Our weekend at a friend's country house began with a long trail ride - Hannah on the naughty Irish Connemara who stopped to nibble brush, and I on the obedient Quarter Horse who followed the gentlest of commands. Heaven.
Author: Wendy Franzen
Morning at the Beach
all photos via the aesthete and the dilettante
Fall Cravings: The Oversized Knit
The cool evening temps here in Chicago have me longing for cozy knits in soft neutrals. Paired with everything from tone-on-tone skirts and trousers to leather leggings or lazy Sunday denim, your chunky, borrowed-from-the-boys sweater will become a fall wardrobe workhorse. Below is my round-up of options for every budget. I'm already dreaming of football … Continue reading Fall Cravings: The Oversized Knit
Nature’s Polka Dots
all photos via the aesthete and the dilettante
Maple Glazed Cream Puffs and Mini-Eclairs
Let me set the record straight: I am NOT, by nature, a baker of fancy desserts. Or overly involved desserts. If you'd like any sort of crisp or pie, I can do that for you. Cookies? Coconut cakes? Lemon bars? I've got you covered. But 30 layer crepe cakes? Dyed, rolled and personalized heart cookies? … Continue reading Maple Glazed Cream Puffs and Mini-Eclairs
Tomato Season
"There's only two things that money can't buy - true, true love and homegrown tomatoes." - from Kevin West's Saving the Season, a cook's guide to home canning, pickling, and preserving We picked the first giant, juicy yellow tomato from our garden last night and sliced it into a caprese salad while it was still … Continue reading Tomato Season
Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream Sundaes with Bourbon Whipped Cream and Toasted Pecans
So I've been a little obsessed with making ice cream this summer. It started several months ago when I stumbled upon the Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home cookbook and realized I could make her insanely good Salty Caramel Ice Cream rather than pay $11 a pint for it at our local specialty foods store. … Continue reading Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream Sundaes with Bourbon Whipped Cream and Toasted Pecans
The Gifts of Grief
My hope is that someone experiencing love and loss will read this and feel comforted and less alone. It has been almost 6 months since my mom died and though I'm better, I am still sometimes oppressively racked with grief. It doesn't render me incapable of experiencing joy as it did those weeks following my … Continue reading The Gifts of Grief
An Unforgettable Night at NEXT
Last night, I had the extraordinary experience of dining at Next for a best friend's 40th birthday celebration. 19 courses, 3 1/2 hours, rare wine pairings. I am exhausted and bleary-eyed (we were at the 10pm seating, finishing at 1:30am) but I must get the words down while the night is fresh in my mind.Next, … Continue reading An Unforgettable Night at NEXT
First Harvest
The cold temperatures of spring and early summer gave our garden a very slow start. Despite a 24' x 8' bed filled to the brim with plants and seedlings, we've only had lettuce and herbs to enjoy. Until now! Seemingly overnight, bright pink tops emerged at the base of radish greens, several teeny tiny green … Continue reading First Harvest
the aesthete and the dilettante 