Fragrant Memories in the Making

"Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived"

~ Helen Keller

A welcoming home can have a variety of definitions dependent on the host. Particularly during the holidays. Whether an elaborately “Deck the Halls” decorated home or simple country pleasures- either can offer cozy hospitality as you welcome friends and family.

I see my own holiday entertaining history in chapters. A childhood story written by a mother who spent weeks baking cookies, and who welcomed the entire extended family for Christmas Eve. The buzz of little ones’ excitement & cooking hams wafting through the house. Stacks of Tupperware holding sweet and spiced cookies for dessert. Not only the sound of a crackling fire but the smell of wood burning fireplace. Christmas Dinner was the other side of the family with a sit-down turkey dinner.

During my teen years, the big Christmas Eve celebration moved to a social hall. A soup buffet wove the smells of vegetables, split peas, chicken & thyme. These are comforting “notes” for my 15 year old self, having lost my father suddenly. Early years of marriage and beginning our own hosting from our tiny Rosemere neighborhood bungalow. Popped popcorn for stringing with cranberries was an affordable & tactile decoration. For gifting— forcing charming Narcissus bulbs, with their heady fragrance. A cozy Christmas brunch featured the pop of champagne corks and the aroma of pancakes, breakfast sausage, fresh fruit — a meal cooked from the tiniest of kitchens & a 1940’s stove.

With much joy, the next chapter became one of young motherhood. The holidays took on a new meaning as we created traditions: the fresh scent of pine with a living Christmas tree to plant on our property and fresh-baked cookies for exchanging with friends and hot cocoa to drink while looking at lights. Our second son was a December baby, which was added joy of the delightful snuggling of a newborn.

Our current chapter is one of adults reimagining how we celebrate and entertain. New traditions replace elaborate Christmas Eves to intimate affairs— the smell of Irish coffee to enjoy while we watch favorite movies. And Christmas day greeted with the aroma of ham, with the added benefit of using leftovers for cooking Hoppin’ John on New Year’s Day. Smaller groups of loved ones throughout the season share charcuterie & cookies, replacing the need to celebrate in a smaller window of days.

As the pages turn from chapter to chapter, I realize how scents transport us to moments in our lives.
Sight, sounds, touch, and smell are truly our memory keepers that “transports you across though thousands of miles…”

Cozy Stovetop Aromatics

The addition of a few simple ingredients added to water on the stove writes the right notes of hospitality.
Adding aromatics to your stovetop as you prepare for guests and loved ones allows you to write your own holiday story.

Directions:

3-5 Orange or lemon slices, 3 apple slices, 4-5 Bay Leaves or Evergreen snippets, 1tsp Cloves, 1 Cinnamon Stick snapped in half,
1 tsp Ground Cinnamon, 1 tsp nutmeg, 1/4 cups cranberries, 4 + cups water

Add ingredients to a sauce pan on your stove top or slow cooker. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
Replenish water as needed throughout your event. *Do not leave pot unattended.

Beauty & the Feast

A Storied Thanksgiving Table

“Words set the tone for how the table is set,
and how the food will be digested.”

~ T.F. Hodge

The beginning of any event or tablescape starts with a story. Fundamental to both my business & personal life, storytelling writes the personal notes of an event in the margin. For me, the narrative to a celebration often begins with a heartfelt treasure, a color theme or seasonal florals. When it comes to Thanksgiving table styling, I believe it should reflect the gratitude of family history, reflection of the past year & of journeys to come.

I am partial to vintage china & serving pieces. Eleven sets collected over the years, to be exact. I often dream about the families that sat around their own table, sharing the holidays together. A new favorite is a set of Spode Buttercup, in amber and brown. Fitting of an autumnal table. Mixing in salt cellars, crystal jam dishes & the odd dessert plate for a sweet butter dish adds to the curated feel.

Linens are also a treasured finds at estate sales. Imagining the woman who quilted blankets or embroidered sweet details to napkins, tea towels, cloths & runners. One of my favorite cloths is Quaker Lace my parents received as a wedding gift in the late 1950’s. Layering multiple pieces creates charming texture.

Storied centerpiece collections I have created includes family photos of those who have passed, collected figurines, heirloom books, cake stands with Jack-be-Little pumpkins & gourds, and fresh flowers in favorite vases, tea cups & cream & sugar bowls. Favorite seasonal flowers & greenery include Heirloom mums, cottage roses, Dahlias, leaves, sunflowers, Amaranth, grasses, seed pods & Camomile. All in warm cozy tones.

Place cards, a pretty napkin & a sweet take-away at each place setting is a gracious touch for your guests. If you don’t have the perfect curated piece you have in mind, often thinking outside of the box results in a story personal to you. Whether family or framily, swanky or intimate, guest or host- setting a storied table is noteworthy.

