I've been preparing my house for my family who arrive this week from all corners. I spent an entire morning cleaning all of the baseboards and millwork in the whole house with a soapy mixture: natural glycerin soap, hot water and essential oil of lavender. It was very soothing work, I recommend.
I did some shopping at my favourite source for "smalls": Ellie's wonderful Paris-based shop Have
Some Decorum HOME.
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| Beautiful brass candle trimmer. |
Her shop is exquisite because Ellie has the best taste in the world... your smalls will arrive perfectly packaged direct from Paris.
We've been driving all over to visit friends at their cottages, there were campfires:
We had some rain at the cottage which of course carves out time to play Trivial Pursuit 1980's but also creates a magical hour or two afterwards, I love to be out on the dock after the rain:
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| After The Rain |
Why is it that we experience things like the strange beauty of the ever-changing sky most intensely at places like cottages?
How do you prepare for family visits?
I'm focussed on flowers, fresh towels and linens, and of course food.
I did manage to finish my sports-gear-organizing project and I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner. I bought some of those big totes from Lands End and had them monogrammed accordingly:
I've got them stored in the open cupboard under the stairs for easy access: grab and go Sporty People!
Hoping to continue Summer's trend of eating outdoors? Me too.
I'm planning to whip up Ina Garten's famous chicken for my family...
... but as far as baking I think I'll be headed to
Eric the Baker, local source of fabulous French pastries, don't take my word for it,
Mimi says so too.
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| Might have to slip a little something from Eric The Baker in here. Hehehe. |
The most important visitor this week is my little nephew and he'll have all eyes on him the entire time ... I retrieved some of the Rascal's toys out of storage for this very special occasion:
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| Tomtem looking a little worse for the wear. |
This version of Mother Goose by Rosemary Wells was hands-down my favourite book for all three of my Rascals. This is my fourth copy of it, the first three fell apart from constant use, I've read it thousands of times, who else had this edition?
I hope to read it again this week, more than once!
Enjoy your Monday and your week.
xoxDani
