Christmas Eve, Observed, a pop-up concert, and how we repurposed the leftovers for a quiet repast at Gumbo Cove.

The results of an experiment with holly and yaupon holly berries as an accent for a beautiful holiday appetizer platter.

Gleaming pictures and a poem about “place”, inspired by the exquisite place settings at Andrew Carnegie’s Skibo Castle in Scotland.

Join us for.a delightful summer afternoon tea at Skibo castle, with a bonus tour of the ‘house’ and gardens that once belonged to Andrew Carnegie.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it’s just about the food and the family, with no extra expectations or requirements. A meal that’s rife with memories and laughter and rich, satisfying food that you don’t normally eat.

Tom-Erik and his wife Anne-Grethe ooze gracious Norwegian hospitality, making you feel as welcome and easy as a summer sunset at their home in Kongsberg.

We sat at the breakfast room table, the four of us, for a couple of hours, telling stories, sharing our hopes and dreams for the future, and reveling in post-vaccination togetherness. It was incredibly restorative.

A quiet story about coming out of a long, silent austerity into the startlingly lush experience of in-person conversation and a meal with another couple outside of our bubble.

The Grill-Meister and I celebrated Valentine’s of 2020 at Field’s restaurant in Bay St. Louis; we’re reliving the memory with the photos.

All that’s missing is the food and the folks.

Food is art! These beautifully arranged culinary exhibits at a workshop in Paris made me feel satisfied before I even took the first bite.

Food & Wine published a compilation of seminal and iconic food photography – it’s truly foodie-worthy.

Steak is on the menu at a tiny dinner party at Glover Gardens with international guests.

Gorgeous silver and white dining room decorated for Christmas – even the chandelier!

Thanksgiving is about food and family and memories and connections.  Sometimes those connections are new, with folks who would be family, only if they were near and known. I made such a connection tonight, with a marvelous lady named Cathy,  from the land of Facebook…

A beautiful table signals to guests that they are special, and the event is significant.

Thanksgiving means food and family and fun, and I enjoy the process of getting ready for it. Check out some of the Glover Gardens standards.

I used to live in a 1920s pier-and-beam wood cottage. It was really fun to dress the old girl up for the holidays. Some of the table-setting tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years are illustrated in the photos from a special holiday dinner when my folks met my inlaws-to-be for the first time.

I like starting from a blank slate and creating a sense of bountiful harvest and plenty in my dining room for Thanksgiving.

A co-created centerpiece brings the family together in a meaningful discussion of what we’re thankful for.