Dreaming of an Orange Christmas

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Red and green are the traditional colors of Christmas, of course, but when I think of the holidays, I also think of orange. I remember visiting historical homes, such as Bayou Bend in my hometown of Houston (pictured below), as a child and seeing Christmas decorations made of oranges, apples, pineapples, and pears. </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUb1x0UJEMIkf_N3oUmiUV_w0C-WwBF-xMdqMt64G-dM2dNapqkpJHEyXZ9bkRB2teURuY7jqcN_ZCVLi1V1onrcg9cUZUulZ4tgxgaoDaytgRkNk32pEqQ6K_8msfcc7wRrYVYrkMLwBh/s1600/215bc42f3d8299d8e9ae8c695f7dd882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUb1x0UJEMIkf_N3oUmiUV_w0C-WwBF-xMdqMt64G-dM2dNapqkpJHEyXZ9bkRB2teURuY7jqcN_ZCVLi1V1onrcg9cUZUulZ4tgxgaoDaytgRkNk32pEqQ6K_8msfcc7wRrYVYrkMLwBh/s640/215bc42f3d8299d8e9ae8c695f7dd882.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christmas display at <a href="http://www.mfah.org/visit/yuletide/">Bayou Bend</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.mfah.org/">Bayou Bend/MFAH</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Bayou Bend is the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston museum for American decorative arts and paintings. Displayed in the former home of Houston civic leader and philanthropist Ima Hogg (1882 - 1975), the collection is one of the finest showcases of American furnishings, silver, ceramics, and paintings in the world. The house is situated on 14 acres of organically maintained gardens in Houston's historic River Oaks neighborhood."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am sharing some photos of homes decorated by Mary McDonald, Stephen Shubel, Pamela Pierce, Jan Roden, and Michelle Stewart. These designers have incorporated the color orange into holiday decor by using citrus, which in many cases complements orange furnishings or artwork that is part of the homeowners' everyday decor.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found the following photographs of designer Mary McDonald's Beverly Hills home on the <a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda website</a>. I love the way the orange trees and the fruit in the garlands complement the orange that seems to fill her house year-round. Her literal use of peacock blue adds drama to an already magnificent space. Orange and blue are complementary colors, but she has used them in a way that makes a powerful statement. As she explains in a <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703882404575519763635033670.html#articleTabs%3Darticle"><i>Wall Street Journal</i> article dated October 8, 2010</a>,"I can't say there's any rule about colors that go together. It's more about the value of a color, its tonality. You have to strive for balance." She further notes, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also tend to use a palette of just two or three colors evenly placed around the room.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22.5px;">" The orange and blue appear to be part of the stained glass window in the picture below, and they reappear throughout the following rooms: </span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAosh5IMLr1vcezSG-TavTBOR0G89oZSy_LnrjvTLuV8J8Gk4QPKaX_XNlzij95rFpfdS-ZcEwB4kle87nTnseoOBSIUJNTm_q9Yg1BL24q1gRTUI-m-sOeZLhetfAZnjyqiipsCmEFyqp/s1600/mcdonald-beverly-hills-1108-1_md.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAosh5IMLr1vcezSG-TavTBOR0G89oZSy_LnrjvTLuV8J8Gk4QPKaX_XNlzij95rFpfdS-ZcEwB4kle87nTnseoOBSIUJNTm_q9Yg1BL24q1gRTUI-m-sOeZLhetfAZnjyqiipsCmEFyqp/s640/mcdonald-beverly-hills-1108-1_md.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Mary McDonald's Beverly Hills home, decorated for Christmas, is aglow under a French 19th-century crystal and dore bronze chandelier and stained-glass windows."