"Wallflowers".....

"Beauty in Numbers".....

"Overflowing Abundance"......

"Linear Veg"......

"Canned Creativity"....

Here's to walls & to flowers.....
Happy weekending!

heidi
xo

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"Sweet Summer Dreams".....

Bedrooms should always be the "ultimate retrea"t...but during the warm weather months sometimes our indoor spaces are somewhat forgotten about.
With just a few decorating changes to our "Summertime Bedrooms" we can change all that....& create rooms that we can't wait to spend a few hours in on a hot afternoon or retreat to at the end of a long day at the lake.

For me it is all about "classics"....here are my suggestions...

*add fabrics that are crisp & cool, such as fresh white cottons & striped tickings

* touches of anything that speaks of the water....shells, boats, coral, fishing paraphernalia, etc.

*shades of blues, greens & of course red....

* items that remind us of vacations spent at grandma's lake cabin,.... or a friend's beach cottage, patchwork quilts, embroidered pillowcases, & charming old one-of-a-kind lamps

* & lots of books....classics, mysteries & of course a few old paperback romance novels....

Most importantly though, our summer bedrooms should be ones where not only the past is represented, but ones that allow us time each day to make new memories. Create spaces where children & adults alike can play board games, read books & fill journals with entries of lazy summers spent together with family & friends....not to mention fall asleep to the sound of crickets & the hum of the fan.

your friend, heidi XO

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"Veg Basics".....& a flower.....

-french radishes-
basically the same taste as regular radishes, but somewhat prettier with those little white bottoms; best when sliced & placed on a thick slice of sourdough bread, that has been generously slathered with soft sweet butter, & then sprinkled with kosher salt; also delicious eaten right out of the garden, slightly warm

-sweet garden carrots-
very easy to grow; incredible color; sweet as can be; try washing, cutting into coins, arranging on cookie sheet, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with kosher salt & pepper....& bake for 10-12 minutes at 425 degrees; if extra sweetness is desired, sprinkle with a handful of brown sugar & pumpkin pie spice; warning....these carrots may become addictive; NOTE: children love them!

-nasturtiums-
pepper-y little blossoms that are truly edible; thrive in poor soil, so will grow anywhere; tuck seeds in & around all other veggies & flowers, for a wildly-rambly garden; pick & sprinkle across a salad of butter lettuce, cherry tomatoes, french radishes & carrot curls....tossing with a sweet vinaigrette of 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/8-1/4 cup champagne vinegar, generous pinch of kosher salt, a couple grinds of pepper, 2 T. shallot or green onion, 1 t. dijon mustard & a squeeze or 2 of honey...may add a handful of crumbled feta cheese & a few cashews if desired; best eaten out-of-doors, at twilight, surrounded by lots of little white lights & a glass of "lemonade beer" ( 1/2 lemonade/1/2 beer, I prefer dark)

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"Paula & Pork".....

I have never been particularly familiar with cooking meat. I'm not terribly good about what's what, when it comes to which cut of meat to use in what dish. Of course I can take a recipe, go to the grocery store & make a fairly accurate evaluation of which cut to buy,...but I'll admit, I'm kind of faking it.
So lately, with cooking being an area I really want to explore & learn more about, I decided something most of you have already figured out......"As the butcher"!...Off I went, straight over to the butcher's counter & when this crazy-young looking man asked if I needed help, I looked him in the eye & somewhat desperately said "yes"!.....
I went on to tell him I was wanting to make Paula Deen's BBQ Pork Sandwiches, & asked what he recommended. He lit right up, asked for my recipe & then quickly led me over to the largest pieces of pork ever! He grabbed a 5 lb. pork roast shoulder & told me that it would be perfect for what I was making.....I was thrilled!....so thrilled that I ended up purchasing pepper encrusted bacon, & some gorgeous shish-kabobs as well!.....
Off I went, back to my kitchen, where I proceeded to make this recipe. OMG!!!!.....Let me say it may be one of the best things I have ever made!.....I followed the directions to the letter & Paula was right!..Incredible pulled pork sandwiches!......It all worked!.....

Moral to the Story....

* Ask for help when needed.
*Trust young butchers.
*Trust Paula Deen.
*Learn to cook meat....one cut at a time.

Happy cooking......heidi XO

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"How Do You Manage?"...."

I have been so busy working lately,... that I am forgetting that Summer has arrived. Well not actually forgetting, since the weather has been uncharacteristically hot & muggy here in California...but I'm sure you know what I mean. Too much work & not enough "enjoying"!

So my question to all of you is this.....
"How do you manage work & play?"

I have a tendency to think I must be finished with all my work, before allowing myself time for my own projects!....which of course is so silly?.....With a growing etsy shop, I "want" to be busy with orders, so learning to manage work is really important....but how?

So once again,... how do all of you manage?

* Do you get up really early & work till noon, allowing the rest of the day to be your own?
* Do you work only certain days of the week?
*Do you simply, yet successfully mesh working,... with your other obligations during each day, feeling like you are getting to everything you want to?

To be honest, I'm not sure what I'm doing?
It seems I work around the clock, squeezing in the gardening chores, laundry & keeping house,.... around stenciling & sewing pillows,... or working on decorating plans for clients. It's always a balancing act, but one where most of the time I feel slightly behind...never quite accomplishing everything I would like to?

It is late in the day & I am a bit tired tonight, but am truly interested in any suggestions that you may have.
I know I will find a solution. Taking on less,.... & occasionally saying "no" may be helpful....however, I do enjoy all that I take on, I would just like it all to run a little smoother. Am I making sense?

Thank you for indulging me....
Your over-worked, yet happy friend...

heidi
xo

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