Posts by Nora
Meet NoraMurphyCountryHouse.com
She’s here! My brand new baby online magazine! Her name is NoraMurphyCountryHouse.com. She weighs in at 11 up-close and informative stories, 24 Nora’s Notes – full of DIY details, over…
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A summer salute
Happy summer! It feels good to be back. We’ve been working 24/7 (quite literally) on our new website, and with fingers and toes crossed, we’ll be introducing it to you…
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My latest love affair
This weekend I declared the Peony to be my favorite flower. Now, this here declaration is a big deal because I have so many favorites (lilies, roses, orchids, sunflowers –…
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My gardening guru
“A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust.” – Gertrude Jekyll, British gardener (1843-1932) When…
Keep ReadingWe are Newtown
Good morning. It was 6 months ago today on a Friday morning, here in Newtown, 20 children and 6 of their teachers lost their lives. Quite innocently they went to…
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One take
Murph was really on his game this weekend – concocting probably the very best, most awesome batch of Corn and Crabmeat Chowder he has ever made – ever. One taste…
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Living without boundaries
Oh, go for it – show a little floor! At least for the summer. That’s what I do. Rolling up my rugs and showing a lot of bare floor during…
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Simple beauty
Each week, here at Connecticut Country House – something’s in bloom. (Love it and so in my element.) This week, the back path to the house (which happens to be…
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A million little things: courage
“A ship is always safe at the shore – but that is not what it is built for.” – Albert Einstein (1879-1955) I love the sea. And this wonderful old…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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…
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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…
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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 –…
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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!…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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