I’m reposting this book review from last year for Food for Thought, which I’m thrilled about returning, with our first book selection Friday, Jan. 20th~ The Night Circus!
The weather outside is frightful . . . while we thankfully have not had as much snow as the Northeast, it’s been colder than normal here in the sunny South. Snowbound, I had the perfect excuse to stay indoors and read a couple of weeks ago. This book provided *interesting reading while I was tucked away, cozy indoors, watching the birds and wondering how nature adapts to the frigid temperatures and winter landscape.
(*interesting reading for those defined as a bit of a Discovery Channel or Animal Planet geek :-)
“From flying hot-blooded squirrels and diminutive kinglets to sleeping black bears and torpid turtles to frozen insects and frogs, the animal kingdom relies on staggering evolutionary innovations to survive winter. Unlike their human counterparts, who alter the environment to accommodate physical limitations, most animals are adapted to an amazing range of conditions. In Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival, biologist, illustrator, and award-winning author Bernd Heinrich explores his local woods, where he delights in the seemingly infinite feats of animal inventiveness he discovers there.”
“Because winter drastically affects the most elemental component of all life — water — radical changes in a creature’s physiology and behavior must take place to match the demands of the environment. Some creatures survive by developing antifreeze; others must remain in constant motion to maintain their high body temperatures. Even if animals can avoid freezing to death, they must still manage to find food in a time of scarcity, or store it from a time of plenty.”
“Beautifully illustrated throughout with the author’s delicate drawings and infused by his inexhaustible enchantment with nature, Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival awakens the wonders and mysteries by which nature sustains herself through winter’s harsh, cruel exigencies.”
I set a Winter World-inspired table with pine cones, lichen covered branches, moss & a few nuts for foraging squirrels. . . on a landscape made of a jute runner layered on a snowy white quilt.
“Perhaps none depends on snow more than the snowshoe hare. The size of this hare’s tracks are out of proportion to the animal’s size. As a result of its low foot-loading, the hare can walk, hop and run very near the top of the fluffiest snow. As a consequence, the more that snow accumulates, throughout the winter, the more easily the hare can reach its food, the fresh twigs of small trees and brush.”
Woodland botanicals, snowy white orbs, and branches fill my lanterns on the table. . .
Rock Salt is sprinkled to mimic an icy coating, rather than to melt the snow on the sidewalk :-)
I was surprised to learn that Crossbills often lay their eggs in winter, so they are able to raise their young when the seeds of spruce or pine cones are most plentiful.
Heinrich is a scientist with a talent for relating his love for nature, his appetite for discovery, and his humorous insights in a fashion that is enjoyable for the reader.
My appetite led me to Pine Cone Cheese for Food for Thought, you can find a recipe here.
Winter can be difficult for birds when the days are short and nights are often cold and long. The natural food supply has been consumed or is hidden by snow. Water can be hard to find, and food needed to provide the energy to keep birds warm might be scarce.
Food for Thought also led me to make pine cone bird treats for our feathered friends. . . snowy day fun for kids if you have the materials on hand, with a recipe found here.
Winter World Table details:
Bird Dishes: Gracie China/Home Goods
White Plates: Oneida Westerly Basket
Jute Runner & Napkins: Pottery Barn
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Posted in Bird, Books, Decor, Food, Lake Life, Tablescape
Tagged Alphabe-Thursday, food for thought edible review, Mosaic Monday, Pine Cone Bird Treats, Pine Cone Cheese, Seasonal Sundays, Tablescape Thursday, Tabletop Tuesday, Winter World. Bernd Heinrich
I’m on the porch nesting with Chickadees . . .
Enjoying some tea and tucked in a nest of grey~enjoying a bit of warm & welcome sunshine on the porch.
