Category: Outdoor Living

Make It Pop Like Pink Champagne!

I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way. ~ Georgia O’Keeffe

I love the movie, An Affair To Remember, with Cary Grant & Deborah Kerr. If you are as obsessed as I am with rom-coms, you will surely remember them drinking pink champagne! I think that is one of my favorite movies of all time. A sweet movie that I have watched at least 25 times!! Yes, you could say I am a romantic! Part of my passion for romance, of course, includes setting the stage for a Romantic home, which to me also resembles Hygge. Setting the stage for how you want to feel when you drive into your driveway, or open the door of your home. For yourself, and your guests.

I always try to mix my curb appeal theme up a bit from time to time. I’ve had periwinkle, when I was in the French Countryside theme. That color scheme lasted a long time. Everything with blue & yellow, or periwinkle & gold, made my heart skip a beat, and honestly that still happens! But, I do like to change things up too.

The Playhouse before

Color is a power which directly influences the soul. ~ Wassily Kandinsky

Then I tried hints of lime, then glimpses of orange. Now, pink is having its turn. I think my daughters love of millennial pink started to influence me. She has a gorgeous pink velvet sofa, and some really great outfits too.

It started last year with the playhouse door, my café set, and some pink pillows on my back patio. I just loved how pink was such a pop with my signature navy! It started showing up in all kinds of outdoor décor. I was hooked!

The Playhouse after

Now I have decided to embrace it even more! I needed a spring lift. We still didn’t have anything blooming, but the weather forecast looked good, and pansies were finally available. I even bought a faux forsythia wreath for my front door. Not a huge fan of faux, but then the need for some spring color transformed my prejudice. After all, I live in the Berkshires! Out came the pink pillows. I was all in!

No matter how you feel get up, dress up, show up and never give up.

That night it snowed a bit, and it looked a little silly, and bit over the top.

Then as spring really did start to burst forth, the pink began to fit right in!

I am a believer that color affects people’s moods. ~ Lilly Pulitzer

Here is a man who wears pink very well, and is quite happy about it!

Even my little girl Reese loves pink!

Now that spring is here in theory only, with very chilly, rainy days, and all kinds of people whining, the pink is very uplifting and hopeful! Everything is a glorious lush green, and flowering bulbs and trees are everywhere! I am perfectly happy ~ all because of the power of pink!

I believe in pink ~ Audrey Hepburn

I hope you are enjoying your spring, and mixing up your outdoor and indoor décor a bit. It really lifts my spirits, and hopefully my version of curb appeal lifts yours. xo

Pink isn’t just a color its’ an attitude. ~ Mily Cyrus.

Summertime, and the livin’ is easy!

Our version of Summer Living is to incorporate Hygge in the garden ~ twinkle lights, candles, scents of amazing flowers, a fire in the chiminea, and amazing atmosphere!

Hygee may be the term for secrets for happy living in Scandinavian countries, but here in the states we practice some of the same principles, and because the Berkshire Summers are so short, we are also determined to incorporate Hygee into our summers too. Outdoor living is the key to living a hyggee life in the summer. We consider it a perfect day to be OUTSIDE all day.

Where flowers bloom so does hope. ~ Lady Bird Johnson

Notice the carin sculpture that Jeff made ~ at dinner that night he realized, it is a “Max Angel” .

This sculpture below is another Jeff creation, it was just to showcase the beautiful stone ~ during dinner that night my Dad realized, it was a “Margot sculpture!”

~ early summer above ~ late summer below ~

“The hum of bees is the voice of the garden. ~ Elizabeth Lawrence

Our wild and wonderful herb garden is a buzz about bees! Sometimes hummingbirds too!

Apparently window boxes date back to ancient Rome. This year I went with the European geranium in red. Traditional and perfect for our gray shingled, cottage style, summer house. I could do a whole blog about window boxes!

Of course eating alfresco is a daily event. Even when it sprinkles we move the umbrella over the table!

