Archive for 2014
O Christmas tree!
Each of our three trees this Christmas has a distinct personality. From the biggest tree in the keeping room/dining room, filled with heirloom ornaments and special little mementos over the…
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Foodie Friday: Soupe à l’oignon française
A.K.A. French onion soup. I love how it sounds in its mother language. But more than that, I absolutely LOVE the way it tastes! For years, when visiting Paris, for…
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Snowflakes for Newtown
This week two years ago, I specifically baked a big batch of gingerbread cookies for the undecorated Christmas tree we had just set up (only the little white lights made…
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Foodie Friday: Major John Gile Holiday Rum Cake
Major John Gile Holiday Rum Cake Cake Ingredients 1-¾ cups all-purpose flour 1-½ cups granulated white sugar 1 box instant vanilla pudding mix ½ cup crushed walnuts ½ cup unsalted…
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Big fat wreaths
To kick-off December I’m starting with wreaths and keeping them green. Maybe I’ll dress them up as we get closer to Christmas, but for now I’m loving the entrances to…
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Dana and the Major John Gile House
I’d love to introduce you to my dear friend Dana Schwartz and her 1763 Major John Gile House, in Nottingham, New Hampshire. When Dana called to tell me all about…
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Happy and very grateful
I love Thanksgiving. I love the “one for all, and all for one” spirit of the day. I’ve always felt very blessed each holiday season, but this Thanksgiving even more…
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Foodie Friday: An encore performance
Some traditions are hard to improve upon, and our Thanksgiving Day turkey with dressing happens to be one of those things. Why mess with a really good thing? Connecticut Country…
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Ring around a napkin
Our Holiday 2014, A Country House Christmas in New Hampshire e-magazine is due out right after Thanksgiving(!!). But until then, I must scoop this holiday issue by sharing with you just…
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Winter’s eye candy
I came upon these photos that I took last year of some very gorgeous Amaryllis I was growing…and realized that if I want to repeat this for the new year,…
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Ghost stories
I’ve always loved a good ghost story. I’ve culled together quite a collection of paperbacks that tell stories about New England’s hauntings. Little did I know I could write a book…
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Simply sunflowers
I have to confess I can never resist a sunflower. Whether they’re from my garden or local market, just one look at them and they make me smile. I’ve found…
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A bug’s life
So what do you get a little boy on a business trip to Paris? Why, a bug of course! Quite simply that’s how our bug collection was born. For me,…
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Discovery
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” – Marcel Proust Happy Columbus Day! Love, Nora
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Foodie Friday: Country House Harvest Soup
Even though the kitchen garden, and our local CSA (a.k.a. Community Supported Agriculture) share is winding down, they’re both still gifts that keep on giving. The basketful and big wooden…
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Autumn is officially here!
“Summer ends, and autumn comes, and he who would have it otherwise would have high tide always and a full moon every night.” – Hal Borland Well said Mr. Borland.…
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Carpe diem!
“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” – F.Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby Happy fall…let’s make it a memorable one! Love, Nora
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Foodie Friday: Preserving summer
Corn and tomatoes…two of the best things about summer! I’ve got so many ripe tomatoes on the vine that some just split and fall off. (Breaks my heart!) We’re trying…
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A Late Summer Show
The entrance to the old house was lingering in an in-between state. All summer the rustic twig basket hanging by the door was the perfect scale and spot for a…
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Simple Stuff: Spotless glasses
It’s the simple stuff in life that gives me great joy. And the simple joy of crystal clear glasses is right up there with picking the season’s first ripe red…
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Foodie Friday: Marvelous Murph Burgers
I was all set to post our Pesto Tastings today for Foodie Friday (to be posted at a later date), but had a change of mind and heart seeing that…
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A country road
A beautiful summer afternoon…time to switch gears and go for a walk. And a late summer afternoon “stretch” with friends (on a visit to upstate New York) is even better.…
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Foodie Friday: Summer on a plate
August is the month of total abundance in my kitchen garden. So much is ready for picking that it’s getting pretty challenging to keep up with it all! I absolutely…
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Sweet recycling
Every morning on our mini-vaca in the 1000 Islands in Canada, I reached for a glass that was neatly stacked in the kitchen cabinet of my dear friend Holly’s lakeside…
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Sail away
“When you can’t change the direction of the wind – adjust your sails.” H. Jackson Brown Jr. Wishing you an easy breezy day. Love, Nora
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