Tomatoes and Pumpkins

We've been eating a lot of caprese salad lately. The tomatoes have been coming in strong for weeks now, after being delayed due to our cool June and July temperatures. 

Thankfully, the tomatoes are nice and sweet despite their slow start. 

It's funny because we dream about tomatoes from the beginning of summer until that first wonderful tomato you pull from the vine. But now that the days are shorter, the leaves are turning and the sunlight shines a little crisper, I can't help but eye the pumpkins out of the corner of my eye and dream everything pumpkin...pumpkin pie, pumpkin soup, pumpkin bread...

We've even begun thinking of the pumpkin birthday cake we plan to make for the babies' first birthday in December. In the image above, you can see me carve their names in our favorite pumpkin using a carving tool. This is something we look forward to doing with Graham and Margaret when they're older. 

 Their names are barely visible right after my not-so-artistic marking. 

But as the pumpkin grows (this picture was taken several weeks after), their names are becoming more visible. 

We thought this would be a fun way to watch their birthday cake grow through the summer. 

Recipe for caprese salad: 

fresh picked tomatoes (we use whatever is ripe - cherry or heirloom)

fresh picked basil

fresh mozzarella

 olive oil and balsamic vinegar 

salt and pepper to taste

As I write this post, Mike is walking back and forth on the porch with the babies in the stroller. It's a beautiful evening, the sky is clear and the sun is casting that special fall hue. Off I go to do a few house chores before they come inside. 

365 Swap with the Cultivate Girls

I’m a little slow, but I wanted to tell you about the 365 Swap! that I attended a week ago (I first mentioned it here).

This event was dreamed up by a group of friends (the Cultivate girls) who decided to get together to exchange various items they no longer wanted/needed (anything from décor to furniture to purses and more).  The catch is…it’s all wrapped up in a big party!  There are decorations, food, and lots of fun.

This year they sold tickets to the event, and my daughter and I decided to go.  After seeing all they went through, I think $6 was one of the best bargains ever!

Loaded down with our “Swap” items (we were limited to 7 a piece, which was hard!), my daughter and I entered a back-yard gate into a marvelous world.  At our left hand, a fence constructed of old doors greeted us (big fat puffy heart love). 

Hay bales, trailers, wagons and the like provided a framework on which to lay and display hundreds of swap items.

There were funky-cool garlands and vintage accessories which you wished were available for swap!

There were layers and layers of stuff to look through!

You had to walk through several times, and in different directions, so as not to miss anything (and you still did).

See that dynamite box (above) on the red chair?  That came home with me!

After everyone had had a chance to look around, there were 15 minutes in which you could clip a clothespin, marked with your name (you received a clothespin for every item you brought to swap), onto the items you wanted.  My daughter came home with the aqua birdcage!

At the end of that time, each person automatically received any item for which they were the only interested party.  I also came home with the cupboard door above.

For items that had multiple clothespins, they were placed in a battered army helmet and a lucky winner was drawn!

If you were not a winner, you received your clothespin back to be used for another round.

Did I mention there was also food?  A huge stack of Marie Callendar’s pie tins served as plates, vintage hankies served as napkins, and mismatched mason jars served as bowls!  There were cupcakes and pies and homemade root beer!

It was a fabulous evening!  THANK YOU to the Cultivate Girls, and I hope I can come again next year!

What do you think?  Was $6 a bargain or what??

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Remember that the voting for Round 1 of Crafting with the Stars begins tomorrow! 

October RDH Blog of the Month – Belgian Pearls

One of my favorite aspects of blogging is the ability to connect with people from all around the world.  I love being able to experience different cultures and decorating styles right from my computer screen.  Belgian Pearls - the October RDH blog of the month - is a perfect example of the wonderful global bridge the internet provides.

Greet’s site was one of the first blogs I discovered when I began Red Door Home and it has remained a favorite ever since.  As you might have guessed from the title, Belgian Pearls encompasses all things Belgian.

Greet Lefevre is a talented interior decorator from Belgium. She and her husband run the Lefevre family cabinetmaking business. It is a fourth generation company and their work is truly an example of what beautiful craftsmanship and attention to detail is all about.  Take a look at the pictures below.  All of these photos showcase Lefevre Interiors projects.  Simply stunning!

As you might expect, Greet’s home is also gorgeous.

She and her husband recently finished an update of a room called the orangery.  I love the simple beauty of this space.

Not too long ago, Greet wrote about some special visitors she and her family recently entertained.

Many of you probably recognize Brooke Giannetti from the blog Velvet and Linen - The August RDH blog of the month.  Brooke and her family vacationed in Belgium and during their stay made time to visit Greet and her family at their beautiful home.  I loved hearing about their day together – all coming about through blogging.

Thank you Greet for allowing me to feature Belgian Pearls.  You have been a design inspiration for me and many others from all across the world.