a room with all the things a girl loves
a love story ends
I have to share a touching story. On Tuesday, Granddaddy passed
away, somewhat unexpectedly. And after she was told by her best friend that
her husband had died, Granny took her last breath passing away just hours
after Granddaddy. They were both ill, in separate specialized facilities.
away, somewhat unexpectedly. And after she was told by her best friend that
her husband had died, Granny took her last breath passing away just hours
after Granddaddy. They were both ill, in separate specialized facilities.
Granny had brutally battled cancer for six years and within the last year,
Granddaddy swiftly declined in health from Alzheimer's. Granny loved
Granddaddy so much that she just couldn't leave him. Now may they live
Granddaddy swiftly declined in health from Alzheimer's. Granny loved
Granddaddy so much that she just couldn't leave him. Now may they live
happily ever after together in heaven.
more, more, more...
This fortune has been on my desk for years. I made it pretty to share with all of you.
Our Cabana (re-furnished and rearranged)
I had to exchange my Restoration Hardware outdoor Provence wicker pieces. Here's the before:
The sofa blocked the fireplace from the spa (picky husband) and the low backs on the Provence collection made the chairs uncomfortable. I kept the dining pieces from the Restoration Hardware Provence outdoor collection, but the rest had to go back. sigh....
Did you know that outdoor wicker smells like plastic when the pieces are under the sun (even in winter)? Unpleasant side effect for such pretty pieces. Especially since Austin, Texas is known for 300+ days of sunshine.
a handsome Hollywood garden
the garden and sunroom of the creator of Will and Grace from this month's Elle Decor
around my house: roses and tarts
I had these pretty roses in the foyer to cheer up my entry.
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Then I took them out to my patio for brunch with a dear friend in town from Boston.
I made Carmelized Onion Quiche from a recent Family Circle Magazine, a simple salad, strawberries and banana bread. This tart is so good.
Another recent lunch on my patio (before it gets too buggy and hot):
This time my neighbors and I enjoyed this Lemon Curd Tart from Barefoot Contessa. I hope you try it. Recipe below.
Ingredients
For the tart shell:
- 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, plus more for greasing, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- Pinch salt
For the lemon curd:
- 4 lemons, at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 4 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
For the tart shell:
Directions
Mix the butter and sugar together in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until they are just combined. Add the vanilla. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt, then add them to the butter-and-sugar mixture. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a surface dusted with flour and shape into a flat disk. Press the dough into a 10-inch-round or 9-inch-square false-bottom tart pan, making sure that the finished edge is flat. Chill until firm.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Butter 1 side of a square of aluminum foil to fit inside the chilled tart and place it, buttered side down, on the pastry. Fill with beans or rice. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and beans, prick the tart all over with the tines of a fork, and bake again for 20 to 25 minutes more, or until lightly browned. Allow to cool to room temperature. (I skipped the beans and pricked the crust with a fork and baked without foil and it turned out fine!)
For the lemon curd:
Remove the zest of the lemons with a vegetable peeler or zester, being careful to avoid the white pith. Squeeze the lemons to make 1/2 cup of juice and set the juice aside. Put the zest in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. (I used my blender and worked nicely.) Add the sugar and process for 2 to 3 minutes, until the zest is very finely minced. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter with the sugar and lemon zest. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and then add the lemon juice and salt. Mix until combined.
Pour the mixture into a 2-quart saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 10 minutes. The lemon curd will thicken at about 175 degrees F, or just below a simmer. Remove from the heat.
Fill the tart shell with warm lemon curd and allow to set at room temperature.
Pour the mixture into a 2-quart saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 10 minutes. The lemon curd will thicken at about 175 degrees F, or just below a simmer. Remove from the heat.
Fill the tart shell with warm lemon curd and allow to set at room temperature.
Stunning turquoise chevron floors
Palazzo Margherita, in Bernalda, Italy — the birthplace of Francis Ford Coppola’s grandfather — is the grand 19th Century home that Francis, Sofia and family have been restoring (with the help of Jacques Grange) since 2005. It’s the molto romantic spot where Sofia married Phoenix frontman Thomas Mars last year, and recently, Frances opened it as a hotel. Its nine rooms are individually designed by Grange, featuring local craftsmanship, original marble pieces, art-like tiling and high ceilings. In our minds, we’re already checked in….
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