Chanterelles Are Out!

Chanterelles are out! We had a nice rain over the weekend, prompting Hubby to set off into the woods in search of the beautiful Chanterelle mushroom.

In just two hours of combing the wet fall forest, he collected nearly five pounds of fresh delectable fungi.

The following book is the field guide that Hubby has been using for years. It's a wonderful book with lots of pictures and thorough descriptions that make mushrooming all the more safe and alluring.


The Chanterelles are gorgeous and smell like fresh apricots! Our favorite recipe for the Chanterelles is homemade pizza, which we had for dinner last night (recipe here). Tonight, we'll saute up the rest and add it to red quinoa with sauteed shallots and kale.

Delicious.

A Love Affair with Frames

I love antique picture frames. I love their intricate detail and their nicely aged patina. I love that each frame has its own unique character and I love that feeling when you can bring life back to a piece that has been so sadly forgotten.

I bought all of these frames on an antique field trip I took this past summer. The above gold antique frame is one of my favorites. It's in wonderful condition and I plan on having it cut down an inch or so to fit a beautiful landscape oil painting I have. I paid $60 for it.

This gold frame is in fairly rough shape but at $20, it was a steal. I have a 7 x 7 rose oil painting that will go beautifully with the floral detail in the frame. Cutting it down will remove the bad spots you can see on the left. It will also get a good cleaning.

I love the feel of these old rustic frames. It's sometimes hard to find these frames with all of their leaves in tact but when you do, they compliment nature prints beautifully. They can be surprisingly expensive so it's worth being patient. I paid $28 for this one.

I just love this little hand carved round wood frame. It's very old and in very good shape. It's a 3 x 3 so it too will also go on the family photo wall. This sweet little frame was just $12.

Having antique frames cut down requires a special skill. I happened to find a professional restorationist who will cut down a frame for $100. This is a very fair price because even with the cost of what I pay for the frame, it's still much less expensive than having something custom framed, and most importantly, the frame is one of a kind.

The above is an example of recycling beautiful antique frames. I found these identical Victorian frames in pristine condition. I was thrilled when an artist friend of mine (whose work I passionately collect), offered some pieces of hers that would fit the unique dimensions of the frames. I think the gold hues go brilliantly with the blues and greens of the sky and pasture.

AWAY WITH THE FAIRIES...............

Do you believe in Fairies ? Say quick that you believe. If you believe, CLAP YOUR HANDS!

J.M.BARRIE 1860-1937

PETER PAN

Browsing through my library the other night, I came across a book on Fairies. I removed it from the shelf and took it to the tapestry sofa for a bit of a trip to fantasy land..........

Well, book, comfy sofa, evening all adds up to a trip to the Land of Nod...........

............................ OOOooooooooooOOO ............................



Well, it's there in black and white for all to see..... 'FAIRIES EXIST'.....


Oh look..... that looks like a fairy house, if ever I saw one. Shall we go through the door and see what we can find ? .....

OOOoooooo...... a fairy bed. I have heard that fairies LOVE to sleep......

Oh, there must be quite a few fairies living here ....another fairy bed. Sparkling dandelion wine, candles and rose petals ................

.......... Bedroom three ..........you can tell fairies live here.......they just love fairy lights.

I think that this is where the Queen Fairy lays her pretty head.

This is the fairy bathroom..........

............... and, sometimes, when all of the beds are taken, the fairies have to think of ingenious ways to find a bed for the night........ she has found herself a nice detached, fully insulated, fully furnished little love nest here.

Oh look .......... the fairy dining room..... they do love sparkly things, even when eating !! ..and there they are....the obligatory fairy lights.

Shhhhhhhh .......... I think that we have disturbed one who has just come out of the bathroom ..... don't let her see you ..... there could be dire consequences if she does.

This is dandelion tea....... an essential fairy beverage, and a book of fairy spells. You never want to cross a fairy ....... they can do untold damage to you if your not careful !!!!

Fairy dust is the most important tool for a fairy .......... they never know when they might need it... and there is an art to using it......... none of this throwing it over people. It must be poured into the palm of the hand and gently blown. Look..... I'll give you a demonstration...............

.......... see..... and you have to be wearing your best frock !!

Oh dear ........... I think that this fairy has had too much dandelion tea...... it's a bit like drinking too much alcohol ...... it can make you hallucinate and do silly things ..........I think that she may be losing her wings if she gets caught !!!!

They love beautiful dresses ..................

.................... and more beautiful dresses ..........

.................... and beautiful fairy shoes (stilettos are not permitted as they can be dangerous when flying) ..........

.......... and whoa betide them if they forget their fairy crown or fairy wand when they go out. That's why they always leave it on the chair by the door .

Fairies are like magpies or is it jackdaws ? ....they love shiny sparkly things and collect and hoard them. Look at this fairy's collection, she certainly likes a bit of bling.

If you like the latest designer handbag well, this is the fairy equivalent ....... it's a jewel encrusted cupcake handbag, and costs £10,000 or whatever that is in fairy money. I don't think that your ordinary fairy would be able to have one......... probably in the Fairy Queen's price range.

This is where the fairies dance all night until it starts to get light again, when they go ...................

............... through the spiders web ...........

................ along the beautifully lit garden path.............

.................... and back home to bed again, to dream of fairy shoes, fairy dresses, of being like their heroine, Tinkerbell and of all things sparkly.

.............................. OOOooooooooooOOO ...........................

OH, where am I, what time is it ?

Was I dreaming or do you think that there really are such things as fairies ?

Jackie