Blenheim Palace: Dressed for the Holidays
It has been almost thirty years since I last visited Blenheim Palace, and it brought back a wonderful whirl of happy memories. Fourteen of us were ostensibly in Woodstock for… Read More
Author: Bettie Bearden Pardee
A Downton Abbey-Inspired Christmas
Can you think of anything more glorious than reflecting back on your favorite scenes within this series that won our hearts…and then using those memories to inspire your own Christmas… Read More
Happy Thanksgiving!
From our table to yours, the very happiest of Thanksgivings!
Creating a Thanksgiving Centerpiece
It’s the tail end of the growing season; time for cutting back, pulling out, bedding down. And thinking about making an arrangement with those worthy leftovers from the garden. So,… Read More
The Swanhurst Theater: A Private Home for Music Aficionados
The Swanhurst estate, though certainly not as well known or visible as some of its neighbors, has a delightful story that deserves to be told. Dating back to 1851, it… Read More
Autumn in Newport: A French Setting
It was the perfect pairing for a Saturday in early Autumn — lunch with friends, to include a croque forestiere (loaded with wood mushrooms) and a stop by my favorite… Read More
A Wine Cellar Supper for Halloween
Happy Halloween! I normally don’t give much thought to this particular fall “holiday” (other than a few years ago when I over indulged with a Venetian Masquerade Fête). But a… Read More
A Passion for Fall Plants
While our gardens may already have been put to bed, there is one garden source that never seems to sleep — “The Farmer’s Daughter,” just over the Newport Bridge in… Read More
Dressing the Library in Fall Color
Fall is my favorite season, though it looks like it will be very late this year (the leaves are all still happily green). So to tide me over, I’ve gathered… Read More
Oops! in the Garden
This annual post has proven to be as much a confessional as it is a reality check, always prompting me to remember that without these learning experiences there couldn’t be… Read More