We end our stay at our friend’s home in the country this morning and head into the city where I will attend the National Stationery Show today. It is our tradition when we stay here to set the table and make the dinner the night before we depart. It is a fun way to say thank you, as the host can just sit back and be feted in their own home. One of my most asked questions at the shops is what to bring as a gift when you are staying as an overnight guest. While we enjoy taking our host out for a meal as a gift, it can be so much more relaxing to have a home cooked meal. Setting the table, putting together the flowers, choosing the wine, cooking the meal–all become part of the gift. For someone who has everything, the festive evening becomes part of a memorable gift. It was an evening filled with friendship, a tasty meal, good wine, and much laughter.
The Gift of a ‘Thank You’ Dinner
Happy Mother’s Day
From all of us at Watson Kennedy, we are sending happy & joyous wishes on this Mother’s Day. May it be filled with everything you want it to be.
Much love from Seattle, Ted
Orange Love
I was so struck by the strong visual of the color orange on the ‘Grace’ book I wrote about yesterday. Orange can be such a revitalizing color. I scrolled through my photos and kept stopping at all the variations of orange. The above roses a host gift brought to us the other night when we had folks to dinner. Loving the varying hues of fluttery orange.
Butternut squash before roasting and then after in risotto.
We served these the other night for the first time and guests adored them with cheese. I love all the variations of orange in each package.
Really such a great cover color.
The orange tulips this season have been out of this world. Next to a bottle of Veuve, I get a little lightheaded from how perfectly these work together.
Hard to beat the shade of orange that makes up an Hermes box. Hung as a bit of art in my office at the shop for a little orange happiness each day.
More roasted butternut squash mixed in with many other glorious colors to make a tasty salad.
Packaging that I think pops with the usage of the color.
This is one of my all-time favorite photos I have ever taken. The light was just amazing that day, steaming through the shutters in our kitchen. The tulips themselves so extraordinary. The combo of the light and the flowers–perfection.
Cheers to happy orange in whatever shade, shape or form it takes!
The Meaning of Roses
Yellow roses to be exact. 3 varieties of 700 yellow roses to be even more exact. My day yesterday was filled with them. You all know I was heaven. Any day I can be messing around with flowers is a very good day. Thank goodness she chose roses over tulips, as the 90 degree Midwest weather would have just eaten up my beloved tulip. The roses on the other hand–they are a hearty stock. This is the wedding of my brother’s daughter, Sarah. She is the first of his 4 children to be married. She takes after her Uncle, and is quite organized, a list maker, knows what she likes, and is a ‘make it happen’ soul. She scoffed at the idea of a wedding planner, and has organized this wedding down to the last minute detail. We have been texting each other for the last year, going over tons of the details. I offered to do the flowers for her, and that is where the yellow rose story comes in. I am of the mindset that sticking with one type of flower really makes a strong visual impact, and is much less complicated to work with if you are not engaging the services of a florist or floral designer. She liked the idea, so roses it would be. She chose 3 varieties, had them delivered early, and they have opened to near perfection. I wanted it to feel like we just walked out to the garden and clipped them on a warm day. Choosing a few varieties in the same color also adds a bit of visual interest, as they all open a bit differently. A quick Google and I was happy to see that they represent joy, gladness, and the promise of a new beginning. Right on mark for the day.
