Guess the Artist #42 | Detroit Institute of Arts

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Guess the Artist, MichiganLeave a comment
Painting of a woman in a black dress, engraver, working, art history

After a recent trip to Michigan AND a trip to the Detroit Institute of Arts, I have a fresh batch of Guess the Artists posts coming up. What a great visit. They are in the midst of a renovation right now but there is still plenty to see. The Contemporary section and a few others were closed, but beginning early August they’ll have several paintings from each of those collections so you won’t miss out.

Do you know who the artist is on this one? If so, comment on this post or on social media – If not, check below for the answer… Good luck!

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My Gomphrena Blooms Are Creating A Spectacular Show!

On By Barbara StroudIn Charleston, flowers, HOME, Photograph, THOUGHTS1 Comment
Bright pink blooms on a flower with thin green stem against dark building

Seriously! Look at these lively pink blooms. What show-offs they are. Every one of them dancing in the window, swaying to the butterflies and the bees that surround them and look so happy. I love the bright pink against the darkness. Stunning. They look at bit like fireworks, don’t they? Peaceful fireworks!

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Butterflies and Bees – It’s what we want to see!

On By Barbara StroudIn Photograph, THOUGHTS2 Comments

Y’all! Can you believe we are nearly headed into the THIRD WEEK OF JULY? How can time fly by so quickly? To be honest, I am not a lover of hot weather, so when summer passes by I get crazy happy. Well, especially once hurricane season is over, right? This shall prove to be an interesting year.

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Caprese Salad – So Fresh (and so fast!)

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, Recipe, SaladLeave a comment

Have you tried a Caprese salad? Decades ago we vistited NYC and ate at Carmine’s (I wanted to eat every single meal there!) – we ordered a Caprese salad (among other things) and ohmygosh. I had never tasted such a fabulous salad in all my life. We just had zucchini, Vidalia onions and parmesan on thin pasta and it was heavenly – this was the perfect accompaniment!

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Guess the Artist #41 | Detroit Institute of Arts

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Guess the Artist, MichiganLeave a comment

It’s been a while since I’ve written a “Guess the Artist” post from a visit years ago to the Detroit Institute of Arts. (If you ever get the opportunity to go – please do, you will be THRILLED!) So many fabulous artists, and some from centuries ago. Wow! These paintings are clearly very well taken care of and rightfully so! They are a treasure.

Ok, now… do you know the artist who painted this beauty above? Read on to see the answer and also to read a bit about the painting, which is so interesting!

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Caring for Cut Hydrangeas: Tips for Beautiful Blooms

On By Barbara StroudIn Photograph, THOUGHTS2 Comments
White table, cane chairs, a wooden nibble board, and a glass vase of lavender hydrangeas in water.

We all have our favorite things, right? Flowers make me tremendously happy. They are an amazing mood booster. I keep taking this same shot. Different flowers, different days, same setting. I just love the morning light that seems to quietly wake up this space in the early part of the day. So pretty. One of the wonderful things about hydrangeas is the fact that they can last so long and stay gorgeous with just a wee bit of help.

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Salad Showstopper: Southwest Salad with Chicken, Black Beans, Corn and Pepper Jack!

On By Barbara StroudIn Favorite Things, FOOD, Recipe, Salad2 Comments
Salad with green lettuce, bits of grilled chicken, white corn, chopped tomato, black beans and pepper jack cheese

We love salads. Especially in the summer when the temperature soars and it’s too hot to turn on the stove. Thankfully, my husband will happily grill chicken on the hottest of days (jumping in the pool to cool off in between checking). At least he can stay cool when the temp is soaring. My go to salad (lately) has been grilled chicken, romaine, hardboiled egg, pickled red onion, cheddar, cucumber, tomato, and a homemade balsamic vinaigrette. But I wanted something different and this is SPECTACULAR, you’ve got to try it!

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Book Suggestion: The Bodyguard by Katherine Center!

On By Barbara StroudIn books, THOUGHTSLeave a comment
Book, The Bodyguard, by Katherine Center, on beach towel and teak chair

This book is summer reading PERFECTION! You know when you have a lot going on and you just can’t concentrate on a book? That’s where I was at. Which, for me, is a very bad place to be, ha ha. Mission accomplished- I picked up Katherine’s book, The Bodyguard and fell right into the story. Whew!

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Happy 4th Y’all! (Photo from 2007)

On By Barbara StroudIn Photograph, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Happy 4th of July…

Many of you will know this scene. Or at least remember it from long ago (photo from 2007). Port Clyde, Maine near Monhegan Boat Line. Since this time there was a fire and the General Store is no more, Monhegan Boat Line that had just built a beautiful building (had not actually seen in person) – also was lost. The boat line has rebuilt and they’re back in business. So if you’re headed to Monhegan, it’s a trusted way to go.

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A Wink From A Loved One?

On By Barbara StroudIn Favorite Things, Photograph, THOUGHTSLeave a comment
Bright red cardinal male in shrubs

Cardinals bring hope (and are such fun to watch). We’re thankful to have so many flying around our yard. They love the trees, shrubs, shade and sun. They fly back and forth across the yard busy as can be. Each spring they build a nest (they work so hard, it’s incredible) then wait until the eggs hatch. They tirelessly bring food to the little ones. It’s beautiful to watch.

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Blooming Magnolia | Charleston, SC

On By Barbara StroudIn Charleston, garden, Photograph, THOUGHTSLeave a comment
Magnolia tree, open magnolia cream color bloom, perfection

Magnolia trees in Charleston, SC for the most part are large trees with flowers to match. Big, beautiful and stately. They exude a sweet, mellow, wonderful scent into the air. You might see magnolia scent added to candles and diffusers for good reason. Everyone seems to adore this sweet, sometimes spicy, scent. Their leaves on the other hand can be a force to be reckoned with. They don’t break down and they rustle loudly underfoot. One thing is for sure, the beauty is worth the work!

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Quick and Tasty Egg Salad Sandwiches – What to eat in hot weather!

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, Recipe, sandwich2 Comments
Egg salad sandwich, toast, egg salad, macaroni salad leftovers on white plate

We all like it a little bit different. This recipe is a guide. As I always say, add more of what you like, less of what you don’t and leave out anything you don’t like. I haven’t made this in years and it was a treat. I had already hard boiled some eggs that were in the fridge, so this only took a few minutes to throw together. #delish

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