Meadowsweet Days

PLEASE FORGIVE ME.....

2009-10-14T10:12:00.003-04:00

Hi All....

I've received many emails wondering if I've disappeared from the face of the earth.... The answer is no. I'm still here, just crazy busy.

My life has been a world wind of change since I last posted (hint hint .... a new love). We had a busy spring at the store, which then led to a pretty quiet summer. Quiet is good sometimes. It gave me a chance to spend some lazy days in the garden at home. Summer all too quickly came to an end, which then led to the glorious planning of my son, Tim and lovely new daughter in law, Lara's, wedding on September 12. You may view the photos on Facebook, if you wish.

So here we are again.... another holiday season approaching. Things are getting busy at the store once again, as it usually does at this time of year.

Miss you all...... I promise to be a better blogger, and I look forward to sharing all of the upcoming holiday festivities with you again once again.... that is... if you all forgive me!

I'M BACK.....

2009-05-05T22:51:00.010-04:00

Hello Dear Blogging Friends....

This past month has been a whirlwind of events, happenings and some wonderful and unexpected surprises.... I can barely catch my breath. The good news is that our Spring Event at Meadowsweet was a huge success. In the coming days, I will post photos of how a landscape design transformed our parking lot into an outdoor living area/garden.... all for one weekend! It was truly amazing.... I tried to convince them to leave it...it was so beautiful. But, as of this morning our old parking lot was turned back to its original form, and looked as if nothing had ever happened there. Even the postman thought he was seeing things.... It was amazing!

And, remember my sleeping tulip bulbs.... well they have exploded into a river of pink! I will share those photos as well!

Just need a little time to regroup! I have so much I want to share with you all....

HYDRANGEAS......

2009-04-11T20:01:00.005-04:00

Wishing you all a Happy and Blessed Easter....

From my family to yours.....

SENDING YOU FLOWERS.....

2009-04-03T18:00:00.007-04:00

DEAR FRIENDS....

I didn't want you to think I had forgotten you.... I have been up to my ears in preparation for our Spring Event at the store.

So.... I'm sending this huge bouquet out to all of you and wishing you

a beautiful weekend!

I promise, I will try to be a better blogger soon.

Oh, if only there were more hours in a day!

A FACELIFT......

2009-03-24T09:06:00.006-04:00

We have been busy little bees here at the store, as we prepare for an event on May 2 and 3 when we will partner with a local landscape design firm and throw what we have entitled " A Spring Swing". Our parking lot will be transformed into a summer garden and all are invited. So if you are in the Northport area drop by and say hello!

Over the past few months, Meadowsweet has undergone a bit of a facelift. She has been freshly painted in a rich Buttercream, and a very lively Spring Green! In addition, she has undergone some renovation with a new storage room added off the back. All the while we have been open for business. Yikes!

From time to time, I post pictures of various items in the store, and some of you have emailed me requesting to see what the inside looks like. Well.... here she is with her new do!

Next phase....

Meadowsweet's new little sister will undergo major reconstruction later in the season.

She did receive some landscape work last fall just to lift her spirits a bit!

Stay tuned.... I will post photos as she undergoes her transition.

A BIT OF GREEN.....

2009-03-17T00:07:00.000-04:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day

to all.....

Isn't everyone just a wee bit Irish today?

EGG HUNT......

2009-03-13T13:36:00.013-04:00

No need to look very hard for Easter eggs around here.....

The Easter Bunny has hidden them here, there and everywhere

at Meadowsweet......

Hope you all have an "Egg-citing" Weekend !

(sorry... I couldn't resist!) ;-)

SWEET TWEETS...... take a "peep"

2009-03-09T14:44:00.013-04:00

SOME CUTE CHICKS...

This is my favorite..... these two vintage cuties supporting an egg filled

with a Victoran Tussey Mussey

And these two peeping among a bunch of wild violets....

And these little babies nestled among some blooming forsythia.....

We're in full Easter Splendor and ready for Spring at

Meadowsweet!

HERE COMES PETER COTTONTAIL.....

2009-03-04T21:06:00.012-05:00

It may be cold and snowy on the outside.....

but it is definitely Spring on the inside at Meadowsweet!

May I introduce to you...

Mrs. Peter Cottontail

Isn't she just adorable...

And she's wearing a hat!

A rabbit after my own heart.....

Keep watching.... she's not the only "chick" to arrive!

REALITY CHECK.....

2009-03-02T15:56:00.008-05:00

This is today......

This was yesterday.....

And all of the days before......

Please Clarence....

Take me back, I want to go back!

IT WAS A WONDERFUL LIFE!

THE HALF MOON IS CALLING MY NAME......

2009-02-21T07:27:00.010-05:00

Just about this time every year I really, really start craving some sunshine, flowers and warm breezes..... and so, I'm leaving! Early tomorrow morning, I'll be on my way to Montego Bay in Jamaica for one solid week! Don't worry though, you're coming with me..... We'll be staying at the Half Moon in Montego Bay. So pack your things.... don't forget the sunblock! Last one in the pool...... a bathing suit?.... Yikes! :)

KAHLUA AND ICE CREAM SANDWICHES..... OH MY!

2009-02-20T12:41:00.006-05:00

Have you visited Libby from Twirl and Taste ? If you haven't, you must pay her a visit! I have bookmarked several of her recipes, but last night I was having a special birthday dinner for my future daughter-in-law and I knew I wanted a really scrumptious dessert. Well, I found it in Libby's recipe for XOXO Ice Cream! I am not a food stylist, nor am I the best photographer, so my pictures do not speak of how delicious this recipe is! You must give it a try!

Line a baking dish with Ice Cream Sandwiches. Poke the sandwiches with a fork to create more holes. Then, are you ready for this..... pour Kahlua over the sandwiches. Top with cool whip and crushed Heath Bars. Libby suggests adding the crushed candy to the cool whip before spreading. I was so excited about making this, that I didn't pay attention. I sprinkled them on the top..... delicious anyway! Top with chocolate curls. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze! Yummy!

Thank you Libby!

WATER GARDENS.....

2009-02-18T22:37:00.007-05:00

Last summer, I bought this water blooming Calla Lilly. I thought I would give it a try and bring it inside for the winter and place it in my conservatory. I really wasn't sure how well it would do. But look! I was so thrilled when I saw these new flowers spiking and then blooming again into this breathtaking Calla Lilly!

I can't wait for those warm summer days when I can bring my small water garden outside again!

Do I have cabin fever..... or what?

THE WEDDING WREATH.....

2009-02-11T20:53:00.023-05:00

A Keepsake.....

When I first started my business years ago, I began designing wreaths from the flowers of bridal bouquets. This one was just completed, and will be picked up tomorrow as a special surprise for the bride for Valentine's Day. I quickly took a picture of it so that I could share the idea with you.

I CONFESS.....

2009-02-10T19:42:00.010-05:00

Ok.... so I've been on Weight Watchers for almost three weeks..... and I've been really, really good. My son's wedding is coming up in September and I have to find a dress. But today.... I couldn't resist.... those Chocolate Covered Oreos in the previous post.... well, they got the better of me! I had one! There.... I've confessed! Now I feel better! :)

ANYONE ELSE ON WEIGHT WATCHERS?

