Love Notes

There is a story about a hiker making his way up a spectacular trail in the Shenandoah National Forest.   About midway,  he remarks on the large number of downed trees across the path.   He grumbles something about horrible trail maintenance, and is annoyed enough to start counting the number of obstacles blocking his path.   Upon reaching the summit in all its Blue Ridge autumnal splendor, the hiker has what my late father would call an "attitude adjustment meeting with himself".   On the way down, he instead counts the number of cut out logs, making an inventory of where someone before him has cleared the way for others yet to come.   READ MORE

Read more

Notice anything odd about my Autumn table above?  It needs some plates!   I've been plate shopping (actually, when did I ever stop plate shopping), and I have some fun finds for you today, along with some clever trickery for Autumn entertaining with simplicity and aplomb.   READ MORE

Read more

I hope you can bear with me for one last romp around my Tuscany trip.  For your infinite patience, I'm hoping you might be rewarded with a few useful travel tips, most of which have taken me a half century to discern.  READ MORE

Read more

How is it possibly Labo(u)r Day?   Shakespeare knows, "Summer's lease hath all too short a date."  

As we begin to enter the slow windy curve which chauffeurs us into fall, I think at least some of us are excited - soon we can wear boots and cashmere sweaters on a daily basis!    Scents of the harvest will beckon from the kitchen - roasted delicata squash, baked apples and hearty autumn soups.   Evenings by the fire pit await, along with crisp nights sleeping with the windows wide open.    READ MORE

Read more

Chester (the famous shopping dog) and I have been enjoying some beautiful Fall walks, but I have to admit, I would be happy as a clam if this stretch of Montauk highway was along our route. Aren't the colors sublime? The photo behaves like a master painting, drawing the eye in. READ MORE

Read more