open house at white flower farm 2018

July 20, 2018

Yes, the day my friend and I planned on visiting White Flower Farm for their annual open house was a rainy day! But, that did not stop us from attending!

We weren’t going to let the rain get in the way of our day off and the fabulous prospect of visiting one of our favorite garden centers in Connecticut!

The annual open house is a great time to pick up some discounted plants, tour the grounds, and enjoy some complementary refreshments!

I purchased one of these ‘Little Henry’s’ to plant in my own yard!

For today’s Friday field trip, enjoy a little glimpse of White’s during this year’s open house. Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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milk house chocolates at thorncrest farm

July 13, 2018

Connecticut constantly amazes me. I have lived here my whole live and I am still able to discover some great, new places on a regular basis!

Milk House Chocolates at Thorncrest Farm was a recent discovery that blew me away. Artisanal chocolates are made in small batches one at a time with no preservatives using their own fresh milk, cream, and butter.

The phrase coined by the farm ‘the magic is in the milk” is an understatement!

The farm operates on a core focus of comfort and happiness of their cows. They recognize each cow’s individual flavor in the milk, and ensure that flavor isn’t compromised by never allowing the cows to be stressed out! Kimberly and Clint Thorn believe great flavor from milk comes from lack of stress – that any kind of stress shows up right away in the milk. Everything from which cow is sitting next to which, to the hay they eat (they are fed only the sweetest hay and natural feeds) and the comfort of their beds can directly affect the flavor of their milk, so every little detail related to the cow’s happiness is considered!

Each chocolate is connected to a very specific cow, with each cow’s milk making an unbelievable difference in the flavor of the chocolates. For instance, after meeting the cow Daydream, I discovered every single caramel at Milk House is made strictly from her milk since the sweetness and flavor of her milk, with its ivory, buttery tone, makes it the best choice for a great tasting caramel!

I was fascinated to find out that milk works much in the same way as wine – just like each wine has a specific type of grape from a specific region and is affected greatly by the climate, soil, and other factors – milk works much in the same way. So, the 122 unique chocolates in rotation throughout the year at Milk House Chocolates are determined by several factors – including which cows are milking at that time!

These chocolates are truly amazing – of course, the freshness is off the chart, but also, they melt different, taste different, and feel different than a typical chocolate. I tasted the root beer filled and the dark chocolate and peanut butter with sea salt and couldn’t believe the fresh, rich tastiness of each piece.

A fresh peanut butter sea salt chocolate.

I brought myself home a bag of caramels made from Daydream’s milk. I really wanted to bring home some fresh milk infused with vanilla bean (doesn’t that sound luscious?), but I hadn’t brought a cooler with me so I couldn’t safely transport it home.

What a find this place is! I can’t wait to make another visit!

Biting into a fresh root beer filled chocolate at Thorncrest Farm.

Note: In addition to visiting Thorncrest Farm in Goshen, Connecticut, you may enjoy making a day of exploring 10 farms in Goshen this summer. The tour is offered free of charge on August 4^th and 5^th through the Goshen Agricultural Council.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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flowers inspired by paintings

July 6, 2018

Art and the New England Farm is a currently on display at The Florence Griswold Museum, showcasing works by artists from the 19^th to 21^st century. I choose to visit the exhibit on a special weekend – one that also included Blooms with a View.

I was so very intrigued by the display of flower arrangements created from inspiration garnered from the Art and the New England Farm collection, I needed to share some of the works on today’s Friday field trip.

Each floral designer creating an arrangement, chose a painting from the collection to serve as an inspiration for their creation. What a cool art form! Maybe suggest it as an interesting activity for your garden club or even as a fundraising project!

I hope you are inspired as much as I was by this interesting exhibit that utilized flowers in a special way.

Note: The Florence Griswold Museum is an art museum which was the center of the Old Lyme Art Colony, centered on the home of Florence Griswold and the main center of development of American Impressionism. Easily accessible by I95, the museum is situated along the picturesque Lieutenant River in Old Lyme, Connecticut. The current exhibit Art and the New England Farm is on display through September 16^th.

