End of Summer BBQ

I've been doing an End of Summer BBQ's for a number of years now. It started with a farewell BBQ for my Cousin. She was here in NY doing her Veterinary residency. When she got a permanent position back in California I threw her a congrats...so sad to see you go BBQ.   About three years ago I started adding a theme to the BBQ's. For that year I created a Farmhouse theme.

I had tons of Sunflowers baskets it was simple and relaxed. Last year I did a beach theme. (Sorry no pics) with seashells, grasses and a body-board to add to the atmosphere. This year was Tuscany.

 I made toparies and grape vines.

 I had so much fun. Here are a few pictures of the day

I learned that deciding on the theme far ahead gave me th speace to really enjoy everything I did. Not to mention waiting for sales and taking advantage of coupons. I was able to work on all the design with so much ease. I enjoyed thinking about ideas, daydreaming on how to set everything up and creating. I learned so much as well, like sticky backed moss doesn't mean it sticks to everything. oh and the hot glue gun. That is a story for another day...

 hmm now to start thinking about a theme for next year....

Thanks for stopping by
XOXO
Esther

Where did the summer go..

Where did the summer go.... I've been super busy this summer working on the landscaping around the house.  Funny thing was I only wanted to do this small area of the yard.

 Every time I set out to work on that particular area. I would start somewhere else with all intentions of working on my little area in... just... a... minute. Well just a minute was 3 months later. But it is finally done. Super happy with the results. One of the things that lead me to want to work on this sections was the Irises. When I first bought the house there were about 10 of them scattered about in that section of yard. Over the years they were taking over the area. Last year I had pulled out about 50 plants. This year I pulled out about another 100.

I gave them all away via craig's list. I made quite a few people happy. I moved a bunch of the Irises along the fence. And some were left in the original home

 

 

In the back I added much needed weed control.



Next year I will really get to see if my vision was realize. If every thing comes back. LOL Here are some after photo. Enjoy!!

Thanks for stopping by

XOXO
Esther

The Train Show

One of my Christmas traditions is to go to the New York Botanical Garden Train Show.

Picture from the NYBG Train Show ad

When I first started going the train show was outside and it was so very small. Over the years it has grown and moved into the conservatory. Every year they unveil one new building that was created for the show.

I remember the year the replica of the conservatory was revealed

It is absolutely amazing to see the conservatory made out of all natural material. Every time I see it I'm still in awe in how they made it look almost see through. Another big one was Yankee stadium

They even put in the spectators. Oh yeah there is a sound track playing as well with  a game. It is so much fun looking at the trains going around

To looking at the details they put into all those creations. All the building they create are New York landmarks both still standing and torn down. For the last three years I've started going to the Bar Car Nights. In addition to the show there is a special complementary drink for you to enjoy while you walk around.

This year they were show casing the creator of the show Paul Busse. They showed how he created a building from start to finish

 

Here is a few pictures  of some of his other creations. 

Amazing isn't. Oh I bet you want to see this years new creation......Macy's the largest department store in the world.

Amazing detail don't you think. I hope you enjoyed. I also hope you make time to go and enjoy the Train show yourself.

Thanks for stopping by
XOXO
Esther

Happy Halloween

Halloween here on most of the east coast was cancelled due to the Hurricane Sandy. I'm sure all of you have seen news so I don't need to go into it. A week or so before the storm I had taken a couple of picture of some cool decorations I thought were pretty amazing. Enjoy the show

Isn't this great! It sure looks like you are going to enter a haunted mansion. So simple but so effective

This house is so cool! So many life size figures. The owner was there while I was taking the pictures securing everything for the storm. I sure hope they made it through.

Isn't this just creepy.... I just love it.. Yep I was grinning from ear to ear.

I got so many ideas from this house. Maybe next year I'll try my hand on create more of a scene. My house you ask... my tenants kids decorated. I meant to take pictures, they did a really nice job. But on Saturday I do so caught up in securing everything outside before the storm hit it slipped my mind. I had already taken most of everything down by the time I remembered.  There were many more houses I wanted to take pictures of as well. Next year. Hope your Halloween was fun!!!