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://marymcdonaldinc.com/">Mary McDonald</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Miguel-Flores-Vianna.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.veranda.com/room-decorating/los-angeles-holiday-decorating-1208?click=main_sr#slide-1">Winter Warmth</a>" by Victoria Amory.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a> (December 2008).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8Q0luLxU-rSsNZSTJc3GUU9QiFsSz_TpHpPdlHrx9PRpQKodnj-e49Nvv06deeKCgxaG_Bze-o33hr6Z_JTd86u_cWklevp1yrntDMLheMnRc5vYdxHTOjeq1ZDPdGKGqEiR4AmdJcfd/s1600/mcdonald-beverly-hills-1108-2_md.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8Q0luLxU-rSsNZSTJc3GUU9QiFsSz_TpHpPdlHrx9PRpQKodnj-e49Nvv06deeKCgxaG_Bze-o33hr6Z_JTd86u_cWklevp1yrntDMLheMnRc5vYdxHTOjeq1ZDPdGKGqEiR4AmdJcfd/s640/mcdonald-beverly-hills-1108-2_md.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Queen Anne settee in needlepoint. Pillows in Clarence House leopard velvet and Ralph Lauren velvet. Reproduction French stool in velvet and Scalamandre damask. Anglo-Indian chair in fabric by Manuel Canovas. Ikat on table. Ralph Lauren hurricanes. Tony Duquette candlesticks. French empire mirror."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beverly Hills home of Mary McDonald.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://marymcdonaldinc.com/">Mary McDonald</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Miguel-Flores-Vianna.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.veranda.com/room-decorating/los-angeles-holiday-decorating-1208?click=main_sr#slide-2">Winter Warmth</a>" by Victoria Amory.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a> (December 2008).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8toM2Pzhwyk9vwOVfW7WPnMm2pljMuReO0yC48xJ43xL_SA01l-YvydtybQgLf3rHqYhFmhWuA2aGDgO2WztDg81ogkFOQlrqM7RV_0eo4OvJfeE98EOXXZlLavXFcWNRQBAljQpr9hy_/s1600/mcdonald-beverly-hills-1108-3_md.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8toM2Pzhwyk9vwOVfW7WPnMm2pljMuReO0yC48xJ43xL_SA01l-YvydtybQgLf3rHqYhFmhWuA2aGDgO2WztDg81ogkFOQlrqM7RV_0eo4OvJfeE98EOXXZlLavXFcWNRQBAljQpr9hy_/s640/mcdonald-beverly-hills-1108-3_md.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Sheraton urn on Regency table. French 1940s chairs."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beverly Hills home of Mary McDonald.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://marymcdonaldinc.com/">Mary McDonald</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Miguel-Flores-Vianna.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.veranda.com/room-decorating/los-angeles-holiday-decorating-1208?click=main_sr#slide-3">Winter Warmth</a>" by Victoria Amory.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a> (December 2008).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0v5FSgmVZpA6aMiPGcM1nyEEUkwfYNnmm9H1VwuOHoa_i6TeRuUFP_8mJJkavPa8jUhyzQmS8YJ-WlyCAsrsEP7R3D9JBFx2t9q8MEMohCtTdk8pW6-8TpCdyjTDn2uJRBrDmGR_BRY8/s1600/mcdonald-beverly-hills-1108-4_md.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0v5FSgmVZpA6aMiPGcM1nyEEUkwfYNnmm9H1VwuOHoa_i6TeRuUFP_8mJJkavPa8jUhyzQmS8YJ-WlyCAsrsEP7R3D9JBFx2t9q8MEMohCtTdk8pW6-8TpCdyjTDn2uJRBrDmGR_BRY8/s640/mcdonald-beverly-hills-1108-4_md.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Custom velvet drapes. Reproduction Italian lamps. Swedish Empire daybeds."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beverly Hills home of Mary McDonald.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://marymcdonaldinc.com/">Mary McDonald</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Miguel-Flores-Vianna.