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| a snippet of the dining room, my son cropped out so that you only get a peek (I must think ahead next time and get a better shot for you all) |
Every detail in her (balconied!) colonial is well-thought out and perfectly placed, from the two sugar canisters (one white, one brown) by the coffee maker to the beautifully laid out treats on the sideboard (including an espresso machine - what a treat!) to the napkins which she folds into triangles in the Longaberger basket on the table.
While our style of home differs greatly, I admire that she is so detail-oriented without being obsessive (she let our boys run off dessert inside) and takes such pride in what her passions are - cooking, baking, and making a home.
Lunch was, naturally, a multi-course affair during which was served:
-a vegetable antipasto featuring artichoke hearts, a variety of olives, fresh mozzarella cheese, and peppers
-escarole and white bean soup with tiny meatballs
-cavatelli
-her much-loved "pepperoni gravy" (we don't regularly eat pepperoni, which is why it's such a treat to gobble up the spicy and tender slices she hand-picks at the butcher's)
-homemade Challah bread (she's recently been baking all her own breads)
-puffed pastry and pistachio-filled cupcakes (middles scooped out and filled with pistachio cream)
-plenty of hot tea and coffee
We honestly hated to go, and our mutual good time was confirmed by a phone call from her last night, thanking us for our visit, right after I'd mailed a thank you letter for the beautiful afternoon she provided!
The older I get the more evidence I see that the only thing that really matters in life are the relationships we have with each other.
This is so sweet. I'm a no-nonsense girl. I run a very modern and minimal household. My children wear fashionable but very sensible for play outfits. There is no junk drawer in my home. But sometimes I daydream about my grandmother's house. On her rain porch she had giant, red-painted cupboard with tons of mismatched tea set pieces on display. A tiny three drawer stand at the end of the hall held some black and white photos, a thimble, some pennies and a stick of gum. Her vanity held heavy perfume bottles and doilies with pictures under glass. Our closets were stuffed with fluffy and frilly dresses. Unused rooms held mysterious, mismatched furniture with old letters tucked away. Such a beautiful and magical place to grow up.
ReplyDeleteIt does sound magical - and look how you remember so many details! Your fond memories are the best gift.
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