New Find: The Elemental Garden

Connecticut Cottages & Gardens featured a short piece about OV3Design and gave a major mention to The Elemental Garden in Woodbury, CT.




I must visit the shop in Woodbury. Great town, great antiques but not a summer place to visit. Although, a bit of antiquing and a visit to the Mayflower Inn doesn't sound too difficult. These finials are pretty captivating, as finials go.

This red table would be great as is almost anything red and iron.

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Jotting from my Iphone

I frequently call my home voicemail to remind myself to do things that I know I'll forget to do. Use your imagination. . . . The problem is, well, I don't often check my home voicemail. So I was delighted to find Jott on the new APP Store on the new 2.0 screen, in the "featured"section (as I was driving on 95 the other day). Not good, I know this.

It looks like a voice recorder but then sends my message to me via email. Just tap the screen and record your message. For example, I told myself to write a note to Lori and an email arrived later in the evening and told me "Write note to Lory. " Note its creative spelling. You can also send yourself text messages, but if you're a new 3g Iphone owner, you will now be charged for data, unlike the earlier version.

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2008 National Shed Week U.K.

I've been thinking about building a shed for the lawn mower stowed in my upper lawn. For quite some time. Last week, when I was otherwise occupied with catching up with life after being away for the weekend, people in the U.K. were celebrating National Shed Week. Check out the Shed Blog to read of all things shed. The two photographs above are of a shed I drive by frequently and one I'm quite fond of.

Note the detail at the roof on this simple structure. This could be quite nice.




I like the shape of this one, but the arbor makes it look tiny. Maybe it's just the angle of the photograph.



I like this simple understated shed. Although I adore the color, it might be fun to paint it a bright color. But I'm not sure. Design comes first.



I admire this shed, but it is perhaps a bit too grand for my little yard and, for my purpose.

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Farmers Market in August Bon Appetit Mag

The August 2008 issue of Bon Appetit has an article on the Farmer's Market at Ashlawn Farm by frequent visitor Dorie Greenspan. The photograph at the top is of Chip about 200 years ago. He was certain I would -- like every one else -- include pictures of the children or Carol. So there Chip!




In the article, Summer House Cooking, Dorie writes:

Me, I pinch myself every week. I also thank Carol and Chip Dahlke, the geniuses behind the market, every time I see them. May their names be enshrined in the Connecticut Good Neighbors Hall of Fame forever.

I couldn't agree more. We are so lucky to have the cafe during the week when the farm is quiet, but willing to share the weekend with visitors.

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Too much Edith Wharton -- Never

I am flabbergasted. I have been reading a Wharton book in bed titled " A Son at the Front". It is so moving and about my favorite war (in terms of literature).

While in St Barts a couple of weeks back I bought a book of short stories by Wharton. She is so darn relevant that it shocks me. I wanted to grab the person next to me on the plane and read to her/him. How cool was she?????? It's my downstairs and in the car book.

The Mount, Edith Wharton's home in the Berkshires has been suffering from -- what do I know --bad financial management and a not-so-good economy. I hope they make it. She is a literary and decorative inspiration. I suppose I am a person of other eras.

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Naughty color hollyhocks

Finally. I have found a house/garden -- or is it an attitude -- conducive to growing hollyhocks. And isn't she lovely?

I call her Astrid my Myla girl. Love this color. Delicate, but not frail. She stands up to the world. Quite like eVA in Wall-E, the wonderful movie I saw last night with my friends Charlie and Addie. Wall-E! Wall-E!

We sure could use some rain. . . .

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New Iphone images should be more exciting

Heck, it comes in Ipod white and black. There will be some great new features. Not ones that I care too much about. But Sleep Wait button! I like this idea. While in sleep/wait, the phone can ring, but other things are dormant

No accidental phoning! No jaw calls! No cheek calls. Thank you Apple. I am so excited. Somewhat distracted by what my current phone should do for the rest of its life. I have never devoted the care that I have given to any person or pet that I have spent on my Iphone. Real love. And I get it back.

So what do I do with the old phone???????

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