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.veranda.com/room-decorating/los-angeles-holiday-decorating-1208?click=main_sr#slide-4">Winter Warmth</a>" by Victoria Amory.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a> (December 2008).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Rapl90saaL5UKMDeAXJvzp1XzX1pJNcUwVPBv2wFpxXYsC82j6NuLC6FnIFzMLEaaq7FJJyFAQPd4uOLE5lM2DevO4zLxTnmhc-kYzmnq1ElmU5jdGvJt45fdVccjNJdNKXsfXpZyY9w/s1600/mcdonald-beverly-hills-1108-5_md.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Rapl90saaL5UKMDeAXJvzp1XzX1pJNcUwVPBv2wFpxXYsC82j6NuLC6FnIFzMLEaaq7FJJyFAQPd4uOLE5lM2DevO4zLxTnmhc-kYzmnq1ElmU5jdGvJt45fdVccjNJdNKXsfXpZyY9w/s640/mcdonald-beverly-hills-1108-5_md.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Reproduction Italian lamps. Swedish Empire daybeds. French sconces. Spanish 18th-century oil. J. Robert Scott chairs; bolsters in Clarence House velvet."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beverly Hills home of Mary McDonald.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://marymcdonaldinc.com/">Mary McDonald</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Miguel-Flores-Vianna.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.veranda.com/room-decorating/los-angeles-holiday-decorating-1208?click=main_sr#slide-5">Winter Warmth</a>" by Victoria Amory.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a> (December 2008).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyg-UBUreCDMG8qnTzudZdPELg6oA4j7KDa9I02h_0KL3TcqSWu4Hsk_vpiLGriy9JP6AjDm0W6yw7y-IaAbXUBeaG8F5EXF7sAdtd-8RPIfxJ0Hlx44PwtpSGFsx0AcSVNMvDt75ZCf2/s1600/mcdonald-beverly-hills-1108-6_md.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyg-UBUreCDMG8qnTzudZdPELg6oA4j7KDa9I02h_0KL3TcqSWu4Hsk_vpiLGriy9JP6AjDm0W6yw7y-IaAbXUBeaG8F5EXF7sAdtd-8RPIfxJ0Hlx44PwtpSGFsx0AcSVNMvDt75ZCf2/s640/mcdonald-beverly-hills-1108-6_md.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Flanking doorway in McDonald's home, Anglo-Indian, Regency-style inlaid chairs with cushions in Ralph Lauren linen; pillows in Ralph Lauren velvet. Custom velvet drapes. Peacock feathers, fans and faux birds from India, pine cones, velvet ribbon and dried, real and faux fruits embellish the holiday greenery."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beverly Hills home of Mary McDonald.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://marymcdonaldinc.com/">Mary McDonald</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Miguel-Flores-Vianna.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.veranda.com/room-decorating/los-angeles-holiday-decorating-1208?click=main_sr#slide-6">Winter Warmth</a>" by Victoria Amory.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a> (December 2008).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKyMMnJMpydl1HTo6W7E6198zk8jw4ib3ECK9FitrL03lPu6EzWtXGAZFCRQa0nfOG6gSDuq4U21iI3Z7aN1IQnvcjB8OPuq5o3Z3Z9AJ2Qx4reVeasRWZoDR9k-Jl-RyEfdQ9tAB13a1/s1600/mcdonald-beverly-hills-1108-7_md.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKyMMnJMpydl1HTo6W7E6198zk8jw4ib3ECK9FitrL03lPu6EzWtXGAZFCRQa0nfOG6gSDuq4U21iI3Z7aN1IQnvcjB8OPuq5o3Z3Z9AJ2Qx4reVeasRWZoDR9k-Jl-RyEfdQ9tAB13a1/s640/mcdonald-beverly-hills-1108-7_md.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Peacock feathers, fans and faux birds from India, pine cones, velvet ribbon and dried, real and faux fruits embellish the holiday greenery."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beverly Hills home of Mary McDonald.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://marymcdonaldinc.com/">Mary McDonald</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Miguel-Flores-Vianna.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.veranda.com/room-decorating/los-angeles-holiday-decorating-1208?click=main_sr#slide-7">Winter Warmth</a>" by Victoria Amory.