Clocks a tickin’
February 8, 2023
With Valentines Day less than a week away you might want to put a little thought into what to give your Valentine. No Valentine on the horizon? Well, treat yourself! Below are just a few tried and true treats that are sure to bring a smile and a big hug.
Top To Bottom:
Who wouldn’t love the holiday’s signature color realized in cashmere?
This little homemade indulgence is so simple and a sure fire hit. Chocolate Raspberry Champagne Truffles.
Who could resist cozying up with this fiery pillow from Knoll. A romcom and pizza in beats fighting a mid-week dinner crush.
Available nearly everywhere and at no great expense. Sweet and sweetly scented carnations in pink. Just a few tucked into a small vase or cup can hit just the right romantic note.
White Gold, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold…all by itself, in combination, or with the addition of diamonds. Tiffany’s Lock Bangle. Simple, quiet and modern in any configuration.
This rosy red Bromeliad could brighten someone’s desk for months if they’re still working from home.
And for those ” clock watchers” , this Hemisphere wall clock with it’s hot pink face is sure to be a hit.
photos: Truffles and carnations gp All others via their respective sites.
Cheers!
January 2, 2023
Yes, we made it through yet another tumultuous year. So rather than looking back and revisiting or rehashing things we cannot change, I’m looking forward…armed with my usual supply of fresh Sharpies, a clean sketchbook and the best attitude I can muster. I’d like this to be a year of great joy and happiness, great health and prosperity, and unlimited creativity for us all. And, a little Champagne never hurts. Happy New Year!
photos: gp
Merry Christmas
December 25, 2022
If you were hoping for a white Christmas, well, wish granted. However you are planning on celebrating the holiday today, stay warm…be safe.
photo: gp
Midwinter ’22
December 19, 2022
Midwinter. Odd name for the Winter solstice which is actually the first day of the season. Call it what you will, it is absolutely my most favorite of days. It marks the shortest day of the year in terms of daylight but signals the slow, steady increase in daylight hours as we move into spring. Sure, it might not seem like a big thing to you but trust me, if you live anywhere near the Midwest, you will immediately notice that the sky has not gone to pitch at 4:45 in the afternoon. There is a feeling of hope…yes, that spring is just one season away. So, celebrate with me if you care to, with anything ( hell, everything ) that reminds you of spring… and relish every extra minute of daylight. Tradition would have us festooning the place with evergreens, lighting candles indoors, building a roaring fire outdoors and gathering together to embrace hope within the darkness. To follow are just a few of my favorite ways to celebrate, from candlelight to a roaring fire to every and any white bulb flower mixed in with winter greens and other white seasonal selections. Something hearty and herby for dinner finished of with a lively Winter cocktail and the celebration is complete.
Brandy Stinger. The perfect Solstice cocktail. Equal parts Brandy and white Creme de Menthe on the rocks. Done.
photos: gp
On your mark, get set…
December 12, 2022
make! Now or later, it’s time to start thinking about those holiday sweet treats. While it’s easiest to just pick something up at the market, it’s just a little bit Grinchy. None of my favorites below are complicated or involved. If you make the decision to limit your selection to just one or two, the process is not only doable but will be greatly appreciated by all you share them with. As you work your way down the list you will find that there are simply no bad choices.
Candied Orange and Ginger Bark
photos: gp
Ya gotta start somewhere.
November 30, 2022
Today I’m starting with an armload of yellow twig dogwood and white pine boughs. This should fill out my large midcentury concrete bowls at my front door nicely. A few lights and done. Moving indoors I’ve selected pics from the last ten years that can take you from simplequietmodern and natural, to vintage shiny holiday combinations. Plus a few new floral ideas to compliment a modern mood and Christmas tree alternatives that offer a great bang for the buck. The holidays are upon us, so better get on this before the supplies run out. Maybe a smart cocktail and a visit to the simplequietmodern archives for the months of November and December will help kick start a fresh holiday tradition for you.
all photos except 3,6,7,10,13,15, 19 by gp.
Credits given in respective post accessed through the archives.
In all things…
November 23, 2022
give thanks.*
As I look through the last 10 years of simplequietmodern I think of some of my favorite holiday posts.
Top to bottom:
Free for the taking, perfect dried oak leaves to gather and scatter across your Thanksgiving table or attach later to adorn a holiday gift.
Locally grown and pressed apple cider. There is nothing like it. And, I like it even better with a shot of bourbon.
The best gathering table ever as seen on Gardenista.
My favorite Thanksgiving table … rusty Bosch pears, gathered oak leaves and assorted nuts in their shells.
So much better than pumpkin pie, this roasted Hubbard squash pie. Trust me, it’s worth the added effort.
Cooking up a storm for the holidays needs the right equipment. The perfect start is this linen apron from Fog Linen.
Pink in the Fall? Yes, yes and yes. The perfect compliment to all of your assorted naturals and browns.
A step up from an apple cider and bourbon cocktail…the classic old fashioned.
Besides holding a warming Chai Latte, the Heath Ceramics Tall modern cup makes the perfect receptacle for a cluster of fragrant garden roses, like these Polo.
Pilgrim Modern anyone? Yes.
Leftovers almost better the second time around. Assorted roasted vegetables topped with poached eggs hit the spot on the long holiday weekend.
What a simple weekend getaway for any of the winter holidays.
Elf has got to be playing or streaming somewhere. Wrap yourself up and settle in for the night. The guests have gone.
*Thessalonians 5:18
That Reminds Me
November 20, 2022
This sudden Winter blast reminded me I should have knocked one of these out a month ago. Apparently a 70 degree start to November had my mind elsewhere than keeping warm. Queue, my improvised cap, is as simple to work as possible, even for a beginner. Using about 1 1/4 skein of DK weight yarn and a pair of #7 needles, you simply knit up a swatch of Mistake Stitch Rib large enough to go around your head and as long as you’d like your cap to be. After binding off in pattern, sew the piece up the long edge. To finish, thread a double strand of yarn and stitch around the tube about 4″ from the top edge, pull to gather from the inside and tie off. Done. I told you it was simple. Once you’re on a roll you might want to make a couple extras for Christmas gifts.
photos: gp
Just a touch,
November 7, 2022
and your Wick is lit, literally. Wick, a modern spin on nimble Jack’s classic candlestick, requires only a quick charge to provide you with just the right amount of warm, portable LED illumination. And, now that the clocks have turned back and sunset occurs before most of us have closed up shop for the day, we can all use that little extra bit of light. Available singly and in multiples, in black, brass, graphite or white finishes. Try a couple for yourself and I can see them migrating to the top of your Holiday Gift list.
Photos: Graypants
Never Forget
September 11, 2022
May all of those who died in the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and fields of Shanksville, Pennsylvania rest in peace.
World Trace Center photo: unknown flag photo: gp
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