Decorating has easily become a favorite part of the holidays. Last year we found our fresh tree appropriately, in the town of Bethlehem, Connecticut. We’ll be headed there again this weekend. Uncle Frank’s Christmas Tree Farm. We drove the truck into the property and were left to our own devices to find a tree, cut it down and load it in. What’s not to like? Related Images:
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Have you noticed how bare it looks outside as winter moves in? The late fall landscape in New England is a striking backdrop for visions of sugarplums. Does it also drive you inside to plot and cook up mischief for the holidays? Related Images:
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If you’re looking for comfort food in cold weather, (or an antidote to overeating), you need my mother’s basic lentil soup. The small and mighty lentil is high in protein and fiber. And, so much more. Best of all, the cozy taste of lentils is comfort personified. Related Images:
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From Montreal. This year I’m thankful for a brief visit to Canada. Could it become more than a visit? Only time will tell. At least we have our passports now. And I’m grateful not to have to cook turkey this year – or any giant side dishes designed to overstuff. This isn’t the first year we’ve taken a “bye” for Thanksgiving and I strongly recommend it every five years or so. Related Images:
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An American Beautyberry (sometimes called a French Mulberry) brings great color to a late fall garden. Its shiny purple fruit is a marked contrast to curling dry hosta leaves. Beautyberry fruit is loved by birds and deer alike. Wait a minute, did I say deer???? Hmm. The warm weather is pretty much finished here in New England and no kind of flower is left standing. Planting is finally over for the season and I had the courage to stop buying bulbs this week. The ground is just too hard to cultivate! Besides, it’s time to find beauty inside for the
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The forecast for this morning was “a wintry mix by 10:00” so it made sense to jump out of bed and put the bulbs in before breakfast. Later, as I ran down to empty the wheelbarrow of leaves and branches, I heard it. The sound of silence. Related Images:
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You have to begin with a nod to their roots. Tulips are natives of Eastern Turkey and the foothills of the Himalaya. They don’t belong here. Whether they behave as annuals or perennials is largely beyond our control. If you go in with that attitude it might be less stressful. (I’m working on our Paola Prints pillow listing for Amazon- The photo above shows you the progress). After much consternation (mine) I’m approaching the finish line and hope to go live very soon. Wish us luck! Related Images:
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We were away last week and during that time, summer ended in Connecticut. It was almost a relief. You know how that works? We came home to lots of branches down from a rainstorm and wilted plants that couldn’t sustain the incoming cold. As much as I adore the spring-summer flowers, I also love seeing the changes that fall in New England brings. New England is in season now. Related Images:
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The Hoh Rainforest, located in the Hoh River Valley in Olympia National Park, Washington State, is a treasure any gardener would drool over. In some sense, my year-old formal garden is a radically different environment. It will be years before our plants offer real cover for migrating wildlife. Thus far, we host a modest collection of bumblebees, butterflies and the occasional hummingbird. It’s a work in progress. Related Images:
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It’s been said that Halloween marks the time when the fabric between life and death is at its thinnest. Maybe that’s the underlying reason why people get spooked. Or, maybe it’s because we’ve been commercially conditioned to scare each other on Halloween since childhood. Related Images:
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