The Joy

Somehow, not only for Christmas
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others
Is the joy that comes back to you.
And the more you spend in blessing
The poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart's possessing
Returns to make you glad.

--John Greenleaf Whittier

Let Christmas Begin

A Blackberry Farm Anniversary

Looking out on the front porch of our cottage

DH kept a fire going the whole visit...so cozy.

Our gorgeous bedroom...and that is fabric on the walls, not wallpaper.

Our Dinner menu for a souvenir

A gorgeous natural wreath in the Main house

Blueberries in Cream for the chefs Amuse-bouche at breakfast.

DH and I ordered a fruit to share and this is what the chef sent out...gorgeous and delicious!!

Snow and a beautiful view!
A perfect stay for our 25th anniversary. Thank you Blackberry Farm!

My Passion for Design

Wow! What a gorgeous book! If I could sum Barbra up with one word, it would be "detail." She is the queen of details. This book is the journey of the years Barbra spends building her dream home. And what a beautiful home it is! To see a photograph of a room was just the beginning. Ms. Streisand would then point out all the tiny details and love that went into every room. I was spellbound! This would make a fabulous Christmas gift for someone who loves beautiful things.

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Books and Memories

Our much loved independent book store, Davis-Kidd Booksellers, is closing at the end of December. Every Wednesday when I meet my darling daughter for lunch, we always go spend some time in Davis-Kidd. We have been doing our book, magazine and gift shopping with Davis-Kidd for over 20 years. It's where we had many books signed and met many authors. It's where Women's National Book Association had their monthly meetings, writing groups met at Bronte Bistro and many book clubs held discussions. We loved it in its very first spot at the old Green Hills mall, our favorite at Grace's Plaza and its present location at the new Green Hills mall where the Castner Knott was before. We will miss you!

Thank You Veterans

Today we observe Veteran's Day, which was originally known as Armistice Day. On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, on the 11th of the month in 1918, World War 1 was over after 4 years of brutal conflict, ending what was supposed to be the "War to end all Wars." Unfortunately it wasn't. In 1954, to honor all veterans of the American wars, living or dead, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, with the help of Congress, changed the name to Veteran's Day.

My sweet Grandmother had seven sons and they all served, at some point in time, in the military. My Dad sent me this photo of five of his older brothers. Thank heavens they all made it home safely. Pictured are Uncle Earl, Uncle Ed, Uncle Merl, Uncle JW and Uncle Jim. Thank you for being a part of keeping this country free.

Happy Veterans Day!

Southern Lady Weekend

I have returned from a lovely weekend in Atlanta that I had been looking forward to for over six months. Thank you Kimberly, Melissa, Lynn, Mary Lee, Alicia, Leslie and Mom for a fun weekend of discovery, beauty, great food, shopping, laughter and excellent speakers. Atlanta was definitely hit with some classy ladies! 400 to be exact!

DH sent me off with a full memory card in the camera, so I will have to rely on the girls to send me pictures to share soon.

We heard from the just retired from thirty-one years in the White House florist, award winning author Mary Kay Andrews, Vietri pottery founder Susan Gravely, 2010 Southern Lady of the Year weddings designer Pat Kerr and comedian Jeanne Robertson. Lots of food demonstrations, decorating and holiday info to see us through the upcoming months.

Phyllis Hoffman DePiano of Hoffman Media and her team put an incredible weekend together for the eighth year and I for one am looking forward to next year.

Delightful Reading

I just have to share a couple of paragraphs from the Duchess of Devonshire's book Wait For Me. Bursts of laughter from me have been known to startle my pups at different times while reading this delightful memoir.


"My father did not wish for a social life. Muv would have enjoyed one but seldom suggested anything he would not want--she was aware of the hazards. Lunch guests were rare, but a memorable exception was the Duchess of Marlborough, the American Gladys Marie Deacon, second wife of the Ninth Duke, who came over from Blenheim. She produced a paper handkerchief, the first any of us had seen, blew her nose and stuck it into a yew hedge. My father was outraged."



"Swinbrook village and its inhabitants seemed eternal. Winnie Crook, whose initials gave us children such pleasure, ran the post office. She served tuppence-worth of acid drops in a twist of paper, weighed on the same brass scales as the letter. Our other delights were Fry's peppermint cream, which broke off into conveniently sized bits, and good old Cadbury's tuppenny bars. I do not know if she sold anything more expensive but these were what we could afford. There was the village idiot who chased Nancy and no one thought anything of it, Mrs Price, who lived up a bank and was nearly a hundred years old, and at the Mill Cottage, Mrs Phelps, whom Father mistook for a heifer calf when she was bent over weeding her garden."

On the Bedside Table, Cozy English Goodness

       A lifelong exchange of letters between the Dutchess of Devonshire and Leigh Fermor

          This is the memoir of the youngest Mitford sister.

         Roger Deakin's personal notebook of daily thoughts, impressions and observations around his home, Walnut Tree Farm.

Delightful book written in 1939 of the uproarious account of 18 months in an apron for the English upper classes.

Ichabod's Story

It's October and time for a yearly reading of Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and other stories from The Sketch Book. It's quite short and the perfect book to welcome Autumn and its chills.

"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow found among the papers of the late Diedrich Knickerbocker"

"...It is said by some to be the ghost of a Hessian trooper, whose head had been carried away by a cannonball, in some nameless battle during the Revolutionary War, and who is ever and anon seen by the country folk, hurrying along in the gloom of night."  

A Favorite Nashville Blog

If I want to find out what's what here in Nashville, this is my go-to blog. Two local girls who blog about everything here in Middle Tennessee. They also just won Nashville Scene's 'Best Blog' award. Congrats Liza and Elizabeth! I love your blog!

www.styleblueprint.com 

*photos from Styleblueprint

A McIntosh Chief

My nephew Nick was on his football team float for the 2010 McIntosh Homecoming Parade in Peachtree City, Georgia. He is the cute tall one on the back right. He is now attending my high school Alma Mater and boy were the coaches happy to see him coming in the door. He is in 9th grade and is already an inch taller than my Dad/his Poppy (6'3") and just below his own Dad (6'5"). Go Chiefs!

More Monhegan Photos

Delicious Fish chowder from the Fish House

White Head/Black Head Cliffs- 150ft straight down to the roaring sea

                   Lobby of the Island Inn

Monhegan Library

            Glorious Flowers

        The Daily Newspaper

   Hiking in Cathedral Forest

Local humor at the coffee shop

               Sparkling Blue Sea

               911

My Cozy Dream Cottage

I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this cottage and decor from the movie 'The Holiday'. Iris played by Kate Winslet lives here outside London. Isn't it cozy?! What a perfect setting for the actress who plays an editor.