Archive for 2016
An Edible Arrangement
Before planting that flat of perfectly gorgeous lettuce you just bought, how about using it as a simple summery centerpiece first? Beautiful spring green romaine lettuce makes for an unexpected,…
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Getting All Spruced Up!
Dear friends! So very excited to invite you to Connecticut Country House, Sunday, June 26th, 11-5, for the Newtown Historical Society House & Garden Tour! Murph and I will be here…
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Rock & Roll
The kitchen garden is starting to burst with fresh herbs at Connecticut Country House. I find that the best way to make short work of chopping them up is by…
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The WOW Factor
I posted these yellow peonies on my Nora Murphy Country House Facebook page and everyone has had the very same comment: “I have never seen a yellow peony!!!” Neither had…
Keep ReadingCountry Living Fair Here I Come!
The Volvo is stuffed with all kinds of gorgeousness! I’m looking so very forward to not only attending the Country Living Fair, in Rhinebeck, NY today, but also to giving…
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My Brimfield Blues
When I went to Brimfield a couple of weeks ago, I can’t tell you why, but I was attracted to everything blue. From the gorgeous saturated inky blues of hand…
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And The Winners Are . . .
So happy to announce the winners of the Country Living Fair Weekend Passes Giveaway! Congratulations go to Anne Vradenburgh and Doreen! To everyone that entered, thank you! I loved reading…
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There’s Still Time!
Tick. Tick. Tick. . . . . . Just a few more hours left for a chance to win a pair of weekend passes to the Country Living Fair next…
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Country Living Fair Pass Giveaway
I’m so happy to announce that I’ve been invited to give a live demo at the Country Living Fair in Rhinebeck, NY on Friday, June 3, 2016 at 2:00 p.m.…
Keep ReadingBaskets At Hand
For me there’s nothing more honest and authentic than the weathered, timeworn quality of country baskets. There’s a wonderful sense of comfort in living with the old splint, distressed paint,…
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My Chives Are Blooming!
Every spring, I know it’s time to clean up the kitchen garden when I see the grassy bright green tufts of the chives poking through the soil. Chives are the…
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Sweet Collection
I’m always on the lookout for adding to my collection of painted wooden sap buckets. These humble containers are my easy, go-to vessels for adding bold pops of color to…
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Grilled to Perfection
As BBQ season heats up, here’s a good little snippet to keep in mind when grilling assorted vegetables – cook like veggies on their own skewers. Thin-skinned grape tomatoes grill…
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Remembering Katharine Hepburn
Friend, journalist, news anchor and author Ann Nyberg has just penned a wonderful book about Connecticut’s born and bred, Katharine Hepburn. A decades long fan, Ann had read a lot…
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A Scentsational Walkway
My first Snowball Viburnum came from a local Mother’s Day fundraising plant sale. I liked the idea of having something fragrant growing by the stone walkway that led to the…
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Nature’s Fairy Dust
While you may have the urge to roll up your sleeves and dig into spring cleaning, hold off on the windows. Best to wait until the trees are finished covering…
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For You
For my fellow adoring, cajoling, multitasking, mama bear hugging, carpool bussing, cheerleading, cupcake making, Happy Birthday singing, boo-boo kissing, lullabye humming, storytelling, Go Fish playing, cookie baking, homework assisting, snack…
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Image Is Everything
Forever in search of images that capture “a moment,” I love digging into boxes of old photographs at flea markets and antique shows. Last year at Brimfield, armed with an…
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Bridal Veil Spirea
One of my favorite flowering shrubs that are in bloom at Connecticut Country House, is a Bridal Veil Spirea. Also commonly known as Bridal Wreath Spirea, its graceful, arching branches…
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Greenfield Hill’s Dogwood Festival
My hometown, Fairfield, CT, where I grew up, has changed a bit over the years. It’s become more populated, busier, and the Mom and Pop shops frequented as a kid,…
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May Calendar
“Every spring is the only spring – a perpetual astonishment.” – Ellis Peters – I’m always amazed how quickly time flies once spring has begun. Every day a walk around…
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Happy Walls
This is our Family Room – our kick-back, put your feet up, pull up a chair, TV watching, game playing, and spreading out family and friends hang-out. It’s a feel…
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Sarah P. Duke Gardens
My dear friend Marlana Semenza, a talented photographer and stylist in North Carolina, is always searching for new inspiration. She found a treasure trove at her most recent discovery, the…
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Vintage Flatware Find
When I’m out and about at antique shows, flea markets and tag sales, I’m always on the lookout for stray dishes, bowls, and silverware. I’ve found great bargains on incomplete…
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Fishin’ & Dishin’
One of my most cherished collections, these vintage fish plates are pure joy to build a table setting around. Each one, hand-painted and unique, depicts in beautiful detail, assorted fish,…
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