pleasure in simple things

getting your just desserts

July 16, 2021

Isn’t it feeling great that things are starting to get a little bit back to normal? Getting together with the people we love, of course, is the best part! When getting together at a fabulous place – all the better!

That was my luck recently when I was treated to lunch at one of my favorite places – Terrain.

There is so much to love about Terrain Café…the bread baked in a flower pot and served with herbed butter, seasonal salad selections like grilled peach and strawberry spinach, or the inventive summer beverage selection.

And, of course, a special dessert because having lunch at Terrain Café always calls for a dessert splurge!

For desserts, like everything else on the menu, a seasonal selection is offered.

Wouldn’t you like to try every single one?! My favorite dessert is the terrarium dessert created by Terrain Café and served in a Weck jar. Not only is it on point in theme, but it tastes absolutely delectable!

Sadly, not everyone has a Terrain Café nearby, but everyone can take some special time with special people to enjoy their ‘just desserts.’

I hope I am inspiring you to do just that!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things…like eating a fabulous dessert al fresco with your besties! xo Jackie

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life moves pretty fast

July 2, 2021

We are starting a holiday weekend and everyone is super excited because some of our COVID-19 restrictions have relaxed and people feel a little more ‘normal.’

I am grateful to our life with COVID-19 for teaching me to slow down a little bit.

For the weekend, I am reminding you of a few words from a very wise man: Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

With these words in mind, I challenge you this holiday weekend to pick a single thing to find beauty in and really spend some time to examine it.

You may choose something aesthetically pleasing or you may choose a person. Whatever it is you decide to choose, spend some real time taking it in and examining it from every angle…appreciate the beauty in your choice.

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a fabulous holiday weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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virgin garden

June 25, 2021

I love white flowers.

When I planned my current landscape, I planned for only white flower varieties. June has been a fabulous month for me because all my new plants proved successful – everything I planted survived! What a great feeling!

Today I am sharing some of my favorite of the current blooms! Look at the fabulous bloom on this Little Henry!

If you notice a little bit of pink in the mix, that is a slip up from when I bought annuals marked as white before they were in bloom!

I still have a couple of white varieties on my list that I haven’t been able to find! Do you have any favorite white garden flower varieties to recommend?

Thanks for stopping by! It is wonderful gardening weather! Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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art in unexpected places

June 11, 2021

For any serious shopper, no trip to Miami is complete without a stop at Aventura Mall. Aventura Mall is one of the top shopping centers in the U.S. Anchored by Nordstrom and Bloomingdales, the center is highlighted by a mix of over 300 luxury boutiques and shopper favorites. It also features over 50 dining options.

But, on my last trip to Miami, it wasn’t the stores at Aventura Mall that I was visiting…it was the artwork! Aventura showcases over 20 museum-caliber pieces in a range of mediums by world-renowned artists installed on multiple levels of the mall.

I love this happy guy by Ugo Rondmone!

I am giving you a little taste of some of the pieces in today’s post. Enjoy!

If you are ever in the Miami area, be sure to plan some time to visit the Aventura Mall! Click here to see one of the more exciting pieces! You can see some of the interactive pieces on my Instagram stories.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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majestic beech tree

June 4, 2021

Something I truly admire on visits to one of my favorite nurseries in Connecticut – White Flower Farm – is the gorgeous tree standing guard near the front of the property.

The European beech has been described by many experts as the finest specimen tree available. This one at White Flower Farm was planted in 1958.

Isn’t it something?

While having that beautiful beech on my mind, I was walking around my neighborhood and realized that a tree doesn’t have to be 63 years old to be appreciated.

There is so much about trees to admire. A couple of trees I passed on my walk, changing with the season, caught my eye.

While I do have favorite trees at nurseries and gardens I visit (such as the copper beech at Longwood Gardens), I can appreciate the humblest of varieties!

I hope you are inspired to take special notice of some local trees or trees you see in your travels.

