News & Notes

Invasive Plants–Just Don’t Do It

It’s all fun and games, people, until some planet loses a species. You know what I’m sayin? I’m talking about invasive plants–you know, the pretty ones that are easy to grow and spread, and then take over the world? As we plan for fall gardening, let’s do our part to stop these botanical bad guys before they start…

Bees and Thank You

Dear Readers,
Your response to A Book Deal for Bee Cottage has gob-smacked me, and I am so grateful to you I could bust. If you were wondering, I absolutely do read every single-dingle comment and treasure every word. Yessiree Bob I do. And I really appreciate your feedback on the book’s subtitle (to be continued). I’m not always able to respond individually, but trust me, hun, you are forever on my Love List. These simple bees and bouquets are for you especially. From my house, my garden, and my heart, thank you.

Postcard From Italy No. 2–High Speed Chase Through Vasari Corridor

In our last episode, the hero was foiled by his devout but conniving wife in his valiant attempt to visit Italy without darkening the door of a single church. T’was a bittersweet tale of betrayal and deceit, with beautiful scenery and a great lunch. This week, we find our hero in the footsteps of the dukes of Florence, in a high speed chase across the forbidden Vasari Corridor. Can he break the Corridor world speed record? Tune in here…

Reading This Book Will Make You Happier–and Less Cluttered

You cannot read Everything That Remains without changing how you think about your life–and your stuff–and without doing something about it, which will make room for more joy in your life. I promise, or you can return this post for a full refund. But first, if you are eating or drinking, be careful lest you choke when… Continue reading Reading This Book Will Make You Happier–and Less Cluttered

Postcard From Italy No. 1 – Florence, a Vineyard Visit and Delightful Lunch

Notes from travels earlier this summer… And now another note (8.11.14)…Please pardon the missing images. We are working to restore our site from the Massive Russian Computer Hack of 2014… On the heels of painting in Provence the week before (in previous posts), I flew to Florence to await His Grace (aka my husband for… Continue reading Postcard From Italy No. 1 – Florence, a Vineyard Visit and Delightful Lunch

Perfect Summertime Hostess Gifts – Great Paper Placemats, Napkins, Plastic Tumblers

When I came across this image, I sighed, from the Adams Calyx ware, to the Kirk Repoussé silver, to the precious hot-pink Chinoiserie placemats. It was a long sigh. Let’s start with the placemats. Turns out the placemats come in paper pads–brilliant summer hostess gifts! (One for them, one for me, hee-hee.) Not just for… Continue reading Perfect Summertime Hostess Gifts – Great Paper Placemats, Napkins, Plastic Tumblers

Postcard From Provence – No. 3 – Painting in Port, Beginning With Audacity

“Beginning with audacity is a very great part of the painting,” said Winston Churchill, who  knew a thing or two about audacity–and about painting, too, it turns out.  In the 1920s Churchill took painting lessons in the picturesque coastal village of Cassis, France, where our group also painted during the workshop I attended in May… Continue reading Postcard From Provence – No. 3 – Painting in Port, Beginning With Audacity

Postcard From Provence No. 2 – A-Painting We Will Go

Plein-air painting is not for sissies, let’s just get that straight right now. Why sit in a comfortable, climate-controlled studio, with actual furniture and an actual bathroom, when you can freeze, burn-up, blow away, be swarmed by Japanese tourists,  trip on a tree root trying to get away, sprain your ankle, and drop your painting… Continue reading Postcard From Provence No. 2 – A-Painting We Will Go