Mango Salsa, which is the perfect accompaniment to my Cilantro Lime Grilled Chicken. This dish is quick and healthy. The taste is off the charts good. We grill a few extra chicken breasts and have for lunch the next day (cold) – they’re fabulous! Mangos are amazing right now – this mango salsa recipe has less ingredients than most but so much flavor…
Continue reading “Mango Salsa (perfect with Cilantro Lime Chicken!)”
Spring is just around the corner and as I write this, it’s felt like mid spring here in Charleston, SC. It’s been warm enough for people to flock to the garden centers and stock up on plants and flowers. Cold spell coming soon (Update: actually it’s here now)- at least for a night or two and then back to normal. I thought this painting by Lauren Everett Finn was apropos for this time of year. Bright and happy – it makes me smile.
Continue reading “Featured Artist: Lauren Everett Finn!”
Spring in Charleston is literally an explosion of color. The stunning array of bright colors and scents wafting through the air are absolutely magical. This is my very favorite part about spring. The bees look happy, the birds are very busy and I’m watching the larger birds swoop from branch to branch. #itsajungleoutthere
Continue reading “Charleston’s abundant camellias!”
I love the lines of this house! It reminds me of some of the Tudor style homes in the neighborhood. I love the high pitch, the dormers, the quaint arch around the entrance – this is STUNNING. The mix of board and batten, shingles and stone really makes this house look like it’s been in the neighborhood for a long, long time. The two small windows on either side of the door adds so much charm. #likeafairytale
Continue reading “The Castle Combe House Plan by Mitchell Ginn & Assoc.”
Recipe Reminder: I saw this recipe was posted on my social media last year. Last March, I mentioned how FABULOUS the asparagus was, and I remember this recipe. It was beyond fabulous! Recipe is from Eating Well magazine – so it’s a health conscious recipe. #winwin The combination of flavors is incredible and this comes together surprisingly fast.
Continue reading “Cajun Pork Chops with Cheesy Polenta and Asparagus… WOW!”
The azaleas in Charleston, SC are blooming like crazy right now. They truly are a wonderful mix of pink perfection (various shades of pinks, as well as white). We live in an older neighborhood and most yards have azaleas, they don’t always bloom at the same time, but when they do – Lookout! It’s stunning!
Azaleas, most of the year are a ubiquitous shrub with green leaves. New growth is usually a brighter green. We get buds and then blooms, then wilted blooms. This is the point to cut back your azalea if you wish to. If you wait until too late you risk not having blooms the following year (#beentheredonethat) – so the rule of thumb is to trim after blooming.
Another rule of thumb is that it’s ok to cut back 1/3 of the shrub without harm to the plant. We’ve gone even farther and they were fine. Azaleas can get leggy and thin. They aren’t as pretty when this happens. If you do something shocking, like cut them back, they come back stronger and thicker. It may look drastic when you do it, but they grow quickly and are back to normal in no time. I think this spring we will be cutting back a majority of ours.
When I look back over my posts on Instagram or Facebook I can see that I post a LOT of flowers. I love them. Inside, outside, I really don’t care where they are, I absolutely love flowers. You can never have too many, am I right?
Happy Monday, y’all!
✍️ Until next time…
📸 Image: Barbara Stroud (me!)
I posted a similar photo last week, before I moved furniture back to its rightful place, at least for the time being. What strikes me are the lines, the white/black starkness, but also the softness of the green reflections, and the beauty that the orange tulips bring and the beautiful light from a very old lamp.
Continue reading “Same View, Different Day!”
This house is so Charleston, SC. Not that it’s limited to this area, it’s not. It’s a magnificent home regardless of its location. With both upper and lower piazza’s (porches) – your outside living space is huge. Can you imagine? Whether you’re sitting on the piazza off of the master suite with a book and a cup of coffee or if you’re on the lower piazza gathering with friends and family. This is a gorgeous plan (updated for today’s living) with plenty of outdoor space!
Continue reading “10 Charleston Ave House Plan by Our Town Plans”
Can you BELIEVE that it’s already the beginning of MARCH? Where does time go? While it is still technically winter, this is a quick (and tasty) treat, perfect for when you need a little somethin-somethin!
