There's Nothing Neutral About This Chard!

The Swiss are noted for their neutrality, but this Swiss Chard is anything but neutral. Its bright stems practically scream for attention. This is one of my favorite winter plants; here's a 'Ruby Red' that I just bought to use in a container by the front door.

And here's a lovely one from the Reynolda gardens that's ready to harvest:

Of course, Swiss Chard isn't just for show - it's yummy, too! It's great in winter soups and also prepared any way you would prepare spinach or kale. Here's a great recipe from Rachael Ray that is easy and delish:

Swiss Chard and Golden Raisins
Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray

Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 15 min
Level: Easy
Serves: 6 servings

Ingredients
2 1/2 pounds (the average weight of 2 bundles) red Swiss chard
1 1/2 tablespoons (1 1/2 turns around the pan in a slow stream) extra-virgin olive oil
1/8 pound, 2 slices, pancetta or bacon, chopped
1 small yellow skinned onion, chopped
1/4 cup (2 handfuls) golden raisins
14 ounces chicken stock or broth
Coarse salt
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, a couple pinches ground or equivalent of freshly grated

Directions
Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Coarsely chop the greens of clean red chard. Add oil, pancetta, and chopped onion to the pan and cook 2 or 3 minutes until onions begin to soften and pancetta is lightly browned. Add chopped chard to pan in large bunches, adding remaining chard as the greens wilt.
Sprinkle in raisins, pour in broth and season with salt and nutmeg. Bring liquid to a boil, reduce heat and simmer greens 10 to 15 minutes until greens are no longer bitter and you are ready to serve. Raisins will plump as the dish cooks through.

Leah's Note: I omit the salt as the pancetta/bacon and broth make it salty enough!

I'm off to pot my Swiss Chard! Stop by tomorrow for a message from Tom Swift . . .

Sick People - Share the Love, Not the Germs!

According to the Center for Disease Control's FluView, 41 states have widespread influenza activity and the proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) is above the epidemic threshold. While the 6 o'clock news may be wrong to hype this as a pandemic, it is serious. So, what can you do? No, this isn't a discussion about the merits of vaccination - I'm not your doctor or your mother so I'm not chiming in on that topic. But, as a member of the population at large I do have some advice: Stay Home When You're Sick!

It sounds so simple, but apparently it's not. Over the past few weeks I've been bombarded with questions about 'flu etiquette' and stories about the rude sick people who have been spreading their germs in pubic places. So here's the answer and it's really simple - put on your 'good citizen hat' and think about how many people you're exposing to your illness by going to public places, then decide to stay at home. That's it - it's not rocket science. It's third grade common sense. It isn't new advice, either. Check out this poster from the 1918 influenza epidemic (from the State Library of NC):

Most companies discourage employees coming to work while sick and yet there are always those people who think they have to drag themselves in coughing and sneezing . . . and for what? To show how dedicated you are? Because you blew all your sick time on 'mental health days'? You don't want to use your paid time off for sick days when you could save it for vacation? Or, you really think the company will fail if you're out for a few days? None of these reasons is valid for the H1N1 virus, so please do us (and yourself) a favor and stay away. And bosses - don't just say you want employees to miss work if they're sick, and then use some passive aggressive tactics to show your displeasure when they return. Plan ahead because it's inevitable that your company will be affected by this before the season is over and if you think your employees will take advantage, then consider hiring less devious people.

On a less rant-y note - I've had lots of questions about handshakes during flu season. Is it okay to have a No Handshake Policy? Yes, that's a great way to avoid germs and in fact is becoming quite the norm. Yesterday someone even asked what I thought about replacing the handshake with a fist bump . . . personally, I think the fist bump is about as adult as the pinky handshake or high five. So why not just omit the handshake and leave it at that.

If you want more details about H1N1, visit the CDC website (where you'll notice they recommend coughing and sneezing into a tissue and not your sleeve which is what one of our local news stations recommends - Yuck!). Stay well!

