The greatest and the least...

"The greatest and the least,
The rich and the poor,
The weak and the strong,
In sickness and in health,
In joy and in sorrow,
In tragedy and triumph,
You are ALL MY CHILDREN"

Today's a sad day, it marks the end of an era. The very last episode of All My Children will be airing in just a few hours. It all started on January 5th 1970 when the world got their first glimpse into the fictitious Pennsylvania town of Pine Valley. This gorgeous little town that is somehow convenient to NYC, the Bahamas, Hawaii, LA and has both a beach with yacht club and also dense forests with random fallout shelters in the forest floor,  yet it appears to only have a hand full of residents that have a penchant for marriage, drama and questionable medical practices. There just aren't enough words or sequins to explain this twisted group of people who I love.

So in honor of my exile from Pine Valley, today we talk pine...

Pine trees are native to the majority of the northern hemisphere. From ornamental uses such as the Christmas Tree to practical uses like construction, the pine is the most commercially important species of tree.
There is a word that you come across quite frequently when shopping for pine (especially in a flooring capacity). Heartpine- it is just that, the wood from the heart of the tree. Because trees are harvested at a younger age now, they no longer grow long enough to form the darker decay resistant heartwood, thus creating a wonderful reclaimed second life for this product that is called antique heartpine. Heartpine is also used to refer to the heart wood of southern yellow pine.

reclaimed wide plank pine flooring is rich in character

Eastern White Pine has been the flooring choice for hundreds of years for New Englanders

Pine flooring often has color variation, grain and knots that give it tons of character and can make a big impact.

But if pine flooring isn't your thing- you can still give your own Pine Valley tribute on the walls- Pine needles have so many gorgeous shades of green in them so there is something for everyone!

"green-wash" pays homage to forest it comes from with the color of young needles and the beauty of the grain showing through.

The dark pine green of mature needles gives this tile a reptilian feel

So Pine Valley- you will be missed!

Guess I'll just have keep the story alive with my very own Erica Kane...

after all she hasn't married Ken yet...

bet you thought I'd write about green today...

So yeah- it's St. Patrick's day and it would seem only natural to go for Irish themed interiors (not sure what that would be- potatoes and leprechauns are pretty much what my mind goes to) or at the very least play off the green- either the color or the concept. But as my parents will attest- I was never really one to do what was expected. Instead today I draw inspiration on an old friend who just visited. When I met Ashby- with his guitar case in tow- I instantly thought he was some lame nerd who was trying and woo my sister with a cheesy John Mayer act- but turns out he actually was pretty damn talented. So when he came east this week for a visit I had to hear at least one song. And it got me thinking...when you have a talent and passion like that you can't just leave it in a box or propped up in the corner...

Give it a home (and yes I know that is not a guitar) 

Hang your collection on the wall like art- some guitars are a work of art

display them and show them off like any other collection

but keep it handy for when inspiration strikes!

OK- so above the bed is a bit too John Mayer for me!

The gorgeous wood blends right in with this floating wall- it would also rock in a room with a classic Eames chair!

Cole and Son's Quartet Wallpaper has been a favorite for a long time but only really works for a talented music lover

And no, not a guitar but I love these drums re-purposed as tables- I can just imagine the husband that wouldn't let his drums go and then never touched them once he won the battle to keep them!

So no matter what your passion find a way to let it shine and make it part of your home and everyday life!

baby it's cold outside...

love me some dark rich hot chocolate!

I have not been able get warm all day long...working in a building full of windows and with a door that opened to the cold all day long I just couldn't get warm. I tried to channel all my favorite warm things to heat me up (too bad they didn't work...) but in case it stays cold maybe they can help you- or inspire you!

The single most snuggly warm thing on earth (well one of them at least- a must add to your Christmas list) Bella Notte's velvet duvet cover, especially when combined with a good quality down duvet and the rest of the snuggly bed linens!

Nothing says warm up winter like some classic Fair Isle!

Pine Cone Hill makes something called sheepy fleece- robes and blankets and they are the most amazingly soft things...and they have amazing flannel pj's in fun patterns that get so soft with washing!

Uggs... love them or hate them, anyone who has put them on their feet can not deny that they are the warmest things to touch your feet ever!

But nothing kindles a warm feeling inside me like a chic yet rustic lodge interior with a big focal fireplace and comfy sofas...

and if you have big gorgeous windows that not only provide a fantastic view but a frigid draft- invest in good quality drapes. Don't just look for lined drapes, go for ones that also have a layer of interlining as well. Basic lining help protects your drapes form the harmful effects of the sun but interlining helps insulate your home an protect your room from any drafts that might be sneaking through the windows.

photos: Bella Notte, Pine Cone Hill, Uggs, CNTraveler, Town and Country, Upwall, GlobalArtichoke

Little Full...Lotta Sap

I don't know what it is that has gotten people in the holiday spirit extra early this year but I noticed an over-abundance of people that either put up their tree before Thanksgiving or put it up the weekend after...maybe I am just a Grinch but I think that is just a bit early. I can deal with stores putting up decorations after Halloween, but for some reason I just can't get into the idea of residential holiday decorating till after Thanksgiving leftovers are all gone.

