Search results for ‘a special garden tour’
a special garden tour
July 19, 2013
When I asked my friends Phyllis & John to agree to have their home included on a garden tour; they were hesitant. In my mind, they were the perfect couple to ask…their yard was certainly my favorite.. Geez, I would like to retire to their yard! They live on a golf course, have a beautiful built-in pool, a vegetable and herb garden, a potting shed, and gorgeous flowers and plants everywhere…what more could you want?
Anyway, once I explained that the tour was a scholarship benefit, they readily agreed to participate. Today for Friday field trip, we are visiting the breathtaking grounds surrounding their 1852 home in Fairfield County, Connecticut on the day of the garden tour.
It was very hard to edit this post since there are so many facets to this yard, designed and planted solely by the homeowners. Such a fun yard to explore…Phyllis has created beautiful vignettes in every nook and cranny.
John’s ‘baby’ is the vegetable garden. A retired giant pumpkin planter (yup…he once grew a prize winner that weighed 625 lbs!), he now concentrates on vegetables and herbs. In addition to the planting, he built the stone walls and fences that so beautifully surround the space. Yes, that is an outhouse in the back of the garden…original to the property. John also crafted the handsome birdhouse that stands in the front section of the property.
What do you serve for refreshments on a garden tour? I really wanted to create a menu that was true to the house…concentrating on fresh vegetables, herbs, and flowers. I spent quite a bit of time on it and finally decided on rosemary sea salt shortbreads, rosewater meringues, fresh tomatoes with basil and marinated mozzarella, watermelon with fresh ricotta drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and finished with salt, pepper and mint, and lemon raspberry tartlets. Beverages served were cucumber water with nasturtium and pansy ice cubes and home made iced tea lightly sweetened with simple syrup infused with lemon and mint.
I hope you enjoyed our Friday field trip garden tour! Thank you John and Phyllis…your yard is truly a labor of love and it shows! Thanks also to the beautiful and talented gals – Emma and Sara.;)
If you haven’t already, please ‘like’ my facebook page to see additional photos. You can also follow me on Instagram and Pinterest.
Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
Sharing at Mona’s Picturesque, Little Red House, and Craftberry Bush.
touring broken arrow nursery
July 23, 2021
If it seems like I travel all over my state of Connecticut to visit gardens – I do!
What could be better on a Sunday morning than taking a tour of a nursery! This trip is to Broken Arrow Nursery in Hamden where they specialize in rare and unusual plants.
There is no charge to enjoy a morning tour walking through the property with an extremely knowledgeable staff member. It is a great opportunity, not only to see what is growing on the nursery property, but also to learn more about growing in Connecticut as well as discuss any personal gardening concerns with an expert.
I definitely left the nursery with a heightened knowledge of trees and plants in my area and, because of my addiction with all things white, an obsession with this particular plant!
Also, love this Georgia Plume Tree!
Visiting a local nursery or taking a trip to a public garden (You know how I love Longwood Gardens!) is a wonderful field trip to take this summer and a super way to enjoy the outdoors!
I hope you are inspired to visit one this summer!
Thanks for stopping by!
Have a fabulous weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
Comments Off on touring broken arrow nursery | garden, inspiration
a purple pop of flowers
May 15, 2020
We just had some snow here in Connecticut – not typical weather for May. The cold snaps have made all the flower gardeners hesitant to get started with putting out annuals this year.
I usually use Mother’s Day as my ‘safe to plant’ indicator, but I know some of the experts say not to plant until after the new moon.
With all the hesitation to get plants in the ground, it was so refreshing to see my friend Phyllis has started working on her garden décor. The plantings she had put around her side entrance really look fabulous. She changes things up each season and for spring she has incorporated a splash of purple into her creations.
I hope seeing these flowers make you smile as much as I did when I saw them!
Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous weekend!
- To see Phyllis’s porch in autumn, click here.
- For a tutorial on making DIY garden teepees, click here.
- For a tour of Phyllis’s garden in summer, click here.
Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
Comments Off on a purple pop of flowers | garden, inspiration, style
it started with sea glass sinks
February 15, 2019
My friend Phyllis is finishing up a remodel of the bathroom off her bedroom. I am so enamored with the results!