Pam’s Tips for a Meaningful & Storied Table

1.
Shop your home on a calm day prior. A Sunday afternoon is a perfect time for me. Make your self a cup of tea & turn some music on. Carry a basket or bin as you connect with the past year while you “shop”. Look for old photos, family table cloth or candle holders, favorite vase or a collection from a trip or school year gathered over the past year.

2.
If you have a choice of china to choose from, organize your pieces and give a fresh wash if needed. Likewise with linens needing a fresh iron. *If you don’t like to iron napkins, a pretty paper works fine. Everyday dishes look special with a napkin & a favorite caramel placed on top. By adding a ribbon, jam jars substitute for vases with a nod to the harvest season.

3.
Organize all of your serving pieces. Coordinate with your menu. Add a note to each one… for what it is to be… along with the serving utensil needed.

4.
Place cards artfully created by you ahead of time. Or task the kiddos in your group to create one for each person the day-of. This becomes a fun project for all ages.

5.
If you are a guest and not the host, I love to recommend what I call a “Hosting” gift. A kind way to say thank you for all the intentionality creating your holiday celebration.

“She” Shells

“She sells seashells by the seashore,
The shells she sells are seashells, I’m sure.
So if she sells seashells on the seashore,
Then I’m sure she sells seashore shells.”

~1871 “The Family Herald”

You won’t find me selling my shell collection any time soon. Take me on vacation and my bag is always heavier on the way home. Shells, rocks, driftwood, sand—all collections of nature-made treasures. Each jar, shoebox or pottery bowl holds a cherished memory of a day, a stroll or adventure.

The beach has always been a refuge for me. Whether distant islands, the Pacific coastline or our unique Puget Sound. Walking bare feet along the shore. The repeated act of creating foot prints is meditative. Sometimes filling with water, others a perfect replica. My eyes scanning the shoreline ahead of me, looking for a treasure.

A favorite collection takes me back to the Long Beach Peninsula with our boys. Each Spring Break & Kite Festival Week were long & carefree days. Dogs running in the sand, boys building forts, plaster footprints, sandcastles & sandy sandwiches. A particularly intriguing find, buried in the sand. A collection of small toys. Treasures left for young boys to puzzle over and imagine who left them to be found in the expansive shoreline.

A memorable family trip to Hawaii produced a heartfelt collection of tiny shells from Kauai, reminding me of my father. Tucked in their home of a child’s shoe box and in my heart. More exotic travels to the Caribbean even turned up a turtle egg casing. Along with my other treasures from tropical travels, they are home in an apothecary jar. A conk shell from a Harbor Island lunch shack, sits atop a stack of books. An heirloom collection of shells passed on to me accent our Guest Room. And treasured white pebbles from a landlocked beach in Greece. A sea of white, which we soon discovered were marble pebbles of all sizes. Soft & smooth from their time tumbling in the harsh elements of the sea. A few now reside in a silver bowl on our coffee table.

Both reflective & celebratory memories can be found in the Puget Sound. My favorite beach scattered with smooth granite stones. Speckled & varied in size along with tumbled pieces of driftwood. A few chosen pieces find their way to my garden. Lining a pathway, grouped at the base of potted plants or added to our fountains for the birds & bees to rest upon.

Pebbles have found their way into my own art too. My signature pottery piece is called “The Pebble Pot”. Telling the story of the pebble, much like our own human story. Edges softened with time; comforting & familiar. This story is woven into the tale of the pebble that is tossed into the water. Its rings spreading further and further, reaching far beyond that initial splash.

Writing the chapters of endless summer days & winter respites, strolling along the shore, resting in a comfortable beach chair reading or exploring a new seashore are welcome anytime of year. A sense of gratitude washes over me for this tiny world nature creates for our enjoyment & balance—whether you find me selling seashells or not.

“The sea air and society were meant to coax her out of her shell before her season commenced. It didn't quite work that way. Instead, Maddie spent most of those weeks with shells. Collecting them on the beach, sketching them in her notebook…”

~Tessa Dare, When a Scot Ties the Knot

When Life Gives You Lemons—Get Creative

“Like the first ray of sunshine, a lemon wakes up the senses and refreshes the soul.”

~Alice Waters

The brilliant citrus flavor & cheery sun color of lemons always puts a smile on my face. In winter its addition to a holiday sauce adds a bright note. Long summer evenings are enjoyed with a favorite Happy Hour treat, the Lemon Drop. Lemon Chicken sprinkled with Herbs de Provence fills the house with a homey aroma. And a springtime dessert bar sings a fresh tune with a classic Lemon Bar.

“If life gives you lemons, don’t settle for simply making lemonade – make a glorious scene at a lemonade stand.”