Our whole yard is a garden, but we especially love to eat in our little vegetable garden!

“Taste is an important element of hyggee because it often involves eating something. And that something can not be too fresh, alternative or challenging in any way.” ~ “And if you want to be more hyggelig, you add more wine.”

~ Meik Wiking

This is a new summer favorite, Soba Noodle Salad – pop over to my facebook page for this simple recipe.

Another Asian inspired Cabbage Salad from The Earth Diet.

Does anything beat lettuce just picked from the garden?

The other night we ate at my sister’s house, and her friend Sally made a Chow Chow salad ~ I was in love! I made it the very next night! #simple#summer#delicious#nutritious#gardenfood

Here is the chow-chow recipe:

4 cups any vegetables ( I like to add scallions and olives too)

1 Tab. Olive oil

2 Tab. White vinegar

Juice + zest of 1 lime

1/2 – 1 tsp. Salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp. Chile powder

1/4 tsp. Cumin

Cilantro

Oregano (if you like )

Mix, cover, refrigerate, marinate a few hrs…. enjoy !! ( I couldn’t wait a couple of hours so we ate it right away!)

Another look and the feeling of hygge on a rainy day.

The smell…

Our summer living area is our patio! We truly live out there! If we had a bed out there, that is where we would sleep! Jeff starts every morning out there with his coffee and his paper. He is an early riser, and after he feeds the birds he sets up his own little version of relaxation before work. Did you know that by watching the birds you are actually meditating – it has the same effect on your brain! Well, summer bird feeding is Jeff’s hobby! When he has the day off, he still feels like he has to get up and get the bird feeders out! Our yard is bustling with all kinds of birds, squirrels, chipmunks and bees. Meditation in motion!!

“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.” ~ Maya Angelou

Our life is quite simple these days. On our weekends we usually start the day with a hike to our favorite spot, Kennedy Park. We love to see the dogs run free and we love to be in the woods! We feel like it is not only a great physical activity, but a spiritual one as well.

“Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit.” ~ Edward Abbey (And puppies spirits too!)

As soon as I enter the woods my heart sings! I feel so peaceful and happy. I truly enjoy every moment ~ being in the moment is critical for a happy life, but especially in the summer months.

“The morning has dawned clear and cold, with a crispness that hinted at the end of summer.” ~ George R.R. Martin ~ oh dear, today this was a sign… be where you are, NOW!

Now back to the patio – and patio living. After our hike in the woods, perhaps, but not always, a chore or two, we have a big decisions to make about our day! Lately, I have a new theme about summer living at Crabtree Cottage, ” Do you feel like vacationing at our summer home today?” Invariably the answer is yes! Out comes the latest reading materials, bathing suits , and the cover comes off the pool! We hangout, and take in all of the pleasures of the of this hyggelig atmosphere we have worked so hard to create.

One day after a hike we stopped at an estate sale ~ I walked up and immediately saw this blue and white group of chinese garden stools and two tables. I knew immediately that I had to have them. We came home and had no clue where they were going, but within minutes they were placed – where else but the patio?

“We didn’t realize we were making memories we just knew we were having fun.”

Since our summer home is in the Berkshires, we have had an exceptional time at the various cultural venues. Tanglewood, Jacobs Pillow, museums, jazz at gilded age mansions & gardens. Next on our list before summer’s end is The Clark Museum for the Picasso exhibit, and outdoor theatre . Notice all of this incorporates the outdoors! Cheers to summer with a grateful heart.

Succulents are one of my newest passions ~ a true trend everywhere these days. Mine is inspired by my visits to see Julia in California. I take my walks, and take in all of those succulent gardens, and I imagine…

Thank you for coming by my blog today.

#berkshirebotanicalgarden #crabtreecottagegarden #gardenrooms #kennedypark #summerfoodfortanglewood hyggeintheberkshires

Reflections of Summer at the Cottage

“One must maintain a little bit of summer, even in the middle of winter.” – Henry David Thoreau

Our window boxes are my favorite garden feature of summer! Here is one at the beginning of summer and then at the end!