Have a fabulous weekend. Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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miss florence’s garden

June 22, 2018

One of Connecticut’s historical treasures is the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, home of Florence Griswold which was the center of the Old Lyme Art Colony – the main center of development of American Impressionism.

In addition to the museum’s collections, the grounds are something to admire. For today’s Friday field trip, I am sharing some photographs of the June garden at the historic site.

Florence Griswold, or “Miss Florence” as her friends knew her, was an avid gardener.

An archaeological dig in 1998 identified the physical boundaries of the garden beds and walkways of Florence Griswold’s garden before her death in 1937. With this information, as well as paintings and historic photographs of the site, Miss Florence’s garden was recreated to its appearance circa 1910.

Of course, every garden of that time period showed off some peonies!

I hope you enjoy a little glimpse of Miss Florence’s restored ‘old-fashioned’ garden from the 1930’s.

Have a fabulous weekend! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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creating honey pairings

June 19, 2018

Connecticut is lucky to be the home of Red Bee Honey. And, lucky for me, I was able to have the opportunity to visit!

Carla Marina Marchese is the beekeeper behind this iconic brand and I couldn’t ask for a better source to learn about honey!

How did she become involved with beekeeping and honey?

In 2000, Marina was unexpectedly invited to visit a neighbor’s apiary where her first taste of fresh honey from the beehive would change the course of her life. This moving experience inspired her to take a risk and quit her job, build a beehive, and acquire a colony of Italian honeybees to become a full-time beekeeper. It was on a visit to Montalcino, Italy, “The City of Honey”, that Marina became passionate about the diverse flavor profiles of varietal honey determined by the type of nectar gathered by the honeybees.

Today, I want to share the five honey pairings I tasted during my visit. They were all so yummy! I think this will help expand your imagination on how to serve different varieties of honey:

1. orange blossom honey paired with goat cheese and rosemary

2. goldenrod honey paired with strawberries

3. tulip poplar honey paired with brie, walnut and arugula (pictured in opening photo)

4. raspberry honey paired with dark chocolate

5. clover honey paired with coconut and flower blossom

Sounds yummy, right? Honey is the perfect addition to a summer cheese tray!

I hope I have inspired you to look for interesting honey varieties at farmer’s markets and specialty stores (True, quality honey is not sold at grocery or big box stores!) and to think about interesting pairings!

Note: Marina is a member of the Italian Register of Experts in the Sensory Analysis of Honey and founder of The American Honey Tasting Society. Her best-selling book Honeybee: Lessons from an Accidental Beekeeper chronicles her entrepreneurial journey into beekeeping. Marina also wrote the chapter on honey in the international best-selling book Beekeeping for Dummies.

Herbal tea ice pops molded in glass test tubes.

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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la mercerie cafe nyc

June 15, 2018

I love design centers – particularly in New York City – they are SO inspiring! One of my favorite places to meander around while in the city is ABC Carpet & Home. But recently I heard some buzz about a new furniture and lighting store in Soho and I was curious!

I used a free scrap of time while in NYC recently to check out Roman & Williams Guild. I knew La Mercerie Café and Emily Thompson Flowers were located at the Guild as well and my plan was to check out Roman & Williams and the flower shop while visiting the French café for a coffee or tea.

My plan worked out perfectly since the café was my favorite part of the visit! It is the perfect spot for a coffee or tea and dessert. (Breakfast or an all-day menu is available.)

I did take a casual stroll around the furniture store (well beyond my personal budget), but the aesthetic of the surroundings while seated in the café – with Emily Thompson’s wares in full sight – is what I found most inspiring!

I hope you enjoy some photos of my visit on today’s Friday field trip. I would add La Mercerie Café to your list of places to visit while in the city.

Have a wonderful weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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country living rhinebeck 2018

June 8, 2018

My very favorite fair is the Country Living Fair. I love it. And, I have to say that Rhinebeck, NY – which happens to be the closest location of the fair to where I live – is also my favorite location. The Dutchess Country Fairgrounds provide a fabulous event location. The grounds are lush and green and, in addition to all the fabulous vendors, seminars, and demonstrations, the fairgrounds provides great food, free parking, and well-maintained restrooms.

