Recently we attend the phenomenal light show at Longwood Gardens. We arrived early and set up our chairs in the front row, very close to the center, so this display is very similar to the one was viewed. i was much too captivated with the experience to record the show so was delighted that this 'sneak peak' was so similar. The background music for the evening we attended was jazz, and if you follow my blog, you'll know I was delighted! This will give you an idea of the spectacular event, and hopefully it will inspire you to check the Longwood Garden site to check their schedule, purchase tickets and attend!

While we were at Longwood Gardens, I heard it referred to as "America's Versailles". I disagree. The variety of plants, artistry of presentation, reverence and dedication to nature and seasonal displays make Longwood far superior. The Versailles gardens were such a disappointment, but isn't it delightful to know we can save the airfare to France and have a much more delightful experience here? For those who are more interested in the history, architecture and furnishings at Versailles, it's worth the trip, but if you are going for the gardens, you may want to reconsider and head to Kennett Square, PA. 

 
We passed this sleepy tree on the way in, already yawning by late afternoon. He probably didn't stay awake for the light show, but he's undoubtedly seen it many times!

We had a leisurely dinner at 1906 while we waited for dusk. Everything there is a step above what is expected. This is their shrimp appetizer - jumbo shrimp served on a square of tomato aspic with sorrel and touch of horseradish. Not only delicious but a work of art!

Although I've been to Longwood Gardens many times over the years and experienced each of the five seasons - spring, summer, fall, holiday and winter - at least once, this was my first after dark experience light display. I'm adding it to my collecting firsts!

My grandmother's rocking chair is home! The photos really don't do it justice. It is an exquisite piece of art, with fabulous detail, front and back. It was made by my great grandfather, or his father. I wish I had asked my grandmother more questions about the artist who created it. It's been in the family for as long as I've been alive. It was my great grandmother's and then my grandmother's. She was a seamstress and spent innumerable hours hand stitching her gorgeous quilts in this chair.
Over the years, the  fabric was worn and the padding was nearly gone, so it needed to be replaced. I took it to Morrow's Upholstery and Furniture in Landisburg, PA and they did a superlative job preparing it for a few more decades. I plan to use it as my grandmother did; as a place to quietly create.
Do you have family pieces in your home that remind you of loved ones and treasured memories? Are there items that you could refinish, polish or simply begin to use again? Honoring the memories of loved ones through their most cherished possessions brings a feeling of continuity and legacy. Today's treasure was once yesterday's, and that makes me even more grateful to have it back in my life. 

This is a close up of the fabric. It's very chameleon and reflected the colors around it. It looks more pink next to my pink velvet couch, but against the wood of the chair and the floor in the pictures about it looks more like earth tones. Photos just don't do it justice!
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Just returned from a delightful mini vacation in PA visiting my daughter with a friend! Mycenea is professional musician and has been doing her solo act for years, gathering awards, accolades and being featured on the cover of magazines. She's living in a spectacular log cabin filled with instruments! One of the highlights of the visit was a listening to her new band practice for a couple of hours! They have been practicing for months but haven't taken the show on the road yet so we were very fortunate to be among the first to hear them!

The living room, which is more reminiscent of a music store, is filled with guitars, amps, there's a mandolin, standing bass, the drums . . . so many fun things to play with if you are so inclined! 

One of the most delightful aspects of this home is the story behind it's construction.
The builder lived in a one room log cabin at the end of the property on a cliff over looking a stream. It has the appearance of a cabin created in colonial times but was built in the 70s and he stayed there year round until he finished building the main home. 

Both properties are guarded by Sasquatch! They host a party annually in his honor.
A kinder, gentler version of Bigfoot is featured here. 

Today's Creative Content Camp session advised us to take 10 photos a day for the next week of projects were working on - our images, in situ, our offices, studios and photos our selves in the process of creating. One suggestion was featuring out pets. Zippy doesn't get involved with my art, even though he is always near by, whether I'm paining, sewing, writing or in the garden.  Rocky, on the other hand, would sit on my lap, on top of my watercolor paper,and  nap in m basket of home made collage papers.I miss you Rocky.

A few pages from my Comfort book for Carrie, to bring me comfort and peace after my brother's passing. 

