Style – Page 9 – StyleNectar

Last Saturday, Jim treated me to Puccini's Madama Butterfly at the Kennedy Center Opera House. The sold-out performance was absolutely magnificent, closing to a standing ovation, bravos galore and me (and a whole lot of other people) in tears.

Set in Japan, depicting the love affair between the 15-year-old Japanese geisha, Butterfly, and a young American naval officer, Madama Butterfly is beloved by music lovers everywhere for its wealth of melody and poignant, heart-on-the-sleeve emotionality. Take a peek at the opera through its spellbinding aria Un Bel Di Vedremo (note; same opera, different production than one we saw).

Perhaps the roots of my love for opera go back to my maternal grandmother who was a trained opera singer. My parents, avid opera patrons, first exposed me to performances via the Metropolitan Opera Saturday matinee broadcasts, aired each weekend, spicing up our family's weekend chores. However, it wasn't until my late twenties, during a performance by Placido Domingo, that I became permanently transfixed, on a whole new level, by the passion and power of opera.

It delights me to see the appreciation of opera on the incline, perhaps due in part, to the Met's high definition simulcasts, making first-rate opera available in theaters around the world. Have you been to any of these fabulously up-close productions? If so, which opera did you see?

For an extra treat, here is footage into scenes and music from a very old production of Madama Butterfly, featuring the glamorous Maria Callas, one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century.

Oil on Archival Linen Covered Board (Click Image for better, larger view)

Art, Style

Take Me Home, Country Road

Country Road, 12″x16″ Oil on Windsor Newton Paper (Click image for better, larger view)

This painting of sunny pastures is from a sketch I did last year. I enjoy its simple, warm and breezy feel.

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A Gardening Affair

The first day of spring (March 20th) is only two weeks away!

(Surely Old Man Winter must be looking forward to a good loooooong rest following the blockbuster of snow, ice and below freezing temperatures he produced for us this year.)

Miraculously, the ground has finally thawed and the soil is now workable…the equivalent of a personalized invitation to my nature loving husband to go outside and get dirty preparing our two small gardens…tilling, removing moss and rocks, carefully creating neat rows and planting our spring veggies: Rainbow Chard, Peas, Spinach, Radishes, Russian Fingerling & Yukon Potatoes, Beets, Turnips and a few herbs.

The fruits of our gardens will be available in 8 or more weeks (depending on the weather). At which point we arrive to my part in the equation. And while, yes, a simple drizzle of olive oil and sea salt are often best with these fresh jewels of the earth, I'll be sure to share a couple of my favorite recipes honoring my sweet gardener.

Do you have any gardening plans this year? I'd love to hear about them!

A caddy-corner view of the freshly tilled and planted gardens through the sweet pea trellises.

Art, Style

City Streets

Our recent warm, sunny weather and a case of spring fever inspired a trip to the city and this quick watercolor of the busy streets. (16″ x 12″ on Winsor Newton paper)

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Art, Style

Repurposed Chair

Repurposed Chair, Oil on 16″ x 20″ archival linen covered board (Click image for better, larger view)

This lovely chair (one of a pair) used to be on my parents’ summer screened-in porch growing up. When a new settee was purchased to replace them, they were bestowed upon me. And now they reside in my guest room emanating all the sunshine and childhood memories they experienced over the years.

I love the sweet memories pieces from childhood bring to my home today. Do you have any favorite objects from your childhood home incorporated into your current decor? I’d love to hear about them!

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Night Eyes

A dramatic night eye using MAC Paints for added shimmer

I love makeup. It’s sort of like painting after all:-)

And I’m rather passionate about products that perform the way they’re supposed to. So I thought I’d share two of my favorites:

My Paula Dorf Eyelash Curler ~ Gives lashes an instant, natural looking, upturned wave. No tugging. No unnaturally juxtaposed right angles. No counting to 20 before you get a curl.

and…

Trish McEvoy High Volume Mascara (Jet Black) ~ Coats lashes beautifully and lasts all day without a hint of a flake or smear. Plus it washes off easily unlike harsh waterproof formulas.

What are some of your favorites?

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Food, Style

Pear-Mint-Ginger Sake Cocktail

This Pear-Mint-Ginger Sake Cocktail is refreshing and not too sweet with a wonderful kick of ginger. We went through two pitchers of them at our party last week! They’re that tasty.

Make them to order in a rocks glass per the single serving directions below.