I thought you might like to see a glimpse of this year’s fair offerings, so I am sharing some photos today on Friday field trip. My favorite booth was the one put together by South Porch Antiques. They not only provided a great selection of antiques, but (as always) they also did so in a stunningly visual way.

Enjoy the photos!

P.S. Something really fabulous happened to me in Rhinebeck at the fair and it made me so happy I chose not to skip the fair this year! I met one of my idols! Not only did I meet her, but we shared a hug and I got a chance to talk a little paint with her! You may have guessed by the word ‘paint’ that the person who I met was Annie Sloan! What a thrill! (Thanks to my sweet friend for capturing it on film! xo)

Have a wonderful weekend! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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olympic training center, colorado

May 18, 2018

Do you know what one thing in Colorado Springs exists in only three places in the United States? The United States Olympic Training Center (OTC)!

(The other two campuses are in Lake Placid, New York and Chula Vista, California.)

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to tour the Colorado Springs campus with a fun group of people while in Colorado – the first of the three to be built and also the home of the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Some athletes preparing for the Olympics, Paralympics, and Pan American Games live at the OTCs for a period of months or years, while others visit periodically with their respective national teams for training camps, coaching, or physical testing. (Although foreign national teams are occasionally granted use of the US OTCs, they are used mainly by athletes from the United States.)

The best part of the tour? It was given by athletes! Our group was treated to conversation with paralympic gold medalist, 2-time world champion in the paratriathlon, Allysa Seely and U.S. skeleton athlete, Stephen Garbett.

Since Colorado Springs is situated near the base of Pikes Peak (at the eastern edge of the southern Rocky Mountains), the view of one of the most famous American mountains is visible from most parts of the OTC.

The high elevation of the OTC (located on the former Ent Air Force Base) is thought to improve training effectiveness. Its facilities include a swimming pool, an indoor shooting range, the Olympic Training Center Velodrome, two sports centers housing numerous gymnasiums and weight room, and a sport science laboratory, in addition to an athlete center and dining hall, several dormitories, a visitors’ center, and the offices of both the USCO and U.S. Paralympics.

Even when Pikes Peak is not in view, there are awesome mountain views from most angles. I was particularly impressed by the magnificent mountain view from the 2^nd floor indoor track in one of the sport center buildings – what a view to enjoy while running!

I highly recommend an Olympic Training Center tour if you ever find yourself near one of the locations – it is an inspiring experience, for sure!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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rockin’ garden of the gods

May 11, 2018

A public park located in Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods was my favorite visited spot on my first trip to Colorado.

Not only was I able to enjoy a morning hike with a great group of people, but I was able to enjoy the breathtaking natural beauty of this park.

Visitors are not limited to hiking through the park – horseback riding is also an option.

And, for the most adventurous, Garden of the Gods can be viewed from a higher vantage point – while rock climbing!

During most of my hike, the snow-capped Pikes Peak was visible in the distance.

My favorite view was when its beauty was framed perfectly through a rock formation.

Four-hundred eighty acres making up the park was gifted to the city of Colorado Springs back in 1909 and was designated to “remain free to the public, where no intoxicating liquors shall be manufactured, sold, or dispensed, where no building or structure shall be erected except those necessary to properly care for, protect, and maintain the area as a public park.”

Are you wondering how all this beauty was created? The Garden of the Gods’ red rock formations were created during a geological upheaval along a natural fault line millions of years ago.

I hope you enjoyed your visit to Garden of the Gods! Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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warmer days at terrain

May 4, 2018

Here in Connecticut, temperatures have skyrocketed and thoughts of snow are finally behind us! A flurry of garden related thoughts is running through my head! I can’t wait till Mother’s Day – my official planting day – to get some annuals into the ground!

For today’s Friday field trip, I thought I would share a little garden inspiration from my favorite garden store. Here are just a few captures from my last visit to Terrain in Westport.