Hill Country Potpourri: Hand-made Gift for the Holidays
I am a firm believer in the hostess gift to express my appreciation. It is such a pleasure to be invited to someone’s home on any occasion. I enjoy seeing how others live and entertain and always go away with new ideas!
Reflecting on Scent: Creating a Scent Lab
Recently I have been collecting and reading books about the history of perfume and making perfume. As a result I have set up a lab in my home to experiment with scent making.
Decorative Panels and Screens
I created my first wood panel as a folding screen when we moved to a loft in a historical bank building. The loft was one continuous space with brick walls on both sides. We believe it was once office space for those who worked in accounting or bank records. The screens were made to provide slight visual definition of areas or rooms within the larger space.
Fashion Sketches
I recently gave my niece two India ink fashion sketches I made and framed for her birthday. She is in the business and has a passion for all things related to fashion. How did I come to make fashion sketches?
Taking on the English Trifle Dessert
I had purchased a trifle bowl many years ago thinking I would learn to make an English trifle. While I love having the trifle bowl on my pantry shelf filled with silver baby cups collected over many years, including my own and my grandmother’s, it occurred to me it would be fun to attempt a trifle for our family Thanksgiving gathering at my brother-in-law’s family home.
Monogrammed and Embroidered
I love peering inside shop windows and on any walking trip through a town or city can be found photographing shop fronts and window displays. I rarely venture inside, focused instead on the lettering on the window or the way the collection of objects are arranged.
Lost Maples Nature Area: Fall Color and So Much More!
Have the trees changed color? This is the curious question from a man about to hike into the Lost Maples Nature Area as we are coming out into the parking lot after a magical morning hiking the Lost Maples Trail and part of the East Trail.
Enthralling Times at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
About an hour and a half north of San Antonio (17 miles north of Fredericksburg, Texas) is the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. Now that we are unpacked and somewhat organized, we want to devote some time to exploring things to see and do in the Texas Hill Country. I had been to Enchanted Rock […]
Considering Chanel
I love to read British, Italian, and Australian Vogue online with my morning coffee. I discovered them during the pandemic and find I really enjoy keeping up with the news on fashion and design. There are often inspirational photos like one of Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel reclining on a sofa. Knowing something about current fashion also gives me a connection to my nieces.
Discovering and Defining the Texas Hill Country
I’ve been writing the words, “Texas Hill Country” and assuming you are familiar with this place. To be honest, coming from Houston, I wasn’t always sure what or where the Hill Country was and so, have decided this post will be dedicated to the discoveries I have made thus far in defining for me the Texas Hill Country.