WATERSIDE WEDNESDAY: The Hamptons

I just got back from the beach late last night. Sharing photos from The Hamptons seemed like a perfect Waterside Wednesday post.

It was a great trip. I hawked my book, relaxed with friends, and ate scrumptious beach food.

We stayed in Amagansett (one of the towns on the south fork of Long Island, New York that is collectively called The Hamptons) at a former sea captain's house owned by my husband's best friend (since age three) and his wonderful wife Ashley.

Their home features gorgeous original details such as this carved newel post.

The house is located two blocks from the beach and a few blocks from the town's main street. Since I live where you need a car to go anywhere, it was a treat to be able to walk anywhere I wanted to go.

Most of the houses in Amagansett are covered in weathered wood shingles. It's hard to tell the historic cottages from newly built homes, because many humble dwellings have been added on to and remodeled through the years.
Many of the really huge oceanfront mansions, owned by the rich and famous, are hidden behind gates or tall hedges.
Originally a farming community, all but a few of the remaining barns are now guest houses.
Thanks to Hurricane Bill, the beaches were off limits to swimmers.
But our visit was far from a washout.
Ashley and I went shoe shopping! We each bought several deeply discounted pairs. These Progetti pumps came home with ME.
But women cannot live by shoes alone, so we also stopped to shop the end-of-season sales at Roberta Freymann (for cotton print beach kurtas), Purl By The Sea, a terrific yarn shop that is unfortunately closing in a few weeks, and Haven, Montauk's cool coastal home decor emporium.

Here's a peek at the beach glass candle cups I found there.

I'll be featuring more photos of the shop and owner Kathi Cogen's bright and breezy decorating tips on my Waterside Styles website next week.

On Saturday night we had dinner at The Laundry in East Hampton. Despite it being a hang out for the rich and famous, the only stars we sighted as I munched on their fabulous panko crusted crab cakes were the ones in the sky. They were highly visible from our table on the back porch.

On Sunday we had lunch at the Hampton Chutney Company. They specialize in dosas. These are large rolled crepes stuffed with the filling of your choice. But the real scoop was who sat about 20 inches from me at an adjacent picnic table...Paul McCartney.

Our friends said they run into him all the time. I was at the right end of our table and he was at the left one of his.

He looks fabulous, even close up. I need to know who his colorist is. It's the first thing you notice… his fab hair, then his boyish grin. No photo, alas. It would have been rude.

In the Hamptons, Paul is just one of the guys. He was lunching with his girlfriend Nancy and her teenage son. They planned to go on a post-lunch boat trip but Nancy thought the waves were too rough. Although the harbor looked fairly calm, if Paul had asked my opinion, I would have agreed with Nancy.

*** It's not too late to join Waterside Wednesday and win a little Italian fishie. I will draw one lucky linker on Thursday. Good luck. ***

HURRAHS AND HERBS

Sorry for the lack of posts this month, but I've been VERY busy writing and gardening.
Warning: This is a long post. You may want to read it in installments, as it may be a week or so before I post again.While I’ve been busy working on The Mystery Project, my garden has slowly progressed from early- spring flowers to mid-spring blooms.
That's a Peony 'Gay Paree' (below)
Next to daffodils, I love iris best. Nola's garden is a great source for them. Here are a few of my favorites. Iris 'Patty's Plum' (below) reblooms several times each summer.
White and purple 'Temple Song' and dark 'Sambuca' (below)
'Gypsy Romance' (below)

Two Toned 'Chartres' (below)...
and apricot 'Beverly Sills'...
and a mystery yellow one.

HURRAHS
Looking back at my last few posts, I realized that I forgot to mention…
That I finished the last 4 chapters of the Second Section of The Mystery Project at the end of April. Hip, hip, hooray!
There was little time to celebrate, however, just enough time to stop and smell the tree peonies (above) and wisteria (below.) I immediately started work on the Third Section of the book.
My first task was to establish a “voice” for this final section of the book. And, that’s what I’ve been up to day and night for three solid weeks. It's been slow going...
It took more back and forth (quotes or no quotes, first person or third, etc.) e-mails and calls with all parties involved than you would ever imagine. Over 250, but who’s counting?

Anyhow, judging by this e-mail from the publisher, I’ve nailed it.