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a> (December 2008).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXksJunQxIklEj8aJyRFawJ_jr0LnlYT-KwDbP5MpaGXYw6696OXJyjZVrs993m80XwvuB6lkHF_oo_eH31g-ch-8y2CEZDhD2b0502VRSQw9vXLuG-7aHAXTULwx4Vxh2etj4JLphtUUZ/s1600/mcdonald-beverly-hills-1108-8_md.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXksJunQxIklEj8aJyRFawJ_jr0LnlYT-KwDbP5MpaGXYw6696OXJyjZVrs993m80XwvuB6lkHF_oo_eH31g-ch-8y2CEZDhD2b0502VRSQw9vXLuG-7aHAXTULwx4Vxh2etj4JLphtUUZ/s640/mcdonald-beverly-hills-1108-8_md.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Regency marble-top, gilded console. French 18th-century portrait in giltwood frame from Paris. French 19th-century dore bronze candlesticks. Bronze stags and Christmas decorations are from the homeowner's collection."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beverly Hills home of Mary McDonald.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://marymcdonaldinc.com/">Mary McDonald</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Miguel-Flores-Vianna.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.veranda.com/room-decorating/los-angeles-holiday-decorating-1208?click=main_sr#slide-8">Winter Warmth</a>" by Victoria Amory.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a> (December 2008).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVop5x8XLTCn2IQ_KWYJiHX0wo4c4-KWCZNEpNyAXHsx8ZNzD9egKKW8YrYy3WBIReBf48ohsBdgww-zI1OlFT8Tdv9czY2XqrfVTdboHXWKMZUrIUeOBw5ObaQLST8l5HifnTwxiapN0-/s1600/holidayrooms3tree-lgn-54628820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVop5x8XLTCn2IQ_KWYJiHX0wo4c4-KWCZNEpNyAXHsx8ZNzD9egKKW8YrYy3WBIReBf48ohsBdgww-zI1OlFT8Tdv9czY2XqrfVTdboHXWKMZUrIUeOBw5ObaQLST8l5HifnTwxiapN0-/s640/holidayrooms3tree-lgn-54628820.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Original oak beams lend rustic charm to interiors filled with antique, vintage and new furnishings collected in France. Napoleon III chair. A 19th-century ottoman."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">San Francisco designer Stephen Shubel's Loire Valley 16th-century home decorated for Christmas. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://www.stephenshubel.com/">Stephen Shubel</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Thibault Jeanson.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Gregory Firlotte.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.veranda.com/room-decorating/holidayrooms?click=main_sr#slide-3">Loire Holiday</a>" produced by Carolyn Englefield.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a> (November - December 2005).</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlTefKQMZm8V6ImBivxYdFDx0ZAL_E1q3VFp8IWpmhTe6Oi_hFhtwV7AlhUazvsCcCu1T7zaVCuFw5bmBDzcUpRnMIb7FxJOab_smb0n8oB-dzmxbYtfsply23dFItjz75Nbc-zxTYv7t/s1600/OrangeStephenShubelstraightened.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlTefKQMZm8V6ImBivxYdFDx0ZAL_E1q3VFp8IWpmhTe6Oi_hFhtwV7AlhUazvsCcCu1T7zaVCuFw5bmBDzcUpRnMIb7FxJOab_smb0n8oB-dzmxbYtfsply23dFItjz75Nbc-zxTYv7t/s640/OrangeStephenShubelstraightened.jpg" width="460" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Original oak beams lend rustic charm to interiors filled with antique, vintage and new furnishings collected in France. Sofa from Habite, Paris. Old World Weavers leopard silk velvet on pillows. Bust, 19th-century, sits atop 1930s pedestal."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">San Francisco designer Stephen Shubel's Loire Valley 16th-century home decorated for Christmas. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://www.stephenshubel.com/">Stephen Shubel</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Thibault Jeanson.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Gregory Firlotte.