So, even though the bathroom wasn’t yet styled and the window coverings weren’t yet complete, I snapped a few photos when I was last over her house. This bathroom just made me so happy to look at, I had to share.
The level of detail on the trim work is beautiful. A mutual friend from back in our high school days is a master craftsman and was responsible for the designing/creating of these details.
The combination of a master craftsman and my friend’s great taste made the bathroom come together in a fabulous way!
The entire project was spearheaded by the selection of two beautiful sea glass looking sinks! They were the first item chosen for the bathroom and provide a fabulous little pop of color to the finished project!
The ‘cherry on the top’ is the view from the tub! But then, this is the yard I call a park…the landscaping is fabulous and the property adjoins a golf course. In the middle of winter it may be hard to imagine the gorgeous view during the rest of the year, but you can see it by clicking here.
Thanks for joining me today on Friday field trip. I hope you enjoyed seeing some little glimpses of my friend’s new bathroom!
My buddy, Sadie!
Have a marvelous weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
Comments Off on it started with sea glass sinks | field trips, inspiration, style, Uncategorized
shop hop 2014
December 5, 2014
Planning a shopping day filled with holiday inspiration with friends – what could be better? Today’s Friday field trip is a special seasonal road trip to visit shops across Connecticut.
I made a holiday music CD for the car (actually my son made it, but hey –it was my idea!), decided on a box lunch menu (don’t want a restaurant lunch to slow us down!), and planned an itinerary for Shop Hop 2014! The destinations? Well, these are a surprise…but, I will share them with you in this post!
Shop Hop invitations are sent out in advance – promising a day of friendship and inspiration touring favorite shops in Connecticut. My 2014 ‘south central’ edition is spanning four counties in Connecticut – all easily accessible by highway I95. (I am including my hop locations in this post in the event you live in Connecticut and would like to replicate my hop.) Be sure to like my Facebook page by clicking here, so you can see a gallery of photos from each of the hop locations and share some of the inspiration – even if you don’t live in Connecticut!
This is how our day goes… I pick up the gals at a designated location in the morning. They are not informed of our predetermined shop locations. ..makes it so much more fun this way! (For the most part, Shop Hop locations are best as isolated areas…save your clusters of stores in a town or a favorite local spot, for a day all on its own.)
A Christmas CD sets the holiday mood…this year, it was definitely a very eclectic mix! Click the three links below to hear three of this year’s selections:
This is my very favorite Christmas song by my very favorite entertainer.
Do you remember which recent fun holiday movie featured a version of this song?
Got to love my son’s sense of humor on this one!
A box lunch is the best way to avoid schedule interruptions. Believe me, this is for the best! A restaurant lunch wastes far too much precious time better devoted to inspirational adventures! Just be sure to use a cooler if you pack anything perishable! I packed mine in take out containers and added a label on the outside that I cut from chalkboard contact paper. A selection of flavored waters and ice tea rounded out the refreshments. We can always pick up a hot tea or coffee on the road to go with our rosemary shortbread cookies. :)
For 2014, these are the five locations I chose for our hop:
Grace, 46 Pennsylvania Avenue, Niantic
Maynard Gardens Holiday Shop, 87 Ingham Hill Road, Old Saybrook
Taken for Granite, 409 Leetes Island Road, Branford
No. 299 Fairfield, 318 Villa Avenue, Fairfield
Terrain, 561 Post Road East, Westport
Lastly, I like to leave my friends with favors – what fun is a special event without favors!
We visited some beautiful shops, but spending the day with my friends was the special part of the day! :)
I hope you are inspired to plan your own Shop Hop! Feel free to send me an email if you have any questions or need suggestions. Have fun with it!
Have a fabulous weekend filled with holiday inspiration, Jackie
P.S. The movie was Elf.
Sharing with City Farmhouse, Coastal Charm, Crafts a la Mode, The Shabby Nest, and Craftberry Bush.