Scenes from around the Crabtree Cottage Garden

A new gardening project this summer! This garden is still evolving and we are hopeful next summer it will be full and lush!

Which led me to more Garden Centers! We even went to Project Native to dig up full grown plants. We came home with a van full of full grown plants, about 20 or so…. I could not have done this without my assistant on this very hot hot day!

Because these were full grown plants from a field we had to cut them back before we planted most of them ~ so we just can’t wait until next year when they pop up!

Of course, food is another huge theme here at Crabtree Cottage!

Stuffed French Toast ~ a guest favorite!

Caprese omlettes with our garden tomatoes and basil!

We had some guests dieting, and they wanted to maintain their healthy regime on vacation ~ A diet plate! Berkshire Mountain Bakery Sourdough Bread, poached eggs, crisp asparagus topped with shaved parmesan, with a spinach salad with tomatoes and avocado on the side.

Beautiful and simple fruit cup.

We love to eat fresh garden food all summer too! Zucchini from our garden made into zoodle pasta! Along with corn from the farmers market! Our favorite summer meal!

Simplicity on a hot day included some Cucumber – Avocado Sandwiches – of course this is Berkshire Mountain Bakery Bread!

The garden harvest provided us with great dinners! We supplemented our little garden with Farmers Markets around the Berkshires.

When we just can’t cook another meal, and we are too tired to go out, we have a back up plan we put into action… POPCORN! Pop over to my facebook page for this Crabtree Cottage Popcorn recipe.

Another passion here is setting the breakfast table. In the summer it is so delightful when we have an abundance of fresh flowers!

But, easing into fall floral arranging is fun too!

Autumn is the second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~ Albert Camus

This weekend we will be closing the pool. Jeff’s little pool assistant can now relax, and not worry about leaves falling in the pool.

Outdoor living is getting a new look as we transition into cooler weather!

Outdoor living is not completely over yet!

We also have beautiful memories of our end of summer vacation. Here we are visiting our daughter Julia in California! This photo was taken at the Madison Gallery where she works. Seeing her at the beginning of summer and then at the end was the highlight of our summer!

Here she is with the Madison Gallery owner, and the team ~ the glam squad! We are just filled with joy that she is doing so well, and has such amazing people to work with and learn from.

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Thank you for coming by my blog today. Stay tuned, we have some big changes here at Crabtree Cottage which we will announce soon!

#crabtreecottagegarden #curbappeal #gardenrooms

Cheers to Summer

“To see the Summer Sky
Is Poetry, though never in a Book it lie –
True Poems flee.”
Emily Dickinson

It sure is hard to say good bye to summer. Business wise, it was one of our best. We truly enjoy our guests, and even though it is our busiest time of the year, we do manage to pack in lots of Berkshire Activities. Our favorite hobby is patio life. A special way to end the day! Candles lit, table set, wine poured, perhaps an evening chiminea to set the tone, Ahhh…. connecting with my favororite people!

I think in order to be an innkeeping couple you have to share a love of of all things home. Tending to our guests, home and garden gives us immense feelings of joy.

One of my morning rituals is to go out and count my morning glories. Hot tea in hand, I walk about the garden and explore what the morning garden offers. Morning glories like cool nights, and the September gardens benefit the most!

The Morning Glories are climbing the roof!

The Morning glory which blooms for an hour differs not at heart from the giant pine, which lives for a thousand years. ~ Allen W. Watts

“Summer should get a speeding ticket.”

Unknown

Herbs and vegetables straight from the garden. Flavorful omlettes and frittata’s ~ what a great way to start the day!

I love prepping for breakfast. Jeff and I have the routine pretty much perfected after 18 years!!

Suddenly, we realize that the summer clock is ticking! It’s time for someone else to tend to the garden, and do the dishes!

“Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and friends can exist one day without any one of us, and if our egos permit us to confess, they could exist eternally in our absence. Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.”

