M.O.N.D.A.Y.

IMG_6173“Don’t cry because it’s over…Smile because it happened”! Dr. Seuss, attributed. We danced through a busy, fun filled, love filled, and laughter filled Thanksgiving week. I hope you and your families had a blast and overate as well! See ya later Gobble Gobble. Santa, see you in a short 24 days.

First time getting teeth cleaned.

First time getting teeth cleaned.

We made a gingerbread house.

Making a gingerbread house.

We made homemade gummy worms.

Homemade gummy worms.

We made Mickey Mouse pancakes.

Making Mickey Mouse pancakes.

Loving with Bonny.

Loving with Bonny.

Flipping with Tony.

Flipping with Tony.

We learned about Elf on the Shelf.

Learning about Elf on the Shelf.

Caught a ride on GrandDad's shoulders.

Catching a ride on GrandDad’s shoulders.

Painting ornaments.

Painting ornaments.

Flower Arranging in Hotel Rooms, part one

From Phone 929Warning…I’ve done this a time or two…and a LOT this particular past spring and summer, all for joyous family celebrations. Jump along and take a gander. This was Brenton’s 30th birthday in DC. You may be wondering why I put myself through this exercise; the truth is that when traveling to these bashes I like the way my arrangements turn out a bit better than those of an unfamiliar florist. Now don’t give me that you crazy person look! Pic on the left is of one of my work buckets in the loo of our room at the fab Hotel Monaco. Request from the birthday gal…peonies and hydrangeas, also my favorites!

Another work bucket and 2 completed arrangements on the bench in background.

Another work bucket and 2 completed arrangements on the bench in background.

IMG_4815And here are a couple of the completed arrangements placed in the lovely courtyard of the divine Co Co. Sala, venue for the celebration.

The bar!IMG_4822IMG_4835

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My Wedding turned Party Cherub!

Arrival at Anderson House, May 22, 2004

Arrival at Anderson House, May 22, 2004

Happy Happy Tenth Anniversary to Gray and Marc; It’s been a grand ride! Back I track… I acquired this little cherub thinking it would be used to stage a floral arrangement for Gray and Marc’s wedding dinner. But Lou’s creations were so fab that the cherub was voted out. So the embarrassed cherub was hanging out with the wait staff drinking her gin and tonic when Steve escorted her outside as hostess for the departure favors. As we waved Gray and Marc off in to the night she whispered “Thank you Steve”. And I decided right then that I would use her as a welcome at my home when I entertain and/or have family arriving; and that I do! She is stacking up more wonderful memories than she could have ever imagined that night as she proudly premiered at Anderson House.

Focus on the cherub please, not the 65+ year old bricks!

Focus on the cherub please, not the 65+ year old bricks!

Steve Dunn

Departing Anderson House

Mother

Mother (muth-er) – noun
Simultaneously the most difficult and the most rewarding job in the world
(See also: Saint, Superhero, Wonder-Woman, Love)

Well, yes. It is Mother’s Day Weekend, an official holiday. So I am selfishly featuring the Mothers in my life (self included…you bet)! And I wish each of you the best for the Mothers in your lives. Enjoy.

1 Mother. 2 Daughters. Me. Mine.

1 Mother. 2 Daughters. Me. Mine. November, 2004. Segovia.

Same Mother. Same Daughters. 9 years later. This past October in Istanbul.

Same Mother. Same Daughters. 9 years later. October, 2013. Istanbul.

1 Mother. MINE! 1 Daughter.

1 Mother. MINE! 1 Daughter. Me!

2 Mothers. 2 Daughters. 1 Son. 1 Grandson.

2 Mothers. 2 Daughters. 1 Son. 1 Grandson. 1 VERY Proud Auntie. Mother’s Day, 2012.

1 Mother. 1 Son (in-law, but that's just semantics!)

1 Mother. 1 Son (in-law, but that’s just semantics!) October 2013. Istanbul.

1 Mother. 1 Son.

1 Mother. 1 Son. Gray and Marc’s Wedding. May 2004. Anderson House, Washington, DC.

1 Mother. 3 Sons. 1 Daughter. (TD's family)

1 Mother. 3 Sons. 1 Daughter. (TD’s family) Colorado. 2009.

3 Mothers. 2 Daughters. 1 Son. 1 Grandson. 1 Great Grandson.

3 Mothers. 2 Daughters. 1 Son. 1 Grandson. 1 Great Grandson. Mother’s Day, 2013. BLURRY.

 

Elegance, Period.

Gracie IElegance is more than a simple bit of attitude. And it is an ever so natural quality in my friend Katherine. So we knew we were in for a treat when she invited us to an intimate birthday soiree in her stunning home last week. Naturally she had her finest china, sterling, and crystal in place on the dinner table, and glorious flowers throughout. So no one even blinked when Jack rolled in with Gracie, mink collar daintily encircling her neck. Now that apple didn’t fall far at all from his Mother’s tree!Gracie II

Game Night

Sis and Bro Beer Ponging!

Sis (moi!) and Bro (Will) Beer Ponging!

(Pretend it’s yesterday, when I meant to post this!) Moving from the elegance of last weekend’s soiree to Flashback Friday…you can often find a casually clad gang at the Hardee Home for Friday Night Game Night. My friends are the greatest sports. Albeit I do take credit for knowing who will enjoy these shenanigans, and who would rather be included in an evening of a different theme! These were Friday night parties in 2012. Get ready 2014! So here ya go: Minute to Win It and Beer Pong straight up in the kitchen following supper (yes, supper!) PS…where was the kitchen fairy when I needed her?! PtothePS…Absolutely no Southern Cocktails involved here. Try it sometime…it’s a BLAST! It’s so simple to make the Minute to Win It games. And most of the time we don’t even mess with a timer. We’re too busy laughing and having fun! Cheers!