SWEET......

2009-02-06T23:21:00.015-05:00

MEADOWSWEETS.....

For all of you Sweethearts.....

Happy Weekend!

TALL ONES..... SHORT ONES....

2009-02-04T11:42:00.007-05:00

Do you ever wonder what we did before these?

Uggs..... Could you live without them?

We couldn't!

CAN YOU GUESS?

2009-02-02T22:35:00.009-05:00

Yep.... the UPS man has arrived with just some of the goodies from my shopping trip last week at the New York Gift Show!

Inside these boxes......

.....are just some of the flowers for the Spring and Summer Season...

They sure lose their magic when you see them like this,

Don't they?

Yikes!

I'll post "After" pictures once it's all priced and displayed.....

Dreams Do Come True.....

2009-02-02T15:18:00.006-05:00

The Countdown is on for HGTV's Dream Home Giveaway..... You have to be in it to win it!.... as they say...... What would you do with it if you won? Come on, let's dream! I haven't been to California since I was 16! So, I would keep it as a vacation place..... And you?

CHERUBS IN THE MIDST.....

2009-01-31T18:03:00.012-05:00

I happened to mention in an earlier post that I love to collect Cherubs..... Angels, too. But, since this is the Season for Love with all of its Cupids and Cherubs, I thought I would take a little trip around my house and just see how many I have. It's funny, when you start looking, you realize just how much your collection has grown. There are several others sprinkled here and there in the garden.... resting on rock walls or sleeping amidst the plants, but.... since it's freezing outside I thought I would just share my indoor collection, and save the outside Cherubs, Garden Angels and Fairies for warmer days....

Let's start here with the tiniest one. This little friend I stumbled upon in a shop while on vacation in Palm Beach. It is a wine stopper, and since I so love my glass of wine after a long day, he's kept very busy keeping the bottles fresh. Isn't he just the cutest?

Next, is another tiny cherub perching on a shell in my conservatory. The shell is filled with glass seashells, starfish, and other sea creatures....

Next is a tiny Cherub which was a gift from my Mom.

Look closely.... she's sucking her thumb.... a favorite

pastime of mine when I was a tiny Cherub in my Mom's

eyes....

This sitting Cherub is perched at the base of a Grandmother clock in my foyer.

This one sits on top of a bookshelf.

Remember these? This vignette was featured at Christmas. See the tiny

Cherubs on top of this family photo. This was a photo taken at

my son's engagement party last September. One day

I will do a post about the house in the background....

it belongs to the man that I am dating......

And last, but not least.... this huge wall hanging that sits over

my tub. It looks like it's made of stone, but ..... surprise

it is as light as a feather it's made of that faux stone...

I've fooled many people.... especially

the man that hung it for me!

Love.....Love....Love

What do you love to collect?

HORMONES....... ANYONE?

2009-01-29T20:32:00.008-05:00

BIO-IDENTICAL VS. HRT

Has anyone been following the shows on Oprah with Robin McGraw (Dr. Phil's wife) and her newest book "What's Age Got to do With It", Dr. Christiane Northrop "The Wisdom of Menopause" and tonight's show with Suzanne Sommers and her newest book "Breakthrough". I would love to have an ongoing discussion with all of you ladies out there in Blogland..... What are YOUR feelings regarding the debate, Bioidentical Hormones vs. HRT (synthetic hormones) Anyone with any positive or negative experiences you would like to share with all of us that may be sitting on the Perimenopausal/ Menopausal Fence?

Younger ladies.... join in as well!

Let's Chat!

P.S. Oprah's live webcast with Dr. Northrop that aired this evening can be downloaded for free starting tomorrow by going to Oprah.com. It was extremely informational and should be viewed by all women of every age.

TIME TO WAKE UP......

2009-01-28T08:20:00.006-05:00

Please let it be Spring......

BUY, BUY......

2009-01-24T22:47:00.011-05:00

I'm off to the New York International Gift Show!

I'm going to "shop till I drop"

Need anything from the market? :)

See you in a few days!

GOOD-BYE SANTA....

2009-01-22T19:31:00.023-05:00

~Hello Cupid~

Hearts and Flowers....

Love is in the air at Meadowsweet!

~Love for Sale~

~Cherub~ $110

All because ...... $21

Heart Wreath~ $45

~Heart Wreath~

$52

~Love Bunches~

$12

MY CONSERVATORY...... BUILDING A DREAM

2009-01-18T10:13:00.009-05:00

It was at an orchid exhibit at the New York Botanical Gardens where I was first bitten by the conservatory bug! As you may know the magnificent Botanical Gardens are known for their grand conservatories. Though it was a really cold and windy day when I was there for the orchid exhibit, inside the conservatory was tropically warm and the smell of the plants was intoxicating! So began my dream to someday have a conservatory albeit a much smaller one, but a conservatory nonetheless, where the feeling is always tropical, no matter what the thermometer says!

This shot is how the house appeared from the outside before construction began. The conservatory was constructed off the back of the house. These windows would be replaced with French doors leading into the conservatory from the living room. The project took two years from start to finish with all of the necessary permits, plans and manufacturing.

Finally the day arrived, and so did a huge back hoe to dig the foundation, followed by the cement truck.

The foundation of the house also had to be broken through to create a crawl space under the conservatory foundation so all of the air conditioning ducts could be fed through.

The project remained like this for a few months while waiting for the structure to arrive. The conservatory was manufactured from mahogany and shipped over from Ireland. It then sat at the piers waiting to go through customs.

I never took photos of all the stacked pieces after they were delivered, so there is a gap in showing the construction. But here are some shots of the final outcome. This is the sideview of how the conservatory sits to the side of my patio. It has French doors leading onto the patio as well. I also found a company that manufactures retractable screens, so on a lovely spring day, I pull the screens down from their rolled up mechanism and it become much like a screened in porch.. The doors have retractable screening as well.

And finally the finished project. The roofline has a lovely decorative piece that sits across the top. For some reason it is not visible in this picture.

This is the view from the conservatory and throughout the back of the house. The stonework was another major project the first summer I moved in. I wanted something that looked old with a Tuscan feel. The stone walls are constructed from granite. The roses are carpet roses in deep pink that spill down the walls from early summer until fall. Giant sunflowers and Endless Summer Hydrangeas serve to cover the stark white vinyl fence. Fences are nice for privacy, this fence is my neighbors choice, but my intention is to hide the starkness of it by creating a natural screen. The huge slab of slate shown in the corner of the picture where the gravel is, is a fountain where the water spills over that slate and gathers in the gravel where underneath a huge pump is housed to gather the water and recycle it up and through the garden again.

Just looking at the flowers makes me long for those summer days in my garden! It snowed AGAIN today!

GIVEAWAY!

2009-01-17T18:47:00.006-05:00

BLOGAHOLICS ANONYMOUS.....

OK, So we admit it..... We're addicted!

Now it's your turn....

Come on admit it, you're addicted, too!

HEAVENLY FRIENDS.....

2009-01-16T08:25:00.004-05:00

SNOW ANGELS......

