Two weekends ago now, we spent a couple days in a small cottage alongside a massive lake. A place we'd never been, but hope to return.     We ate dinner and we met friends, and it was extraordinary.   We bought fish directly from those that fished it. We spent the day with the sun in our eyes and the shoes off our feet.   We swam in that very large lake, we walked for coffee near dawn. And we spent time giggling with these two.   It was one of those weekends that felt like all the perfect parts of summer rolled into two short days. One of those weekends that July and August are made for.   Too, we came home with the Mjölk book. It's the first in a run of coming volumes inspired in part at least by those self-published books you find in Japanese boutiques. And I think by craftsmanship and design. And by passion and travel too.   And I'll tell you what, it's beautiful. Find it here. xo, n       this song this pizza truck these images (via) blood orange cocktails summer berry tarts! this bag these sandals and these apple fritters       also, these things from mjölk: this knife these little trays these coffee scoops these bowls this brush       all photos courtesy of mjolk
    The pictures here don't relate to my title so much but suffice to say, they came from a trip with equal beauty to that of the week before last. We arrived in the dark late Thursday to a small cottage far off the beaten track. A place near Cold Spring, New York in the Hudson River Valley. A part of the state that I hadn't been before but one so full of beauty, I'm certain I'll be back.   We awoke early Friday to a farm so quietly beautiful that it took a moment to take it all in.     On our way to breakfast we walked the wrong way down the drive and found ourselves smack in front of two spotted pigs. They ran toward us at a rate I was surprised to see ears flapping and snouts snorting. It was awesome.   We saw fields of fireflies, pastures with cows and more deer than I could reasonably count. We saw piglets and chicks and tiny wee goats.   We sat by a boathouse, we drove to the city to watch a game, we ate cookies outside and drank champagne on the back step. It was busy and tiring and pretty close to perfect.   I'll be back with pie later this week. Until then, hope things are swell. xo, n     this post these sandals and these ones too this looks fun DIY bracelets (via) i like the pizza here i'd like to spend a weekend here (via) this town looks nice there are still tickets left to my sunday suppers workshops, you should come! the hudson highlands are beautiful and this looks delicious     photos in this post are by michael graydon for, into the beguiling wild, by tara o'bradymichael graydon & me (in kinfolk magazine and including recipes) and find tara and my campfire twist bread in video, here. yum!
[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/39851788[/vimeo]       For 10 days back in 2011 we made a film about my dad's role in HG. This is a story about who my father is and about how he makes HG possible. xo, n

hi. happy summer!

i’ve pulled the summer dresses to the front of my closet
and i’ve started wearing shoes, sans socks.

this morning i saw a momma bird
feeding her baby birds
and i giggled aloud on a downtown street.
it’s possible i looked crazy.

this past monday i spent near eight hours at the beach,
i laid in the park in the summer sun.
i grilled hot dogs
and i ate frozen cream.
i drank beer on a patio
and sipped tequila after dark.
i played frisbee
i ate popovers
and i walked through
neighbourhoods
i didn’t already
know.

 

it felt like summer. in may. and for all that,
i’m glad.

xo, n

 

ps:
how about there?
what sort of summer
(or winter) things have you been getting up to?

 

 

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HG NEWS

our ongoing items are slowly growing, watch for new items soon
my new guest series starts next week and it’s about PIE!
our porcelain bowls are perfect for ice cream and they’re available for a limited time only
these coconut rochers are delicious
our beeswax salve is great for cutting boards and it’s made in small batches right here in toronto
plus, the first two photos: michael graydon // styling + food: me
and the last two: all me


 

this cake looks and sounds lovely
this salad looks tasty
the second photo in this post. i love love love sweet peas
watermelon and honeydew sorbets
this image
and this one
cutest cat toys ever
this loveseat
this light
super cute crafts for kids (via)
and my instagram

 

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it’s officially spring here
i’ve got my window open just a crack
but the way this season smells is quickly making the rounds.

there are baby buds on the trees outside,
and small white flowers springing from the dirt.
there are birds, scattered and scampering and flitting around and
singing the beautiful songs of spring.

there are flowers outside at the market now.
buckets lined together in short tight rows,
plastic pails filled with water and stems.

 

there are seeds for sale on the grocers’ shelves
sweet peas and petunias and all kinds of green.

it’s the season of pretty here
and that’s a brilliant thing.

 

 

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i also wanted to share
some beautiful photos of the apartment where i used to live.
it’s a a place i still occasionally work, but no longer make my home.
it was shot for covet gardens by michael graydon, a name you see around here often
and who happens to also be my partner in crime.

i’ve also been working on writing my recipes down lately,
something i’m still practicing at but am enjoying just the same.
i love this one for sakura candy corn,
and this one for custard doughnuts with rhubarb sauce in issue 21 of covet gardens.
it’ll take longer than the candy corn but it’s well worth the effort!
the doughnut dough portion of the recipe is an adapted version of this jelly doughnut recipe

 

AND i’ve also got some super fabulous news to share!
i’ll be announcing a new regular contributor here soon.
her posts will be based around travel, recipes and cafes,
and they’re going to be beautiful!

 

PLUS an HG update soon!
and more big news on the way as well.
that’s all for now, friends.
hope things are swell.
xo, n

 

 

 

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these notebooks and these ones too this soap this photo cocoa carrot cake my blog feed is fixed, you can follow along here these shorts how great do these look?! (i love the 4th photo!) i'd really like to stay here! (via) dip-dyed lamp shades these glasses (via) these look perfect so much goodness in heidi merrick's spring line and this looks like it would smell nice