The summer solstice officially arrived in Baltimore, Maryland at 6:34 on Monday, June 20. Hopefully you took time to honor the cycles of nature and to celebrate the longest day of the year. This year's event was especially precious as it coincided with the "strawberry moon", the name given to June's full moon. The combination of the solstice with a full moon is a rare occurrence, The last time this rare phenomena occurred was forty-nine years ago, in 1967. Hopefully you enjoyed its assent as it won't occur again until 2062, 

Strawberries may have been the fruit of the day, but I had peaches on my mind! This, dear friends, is

A dear new friend and neighbor, Howard, called late afternoon and said he had made Baltimore Peach Cake, warm out of the oven, and wondered if I would like some! Um, yes!!! So I hurried over and he met me at the door with his calico cat Petunia, weaving between us, hoping for attention. I knelt down to pet her and he mentioned having heard that all calico cats are female.

(Note:I've heard all my life and decided it was finally time to look it up. 
"The mutation that gives male cats a ginger-colored coat and females ginger, tortoiseshell, or calico coats produced a particularly telling map. The orange mutant gene is found only on the X, or female, chromosome. As with humans, female cats have paired sex chromosomes, XX, and male cats have XY sex chromosomes" 

We walked through the hallway, adjacent to a stair case filled with family photos, into the kitchen where I had my first glimpse of 'the cake'! He had given me half and when I protested, with very little conviction or enthusiasm but felt it was the right thing to do, he insisted. I let him have his way!  We talked about some of our recent Facebook posts while he finished wrapping the cake. Babe Ruth, his gorgeous and gregarious McCaw, sat on the open door of his cage from the next room, watching and occasionally making a comment or whistling. Howard, Babe Ruth and I are all dedicated Orioles fans and when Babe wants to see a game, he'll request, "Watch TV?"

As I said thank you and good bye to Howard and his furry and feathered family, I felt overwhelmingly grateful to live in Lake Walker. The homes, with their front porches, are anachronisms not only in their physical structure, but in the resulting lifestyle. Neighbors are outside - on their porches, working in their yards and gardens, and walking their dogs of every shape and size. They are receptive, even openly inviting, to conversation and community. 

But back to the cake! Oh my heavens!! Its arrival only hours before the summer solstice made it seem all the more heaven scent. Yes, I know. I wrote heaven sent first, but the fragrance!  It is indeed heaven scent! The peaches and cake dominated, But there is just a hint of cinnamon - not the usual over powering that often diminishes other flavors - but a subtle suggestion. It is almost as if he waved a cinnamon stick over the sublime creation and let the perfect amount of flavor descend. Perfection!

My first taste of Baltimore Peach Cake will be added to my 'collecting firsts' category. Actually, I've been thinking about a "Collecting Firsts in Baltimore" category, because there have been so many since I arrived. I do adore this town - it's passion for history, art, music, gardens and parks, fabulous food and restaurants, sports, culture, eccentric charm, Hons, Balamerese, and most of all, oh how I love the people!

I recently posted the evaluations from my Enhancing Your Life with Herbs Course and they warmed my heart. What a great group of participants! We had a wonderful time learning about the world of herbs.

We discovered herbs to enhance all aspects of life, including holidays, romance, protection from haunting and more.

• What herb will make you invisible and bullet proof? 
• Do you know which herb will enable you to see ghosts? 
  
• Which herb is used to ensure safety in erratic traffic in India?
  
• There is an herb that will guarantee marital bliss for at least seven years. Do you know what it is? 
  
• What herb should you carry in your pocket to attract wealth?
• If  you've finally have that broom stick up in the air, what herb will ensure that you won't get dizzy and fall off? 
• Which herb will most quickly mend a broken heart?
• There are herbs used to increase lust, and many are prolific in the spring time. They may be responsible for spring fever! Any ideas?
• If there is a zombie roaming your neighborhood, you can give him these to send him on to a peaceful death, if you dare? Do you know what they are?
• There are herbs that compliment each zodiac sign based on when they are planted or harvested. Do you know your astrological sign and herbs? 
• Which herb is prized for both fertility and chastity? (I've only known that to work once)!

The answers can be found in my blog. After all, hunting for treasures is what this website is about! Enjoy discovering the treasures of herbs!