We're Ready for the Trick or Treaters at Crest Avenue

I was rummaging around in the attic recently and I found this enormous chalice.  So I filled it with bags of Halloween candy to be given out to the little ghouls and goblins tonight.

It's hard to say how many children we will have at the front door tonight.  It varies from year to year.  I put together 40 bags of candy which I think should cover tonight's visitors.

When I was done with this project, I thought it was time to move on to Thanksgiving.  The holiday season is upon us.  Things will move very quickly from this point forward.  So, I found my new turkey stamp and decided to emboss a box or two to see how I liked that.  And here is what I ended up with.

So cute.  I like the sparkly embossing powder.  These will look cute on the table with a little placecard tucked in one side.  Inside you could add a delicious chocolate truffle or a little bag of candy or nuts. Whatever you like.  I will be making a bunch of these and adding them to my Etsy page, Boxmania, over the weekend.  Same price as the Scary Skull Boxes - $7.50 for a set of ten.

I want to wish everyone a Happy Halloween.  Be careful and have fun.

We're Ready for the Trick or Treaters at Crest Avenue

I was rummaging around in the attic recently and I found this enormous chalice.  So I filled it with bags of Halloween candy to be given out to the little ghouls and goblins tonight.

It's hard to say how many children we will have at the front door tonight.  It varies from year to year.  I put together 40 bags of candy which I think should cover tonight's visitors.

When I was done with this project, I thought it was time to move on to Thanksgiving.  The holiday season is upon us.  Things will move very quickly from this point forward.  So, I found my new turkey stamp and decided to emboss a box or two to see how I liked that.  And here is what I ended up with.

So cute.  I like the sparkly embossing powder.  These will look cute on the table with a little placecard tucked in one side.  Inside you could add a delicious chocolate truffle or a little bag of candy or nuts. Whatever you like.  I will be making a bunch of these and adding them to my Etsy page, Boxmania, over the weekend.  Same price as the Scary Skull Boxes - $7.50 for a set of ten.

I want to wish everyone a Happy Halloween.  Be careful and have fun.

Mario Buatta Written by Mario Buatta and Emily Evans Eerdmans, Foreword by Paige Rense - Rizzoli New York - Rizzoli New York

Mario Buatta Written by Mario Buatta and Emily Evans Eerdmans, Foreword by Paige Rense - Rizzoli New York - Rizzoli New York

I just ordered this book from Amazon.  You can get the best price there.  It comes highly recommended from my pal Liz Smith.  So if you want to see some inspirational pictures of fine interior design, check out Amazon.com and order a copy for yourself today.

Mario Buatta Written by Mario Buatta and Emily Evans Eerdmans, Foreword by Paige Rense - Rizzoli New York - Rizzoli New York

Mario Buatta Written by Mario Buatta and Emily Evans Eerdmans, Foreword by Paige Rense - Rizzoli New York - Rizzoli New York

I just ordered this book from Amazon.  You can get the best price there.  It comes highly recommended from my pal Liz Smith.  So if you want to see some inspirational pictures of fine interior design, check out Amazon.com and order a copy for yourself today.

A Quick Picture this Rainy Morning

I got this shot early this morning of the Italian Cyprus in the corner of the property along the front sidewalk.

This Italian Cyprus seems to be quite happy in this location.  I was worried that the drought we experienced this year was taking its toll, but I think it is going to make it.  You see the trees have begun dropping their leaves.  The leaves are so beneficial to the surrounding plants as they decompose, providing a good source of nutrients.  They are not so good for lawns, especially fescue and bluegrass.  These grasses continue to grow through fall and a thick layer of leaves will prohibit their growth.  Leaves make a great mulch for hydrangea or any other plants you may want to protect from winter cold.  Over the past few years, I have worked diligently at replacing lawn with gardens and mulched beds.  I have very little "grassy" areas left.  So I generally let the leaves lay where they fall.  This has helped make for a very nice rich top layer of soil.  Here in the Mid-Atlantic we suffer with predominantly clay soil, which can be difficult to work with.  So, if you can tolerate the leaves in your gardens, leave them and just have the lawn areas cleaned.

A Quick Picture this Rainy Morning

I got this shot early this morning of the Italian Cyprus in the corner of the property along the front sidewalk.