Maybe I am not so far off base.. according to the National Christmas Tree Association (haha! it is real organization to support local tree farmers and encourage people to buy and enjoy real trees) the expected fresh life expectancy of a cut tree is only three to four weeks...making now the perfect day to go get one! So what's the difference in the different trees?

The Douglas Fir (actually not a part of the fir family!) one of the most common Christmas trees, that is a native of the pacific northwest, it is typically 7-10 years old when it is large enough to be harvested for your home. They are known for their spreading branches and the needles that are dark green to bluish green in color and radiate out in all directions off the branch making it very full- plus the needles are soft to the touch!

The Eastern White Pine were historically considered the largest pine in the United States and have been the staple tree used to make ships' masts. It is also the state tree of Maine and Michigan- so this big guy has a big history to bring with it as a Christmas tree! It has long soft, flexible needles that are usually bluish green to silver green in color. while prized as a valuable lumber tree it does also make a great Christmas tree as they often reach over six feet in 6-8 years!!

The Fraser Fir also known as Southern Balsm, is the ultimate Christmas Tree as it usually require little pruning since they grow naturally in a pyramid shape. The needles are dark green with a silvery underside that gets shown off by the way the branches turn slightly upward as they grow.Its quintessential holiday scent as well  excellent needle retention have made this tree a top contender for best Christmas tree. I have to admit I am a bit biased as almost all Fraser Firs are grown in North Carolina and Virginia so childhood nostalgia gives this one a few extra points for me!

The Leyland Cypress, frankly this is a very interesting tree, it is a "sterile" tree... meaning it is not a naturally occurring tree, it is only grown by rooted cuttings!It was created by C.J. Leyland in 1888 and became all the rage for Christmas trees in California in the 60's. It has a dark green to grey coloring and tends to be "heavy and stout". Because this tree is not naturally occurred you will typically only find it at cut-your-own tree lots

The Noble Fir got its common name because of its enormous cones and tall heights that they reach in maturity. Like the Fraser Fir, the silvery underside of the bluish green needles shows off due to the growth pattern of the branches. Its stiff branches and long needle retention have made this a wildly popular Christmas Tree. I think the most intriguing fact about this tree is that they were used to build the R.A.F. Mosquito planes in World War II. 

Aghh... the Virgina Pine, the staple Christmas tree of the Southern United States! So popular to the point that it has been genetically altered to enhance its Christmas tree characteristics! It's branches are stout and woody with needles that are typically 2-3 inches long and it responds really well to pruning! These trees are found everywhere, from retail lots to cut your own lots- but buyer beware if you cut your own- they are the single most popular tree for woodpeckers- make sure you don't have any passengers!

So if you are headed out to pick one of your own that is pre-cut test the freshness by pulling on it to see how many needles fall off! And treat it just like buying fresh cut flowers, trim the stem...errr trunk of the tree- a fresh cut will help it absorb water and keep it alive. Speaking of water...get it in water as soon as you can! and make sure it has plenty f water otherwise you will end up with a mess of falling needles come Christmas morning. Your tree will typically need a quart of water per inch of trunk diameter (ie: 8 inch diameter needs 8 quarts of water) so get a stand that holds plenty of water and keep your pets out of it!

Is that Hamster food???

A few weeks ago I was having dinner with my family, who happens to be in the lumber industry, and we were talking about pellet stoves.  A what? oh yes a pellet stove- they are exceedingly common across the pond but have yet to catch on here in the states. The greatest thing is the pellets, which I think resemble hamster food, are made of the by products from the lumber industry; or to simplify it means no waste! What an amazing product- it is made out of something that would be wasted otherwise! So why a pellet stove, other than the obvious that these little pellets are far easier to handle than a pile of logs with spiders and other creepy crawlies living in them...Because the wood is so condensed it is more efficient; less moisture also results in less harmful gases being released. Plus no smoke, so no "smoking out" a whole room if you forget to open the damper, hmmm I have some experience with that! The stoves are also designed in such a manner that they do not become hot on the exterior surfaces so they can be placed an inch off the wall and are perfectly safe for children and pets. Peruse your local hardware store and check out the price of pellets then go get you power bill... looks pretty good!

So why has it not caught on here? The first hurdle was the availability of pellets, historically they were primarily manufactured in the Pacific Northwest and other extreme cold areas, however now they are being made everywhere- even right here in Virginia. But the biggest roadblock to them gaining popularity is the stove itself. In the states they seem to have been fashioned after your grandmother's old wooden stove... don't get me wrong I am sure (somewhere on the planet) there is an application for this style but you will not catch me buying one of those any time soon! So when my big brother challenged me with finding a good looking pellet stove the hunt was on....I tend to not back down when people challenge me( good, bad whatever...I like a challenge). So brother dearest here are my favorite pellet stoves.

Pink! Really! Yes Please I will take two! Plus I love how they kind of look like tv's!

Ohhh love the corner action!!

Sleek minimal sphere shape is like a piece of art!

Oh yes! I found 2 pink pellet stoves and this one has a remote!

photos: BlackSwan, EcoTeck, TreeHugger, Genersys, Interior Hit