AND...... SNOW ANGELS

SNOW DAYS........ and Play Dates

2009-01-15T11:51:00.011-05:00

So, here we are in the midst of a snowstorm..... a day that I often wait for, when the snow is falling so heavily and the only thing to do is stay home and tackle those projects like straightening out my drawers or closets. Maybe even unpack some of those boxes that are stored down in the basement from when I moved into this house 3 years ago! I always have great plans for days like these, and yet, somehow I am never in the mood to organize when the day finally arrives.......

So, come on guys....... let's go outside and have some fun!

There's always another day!

BLOGAHOLICS ANONYMOUS AND A TOTALLY ADDICTED GIVEAWAY....

2009-01-12T22:30:00.011-05:00

Hello! My name is Carol, and I am a Blogaholic! Yes, that's right. I am totally addicted. I think about blogging morning, noon and night. I wake up in the morning, and the first thing I do is check my blog to see who visited. I can't eat without thinking about all those blogs featuring delicious foods like Once in a Blue Moon, or Cuisine Kathleen. I can't look around my home or even my garden without seeing an opportunity for something to blog about. I can't even leave my house without taking my camera..... just in case! I dream of words like widgets and gadgets! It's driving me crazy........ But, it's a great crazy!

The good news is..... I know I'm not alone! Come on, admit it! It's OK! We're all addicted! And what a great addiction it is!

To celebrate this wonderful addiction, I'm having a Giveaway! A blogger's paradise..... A copy of Artful Blogging! Have you seen this magazine? I think you'll love it as much as I do!

Are you addicted? Do you know someone who is? Tell me.... tell the world..... trust me you'll feel better! I'll pick a random winner on Sunday, January 18th. Now, where was I?....... Oh yes..... back to the sidebar!

DREAMING OF SUMMER DAYS......

2009-01-10T08:52:00.012-05:00

Let me tell you the story about this little summer house.

I live in New York, on Long Island. One of our favorite things to do, is to take a drive to all the charming villages on the eastern end of the island, better known as the Hamptons. In every season, there is always something fun to do. There are all the well known extremely expensive boutiques, lovely wineries and restaurants, huge homes on the water. So much to see and do. I even rubbed elbows with Richard Gere one summer day! Unfortunately, he didn't recognize me....... :)

Very often we would pass a winery, where out in a field sat this charming little house. I would always wonder why it was there. One day, my curiosity got the better of me, and I stopped to inquire. They told me it was owned by a nursery further east on the island. That was that..... or so I thought.

Several months went by, and again we passed the winery, but this time, my little house was no longer there. I panicked, and told Jack that we must go find out what happened to it..... somehow I felt a strange attachment to that little place.

We found the nursery, but my little house had been dismantled and stored away in their warehouse. I found out, that it had been manufactured in England and these small structures were called summer houses.

Well, time passed, but I never forgot my little summer house. Then one day, this past summer we came upon another house, a vacation house that sits on a quiet lagoon in Westhampton Beach. What a perfect place to bring my little summer house to sit on the edge of that charming lagoon, and serve as my potting shed next summer.

I haven't gotten a chance to use it yet, as it was just brought to the site and reconstructed just as the weather was turning cold. I dream of the summer days ahead planting flowers around it, and potting away the days with my hands in the soil and dirt under my nails...... ahh, now that's heaven!

I'll keep you posted!

WHAT'S OLD IS NEW AGAIN......

2009-01-05T16:35:00.018-05:00

Aren't you always amazed when all of the Christmas decorations come down, how the house feels strangely empty? For approximately eleven months out of the year our homes look one way, and for a short month or so, they are decorated a different way, yet, when it all comes down it feels different. It's during this time, that I crave a little something new. I stumbled upon this antique brass lantern in a design center yesterday, and instantly new that I could give it a new home in my foyer. It fits perfectly against the steep wall of the stairway. So, typically one thing leads to another......

This lamp was originally in its place..... So now.....

It sits in the dining room window on this sweet little round table along with some chubby partridges that I keep out all year. I love to collect chubby birds...... (I wonder what that means!)

These upholstered chairs usually sit at each head of the dining room table, but I love how they look flanking the small round table and framing the window.

I love to create a whole new look just by changing a few things around. It is so easy to get stuck in one look because that's the way we're use to seeing it. It's usually after the holidays when the house feels empty that I am inspired to shake it all up and change it around. So, if you're tired of the same old, same old...... look around and shake it all up! Chubby Birds..... I'll save that for another post!

BYE, BYE, CHRISTMAS.......

2009-01-04T08:46:00.005-05:00

Hello! All Shiny and New......

After spending a lovely few days celebrating the new year with family and friends out in the Hamptons, as much as I hated to leave, it was time to come home and get to work undecorating. It is always so much more fun decorating for Christmas, but I must admit, I love the feeling of taking it all down, neatly packing it all away in their big plastic bins, and tucking them neatly downstairs until Christmas comes around again.

When everything was neatly packed away, the vacuuming and dusting completed, it was time to put my new favorite thing to the test..... the Shark Steam Mop! Have you seen this? I couldn't wait to see how it worked on the hardwood floors!
It passed the test! My floors are squeaky clean and looking all shiny and new again~ I am on a steam clean craze..... watch out everyone I'm on a roll.......

MEATBALLS, GRAPE JELLY AND KETCHUP.......

2008-12-31T09:09:00.003-05:00

That's it! The recipe for Everybody's Favorite Meatballs....

We're partying out in the Hamptons tonight.... and I'm bringing my usual, and everybody's favorite. This recipe is so easy, and guaranteed it will be the hit of the party whenever you bring it.

1 (18-ounce) package fully cooked meatballs, frozen

1 (10-ounce) jar grape jelly

1 (16-ounce) bottle ketchup

Combine the grape jelly and ketchup in a large, heavy saucepan.

Stir over medium heat to blend the jelly and ketchup.

Add the meatballs and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, so the wonderful flavors will be absorbed.

That's it!

It doesn't sound good, but they are really delicious!

Now, I'm off to bring the dogs to be groomed! After all, they're party animals, too!

I wish you all a wonderful, safe evening!

Happy New Year 2009!

Carol~

MAKING A LIST AND CHECKING IT TWICE.....

2008-12-28T12:26:00.006-05:00

Yes, you read that right! I am making a list, and checking it twice. That list, is my list of New Year's Aspirations! I like the word aspirations instead of resolutions, because I think it sounds a little more gentle. I am writing my list of those things that I hope to accomplish like the usual losing weight, exercising more and eating healthier..... and I will remove those things that cause frustration and regret when I look back at the end of the year because I did not achieve them.

I have a sign in my store that reads: It is never too late to be what you might have been.....

We have 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days to begin anew..... What are some of your hopes and dreams for the new year?

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

I have so enjoyed blogging in the last few months of this year, and I want to thank each and every one of you for your kind comments and emails! I look forward to the year ahead!

Carol~

TABLESCAPE TUESDAY- My Christmas Table

2008-12-22T22:41:00.009-05:00

Thank you Susan from Between Naps on the Porch for hosting another Tablescape Tuesday~

Welcome to my home!

My Christmas Table has been set with Lenox China

the pattern is "Holiday"

The china sits on crimson red chargers from Pottery Barn

A cozy vignette

A Victorian Tussey-Mussey of red roses and pines graces each chair back~

The centerpiece of golden French horns and pines (all silk, of course!)

