perfect gift for a gardener

Carolyne Roehm, master gardener and lifestyle author's newest book is titled Flowers. It is filled with over 300 photographs she took of the flowers in her own gardens. She talks about the book, her home and gardens here...

Purchase Flowers here.

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etsy stocking idea 4...mens grooming

Etsy is a great source of handmade shaving products for men. My husband and our sons tend to be traditionalists in the grooming department, they use shaving brushes with shaving soap. I purchased several Basil Lime Shaving Soaps made with olive oil from Smith Family Soapworks for stockings this year. They also make a Sandalwood scented soap.

A handmade shaving brush would be perfect to include with the soap. California woodworker Pat Camara makes these beautiful shaving brushes in your choice of 20 varieties of wood and many types of badger hair.

Smith Family Soapworks creates shaving soaps for ladies too. Love this Lavender Shaving Soap and their Olive Butter in my favorite fresh Lemon Verbena scent would be nice to try.

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etsy stocking idea 2...linen apron

For a favorite cook, love this perfect linen apron made by Studio Patro in San Francisco. Why not roll it together with a beautiful maple wooden spoon handmade by Chicago woodworker Tim Pursell?

Just for fun, add in this fun Studio Patro dish towel too!

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little gifts

This morning I prepared some small gifts to give. As I was doing that, I received some small gifts too. I am giving wristlet key chains in cute patterns made by Abby Frey to ten of my soccer lady friends that I have been sitting with all these years as we watched our sons play. Pairing them with pretty sticky notes made by Michelle Brusegaard. The boys are seniors, their final season has just ended. Sad.

As I was wrapping the presents, I spotted a splash of pink in the border out the kitchen window. Needed to put my boots on and check it out. A brave pink clematis, clinging to its tuteur, decided to put on a show right before its bedtime. It stands out among the leaf covered bed. 

Green Jewel Echinacea at the other end of the bed is still hanging on too, despite a week of temperatures in the 40's, ten inches of rain and several days of high winds from Hurricane Sandy. We leave a blanket of leaves on all the beds to protect and enrich the plants over the winter. Most years we are covered in snow most of the winter, with the exception of last year when we experienced several melts. We will see what this year brings. The perennials and ground covers pop though in the spring, the leaf cover decomposes, enriching the soil.

As I am writing this, another little gift just appeared! Can you tell what it is?

Sunlight! 

Something we have not seen in 8 days! Have a warm cozy weekend everyone! Hope you see some sun! 

stylish serendipity photos

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Anthro gifts

Stumped for a special gift? Just head to Anthropologie! You can always find something special there. How about...

an adorable set of greeting note cards  paired with a beautiful pen?

a  unique tumbler for a friend's bath or bedside paired with a bottle of sparkling water?

an all natural bar of soap (purchase also supports charities) paired with a bamboo soap dish?

a pretty opalescent bracelet wrapped in a handmade drawstring bag?

 or  paired with a pretty plate to place jewelry on a bedside table

or a brass topped chemist's jar filled with a favorite candy?

or  a sweet apron for a little girl, paired with a cake or cookie mix and silicone spatula?

or a funky cheese knife, paired with a favorite block of cheese and a few Honeycrisp apples?

or some fun sticky notes paired with a set of thin tipped markers?

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