Friday's Photos - Owen's House Once Again

Over the years I have continued to receive many emails and comments about this post - which I did on Oct. 27, 2007. It amazes me that so many people became as enamoured with this set decor as I did.

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Happy Friday and Happy Halloween!!

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Some years ago - back in 1998 to be exact - a movie came out called Practical Magic, written by Alice Hoffman (novel). It starred Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock, Stockard Channing and Diane Wiest. It also starred Aidan Quinn and Goran Visnjic. I fell in love with this movie and have watched it so many times through the years I've lost count. I must admit one of the reasons I have watched it so many times was to see the house/set it was filmed in and the surrounding property. Set decoration and production design have always been something I've loved as much as the movies themselves. This house was built entirely (and torn down) for the film on an island in Washington and what an amazing job they did. The design and feel of that house really inspired me. I have tried to glean as much as I can from the look of the set and incorporate into my own home here and there. I also wish I owned and ran the shop that Sandra Bullocks character does in the film.

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It's a great fall/Halloween flick and features music by Stevie Nicks and Sheryl Crow (video posted below). It was also featured in Victoria Magazine article called, Casting a Decorative Spell, back in October 1998. Here is a little bit of that article.

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In turning Alice Hoffman's novel "Practical Magic" into a Hollywood film, Production Designer Robin Standefer had to conjure a fully decorated house --from scratch. One day she faced a barren patch of rented land on Washington's San Juan Island, then poof! a Victorian house grew. Here she shares the decorating tricks and secret sources that helped cast a decorative spells over this wonderful movie...Though this Victorian house looks as if it's been in place for a century, it's actually an architectural shell. Even the blossoms on the trees are fake -they're made of silk.

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The aunt's house is every bit a main character in the movie.... "I analyzed the descriptions of the stairways and the tangle of vines growing over the back door, and decided it had to be Victorian,"she (Robin Standefer) explains. "But it couldn't look haunted.It had to be clean and white, not fading and cobwebbed. The aunts never really age. Their magic keeps them young. What if they lived in a house that never really aged? The design, based on East Coast shingle style, evolved to include a lighthouse on top. "Women were traditionally light keepers and this was a house of women," says Robin.

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The Botany of Desire - Michael Pollan

If you get the chance check out the PBS show The Botany of Desire. This special is based on Michael Pollan's book by the same name. It brings Pollan’s exploration of botany and cultural history to life in a wonderful exploration of the four of the most important plants in human history. After watching this show I guarantee you won't view an apple in the same way ever again. Click on the above link to see more!!

Eating Better - New Recipe Tonight

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I've been trying to expand my cooking repertoire of healthier, good tasting, more veggies, less meat dishes. So tonight I'm trying out -- Whole-Wheat Pasta with Pumpkin-Seed and Spinach Pesto. I've had something similar to this before, and liked it, so we will see how it goes.

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Ingredients

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Makes 6 servings

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1 pound dried whole-wheat fusilli pasta
1 cup hulled pumpkin seeds, toasted
1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh chives
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove
1 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
2 1/2 ounces baby spinach, packed (2 1/2 cups)
Freshly ground pepper
3/4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese, for serving
Tomatoes, cut into wedges, for serving (optional)

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Directions

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Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid.

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Meanwhile, combine toasted pumpkin seeds, parsley, chives, oil, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, the lemon zest, and 1 cup baby spinach in a food processor. Season with pepper, and pulse until well combined.

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Toss pasta with pesto mixture. Add reserved cooking liquid, and mix until pasta is well coated. Fold in remaining 1 1/2 cups baby spinach. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Divide among 6 bowls. Top each with a dollop of ricotta, and season with pepper. Serve with tomato wedges if desired.

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Per Serving

538 Calories

16 g unsaturated fat, 10 mg cholesterol

64 g carbohydrate, 635 mg sodium

19 g protein, 8 g fiber

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(Photos Courtesy of Jupiter Images)

Friday's Photos - Dreamy Canopy Beds

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There is just something about a canopy bed. When my husband and I went on our honeymoon (many moons ago) we stayed in a huge hotel suite in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, with a spectacular view of the snow covered mountains. We were actually upgraded to a much better room, as we could have never afforded such lavish accomodations, at the time. One, of many, amazing amenities in that room was a big beautiful canopy bed. It made our stay all the more magical!!
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Happy Friday!!
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(Photos courtesy of Elle Magazine and Google Search)

Last of the Tomatoes

I just picked the last of the red ripe tomatoes (they smelled so good) from my summer garden - still lots of green ones left for my favorite fried green tomatoes this weekend.

