Jewels in the Crown: The Opalescent Windows of St. Columba’s Chapel
When I first discovered St. Columba’s Episcopal Church about twenty-five years ago, an English rector…
13 Reasons to Celebrate Summer in Newport
It’s official — summer is here! And it’s a pretty good bet that sooner or…
The Merry Month of May in England
Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 90th birthday on April 21st, a prelude to what is…
The Sakonnet Garden: A Singular Sensation
Across the Sakonnet River from Newport — a ten minute boat ride but an hour…
Personal & Precious: The Art of the Thank You Note
In my most recent post we chatted about being a gracious host and a perfect…
Summer House Parties: 13 Tips for the Gracious Host and Perfect House Guest
Becoming the “perfect houseguest or gracious hostess” takes years of OTJ (on-the-job-training). Seldom do I…
A Tale of Two Orangeries
Part of the pleasure of building your own home in Newport is the ritual of…
“Rock Star” Architects in Newport: McKim, Mead & White
The architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White have been credited with defining the signature…
Cuckoo for Flower Containers
Charlotte Moss in her comprehensive book Garden Inspirations committed ten-plus pages to the topic of flower containers.…
A Don’t-Miss Wedding at Samode Palace in Jaipur
When a good friend, who has an adventure and travel streak in her, announces that…
Traveling in Style: the New and Improved Land Yacht
Those of you who know me are probably raising an eyebrow at the mere mention…
Wedding Mishaps: Handling Them with Poise and Grace
It’s the big day — you’ve been looking forward to this event for a very long…
Tulipmania: The Good Dirt on Tulips
Who doesn’t love tulips? And who cannot be intrigued with these exquisite flowers that…
Bistronomy: The Best New Paris Bistros
“Bistronomy” is the latest trend in Parisian cuisine. I was so pleased to experience it…
Thomas Jefferson’s Dovecote on the Rose Hill Estate
As a garden lover as well as an admirer of Thomas Jefferson, I was intrigued…