Monet's Not the Only One With Water Lilies!

Who doesn't love water in the garden? And what's better than combining water with plants as in this simple water garden at Reynolda Gardens in Winston-Salem, NC.

Reynolda Gardens are open to the public with no admission fee - if you worked in the area you'd have a wonderful spot for lunch on sunny days! Originally designed in 1917 for the Reynolds family (of R. J. Reynold tobacco fame), the gardens were simplified in the 30s and donated to Wake Forest University in 1961.

I've visited Reynolda twice in recent weeks and here are my favorite pics of the water garden.

I'll have more snapshots of these lovely gardens over the next week. I'd love to hear about your favorite public gardens!

What's Cheery in the Garden Today?

Peppers! Our pepper plants are laden with peppers now, but this is our first two-tone.

You might remember the half-red, half-green apple from England, well, here's the pepper version. Sadly, this isn't a rarity like the apple. This pepper was partially hidden from the sun (and us) and the result is this great autumnal color combo. It's going to make the ultimate sacrifice and become part of a yummy pizza tonight, but not before it takes its place in history with another famous Pepper:

How appropriate for our psychedelic pepper to meet the original psychedelic pepper . . . I think he blends right in!

Who Doesn't Love a Ham & Cheese Sandwich?

There are so many great sandwiches, but Ham & Cheese may be the best-loved. After all, look at the classic variations: Croque-Monsieur and Croque-Madame (which are famous enough to have their own Wikipedia page!), Monte Cristo which makes me think of my college suitemate who ate one almost every Sunday at the restaurant where her boyfriend worked, and the Hot Brown which was featured on an episode of Throwdown! with Bobby Flay.

Croque-Monsieur and Croque-Madame are served in restaurants throughout Europe and are a safe bet when the menu is in a language you can't read! The Monte Cristo was apparently first served at Disney Land in 1967 at the Blue Bayou restaurant where it remains a favorite; it is now served at restaurants across the country. Hot Browns were created by the Brown Hotel in the 1920s and are sometimes made with turkey or turkey and ham. I originally had Hot Browns made only with ham and that's why I'm including them in my 'ham and cheese' list. You can find recipes for all these online from your favorite chefs.

If you're in the mood for a new sandwich, try our favorite ham and cheese:

These are appetizer-sized, but they're also good as a full-sized sandwich. These look a little wonky because they needed frilly picks to stabilize them . . . but, you get the general idea. Here's how they're made:

The Bread: pimento cheese rolls, split and toasted (any type of roll will do)

The Spread: a mixture of orange marmalade and pepper jelly, to taste (we like it a bit spicy)

The Fillings: shaved ham (Black Forest or pepper ham is a good choice), thin slices of white or yellow sharp cheddar, thin slices of apple with peel (something crisp and a little tart like Honeycrisp), and lettuce.

The Result: delish! A little smoky ham, a little sweet/peppery jam, some sharp cheese, and the crunchy apple . . . I'm getting hungry just typing this. Pair this with a cup of tomato soup and you have a great lunch or dinner. I'd love to hear about your favorite ham and cheese!

Two Fun Things from the Web!

ay I share two fun freebies from the internet? The first you've just seen - the beautiful 'M' Drop Cap. As you may know, drop caps are large, decorative letters used at the beginning of paragraphs (think of the illuminated letters created by Monks). This 'M' comes to you courtesy the Daily Drop Cap which is a project by designer Jessica Hische. Each day she gives us a new letter in drop cap form - that can be used on your blog or website. What a great thing! Check it out - you'll find at least one letter than you can't live without . . .

