Happy Friday! We are rounding out the first week of August….so summer is about to come to a close. For some reason this summer has flown by faster than most. Between the rain ~~~ which I am thankful for!!!~~~ my trip to New York, and helping the kids facilitate moving my ex-husband out of his apartment ….I have hardly enjoyed the pool. I still have a few weeks and since August is notorious for no rain I bet I get to go through Labor Day.
There were many highlights of my trip to New York. Beast’s birthday dinner was fabulous and getting to spend a day in the Met seeing the John Singer Sargent exhibit was a HUGE treat. We left for her country house on Friday and actually had a day of complete rest on Saturday by her pool. I was shocked when I requested that and she agreed. She is usually GO GO GO!!!!! We saved going to Naumkeag for Sunday when it was supposed to rain all day…and it did. Beast had only been outside Naumkeag ~~~ you have to buy tickets and have a specific time to tour. I was FASCINATED!!!!!!! The architecture, the gardens, and the interiors were amazing. It is a National Historic Landmark famous for the gardens and the Berkshire “cottage.” Hard to imagine that this 44 room house designed by Stanford White in 1884 was considered a “cottage!!!!” Landscape architect Nathan Barrett designed and built a series of terraced gardens on this property on a hill. He took full advantage of the topography of the land. Since I have become a gardener I was loving every detail. When the daughter Mabel Choate inherited the property in 1929 she transformed the gardens once again with landscape architect Fletcher Steele over a 30 year period. The famous Blue steps were designed during this period. I took so many pictures! One of the rooms had an elegant drapery treatment that I am actually going to use in the master bedroom and study of one of my clients! I never know where my inspiration will come from…..but it is one reason I take so many pictures when I travel. My next trip is in September to a wedding in Newport. I am spending an extra day so I can go see the mansions that were in The Guilded Age~~ or I should say a few. I have no idea how many there are…..I will have to pick! I have my outfits all figured out~~~ I am ready!!!!!!! I adore when I can combine business with pleasure and I am SURE I will be major inspired by the mansions I will get to tour there. All of the wedding parties sound magical….I am honored to be included!
Here is wishing all of my readers a wonderful rest of your summer. I will continue to sort through all of the boxes that have landed in my house from my ex’s apartment…but I am getting there. It has been bitter sweet to be reunited with many of my treasures I have not seen in 10 years. Life certainly takes twists and turns….you have to “go along with the punches.” I thank God every day that I wake up and try to make every day count!!!!!
Have a super weekend. Football is coming soon!!!!!! Yippee!! In my opinion that is the BEST part of the beginning of the fall season!
Take care,
Kay
The night I landed in New York. It was SO hot I had to change my clothes before dinner on Beast’s terrace. This view never disappoints!! Wouldn’t you know there was a heat wave just for the time I was there!
The Met is a magical place! We tried to spend the day for Beast’s birthday there last year but it was closed that day.
The John Singer Sargent exhibit was beyond fabulous. I was enthralled with every painting. His history of groing up and his art was so interesting to get to know. I had no idea that he painted landscapes as well and trained in Paris. He painted along side his sister for a brief period and that was on display as well.
This darling Golden retriever was cooling himself in one of the water features outside the Met. Of course every one passing by was taking pictures!!!!
We walked through Central Park on the way to the Met. We stumbled on this photo session. What a treat! I have never walked through Central Park….it was dangerous when I lived there in 1982. Mother of course NEVER wanted to do this….so it was fascinating to me. Beast…being a walking encyclopedia…..knew all of the architectural highlights and stories.
Beast’s birthday dinner. She had friends from Yale and New York there. The Italian restaurant Via Carota had this private room which made the dinner intimate and perfect. I think I gained 2 pounds that night from all of the pasta!!!! We had 5 courses!!!!!
My beautiful best friend with her birthday cake!
A day by the pool with this stunning view was glorious!
Beast cooked dinner mostly from her garden on Saturday night. This zuccini was a little past it’s prime! HUGE!!!!
An exterior shot of Naumkeag. All of the architectural elements were fascinating.
The famous blue steps.
These steps had a stream of water running through them. Incredible and such a fine idea!
We passed this greenhouse as we ascended the hill. This is a dream of mine …to own a greenhouse! I have the perfect spot……..but I will not build it unless it is exactly what I want. I WANT THIS!!!!!WOW
This garden on the side of the house outside the living room blew my mind!
The living room that opens onto that garden. I was intrigued that the fireplace was not centered in the room.
A John Singer Sargent hung above the mantel.
I thought it was so interesting that they highlighted the plates on the wall with a damask fabric hung behind them. Plates on the wall are definitely one of my favorite things!
What a dream to have a Butler’s pantry like this!!! Check out the dog bed!!!!!
This is the drapery treatment that I am enthralled with. It is so simple but so elegant with the soft shapely valance. The panels had the trim also on the bottom. I am SO doing this!
The woodwork in the house was amazing. Every bedroom had a fireplace. All of the bedrooms opened onto each other…which I guess was for air to flow in summer months.
This little guy was on my front lawn Thursday morning….the day after we found out that my son Harrison passed all 4 of his CPA exams!!!!! I think he was wishing us congratulations!!! I have never seen a hawk in my front yard!