A precious "gift" at each place setting~

The view from my dining room into my living room. The French doors lead into the Conservatory (a previous post)~

I found these small mercury glass votives in an antique shop in Palm Beach~

Peace on Earth~

Thank you so much for visiting!

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas from my house to yours.....

Carol~

SIMMERING POTPOURRI....Holiday "Scentiments" and An Evening at Home

2008-12-21T17:41:00.012-05:00

After a long busy week of holiday celebrations, shopping and shoveling snow, it's time to stop and smell the..... well, simmering potpourri. I like to make my own stove top version with all my favorite holiday scents. I make a batch of this and simmer it all day long in a red crock pot in the store. As customers enter they are immediately welcomed by the warm scent of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. They love it! And so, on a rainy night such as this, I love to fill my home with my favorite scents of the season and just enjoy being at home.

The measurements need not be exact, and you can alter it with whatever scents you enjoy. To make my version, blend one teaspoon each:

Cloves (ground or whole)

Nutmeg (I like to grind my own)

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Cinnamon

Allspice

Vanilla

Vanilla Bean

Cinnamon Sticks

Orange Rind

Granny Smith Apple (cut off upper half)

1 Cup Apple Juice

1 Cup water

Add all ingredients to a small pot and let it gently simmer......

Enjoy!

THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.....

2008-12-18T09:32:00.011-05:00

The best gift.... Is there any gift that we could ever receive that would bring more pleasure than the ones that we give away? It is true that giving is better than receiving. Please let us all remember that the holidays can be a sad time for many. Is there someone in your community who will be alone for Christmas dinner, a single mom struggling to make Christmas joyous for her children, a shut-in forgotten or alone in the world? If each one of us would bring one small ray of hope into someone's life, then together the light of Christ will shine more brightly this Christmas season. Nothing under the tree could feel better than that!

Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said?

Does the one who's hopes were fading now with courage look ahead?

Did you waste the day or use it? Was it well or sorely spent?

Did you leave a trail of kindness? Or a scar of discontent?

As you close your eyes in slumber do you think that God will say,

"You have earned one more tomorrow by what you did today?"

"The scent of the rose lingers on the hand that gives it"

~Shakespeare

~MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL~

YOU'VE GOT MAIL........

2008-12-14T19:50:00.004-05:00

Don't forget your mailbox! It stands outside like a trusty old friend day after day, in hail, rain, sleet and snow just waiting to receive all those holiday greeting cards and packages. I decided it deserved some holiday cheer....... A bough of fresh greens, some ornaments, and a huge red velvet bow.

A CHRISTMAS VIGNETTE

2008-12-11T21:07:00.002-05:00

I love creating small cozy vignettes around my house. They are little "scenes", yet they make grand statements. I created this one by potting a small faux tree in a favorite urn and placed it on a small table in my dining room window which faces the front of the house. With the candles in the window and the tiny lights on the tree it just says "Welcome Home" to me when I pull in the driveway after a long day. Outside is a view of the horse and carriage I wrote about in a previous post. I love the cozy lighting around the house at Christmas, don't you?

IT'S CHRISTMASTIME IN THE CITY......

2008-12-10T09:29:00.009-05:00

New York City anytime of the year is always exciting for me, but I particularly love the magic of Christmas when everything seems to transform into a glittery fairyland. The hustle and bustle of the crowds, the skaters on the pond, the tree at Rockefeller Center, the stores all lit up and sparkling in their Christmas grandeur, even the incessant honking horns of the taxis......It's definitely Christmastime in the city!

Click to enlarge photos~

A window at Bergdorf Goodman

Window at Tiffany's

Horse-drawn carriage

An Angel at Rockefeller Center

The Rockefeller Center Tree

Across from the Plaza

Tree at Trump Tower

Bergdorf Goodman Window

Window at Mackenzie Childs

Bergdorf Goodman

The Plaza

Trump Tower

The grand foyer at The Plaza

Outside the Plaza

The Plaza

The St. Regis Hotel

Cartier

The Dancing Snowflakes

Tiffany's

SLEIGH BELLS RING.......

2008-12-08T22:40:00.008-05:00

It was after taking my first horse and carriage ride around Central Park at Christmas a few years ago that I found this horse and carriage for my own front lawn. I think we chose the coldest day of the year to get it set up on the lawn, and today I filled it with fresh greens and a big red bow. I love how it looks, and I love the memory of that first ride around Central Park in my own life size chariot, driven by my own personal coach wearing a black top hat, and I bundled in my warm red blanket was feeling like I was living the scene of a real life Christmas card as we trotted away through the Christmas city streets.

LAUGHING ALL THE WAY.....

2008-12-06T10:28:00.000-05:00

My sister and I are off to spend a weekend together in Manhattan. We signed up for a class in floral design at the Jane Packer Flower School. Jane Packer is a renowned floral designer from England and she recently opened a school in New York. I'm really excited to take a class in fresh floral design since my business is in silks. It should be fun.

Then, I'm sure there will be plenty of laughing and chatting as we take in all the sights and sounds of the city at Christmas. I took this photo of Ralph Lauren's window on Madison Avenue shortly before Thanksgiving. I'll go back now and check on the progress. I'll keep you posted......

FAMILY AND FRIENDS.....

2008-12-06T00:01:00.000-05:00

A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISH.....

CHRISTEL~

We know how wonderful you are in Grayden's eyes......

But,

We all think you're pretty special, too!

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

With love from all of us!

MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT......

2008-12-05T13:49:00.000-05:00

CHRISTMAS AT MEADOWSWEET

The decorating frenzy has officially hit Meadowsweet, and we are up to our elbows in ribbons, wreaths, garlands and glitter everywhere! But, just like Santa, I could not do it all without the help of some very special and talented elves. So, without further ado, let me introduce to you (much to their chagrin) Meadowsweet's Designer Elves...... Smile..... Kathy, Sue and Joan

ADD A LITTLE SPICE, AND EVERYTHING NICE....

2008-12-04T08:31:00.000-05:00

Don't you just love all of the delicious scents of the season? All the holiday spices..... nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, cloves...... Care to take a break from the decorating and join me in a slice of Cranberry Nut Bread and steamy cup of coffee..... just out of the oven, hmmmmmm?

~ADDITION TO PREVIOUS POST~

I've had several requests for the recipe for my Cranberry Nut Bread, so here it is..... I can't take the credit, it is Ocean Spray's Classic recipe. I make it every year, and it is delicious!

2 C. Flour

1 C. Sugar

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

3/4 C. orange juice

2 T. vegetable oil

1 T. orange peel, grated

1 egg, well beaten

1 1/2 C. fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped

1/2 C. nuts, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9x5 loaf pan.

Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl.

Stir in orange juice, oil, orange peel and egg. Mix until well blended.

Stir in cranberries and nuts.

Spread evenly in loaf pan.

Bake for 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on rack for 15 minutes.

Enjoy!

TABLETOP TUESDAY..... My first!