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Loire Holiday" produced by Carolyn Englefield.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a> (November - December 2005).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7S_RYbS78fcoodJOlyIfNJ7oSVe0RiUCHBhxYYgeNpUehSceg641EmlloT_46my3Dq0tweJFiYNJESnLqXwCxHMxU0gNrU8z3z_CQHBs9329iwwRXkyQNJqiwaCeii0to1vy8HeT637IE/s1600/BlogGreenSpacesPamelaPierce+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7S_RYbS78fcoodJOlyIfNJ7oSVe0RiUCHBhxYYgeNpUehSceg641EmlloT_46my3Dq0tweJFiYNJESnLqXwCxHMxU0gNrU8z3z_CQHBs9329iwwRXkyQNJqiwaCeii0to1vy8HeT637IE/s640/BlogGreenSpacesPamelaPierce+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Italianate home constructed in 1995 in Houston, Texas.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"A December drizzle highlights the glow of the windows onto the rear terrace, with its antique limestone fountain and oversized French Anduze urns." </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://ppiercedesigns.nairisoft.com/index.aspx">Pamela Pierce</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Tria Giovan.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Tailor-Made Trimmings" by Lydia Somerville.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Southern Accents</i> (November - December 2003).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYCBKWTsUrQKj7mYJrAi7fNjUbAuiV0WD0OTBpl5NLrMJax1ZQk_dYhD1A8Vh3Ycdm8vogEFMKai37N02ahfM452AiFPq70JDC3dDGZ2PeLS1qB3Pr1gbVrU-1GqV3bgNCAUpcw7bm_Ah/s1600/BlogOrangeChristmasPamelaPierce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYCBKWTsUrQKj7mYJrAi7fNjUbAuiV0WD0OTBpl5NLrMJax1ZQk_dYhD1A8Vh3Ycdm8vogEFMKai37N02ahfM452AiFPq70JDC3dDGZ2PeLS1qB3Pr1gbVrU-1GqV3bgNCAUpcw7bm_Ah/s640/BlogOrangeChristmasPamelaPierce.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"A 19th-century still life above 18th-century French limestone mantel. Custom lounge chairs slipcovered in Rogers and Goffigon camel hair. Curtains in Old World Weavers toile."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">New construction in Houston, Texas.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://ppiercedesigns.nairisoft.com/index.aspx">Pamela Pierce</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Peter Vitale.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Nancy Perot Mulford.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"House Warming - Invitation to Comfort" </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.veranda.com/">Veranda</a> (November - December 2006).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eAO8W4k6TEfDb4EQiDvidYRJ88KlwpGzYnAo4_zTAQ_NEHLvTXSVFlreZm_fpX6YFCzjPePp9MLwdg2DirilGFs_cBOibzq1HxV4U6bO7zWmVfh_pPMB1XGAXEhWOEaLiowjmh1fUqVT/s1600/BlogOrangeCrushHBDec2003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eAO8W4k6TEfDb4EQiDvidYRJ88KlwpGzYnAo4_zTAQ_NEHLvTXSVFlreZm_fpX6YFCzjPePp9MLwdg2DirilGFs_cBOibzq1HxV4U6bO7zWmVfh_pPMB1XGAXEhWOEaLiowjmh1fUqVT/s640/BlogOrangeCrushHBDec2003.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"A seasonal still life combines a pumpkin, fruits, and pastry stands of graduated sizes."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Charlottesville, Virginia home of Jan Roden, interior designer and owner of <a href="http://www.andgeorge.com/">And George</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Gordon Beall.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Written by Ted Loos.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"A Fresh Look at Tradition" produced by Senga Mortimer.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/">House Beautiful</a> (December 2003).