Foodie Friday: A classic bouquet garni
Simply tie together snips of parsley, thyme, and bay for a classic French herbal combination…perfect for infusing soups and stews with rich flavor. Bon appĂ©tit! Love, Nora
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Foodie Friday:Butternut squash ravioli with sage brown butter sauce
There’s something just so visually satisfying about this dish, that every time I’m on Pinterest, I simply can’t resist pinning yet another Butternut Squash Ravioli with Sage Brown Butter Sauce…
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Window stopping
One of the best things I love about living in Connecticut, is that it’s right next door to New York. From our house, a drive into mid-town Manhattan takes about…
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A new year
“One’s destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things.” – Henry Miller This is my resolution for the new year. What’s yours? Wishing you…
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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 Ă 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-Âľ 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.” Â Â Â Â – 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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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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