Don't we all wish we were as relaxed about entertaining as Ina Garten...not to mention being a whizz in the kitchen like her? I have most of Ina Garten's cookbooks, and her recipes and philosophy about cooking and entertaining are simple but elegant. In addition, she has a fantastic kitchen garden that provides all the… Continue reading Entertaining at Christmas…
Category: Decorating
What’s on your tree…
For me, setting up the Christmas tree signals the beginning of the holiday season. However, this year, I've decided it would be too risky to decorate a tree with all my treasured ornaments. Unfortunately, Charlie, our Labradoodle puppy, is still in charge over here, and I know she would delight in nothing more than plucking… Continue reading What’s on your tree…
Renovation Chaos…
We've lived in our home since 1999. Our house was built in 1961 and based on what the house looked like when we bought it, I doubt that any changes had been made since that time. We knew very little about the house except that the builder was the original homeowner, a gun had… Continue reading Renovation Chaos…
Entrez s’il vous plait…
While I was out walking Charlie, I noticed that my neighbours had the exterior of their house painted a sunny, golden colour. As I was admiring it, I wondered, "what colour will they paint the front door?" Further along into the walk, I noticed that another neighbour had a newly installed front door and garage… Continue reading Entrez s’il vous plait…
Does it come in pink…
I saw this photo of a bureau on Instagram some time ago and loved it. Pink is one of my favourite colours, but I haven't used it often as an accent in my current decorating scheme of cream, grey and gold. I've had this image in the back of my mind, and finally,… Continue reading Does it come in pink…
Should I…or Shouldn’t I…
When it comes to painting, I'm not one to procrastinate (usually), but when deciding whether I should paint the hardwood floor in my living room, I'll admit I've waffled back and forth for months. I knew once I made the first swath across the floor with a loaded paintbrush, there would be no turning back!… Continue reading Should I…or Shouldn’t I…
Trimming the tree…
Trimming Christmas Trees has been happening for hundreds of years. Originally a pagan practice, the Christmas tree then became a part of Christian religious celebrations, and today it's central to the holiday tradition of many. (More history of the Christmas Tree is on the December 8, 2017 blog post.) In earlier days,… Continue reading Trimming the tree…
Home…
Like many of you, I feel like our world has been turned upside down. The days slip by, but every day is the same as the last, and there's been nothing to look forward to. Now we are under another 3-week restricted shutdown... By the end of November, I usually have the house decorated...or at… Continue reading Home…
Wine Wednesdays
Last March we all found ourselves living a new reality...our lives were about to change drastically. Many of us were shut indoors during a mandatory lockdown only venturing out for the essentials. I remember having such "cabin fever" that I would get in the car and start driving around the city amazed at how little… Continue reading Wine Wednesdays
The Warm Glow of Beeswax Candles…
About 10 years ago, I started selling beeswax candles in my store. A friend, who ran the general store in Colinton, (a small town in northern Alberta), would stop by for a visit and shop at CC when she came to the city to pick up supplies. She supported the farmers in her community… Continue reading The Warm Glow of Beeswax Candles…