This Italian Cyprus seems to be quite happy in this location.  I was worried that the drought we experienced this year was taking its toll, but I think it is going to make it.  You see the trees have begun dropping their leaves.  The leaves are so beneficial to the surrounding plants as they decompose, providing a good source of nutrients.  They are not so good for lawns, especially fescue and bluegrass.  These grasses continue to grow through fall and a thick layer of leaves will prohibit their growth.  Leaves make a great mulch for hydrangea or any other plants you may want to protect from winter cold.  Over the past few years, I have worked diligently at replacing lawn with gardens and mulched beds.  I have very little "grassy" areas left.  So I generally let the leaves lay where they fall.  This has helped make for a very nice rich top layer of soil.  Here in the Mid-Atlantic we suffer with predominantly clay soil, which can be difficult to work with.  So, if you can tolerate the leaves in your gardens, leave them and just have the lawn areas cleaned.

Container Gardening Bonanza

On my daily walk, I found myself at the outdoor dining area of Farmers, Fishers & Bakers.  What a wonderful and creative thing they have done along this space to bring about some privacy.  It is also extremely visually appealing.  Enjoy.

I love container gardening.  They have combined any number of plants in these containers, all of which are a good match.  A very nice look indeed.

Container Gardening Bonanza

On my daily walk, I found myself at the outdoor dining area of Farmers, Fishers & Bakers.  What a wonderful and creative thing they have done along this space to bring about some privacy.  It is also extremely visually appealing.  Enjoy.

I love container gardening.  They have combined any number of plants in these containers, all of which are a good match.  A very nice look indeed.

A Halloween Giftbox from Bev

And what was delivered to me yesterday but a box of Halloween goodies.

What a wonderful surprise from my friend Bev.  These really cute Halloween towels, a sparkly card, a chocolate pumpkin head on a stick; and 

a Hot Cider scented Yankee Candle.  The candle is wonderful and I cannot wait to smell that wonderful aroma all throughout the house.  Thank you Bev.  That was very sweet of you to think of me at Halloween. 

A Halloween Giftbox from Bev

And what was delivered to me yesterday but a box of Halloween goodies.

What a wonderful surprise from my friend Bev.  These really cute Halloween towels, a sparkly card, a chocolate pumpkin head on a stick; and 

a Hot Cider scented Yankee Candle.  The candle is wonderful and I cannot wait to smell that wonderful aroma all throughout the house.  Thank you Bev.  That was very sweet of you to think of me at Halloween. 

Bev and the Scary Skull Boxes

My friend Bev ordered a set of Scary Skull Boxes from my Etsy page for a Halloween party.  She is so creative.  This is what she did with the boxes.

Don't you love it!  She used crinkle cut paper in Halloween colors to fill each box and then filled them up with foil covered eyeballs.  What a fun thing to hand out to the other partygoers.  Thanks for sharing this picture Bev.  Now it's on to Thanksgiving and a whole new box design.  The Thanksgiving boxes will work perfectly as place settings.  I will share with you when they are ready for purchase on Etsy at Boxmania!

Bev and the Scary Skull Boxes

My friend Bev ordered a set of Scary Skull Boxes from my Etsy page for a Halloween party.  She is so creative.  This is what she did with the boxes.

Don't you love it!  She used crinkle cut paper in Halloween colors to fill each box and then filled them up with foil covered eyeballs.  What a fun thing to hand out to the other partygoers.  Thanks for sharing this picture Bev.  Now it's on to Thanksgiving and a whole new box design.  The Thanksgiving boxes will work perfectly as place settings.  I will share with you when they are ready for purchase on Etsy at Boxmania!

One Tree, Many Shots

I was walking today.  Part of my daily routine is to walk.  Whether it is on the treadmill or to run errands or just walking in circles.  I must walk each and every day or my blood sugar goes up.  Activity - any kind of activity - is the key to lowering blood sugar.  A healthy diet is important also.  But you still must be active.

On my walk today I saw this beautiful Maple Tree in one of the local parks along Rock Creek in Washington, DC.  I found it mesmerizing and stopped to take some pictures.  I will share them with you now.

No narrative between the shots today.  What words could a mere mortal add that would give any more majesty to these pictures than what they say on their own.  I was particularly pleased with the fifth picture in the series which picked up the rays of the sun.  That shot and the last one of the green leaves are frameable. I might just do that. 

One Tree, Many Shots

I was walking today.  Part of my daily routine is to walk.  Whether it is on the treadmill or to run errands or just walking in circles.  I must walk each and every day or my blood sugar goes up.  Activity - any kind of activity - is the key to lowering blood sugar.  A healthy diet is important also.  But you still must be active.

On my walk today I saw this beautiful Maple Tree in one of the local parks along Rock Creek in Washington, DC.  I found it mesmerizing and stopped to take some pictures.  I will share them with you now.