Next let's go over to ArtDaily. In addition to an overview of the news from the art world, ArtDaily has two great jigsaw puzzles, plus a word search, each day on their site (scroll to the bottom of the page - below the daily photos). Of course their puzzles have an art theme and are a fun way to spend a few minutes. These jigsaw puzzles are a step-up from the real kind because you don't have to take the pieces out of the box or turn them over! Also, each piece has the correct orientation, no turning pieces around to figure out which way is up. The best thing, though, is the link to the software that creates the puzzles. You can download a trial version of Jigsaw Puzzle which lets you create puzzles from your own photos. Once created, the puzzles can be used electronically just like the ones from ArtDaily. You'll enjoy seeing how tricky your own photographs can be when they're cut into small shapes and scattered over the page . . .

Thanks for stopping by - have a great Saturday!

Friday in the Garden: The Good, The Bad, & The Scary

The Good

A camellia purchased on a whim last November, kept in the original container all winter, planted in March, denuded in May (need I even name the culprits?!), and babied all summer has its first blooms! What a great surprise as I wasn't expecting blooms this early. The bush is full of buds, so hopefully there will be weeks of beautiful flowers. Unfortunately I can't remember the name of this variety . . . maybe I'll pay a visit to the nursery where it was purchased and see if they can help.

The Bad

Bunches of young lettuce planted way too close together. So, the bad thing here is the gardener! We've been planting lettuce seeds in two week intervals in hopes of a long harvest season. However, when I planted the last seeds a big gust of wind blew the seeds out of my hand and they landed in a pile which I was unable to disseminate. You guessed it, when they sprouted they were too close together - way too close together. I have been reluctant to thin them as the seeds were from a mixed packet so there are several different types of lettuce and thinning them will require throwing away several types. Now they're all jumbled up and it's probably too late to separate them . . . it's sad when bad gardeners happen to good plants.

The Scary (no photo included for reasons that will become obvious)

A squirrel's tail. No, not a tale about a cute squirrel who lives in a cozy hollowed out tree and wears a vest and hat. Rather, a tail that used to be attached to a squirrel. Left in our yard by someone's cat. Yuck! Why can't cats either: 1) stop hunting and stick to chasing yarn balls, or, 2) take their bounty back to their own yards? I know gardeners shouldn't be squeamish, after all there are some pretty disgusting things in the compost pile, but I am squeamish and I don't like finding these little 'gifts' in my flower beds. Luckily my husband doesn't mind removing the moles, mice, voles, etc. that mysteriously appear. We have an agreed-upon division of labor - I weed, he removes all dead and/or yucky things! What a great plan . . .

Here's hoping your garden brings only good thing this weekend!

Window Shopping

Did you ever dream about owning a little shop? Maybe an antique store that sells primitive furniture or Art Deco furnishings? Or wonderful stationery with custom-designed letterpress invitations and classic calling cards? Or maybe an old-fashioned dress shop with comfy fitting rooms that have flattering lighting? I would love to own a cute little shop - I'm not even picky, it can specialize in books, antiques, housewares . . . it doesn't matter, the idea is just appealing. But, it's like the appeal of owning a Bed & Breakfast - even in an unrealistic moment you know the fun parts are 10% and the drudge parts are 90%. So, you have to really love it for it to work and I don't think I would - so it wouldn't.

Having said that, it's still a fun daydream and I am always very impressed when I see a good window display. It makes me think "that's the kind of shop window I would have" - which is the great thing about daydreams, you can believe you would have enchanting displays when in reality they would be very pedestrian. Recently I saw two charming windows and I hope you will like them, too.

This one is a small shop in Reynolda Village in Winston-Salem, NC. Not only is the stone work stunning, but the Tiffany-blue boxes mixed with the white cake stands is amazing. Doesn't this look like a place where you could happily spend an afternoon?

This window with the teapots is in Old Salem - the shop with the pumpkins featured here a few days ago. I like the simplicity of this - and also the symmetry. As the holidays approach, there will be lots of opportunities for window shopping . . . I'm ready, are you?

Vintage Monograms for the Table

Yes, we're talking about monograms - again! Reese Witherspoon is famous for her love of monograms. This quote sums up her philosophy on them:

"My sheets are monogrammed, so is my silverware and pretty much everything else I own. My rule is, if it's not moving, monogram it."