2008-12-02T08:36:00.000-05:00

Susan, from Between Naps on the Porch invited me to Tabletop Tuesday..... I am a newbie and wasn't quite certain what to do. So I have reposted my Thanksgiving Table. My China pattern is Lenox Eternal, and the salad plates are Lenox Holiday Tartan. The centerpiece is one that I designed using all faux greens and assorted fruits and berries. I must admit, had I known about Tabletop Tuesday, I would have used cloth napkins...... thirty lashes! You ladies put me to shame! I promise to do better for my Christmas table!

A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE.....

2008-11-30T21:28:00.000-05:00

Decorating the tree is like a wonderful trip down Memory Lane.... Reaching into the large plastic bin of ornaments is like reaching back to special moments in time commemorating events in the paths of our lives. First Christmas in our new home, tiny golden angels from a dear friend because she knows my love for angels, one from my Mom for my 30th birthday (a long time ago), ornaments celebrating the First Christmases of my children, and the many, many fine blown glass and crystal given from loving friends and family that glisten on our tree every year. But, the ones I treasure most of all, are the paper treasures made by the tiny hands of my children in grade school all those years ago. Although the glue has dried up and chipped away, the macaroni lost somewhere in time, most tattered and torn, they will always take their rightful place of honor on our tree every year... front and center! Now, I know these photos won't mean anything to anyone else but me, but I do know that there isn't a mom out there that would trade one of those precious macaroni ornaments for the finest glass ornament in the world.

I don't have any grandchildren yet, but there is a special little boy in my life named Grayden. He is the son of a very dear friend of my son, Bill. I can only say that if this is anything near what a having a grandchild will be like, then I am in for something wonderful. On Thanksgiving Day, I was given another priceless gift made by tiny hands. It is a cake plate with the imprint of Grayden's hand made into the image of a turkey. Around the rim are treasured words that read: This isn't just a turkey as you can plainly see. I made it with my hand which is a part of me. It comes with lots of love especially to say, I hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving Day..... Love, Grayden James

MEADOWSWEET WREATH MANIA...... It's all about the wreath!

2008-11-28T22:25:00.000-05:00

Wreaths here, there, and everywhere........ Oh, if only I had more doors!

A Country Christmas

Sugared Fruit

Red Roses and Lime Green Hydrangeas

Burgundy Peonies and Frosted Pine Cones

A Very Victorian Christmas

Creating beautiful homes, one door at a time.....

AND THE SHOPPING BEGINS.......

2008-11-27T22:34:00.000-05:00

BLACK FRIDAY

The shopping frenzy will officially kick off at the crack of dawn on Friday morning. I would like to remind everyone to please remember to support your local small businesses this holiday season. Our small businesses have taken a terrific financial hit this past year, and many won't be around this time next year if they don't rebound this holiday season.

Remember... this country was founded on small mom and pop shops all across the nation. Small shops that are slowly disappearing as they become swallowed up by the big stores. Please don't let that happen. Think about Main Street USA and the wonderful old world charm that exists in the quaint little villages across this country.

Please let us all do our part in keeping our small boutiques up and running by supporting them this holiday season!

Shop on......

A POST AFTER A POST:

A YOUNG MAN IN OUR AREA ON LONG ISLAND WAS

TRAMPLED TO DEATH EARLY THIS MORNING WHILE OPENING THE DOORS TO SHOPPERS AT WAL-MART. PLEASE LET US ALL STOP THE MADNESS AND GET BACK TO THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS!

BRING ME YOUR HUNGRY......

2008-11-26T21:25:00.000-05:00

I finally had a moment to design a centerpiece for my holiday table. Typically, I am so busy designing for others that my house usually comes last.

Let the holidays begin!

We thank you, Lord, for all you give;

The food we eat, the lives we live;

And to our loved ones far away,

Please send your blessing, Lord, we pray.

And help us all to live our days

With thankful hearts and loving ways.

Amen.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Poem courtesy of Donna's Holiday Sentiments

A LOVING REMINDER......

2008-11-25T10:36:00.000-05:00

Dear Blogging Friends,

Last night we had a power outage for several hours. My daughter and I moved to this brand new home not very long ago and safely assumed as we slept that because our smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are all hard wired, there was nothing to worry about.....

When the power went out in the middle of the night, the carbon monoxide detector kicked on with an ear piercing beep every 60 seconds and continued to beep for a few hours, I didn't know what to do. I knew by the reading that the problem wasn't carbon monoxide and I assumed the beeping would stop when the power kicked back on. In the meantime, we got some ear plugs and put our pillows over our heads and waited for the annoying sound to stop.

When the power finally came back on, I thought we could finally have some peace and quiet. But the indicator just kept beeping away. You might be thinking, duh, at this point, but I didn't know that there was a battery in the detector since it was hard wired. Lesson learned! I finally took the detector off the wall and saw that there was a battery compartment as well as being hard wired. Makes sense that when the power goes out, there is a battery back-up, but the battery had expired and I would have never known! I guess there is a lesson to be learned in everything.

Friends...... now that the windows are closed up tight in some of our areas, this is a loving reminder to check the batteries in your smoke detectors and..... your carbon monoxide detectors! I want you all to be safe so we can keep on blogging!

PEACE......

THE CHINA, THE WINE GLASSES, THE TABLECLOTH.......THE TABLE

2008-11-23T09:24:00.000-05:00

This cold morning I am sitting with a big steamy mug of coffee and preparing my shopping list for the days ahead. The tablecloth is ironed and hanging in the closet all ready to be placed, the china, the new lovely tall wine glasses with golden circles surrounding them that will compliment my china so well..... everything ready for the gathering of family and friends all of whom I am the most thankful for.

In all of this preparation, we give little thought to the table itself, that "gathering place" that brings us all together. My son, Bill, gave me a card some years ago, and the message is so endearing that it sits among other treasures in my bookshelves all these years later. The message is a reminder that no matter if your table is crafted from the finest wood, or the simplest pine, it's that special place where its members may change from year to year, some are added and some no longer with us, but the memories of the time spent gathered around that table grow more precious as the years pass. So here is that message, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

It's just a kitchen table,

much the worse for years of wear,

with memories

in each scratch and stain

from all that happened there~

the paint that never would come off,

a scissor nick or two,

the dent where something heavy dropped,

a bump of dried-up glue...

the scorch left by a cookie sheet,

the surface worn and faded

where hands were held

and elbows propped and countless stories traded.

It doesn't show the teardrops,

and it has no voice to tell

the secrets shared, the joys revealed,

but those are there as well.

Around that kitchen table,

life was happy and secure,

and my heart will feel that love

as long as memories endure.

Happy Thanksgiving!

CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK.....Thanks to Paula Deen!

2008-11-19T08:53:00.000-05:00

I love magazines. But, I especially love the holiday editions that start appearing on newsstands this time of year. I'm always inspired by the titles for new ways to celebrate the season..... great new recipes for cookies, candy, and old favorites like fruit cake and gingerbread. I especially love the decorating ideas. I'm always on the lookout for new ways to to put a "spin" on the old ways I usually decorate. I especially love a warm welcome for the entrance to our home.

I love filling the house with all the scents of the season with garlands of fresh pines and cedars, juniper berries and holly along with huge blooming bulbs of brilliant red Amaryllis and potted Poinsettias. I always get a little frustrated that the fresh pines barely make it through the season without shedding their needles everywhere. Sometimes I even find one or two months later!

