halloween in new orleansOctober 25th, 2011Halloween is serious business down in New Orleans. Whether a costume or a front porch, creativity and attention to detail really counts. These photos are from last October’s Halloween walk from the St Charles Streetcar to brunch at Uptown restaurant, Patois. |
Halloween is serious business down in New Orleans. Whether a costume or a front porch, creativity and attention to detail really counts. These photos are from last October’s Halloween walk from the St Charles Streetcar to brunch at Uptown restaurant, Patois.
at home with leetha & lanceSeptember 8th, 2011Today is a big day in our household. In case you aren’t a football fan, the NFL worked through the lockout and the first game of the season is tonight. Green Bay Packers are hosting the New Orleans Saints. I know this because from September – January our weekend often revolves around the watching of [...] |
Today is a big day in our household. In case you aren’t a football fan, the NFL worked through the lockout and the first game of the season is tonight. Green Bay Packers are hosting the New Orleans Saints. I know this because from September – January our weekend often revolves around the watching of football. I cannot make any joint plans on Sundays. My husband is a Giants fan, but seems like he’s tracking everything… the 1:00, 4:00, 8:00 games, plus Monday Night Football. Needless to say, when February rolls around, I consider our Super Bowl party one giant celebration to kick off my half of the year.
In honor of the evening’s proceedings, I’ve been saving this football-related a post. It features photos taken last season, on Halloween/game day for the Steeler/Saints. Before we even booked our trip to New Orleans, I vetoed going anywhere near the Superdome. Through a invitation of my friend Lisa, D and I still managed to crash a wonderfully civilized tailgate party run by Saints season ticket holders and Louisiana residents, Leetha and Lance.
First off, I would like to thank both Leetha and Lance for welcoming 2 Connecticut Yankees into their beautiful New Orleans home, for keeping the champagne glasses always filled and giving us the grand tour of their art-filled apartment. And thank you Lisa for bringing us to see yet another side of New Orleans.
I am in love with this drawing above the master bed. It’s done in graphite pencil and I believe the multiple panels are simply tacked to the wall with pushpins. It reminds me of something you’d find ‘in process’ on a studio wall.
Leetha and Lance are avid art collectors. Every wall of their New Orleans apartment is filled and there is a story behind each piece. I wish I had taken notes, but after a huge brunch at Patois and some general cocktailing in the French Quarter, you’ll see I didn’t even manage to meter most of these photos correctly.
Anyone counting all the fleur de lys in this post?
With a view like this, I would have been happy to stay here and watch Saints on tv, but eventually everyone piled into the elevator. While the rest of the party walked to the game, we went to dinner and watched from the bar at Brennan’s.
In the end, I will admit defeat. We might as well have gone to the Superdome. Our servers paid far more attention to the TV than they did to us! It felt like the city came to a halt to root for the Saints. In case you were wondering: yes, the Saints won that night. The next morning, we departed New Orleans with a lot of disappointed Pittsburgh fans.
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If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you may remember I had a great time eating my way through my first tailgate at a Seattle Seahawks game opening weekend of the 2008 – 2009 season. I am now 2 for 2 on exceptional NFL tailgating!
new friends in coto de cazaJuly 8th, 2011It’s no exaggeration when I say we caught up with a lot of family in California. After seeing my mom’s brother and sister-in-law in Torrance we drove south. Coto de Caza has to be the largest gated community I’ve ever visited and it’s where my stepfather’s youngest brother and his family call home. D hit [...] |
It’s no exaggeration when I say we caught up with a lot of family in California. After seeing my mom’s brother and sister-in-law in Torrance we drove south. Coto de Caza has to be the largest gated community I’ve ever visited and it’s where my stepfather’s youngest brother and his family call home. D hit the golf course with my uncle and I got the afternoon to hang with my aunt in the kitchen. She has quite a system for cataloging recipes, I wish I had photographed it.
I fell in love with these Cavalier King George Spaniels.
What a sweet disposition.
Resistance is futile.
Their backyard is more beautifully landscaped than any hotel we stayed at during our trip.
