris in Sepia...oooh la la!
Like what you see? Click hereto see more! Keep up the great job Debby!
I have to say when I changed my header to reflect summer and its light airy vibe, I had some fun making up a few banners...I think I am going to have a lot of fun changing them around.....in the experimenting stage! Its so easy with Big huge labs. So don't be surprised if I have a new one in a few days......this could become addicting!
On the store front, apparently many of you loved the goodies I featured yesterday....good to know! Your feedback is so important to me. A few pieces are left and there will be more from this exquisite line later in the summer. I am adding some beautiful new blue and whites this weekend. Here's a preview.....
Fabulous very large display bowl about 15" diameter
Blue and white umbrella stand
Love the shape about 16" tall
Another elegant octagonal shaped vase with lid 16"
Speaking of my online store, I have received so many lovely pictures of various rooms and spaces from customers own homes that I put in "your enchanted homes" section. I love seeing how you use the items you have purchased from me. Keep them coming...love to see and get inspired! You can upload your pictures directly to the store site or email me with your images. Click here to upload your own pictures..... Thanks!
Well that's about it around here. Hope you are off to a great weekend, whatever that might mean to you. Wishing you a fabulous day and a superb weekend!