These Chickadee plates, Global Design Connections by Kate Williams, along with teapot, cream & sugar~ took flight from HomeGoods to follow me home~
I was enamored by the grey twig-rimmed edge on the plates and twiggy detailed spout and handle on the teapot :)
To celebrate my two-year blogging anniversary January 15th, I’m sharing some dish & bird love and giving away this set of two salad plates, two dinner plates, teapot, cream & sugar~ to one winner~ to perch at your table.
For a chance to win these Chickadees :) mention in a comment you would like them come home to roost with you! Subscribers/followers automatically get a second entry. For an additional chance to win, leave another comment and tell me your favorite bird you like to see perched at your feeder :)
A winner will be chosen February 1st.
Wishing you a warm place to nest & perch this winter~
This giveaway is now closed.
Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:
A look back on my top viewed tablescapes of 2011. Thanks to everyone who visited and to those who took the time to comment!
When it comes to the table, I find myself inspired by Holidays, the Garden & Flowers, Food, Books, and last but not least~ HomeGoods :)
Click on the links below to see the tablescape post in full.
Garden Wisdom~ Garden and a Vintage Volume-inspired Table
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I’m ushering in The New Year with
nostalgic Post Card Greetings from the past. . .
Rather than holding place cards,
Reindeer are offering Happy New Year Wishes~
Snowflake napkins, napkin rings,
and scattered rock salt
set the stage for a wintry setting~
I brought my Putz houses~ new but with a vintage feel~ to the table, to echo the snowy scenes of the post card greetings.
Plates- Sophia by Ralph Lauren/ HomeGoods
Beaded Placemats & Napkins /Kohl’s
Silver Chargers/ World Market
Reindeer, Napkin Rings & Flatware/Target
May every possible Happiness
be Yours in the New Year!
Thank you for your visit, I’m joining:
A look back on my top viewed tablescapes of 2011. Thanks to everyone who visited and to those who took the time to comment!
When it comes to the table, I find myself inspired by Holidays, the Garden & Flowers, Food, Books, and last but not least~ HomeGoods :)
Click on the links below to see the tablescape post in full.
Garden Wisdom~ Garden and a Vintage Volume-inspired Table
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In a Gardening state-of-mind, I’m on the porch enjoying the Season with a few things that make me happy~
A simple Christmas table~ ideal for our casual living at the Lake.
A promise of a flower in an Amaryllis bulb, a few collected watering cans . . .
. . . and a couple of vintage trowels, showing the visible signs of use & hours of happy work~ one red & one green~ the perfect colors for the season :)
Little watering can ornaments (Smith & Hawken from Target) are filled with bits of Cedar & Leyland Cypress and sprinkled at each place setting~
A favorite decorative birdhouse, made with recycled materials~ a vintage glass door knob, old hardware & barn wood~ has a starring role for the Season with its iron finial church steeple & tin-fashioned cross.
The birds will enjoy a gift of seed decorated houses. Purchased from a garden center, these edible bird treats would make a fun (if messy :) project for kids using a cardboard/milk carton house base, coated with peanut butter & decorated with seeds, raisins, cereal (Cheerios, Chex). . .anything that birds can feast on!
My urn, that has hosted tomatoes & pumpkins at the table, is supporting a grapevine wreath with faux berries and a pine cone laden tree.
A found bird’s nest is back at the table this week, filled with blown quail eggs, a feather, and embellished with a bit of lichen~
A few Paperwhite bulbs are waiting to be planted and their fragrance enjoyed~
Wishing you the simple pleasures of
Nesting & Feasting this Holiday Season!
Gardener’s Christmas Table Details:
Chargers & Flatware/ World Market
Napkins & Quilt/ Kohl’s
Bird Napkin Rings/ Pottery Barn
Dishes/Oneida Westerly Basket
Goblets/ HomeGoods
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On the heels of Thanksgiving, before rushing headlong into the Christmas Season as I usually do~ I’m lingering at the table with a warm palette of neutrals and a touch of soft gold. . .enjoying the last few days of November.