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a fabulous weekend, Jackie

Note: Some interesting history about the European beech tree From the Arbor Day Foundation website:

The European beech tree has an unmatched place in history. The beechnuts were food for prehistoric man and are still consumed today. The wood has been employed for centuries for both fire and furniture in Europe. Historians claim that the first written European literature was inscribed on Beech bark in Sanskrit. The English word ‘book” comes from the Anglo-Saxon “boc”, a derivative for the Anglo-Saxon “beece” or Beech.

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diy oyster shell necklace

May 28, 2021

I had some fun the last couple weeks making some necklaces from decoupaged oyster shells.

I had been putting holes in some shells to create some garlands and decided to drill some extras to create necklaces.

I have shared plenty of decoupaged shells in the past. If you still haven’t tried to make some, click here for simple instructions. Summer is a great time to try this craft made from some collected beach shells!

For making necklaces, drill the holes in the shells first. Then, decoupage – being sure to use the end of your paint brush to punch the appropriate hole where you have drilled after decoupaging. Next, add the chain, beads, rawhide, etc. of your choice to complete the necklace!

I happen to like a long necklace – with a 30” chain – but, your creation should reflect your own personal style.

Have some fun with it!

Thanks for stopping by! Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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desert botanical garden

May 21, 2021

I became a cactus fan long before succulents were ‘in.’ I made my first visit to Arizona when I was in junior high school and I instantly became mesmerized by the unusual and glorious plants called cacti.

When I got home from my trip, I signed up for a subscription to Arizona Highways magazine so I could regularly see beautiful, artistic photographs of Arizona plants in their native habitat.

This background of cactus love made it extra special for me to have the opportunity recently to visit the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. I had never been.

The garden is like a living museum, home to more than 4,400 species and 27,000 plants.

Today, I share a few of my favorite views from my visit.

Thanks for stopping by.

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

P.S. Look at my last post for more from the Desert Botanical Garden.

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anything but yellow

May 14, 2021

On a quick trip to Scottsdale, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix with some great people. During the visit, I was intrigued by a comment made by our tour guide – that most flowers in a desert garden are yellow. Of course, after hearing that, I needed to find some color beyond the yellow as I toured the space!

Today I am sharing a few of these non-yellow finds. I will share some more photos of the garden in a future post because there were plenty of amazing succulents to admire!

My first amazing find at the garden is a little bit of a cheat…they are not live plants! They are blown glass pieces by the amazing American glass sculptor, Dale Chihuly. It was such a nice surprise to discover the three pieces of large-scale sculptures gracing the entrance to the garden!

You may remember from a previous post, that I visited a large Chihuly collection when it was installed at the New York Botanical Garden. (Click here to see the post.)

Here are a few of my favorite living ‘beyond yellow’ finds!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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spring walk in the woods

April 30, 2021

I know I’m always saying I love my state, but I do! One of the best parts of living in Connecticut, of course, is being on the coast. The water has always been such a big part of my life – boating, beaching, fishing, etc.

But another great thing about living in Connecticut is that it is just as easy to explore the woods as it is the shore!

Today I travel inland for a walk so I can show you a little of the wooded part of Connecticut in the spring! This particular piece of forest happens to be at Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden, Connecticut.

Enjoy! I hope you are inspired to take your own walk in the woods this weekend!

By the way, Connecticut has 139 state parks and forests statewide. Not bad for such a tiny state!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a fabulous weekend, Jackie

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spring walk in essex

April 23, 2021

Even though I live in a shoreline town, there are plenty more in Connecticut to explore! Some towns I may not visit very often, yet others I wouldn’t miss checking out on a regular basis.

Essex is one of these ‘regular basis’ towns. It has a quiet elegance about it and is very historic – It is home to one of the oldest (since 1776) continuously operated inns in the country. I usually visit this seaport village in July, but a friend and I recently made a spring visit.

As in any visit, we took plenty of time to notice outdoor home décor and gardens. Having done a formal home tour in Essex in the past, I know there are many magnificent interiors as well!