We'll assume that was a tongue-in-cheek comment . . . but, it brings us to our topic of monograms for the table. While it is possible to buy new monogrammed china, flatware, acrylic serving pieces, linens, etc., vintage monogrammed items often have much more charm. Most new monograms are simply three letters side by side whereas in a true monogram the letters intertwine. For obvious reasons, it is rare to find someone who can create these intricate designs today - and the cost would be prohibitive. Enter vintage monograms!

Take a look at this beautiful salad plate. It's around 100 years old and has a hand-painted monogram. The letters are SAS, presumably with 'A' being the initial of the owner's surname. This is part of a set of 6 that I purchased at a local shop for less than $25 - all are in perfect condition. What a deal - of course, these are not my initials, not even one letter! But, that's the great thing about vintage monograms, they work regardless of the initials. And if these were a family heirloom there's a strong chance the initials would not match mine anyway. Here's a closer look at the initials - see how the letters loop around each other?

How about the monogram on the sterling salt spoon below?

I enlarged it a great deal so you can see the intricacy - it's impossible to decipher. There are four letters, maybe even three Ms and an N - perhaps the original owner's name was something like Mary Margaret Newcombe Mason? Keep in mind that the whole salt spoon is around four inches so these letters are very small. The point is, it's a lovely item with a hand-engraved monogram. New silver usually has machine monograms and they just don't have the warmth and creativity of the old hand-engraved pieces. And, monogrammed items like these plates and silver are much less expensive than their unmonogrammed counterparts. The same goes for table linens.

Often monograms on linen were created by the owner. This damask cloth is a perfect example; you can tell the embroiderer was an amateur, but it's still lovely. Monogram patterns were available for the home stitcher and a large number of monogrammed items were created by young brides and matrons alike. The result for us is a ready supply of antique monogrammed linens - with a little patience you can even find your own monogram on eBay. If we didn't have electronic diversions today, perhaps we'd all be monogramming napkins or sheets right now? Oh well . . . no need to unplug, you can create a beautiful table with vintage monograms and you don't need a thimble or needle.

Colonial Pumpkins

Pumpkins are the ultimate autumn decoration - they add a splash of color, come in all sizes and quite a few shapes, and work with any type of home. On a recent visit to Old Salem, we took these photos of the pumpkins that are decorating this 18th century village this October.

The simple Moravian architecture is a great backdrop for the bright pumpkins.

These pumpkins were possibly grown in one of the large gardens in town, and perhaps their seeds will be planted next year in the same garden . . .

To learn more about Old Salem or the fabulous MESDA, check out their website.

Three R's I Loved This Summer - Part Three, Rocket!

Yes, I said Rocket! Although 2009 was the 40th anniversary of the Moon Landing (!), I'm talking about the edible rocket, not the Eagle or Apollo. Rocket is another name for arugula - that leafy almost-lettuce that is soooo yummy.

Arugula was a salad and sandwich staple at our house this summer - and we're having it tonight in one of our favorite salads. This salad is so easy because the greens are all arugula and the dressing is a warm lemongrass and pecan vinaigrette that comes together in about 5 minutes.

If you have not tried lemongrass, you're in for a treat. It is the long stalky thing below and you peel away the outer leaves until you reach the soft center. Then dice and use . . . it has a lovely lemon taste without being tart (no sweetener needed to offset it).

Rocket Salad with Lemongrass Pecans - adapted from Simply Ming

Ingredients

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
1/2 to 1 cup pecans halves or pieces
2 tablespoons minced lemongrass
2 tablespoons minced shallot
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (I use the stoneground Dijon)
1/4 cup naturally brewed rice vinegar
1/4 pound arugula, washed and spun dry
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Preparation

In a large saute pan over med-high heat, add EVOO and pecans. Saute to toast for 1 minute, add lemongrass, shallot, and mustard. Toss a few times. Deglaze with rice vinegar. Whisk together, add salt and pepper to taste. Pour hot vinaigrette over arugula in heat-proof salad bowl. Toss gently and serve.
_____________________________

This salad is so delish - and pretty. It's perfect for a first course when you're serving soup or stew as the main dish. Enjoy!