I was intrigued by the front cover of one of Paula Deen's holiday magazines featuring Colonial Christmas in Williamsburg where they are renowned for their exquisite designs using fresh pines and fruits. Since I love to decorate early, and I knew the fruit would never last the season, I was inspired to design a wreath using synthetic materials.

Because I have a store that specializes in silk floraI design, I have access to all types of good quality synthetic botanicals that can really "fool" the eye. I started with a synthetic mixed pine base and added synthetic boxwood throughout. I then added a mix of assorted fruits, pine cones, and pods (all synthetic) and created my New York version of "Christmas in Williamsburg".

WHAT DO YOU LOVE?

2008-11-17T08:45:00.000-05:00

We have this sign in my store that I just love. For me, it is a reminder that home should be a collection of all that matters to us. I think it is easy to get caught up in a certain style, or design concept that in the end produces a "model home', but not one that defines what matters most.

As I sit having my morning coffee.... I look around and see all of the things I love..... Photos on shelves in frames of various sizes and textures holding images of friends and family gathered for special moments in time. Lovely bound books on gardens and flowers. Books about Nantucket, and some favorite authors that live there and tell their stories. A beautiful hand crocheted afghan draped over the arm of the sofa that my Mom made me for my 40th birthday. That afghan surrounds me in warmth on chilly evenings while relaxing, reading or watching TV. My two furry companions, Teddy sitting right beside me on the couch, and Kobe stretched out at me feet. What would a home be without pets?

Look around you..... have you surrounded yourself with the things you love? What are they?

ONE LAST GIFT.....

2008-11-14T13:09:00.000-05:00

While in my garden early this morning gathering the last of the drying hydrangeas, I stumbled upon a little surprise. I couldn't believe my garden blessed me with a final gift..... these last two lovely huge zucchinis. I got such a kick out of it. It's almost Thanksgiving, and here in New York, I am still gathering a harvest! Just yesterday, I spoke of my sleeping garden all tucked in for the winter.

In the spirit of the season, I think I will bake up several zucchini breads, wrap them in brown parchment paper tied with some raffia ribbons and deliver them to some of my friends and neighbors in Thanksgiving for their friendship.

A LONG WINTER'S NAP.......

2008-11-13T03:00:00.000-05:00

Thank you lovely garden for bringing so much pleasure to me, and to all those who visited this summer........

The fountains are covered and tucked away to ward off winter's icy chill........

Four hundred Pink Tulips and Purple Giant Allium planted deep in their winter's nests......

Garden Angel please watch over my sleeping garden until Spring arrives once again......

HATS, HATS, AND MORE HATS......

2008-11-11T08:49:00.000-05:00

In my About Me section, I mention that I have had a lifelong passion for flowers. I forgot to mention that along with that passion comes other passions. Namely, an addiction for shoes, handbags and.......hats!

My love affair with flowers led me one summer to a place that is renowned for their glorious window boxes and hydrangeas and roses blooming everywhere, that place is Nantucket, and I have gone every summer since.

On that first trip, I came upon an old antique red convertible Mercedes much like the one Cruella DeVil drives in 101 Dalmatians. Piled high in the back seat were black and white striped hat boxes....... and then I saw the sign "Peter Beaton Hats". So I followed the winding path to the quaint little shop off the cobblestone street, and I knew I was hooked. I purchased my first straw hat that year, and every year since. They have become somewhat of a collection, a memory for each summer that I visit.

As I pack them away now in their lovely black and white boxes, my thoughts go back to summer days in Nantucket, thoughts that will bring me through the long winter days ahead, thoughts that will keep me warm just thinking of my return there once again.....

How about you, what do you like to collect?

IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS........

2008-11-08T10:25:00.000-05:00

The UPS man arrived again with another shipment of goodies. Among the deliveries today were these cozy pillows with a quote about families. Sometimes it takes several weeks after ordering an item to finally arrive at the store, and sometimes I forget about them until they arrive, and I am excited about it all over again. I just love these pillows and thought that you would too! And, of course, whenever something is delivered to my store that I love, one usually comes home to live in my home as well. The style in my home tends to be a bit more traditional, but I can never resist a little touch of country/cozy! It's the little things that make a house a home!

PS.. I left some at the store for others to purchase..... you can, too! They are $35.00

A MEADOWSWEET WREATH

2008-11-05T21:42:00.000-05:00

The holiday season has arrived and it has become a bit like the North Pole at Meadowsweet with orders for holiday wreaths and arrangements coming in. We're all working like little elves to fill the orders and decorate the store as well. We're gearing up for the infamous "Black Friday" when the holiday shopping and decorating season will officially begin. We will be up to our elbows in ribbons and bows from now until December 24.

I thought I would share one of our newest designs because it is a bit different from the traditional Christmas wreath. This one is done with bronze glittery hydrangeas, ornaments and peacock feathers. I just love the look, and I think I just might design a matching garland for the mantle. Yes, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and I love it!

MY GREEN APPLE KITCHEN-AID MIXER

2008-11-04T09:36:00.000-05:00

In an earlier post, I commented on how much I love the new lime green for accent touches in home decor today. I have chosen this color as a main theme in a new vacation home that I am decorating.

For the kitchen, I am using a lime green and cream color scheme. So, imagine how thrilled I was when I found a favorite thing that I simply could not live without-- a stand-up KitchenAid Mixer-- in, you guessed it!.... Lime Green! Technically, they call it Green Apple.

So, I put my "Green Apple" KitchenAid mixer to the test this weekend with another all time favorite of mine, a Cinnamon Apple Cake recipe that I fittingly call "Eleanor's Apple Cake" because the recipe comes from one of my Mom's dearest friends, Eleanor.

ELEANOR'S APPLE CAKE

3 C. Granny Smith Apples
5 Tbsp. plus 2 C. Sugar
5 tsp. Cinnamon
3 C. Flour
3tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 C. Canola Oil
3 Large eggs
1/4 C. Orange Juice
1 tsp. Vanilla

Preheat oven to 375, grease bundt or tube pan.

Combine apples with 5 tsp. cinnamon and 5 Tbsp. sugar. Set aside.

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into a large bowl. Make a well in the center, and add eggs, oil, orange juice and vanilla. Beat on low until well combined. Batter will be thick. Spoon a layer of batter into the pan, followed by a layer of apple mixture, another layer of batter and so on, ending with a layer of batter on top.

Bake 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until done.

Enjoy!

Thank you, Eleanor!

THE WEEKEND.......

2008-11-03T08:52:00.000-05:00

THE INGREDIENTS............simple!

MY GRANDMOTHER'S RECIPE FOR SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS..........a secret!

SUNDAY DINNER WITH MY FAMILY............PRICELESS!

I will share my recipe on simple request! :)

AND THE WINNER IS.........

2008-11-01T08:34:00.000-04:00

Cielo from House in the Roses, is the winner of the giveaway. Since I didn't receive 31 responses, I added all the names into a basket and pulled a name. Congratulations, Cielo please email me your address so I can send your arrangement off to you!

This was fun! Maybe we'll do this again at Christmas!

WHO WILL BE THE WINNER?

