Portrait of a Daylily!

On By Barbara StroudIn Photograph, THOUGHTS2 Comments

The couple who originally owned our home many, many years ago, had our house and a lot of both sides. We had heard (and have seen evidence) that she loved to garden. After her husband had passed away, she moved – and sold the lots on either side of her. New homes were built and her gardens were no longer. But every once in a while we’ll see a sign of her handiwork. This daylily comes back year after year, decade after decade. I hear about daylilies spreading, but ours has not. I think it’s staying just as Mrs. H. had intended it to. Every year it’s a nice (and striking) surprise.

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Randolph Cottage Porch Alternative by Bill Ingram for Southern Living!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, House Plans2 Comments
Randolph Cottage Porch Alternative House Plan by Bill Ingram for Southern Living

House plans are a favorite for many of you who visit this site. For the serious lookers – those of you planning to build in the near future, to the dreamers who think about moving, building, and what type of house plan would best suit them. Considerable time should be spent finding just the right plan for you, you’ll know when you find it, and if one is close, check with the architect/designer, most will make changes that can work for you. I know good house plans when I see them. This, of course, is a good one! I love the steep roof, the front porch, the scale of this home is nice – just wait until you “step inside”, it feels much larger than it’s square footage!

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Tropical Storm Idalia…

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTSLeave a comment
Photo from last years storm September 2022

I’m writing this post on Tuesday, the day before the storm (Hurricane for Florida, Tropical storm for SC). I’m thinking about those in Florida who are having to leave their homes – those who are flooding or going through any number of things we go through with these tropical storms. You can’t totally predict Mother Nature. So it’s good to be prepared. What are some of the things you do…

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Blueberry Cobbler Recipe {Updated!}

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, Recipe1 Comment

Who doesn’t love blueberry cobbler? This dessert is so fabulous (and full of antioxidants, right?!) – you can make it in one bowl (win win) and it makes the house smell fabulous! Another bonus is that you can use fresh or frozen fruit (I used all blueberries) – they were frozen, and with a few tips it can turn out beautifully. With tropical storm Idalia on its way – I had some nervous energy to burn off, so I thought I would perfect what I thought was a pretty perfect recipe. This is better! Quick too!

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Guess the Artist (Detroit Institute of Arts) #9!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Guess the ArtistLeave a comment

So. Much. Emotion. So much movement – the tumultuous clouds. A shipwreck… the surprise, horror, devastation, worry and possible thanks they must feel. The bit of blue sky in the distance, the roar of the sea, the building that stands tall and offers hope in an awful situation. It’s almost as if the artist had set up to paint en plein air and had witnessed (and painted) a shipwreck as it was unfolding. *See note below!

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Happy Weekend – May the sun shine!

On By Barbara StroudIn Photograph, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Sending a little happy your way, I think this is supposed to be another hot day here in Charleston, but we’re getting close to less humid weather – it can’t come soon enough for most people I talk to.

On another note, Many of you have dropped off your sons and daughters at college, others are sending their younger children back to school. I’m not sure where the time goes, but some of the kids in the neighborhood that I still picture as young are now in high school, off at college. How can that be? I saw the sweetest thing a neighbor did when she sent her young children to school…

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Take a Moment to Look for the Lovely!

On By Barbara StroudIn Photograph, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

I love to be out and about and spot something cool – grab my phone and get a snippet. These flowers were beautiful against the sky, and their color, whoa! I love fuchsia – such a vibrant color. The butterfly was zipping around, I waited for him to land and get comfy before taking the pic. #alwayslookup

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Guess the Artist (Detroit Institute of Arts) #8!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Guess the ArtistLeave a comment
Can you guess the artist?

This painting took my breath away. To see it in person is entirely different than on a computer screen. The clearness, the feeling, their faces, the light coming through the cloth, the flowers on the floor, the drama, the pain all so palpable. I went back to this painting a few times and was blown away each time. So many stunning paintings, I would not have thought this to be a favorite, but it was hard to walk away from. I wanted to know more…

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Tuna Melt with Tomatoes – SO Delish!

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, Recipe2 Comments

You know how sometimes the simplest things in life are the tastiest? This is a good case in point of a “recipe” that can be suited to your tastebuds and a (to be hailed) combo of ingredients turns out the most lovely, quick, summertime “dinner” (or lunch). With only a quick pop under the broiler this is a great meal to make on those sticky hot days. One that can be assembled early on, thrown together and enjoyed beyond belief! #quickandeasytoo

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Guess the Artist (Detroit Institute of Arts) #7!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Guess the Artist2 Comments

Easy, right? #ha… if you’re one who thinks painting abstracts is easy, I urge you to give it a try. Working part time in a few galleries in the past, some people who enter the gallery laugh and say “What is that supposed to be” or “I could do that”! Really? Hmmm, because I’ve tried it and let me tell you, it takes a lot of concentration to not end up with a muddy mess. I think colors are super important (or in this artist’s case, simple black and white!) – but so is the movement and the overall feel. We’re all different and like different things. I would hear “I love that painting”, and “I hate that painting, what were they thinking?” in the span of about 12 seconds. Paintings that you think will sell quickly may be the ones that stick around the longest. There is no predicting. It’s all because we’re unique individuals and we like what we like, but – some artists are able to grab the attention of more people.

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Poplarville Residence House Plan by Lake and Land Studio!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, House PlansLeave a comment
Poplarville Residence House Plan by Lake and Land Studio!

Pretty amazing, isn’t it? Believe it or not this is a smaller plan (not tiny, but not massive) that is designed to be open and spacious, making it feel like a much larger house. This is a one floor plan with a few cool bonuses… This would be the lakeside view – stunning, right? The front is very nice, but this is where I would be most of the time.

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