“The text for these sample rooms is perfect. Truly. I have nothing to add. The voice is personal and warm. The information is the right blend of fashion reference with solid decorating information. There is no need to tell more than this in terms of the person living in the room. I like the way you sometimes give the person’s full name, sometimes just give the first name, and sometimes no name is given and instead you describe who lives in the space. This has the right touch. I am so excited for how this is turning out!”

Time to celebrate? No way! Even though six chapters are now done, there are another 17 to go!

HERBS
Unlike the past two weekends, this weekend I wasn’t glued to my computer. Instead, I was the featured guest at Heather Hill Garden’s annual Herb Festival.
Heather Hill is a small family owned nursery not far from where I live. I did a story about Heather Hill for an issue of Flower Gardens magazine not long after I moved to Virginia.
The owner, Bonnie, and I both had young boys and we became good friends. Bonnie's older son, Ben, took all of the photos in the "Herbs" section.A talented graphic designer and computer art student, Ben is off to college in this Fall. Time flies.

This year’s theme is a British tea party. Guests sampled herbed mustards (honey mint, tarragon Dijon, rosemary and basil whole grain), Victorian lavender scones, Cheesy herb puffs, and Herbed spinach tea bread (recipe below).
Beverages included chocolate mint teas and lavender/tarragon lemonade.
I shared my favorite herbal recipes and horticultural expertise. Visitors are always amazed how easy it is to improve any recipe by adding appropriate herbs.Lisa, who works at Heather Hill, demonstrated planting a strawberry pot with herbs.The weather was perfect, and a good time was had by all.


SPINACH SWEET BREAD
This tea bread was served at a luncheon at Caprilands Herb Farms in Connecticut. It’s based on a medieval recipe from 13th century Rome. I’ve been baking it for over 20 years and it always gets rave reviews. Just don't anyone it's made with spinach before they taste it!


1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons finely crumbled mixed herbs (such as parsley, thyme, rosemary, mint, lemon verbena)
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
2 cups chopped fresh spinach (if frozen, drain well)
Butter for greasing pans

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Using a wooden spoon or hand-held mix all dry ingredients, then add oil, eggs and spinach. Beat until well blended. Lightly grease one loaf pan or two half-size loaf pans with butter and pour in batter. Bake at 400 degrees F. for 30 minutes or until edges are just starting to brown and a cake tester comes out clean. Remove from pan and let cool. Freezes well.

Makes one regular size loaf or two small ones.

*** BLOG DU JOUR***
A Fanciful Twist is a treasure trove of interesting treasures. Here's how the author Vanessa describes herself: "I feel like a strange and curiously artistic woman from the 1800's trapped in the body of a thirty year old girl living in a bizarre Arizona." Visiting her is a real treat.

THE BLUE BIRD OF HAPPINESS

Until I moved to South, I had never seen a “real” bluebird. In NYC we had loud squawking blue jays galore but not bluebirds.

The first time I saw a true blue bird in my Virginia backyard, I was so delighted by their vivid turquoise color that I understood why they are knicknamed the “bluebirds of happiness.”

Each spring I impatiently await their arrival. This year, they arrived in my garden on April 10th.

Thanks to Sherri at Antique Paperie, I can now watch bluebirds all year long. Check out her amazing gift tags and other vintage goods at www.antiquepaperie.com.


THE MYSTERY PROJECT UPDATE
We are now working on Part 3 (the final section) of the book. There are 21 chapters. Two are done and the third nearly so.
Posts may be sporadic for a while, while I burn the midnight oil.

A NEW VIEW
As promised, here are some of Ian’s photos.

I included ones taken at my house, as well as a few others that show his unique perspective on the world at large.

Close-ups are one of his specialties.
I admire how he waits patiently to get the shot he wants.

Like a cat...

Watching a goldfishHe knows when the moment is right.I love columns and his photo of these three is fabulous.


Ian takes summer fun to new heights.
Marshmallows any one?
He turns seed pods into a graphic design.
Butterflies, too.

Even the forest floor takes on a new look.
Chocolate, one of my friendliest feathered friends, was fascinated by Ian


If you’d like to contact Ian about the rights to any of the shots shown here -- or to see more of his work -- you can write him at veritas718@gmail.com.