Comments Off on shop hop 2014 | field trips, holiday, inspiration
interest to plantings with diy teepees
May 16, 2014
Garden ‘teepees’ are a quick and easy way to add some great visual interested to your plantings.
For Friday field trip today, I am visiting with my friend Phyllis (thanks Phyllis!) to demonstrate this easy tutorial.
You may remember Phyllis from when I hijacked her magnificent yard for a charity garden tour or, from when I shared a terrarium making session at her home.
Today, we are creating garden teepees to add to outdoor pots.
To create the teepees, simply arrange branches in a teepee shape, holding them in place, while pushing into the soil. Attach the top of the branches together using a small piece of green floral wire. Place a piece of moss over the green wire and attach it using another small length of the wire.
*Moss can be purchased at a garden store and is preferred over the moss found in the yard or the forest to avoid undiscovered insect eggs, etc.
Looks like we have some ‘students’ interested in our tutorial from the other side of the screen door!
A garden teepee is such a great way to add some visual interest to plantings with very little effort and minimal supplies!
Have fun with it!
Thank you so much for stopping by!
Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
Sharing at Craftberry Bush, Crafts a la Mode, and Mona’s Picturesque.
embracing the season
August 27, 2013
The best flowers for decorating are the ones that embrace the season. Here in New England, hydrangeas are a favorite. While putting together some arrangements for a wedding rehearsal dinner, I knew this seasonal flower was the best choice. Wanting to personalize the arrangement in some way, I decided to add the future bride and groom’s initials by creating monogrammed tie-ons crafted from natural elements.
I used some cocoa colored stamp pad ink and stamps to stamp on pieces of wood. If you aren’t into cutting and sanding wood, you can easily find something similar at a craft store or on Etsy.
An easy and wonderful way to help the spacing stay consistent when stamping is to simply use an elastic to hold the two letters and ampersand stamps together while applying the monogram.
Once your tie-ons are completed, you can save them to add to your completed centerpieces. Harvest (or purchase) the seasonal favorites you plan on using. If you are truly embracing the season, it is best to use something that is presently in bloom…such a great way to evoke feelings of gardens and the season. :)
Hydrangeas are really great all on their own. These were being placed on a chocolate colored table cloth so I just added a couple curly sticks as accents and tied twine around clear vases. Perfect!
In appreciating every last bit of summer, try to find some of your own ways to embrace the season…bringing some of your garden (or a friend’s garden…thanks Phyllis!) indoors is certainly one great way!
Enjoy your week. Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
Sharing at Mona’s Picturesque and Craftberry Bush.
Comments Off on embracing the season | diy, food & festivities, garden
the nation’s first hospital
August 9, 2013
One place I have been meaning to go when visiting Philadelphia is the Pennsylvania Hospital…it is the nation’s first hospital and I have been really curious to see the operating room…especially since it existed before electricity!
For today’s Friday field trip, I am taking you to the nation’s first hospital and sharing some of the interesting facts I learned during my visit.
Even today, considered one of the finest examples of Colonial and Federal architecture in the city, the hospital was founded in 1751 by Dr. Thomas Bond and Benjamin Franklin “to care for the sick-poor and insane who were wandering the streets of Philadelphia.” At the time, Philadelphia was the fastest growing city in the 13 colonies.
The Great Court was restored in 1976 for the nation’s bicentennial and was completed using traditional colonial colors.
In 1847 the American Medical Association designated the Pennsylvania Hospital library as the country’s most important medical library. The collection now contains over 13,000 volumes dating back to the 15th century – including medical and scientific volumes as well as books on natural history. The library includes the nation’s most complete collection of medical books published between 1750 and 1850. The collection also contains several incunabula, books written before 1501, when the printing press was invented.
Some old plaster casts were displayed along the front wall. They were the only method of teaching anatomy during the 18th century since using human cadavers for the study of medicine was illegal at the time.
The top floor of the Pine Building is the home of The Nation’s First Surgical Amphitheater, the “dreaded circular room.” The Amphitheatre served as the operating room from 1804 through 1868. Surgeries were performed on sunny days between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm since there was no electricity at the time. Candles also were used to help illuminate the room. The light in the center is a reproduction of a gaslight and was probably not used until the 1830’s.
