peachy Archives - Page 2 of 3

ICFF Takes the Day in New York

May 27, 2017

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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Starting Tomato Seeds Indoors

April 25, 2017

Look around outside. New greens are everywhere. The azalea buds are humming along…colors are light and refreshing. The pale orange on the right side of the photo is the blush of a nearby narcissus. There are no intense colors out yet. Instead, you see tiny spots of color across the whole landscape. Walking through is like a treasure hunt- what’s up today? Related Images:
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Clean Up, Accent on Azaleas

April 11, 2017

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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Spring and History -Comfort in Repetition

March 7, 2017

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

February 28, 2017

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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Winter into Summer – Flower Shows

February 25, 2017

It’s getting warmer….Do you get confused about what season it is when you step outside? Winter, Summer, Spring??? The plants are waking up and unfurling leaves as they feel the heat. Let’s just hope old man winter goes easy on them this year. I’m expecting at least one more snowstorm. We ALL want Spring and Summer ASAP. Related Images:
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Textiles- Making History Through Innovation

February 21, 2017

Having sewn since childhood, I still remember walking to the store to buy lace and fabric at fractions of a yard to make doll clothes. I am passionate about textiles of all kinds and at a certain point I was making banners with recycled materials from dresses we wore. This is the first banner I made- many years ago- the pink was velour from the bridesmaids’ dresses at my brother’s wedding. The banner reminds me very much of the Japanese “Boro” tradition. Very cool. I still remember where each piece came from. Textile literally means “that which has been woven”.
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Milkweed and Garden Gates in January

January 14, 2017

By now, many people know that monarch butterflies can’t survive without milkweed- a caterpillar’s only food. These milkweed pods have already burst to show their beautiful seeds. I’m crazy about this plant. In late fall, you can see fields full of them blowing wantonly in the sun. Of course, in my case, I enjoy milkweed for its unique style – seeds exploding out of their pods in late fall. Related Images:
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Winter Summer Romance

January 7, 2017

Poinsettias and roses. In the world of flowers, a winter summer romance can include poinsettias and roses, or even sunflowers and azaleas. Whatever I’ve grown and photographed in the garden in season. Winter in Connecticut typically means I’m on garden hiatus- working inside on the computer with blooms of all color that defy seasonality. It’s a wonderful escape from the snow and cold. We heat with wood and pellets. The warm smell makes for a sort of cocooning that I’m sure bears similarity to hibernation in the natural world. If you’re inclined toward escapism and haven’t quite made it to
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You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone

October 29, 2016

We‘re visiting a dear old friend in the hospital tomorrow, probably for the last time. I love the name of this song that surfaced today as I was driving down the road. Boris, our friend, is a HUGE jazz fan and is also forever young at heart. Related Images:
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