2008-10-31T09:18:00.000-04:00

Tonight at Midnight, I will pick the winner of my AUTUMN GIVEAWAY! Leave your comment.......the clock is ticking. Spread the word! Who will be the winner of this Pumpkin Arrangement! Whooooooooooooo?

THE GIVEAWAY COUNTDOWN! HURRY, HURRY!

2008-10-30T10:01:00.000-04:00

Who will be the 31st person to leave their "Most Thankful for....... comment on the" CELEBRATION GIVEAWAY" post. Come on, don't be shy.

What are you most thankful for?

Scroll down.........

THE GIFT OF A SON.........

2008-10-29T08:35:00.000-04:00

I have been blessed with many wonderful gifts in my life, and many, many wonderful experiences, but none compare with the blessings of having children. I have three, and they are all grown now and pretty much on their own. One of those special gifts came to me twenty seven years ago today. His name is Tim, and today is his birthday.

Happy Birthday Babes! I couldn't love you more!

AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

2008-10-28T10:27:00.000-04:00

We have a new sign in the store that says, There is Always Something to be Thankful For......

Though the sign is a new item for the upcoming Holiday Season, it made me think. We seem to be so caught up in the endless stream of bad news lately.......the economy, the stock market frenzy, gas prices.......ykes! Is there anything good?

Not anymore! Instead of focusing on what's wrong, I am going to focus on what's right! A reminder of sorts...... that no matter what, There is Always Something to be Thankful For!

In an earlier post, I mentioned that I am having a Giveaway. Don't forget to leave your "Thankful Comment"! The 31st person to leave their comment will win that Autumn Pumpkin Arrangement!

Have a Blessed Day!

FOR US ALL TO REMEMBER......

2008-10-24T10:46:00.000-04:00

A Poem about our Girlfriends

Someone will always be prettier

Some will always be smarter.

Some of their houses will be bigger.

Some will drive a better car.

Their children will do better in school,

and their husband will fix more things around the house.

So let it go, and love you and your circumstances.

Think about it!

The prettiest woman in the world can have hell in her heart.

And the most highly favored woman on your

job may be unable to have children.

And the richest woman you know,

she's got the car, the house, the clothes, might be lonely.

And the word says,"If I have not Love, I am nothing."

So again love you.

Love who you are.

Look in the mirror in the morning and smile and say,

I am too blessed to be stressed and too anointed, to be disappointed!

Winners make things happen.

Losers let things happen.

Be "blessed" ladies,

and pass this on to encourage another woman.

To the world, you might be one person

but to the one person you just sent this to

it could mean so much.

Send this to your favorite women

I just did!

A CELEBRATION GIVEAWAY!

2008-10-22T11:38:00.000-04:00

Let the Holiday Season Begin....... In celebration of the lovely new friends I have met on my blog, and all of the new friends I hope to meet, I am having a GIVEAWAY! Meadowsweet (my store) is filled to the brim with lovely Holiday Wreaths and Centerpieces, and since this is the Season of Giving Thanks, I thought this would be a lot of fun! I have decided to give away this Pumpkin Arrangement to one lucky winner. I will choose the 31st person who leaves a comment by Halloween! Tell us what you are most thankful for!

Please add me to your Blog Roll, and visit often! I have a feeling this will be so much fun, and who knows what might happen at Christmas!

A COZY VIGNETTE

2008-10-21T21:05:00.000-04:00

There are cozy little places, small niches around my home that are just some of my favorite spots. This little vignette in my kitchen is just one of those places. The small rooster lamp was a housewarming gift from my sister, and the "Angel Blessings" sign was a birthday gift from a friend who knows my love of collecting angels. The large pub clock and the sunflower arrangement are treasures I brought home from my store along with the basket of cinnamon scented pine cones, another favorite for this time of year!

MY AUTUMN MANTEL

2008-10-20T10:05:00.000-04:00

I spend my days at the store decorating for other's homes, and sometimes my poor home comes last....... I brought this bronzey pumpkin home from my store and placed it in its new home....... on my mantel! Soon it will be surrounded by dried rose hips, some hydrangeas that I have dried and some dried sunflower heads, gourds and whatever else I can hunt up from my end of summer garden!

When the Nest Doesn't Stay Empty for Long......

2008-10-13T22:25:00.000-04:00

Some of you have emailed me asking about the huge dog in the photo with me in my About Me section. So I thought I would share a little story and introduce you to some of the other members of my family.

When my son, Bill, graduated from college he and some friends got their own apartment. One day, while shopping in a local mall, they came across this adorable Bichon/Poodle puppy. Who could resist? So "Bruno" came home to live with the guys. Well, that was only fun for about two weeks when the reality of raising a puppy in an apartment set in. Long story short, Bruno came over on the ferry from Connecticut to live with good old Mom, was renamed "Teddy" and has lived with us happily ever after.

Tim, my middle son, and his fiancee Lara, decided one day that they would like to have a puppy of their own so please welcome "Jet" a Miniature Pinscher named as such because Tim is a pilot. Jet is my grand-dog who spends many days with me in the store and has become our Meadowsweet mascot who's loved and enjoyed by the customers.

And, last but not least, Kobe-- the huge Standard Poodle in the picture. Sometimes life will take you on unexpected turns by literally making the wrong turn in the road. It was the summer before last when my daughter, Tierney, was preparing to leave for college and I was already missing her and facing the empty nest. A wrong turn in the road that summer day led me to a town in the Hamptons where I saw this adorable poodle puppy with a woman. I only stopped to comment on how cute he was and she told me he was for sale....... Need I say more........

ZUCCHINI SQUARES AND SHEPARD'S PIE

2008-10-12T21:13:00.000-04:00

Sometimes in the midst of raising a family it's not the big things that get noticed and remembered, but it's the little things like...... Zucchini Squares and Shepard's Pie.

Every summer, after harvesting zucchini from my garden, a favorite in my family was to make Zucchini Squares. A delicious recipe somewhat like a big quiche, but baked in a 13x9" baking pan.

Another favorite, was my Mom's recipe for Shepard's Pie, a layered casserole consisting of browned and deliciously seasoned chopped beef layered with chopped broccoli and then a final layer of fluffy whipped potatoes spread over the top and baked until golden brown and bubbly. When my son, Tim, was asked what he would like for dinner, he would often request Shepard's Pie.

I had two lovely things happen to me this week involving both of my grown sons. Bill my oldest lives in Connecticut, and Tim lives in Northport, the town where my store, Meadowsweet is. Each called home this past week on separate days and requested some of their childhood favorite recipes to duplicate in their own homes. Imagine my surprise when Shepard's Pie was delivered by Tim for my lunch at work the next day. And, this evening, when I checked my emails---- Voila! Home baked Zucchini squares straight from Billy's oven in Connecticut! They looked so good, it was like they were delivered straight to my door! Great job! I love you guys!

THE CONSERVATORY BUG

2008-10-09T18:41:00.000-04:00

Often, my passion for flowers, gardening and designing takes me on day trips to nurseries and flower shows. Nurseries are wonderful places to visit, not just in the planting season, but in all seasons. Autumn is a wonderful time for choosing bulbs to be planted so they can later be enjoyed in the spring. Sometimes, to be at my favorite nursery, Martin Viette in East Norwich, NY in the dead of winter can also be a treat. Often looking through gardening books and planning my own gardens, or browsing through the wonderful assortment of seeds just brings me a bit closer to spring.