Or, if you’d like to serve them to a larger group like I did, simply multiply the ingredients by the number of guests you’re having. Then, combine the 1st four ingredients in a container and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. Strain the mixture, then pour into a beautiful pitcher and serve chilled with a sprig of mint in a simple martini glass.

INGREDIENTS (Serves 1)

2 mint sprigs
1/2 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger (Use sliced ginger “coins” if pre-mixing for a party. This will make straining easier, and provide for a clean presentation.)
2 ounces sake, chilled
2 ounces pear nectar (such as Goya brand), chilled
Garnish: mint sprig

DIRECTIONS

Combine 2 mint sprigs and ginger in a chilled rocks glass; mash well. Fill glass with ice. Add chilled sake and chilled pear nectar; stir well. Garnish with a mint sprig; serve immediately.

Great Tip: Did you know you can store your fresh ginger in the freezer for several months to be at the ready anytime you need it?! Just thaw it on the counter briefly before each use.

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TV Trays Gone Fabulous

Looking to jazz up a room in your home without a major investment?

These dandy decoupage trays by Michel Design Works are just the ticket.

I dare you only to buy one! (Admittedly I’ve gone a bit ‘lawn ornament’ with mine as they’re currently sparkling up not one- but three rooms on our first floor. But wait till you see them… you’ll understand.)

They’re available in about 25 different gorge patterns and their applications are endless. They really blow my old TV trays, (I’m sure Michel would shudder to hear them referred to as such), out of the water with their sturdy handles and accommodating measurements. The quality felt backing and decoupage finish mean they protect furniture perfectly and wipe up in a snap. Case in point: during our recent party, I used one to serve a pitcher of my specialty cocktail and another two for presenting stuffed mushrooms and soup shooters (also posting soon). Did I mention they do a magnificent job of turning an otherwise rocky ottoman into a sturdy table?!

So without further delay, allow me to present to you in all their splendor:

Nest & Egg Tray, Tulip Tray and Butterfly Tray! (Applause)

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Art, Style

Lighting Event

We were on the edge of our seats guessing at the winner in the dessert round on Chopped, when our power went out. Heavy, wet snow had been rapidly accumulating to the measure of about 6 inches per hour so we weren’t terribly surprised. But wait, what was that orangey-blue-red glow flickering outside?

Our entire yard, then neighborhood, lit up in 360 for as far as the eye could see… what the heck was going on? Was our roof on fire? What should we do? We soon realized the five minute mega light show was courtesy of two fallen power lines.

Followed by a very cold and uncomfortable three days without power.

Should one be taking anything for granted, there’s nothing like the absence of life’s basic necessities to put things back into perspective:-) So I dedicate this post to light!

I love the warmth and coziness various lighting options provide. Carrying on a tradition from childhood, we enjoy eating by candlelight every evening at dinnertime. Tiny stained-glass night-lights pave the way in the kitchen and upstairs near the guest room. Wintertime window candles and tiny lamps cheer up otherwise dark corners at night. For parties, I light tons of miniature glass votives on all the windowsills and transoms, and I add hurricane lanterns going up the stairs for ambiance.

There are infinite ways to utilize lighting creatively within your decor. Here are a couple of my paintings (watercolors on Winsor Newton paper) and photos illustrating a few fav’s from my home.

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Art, Style

Wild Things

"Corn plants are impossible to kill," Dale, the garden center guy, told me yesterday. He hadn't seen mine. Two of its three stalks are now leafless, bringing me to the garden center for a replacement. Sorry Corn Plant 🙁

But all's well that end's well.

Having received Dale's top 5 water & fertilizer tips, I've since clipped Corn Plant's (CP) remaining dead brown leaves and found him a flattering new home in back of a tall chair. We truly feel as though he's going to make a full recovery. And as if that's not fabulous enough, it does get better. A brand-healthy-new Parlor Palm now sits proudly in CP's old corner. I'm pleased as punch. Here's to hoping Dale's plant-savvy has rubbed off on me.

Now I certainly hope my challenges do not in any way dissuade you from inviting a plant into your own home. While they do require some specific care, the exciting memories and good times they add to your life are priceless. (lol)

In fact, there are several ways I enjoy bringing a touch of the wild into my home, not only via rare tropicals (jk) like CP, but with furry beasts and flying friends too. Perhaps the reason we're so attracted to nature and animals is they're perpetually authentic, unlike us humans, forever cloaked in the drama of our personalities.

Do you have some favorites also? I'd love to hear about them.

Parlor Palm. Found the little butterflies hanging from the plants in a flower shop in Budapest.