Klik Here

This Saturday is the Kentucky Derby.....if I were going, which I'm not, I would be in my element, in the company of such fine jockeys, trainers and above all beautiful and magnificent horses which will be competing to win the Run for the Roses, in Louisville, Kentucky. I would really love for Bodemeister to win, with Mike Smith as the jockey...of Breeder's Cup fame aboard the famous filly, Zenyatta.... There is, in my opinion, a dark horse (no pun intended),  who everyone is discounting, Went the Day Well...a beauty, ridden by John Velazquez...another of my picks. However, it is a horse race, and anyone can win!! The above artwork is by Tom Myott, one of my favourite artists. It is entitled Saratoga Hats.. be sure to visit his website to see his other paintings and get into the spirit of the Derby!! Something you didn't know about me.....did you? N.xo 

Growing up in an Italian household, nothing was ever wasted....my Mom loved to knit and crochet, when she finally sat down after a long day... in her later years, she used all of her scrap yarn, but mostly crochet cotton, to make pot holders....utilitarian necessities for every woman who cooked! On special occasions and holidays, Mom would gift us with her beautiful crocheted treasures....mine were pastel coloured because of my love of flowers, and Micki, my sister would receive brightly coloured ones to suite her decor! These are the lovely colours she used for me, and when pulled out of my dining bureau and grouped together they made a perfect little Spring vignette... Mom had great tension in her work, and it was executed with perfect stitches.... The small chocolate coated almond candies were Easter staples at our home, and Mom would fill all her candy dishes with them..... Here you can see here lovely handwork...the soft sherbert colours were perfectly suited to my love of transfe

Two years ago for an anniversary celebration, my husband and I flew to Paris to celebrate. It was our second trip to this beautiful place and we decided to spend four days in Paris and then travel to Bordeaux for some wine tasting. There are so many beautiful images of The City of Lights, mine just do not do it justice, as most of them were taken from the tour buses that navigate the city. The landmark department store, Au Printemps. ...and not to be missed, some Christian Laboutin shoes.... This beautiful, rather baroque looking interior, was in a restaurant not far from our hotel on the Champs Elysee. Vintage French and velvet overkill at it's best! Still, I found it charming. ...and of course hidden little gems to be discoverd, like this tiny flower shop. What made me stop immediately and go inside was that they sold my favourite plant... Maidenhair ferns... here... in Paris, just like the ones in my garden!! The interior was so special and more charming than the outside...

Today we celebrated the much anticipated arrival of Oliver Alexander, the new baby grandson of close friends, Alex and Susan. The first child of their eldest daughter Sarah and husband Bryce. It was a joyous occasion and also the first boy to arrive into their family! For the flowers I decided on a nest theme as centerpieces for the tables. I elevated the nests on glass pedestal plates. Because the parents chose to be surprised and not know whether the baby was a boy or girl prior to the delivery, I decided on anemones in jewel tones for the flowers. Soft green hydrangeas as well as moss and sticks worked well with the tiny wax flower and blue anemones, keeping the look soft and natural. As a little gesture of thanks, small bird cookies, dipped in white chocolate and embellished with pearl dragees, finished off the centerpieces.We used shredded kraft to nestle the treats in their cello bag, finished off with a soft green satin ribbon. Confections by M.A.M Gourmet, my sister Micki.