Three R's I Loved This Summer: Part Two - Re-reading

It is the best of things, it is the worst of things . . . with apologies to Dickens, I'm talking about re-reading favorite books. It can be the best when it's like seeing an old friend and the conversation picks up as if you spoke yesterday. But, it can also be the worst because a book once loved may now disappoint, leaving you to skim and skip your way to the end. For some reason, I found myself in a re-reading mood this summer. I usually read one Jane Austen novel again during the summer and perhaps one other fiction favorite, but this summer I read nothing new. I'm sure that says something about me, but perhaps I'd rather not know what . . .





As a child, I liked to re-read books and my mother and grandmother were always trying to point out other options at the library. My grandmother especially tried to lure me to Black Beauty or Robinson Crusoe, but they were no match for biographies of George Washington and Florence Nightingale or the adventures of the titian-haired girl sleuth, Nancy Drew. But, the book I read most often was An Illustrated Guide to Ghosts & Mysterious Occurrences in The Old North State. I can't begin to guess how many times I checked it out - I never got tired of the eerie black and white photos of Lydia the ghost girl who haunts lonely roadsides trying to get home or Dromgoogle Castle with its blood-stained rock or the ghost organ that plays strange tunes in an empty church. A few years ago I saw a copy of this book in a local antique store and purchased it. This was a case of an old favorite that now disappoints - as I'm sure anyone else would have guessed. The stories and photos no longer thrill, but it was fun to see the book one more time - and now I'm ready to let it go. Perhaps eBay?


But this summer I was happy to re-read lots of fiction, from Jane Austen to Agatha Christie to Tolstoy and David McCullough. Some books, like Vanity Fair and Tess of the d'Urbervilles I hadn't read since college and remembered only the bare outlines. Others, like Beverley Nichols' Merry Hill trilogy were very familiar, yet still made me laugh out loud as Our Rose and Miss Mint nosed their way into Nichols' garden and life. Now summer's over and I'm ready to make some new friends and am moving on to new books - first up is The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. I'll let you know if it's a keeper.

What are your favorite books to read again and again?




"If you truly love a book, you should sleep with it, write in it, read aloud from it, and fill its pages with muffin crumbs." — Anne Fadiman

Three R's I Loved This Summer: Part One - Rose-Colored Glasses

As you can see, I'm not talking about the rose-colored eyeglasses that make the world seem cheerier than it is - I'm talking about drinking glasses that are rose tinted. We inherited a large, if incomplete, set of these from a relative who was married in 1912. We assume these were a wedding gift, which makes them almost a century old. They are quite thin and a bit fragile which accounts for the 'flea bites' on several of the rims. Consequently, we have only used them a few times.

Early this summer, however, we decided to use these to serve a champagne punch for a get-together with some friends and we liked them so much we've used them all summer - almost daily, in fact. I'm definitely in the 'use your china, crystal, silver, etc. camp' rather than the 'save it so it stays pristine' camp. For me, having things displayed or packed away so they won't be damaged really misses the point - most of the joy comes from use. And, no, they won't look brand new, but you will have great memories of using them and the sterling items will actually take on a much prettier patina. So, I'm not sure why we haven't used these glasses more in the past - perhaps because they are so old - and because pink stemware doesn't 'go' with every table setting! Regardless, I'm pleased that we unpacked them and enjoyed them all summer.

Here's the champagne punch that started it all. It's really pretty and would be great for a shower or brunch, or a warm afternoon on the porch or patio - in your favorite glass, of course!