~Maya Angelou

The one thing the Berkshires are missing is the beach!

I don’t mind being a tourist at all, and a gawker. I just walk around.

~ Ann Robinson

I love to check out other peoples gardens and houses!

“How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” winnie the pooh

Thank you for comming by my blog today. Come back soon!

#cottageliving #crabtreecottagegarden #enchantedcottage #morningglories #outdoorliving #theberkshires #windowboxes janismonachinadesigns

Summer Living

“Summer was our best season: it was sleeping on the back screened porch in cots, or trying to sleep in the treehouse; summer was everything good to eat: it was a thousand colors in a parched landscape; but most of all, summer was Dill.” Scout in To Kill A Monkingbird (Did you know that Dill was based on Harper Lee’s real summer neighbor Truman Capote?)

Ahhh, summer living! Is there anything more relaxing than a good book and a lazy day? When you work from your home, and all things home are your work, you have to make the time to relax. Jeff is actually better at this than I am, believe it or not. He gets up early and tends to his business. Sometimes quotes and paperwork are complete before he leaves the house at 7:00 a.m. When he returns, and transisitions into relaxation, in the pool he goes ~ splash! Then, just about for the rest of the night, between splashes, he reads until he falls asleep. He just completed a 29 book mystery series that takes place on Martha’s Vineyard. Sadly, the author has died and there are no more left in the series!

A good book has no ending. ~ R.D. Cumming

With the anticipated release of Harper Lee’s, Go Set A Watchman, I pre- ordered two copies from The Bookstore, in Lenox. One for us, and one for our daughter. I had always loved To Kill A Mockingbird – who didn’t. Scout was every girls herione! Need I say, Atticus Finch, in the book and in the movie, was every girls dream! As I eagerly awaited the release, I emersed myself in all the interviews and stories about Harper Lee. I re-watched the movie, To Kill A Mockingbird, and then re-read the book. Then I learned all about actors ~ total emersion! Now the time was mine to read, Go Set A Watchman. Jeff finished it quickly and quietly. Now that I have finished the book, I am searching for another theme to pursue. I feel a little lost. My thoughts are filled with emotion, and letting go of Scout and Atticus isn’t easy. Processing this new book may take awhile. Understanding the current state of our country, and the complexities around this everlasting topic seem disheartening, and totally disappointing. Yet, even though I feel I have gained some understanding, and I am a bit more enlightend, I am no more comfortable. So, it is time to pursue my new theme!

I think it is time to dig in the dirt!

Jeff solved a flooding issue last summer, but left it incomplete. This project is next on our list. Our back yard is always a work in progress. My biggest challage, dry shade. I want this little area to be used more. I want it to have that feeling of serinity and peaceful beauty. Nothing flamboyant needed here ~ just a little more interesting. The one place in our yard that is shady and cool on a hot day, needs something to draw us up there. Hummm……. what shall we do here?

Of course, I want it lush and full like this! This area is also dry shade, and after a few years, it has filled in nicely. I have a dry shade plan! I hope my assistant is up for this!

Play in the dirt because life is to short to always have clean fingernails.

Living in the Berkshires with such a myriad of cultural activities, and with abundandance of beauty everywhere, we have places to go and people to see!

Tanglewood picnics have been plentiful. We had four concerts in a row begining with Cheryl Crow and ending with James Taylor. We love packing a picnic. Although, when we zip over to Tanglewood on Sunday afternoons, we just bring our chairs and a bottle of wine. We go to the consession area to get a sandwich, and we just totally relax and people watch. This new book has beautiful photo’s of many different types of picnics from very simple to very fancy!

You bring your own weather to a picnic.

Then we go on Garden Tours and Open Days. Last weekend we went to the Berkshire Botanical Garden. I came home totally inspired and realized I need a few more plants! Since the garden tour and the Botanical Garden visit I have been hitting the garden center’s again! Jeff does not understand. “Where are you going to put those?”

Berkshire Botanical Garden.

