Down the garden path

On the right side of the house as you look at it, there's a little brick path leading to a side gate onto the backyard. Nothing much grows there because it's so dark and shady. There are some large rocks that are a weak attempt at a 'rock garden', but the idea needs work. There used to be a large yew bush there, but over the years it got overgrown and spindly at the bottom, it wasn't attractive. So I had it cut down. The path round around it but now that it's gone I decided I better re-route it.

Here's a picture of the yew stump and the wayward path. 

BEFORE

I had the stump removed and today I finally re-laid the bricks. I'd been putting the task off because I knew it was going to be grueling, sweaty work. And it WAS. I also got multiple mosquito bites on my back from hunching over I guess. Now that it's done it looks much neater and cleaner. Eventually moss will grow again on top like it did before (that's what shade'll get you). Now i need to do something with those damn rocks...

AFTER

Instagramming 3

Another set of pics only from Sag Harbor from my Instagram feed...my back yard gate, my "bar", that  nectarine/blueberry pie for the party I attended, my nightstand, majolica dish in the kitchen, and a beautiful hydrangea head from the backyard...




you can follow my on IG here.

Beach time

If you can believe it, I went to the beach for the first time this summer. I haven't had a car to be able to get there, but now that my friend Tony gave me his old car to drive I have wheels to get around.
It was beautiful at my favorite beach, Gibsons Beach in Sagaponack. There were maybe 5 people for as far as the eye could see (which is really none at all and the way I like it!)
Here's a pic of my toes in the sand.

Plaid pie

I know I've been blogging about a lot of pies lately, but they've all come out so nicely (if I must say), that I have to capture them on 'film' for posterity.
I was attending a party last night at my friends Marcia & Bob in East Hampton and I offered to bring dessert.
This one was yet another variation on the season's stone fruit options, nectarine and blueberry.
I did the lattice crust again because it's always a showstopper...and it cried out for me to shoot it on a plaid tablecloth with a plaid dishtowel propped nearby. Enjoy.

A Sag Harbor 4th of July

Absolutely perfect weather for this year's holiday weekend.
Two patriotic flag shots for this post, the first from the Instagram page of Sylvester & Co., the specialty food and gift shop on Main Street, and the second from yours truly, my treasured old flag hanging in the dogwood tree in front of the house.
Happy Birthday, America!

Instagramming 2

Another one of those times where all the pictures in my Instagram feed are all from Sag Harbor.
A nice snapshot grouping of the July 4th holiday weekend.



Starting from the top left and going clockwise, my blueberry peach pie I blogged about in a previous post, my record player and one of my favorite summer afternoon soundtracks, the bamboo in my backyard, initials in my bedroom, the moss covered brick path along the side of the house, and one of my specialties: chicken pot pie.

Sittin' on the dock of the bay

Well, maybe not exactly the dock...more like a bench. But it was a lovely afternoon at the bay beach just two blocks from my house. This was the view of the yachts and sailboats in the harbor.

Haven's Beach, Sag Harbor, Long Island

Patriotic pie

Couldn't let this holiday weekend go by without making another pie.
I wanted to make a classic blueberry, but at the grocery store in town they go for $6.99 a pint! A pie takes 3 pints, that would be a $21.00 pie! Too rich for my blood.
So I decided to buy just one pint and make a blueberry and white peach version....with a star spangled top crust in honor of the 4th.
The blueberries burst inside as it baked, making the whole thing blue anyway, so I guess it's a 'cheater' blueberry pie. I got my wish while still being frugal!