I found this 222 Fifth, Gold Leaves pattern at T. J. Maxx several weeks ago~ there were only a few pieces remaining which suited my purposes and table for four.
I decided then that these dishes would provide a gentle transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas~ with the blending of the acorns & oak leaves on the salad plates together with the pine cone sprays on the dinner plates.
I’ve always loved organic materials at the table . . . flowers, birds’ nests, greenery. . . pieces of the garden and in this case, remnants of fall with the dried leaves, acorns and bloomed grasses. . .
A pheasant feather, gold dipped pine cone, soft grasses along and some pieces of evergreens~ Leyland Cypress & pine~ are tucked between the dinner plate and placemat for a seasonal embellishment along with an oak leaf and acorn. . .
A bit of sparkle and a soft glow provided by the votive holders and beaded placemats, are precursors to the glitz and glamour of the season. . .
My matelassé coverlet is layered with two wool blend throws in a tan and white plaid pattern, also found at TJ Maxx recently, for a little added warmth and soft color~
Mikasa’s French Countryside goblets with their graceful silhouette and flatware from Target with a hammered surface add additional softness to the table.
A lidded tureen~ adorned with an oak leaf pattern on one side and pine cone spray on the opposite~ is filled with greenery, a found bird’s nest filled with blown quail eggs, pheasant feathers, grasses & gold pine cones & oak leaves. . .
After searching for acorns & oak leaves, I found myself foraging along the aisles at Target~ delighted when I found these votive holders~ the hob nail-like surface echoing the detail & texture of a pine cone.
A little seed of an idea germinated with the advent of the Christmas Season. . .
And in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I decided to share a little dish love as a gift as I approach my two year blogiversary in January.
A gesture of thanks for your generosity in taking your time to comment and for those who follow. . .
Which still amazes me and I am extremely thankful for :)
This giveway includes four 3-pc place settings, tureen, and this 50 x 70 inch wool blend plaid Lauren throw~ to be given to one winner.
No Tweets, Facebook Likes, or Following is necessary to enter. Just let me know you’re interested in providing a good home to these dishes & cozy throw in your comment to be included in this giveaway and I’ll throw your name into the tureen :)
Winner will be announced on December 10th.
This giveaway is now closed.
Thanks so much to ALL for your encouragement,
visits, and kind comments!
Wishing you the Warmth and Blessings of the upcoming Christmas Season~
A Gentle Transition Table Details:
Plates & Tureen/Gold Leaves by 222 Fifth/ T.J. Maxx
Goblets/ Mikasa French Countryside/ Tuesday Morning
Placemats/ Kohl’s
Tealight holders & Flatware/ Target
Napkins/ Pier 1
Lauren Wool Blend Plaid Throws/ T. J. Maxx
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I’ve been feathering my nest twig-by-twig lately. . .
. . . tidying, sorting, consigning, donating~
There always seems to be nesting going on around me. . .
I’m long past due taking stock. . .
. . . cleaning out & preparing for Fall with October’s arrival around the corner~
I thought I would follow the birds’ lead and bring my nesting instincts to the table this week ~
And since birds of a feather flock together~ I decided these teapots & pitcher should come home to roost with my set of four fledgling plates~
Gracie China Victorian Bird tea pots along with a pitcher, took flight from TJ Maxx to follow me home~
Filled with an assortment of white blooms serving as vases~ for a flower-filled habitat for my table.
I used my fledgling dishes on a table here, back in January.
On a lark, browsing tablescapes on Pinterest, I discovered that a photo from that post migrated to a blog on tumblr and was then reblogged by tumblr bloggers over & over :(
I noted on the photo on Pinterest that I was the original source and emailed tumblr about copyright violation sending a link to my post. I received a reply within 30 minutes that the media file had been removed.
I’ll be watermarking my photos now and pinning with more interest & an eagle eye in the future :)
Have you made an interesting or disturbing discovery on Pinterest?
Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Birds in Flight~ sprinkled with sanding sugar~
Perched on a soft landing of lemon curd, berries & whipped cream~
Nesting Table Twig-by-Twig Details:
Nesting Pillow/ Pottery Barn
Bird Plates-Gracie China, Napkins & Napkin Rings/HomeGoods
Gracie China Victorian Bird Tea Pots & Pitcher/ TJ Maxx
Dishes/ Oneida Westerly Basket
Chargers/ Pier 1
Tablecloth- Quilt
Flatware/ Horchow
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Posted in Bird, Decor, Flowers, Food, Tablescape
Tagged Foodie Friday, Gracie China Victorian Bird, Home Sweet Home, HomeGoods, On the Menu Monday, Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Birds, pinterest, Table Top Tuesday, Tablescape Thursday, TJ Maxx
While the calendar says September, we’re still having summer weather~ thankfully with some lower humidity. A teaser of fall-like temperatures are on the horizon for the weekend.
I set a transitional table reflecting the bit of summer we’re still in the midst of~ enjoying the last of the summer annuals. Petunias~ still blooming after a long, hot summer and some fruits in season~ Plums and local Muscadine Grapes from the Farmers Market.
I picked up these dishes a month ago at T J Maxx for a song~ each plate costing less than my former daily Grande Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte.
It seems I’ve traded my Starbucks habit for a Dish one :-)
Originally thinking I would use them in the spring, I decided I could enjoy them now~ accessorizing with amethyst goblets & napkins and using an assortment of deep rich purple & plum-colored fruits for a centerpiece. . . my favorite kind of centerpiece~ one you can eat later :-)
Adding a few petunias scattered among the plums, red and champagne grapes and local black muscadines~ enjoying the flowers while they are still busily blooming.
My two-tier server I used before here, is lined with salad savoy leaves for color and a foundation for the fruit~
The lacy pattern on the stand and woven scalloped chargers led me to a loop edged ribbon to tie on the napkins in lieu of napkin rings~
A Nordic Ware Petits Fours Pan for mini flowers~ four different garden varieties~ dusted with powdered sugar~
I used a boxed mix~ dividing the batter between petit fours & some cupcakes, since each petit four only requires a tablespoon of batter~ that’s a lot of flowers :-)
Plates~ Royal Stafford/ T J Maxx
Tiered Bird Stand/ HomeGoods
Napkins & Chargers / World Market
Goblets/ Target.com
Flatware~ Portmeirion Botanic Garden/HomeGoods
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Posted in Decor, Flowers, Food, Tablescape
Tagged Foodie Friday, Nordic Ware Petits Fours Pan, On the Menu Monday, plums and petunias tablescape, Portmeirion Botanic Garden flatware, Royal Stafford plates, Seasonal Sundays, Sweets for a Saturday, T J Maxx plates, Table Top Tuesday, Tablescape Thursday
by Sarah Addison Allen
An Edible Book Review inspired by Jain at Food for Thought, a delicious blog for readers with an appetite for the written word.
“The New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Chased the Moon welcomes you to her newest locale: Walls of Water, North Carolina, where the secrets are thicker than the fog from the town’s famous waterfalls, and the stuff of superstition is just as real as you want it to be.”
I’m long overdue in sharing this book that I read back in April~
I always look forward to Sarah Addison Allen’s books~ I had pre-ordered it, anxious for its arrival. It was waiting for me like a nice, juicy peach ready for me to sink my teeth into, when I returned from vacation. I took these photos and cooked this book back when the azaleas were blooming, and although I had shelved this review, I didn’t shelve this book until after I read it cover-to-cover in two days. . . one day if I hadn’t had to unpack & bathe :-)
My intention was to take a little road trip to tie in to this review, and visit Transylvania County in Western North Carolina ~ the area that the town of Walls of Water is based on, and home to over 250 waterfalls. It became apparent that was not going to happen and though it’s still on my list to visit, it looks more like it will be the fall when the weather is not in the triple digits.