Champagne Punch (from April 2009 Southern Living)

Ingredients

1 cup lemon-lime soft drink, chilled
1 cup assorted berries (I use all raspberries)
1 (6-oz.) can frozen limeade concentrate, thawed
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh mint or basil leaves, torn
1 (750-milliliter) bottle sparkling white wine or Champagne, chilled

Preparation

Combine first 4 ingredients in a large pitcher. Gently stir in sparkling wine. Serve immediately.

For Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Fruit Refresher: Substitute 3 (12-oz.) cans orange-flavored sparkling water, chilled, for sparkling white wine. Proceed with recipe as directed.


Blogger's Note: No stemware was damaged during filming.

One Last Look at Chinqua-Penn - The Gardens!

Well, I'm back home after a really fun conference that included: lots of candy corn, a really sensitive wireless microphone, hours of standing and walking, a bustling trade show, lots of friendly faces, and tired feet from the aforementioned standing and walking.

To round out the week, here are a few more more snapshots from Chinqua-Penn. The gardens are not of the rare botanicals variety, but they are lovely and in keeping with the house (don't you love the massed containers in the photo above?). They make a wonderful backdrop for weddings and other special occasions. If you're interested in visiting, check their website for upcoming events, like the Great Gatsby weekend or outdoor concert series.

There are several large Osmanthus trees in the gardens. They were in full bloom and their wonderful scent wafted through the gardens and the open windows and doors of the house.

Interesting containers filled with ordinary plants, like this asparagus fern (which isn't a fern at all), add great color and interest to walls, steps, and patios.

The walkway leading to the house carries you through a wooded area complete with water features and unexpected plants and statuary.

One of the features for which Chinqua-Penn is noted is the pagoda. The Penns were inspired by pagodas they visited on trips to China and hired the New York architectural firm Harry C. Ingles to build one based on authentic designs. It served as a pool house and is located by the large swimming pool. Both the pool and pagoda are closed for refurbishment (and the pagoda has a large metal cover protecting it), but you can glimpse the lovely red roof and outline of the pagoda in this photo taken from the wooded area.

Once it's restored, this will be an even lovlier vantage point as the pagoda is filled with Rangoon temple bells that chime with the passing breeze. What a tranquil setting - the dappled light, lush plants, flowing water, and the tinkle of the bells . . . I'll leave you on this peaceful note.

Pathway to Blue Skies

I'm still on the road and have had a long, but very nice, day. I wanted to quickly share some more pictures from Chinqua-Penn - here are two of the cosy paths that circle the house and gardens.

I really like this one made from mill stones.

In this area, mill stones are a popular garden feature - you can find them at antique shops and sometimes garden shops, but you have to be careful because there are reproductions (aka fakes) that sometimes look pretty convincing (which is okay, as long as you aren't paying for the real thing).

This path lined with boxwoods is very inviting - you just know something good awaits at the other end. Plus, I love the smell of boxwoods - do you? It's like candy corn, people seem to either love it or hate it.

And finally, here's a lovely vine silhouetted against a perfect blue October sky. The vine is growing on the gate that you see in the picture above. The white tent was being raised the day we were visiting, in preparation for a wedding a few days later.

That's all for tonight - tomorrow a look at the gardens of Chinqua-Penn and on Friday a new series for the weekend (here's a hint: R). Wishing you blue October skies . . .

Welcome to Chinqua-Penn Plantation

If you're ever in the Greensboro, NC area, take a few hours to pop over to Reidsville and visit Chinqua-Penn Plantation. Not a plantation in the ante-bellum sense, this property was developed by Jeff & Betsy Penn in the 1920s. The house sits on 22 acres today and is open to the public Wednesday-Sunday. The grounds are lovely, beautiful without being manicured. The Penns had travelled extensively and their house is filled with treasures from around the globe.

Here are some pics from around the property. As you can tell, I love the stone work:

Come back tomorrow for more Chinqua-Penn!