This weekend we are going to Jacob’s Pillow. We love to start with the Inside Out performance on Saturday nights.

Another tradition in our Berkshire summer is going to The Red Lion Inn. You haven’t experienced summer here unless you go sit on that big porch, order a refreshing drink, and people watch. After an afternoon at the Playhouse, a visit to The Rockwell Museum, Naumkeag, or Chesterwood, this is highly recommended. Last weekend after we went to the Botanical Garden thats where we ended up. The Red Lion Inn feels like home to us. The Courtyard, or The Lion’s Den, end this visit perfectly. Of course, a quick visit into The Red Lion Inn Gift Shop and County Curtains make the visit complete! Since the calendar has flipped to August the summer bucket list is quite full. So many more activities are on the list!

Food is my best friend!

The main subject of my day always involves food. What to serve for breakfast. I am always looking for a new twist for my repeat guests especially. Anything new, easy, fresh and healthy for dinner? Here are some of our new favorites:

Peach, raspberry & blueberry clafoutis

Olive oil pancakes with dark chocolate ~ pop over to my facebook page for the recipe!

Caprese omlet

With an abundance of Eggplants from the garden we have been getting creative! Homemade Baba Ghanoush

These two adorable grandparents came to their grand dogs birthday party ~ bearing gifts!

Max and his birthday football! He was so happy!! We had a summer party to celebate with everything from the garden and farmer’s market! Max is 13 years old!

Celebrate the good times every chance you get!

A few snapshots of The Crabtree Cottage Garden:

Color schemes in the garden….. well not always!

The red flower in the background is Crocosmia ‘lucifer’ ~ it makes spectacular cut flowers too.

Every morning I go out to see how many morning glories there are for the day!

Not one morning glory yet ~ maybe late August this will be full of them!

A beautiful butterfly captured in the Crabtree Cottage Garden!

I hope you are having a wonderful summer. We are savoring every moment of this glorious season and we hope you are too! Thank you for coming by my blog today ~ come back soon.

#berkshireactivites #curbappeal #gardendecor #windowboxes food garden home and garden janismonachinadesigns

Crabtree Snapshots

“Green was the silence, wet was the light,
the month of June trembled like a butterfly.”
― Pablo Neruda, 100 Love Sonnets

Max enjoying a cigar on a beautiul summer night!

Simplicity at its best!

Lemon Olive Oil Cake ~ pop over to my facebook for the recipe.

Today for breakfast I offered a special cheese omlet topper ~ fresh basil, farmers market tomatoes sauted in olive oil, avacado, olives, and a twist of Himalayan salt. A big hit!

The Crabtree Dishwashing Team ~ Jeff! I really love this man!

“Do small things with great love.” Mother Theresa

“Basil ~ Basil ~ Basil. You can never have too much Basil!” Janis Monachina, lol

Years ago we went to Garden in the Woods. I bought these blue pholx (that look purple) and they are just starting to bloom! They last about a month ~ I adore them! I will post again in full bloom!

A passion flower! It closes up on cold rainy days

A smoothie bowl ~ we haven’t served these to guests, but perhaps one day someone will request a bowl of health! This was created by Julia. She loves to eat and cook healthy. Always delicious and nutritious! That’s our Jules!

One night she made us this wonder! A beet and bean falafel with a cilantro/basil sauce. An invention any true Greek restaurant would love to have on their menu! We had her make it the next night too! A new summer favorite!

i have lots of garden areas on my tiny 1/2 acre lot…… my herb garden may not be the show stopper, but it is my very favorite! Subtle and very useful! Wild and Wonderful. We have noticed a decline in the bee population. We have about 10 bees at a time on a good day, compared to a guestimate of 100 at a time.

These ferns are as tall as I am. No ~ don’t you dare! 5’3 is a tall fern!

Thank you for coming by my blog today ~ come back soon.