The long-buried secrets and mysteries of The Peach Keeper continued to haunt me to return to it & Walls of Water ever since~ most recently by an article in Our State Magazine.
Full of North Carolina native, Sarah Addison Allen’s trademarks~ magic, small town charm, and FOOD~ The Peach Keeper is easy to devour in one sitting~ and is a great book to tuck in your beach bag or keep by your night stand.
In keeping with this book, I set a simple table where peaches are the stars. Peach blossom-inspired napkin rings from Pier 1, napkins from Stein Mart, Napoleon Bee flatware for the buzzing of the bees & a tablecloth from Kohl’s~
“A cool breeze floated eerily by, smelling of peaches.”
“If anyone had been paying attention to the signs, they would have realized that air turns white when things are about to change, that paper cuts mean there’s more to what’s written on the page than meets the eye, and that birds are always out to protect you from things you don’t see.”
“There was a slight hint of peaches in the air, but it didn’t scare her.”
Tucker Devlin:
“What I know, what I’m best at, is peaches. Peach juice swims in my veins. When I bleed, it’s sweet. Honeybees fly right to me.”
“He looked like the world was a ripe peach and he was ready to bite it.”
There was plenty to tempt my palate between these pages~ Oatmeal Cookies with Coffee Icing, Double Chocolate Espresso Brownies, Lemon-Chicken Salad, Lemon and Broccoli Mini-Quiches, Angel Food Cake, Honeymoon Pie. . .but it just seemed criminal not to use peaches in this edible review~
“Cups of lemon crème layered with hazelnut shortbread crumbles, pansies, lavender, and lemon verbena.”
I layered peaches, store-bought hazelnut shortbread cookies, lemon curd & whipped cream~ and garnished with edible violas for an individual, easy trifle~
“Lunch was then served, beautiful food garnished with edible roses and tasting of lavender and mint and lust. People closed their eyes with each bite, and the air turned sweet and cool. The quartet played ravishing melodies that were strange and exotic. There was a curious sense of longing in the air, and everyone felt it. People began to think of old loves and missed opportunities. Unlike most of these functions, no one wanted to leave. Lunch lingered for hours.”
“So it was with Claire Waverley, a beautiful, mysterious caterer who it was rumored could make your rivals jealous, your love life better, your senses stronger, all with the food she created. Her specialty was edible flowers, and once it got out that she had something no one else had, everyone wanted her.”
I highly recommend sipping on a Peach Bellini on a Saturday or Sunday morning as you read this book :-)
Paxton:
“ ‘Can you really make people feel differently with the food you cook, with the drinks you prepare?’ ”
A savory recipe for your peaches~ A Stacked Peach & Mozzarella Salad~
Served with baby spinach and a cilantro-lime vinaigrette~ Delicious & definitely a Keeper recipe :-)
“Just as they turned to walk back up the steps, the scent of peaches permeated the air for a moment, thick and cloying, before it faded into the night, crossing the moon in a wisp of smoke, then disappearing.”
“Resonant with insight into the deep and lasting power of friendship, love, and tradition, The Peach Keeper is a portrait of the unshakable bonds that—in good times and bad, from one generation to the next—endure forever.”
“North Carolina novelist Sarah Addison Allen brings the full flavor of her southern upbringing to bear on her fiction — a captivating blend of fairy tale magic, heartwarming romance, and small-town sensibility.”
Thank you for your visit, I’m happy to be joining :
Posted in Books, Flowers, Food
Tagged Alphabe-Thursday, an edible book review, Bellini, cooking my book, food for thought edible review, Foodie Friday, Grilled Peach and Mozzarella Salad, Land of Waterfalls, On the Menu Monday, Peach Trifle, Sarah Addison Allen, Southern Living, Sweet Indulgences, Sweets for a Saturday, Tablescape Thursday, The Peach Keeper, Transylvania County NC