Happy Monday

First things . . . first. Here are the answers to our Saturday music quiz:

1. Oh the shark has pretty teeth dear, and he shows them pearly white
   "Mack the Knife" which has a much longer history that I knew. Check out the history from 1920s Germany to Louis Armstrong to The Doors (who knew?) and Sting on Wikipedia
   
2. Love is a temple, love is a higher law
   U2's "One"
   
3. Summer fling, don't mean a thing, bu-ut, oh . . .
   "Summer Nights" from Grease
   
4. Yeah, they were dancin' and singin' and movin' to the groovin'
   You probably knew the song - "Play That Funky Music", but can you remember the band that made it famous? Wild Cherry! Check out their performance on The Midnight Special on this YouTube clip (warning: serious 1970s bare chests and 'dos)
   
5. How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat. Some dance to remember, some dance to forget.
   Perhaps the easiest question on the quiz - the Eagles' "Hotel California". If you were between 14 and 40 in 1977, you probably had this album. Again, lots of info about this rock classic on Wikipedia.
   
6. But when you're walking down the street, and you ain't had enough to eat, the glitter rubs right off and you're nowhere
   "On Broadway" - my college suitemates and I played the George Benson version of this thousands of times (it was an old song then, but for some reason we were hooked on it). I still love it, but only that version . . . sorry Drifters, I love all your other songs!
   
7. I bet there's rich folks eatin' in a fancy dining car
   Of course this is Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" - were you shocked that he never spent time in prison? Which reminds me, did you know Roy Orbison isn't blind?
   
8. I laughed at all of your jokes, my love you didn't need to coax
   Rod Stewart's "Maggie Mae" - what can you say about Rod Stewart? He's still a great performer and hasn't lost that unique fashion sense . . .
   
   


9. And I got a song to sing, all over this land
   Pete Seeger's "If I Had a Hammer" which was made famous by Trini Lopez or Peter, Paul, and Mary - depending on who you ask. The one thing all music lovers can agree on is that Leonard Nimoy's version is the worst!
   
10. When I come home feelin' tired and beat, I go up where the air is fresh and sweet
    This summertime fave is "Up on the Roof" by The Drifters. It may not be that popular in other parts of the country, but fans of Beach Music in this area can't get enough of the song or of The Drifters. After all, the Carolina Shag is the official state dance of both North Carolina and South Carolina!

I hope you enjoyed the quiz. I'll be out of town the next few days, but will be posting photos from a recent Day Trip to Chinqua-Penn (as seen on A&E's America's Castles - before A&E became the crime/bounty hunter channel). Here's a preview:

"The red leaves are coming, the red leaves are coming" - Paul Revere, Oct 1775

Well, maybe Paul Revere didn't get as excited about red leaves as Red Coats, but he might have been a leaf peeper, in which case he might have said "the red leaves are coming" when he saw the first beautiful, red fall leaf on the ground. I'd like to think he did. I'm always excited to see the first fall leaves and here in Zone 7, a few trees are starting to turn. (And in the photo above, don't miss the chewed-off liriope - compliments of the local deer gang!)

But, back to Paul Revere for a moment. You probably know he wore many hats, including that of engraver and silversmith. A few of his silver items are displayed at museums around the country. The Metropolitan Museum has perhaps the most famous - a sterling teapot:

Wouldn't it be great to sit outside on a sunny autumn day and sip tea from this teapot? Hope you're enjoying the leaves in your area - whether they're green, yellow, or red. Don't forget a cup of tea, too!

"And the boss don't mind sometimes if you act a fool"

Did you recognize that line? It's from Rose Royce's sing-along disco hit 'Car Wash'. It's really funny how songs can stay with us for years and just hearing a single line can bring to mind the song. Of course, many old songs are remade and remixed decades later. (Do you like Christine Aguilera's Car Wash remake? It never hit the Top 40 in the US while the original hit the Number One spot. Maybe the thought of not getting rich or meeting an Indian chief wasn't as appealing in 2004?)


Hearing 'Car Wash' on the radio a few days ago inspired this little music quiz. From the snippet of lyrics provided below, can you name the tune?

