Our Summer Job: Planting Trees

Hello, hello,
I hope you all had a lovely weekend. We had a very nice time at dinner on Saturday night, thank you all for your well wishes. We slept in on Sunday morning and later I spent some time researching trees. Yes, trees (and shrubs). You see, we moved into a house that came with a spectacularly manicured lawn. Perfectly mowed, perfectly mulched, not a blemish in site. I have to say, it drives me absolutely nuts, for a few reasons; one being that I knew we wouldn’t be able to maintain perfection for that long (and of course, we haven’t) and two being that I tend to really like the slightly overgrown, lived in & loved look. Do you know what I mean? Perfectly imperfect, is how I like to think of it. I long for secret gardens and hiding places, little reading nooks, trees to hang swings, bird feeders, a hammock and lanterns from. So, whilst we live in the forest, surrounded by trees, I spent some time looking for the perfect trees for our perfectly green (now green-ish) lawn. Here’s what I found:



President Grevy Lilacs-Royal Blue Clusters, Mcintosh Standard Apple, Nikko Blue Hydrangea, Cherokee Chief Red Flowering Dogwood, Weeping Willow, Bradford Pear, Pink Delight Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)

** all photos from Miller Nurseries

Dinner for 4

We’re having dinner guests over tonight. On the menu is teriyaki salmon (my husband grills a fantastically mean teriyaki salmon, which, let’s be truthful here, is one of the reasons why he is my husband;)), pearled basil couscous and green beans. For dessert, we’ll be having homemade blueberry apple crisp, served up warm with a scoop of vanilla gelato. I could hardly contain my excitement at the grocery store when I bought it!! We’ll also be having Trader Joe’s dark-chocolate covered blueberries. If you have a Trader Joe’s near you, I highly recommend trying these blueberries. They are so delicious:).

I got some fresh flowers for the occasion and pulled out my spring apron (which I got on sale last year at Williams Sonoma outlet), while my little monkey of a dog looked on with a quizzical stare. What a glorious Saturday;).


xoxo

Happy Friday!

I know that we’re only in mid-February, but outside, it’s warm (for February in New England;)) and the sun is shining and inside, my paper white narcissus is in full bloom. It’s really beginning to feel like spring is right around the corner and I am loving every minute of it.

I hope that you all have an enjoyable weekend!

xoxo

Gravlax With Mustard Dill Sauce

This weekend found me with a terrible cold. I spent a lot of time lying idle on the couch (my ‘sicky couch’, as we’ve so appropriately deemed it) watching the Olympics. It was the perfect time for curling up with tomato soup and…… gravlax. Well, I hadn’t really planned on serving up tomato soup with gravlax, but salmon was on sale at our local grocery store and we’ve been dying to try this recipe. So, tomato soup with a side of gravlax it was.

I have to say that I was hesitant to try this recipe, as I have an irrational (or maybe rational) fear of food poisoning. But thankfully I conquered this fear, as the gravlax was absolutely delicious, especially if you’re salmon lovers like we are. It’s also quite easy to make. Served up on toasted honey grain bread, with some butter, mustard sauce and fresh dill, it goes perfectly with a side of tomato soup:).



GRAVLAX:
2 pounds salmon fillet, without skin (frozen overnight)
2 Tbs salt
2 Tbs sugar
1 tsp coarse ground black pepper
1 bunch fresh dill

Thaw salmon, pat dry. Combine the salt, sugar and pepper and pack firmly onto both sides of the salmon fillet. Sprinkle half the chopped dill onto a sheet of plastic wrap then place the salmon on top of it. Put the remaining dill atop the salmon.
Cover with clear plastic sheet, press by putting another flat bottom container on top with a heavy weight (5-10 pounds) and refrigerate at least 48 hours before eating. Drain excess water twice daily and turn over to evenly marinade.
Slice thin and enjoy with mustard sauce

MUSTARD SAUCE:
1.5 Tbs mild dijon mustard
1.5 Tbs vinegar
1.5 Tbs sugar
0.5 tsp pepper

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Add finely chopped fresh dill before serving.

L-O-V-E (pink~wedding~a wise skin horse)

No matter how hard I try to avoid it, the month of February fills my brain with thoughts of two of my favorite topics: pink and love. In honor of St. Valentine, I thought I’d share a few photos from our wedding (we’ll be married two years this coming June), as it was an occasion that was also filled with both pink and love.

May this Valentine’s Day find you all feeling loved (in the real sense), whether it be from a significant other, a secret admirer, a loyal four-legged monster;), a friend who has seen you through your best and worst times or a family member who has loved you inside & out during those best and worst times. Happy Valentine’s day, dear friends.


EXCERPT FROM THE VELVETEEN RABBIT
~ By Margery Williams ~

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but Really loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get all loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

xoxo,

Blair

The history of a bike basket, abridged

Matt and I have started a New England island summer-getaway tradition. After we married in 2008 we escaped to Nantucket for a week of relaxation. In 2009, we spent time on Martha’s Vineyard and this year we’re going to Block Island for the first time (dog-friendly island, so Miss Luna will be joining us). Each year we take our bikes with us on the ferry and spend the week exploring the chosen island (there’s always a photo or two of Matt’s departing back, as he’s usually biking along in front of me while I stop to take photos of every turtle and snail that I can find:)).

I’ve wanted an official, grown-up bike basket for as long as I remember. I made this my mission while on Martha’s Vineyard last summer. It took us a full day to find the right one, but I knew as soon as I saw it that we were meant to be together for a very long time. It’s proven quite handy, holding towels, wallets, cell phones; I’ll even throw the occasional flower in there if I'm feeling crazy;).

I couldn’t stand the thought of my lovely basket sitting in the basement this winter, so I’ve decided to put it to use in the house as a book basket. I must say that I quite like it and come summer I may have to find a new bike basket all over again.

xoxo,

Blair

48 Hours of Oslo

Our visit to Oslo was such a pleasure, though it wasn’t long enough. The city is so rich with history; it was hard to take it all in during such a short period of time. While Matt was conferencing in the northern mountains of Norway, I wandered the streets of Oslo, visiting museums (National Gallery and the Munch Museum), Vigeland Sculpture Park, residential areas, Karl Johans Gate (which was full of twinkle lights….. my favorite ;)). It’s absolutely a brilliant city and I hope to make it back there. When I got home, I realized that I hadn’t taken nearly as many photos as I’d hoped, but here are some impressions from the trip. Enjoy!

Boats, resting for the winter, Aker Brygge




Mom & baby seals, Aker Brygge


A lovely silver display at a floral shop


Rose gardens, covered in winter, Vigeland Statue Park




More from Vigeland....








This little guy was checking out the river below (he was quite the ham, posing for photos)



How I love corner floral shops! This one did not disappoint:)


Colorful homes....



Including a pink one **heart**


Twinkle Lights at Karl Johans Gate








Royal Palace