Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the blazing colors of the leaves, from gold to orange to red. The cool air touched with aromas like fallen leaves and ripe apples. And the food. Don’t even get me started on that: apple pie, savory soups, spiced cider.We’ve been decorating Nell Hill’s for … [Read more...]
An Independence Day to Remember
Sometimes it’s not us who achieve our life dreams, it’s our descendants. In my case, it was my granddaughter Maeve, and the dream was to win the 4th of July pageant. Growing up in a small town in Kansas in the ‘60s, the 4th of July was a huge deal. One year, our swimming pool had an Independence Day … [Read more...]
The Art of Hospitality
When my sister, Judy, comes to visit us in a few weeks, she will be lucky if I have stocked the guest bath with toilet paper and put a few scraps of food in the fridge. But if Judy (or I!) had been lucky enough to have my friend Marsee as a sister, she would have had a different experience. Very, … [Read more...]
A Conversation with Sharon Santoni, My Stylish French Girlfriend
When Dan and I were in France last, we had the delightful experience of having dinner at the home of one of my favorite French lifestyle bloggers and authors, Sharon Santoni. It was a truly magical evening, because Sharon is a gem. So when her new book was released, My French Country Home, I asked … [Read more...]
Finding Your Muse
How do you fuel your creativity? What do you do to keep yourself inspired? When it comes to making your home fresh and beautiful, where do you find your ideas? Through the years, I’ve discovered some failsafe ways to ignite my creative spark. Here are a few of my favorite muses, which not only … [Read more...]
Warm Metals Melt My Heart
The other day my niece texted me: “Aunt Mary Carol, I’m having a debate with a friend, and we need your help to decide who is right. Is brass back in style?” There was a bottle of wine at stake, so I couldn’t let her down. “Yes, brass is back in!” I assured her. Her swift reply: “You just won me a … [Read more...]