The surgeons who first used this room were considered skilled craftsmen. In this Surgical Amphitheatre surgery became the nation’s first medical specialty. Medical students and locals paid to observe the surgical procedures. Posters were placed around town to notify the public of the procedures being performed and the surgeons in attendance. The Surgical Amphitheatre seats 180 and with those standing up to 300 people might be present during any given surgical operation.
The most common surgical procedures of the day included amputation; removal of internal and external tumors, bladder stones and cataracts; repair of hernias; and the setting of fractures. Patients were carried up the three flights of steps strapped to chairs or on stretchers before their operation.
Anesthesia was not used until the 1840’s. Even then, anesthesia was used only on women because it was believed that they were less resistant to pain. Prior to the use of anesthesia, the surgeons got the patients “blind drunk, gave them opium or administered a sharp tap on the head with a mallet enough to render the patient unconscious and hopefully not dead.”
Sterile technique was not used in this country until the 1890s. Before that the surgeons washed their hands after the procedure. They wore coats to protect their clothing and hung these coats outside the Amphitheatre on hooks on the walls – unwashed for years at a time.
The dry moat surrounding the hospital was used to exercise the mentally ill. Out of morbid curiosity, townspeople gathered on Sundays to watch the patients.
A Physic Garden was proposed in 1774 to provide physicians with ingredients for medicines. But, because of financial circumstances, it was not until 1976 as a bicentennial project of the Philadelphia Committee of the Garden Club of America and the Friends of Pennsylvania Hospital that the garden was planted, containing the plants and herbs that were used for medicines in the 18th century.
More than 250 years later, Pennsylvania Hospital continues to thrive. Pennsylvania Hospital has been designated National Historic Landmark since 1965.
If you find yourself with some free time in Philadelphia, I recommend you take the Pennsylvania Hospital Walking Tour and visit some of the oldest parts of the hospital…particularly the Nation’s First Surgical Amphitheatre! I hope you enjoyed today’s Friday field trip.
Thank you so much for visiting! Have a wonderful weekend, Jackie
pastry bites two ways
July 23, 2013
I love bite-sized desserts. People feel less guilty about eating a wonderful dessert when it is small. After all, there are less calories in a lot of little desserts, right? Plus, an individual size is so pretty and easy to serve.
I am going to show you how easy it is to make these pastry bites two ways…lemon raspberry and cannoli. Both use the same individual sized pastry shell.
Because the individual shells for these desserts can be made ahead on the morning you will be using them, it is a great dessert for serving a crowd.
For lemon raspberry pastry bites, the shells are filled with lemon curd and topped with a raspberry. Lemon curd is really tart and gives a great big zing to this little bite.
There is some really great quality lemon curd that you can buy premade…often it is less expensive than buying the ingredients to make it yourself. Trader Joe’s has a good one (since you only use 1 tsp. per bite, you can make 90 pieces with the one 10.5 oz. jar). If you would rather make it yourself, Ina Garten’s recipe is my favorite.
Just before serving time, carefully fill each shell with lemon curd, top with a raspberry, garnish with a little piece of mint, and dust with confectioner’s sugar.
Cannoli pastry bites are filled with cannoli cream. I love cannoli cream, but I am not a big fan of cannoli shells. The reason could be because I am not a big fan of fried foods. In any case, I much prefer cannoli cream with puff pastry and that is the why I decided to create a dessert with that combination.
Use your favorite cannoli filling recipe. Mine is by Alex Guaranschelli. Click here for the recipe.
Fill the shells just before serving. Garnish with mini chocolate chips and drizzle with melted chocolate if desired. Dust with confectioner’s sugar.
If you use Alex’s recipe, it makes a lot. Because you only need 1 tsp. for each pastry bite, you will have plenty left over. You can reduce the recipe, or use the extra, as I do, for deconstructed cannolis as a special treat for your family or guests. I get the broken cannoli shells from an Italian bakery and serve the delicious cannoli filling with a garnish of mini chocolate chips…a sweet version of a chip & dip. :)
“Deconstructed’ cannolis are a great way to use leftover cannoli filling. Serve a bowl of cannoli cream with broken cannoli shells. Garnish with some mini chocolate chips. A sweet & stylish ‘chip & dip!’