#cottagegarden #cottageliving #crabtreecottagegarden #curbappeal #outdoorooms #windowboxes janismonachinadesigns keenanconstruction

Summer Happenings at the Cottage

[text_box class=”green”] Let the beauty of what you love be what you do. Rumi [/text_box]

I am lucky that I really get to do what I love. I love keeping house! I also love setting the stage for my guests’ arrival, especially repeat guests. I anticipate catching up with them and sharing time together. Planning breakfast menus, tending to my garden and decorating my house fill me with enormous amounts of joy.

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Very special guests! Ken, Sue,David, Stephen, Joan & Alice

One recent group of guests have been coming for 10 years. They have been friends for years and travel together to the Berkshires every June. They are the nicest people you will ever meet. They arrive anticipating catching up with their friends and seeing performances at Jacob’s Pillow and local theatre. They also love to go to tag-sales and thrift/antique shops. By starting their Saturday morning on the tag-sale mission they get to know a lot of back roads and unique areas of the Berkshires. One is a jewelry designer and she crafts beautiful pieces out of reused mechanical parts, odds and ends and creates the most artful pieces I have ever seen. Another couple loves the idea of reusable objects also because of the environmental impact . The other couple goes along for the ride and the company. They love learning about our town and The Berkshires.

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We share our family news and stories. This group even visited our daughter Julia’s show at the Former Gallery in West Stockbridge the day it was ending. Their support of her budding career as an artist touches us deeply.

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This group is very inspiring to me. Authors, Doctors of Philosophy, Professors, Social Workers, a Hospital Administrator and an artist/author. All of these friends are leaders and members of the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island. I respect and admire each one of them and now I feel I am one of their friends! I feel very fortunate that year after year they choose my little cottage as their home base. Did I mention they all love my dogs? Yes, all of them are animal lovers too! What is not to love ~ fun-loving people who I look forward to as a group and then individually on other occasions.

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[text_box class=”green”] Sing like the birds sing not worryng about who hears or what they think. Rumi [/text_box]

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Alice, another favorite guest, having fun at SPARROW SINGING VINTAGE SHOP, in downtown Lee. — Alice, another favorite guest, having fun trying on hats! SPARROW SINGING VINTAGE SHOP, in downtown Lee. Notice the necklace she designed. This past spring her jewelry was featured in ELLE magazine!

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[text_box class=”green”] Set your life on fire ~ seek those who fan your flames. Rumi [/text_box]

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Sue, another favorite guest picking some flowers from the garden! — Joan and Stephen more of our favorites!

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Kenny another favorite guest of ours! — Kenny another favorite guest sharing a story.

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~ Here are some of the breakfast courses we have been serving lately ~

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orange-scented almond & olive oil muffins #giada de laurentiis

Jeff's famous home-fries — Jeff’s famous home-fries!

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~ Last but not least are some shots of The Crabtree Cottage Garden! (courtesy of Julia Keenan) ~

[text_box class=”green”] Beauty surrounds us, but usually we need to be walking a garden to know it . Rumi [/text_box]

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Alvin the chipmonk wants to be in the blog! — Alvin the chipmunk wants to be in the blog!

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[text_box class=”green”] Why should I be unhappy? Every parcel of my being is in full bloom. Rumi [/text_box]

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I have been enjoying Rumi this summer and wanted to share the wisdom of this 13th-century Persian master with as much relevance today as then. Thank you for coming by my blog today.

#crabtreecottagegarden #janismonachinagardens' #juliakeenandesigns #windowboxes@crabtreecottage crabtreecottagebreakfasts janismonachinadesigns

Summer Dreams at Crabtree Cottage

“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness. ” John Steinbeck

We sure are enjoying the beautiful late spring weather here in the Berkshires! Everything is lush spring green and the spring flowering trees and bulbs have been glorious! One of the greatest things about spring is tending to the garden. This year more than ever it seemed an arduous task. Early spring is a rare occasion in the Berkshires but this year was exceptionally delayed and we were extremely busy with so many of our daughter Julia’s College Graduation activities. Luckily when we have so many outdoor chores to do we do get an instant dose gratification and great exercise. All of the sudden there is a burst of magic right before your eyes, you realize you are in a state of bliss ~ Summer bliss!

