All Hallows’ Eve!

Why do these two garden fairies look like they're up to no good?
When I was little, too little to fight back, my mother made me wear a Halloween costume that gives me nightmares to this day. Not because it was scary, but because it was absurd and totally humiliating to wear! It was a large brown bird costume she sewed herself from a pattern that she still insists was meant to be Tweety Bird. My sister, who was forced to wear it first, and I have repeatedly told her it was in fact the chicken hawk. Ah Halloween, such fond memories. In keeping with tradition I too have begun making my children’s Halloween costumes, though I try not pick patterns that will humiliate them for years to come. I may have to throw a chicken hawk into the mix just once though. According to my mother it’s character building.Continue Reading

My 100 Foot Journey to Heaven

The Beautiful French Laundry Right Across The Street From Our Hotel! My own personal 100 Foot Journey

I love to cook… obviously… and I love to eat, and drink! I started really getting into cooking (and drinking I might add) when I was in my early twenties after a decade of being old enough to watch and learn from my mother. Nancy cannot only cook her ass off (and drink her ass off too), but she can put together and throw the most elegant and beautiful dinner parties. Taking a note out of her playbook I purchased every Martha Stewart and Carolyne Roehm book out there. I loved to thumb through their beautiful tomes and draw inspiration from all their glorious ideas. Imagining the day I would throw my own sophisticated and elegant parties.Continue Reading

Spring Has Sprung, The Grass Has Riz, I Wonder Where The Flowers Is

Tulips At Easter

Utah is playing a trick on all of us who live here. The weather is high 50’s, sunny, beautiful and the snow has almost all melted. It feels like Spring has arrived, but I will not be fooled. The forecast is already predicting snow and lots of it over the next couple of weeks so I will savor these warm golden days now and use them as inspiration to start planning our Easter celebration. Next week when we’re knee deep in the cold stuff it will be hard to think about tulips, Easter egg hunts, and fresh spring salads. So today I plan, next week I surrender!Continue Reading