Making the Shells
To make individual shells, use pastry sheets purchased at the grocery store. I have used phyllo dough many times in my life…I can’t even count the number of times I have made baklava…but it is a little tricky if you haven’t worked with it. I am going to give you instructions using the store bought sheets…I did a test before I put this post together and you can get a great result using the store bought sheets. They are called puff pastry, pastry dough sheets and are located in the freezer section of your grocery store. The box is 17.65 oz. and contains two sheets of pastry dough.
The key to making a successful shell is in the cutting. The dough needs to be really, really cold when you cut the shape so that the edges don’t seal. Sealing the edges would prevent the pastry dough from rising. This is the reason you should not wait for the dough to defrost, cut it as soon as you are able. For the same reason, do not add an egg wash or brush with milk…if any of the wash gets onto the sides of the shell, the edges will seal.
You will need two different sized cookie cutters…I used one that measures 1 3/8” in diameter and one that is 2 3/8“ diameter. I bought a set of graduated cookie cutters in a flower shape at Home Goods…5 cutters in various sizes came in the package for a price of $2.99.
Using the larger cutter, cut the shape from the dough. Put it onto a parchment lined cookie sheet. Using the smaller cutter, cut a center in the first shape, but do not cut all the way through…pierce the dough, but do not make a cut. This will create the hole for your filling. Each sheet will make 12 pieces if you use a similar sized cookie cutter as mine, so the box of two sheets will make 24.
Bake on parchment paper at 400 degrees for 10 to 13 minutes.
After the shells are completely cool, use the point of a knife to remove the inner shape. You can push it down if you are having trouble removing it. After you have done this to each shell, they can be saved for later to fill.
You can have your filling ready ahead of time and can make the shells in the morning. All you need to do is to assemble when ready to serve! Now that you know how to make the individual pastry shells, you can come up with your own versions using your favorite fillings! Enjoy!
Thank you so much for visiting! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
Sharing at The Shabby Nest and Craftberry Bush.
about
January 4, 2012
My dad & I on vacation :)
Hi, I’m Jackie from Fairfield County, Connecticut.
My visual aesthetic is what drives my creative projects. I am never lacking for ideas and find inspiration in everyday life…
My friends call me a ‘Modern Renaissance Woman.’ In my free time, I may be found testing a new recipe for a garden tour I’m organizing, painting a faux finish on a friend’s bathroom wall, or hopping on the train to NYC to attend an author appearance or design event. My creative side is always in overdrive!
My two beautiful children have always been my focus in life and now that they are older, my life enters a new phase of rediscovery and adventure! While working full time at nonprofits is satisfying work, it doesn’t always give me the opportunity to express myself creatively…I am working on finding the right full time position to fuel my creative side!
Because I get so many requests from friends and family to help with creative projects – everything from wedding planning to designing business cards – I designed this blog as a creative outlet to share some of my home and garden ideas. Pleasure in Simple Things is where I celebrate finding joy and inspiration in the simple pleasures of life by showcasing DIY projects, recipes, design ideas and adventures!
Why simple things?
Isn’t it the little things that really matter most in life? Isn’t that why a person can select a car based on a cup holder? Or why a special memory can come flooding back based on hearing a certain song or smelling a particular cologne?
I know that it’s crazy I can’t delete the “thanks Mom” or “I love you more” text messages the kids send to my phone, but it is just one of those simple things that makes life so special. How great to come across one of those text messages when my day isn’t going so well!
In that same way, how great is having a random conversation that gives an exciting new outlook..falling in love with a well-designed paper product…hearing a new song that gives so much happiness it needs to be put on repeat for the better part of a day…finding a single quote in a book that makes one look at life in a new way….or not being able to contain the excitement of implementing a new decorating idea that is created on the drive home from work….
These are the things that make life great.
So while I am determined to find time for self-discovery, my goal is a simple one …. to celebrate pleasure in simple things along the way.
Comments Off on about |