“If you tickle the earth with a hoe she laughs with a harvest.” Douglas Jerrold

We now have an artist in residence here at Crabtree Cottage! Of course we always have, but now it is an official title! Julia, our daughter just graduated, with a Studio Art Degree, from The University of Massachusetts. Of course her art has been decorating our home and many of my guests have been following her for years. They have watched the transitions and milestones over the years and of take great delight in her progress and creativity. While she is transitioning from college to “the real world” as a ceramist, we are setting up a launching pad here. Her little studio, Julia Keenan Designs, has a kiln and a wheel and she has been preparing for an upcoming show at the Former Gallery, a gallery in West Stockbridge Massachusetts.

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Here are a few pictures from her thesis show and opening at the Hampton Gallery at UMASS.

Thank you for coming by my blog today.

#crabtreecottagegarden #herbgardensintheberkshires #juliakeenandesigns janismonachinadesigns

Food, Flowers & Festivities at Crabtree Cottage

“Summer’s lease hath all to short a date.” William Shakespeare

You know the saying, “August is the Sunday of Summer,” well at Crabtree Cottage we are packing every last minute into this “day” that is for sure. Our guests have been seeing plays, concerts at Tanglewood, and world class dance, at Jacob’s Pillow. In between they tour museums, shops & galleries. Sometimes they leave after breakfast and pack in so much sightseeing that they don’t come back here until after an evening performance. They eat in great restaurants & cafe’s, and take in all the summer Berkshire activities. Some stay for the just the weekend, others for almost a week. We have been trying to keep up with them too! Although we are not on vacation, we often feel like we are as soon as we sit on that Tanglewood lawn, go the Pillow for an Inside Out performance, or eat in one of favorite restaurants that line our Main Street. Come along, I’ll show you what we have been up to here at our summer cottage!

First, we make an amazing breakfast for our guests. We love to add a twist to some of the traditional breakfast favorites.

avocado omelette — mini avocado pesto omelettes with summer squash pancakes (all veggies from our garden)

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caprese scrambled eggs, a side dish with our homegrown tomotoes

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our signature popover ~ a guest favorite. #susanbranch

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summer squash, tomato & cheese frittata, all from our garden!

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One of my very favorite things to do when setting the stage for my guests arrival is to make a floral arrangement from my garden. I think innkeepers / decorators get the most pleasure from setting the stage for their customers & loved ones. This is one simple activity that fills my heart with enormous amounts of joy! From a simple little vase to a grand arrangement for my friends & family.

crocosmia 'lucifer' — crocosmia ‘lucifer’

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We also love to entertain on our back deck on summer nights. Alfresco dining is our very favorite summer experience!

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cold corn soup & quinoa wraps — cold corn soup & quinoa/avocado radicchio wraps served during the heat wave

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My sister eloped in Nantucket! When she came home we had a festive little dinner date here.

we started the night with a toast….simple perfection ~ champagne & tapenade on polenta rounds

The beautiful newlyweds!

A lot of my repeat guests have been asking about our dear, elderly, cat Beau. Beau is an indoor cat now, and spends her days lounging around, taking cat naps. No more front porch greetings for our guests , but you will usually get a glimpse of her if you are here long enough. Especially in the morning before her midday nap. She has taken a liking to my office chair, strange but true. Here is a little snippet of my dear girl purring ~ she doesn’t go out to the garden much anymore, so I bring it to her. She loves catmint & lavender.

Check out this little video of our beautiful Beau.

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Whenever we get the chance we pack a picnic and zoom over to Tanglewood.

avocado & basil pesto is Julia’s favorite so we always take that!

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Lastly, what would a summer post be without a few shots from the garden? Here are some views from the inside looking out.

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No more garden tours are on the calendar but that doesn’t mean summer is officially over. We will still be out and about visiting gardens. The Berkshire Botanical Garden is a must see in all the phases of summer.

