My super hero has been waiting in the wings to assume some culinary duties from his sister. With his quiet, serious demeanor, he adds a different flavor to time spent together in the kitchen.
-pumpkin cupcakes with lemon cream cheese frosting-
safety first
working hard
even super heroes need a break
and then a good night’s sleep
wishing you sweet cupcake dreams!!!
Filed under Family history, Fashion, Food
High on my list of priorities as a designer in Santa Barbara: patronize locally owned businesses.
Rooms & Gardens, owned by Eric Voulgaris, makes that goal easy to achieve.
When stepping off of State Street into the store you will be greeted by one of these lovely, friendly, and extremely capable ladies:
Laura – store manager, Sheila or Carly
-yes, they are great fun, as well as being consummate professionals in the home furnishing business-
R & G has remained on the cutting edge of design by moving ahead with the nuances of the interior fashion industry. While maintaining a distinctive style, the store offers traditional furnishings with an edge, which mix easily into and enhance any decor.
Browsing the inspiring vignettes in the store, enjoying the fragrance of scented candles and the sound of… clucking chickens???…
complete with designer hen house
…only in Santa Barbara…only at Rooms & Gardens!!!
Filed under Fashion, Garden, Inspiration, Interiors
Congratulations
to newest daughter-in-law
Samantha Hutchinson Wennerstrom
for making the front page of the Wall Street Journal today!!!
Visit Sam on her blog ‘Could I Have That?’, and on Instagram
Filed under Family history, Fashion, Travel
When cooking with my grandmother as a young girl, I always wore an apron chosen from her vast collection.
Seemingly always in the kitchen as a busy mother, I never took time to put on an apron.
Now that I am cooking with my granddaughter, she reminds me (as I taught her) to always put on an apron before we start to cook. In fact, aprons have become an integral part of our times together in the kitchen. Knowing the joy we find in cooking together, we have been the recipients, from family and friends, of aprons – even some matching ones. Which one to wear remains a difficult decision……..we discuss the provenance of each one:
“……….these from Rome when I was a baby, the pink one with the fire dogs from Auntie Sue Sue………..”
The decision made, we are ready to begin our adventure of making:
‘gooey cinnamon squares’
from the Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by Deb Perelman
measuring
whisking
adding
beating
-time out for an apron change-
stirring
spreading
-and yet another apron change for the sous-chef-
dusting
and finally tasting
YUM!!!
Filed under Family history, Fashion, Food, Travel
the wedding deconstructed……… part 2
golden memories
beautiful gifts from the bride
a most thoughtful and fun gift from an auntie
the gown
candle light
heartfelt wishes
a new family member – another Mrs. W
…………………filled with gratitude!!!
Filed under Fashion, Inspiration
the wedding deconstructed…………..
the aisle
the sunscreen
the guest book
the reception structure
simply Samantha
Mr. & Mrs.
their mothers
off to South Africa and the Seychelles
We love you – God go with you now and for the rest of your lives!
Filed under Exteriors, Family history, Fashion, Garden, Inspiration, Nature, Travel
Guest blogger Susan Estabrook aka ‘E’
21 Rue de Seine
You know it is a flat in Paris when:
there are small spots for beauty
there are a few new purchases around
there is a need to get creative with storage
every inch/nook/cranny counts
there is flea market art on the walls
there is a good lock
even in great neighborhoods!!!
…reprise and inspiration.
In addition to representing my grandparents in wedding attire, we have had fun with our scarecrow forms:
A photo layout from an old issue of New Zealand House and Garden served as inspiration:
as well as this amazing character from Peggy McDonald’s garden:
*********************************
Nearly five months and fifty-five posts later – a HUGE and HEARTFELT thank you to my followers and visitors who have so generously and enthusiastically encouraged me – I am loving every moment of this endeavor!!!
Filed under Art, Family history, Fashion, Garden
Predictably, my head is filled with all things ‘wedding’! I’ve been thinking of the weddings of the past that have brought my youngest son to be in this time and place, readying for his own wedding.
Although I have no picture of my paternal grandparent’s wedding in 1909, I do have artifacts….my grandmother’s ensemble, complete with hat, her locket which now contains pictures of her husband and two surviving sons, and my grandfather’s pocket watch.
George Wallingford Downs, Sr. Lena Miller
In 2009 we dressed ‘scarecrows’ and set them in the lawn as guests, 100 years later, at their great-grandson’s wedding.
Do you think they should be in attendance at the upcoming wedding of another great-grandson as well???
Filed under Family history, Fashion
‘E’* is readying for her much anticipated sojourn in France!
an evening on the Left Bank perhaps
a bit of shopping on the Rue Saint Dominque in the 7th arrondisement
a coffee at the patisserie with new friends from the floral design school
an evening meal at Les Tablettes
she has read the books, made her plans…………but is open to the unexpected
let the adventure begin!
Godspeed, mon amie!
*story of ‘E’ and ‘W’ to follow
Susan Wennerstrom | W designs 