My aunt’s cockatoo did not like being photographed and kept a beady eye on me at all times. Luckily, with my telephoto lens I didn’t have to get in too close for this shot.
at the falcon’s roostMarch 1st, 2011Get ready for a little time warp. Today we’re going inside the Falcon’s Roost, a *super rustic* ski house in Rochester, Vermont. I first visited here in the late 80s and after our recent trip, I can confidently say, not much has changed except the removal of the wall-to-wall orange shag carpet… On the left [...] |
Get ready for a little time warp. Today we’re going inside the Falcon’s Roost, a *super rustic* ski house in Rochester, Vermont. I first visited here in the late 80s and after our recent trip, I can confidently say, not much has changed except the removal of the wall-to-wall orange shag carpet…
On the left is the mudroom entrance to the farmhouse. On the right is an old trailmap from Mad River Glen, the closest mountain with the taunting tagline, ski it if you can. I truly learned to ski at Mad River. I had snowplowed my way down Powder Ridge a few times, but somehow for my first run in Vermont, we didn’t start on the bunny slope. I’m sure it took over an hour to get back down to the lift line. Once I realized it was too far to clomp down the mountain in my boots, I gave up and decided to learn how to stay up on my skis.
For over 30 years, Falcon’s Roost has been a bare bones crashpad, largely visited only on the weekends. It sleeps 16, but with only 2 bathrooms I can’t quite imagine a full house. With my interest in cooking, I found the kitchen the most fascinating place for photos.
Our first morning, we had a light breakfast of coffee and scones before heading off to the Rochester Cafe for the maple sausage that had been on everyone’s mind for days. No matter what the time of day, the kitchen wallpaper never fails to fascinate me. There’s one phone in the entire house and when you have no cell service, it starts to feel like more like a life line than a land line. Unplugging from email, texts and Internet instantly adds to that sensation that you’ve stepped back in time.
Check out these stove top controls:
I always feel so much quiet stillness when I stay here. Since we weren’t barreling out the door for a day on the slopes, it was a nice peaceful morning in the kitchen.
Here’s my cousin Brent on top of a snowbank with Brandon Mountain in the background. It was his first time in Vermont.
I find very little joy and wonder in snow any more, but this Hawaii boy has got to get his fill. He’ll be completing his masters this summer. If Brent’s smart, he’ll escape Boston and find his way back to a place with warmer winters!
merry and brightDecember 27th, 2010Well, we’ve done it. We’ve survived the holiday season! Nothing says Christmas like a splash of red. I made more sparkling cranberries. And I completely forgot about this Marimekko Lumimarja tablecloth! I suppose my Nordic obsession has been going on for a few years now. The Alessi setup below wasn’t for Santa, but I bet [...] |
Well, we’ve done it. We’ve survived the holiday season!
Nothing says Christmas like a splash of red. I made more sparkling cranberries. And I completely forgot about this Marimekko Lumimarja tablecloth! I suppose my Nordic obsession has been going on for a few years now. The Alessi setup below wasn’t for Santa, but I bet he wouldn’t have turned down chocolate almond biscotti and Kona coffee.
I hope your holidays were filled with good cheer and good food!
tai comes to visitSeptember 7th, 2010What a minute, what happened? Fall is here and it’s back to school, back to business and back to my morning traffic jam. We’ve been trying to meet up with Peter, Salem and little Tai all summer long, to no avail. We finally squeaked in some hang time on Labor Day. Like any fun-loving 1 [...] |
What a minute, what happened? Fall is here and it’s back to school, back to business and back to my morning traffic jam. We’ve been trying to meet up with Peter, Salem and little Tai all summer long, to no avail. We finally squeaked in some hang time on Labor Day. Like any fun-loving 1 year old, Tai loves bubbles! She’s not afraid of the camera and has the most beautiful blue eyes. They’re so shiny, sometimes I can see my own reflection! 
in bloom: poppiesJune 11th, 2010My poor poppy plant was overshadowed by the rhododendron this year, but it still made a fantastic show for a few daysLast weekend was the end of the peonies. |
My poor poppy plant was overshadowed by the rhododendron this year, but it still made a fantastic show for a few daysLast weekend was the end of the peonies. 
return to shangri laMay 29th, 2010If you were fabulously rich and could own a home anywhere, where would you build your dream house? I’m not sure of my own answer, but let’s talk about Doris Duke, since in her case this was not a hypothetical question. Sole heir to the Duke tobacco fortune, this reclusive billionaire discovered Hawaii as she [...] |
If you were fabulously rich and could own a home anywhere, where would you build your dream house? I’m not sure of my own answer, but let’s talk about Doris Duke, since in her case this was not a hypothetical question. Sole heir to the Duke tobacco fortune, this reclusive billionaire discovered Hawaii as she traveled the world on her honeymoon. After building Shangri La on the shore near Diamond Head in 1937, Duke spent the rest of her life conintually evolving her Hawaii home into a showcase for her Islamic art collection. The property is still under restoration, but was opened to the public a few years ago. Our trip in March was my second time on this escorted tour of the Shangri La house and grounds.
