Helloooo?

May has been busier than ever around here. Derby kicked things off & finals kicked a few of us into high gear! We survived though and now my friends the tug of war between blogging & gardening has begun!

Remember last year when MR. attended Derby with clients & his hob-knobbing with the likes of Martha Stewart sent me straight to the nursery to buy as many peonies as I could get my hands on?

  Young & fragrant & full of buds, this year they reminded me that sometimes it’s better to stay home.

This had to be my all-time favorite way of prepping for Derby.

I was also making time, taking time, clearing a path, paying attention to details, rising to the occasion, and regaining focus.

Speaking of paths…

A new & improved garden path has also been in the works thanks to my son.  Payback for proofing all those papers…

Almost finished & with more rain & sunshine all that soil will soon be a cool corner of bluegrass for relaxing & catching up with you!

All under the watchful eye of you-know-who!

BTW Gracie. When was the last time you updated your  facebook page?

Classic, Poised & Confident

source

Today’s a day when I do not spend a lick of time worrying about the heat or humidity or my hair because today is a big hat day.

It also happens to be Derby Day and there are far more important things to be tending to!

photo, Southern Living Magazine

This quick post is about hats though and if you know me, you know I’m a hat kind of gal.

Peter Beaton Studio

My favorite style is a classic straw that I can dress up or dress down, depending on where I’m headed to.

That’s why I love hats from Peter Beaton Studio in Nantucket.

Peter Beaton Studio

The small brim Wauwinet with a good ribbon or one of my favorite scarves to be exact.

Peter Beaton Studio

Every Peter Beaton signature hat comes with a complimentary hat box as it should.  Thank you P.B.!

I’ve written a few hat stories before in honor of summer & Derby season but today I wanted to include some real beauties.

This is my absolute fave for Derby!

photo, Bella Grace Studios for G&G

Last year Garden & Gun hosted the 2011 Derby Breakfast at Farmington Plantation before heading to Churchill Downs.

The guests were classic, poised & confident and the hats were stunning! 

photo, Bella Grace Studios for G&G

photo, Bella Grace Studios for G&G

photo, Bella Grace Studios for G&G

There’s more at Garden & Gun.

And also here!    

The Best Hats for Summer , Splendid Straw & Crowning Glory

All Smiles

Dishes done, dessert in the oven, the house wide open and plenty of evening left.

On Easter we enjoyed an early dinner after the guys played nine which gave this mom time to pause & appreciate the day.  I rarely “pause” in the kitchen so I decided to document it.  This always clears the room!

Everyone made a bee line to the family room to watch the final round of The Masters.

Finally! Time to share with you a couple of little Easter treats that landed in my basket at the market. Nope, not the fruit silly. I’m talking about the adorable Lilly Pulitzer box of Barnum’s Animal Crackers!

I must have been in an exceptionally good mood while shopping because all sorts of bright & cheery products were finding their way into my basket. Listen, Christ had risen & it was time to celebrate!

Have you tried

Sanpelligrino Limonata?!?

Heaven.

They come in a sunny four pack to share nicely with others – if you want to.

The roar of the gallery in the other room and my dessert timer going off paused my “pause”…

I stashed my goodies & continued with tradition by dishing up my Great Aunt Eloise Stinson’s Apricot Cake for us all to enjoy while watching the adorable Bubba Watson win his first Masters!

 This year, Lilly Pulitzer and BARNUM'S ANIMALS have partnered with Operation Smile, an international charity that provides free surgery for children born with cleft lips and cleft palates.

 As the adorable boxes create smiles nationwide, they also are creating awareness for children who can't smile because of these facial deformities.

  I urge you to read this wonderful interview at

where Kathy Magee, Co-Founder and President of Operation Smile shares with Lilly Pulitzer how she & husband Dr. Bill Magee began their wonderful mission to bring smiles to those in need.

 

And one more thing…if you love Barnum’s Animal Crackers as much as I do you’ll appreciate that Lilly's Animal Cracker Tracker is back!  See the map below - I pinned the location where this darling box jumped right into this mom’s Easter basket!  Come on Lexingtonians - The greatest gift one can give is a smile!

BTW, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Bubba won.

Thank you dear readers who have inquired.

Here’s the story behind the recipe of

Aunt Eloise Stinson’s Apricot Cake 

I hope you love it!

                        

Unless sourced, all photos Lisa Porter

A Bluegrass Easter Basket

Over the weekend I came across a delightful, earthy & organic tutorial for DIY Eggshell Planters.

As soon as we finished breakfast (we had eggs) I bid farewell to my family and headed out to the garden with my ear buds & eggshells to share my version of this lovely tutorial with you!

I started by gathering my supplies.

A little garden soil and moss and new little sprigs of this & that to fill each egg shell and create a natural Easter Egg Garden.

I also gathered blossoms.

Both pink and white for just a little color.

The delicate blossoms were a bit to large for the individual shells so instead the varieties of moss became my focus.

I think it beautifully compliments my grandmothers Dresden,

and allows the eggs to nestle together nicely.

So a Kentucky Bluegrass Easter Basket it is.

My helper is waiting for the Kentucky Bluegrass Easter Bunny!

I hope you’re enjoying all the blessings of this season.

All photos above, Lisa Porter

To see this “DIY Eggshell Planter” tutorial in it’s original and beautifully photographed post I urge you to visit Megan at Postcards from the Robin’s Nest where she collaborates with her friend Jess Roy of Roy Joy on this “Easter Basket with an Indie Twist!”

Photo by Megan at Easy Dreamer Photography

Note this post was originally posted 4/4/12.  All content had to be re-written and published on 4/9/12 due to an issue with the Blogger App for iPad & losing all my original content.

Sorry for any confusion & thank you for all your wonderful comments, they are truly appreciated.