No narrative between the shots today.  What words could a mere mortal add that would give any more majesty to these pictures than what they say on their own.  I was particularly pleased with the fifth picture in the series which picked up the rays of the sun.  That shot and the last one of the green leaves are frameable. I might just do that. 

My Annual Halloween Lunch at Filomena with the Girls

Yesterday I got together with my best gal pals for lunch at Filomena in Georgetown.

Filomena is wonderful to visit any time of year.  But at Halloween they go all out on the scary decorations.

Here is the scene at the main entrance just outside the dining room.  Very spooky.  We had a blast.  Good food.  Good company.  Just a fun lunch with some very special people.  I had the Chicken Marsala.  Simply divine.  I heard others ordering lasagne and manicotti.  Both looked luscious.  For dessert we split tiramisu and a chocolate ganache cheesecake.  Do I even need to describe how heavenly both of these were? Probably not.  Being the only diabetic among the group, I kept my portions of both to a minimum.  But even a small portion was better than nothing.  To die for.  Like I said last year, if you are nearby or visiting DC, try to make it to Filomena.  You will not be disappointed.

My Annual Halloween Lunch at Filomena with the Girls

Yesterday I got together with my best gal pals for lunch at Filomena in Georgetown.

Filomena is wonderful to visit any time of year.  But at Halloween they go all out on the scary decorations.

Here is the scene at the main entrance just outside the dining room.  Very spooky.  We had a blast.  Good food.  Good company.  Just a fun lunch with some very special people.  I had the Chicken Marsala.  Simply divine.  I heard others ordering lasagne and manicotti.  Both looked luscious.  For dessert we split tiramisu and a chocolate ganache cheesecake.  Do I even need to describe how heavenly both of these were? Probably not.  Being the only diabetic among the group, I kept my portions of both to a minimum.  But even a small portion was better than nothing.  To die for.  Like I said last year, if you are nearby or visiting DC, try to make it to Filomena.  You will not be disappointed.

More Plants Brought in for the Winter

I told you yesterday that I would have pictures of two plants which had grown like crazy during the summer. Well, here they are.

This San Pedro cactus loved it outside this summer.  It is enormous.  I've never seen a plant grow like this cactus did over the summer.  They are prolific growers.  I do not want to interfere with it's growth.  I want it to be as free-formed as it wants to be, so we will re-pot this into a larger container.  These cacti are native to Ecuador and Peru.

Looking down from above you get a better perspective of the size of this cactus.  The pot is way too small. It is top heavy.  This was quite a challenge to get inside.  It was very hard to handle and the spikes on the cactus were brutal.  I will need help getting this out of the existing pot and into a larger one.  Has anybody seen Steven?

And finally, the Snake Plant.  A year ago I was not certain that this was going to make it.  There were quite a few dead and dying leaves.  I found a spot on the deck I thought it would like and that is where it has been since spring.  It clearly enjoyed being outside for the spring and summer months.  These are particularly hardy and that is one reason they are popular as houseplants.  They are, however, very poisonous to dogs. So if you have a dog you think will be interested in sampling a leaf as a snack, you may want to find another indoor plant.  Baxter is not interested in eating Snake Plants.  There is too much good stuff in the kitchen to waste his time foraging for snake plant leaves.

More Plants Brought in for the Winter

I told you yesterday that I would have pictures of two plants which had grown like crazy during the summer. Well, here they are.

This San Pedro cactus loved it outside this summer.  It is enormous.  I've never seen a plant grow like this cactus did over the summer.  They are prolific growers.  I do not want to interfere with it's growth.  I want it to be as free-formed as it wants to be, so we will re-pot this into a larger container.  These cacti are native to Ecuador and Peru.

Looking down from above you get a better perspective of the size of this cactus.  The pot is way too small. It is top heavy.  This was quite a challenge to get inside.  It was very hard to handle and the spikes on the cactus were brutal.  I will need help getting this out of the existing pot and into a larger one.  Has anybody seen Steven?

And finally, the Snake Plant.  A year ago I was not certain that this was going to make it.  There were quite a few dead and dying leaves.  I found a spot on the deck I thought it would like and that is where it has been since spring.  It clearly enjoyed being outside for the spring and summer months.  These are particularly hardy and that is one reason they are popular as houseplants.  They are, however, very poisonous to dogs. So if you have a dog you think will be interested in sampling a leaf as a snack, you may want to find another indoor plant.  Baxter is not interested in eating Snake Plants.  There is too much good stuff in the kitchen to waste his time foraging for snake plant leaves.