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3IHlKTE2__0SySvOwVNQgKxlM3iaQCSnNU-qvEy_uSOVYm2CF1VxA1vCV_fnsC5HsfAtAyuuLFWCgCppPutPe7nrVCrdyJyv3H8yWmXfGRKQpO1tR59iNVB9X32Bo23oO4IorvoTbU_4/s1600/BlogOrangeChristmasMichelleStewart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3IHlKTE2__0SySvOwVNQgKxlM3iaQCSnNU-qvEy_uSOVYm2CF1VxA1vCV_fnsC5HsfAtAyuuLFWCgCppPutPe7nrVCrdyJyv3H8yWmXfGRKQpO1tR59iNVB9X32Bo23oO4IorvoTbU_4/s640/BlogOrangeChristmasMichelleStewart.jpg" width="594" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The dining table features a composition of cake stands with compotes of roses, peonies, and kumquats, wreathed by whimsical snow covered trees."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Houston, Texas home of Michelle Stewart and her family.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by Michelle Stewart.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Tria Giovan.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Written by Jill Kirchner Simpson.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"White Christmas" produced by Susanna Showers Moldawer.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Southern Accents</i> (November - December 2005).</span><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6UKsux6UJgYyBIqSPyI_KpmYb7F8c1aPJe80qUc8PPvJD4iGsgNZu06aYsGD6IGVcjRT5BC6zqcWK6IrVohePZ3gwCNHlCYp4TYlTMRfia5wJWid-Z1uRpd8YA-jOyv3K7-P8ydK-Ekp/s1600/BlogOrangeChristmasMichelleStewart2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6UKsux6UJgYyBIqSPyI_KpmYb7F8c1aPJe80qUc8PPvJD4iGsgNZu06aYsGD6IGVcjRT5BC6zqcWK6IrVohePZ3gwCNHlCYp4TYlTMRfia5wJWid-Z1uRpd8YA-jOyv3K7-P8ydK-Ekp/s640/BlogOrangeChristmasMichelleStewart2.jpg" width="496" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The antique French tole chandelier with swags of crystal beads adds a touch of glamour. The dramatically scaled still life of oranges is by Mexican artist Gustavo Valenzuela."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Houston, Texas home of Michelle Stewart and her family.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by Michelle Stewart.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Tria Giovan.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Written by Jill Kirchner Simpson.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"White Christmas" produced by Susanna Showers Moldawer.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Southern Accents</i> (November - December 2005).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Dreaming of an Orange Christmas

Red and green are the traditional colors of Christmas, of course, but when I think of the holidays, I also think of orange. I remember visit...

Read more »

The Great Pumpkin

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Halloween is just a few days away, so I thought I would share some photos of pretty pumpkins . . . </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaMyyBSWtZiu5cnSNaXfRNaP47nP4G0l_d0ydVs2urs-jp57rp044P0WpiSXuCnFcaEpRvWB0m4kUzKyDfzCi0pD8vHJj0WTqQVBysdUpWahSb7svKkPPzVkYS1m7MOD5J2JI2-SUd6p2/s1600/BlogOrangeCrushHBDec2003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaMyyBSWtZiu5cnSNaXfRNaP47nP4G0l_d0ydVs2urs-jp57rp044P0WpiSXuCnFcaEpRvWB0m4kUzKyDfzCi0pD8vHJj0WTqQVBysdUpWahSb7svKkPPzVkYS1m7MOD5J2JI2-SUd6p2/s640/BlogOrangeCrushHBDec2003.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"A seasonal still life combines a pumpkin, fruits, and pastry stands of graduated sizes."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Home of designer Jan Roden, owner of the Charlottesville, Virginia shop, <a href="http://www.andgeorge.com/">And George</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Gordon Beall.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Written by Ted Loos.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"A Fresh Look at Tradition" produced by Senga Mortimer.