If you want to tour this house in person, you’ll want to get a reservation well in advance. There are only three tours a day and they often sell out. The tour begins at the Honolulu Academy of Art. As a sidebar, during my childhood summers I used to take drawing classes here and I have fond memories of camping out in the shaded courtyards to paint or draw. Museum admission is included in the price of the Shangri La tour!
Your tour ticket includes transportation to Shangri La. Ladies, when you board the bus, you’ll be greeted with one of these large hisbiscus flowers just to remind you that you’re about to visit a true tropical oasis. Our final destination is strikingly close to my family’s home near Diamond Head. We could have walked there, but I’m sure the Kahala neighbors wanted to cut down on parking issues and foot traffic in this exclusive oceanfront stretch.
Upon arriving we were split into 2 groups and left at this unassuming entrance. It’s decidedly unassuming and will leave you unprepared for the breathtaking entrance hall screen and courtyard on the other side of the front door. You’ll have to visit or take my word for it… I wish I had photos, but they do not allow interior photography!
So you’ll have to take the online tour to see the inside, but what a backyard! Need to dock your boat? Of course!? Duke had this little harbor blasted into the shoreline and when she wasn’t in residence, it became a popular swimming spot for locals…and still is, as you can see below..
What a killer view from the main house! Behind the pool is the Playhouse, with Diamond Head looming in the background.
On the lanai, here is just a taste Duke’s art collection that you will see throughout the interior of the house. In college I took an Islamic art and architecture class from Sussan Babaie and for a while I contemplated pursuing art history. That phase has passed, but I still love the colorful tile-work and complex geometric patterns.
A little floral breather…Exterior view of Doris Duke’s bedroom.
And we’re back at the Academy of Art!
Grapefruits? Every time I see this photo I just love this fruit and floral arrangement! This vignette is right next to the covered outdoor seating at the museum restaurant. Need to fuel up before browsing the Academy collection? There’s lovely lunch menu and you don’t even have to leave the building.
in the moodMay 27th, 2010Wow, this stopped me in my tracks! According to WordPress, yesterday I hit my 200th post since starting this blog last fall. Thanks to all of you dear readers who check-in on my ramblings. I wish I had more time and photos to share with you! Earlier this week I was oddly moved to enter a mood [...] |
Wow, this stopped me in my tracks! According to WordPress, yesterday I hit my 200th post since starting this blog last fall. Thanks to all of you dear readers who check-in on my ramblings. I wish I had more time and photos to share with you!
Earlier this week I was oddly moved to enter a mood board into a online contest to update a home office. I’m not sure why, since I haven’t even contemplated decorating half the rooms Chez Dorney! I would even venture to say the biggest offender is my very own office, where I have piles of boxes, stacks of paper and a sum total of ZERO interior design effort.
This definitely isn’t my dream office line-up (below), but the task was Antro meets Coastal Living meets Restoration Hardware. This 2 hr exercise did teach me the benefit of having some vision assembled before going out to shop!
1. Anthropologie: Beach Bucket Curtain 2. Restoration Hardware: Lorraine Chair 3. etsy: refurbished vintage electric fan 4. Pottery Barn: Brentwood Floor Lamp 5. Ballard Designs: Le Poeme Rug 6. Pottery Barn: Conservatory Lantern 7. Anthrpologie: Small Rope Magnifier 8. Crate and Barrel: Strut Work Table 9. Restoration Hardware: Madeline armchair 10. Anthropologie: Reassembled Mirror 11. Ballard Designs: Tuscan Bookcase 12. West Elm: Weathered Wood Hanging Strand
Since it’s still the month of my birthday, I have a discount at Anthropologie (how cute is that candle necklace they send in the mail!?) and I intend to use to spruce up some lucky room in our house!
not what i had in mindMay 21st, 2010There some nice color in our front garden right now. The main show stealer is this peony from White Flower Farm. I thought I was buying a plant that would bloom with loads of pink frilly petals. Instead, a year later you can imagine my surprise when I ended up with these huge white flowers with bright yellow centers. After [...] |
There some nice color in our front garden right now. The main show stealer is this peony from White Flower Farm. I thought I was buying a plant that would bloom with loads of pink frilly petals. Instead, a year later you can imagine my surprise when I ended up with these huge white flowers with bright yellow centers. After all that waiting…I was not pleased. Every year I’ve come to resent my mistake (and this peony plant) a little less. I do despise all the harsh shadows in this photo, but the only time I could get out there with my camera was first thing in the morning when the sun was raking down. Brent’s coming down to visit this weekend and there is some planting to be done. I wonder if he minds working in the dirt? He can hang on the deck. I wouldn’t do that to a house guest. It’ll be great to have a weekend at home, we’ve been traveling every weekend in May!