Pineapple upside down cake can be such a fabulous treat. It doesn’t need to be a large, or time-intensive cake. This recipe has a shortcut that saves time and ingredients. Note… don’t skimp on the butter or it will not come out of the pan (as shown above). There isn’t a lot of butter to begin with, but, it seems I’m always trying to find ways to cut it back. This isn’t one of those recipes to cut an essential ingredient. #learnfrommymistake This couldn’t be easier!
My mom and dad used to make this cake when we were kids. Most of us have these ingredients in the pantry, so it’s a nice, quick cake – one layer – so not a cake that will be around for a week. It makes the house smell so good! Click HERE to print the recipe below. Remember, when placing the pineapple, the bottom becomes the top, because after baking you invert it (flip it over) while it’s still hot, that way it comes out of the cake pan easily. As I mentioned above, don’t try to save fat/calories by skimping on the measly 4 tablespoons of butter, the cake needs it for the brown sugar to stick. You’ll see areas of my cake that remained in the pan, hmmm. #dontdowhatidid
I used Trader Joe’s Buttermilk Pancake & Baking Mix (the type for pancakes, biscuits, etc.) – it doesn’t contain some of the ingredients that other brands do (unless their ingredients have changed). You can also place maraschino cherries, which makes it really pretty – also chopped nuts (pecans, I would guess). Change it up however you like.
✍️ Until next time… Happy March!
I love when I come across an artist that isn’t only good at what he does and is successful, but also gives back to his community. I can’t tell you how refreshing that is. As you can see by his painting, Josh lives (and owns his own gallery) in Chicago, IL. Not an easy feat, especially during COVID as you’ll read. But he made it through and he made it by helping others. #iwishyousomuchsuccess
Continue reading “Featured Artist: Josh Moulton!”
I think Tulip Trees are so interesting! They seem pretty incognito most of the year. They’re there but they don’t really stand out. Until it’s almost spring and THEN they come alive and are the star of the show. Sometimes their blooms get burnt by an end of season frost, but this tree in the area is blooming beautifully! Some of the Spanish Moss from the Live Oak tree has found it’s way to the limbs – beautiful!
Continue reading “Tulip Tree is Blooming – Spring is Near!”
Isn’t this the sweetest guest suite? It would also make the perfect WFH office area, studio, etc. The options are endless. It’s a small but convenient space that would be a dream in your backyard. Of course, it’s perfect if you have guests, so they have their own space. But what if you don’t have many guests? STILL a great option!
Continue reading “18409L2 Guest Suite by Allison Ramsey Architects!”
I love the simplicity of this photo. The straight lines intrigue me. I was sitting in the sunroom when I took this photo looking through the house. The lines of the nearby window, the French doors and the beautiful window in the distance are so interesting. Couple that with the arch and the reflection of green in an otherwise black and white image is striking.
Continue reading “Lines and Color…”
Well, it seems as if spring is about to spring in Charleston, SC! One of our azaleas is blooming, camellias are always in bloom this time of year, and the garden stores are full of stunning and colorful plants. I know our garden centers get CrAzY around here, like we all need to get some pretty things planted after our long, hard winter (hehe). It IS always exciting to do just that! The anticipation of what you’ll find and how it will transform a space is always so much fun!
Continue reading “Spring is springing up in Charleston!”
Today is a beautiful, sunny, warm day (for winter) – almost 70 degrees. I stepped outside to take our dog around the block and couldn’t believe how nice it was. So I thought I would post something cheery and spring-like today. This image was taken years ago on Monhegan. Beautiful flowers, happy butterflies and bees galore! #happyplanet
I’m not sure what these flowers are called, but they’re so cool. I love the dark leaves and the pops of red and pink from the flowers. Gorgeous.
Maine is a place we love to visit, we haven’t been there in several years, but have been thinking about it. Monhegan is a magical island about ten miles off the coast. The ability to slow down, be in fresh air, and just be is worth so much. Especially after several years of COVID. I would like to be off my devices more than I’m on them. They’ve been a lifesaver these past several years, helping to keep us in touch when we have to be far away.
Hoping for another visit to the island soon. For now I will look back at my photos through the years!
✍️ Until next time…
📸 Image: Barbara Stroud (me!)
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