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/">House Beautiful</a> (December 2003).</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgDafbwO53QaFMlWwg61Xs3AUTQDz8U5v9ykBJR5U5JTsVXkfCSbd81TwfXt5btSu94EuHR4UKRpwuuadj2FdZBaL71KgQsCkJYI4wjZib8M84A6B-frxs5pcZGY-yTexhCye3bB-10vY/s1600/100991397.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgDafbwO53QaFMlWwg61Xs3AUTQDz8U5v9ykBJR5U5JTsVXkfCSbd81TwfXt5btSu94EuHR4UKRpwuuadj2FdZBaL71KgQsCkJYI4wjZib8M84A6B-frxs5pcZGY-yTexhCye3bB-10vY/s640/100991397.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Create this beautiful floral display using yellow and orange mums. Cut the heads from the flowers and hot-glue them all over the pumpkins. Display on tabletops or in small footed urns."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.bhg.com/halloween/outdoor-decorations/gourds-pumpkins-uses/#page=17">Gorgeous Gourds and Pumpkins for Fall Decorating</a>."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bhg.com/">Better Homes and Gardens</a>. </span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-bEJ3R-UzVtvbNdbQmv83x2wzeU0M1FN5XyPAApqgf-0W2I_PSoN3UzZEY5uxc2BHJwZAVldHGbAf8_V8rxu8BNENPqkqZVKmym7iBhBVJ8nNZx1F7cGJc2jdfYr2ZXHH2aFM-8XhGr3/s1600/101374144.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-bEJ3R-UzVtvbNdbQmv83x2wzeU0M1FN5XyPAApqgf-0W2I_PSoN3UzZEY5uxc2BHJwZAVldHGbAf8_V8rxu8BNENPqkqZVKmym7iBhBVJ8nNZx1F7cGJc2jdfYr2ZXHH2aFM-8XhGr3/s640/101374144.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Expand your pumpkin decor with some unique yellow, white, and gray pumpkins in lieu of the traditional orange. Wrap them with grapevine tendrils for an additional touch of originality. Arrange them on a tabletop with other fall favorites, such as leaves and dried wheat bundles."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.bhg.com/halloween/outdoor-decorations/gourds-pumpkins-uses/#page=24">Gorgeous Gourds and Pumpkins for Fall Decorating</a>."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bhg.com/">Better Homes and Gardens</a>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieG897651PDNPboE6KRqh44mRu1e52AHJ3J6mpQ4D8tGeQU1Q2N3t1gD1ORjVYsBnwNSlG_EFP0IVRN8phHWvTD8SL0eUz-W0LT0TcMwGu6erNL2RrbbfY6dUa6C0oun1B49DZ81V_or5b/s1600/BlogPumpkinsCountryGardens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieG897651PDNPboE6KRqh44mRu1e52AHJ3J6mpQ4D8tGeQU1Q2N3t1gD1ORjVYsBnwNSlG_EFP0IVRN8phHWvTD8SL0eUz-W0LT0TcMwGu6erNL2RrbbfY6dUa6C0oun1B49DZ81V_or5b/s640/BlogPumpkinsCountryGardens.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Marty Baldwin.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Fresh Lanterns" by Kate Carter Frederick.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bhg.com/gardening/country-gardens-magazine/">Country Gardens</a> (Fall 2011).</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGLqSXpemw3VsQ4rgMotdn1M6NWqot1_hjxFM6LVlou98RqWFX73Xztw9AMgdtvLMo-IB3GTg4ZT9ZOmISe_V73LHS4JUtHOrysVKbv55W_LtlFClfOiXyAcKdOZ70b7ptKAGIzQcdaMr/s1600/BlogPumpkinsCountryGardensTwo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGLqSXpemw3VsQ4rgMotdn1M6NWqot1_hjxFM6LVlou98RqWFX73Xztw9AMgdtvLMo-IB3GTg4ZT9ZOmISe_V73LHS4JUtHOrysVKbv55W_LtlFClfOiXyAcKdOZ70b7ptKAGIzQcdaMr/s640/BlogPumpkinsCountryGardensTwo.jpg" width="526" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Martin Baldwin.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Fresh Lanterns" by Kate Carter Frederick.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bhg.com/gardening/country-gardens-magazine/">Country Gardens</a> (Fall 2011).