1. Oh the shark has pretty teeth dear, and he shows them pearly white
   


2. Love is a temple, love is a higher law
   


3. Summer fling, don't mean a thing, bu-ut, oh . . .
   


4. Yeah, they were dancin' and singin' and movin' to the groovin'
   


5. How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat. Some dance to remember, some dance to forget.
   


6. But when you're walking down the street, and you ain't had enough to eat, the glitter rubs right off and you're nowhere
   


7. I bet there's rich folks eatin' in a fancy dining car
   


8. I laughed at all of your jokes, my love you didn't need to coax
   


9. And I got a song to sing, all over this land
   


10. When I come home feelin' tired and beat, I go up where the air is fresh and sweet

I hope you enjoyed this little walk through pop music history. Come back Monday for the answers or drop me a line or comment about your favorite music memory. Gotta run, it's a beautiful day and I have a sudden urge to wash my car . . . "work, and work, keep those rags and machines hummin' . . . "

The Song Tree graphic was provided by Dry Icons.

Things for People Who Don't Like Things

Decorating with Books! I love books and I also love decorating with books, so you may well ask how this fits in with the 'people who don't like things' theme. Well, lately I've seen several articles in popular home magazines and segments on home shows about decorating with books, but the crux seems to be that books are not to be read, just scattered about the house. In other words, it's aimed at people who don't like books. Not that there's anything wrong with this, but it seems a shame to have a houseful of books if you don't enjoy reading them. I mean, you wouldn't have a stuffed deer head unless you're a hunter (and perhaps not even then, unless you're single and live in a cabin . . .) or have a mirror if you're a vampire.



Look at these great rooms from the 2005 Kips Bay Decorator Show House. Each one was created by a different designer and shows how beautifully books can enhance a room. (I hesitate to mention it, but if you look closely at the upper left edge of the first photo you can see a bit of the light fixture - it's an antler chandelier, so perhaps my deer head argument is not that sound . . .)



The fact that three rooms from the Show House have books playing an important role shows how useful they are when decorating. But, that does not preclude them having another purpose: to be read.








I think my issue with this decorating advice has been that it's assumed you don't want to read the books, that you don't like the books aside from their antique leather spines or perfect size that matches three others under the big lamp. (Remember the old adage about judging a book? You have to look inside to find out what's great, or not so great, about it.) One article suggested organizing your books by color - so one shelf has all the books with green spines and one the pink. If you have lots of books that will never work - let's see, is Pride and Prejudice on the shelf with Sense and Sensibility . . . no, it's with the other blue books, right between The Tipping Point and 1776. Perhaps you could view books much the way you view your children - you keep them around because you love them, not because they look good in the living room. It's a bonus if they also add to the decor . . .

If you're a book lover who wants to find better ways to live with your books, you'll enjoy these reads:

Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman

This small collection of essays about the author's book collection, favorite books, and the difficulties of combining her library with her husband's, is enjoyable and you will relate to her passion for books and reading.

At Home with Books: How Booklovers Live with and Care for Their Libraries by Estelle Ellis and Caroline Seebohm

A beautiful book with good advice for bibliophiles with growing collections. In addition to expert information on caring for and displaying books, you will also get an inside view of how famous book collectors live with their prizes - including Keith Richards (yes, the Rolling Stone!).

I hope you have time to settle down with a good book this weekend. As for me, I'm off to rearrange my books!

What's Cheery in the Garden Today?

Indian Summer Blooms! As today is the first day of October, you may expect to only see pumpkins and mums in the garden. But, there are some summer flowers that are loaded with blooms this week:

Perhaps I'm not a very skilled gardener, because it's usually the run of the mill plants that produce best for me (in the ground like these pics and in containers), and certainly that provide loads of color this time of year.

Don't you love it when blooms start to take on the hues of autumn like this hydrangea?

As Minnie Aumonier famously said, "When the world wearies, and society ceases to satisfy, there is always the Garden"

Hope you're enjoying your garden this week, but not because you're tired of the world!