Spring 2018- TODAY!!

Spring Equinox 2018 begins Tuesday, March 20, at 12:15 pm. Just a reminder in case it’s still snowy over your way. Still, I’m always drawn into daffodil and tulip anticipation. Sort of the opposite of weather worry- and why not? Spring comes every year, regardless of what else is happening at the moment. The predictability is a big comfort this time of year. Related Images:
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Discovering Incongruities in Life

Paola Pillows are indoor pillows, all soft cotton and down- no vinyl cyanide onboard*. I couldn’t resist placing them outdoors for a cheery snapshot of a sunny winter’s day. As usual, I revel in the incongruities of life. Creative license taken here. Related Images:
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Follow Your Heart in Home Decor

Ever notice that when you buy a bouquet of flowers, it’s a blend of many different colors and  textures? The juxtaposition of unusual elements can fit dynamically well together with very little effort. What’s important is following your heart. Related Images:
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Sustainability in the Garden

A love of fabric forms the basis for understanding a principle that might otherwise escape the light of day. Sustainability is a word that’s been overused in some circles and avoided in others. Related Images:
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ICFF Takes the Day in New York

Larry and I completed our annual pilgrimage to ICFF ( the international furniture fair) and SURTEX (surface design show) at Javitts, NYC on Monday. It’s easy to get overwhelmed if you haven’t been before and continues to overwhelm yearly if you don’t take a reasonable lunch break. Which we’ve learned to do. I was reminded of  the sometime, mind -numbing museum trips as a child to every museum in the Washington, DC area. Thank God for the diversion offered by American Indian displays and dinosaurs at the old Smithsonian. Related Images:
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Clean Up, Accent on Azaleas

Everybody knows that roses this full are simply not open yet in Connecticut. Just the other day I was pruning off dead wood as I raked and cleaned around the little green tulip, daffodil and grape hyacinth shoots coming up all over the place. Related Images:
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Looking for Flowers People, It’s April!

Today’s photo  was taken on April 29, 2012. I know it because my Nikon told me so. Nature photography is a wonderful thing as you can enjoy it year round-so full of promise through the lingering cold days in New England from March into April. Related Images:
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Spring and History -Comfort in Repetition

Yesterday afternoon we arrived in Savannah. It’s been a few years yet it feels like little has changed. It’s spring and the azaleas and camellias are in bloom. The grass is green -it happens sooner here then in New England, which is one reason we come. Related Images:
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Tea-A Winning Combination of Comfort and Good Health

People cannot live on Paola Pillows alone- and as the cold lingers, rewarding yourself with a soothing hot beverage is a great habit to nurture. Recently, I’ve become a convert to the pleasant multi-sensoral experience of tea. A virtual postprandial delight-sample after lunch before fading. Alison Birks, my favorite nutritionist, is a world-class herbalist who also makes awesome tea blends. This one is especially great in winter and loaded with things to make a body happy. You won’t find the ingredients in a typical grocery store chain. Look for them in a large health food store or, in Woodbury CT at
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