</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHKy4_4-AlVpOYQsGdhuBHVw-LwPJUnw6dcakNybjA5d685DYQCicVCZIcxxGIhsqC493A5pPnERGUkj3f4JE74bdUGO_HKSHtqJadoQrJRX0xPu4fj5JiN3t4JyM01tpyIi-6uLVjZBn/s1600/etched-pumpkins-l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHKy4_4-AlVpOYQsGdhuBHVw-LwPJUnw6dcakNybjA5d685DYQCicVCZIcxxGIhsqC493A5pPnERGUkj3f4JE74bdUGO_HKSHtqJadoQrJRX0xPu4fj5JiN3t4JyM01tpyIi-6uLVjZBn/s640/etched-pumpkins-l.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Announce your address in style by cleverly etching your house number (or your initials or name) into a pumpkin."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo credit: <a href="http://www.helennorman.com/">Helen Norman</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/holidays-occasions/diy-decorate-pumpkins-00417000075483/page8.html">Five Easy Ways to Decorate Pumpkins</a>" produced by Matthew Mead.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.southernliving.com/">Southern Living</a>.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWx1uu1DeVMBk4pVx87mvoSD9JC7tKFgWWnpwb0gvJDO9DVTjM8mO7xYbSyyz3vpbzIpC0So7tLzj6oLknJchnRI0bpocozGAaUEJAFOH91x0Ye_KbdB-x8uBLYTm4AFK9Ev1lvxxckDw6/s1600/flowered-pumpkins-l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWx1uu1DeVMBk4pVx87mvoSD9JC7tKFgWWnpwb0gvJDO9DVTjM8mO7xYbSyyz3vpbzIpC0So7tLzj6oLknJchnRI0bpocozGAaUEJAFOH91x0Ye_KbdB-x8uBLYTm4AFK9Ev1lvxxckDw6/s640/flowered-pumpkins-l.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Festive party decorations, these flower/pumpkin combinations add a happy touch."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo credit: <a href="http://www.helennorman.com/">Helen Norman</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/holidays-occasions/diy-decorate-pumpkins-00417000075483/page2.html">Five Easy Ways to Decorate Pumpkins</a>" produced by Matthew Mead.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.southernliving.com/">Southern Living</a>.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9rQA1v3-wWabHO43wNwS3KvGSezTLLpP8zt9L0INzpr1-fjlZK7VINkqiYcaLNTLA8HOq-GHmnB4oPapz9WC68JP0PAqsPAiBRzHOgRO65uoNLRLlHg6shX-ublG66fwQY5kmvct6k51K/s1600/ml1004_1006_glitterpum_vert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9rQA1v3-wWabHO43wNwS3KvGSezTLLpP8zt9L0INzpr1-fjlZK7VINkqiYcaLNTLA8HOq-GHmnB4oPapz9WC68JP0PAqsPAiBRzHOgRO65uoNLRLlHg6shX-ublG66fwQY5kmvct6k51K/s640/ml1004_1006_glitterpum_vert.jpg" width="516" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glittered pumpkins "bring sparkle to tables and serving areas - and they last far longer than jack-o'-lanterns."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/275573/pumpkin-carving-and-decorating-ideas/@center/276965/halloween#265290">Pumpkin Carving and Decorating Ideas</a>."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/">Martha Stewart Living</a>.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgheMs4FJj-CGMLcFCjbpY11Ge_pmUbahJWNG-MPu-JBQJUcfco3EnzmFsBZ2I6jsFQoVijI0QcXjNvv1EHjVVdhVtT1xLh4AY1hGTqeMmPWBs01fFui7F9KgDshJtoxrgJkLnFK5c43inJ/s1600/mla103714_1008_ochers_xl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgheMs4FJj-CGMLcFCjbpY11Ge_pmUbahJWNG-MPu-JBQJUcfco3EnzmFsBZ2I6jsFQoVijI0QcXjNvv1EHjVVdhVtT1xLh4AY1hGTqeMmPWBs01fFui7F9KgDshJtoxrgJkLnFK5c43inJ/s640/mla103714_1008_ochers_xl.jpg" width="516" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Delicately carved floral filigree bands evoke lace on these pale pumpkins."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/275573/pumpkin-carving-and-decorating-ideas/@center/276965/halloween#908610">Pumpkin Carving and Decorating Ideas</a>."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/">Martha Stewart Living</a>.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Green, orange, white, or gray. Which pumpkin would you pick?</span>

The Great Pumpkin

Halloween is just a few days away, so I thought I would share some photos of pretty pumpkins . . .  "A seasonal still life combines a p...

Read more »