It was on one of those day adventures to the conservatories at the New York Botanical Gardens for the Orchid Show, that I was bitten by the Conservatory Bug! To be in a glass room in the dead of winter and feel the warmth of the sun and smell the damp, freshness of the earth and be among fresh plants all the while looking out onto the snowy landscape was like heaven to me. I knew then, that someday I would have a conservatory of my own.

It is my own secret garden where I sip my morning coffee and enjoy each season no matter what the weather!

A WINTER PROJECT

2008-10-04T19:06:00.001-04:00

I usually start some sort of knitting or crocheting project right around this time of year. This year, it is an afghan. Don't you just love a new project to work on. I can't wait to come home from work, and after the dinner dishes are through, I head for a nice hot bath, my warm flannel pajamas and slowly work my way stitch by stitch to what will become another treasured heirloom in years to come.

Lately, I have just gone crazy for that new shade of deep lime green that seems to be popping up everywhere in home decor. We recently purchased a charming vacation house on the eastern end of Long Island in Westhampton Beach. I am so anxious to sprinkle bits of that color throughout the house. I have decided on a color scheme of lime green and brown for the living room, so imagine how thrilled I was when I came across the perfect yarn for my winter project. I thought I would share how lovely all of the skeins of yarn looked piled high in an antique basket from Meadowsweet. I will keep you posted on my progress!

SEASONS CHANGE

2008-10-03T22:55:00.000-04:00

I don't know about you, but I love the changing seasons. Today, there was a bit of a chill in the air, and the leaves are just gradually beginning to change. Jack and I took a drive out to the eastern end of the island today and stopped along the way at some farm stands where we found the perfect pumpkin and some huge golden bronze mums in bushel baskets that later found a new home on my front porch. I always love to change the entrance to my home to reflect the changing seasons. Gone are the brilliant pinks and purples that clothe my gardens all summer, the bright yellow sunflowers that arrive just as the summer is beginning to say its last farewell, and now the deep autumn jewel tones reflected in the wreath on my front door-- a huge circle of deep burgundy hydrangeas, green apples, anjou pears, dried thistles and pods, berries and autumn leaves. Change is good!

MEADOWSWEET DAYS SKYDIVES LONG ISLAND

2008-10-01T20:36:00.000-04:00

What is it like to fall out of the sky at 13,500 feet? Awesome!

Ok, so I must admit it! When I woke up yesterday morning, and there was a complete overcast of clouds, I was secretly relieved that our plans to skydive would probably have to be postponed..... forever, I secretly hoped! No chance! A quick call to the skydiving institute and we were told to come on over that the clouds would pass and we would be underway. Great!

After some preliminary instruction, and signing waivers understanding that we could die, we got all geared up and we boarded the plane. It took about 15 minutes to climb to altitude and as the anxiety is building I'm thinking it's not too late to change my mind! As we're climbing, my instructor is making the last minute adjustments to my gear.... oh please don't forget to attach those buckles! It's time........ The door slides open, Ben explains that I will hang my legs outside and under the plane and on the count of three....... one, two..... threeeeee......... I hear myself scream as I tumble out the door...... and soar. I wasn't prepared for how loud and how cold it is at 13,500 feet and within a few minutes poof the chute goes up....... and suddenly there's an unbelievable silence as we fly through the sky and begin to make our way down. Closer, closer, closer and as I slide on the ground and the chute falls over me....... I sit there and laugh, and think.... just another Meadowsweet Day! I loved it!

TIME FLIES ....... and so will we!

2008-09-29T19:18:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow, my nephew, Robbie, will turn 18! Robbie's wish is to celebrate his 18th birthday.......flying high! So, we will..... at about 13,000 feet in the air. My sister, Colleen, my daughter, Tierney and her 53 year old mother (that would be me) will scratch one more thing off my "Bucket List" (though I don't have any plans of kicking the bucket anytime soon) and JUMP! I'll let you know.......... tomorrow! :)

THE NEW MEADOWSWEET

2008-09-27T21:25:00.000-04:00

Moving......

If you've ever packed up a home after many years and moved your belongings to another location, you know what an undertaking it can be. Well, three years ago, I packed up my home after 22 years and moved to a new home just on the other side of our town. As if that wasn't enough for one lifetime...... I've decided to move the location of my store.

In the coming months, I will share the transformation of a 75 year old small house into what will become the new location of Meadowsweet, my Floral/Home Decor shop in Northport, New York, which is a tiny waterfront village on the North Shore of Long Island. Dealing with an incorporated village and all of its rules and regulations can be extremely trying on one's patience, but I think in the end the move (and all of the headaches!) will be worth it. Stay tuned!

It's Beginning to look..........

2008-09-25T21:54:00.000-04:00

Busy, busy, busy......... It seems that summer has quickly come and gone, but left in its path is none other than ........ the UPS man. Almost everyday, Fred, our UPS man, pulls up in his big brown truck and proceeds to unload boxes and boxes of all of the purchases made during the summer for the upcoming holiday season. Starting now and through the rest of the year, there will be sparkles and glitter everywhere..... in my hair, on my face sometimes twinkling like little stars, I even find little sparkles on the dogs..... as we unpack glitter and gold, florals and berries, gilded and sugared fruits, pods, stems, and icy pine branches, ribbons and bows, angels and cherubs, Santas and sleighs........ The Holiday Season will soon be upon us.

What a Weekend!

2008-09-23T22:28:00.001-04:00

Engagement Weekend!

2008-09-20T21:41:00.000-04:00

Our house is all a buzz! My son, Tim, asked Lara to marry him and she said, "Yes"! I quickly got started in planning the celebration~ and tomorrow is the day. Family has come in from all over to celebrate, and I can't wait. I just love decorating for a party. I've chosen a color scheme of deep pink moire and tiny black and white checks. There will be deep pink roses, white/green hydrangeas, calla lillies and sunflowers. Even the pool will be adorned with hibiscus blossoms and floating candles. The day should be glorious!

Drying Sunflower Heads

2008-09-17T21:38:00.000-04:00

I love these huge Sunflower Heads~and the sweet gold finches that flock to them this time of year. I don't think the birds will mind if I cut a few in various sizes and just place them in a big wooden bowl to enjoy on my kitchen table. So many lovely things to gather in an early autumn garden. Roses leaving their rose hips to gather and place in a country crock with some bittersweet, the hydrangeas drying in all sorts of lovely greens and shades of burgundy. I have already begun to gather huge bunches to dry. Soon they will be spritzed with gold and bit of fairy dust for Christmas arrangements and wreaths for my store~ I love it!

Thank you, Isabella's Closet

2008-09-17T11:00:00.000-04:00

Thank you, to Mary at Isabella's Closet for designing my Blog Banner! Didn't she do a wonderful job!

My New Blog

2008-09-16T22:57:00.000-04:00

I am so excited to have my new blog site. I am hoping to meet others who share a love for anything surrounding home! If you love to design, garden, bake.......I can't wait to meet. In the coming posts (when I learn how to do this), I will be sharing events that take place in my store, as well as sharing decorating ideas. I welcome all new friends to visit my blog!