Sheepskin: Rent A Cottage In Wales

Posted on | April 13, 2010 | 18 Comments

I’m dying to go to the UK. I want to see rolling green fields, sheep, and more plaid blankets than I could possibly shove into my carry on bag. Over the weekend a twitter chat brought me to Sheepskin. The cottages on the site are in remote parts of Wales many with beautiful rolling hills just out the backdoor.

Greg and I have talked about taking a trip this fall but we can’t decide. First it was Italy, then a road trip from Southern California to Seattle, but now I am leaning towards a London/Wales trip. But can we really take a trip? That damn house needs a new roof, gutters and fireplace repair ect etc this summer. Am I living in a fairy tale thinking I could possibly do both?

lletty 8 500x361 Sheepskin: Rent A Cottage In Wales

cragside 10 500x361 Sheepskin: Rent A Cottage In Wales

cider house 6 500x361 Sheepskin: Rent A Cottage In Wales

Category: travel

Ace Hotel, The Breslin and Stumptown

Posted on | February 18, 2010 | 7 Comments

Sorry for the lack of posting this week, I’m in New York. I’ve been a busy bee working and visiting with friends and family. This morning my sister brought me over to the new Ace Hotel on 29th street in Manhattan. Design group Roman and Williams transformed the space into a hipster Brit infused oasis. Check out the plaid wing chair in the above photo. The back of the chair was upholstered in navy wool decorated with brass tacking. So freakin’ cute.

Attached to the Ace is The Breslin a British style pub run by Peter Cho and the Spotted Pig (my fav place to grab a burger) crew. I walked through pretty quickly but I was struck by the green molding. In the sunlight the wood appears limey in the shadows it becomes a dark olive gloss. Tufted benches, thonet style chairs, and brass accents give the space a cozy feel. Need a little pick me up? Hit Stumptown coffee just off from the hotel’s lobby. I had a latte and croissant—super yum with a nutty quality. Above and below photos from Roman and William’s website.

Ace Hotel
20 W 29th Street
New York, NY
212.679.2222
acehotel.com

The Breslin
16 W 29th Street
New York, NY
212.679.1939
thebreslin.com

7 500x333 Ace Hotel, The Breslin and Stumptown

breslin meat room 500x328 Ace Hotel, The Breslin and Stumptown

ag stumptown3.jpeg Ace Hotel, The Breslin and Stumptown

Category: New York, eating out, interiors, travel

Simon Pearce: Quechee, Vermont

Posted on | February 1, 2010 | 17 Comments

Simon Pearce Showroom in Quechee, Vermont

We spent the a very cold January weekend in central Vermont. With the temperatures hovering around 10 degrees; snowshoeing was out of the question. Taking off my gloves to snap a photo was brutal enough. We spent the afternoon indoors visiting Simon Pearce’s workshop and restaurant in Quechee, Vermont.

Simon Pearce first opened his glassblowing workshop in Ireland. In the 1980’s Pearce moved his operation to a historic woolen mill in Quechee, Vermont. The Ottauquechee river roars just below, providing hydroelectric power for the glass furnaces along with electricity for the entire facility. Visitors can browse the retail store, watch potters and glassblowers at work and enjoy lunch or dinner in the restaurant overlooking the river.

Greg and I found the glassblowing process fascinating. Each piece is gorgeous and completely handmade. I made a mental note of all my favorite glasses, bowls, and pitchers to purchase once our renovation is done. Below photos of glassblowers and potters at work. How cute are the wool plaid curtains I spotted in the ladies bathroom? At the very bottom is the hydroelectric generator used to power the facility. Find out more at simonpearce.com.

Simon Pierce Showroom in Quechee, Vermont

Different Stages of Pottery at Simon Pearce

Category: tabletop, travel, vermont

Vermont Cheese Trail

Posted on | November 5, 2009 | 4 Comments

Consider Bardwell Farm

I dying to go to Vermont to check out their Cheese Trail. Vermont’s artisanal cheese industry has seen a big boom as more consumers become interested in handmade cheeses. I began my love affair with cheese back when I worked in new york. Every Friday I would pass through Grand Central Station to treat myself to a new selection of cheeses from Murray’s Cheese Shop. Murray’s selection is amazing and their staff is incredibly knowledgeable. Thinking back about all the wonderful cheeses I have tasted makes me salivate. God, I love cheese…maybe even more then chocolate. Well maybe not dark chocolate but it’s close.

The last few days it seems everywhere I turn I’m hearing about Vermont’s cheese movement. In the Novemeber 2009 issue of Martha Stewart Living is a lovely story about five Vermont cheesemakers. The cheesemakers were featured on her tv show today, click here for clips. On twitter, I found an articles on nationalgeographic.com and bostonmagazine.com about the cheese trail. I’m sensing a roadtrip. Have you ever gone cheese hunting in Vermont? Check out the cheese trail map here.

cheesemakers featured on martha
Blue Ledge Farm
Consider Bardwell Farm
Saxelby Cheesemongers
Thistle Hill Farm
Willow Hill Farm

p.s. I was checking out the farms and it looks like april-october is the best time to go.

vermont cheese man 435 Vermont Cheese Trail

Golden Seagrass In The Fall

Posted on | October 26, 2009 | 5 Comments

A few more photos from my Sunday afternoon in New England. Along the northern coast of Massachusetts are beautiful inlets you can hike and drive around. As the leaves on the shores turn vibrant reds the seagrass in the marshes turn into a sea of gold. It’s one my favorite things to see in the fall. The shots above and below where taken in Ipswich. The glow of the grass is unreal. It seriously looks like this in the afternoon…no photoshop tricks. The texture of the grass reminds me of a lion’s mane. Check out the location on google maps to investigate the inlets.