IF YOU HAVE A MANTEL IN YOUR HOME, you can have great fun making a festive scene there. I do just that each December for the fireplace in my parlor, arranging the marble ledge with evergreen boughs and lots of colorful fresh fruit. Would you like to see the procedure? Read more » Christmas
How to Decorate a Mantel with Fresh Greens & Fruit
December 15, 2012
IF YOU HAVE A MANTEL IN YOUR HOME, you can have great fun making a festive scene there. I do just that each December for the fireplace in my parlor, arranging the marble ledge with evergreen boughs and lots of colorful fresh fruit. Would you like to see the procedure? Read more » O Christmas Tree, 2012 Edition
December 4, 2012
IF THE TREE IN MY PARLOR IS ANY INDICATION, Christmas has arrived at A Garden for the House. Would you like to see some of the baubles -- and yes, beagles -- that ornament the boughs? Here they are, along with a few thoughts on treating, lighting, and decorating this evergreen symbol of the holidays: Read more » The (Easy!) December Chores
December 1, 2012
DECEMBER is a big month for decorating, both within and without the house. But it’s also the time to reflect upon the year’s past achievements. Let’s pause each day to enjoy the winter views from our windows, the silhouettes of trees, the colorful birds. And let’s keep most of the work indoors: Read more » Cognac Cookies
November 29, 2012
TRUE CONFESSION: I made Cognac Cookies this week, and all I can say is...Wow! These grown-up treats are light, buttery, and gently infused with orange-cognac. If you are over the age of twenty-one, I beg you to try them. They are incredibly easy to make. Read more » Forcing Fun: Tropical Narcissi
November 20, 2012
WHY DID I PLANT OODLES OF TROPICAL NARCISSI THIS MORNING? Well, because I want oodles of fragrant flowers to set among my holiday greens. I also wanted to put my collection of Figgy Pudding
December 20, 2011
(Reposted from Dec. 3, 2010) LAST NIGHT -- and mostly out of sheer curiosity -- I made the Figgy Pudding of Christmas carol fame. I'll admit the recipe I adapted (from Dorie Greenspan) is not an easy one; it involves 18 ingredients, and also a half-hour of prep time. Make that one hour of prep if you stop to take photographs along the way, as I did. But I think the final product, pictured up top, is well worth the time. For Figgy Pudding is spicy-fruity-boozey-delicious. Furthermore, you get to flame this dessert at the table. Now that's fun! Read more » Recipe: Eggnog
December 14, 2011
WHEN SIX FRIENDS ARRIVE FOR DINNER ON SATURDAY, we will honor the season with the perfect December cocktail: eggnog. Here's my recipe for this creamy, bourbon-y, nutmeg-scented ambrosia: Read more » 