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Thank you for coming by my blog today. I hope you had a great summer too.

#crabtreecottagegarden #crabtreecottagewindowboxes crabtreecottagebreakfasts

Garden Tours in The Berkshires!

“The many great gardens of the world, of literature and poetry, of painting and music, of religion and architecture, all make the point as clear as possible: The soul cannot thrive in the absence of a garden. If you don’t want paradise, you are not human; and if you are not human, you don’t have a soul.” ― Thomas More I love this quote but I would like to add this one little change to the ending…. I know animals have souls and I know they love gardens ~ I think he just forgot that.

We have had a very busy summer so far! In June we were on a Garden Tour in Lee. As a Garden Tour Committee member, I resisted being on the tour because June is the beginning of our very busy season. Creating a garden tour, even with a very active committee, is no small feat! I had been on a garden tour in the past, and it is an intimidating process. My garden is a work in progress, and although perfectly charming and cottage-y, I strongly doubted it was really garden tour material. Well, after having difficulty finding enough gardens for our tour, I succumbed to the request. Oh dear, lots of work to be done! My front and side gardens are unique and garden tour ready with a little extra tlc, but my upper back yard is so shady and I felt it just wasn’t up to tour standards. So, with the help of my, “assistant,” Jeff , we took on the back yard. Although the Garden Tour was weeks away, we had a lot of special events: Mom & Dads 60ith Anniversary Party, Mom’s 80ith Birthday Party, Mother’s Day, and oh, did I mention, tons of rain? Luckily for me, my assistant is a very hard worker and although we felt a little pressure with the deadline ~ we made it. Was it worth it? Yes it was! We raised lots of money for our downtown hanging basket project, and we created an event for Lee that was fun, and very well attended. Also, now my backyard, although still a work in progress, has evolved! Come along, I’ll show you what we have been up to.

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We had a really fun 60ith anniversary party for our parents at our house, with live music and dancing too!

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We had another party! This time we were at the Red Lion Inn. Our families favorite place to celebrate birthdays!

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This was an early spring project. Jeff sided the barn ~ my neighbor Sandy & I use it as a potting bench. Of course, Sandy & I love to make everything cute, so we decorated it!

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My assistant, Jeff at work. Building a stone wall!

Jeff also built a stone path to the garden shed! What would I ever do without my assistant!

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My other two assistants! Very helpful too! Sometimes they even help me dig!

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Berkshire Vintage set up shop! Jeff’s sister, Pamela Loring, is a vintage dealer. She also is an seamstress and crafter! She set up her vintage wares to sell at the garden tour. Her, and her “assistant,” Kim Kirby crafted some of these specialties. They went perfectly with our garden tour! I am crazy about Pam’s banners and pillows ~ just crazy about them!

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Jan from Five Cents a Dance set up shop too!

Jan owns, Five Cents a Dance, in Lee. You have see her work. She is an amazingly talented seamstress and also a costume designer! She had the cutest little dresses for sale at our garden tour!

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We even had a Garden Fairy ~ every garden has them. This darling one decided to show herself to the garden lovers on the tour, since she just loves the hanging baskets lining our Main Street , she wanted to show her support.

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We even had Robin O’herin strumming and singing in the garden ~ a very festive atmosphere.

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nude by the pool ~ by resident artist Julia Keenan

Our daughter Julia, an art student , let us stage the tour with some of her special pieces.

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Tea service by Jules!

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Now, my backyard is not just a secret garden, but a very meditative & contemplative place.

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Isn’t this cairn sculpture perfect for our meditation area. We went to a graduation party and the owner had these cairn sculptures as we walked up her driveway. We were so inspired ! Jeff made 6 of them the very next day!

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This was once Julia’s playhouse ~ we actually moved it from our other house because Jeff had just built it. It then became my garden shed. Now it has become my mediation shed. I have started to decorate it. It has wicker chairs and a garden theme decor. A CD player with meditations. I have elaborate decorating ideas in the works!

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