Thanks for stopping by
XOXO
Esther

Vacation Part 3

 My finally adventure on my vacation was going to Vermont. I always wanted to go to Vermont and see the fall foliage. I had heard it was beautiful and I was not disappointed. Here are some photos

 

Yes that is a covered bridge but unfortunately not a working one. A friend told me that most of the covered bridges that still exist are not working ones. What a bummer! I was so looking forward to this romantic scene of driving through the bridge just like you see in the movies with the leaves flying into the air. Oh well, I just had to settle for walking through it. So I got it... just a little. 

 

 

The next few pictures are my view as I drove around Vermont.

 



 

I did stop by a really cute town called Brattleboro. There was so many super cute shops. I didn't let myself go inside any of them for 2 reasons. One I didn't want to go spending crazy and the other I wanted to see the foliage. And these shops looked like I could get lost in them for hours. I
had tons of drools just from looking at the window displays.

I do plan to go back I hope really soon. I never got to go to the towns that sell antiques. That I'm sure can be dangerous.

Thanks for stopping by..

XOXO

Esther

Vacation Part 2

On my last post I talked about my vist to Montauk point.

While I was out in the Island I thought I would take advantage and go to the Lavender by the bay farm that I had read about in the NY times a few years ago. It was so beautiful to see row after row of lavender

Here are some of my favorite pictures from my visit to Lavender by the bay.

 

 

 

Another thing I did while out on the Island was to go to some of the winery's. I mean why not I was out there already it would be a shame to miss the opportunity. I knew you would agree with me. Here are some of the place I visited.

 



One Woman winery. The place was adorable. The little house was the tasting room. And yes the place is basically run by one woman. She does nearly everything from tending to the grapes all the way to making the wine. The tasting room has only one man hee hee hee on staff. The rest our woman. It is the only place where the One Woman hires help.

 

My next stop was the...

 

 

Sparkling Pointe  vineyard. Where One Woman was rustic and homey, Sparkling Pointe was elegant with chandeliers, Italian music and a new glass given to you for each pouring. They are the only vineyard from what  understand that does champagne on the Island. They do it traditionally as will. with the fermentation done in the bottle.

 

The last vineyard I went to was Vineyard 48. I had been to this vineyard before.The reason I went back was because they had a outstanding Cab Franc. I really wanted another bottle. The place had changed dramatically. They turned into mainly a party place with frozen sangria. Yep you can cringe right along with me.  And yep you guessed it there was no Cab Franc. Sorry forgot to take pictures..my Freud came out.

 

Stay tuned I have one more adventure to share from my vacation in my next post.

 

Thanks for stopping by

 

XOXO

 

Esther



Vacation Part 1

Hi Guys I had two full weeks of vacation at the of September. I haven't taken 2 weeks at one time in a long time. So it felt super special. I had decided to do 2 day trips to places that I have been longing to go. One of the places was Montauk Point. I heard about how beautiful it was and that inspired me to go. I imagine myself going to the furthest point of Long Island. standing on the sandy beach with the wind blowing in my hair.

Well it didn't quite turn out that way. No sandy beach at least not were the light house was. But it was still very beautiful.

At the point it was very rocky and the beach was mostly fisherman. I believe it was call surf casting. From the photos on the museum walls some big fish have been caught from those very shores.
The lighthouse was one of the first ever built in the USA.

The museum itself was very nicely done telling the story of the point. I was very surprised to see how much of  the land the lighthouse stands on has been eaten away by the sea and preservation efforts  taken place to keep the rest of it from washing away.

I stay over night at the Sole East resort. The room was awesome!

Everything in the room was white except for the curtains and pillows. It was very tranquil and Quite. Oh my god it was so spectacularly quite just loved it. I wish I had taken photos of the lobby. It was also all white with brown sink and hug you chairs. Really loved it. And of course dinner at the Backyard restaurant. Which was part of the resort. Yep forgot my camera in the room and kicked myself for it. But at least I can tell you what I had. Butternut squash soup, pasta with roasted tomatoes, chickpeas and peppers. Super yummy and for dessert a chocolate torte to die for. If I go back to the point I will most difinetly be going back here for dinner. Yummmmy!!
More of my adventures on the Island in my next post.... stay tuned

Thanks for stopping by
XXOOO

Esther