Rob gathering grocery bags with only his teeth. Limber back is all I've gotta say!

Rob gathering grocery bags with only his teeth. Limber back is all I’ve gotta say!

Bonny threading ragotini with a spaghetti noodle!

Bonny threading ragotini with a spaghetti noodle!

Penny Anne Stacking Dice.

Tony, Stacking 3 golf balls.

Tony, Stacking 3 golf balls.

Get that Oreo from your forehead to your mouth hands free!  Go Jackie!

Get that Oreo from your forehead to your mouth hands free! Go Jackie!

Stacking Six Apples...Nice Job Pam!

Stacking Six Apples…Nice Job Pam!

TnT!

T T K R

The Bride (T) and Groom (T) with the Groom’s Parents.

Sometimes Stars Just Align! As they did for TandT. So this past weekend we threw a partee to celebrate this bride and groom to be (thank you Jackie for sharing your magnificent home)! Served a few of our favorite things, yessiree; so I’m just going to hook you up with one of my personal favs, a bit of a surprise at a cocktail buffet. Gotta get your “starch on”! But first…a couple of pics from the partee!

Thank you Miss Bethel for the Gorgeous Arrangements!    Photograph ©PEGhardee

The Bride and her Sister!

The Bride and her Sister.  (Look at those smiles. I mean these gals should be in print ads for a dental practice…umm…I know just the right practice!)

It was the Sister's 18th, so we Made a Cake and Sang!

It was the Sister’s 18th, so we Made a Cake and Sang!

Sweets for the Sweet!

Sweets for the Sweet! (Thank you Mr. Shakespeare!)

Drum Roll...the Potatoes!

Drum Roll…the Potatoes!

Mini Potatoes with Cheese and Bacon
24 small white or red potatoes
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup sour cream
8 strips precooked bacon, warmed and crumbled
1/2 t salt
1/2 t black pepper
3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
3/4 cup grated Monterey jack
3 Tbs chopped green onion

Preheat oven to 400°.
Line baking sheet with aluminum foil.
Boil potatoes for 8 – 10 minutes, or until tender.
Drain and allow to cool.
Cut top off of potato.
Scoop out part of center of potato, leaving 1/4 inch wall.
Combine cream cheese, sour cream, half of the bacon, salt, and pepper.
Add additional cheeses, and onion, and stir.
Spoon mixture into potato shells.
Top with remaining bacon.
Place potatoes on prepared baking sheet.
Bake 15 – 20 minutes, until lightly browned.
Sprinkle with pepper and serve.

Note: If using as an appetizer rather than as a dinner starch, I cut the potatoes in half rather than just slicing top off, before prepping, for a smaller bite.

PS…I did not use bacon this particular time as we were serving yummy brown sugar, maple syrup bacon as well! But that’s for another time.

Here are the taters with bacon!

Here are the Taters with Bacon!

Atlanta

Frances Atlanta TableWell just pack my suitcase, again! Lucky me…the don took me along to Atlanta this past weekend with a few members from his office staff. In hind-site I believe my purpose there was to provide the comic relief following their long days at the dental conference. Doesn’t bother me. I delivered the comedy AND roamed around Atlanta! Atlanta ~ Fabulous and Southern are only two of the two thousand adjectives that one could use to describe this charming (oops, another one!) city. Tall buildings, hotels galore, traffic … and it still feels warm and friendly (two more!). Did I mention the gorgeous homes along the tree-lined residential streets that seem to have sprung naturally from the land? No noise or heavy traffic there! You can’t even believe that just around the corner is the hustle and bustle of commercial and business life. And the entire time as I ambled through and around Lenox I kept thinking of my friend Frances Schultz’s swellegant book Atlanta at Table.  It’s not a stretch to imagine her inspiration to pen this one! Style and Southern Know How leap off the pages; and the recipes are all top notch, from Gingered Asparagus, to Grilled Pork Tenderloin, to Brandied Crème Anglaise. Atlanta was Frances‘ home when the book was published in 1996; trust me, both the book and Frances have retained their beauty, exquisite taste, and relevance. Hurry to this link and snag a copy. It will become your manual for entertaining with flair and confidence. Ready.Set.Go!

Birds of Paradise, and More

Birs of Paradise I

Patrick Mavros sterling creatures on the right, one of Kate and William’s favorite things! More on that later!

Gray and her sweet Liam were in ENC from Boston for 72 all too hasty hours a couple of weekends ago. So we had ourselves a mojito party, ok, a “show off the darling 2 year old” party! I wanted flowers, but couldn’t dare to take precious time away from “sweet cheeks” (nod to Bonny!) to create complicated arrangements; so I came up with these simple ones to dot around the house. Worked well and took all of 10 minutes! Did a bit more for the dining room center piece; but, silly me, I forgot to photo that! Placed both the bar and nibbles on dining room table so as not to have a lavish spread for a 5pm Sunday afternoon party. Simple, casual, still stylish!Hawaiian flowerAND…here is “sweet cheeks” himself!

My First Ever Jelly Beans!  Thanks Grand!

My First Ever Jelly Beans! Thanks Grand! Yellow Jelly Bean Goop in Teeth to Prove it!

Liam Kicks

KIIIIIIYYYAAAAAAA…or however you spell that!

Liam Gray

Sweet Mommie and “LiBam! (for the times that he BAMS things!)

Liam Lips

Kisses to Grand and GrandDad