Sunday, March 27, 2011

Morning respite…



These mornings…when windows and doors are thrown open


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to catch the nighttime breezes


we awaken to the gentle sound of burbling water


coming from a bamboo pot fountain…it has been gently pouring water for years…


through every season.


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right outside our living room window in a small courtyard that is mostly ignored


allowed to wander.


There is no pretense…no pretty…just working away. Growing at will.


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The ceiling is the untrimmed fuchsia of bougainvillea


in this little unkempt corner of our home.


But on mornings like this…with a cup of coffee…and some birds singing


and the quiet of a family sleeping in…


it is a teensy slice of heaven


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Gently trickling.


A glorious Sunday to you.


Wednesday, March 23, 2011

A recipe to warm your ears…and heart.

I received a lovely package yesterday …

A guest. an adoptee.

In brown paper. All the way from maple syrup country. Cold maple syrup country…New Hampshire.

Meet Ingrid.

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She arrived in a brown paper box, carefully…even lovingly…wrapped

by Joan of from the love of a house.

Everything Joan does is with love. Truly. Go visit her amazing house…you’ll see!

And apparently, the girl, Ingrid, of the cold ears sort…loves

maple syrup.

But…who doesn’t?

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She came with a recently tapped and cooked bottle of New Hampshire's finest liquid gold.

It takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup…who knew?

ooohhh. Ingrid I love ya already.

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So what is a girl from sunny green Florida to do with this bounty you ask?

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Why, thanky for asking…

Make brunch!

Lime in the Coconut style. ‘Cause really…what is life without a little coconut?

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Enter the marriage of chilly New Hampshire and warm tropical Florida…

Warm your ears Crunchy Coconut French Toast… and warm Maple Syrup.

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...and do not skimp on the Maple Syrup. Ingrid is watching!

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Yep. I think the girl is going to love it here. She looks warmer already.

Welcome Ingrid. Take off your scarf…stay awhile.

kisses Joan!!

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Make your own Warm Your Ears Crunchy Coconut French Toast you will not:: repeat:: will not regret it:

Crunchy Coconut French Toast (adapted from Cook What You Love via Leite’s Culinaria)

scaled to serve 1

  • ¼ cup cornflakes I use Uncle Sams toasted wheatberry and flaxseed flakes…makes me feel a tad healthier
  • ¼ cup shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 1 large egg
  • 1-2 tbsp milk
  • 1 thick whole grain toast, cut in half…again…see first bullet. It’s all about healthy. umhm.
  • 1 tsp butter and 1 TBSP of olive oil.
  • Maple syrup, to serve. Ingrid style…LOTS.
  1. Place the coconut and cornflakes in a shallow bowl and mix well.
  2. In another shallow bowl, lightly whisk together the egg and milk. Dip the bread slices into the egg mixture
  3. and soak for about a minute on each side. They should be well coated but not soggy.
  4. Press each slice into the coconut mixture on sides, patting firmly and turning them over several times to coat thoroughly.
  5. Heat the butter and oil on a griddle or in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Serve with warm maple syrup…again…Ingrid style.

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Oooooh I just love a good marriage..

Thank you Joan!

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Snippets of another weekend in Paradise…

The weather is stellar here

The River is blue

Aegean blue…and still

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Perfect day to peek into some beautiful Homes in Vero Beach…courtesy of our Junior League Tour of Homes

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Ya know…It is not half bad in this corner of the world

we live in

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Even the birds are building nests…albeit in street lights

but they are staying for the season.

yep.

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...Polo matches just down the street

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And...cap it all off with a quick trip to the

Habitat Home store…and I mean quick. In 5 minutes before they closed…

and out with these goodies…

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I’m in an Aegean Sea blue mood these days…and the Painting whispered to me…

it whispered I’m 5 clams…

pick me, pick me.

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Cute little terra cotta canisters with silver around the edges

How could I resist?

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Not a bad weekend so far.

Nope.

Not bad at all!

Do you see my blue vibe???

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Continuing on…

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継続は力なり。

Keizoku wa chikara nari

Continuance is power/strength.


Translation:

Don't give up. Just continuing to hold on will reveal strength and power. Continuing on

after a setback is its own kind of strength.

Perseverance is power.

~Japanese Proverb

Godspeed Japan.

Image: Eric Rousset

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Scary House…


So…I have a cousin…

who lives in Canada

who happens to be a very talented photographer

He calls himself James. I call him Jimmy.

Cousin Jimmy


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He took a shot of our house a couple of weeks ago…guesthouse and courtyard to be exact…

Cue scary music.

I’m afraid to even enter the gate…

...and I live here.



Images: James Amundson

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Stilltsville…

some colorful history off the coast of Miami…

There stands a group of seven unique houses… on stilts in the Biscayne Bay

they happen to have a bawdy, raucous

and all out mischievous history. isn't that the best kind?

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Now built on concrete pilings…these stilt homes,

some around since the thirties

have seen their share of hurricanes…

But doesn’t seem to dampen their party spirit at all!

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The first one was built by“Crawfish” Walker, who had a bait-and-beer shack for passing fisherman during the prohibition era.

…and apparently made a famous crawfish chowder from crawfish caught beneath the shack!

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Soon several more shacks sprung up,

some built by prominent Miami businessmen.

These little wooden structures had a colorful history of" “ boozers, gamblers and flashy women.” ha…love it

In the 1940′s the Quarterdeck opened, featuring electricity, a bar, dining room and gaming tables it was featured in Life Magazine in 1941.

Soon, other clubs on stilts with an “anything goes” atmosphere opened up –

police raids began in the 50′s to stop prostitution and illegal gambling.

In the 60′s someone grounded a 150′ yacht on the flats and named it the Bikini Club.

women in bikinis were served drinks free…live music day and night

gotta love the 60’s…no?

jeff

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This bawdy little bit of history on stilts was recently saved from demolition

with the help of a group of conservationists… An agreement was reached to preserve the structures under the Stiltsville Trust

Let the party go on!

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Stiltsville....learn more here

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Just wonderin’…

Ok

I am all about huge chunky marble on counters

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I think of ice cream cones…and home made fudge. But that may just be me.

But.

this I don’t get…

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Why would you make a cabinet look like drawers?

why not really have drawers?

can anyone enlighten me.

please?

images: Southern Living

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