~Elizabeth Gilbert

A favorite summer event for our young boys was a Lemonade Stand. Our previous home was on a corner of a cul-de-sac with a wide front lawn. Setting up their small table & chairs, a fresh pitcher of Lemonade with ice and slices of fresh lemons & cups. An a sweet hand lettered sign. The quintessential childhood entrepreneurial activity.

“In the simplicity of a lemon, there’s a complex burst of life.”

~Alice Waters

Lemon & Lavender mingle together in Italian countryside memories. A rental house in Umbria was our home for a week’s time. Lemon trees, fresh eggs & fresh herbs gathered from the property provided the base of many creative meals. The reminder that the simplicity of ingredients create a slow and sustainable approach to cooking.

“Cooking without lemon is like eating without tasting.”

~Daniel Boulud

I have considered my favorite pantry items previously. The humble lemon has alway resided on the top of the list. Other “must haves” are salt, olive oil, eggs, sugar/honey, gf flour, vanilla, cornstarch, baking soda, rice, chicken stock, beans, greens, cheese, chicken—and coffee!

“Lemons symbolize a fresh start; their zest is a reminder to renew and refresh.”

~Donna Hay

Springtime is the perfect time to incorporate this zesty citrus as a seasonal refresh!

Pam’s Favorite Lemon Bar

Ingredients:

1/2 c unsalted butter, room temp + more for pan

1/2 c confectioner’s sugar + more for dusting

1/4 t salt

1 c Bob’s 1-to-1 gf flour

4 egg yolks

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk

3/4 c fresh lemon juice (about 3 lemons)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter 8” square pan. Line bottom with parchment paper, leaving overhang on 2 sides; butter paper.

2. Make shortbread crust: Using mixer beat butter, sugar & salt until light & fluffy. Add flour & mix on low until just combined. Press into bottom & 1/2” up sides of prepared pan. Prick all over with fork. Bake until lightly golden, 15-20 min.

3. Make filling: In a large bowl, whisk together yolks, condensed milk & lemon juice until smooth. Pour over hot crust in pan; return to oven & bake until set, 25-30 min. Cool completely in pan.

4. Refrigerate until filling is firm about 2 hours or up to 3 days. Using paper overhangs, lift cake onto work surface; cut into 16 squares. Dust with confectioners sugar.

**I love to serve these Lemon Bars with homemade ice cream & sliced strawberries.

(Original recipe credit Martha Stewart 2019)

Wintering In—

“In the winter she curls up around a good book and dreams away the cold.”

~Ben Aaronovitch

December

Winter arrives each year amongst a flurry of holiday activity. To my heart, Winter Solstice surpasses the seasons most romantic event—Valentine’s Day. The longest night of the year. Giving way to a gently lengthening of days. Set against a back drop of the night sky full of stars, Christmas lights, kindness & tenderness.

“Every moment is a fresh beginning.”

~T.S. Eliot

January

Following the weeks of anticipating a new year, we turn the calendar to a fresh beginning. “Is this your slow season?” I am frequently asked. My answer as a small business owner is, “I don’t believe there is one.” Winter hits is stride with closing of books and tax preparations. One of my favorite parts of January is adding events & bookings to our calendar. With each inquiry of wedding florals, custom orders, popup invitations & nonprofit requests comes an excitement for the year ahead.

“I can buy myself flowers”

~Miley Cyrus

February

“Kindness never goes out of style,” and I feel is essential to all relationships, including ourselves. The shortest month of the year is the busiest for the floral industry. I enjoy spending the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day curating non-traditional gift offerings & designing fresh color palettes for our florals. I so enjoy selecting the perfect cards, self care products & plants to offer. February date nights consist of dinner & a movie. As amateur film enthusiasts, Mark & I commit to watching the award season movies.

“If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?”

~Percy Bysshe Shelley

March

The anticipations of spring always gets the best of me by the time March arrives. Pruning of Hydrangeas is winding down, garden beds are planned, seeds started, sprouting of green everywhere. Birds are gathering material to create their nests for the approaching season. My favorite cherry tree always shares her flower splendor, daffodils reach for the sun, cleaning and organizing every nook and cranny has begun.

During the winter months within its scurry of activities, I consistently am drawn to celebrating life’s quiet rituals. An extra cup of coffee in the morning, sipped from my favorite mug. A fire in the fireplace, Henry stretched out getting cozy. Striking a match to light a soothing candle. Curled up with a book from the top of my reading stack. Throwing new pottery pieces, painting or sewing. Organizing photos from the past year—a perfect way to experience gratitude. Sometimes the sun is shining crisp and clear, creating patterns of light on the wall. Or rain that seems never to end. Every so often, a gentle snow fall, covering the gardens in a clean blanket.

Whether your winter months reflect your own cozy nest, snow bird to warmer weather or mountain eagle’s nest to enjoy the seasons activities—cheers!