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(above photos copyrighted to me - Sabina DeShazo)

Friday's Photos - Halloween Decor

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Halloween is almost here and I need to get moving in the decoration department. This year we are going with an alien theme for our front porch and I've got lots of ideas of how to make it really spooky!!

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There is a beautiful historic neighborhood, with large turn of the century homes, just a few blocks from my house. Each year the residents throw a huge, and I mean huge, Halloween bash. Hundreds of people show up for the entertainment and fun. Fire jugglers, tarot card readers, and unbelievable decorations and costumes. At least 20 or so houses participate and I can't wait!!

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Happy Friday!!
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(Photos all courtesy of Martha Stewart.com)

Blogging for the Climate - The World Is What We Eat

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Climate Change and Food.

Agricultural production around the world is responsible for nearly as much greenhouse gas emissions as all forms of transportation put together, so it shouldn't be surprising that the food choices we make have a big impact on the climate. From field to fork, an average dinner travels 1,500 miles.

Also, agriculture is extremely vulnerable to climate changes. Research suggests that 40 years from now, the impact of climate change will cause 25 million more children to become malnourished. Therefore, the effects of climate change on agriculture and the world’s food supply are likely to be extremely negative.

Although this issue can seem overwhelming we have no choice but to take it seriously, and take action now. President Obama while speaking at United Nations summit in September said that, "Unease is no excuse for inaction." I couldn't agree more!!

United Nation Climate Change Conference takes place in Copenhagen Dec. 7th - 18th.

*In the meantime - buy locally grown food and produce and stay aware of new ideas to support our planets future.

Ways to Eat Locally

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Shop weekly at your local farmers market or farm stand.

Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and get weekly deliveries of the season's harvest.

Buy from local grocers and co-ops committed to stocking local food.

Support restaurants and food vendors that buy locally produced food.

Preserve food from the season — freeze, can, dry — to eat later in the year.

Grow your own food in your yard or community garden plot.

Happy Blog Action Day and don't forget to check out the video below it is very interesting and informative!!

(Photos Courtesy of Jupiter Images)

Carolyn Steel: How food shapes our cities

Quote from Choosing Civility

"We never touch people so lightly that we do not leave a trace."

Peggy Tabor Millin ~

None of us are perfect, but we can all smile a little more and choose our words and statements a little more carefully. Think of something nice to do for somebody else – or go a little deeper – be kinder to yourself. If we all work at this a little each day - it will make a huge difference in all of our lives! :)

(Photos Courtesy Of Jupiter Images)

Nie Nie, You Rock!!

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I don't know of any of you caught Oprah last week when Stephanie Nielson, of the blog Nie Nie Dialogues, was her guest. Stephanie's story of a life interrupted by a tragic plane accident, and fire, and her on-going recovery is one I have followed closely over the past year. Her blog takes you on an amazing journey of love, family, and devotion. I turned on Oprah not knowing what the show was about that day, but quickly realized that Stephanie Nielson was about to walk onto that stage, and my eyes filled with tears. She has touched the lives of her readers on a daily basis, and is just an amazing woman!! Of course her adoring husband, "Mr. Nielson" as Stephanie refers to him, who himself was burned in the plane crash while trying to rescue her, was sitting next to her, eyes twinkling with love for his beautiful wife. She sums up the Top 10 Moments of the show on her blog - check it out.

Way to go Stephanie!!!

(Photo courtesy of Nie Nie Dialogues)

Loveliest Season of the Year

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When the trees their summer splendor

Change to raiment red and gold,

When the summer moon turns yellow,

And the nights are getting cold;

When the squirrels hide their acorns,

And the woodchucks disappear;

Then we know that it is Autumn,

Loveliest season of the year.

Autumn by Carol L. Riser ~

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It feels like Autumn at my house today, and I am a happy girl!!

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(Photos Courtesy of Jupiter Images)