Archive for 2013
Fit and trimmed
As usual, this time of year (honestly, I think it’s more like all year) my obsession with flowering plants is truly that – an obsession. I find it impossible not to quickly survey the newest arrivals upon entering my favorite grocery store. My latest acquisition – white Marguerite Daisies. Potting up these beauties, it’s all…
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Grilled green goodness
Love grilled Asparagus. Especially when it’s in season this time of year. When I’m at the market and spy bunches of really thin young spears (which I love the taste of the best) – I immediately know that that rubber-banded bunch of goodness will be dictating the main course that night. A perfect marriage to…
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The really big show
All antique weathervanes point to Brimfield this week. That’s right – the Grand Pubah, the Grand Dame, the Head Honcho of antique shows – the Brimfield Antique Show really is the biggest outdoor antiques show in the world (and that’s a fact) kicks off tomorrow, Tuesday, May 14th and packs it all up on Sunday, May…
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From Newtown with love
Twenty years ago my best friend Suzy married a sweetheart of a guy. His name is Ron. Earlier this spring, I asked folks to send me their favorite family recipes, and Ron was one of the first to share his. His story goes like this: “Here’s the recipe for Syrian cookies (Ghak) that my Mom…
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A million little things: a quote on happiness
“Happiness is like a butterfly. The more you chase it, the more it eludes you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it comes and sits softly on your shoulder.” – Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) A sweet little something to softly think about on a Wednesday. Wishing you a beautiful day. Love, Nora
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Oh what a beautiful morning!
And what a beautiful morning it is in my old hometown of Fairfield, Connecticut – more specifically this historic part of town – Greenfield Hill. I’m driving the back roads home to Newtown from down county and I’m in love with what I see. The assorted trees that line the roads (primarily Dogwoods) are just…
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A million little things: scented soaps
I believe it’s the little things in life – there must be millions of them – that make all the difference. All those little things that go unnoticed for the most part, that is until you come upon an unexpected moment that makes you see, hear, smell, taste, or feel it just a little differently,…
Keep ReadingThe best is yet to come
Happy Birthday to ConnecticutCountryHouse.com -1 year old today! The day I launched this simple little blog site, I had no idea how encouraging and fulfilling your feedback would be. Whether you posted a comment on-line, Liked and connected on facebook, sent an e-mail, re-pinned on Pinterest, or talked in person – you’ve been great! You’ve…
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Dig this
In honor of Earth Day, I’m honoring 5 of my favorite gardening books. Truthfully, I have a lot of favorites, but for one reason or another these top 5 tend to always be close at hand (a little dog-eared and filled with lots of sticky notes) whether I’m digging for practical info or merely in…
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Pay up now or pay up later
I think I’ll pay up now. Last year I waited too long to clean out the rose beds nearest to the house. By the time I got in there – tearing out overgrown vines and bundles of stubborn weeds – I kept getting caught in the prickly rosey bramble. That clean-up effort took much too…
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When sweet met sassy
Next time you’re walking by that flat of pansies – more specifically those cute little faced ‘Johnny Jump Ups’ – not so fast, they’re the key to your next dessert! These little guys are not just a pretty little face for the garden – they’re a pretty and very unexpected topping for your next –…
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Forever pink
“Style isn’t just about what you wear, it’s about how you live.” – Lilly Pulitzer (1931-2013) Love, Nora
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Post Easter jump start
Easter is a great motivator for the gardener in me. Having just received beautiful spring plants, not to mention the slew I ended up buying and decorated with – yesterday I hauled out the old clay pot collection from the cellar and started re-potting. Such a great feeling. Then there’s the stack of paper egg…
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The thrill of the hunt
The countdown begins. Tomorrow we’re hosting a big family gathering here at Connecticut Country House, and we’ll kick off the Easter Sunday festivities with our annual Easter Egg Hunt. I love it. Love every part of it. Love pulling together all the teeny tiny stuff that ends up as a little surprise in each garishly…
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Mama’s pots of gold
For as far back as I can remember, my mom’s (a.k.a. Mama) stuffed cabbage has been a mainstay at all our holiday suppers growing up. And this upcoming Easter Sunday is no exception. I love this day. Annually, Easter re-connects me with my Hungarian heritage in a way that is very personal and special. I…
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Branching out
I am happy to report that Saturday’s photo shoot for the book went off without a hitch. Yay team! I will go further with that statement and declare it a huge success! Last summer, here at Connecticut Country House, we kicked off the photography for our book by capturing the best of each season – inside and out. So I…
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Prepping for Easter (and a photo shoot)
Here we are, a week from Easter weekend, and there’s a lot to plan and do in a very short time frame. Today I am prepping for a photo shoot that will take place tomorrow here at Connecticut Country House. The shoot is definitely one more big thing that I am adding to my already…
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A wee Irish Tea: Part Two – the decor
It’s a soft day today – as they would say in Ireland. A perfect day to curl up and get cozy in a comfy chair with a hot cup of tea, a little something to nibble on, with good company or just a good read makes for a nice little Irish Tea. Yesterday we started…
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Finding clarity
“Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955) Middle of the week – in the middle of it all. Feels just right. Happy Wednesday! Love, Nora
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Family Wash Day
I can’t stand it. Snow, snow, and more snow. Looking out the window it’s hard to imagine that spring is right around the corner – and that all my gardens are trapped under all this white stuff. So close, yet seems so far. I have spent a good portion of my morning in spring therapy…
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A mighty comforting contender
O.K., so as of today, the countdown to Spring is 13 days – yahoo! But here’s the glitch, a big part of our country is stuck in snow and slush right now – and more is on it’s way to New England – boo (as in boo-hoo)! So, for today – for (hopefully) our final…
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Take a stand
The instantaneous appearance of importance – oooh, the “look at me” moment – when you place literally anything on a cake stand. The idea of the traditional cake stand utilized only for the annual birthday cake is long gone. At least it is at Connecticut Country House. Last week as I re-organized my shelves in…
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Get ready, set, March!
The month of March – wow, what a chock-filled month ahead! There are so many significant days (other than birthdays, anniversaries, etc.): St. Patrick’s day is on the 17th, Spring finally kicks in on the 20th, the 26th is the first day of Passover, and the very last day of the month – the 31st…
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Miss Fannie’s mac n’ cheese
Yucky and yummy. The two words that best sum up this past weekend. The weather here in Connecticut was cold and raw, rainy and (anticipating) snowy, so obviously this was the yucky part. The yummy part – the unbelievably yummy part – comes in the form of a classic comfort food – the ultimate in…
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Joyful
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – H. Thurman (1899-1981) Just go do it. Love, Nora
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