Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I'm off for the next few days enjoying some quality time with the family and some much needed R&R. I'll be back next week though with plenty of updates on the nursery (including some DIYs) as I scurry to get the room in shape before returning to work in January.

Love,

Averill

P.S. - The winner of the Bold & Noble Noah's Ark print is #19 -- Mary! Thanks to everyone who entered and congratulations, Mary! I'll be in touch about shipment later today.

*Holiday card designed by my friend Natalie, owner of the lovely stationery boutique Sicily Eason.*

Meet Matilda!

I'd like to introduce you to the newest member of our family: Matilda, a 3.5 month old miniature dachshund!

After the loss of our dear Olivia in October, Dave and I thought long and hard about whether or not we wanted another dog, especially since we're expecting a baby in just a few short months. Ultimately, however, we decided that, if we did want another dog, it was "now or never," as the chaos that accompanies a newborn would inevitably delay getting another dog for several years and that the sooner we could get another dog and get her trained prior to the baby's arrival, the better. Yes, we've been warned that getting another dog (especially a puppy) would only add to our stress levels, but in truth we both felt like our house just wasn't complete without a canine companion and that, like children, the joy of having a dog far outweighs the negatives.

So we've brought home Matilda. While the process of house breaking her has been some serious work (and yes, both Dave and I have lost some sleep), we're well on our way to having a charming, well-trained pup by the time of Baby Boy Conn's arrival in early March. And, perhaps more importantly, she's done so much to keep our minds off of the loss of Olivia. It's been such a blessing to have a lovable, affectionate dog to come home to again. Of course, I'll always miss Olivia, always wish that she had been able to live to a ripe old age, but Matilda has already taught me that there's room in my heart for more than one dog.

P.S. - Stay turned next week for updates on both the status of the backyard makeover and the master bedroom makeover! A ton of progress has been made that I can't wait to share with y'all. In the meantime, happy weekend!

Goodbye Patrick.

Patrick 

{who so thoughtfully confiscated my father's blackberry
for the duration of my wedding in 2006}

I wanted to take a time out today from the usual blogging about design and babies to say goodbye to Patrick, my cousin Carol's husband. Patrick passed away today after suffering massive head trauma in a terrible car accident in mid October. On Monday my family went to say goodbye to him at the hospice, and I cannot begin to describe how it felt to see what the past six weeks had done to such a young, healthy man.

{Patrick with Annie}

I'd like though to remember Patrick as he was. A gentle, sensitive man devoted to his family first and foremost. I'll best remember Patrick down at our family's bay house, where he spent most weekends fishing. He was truly in his element out on the water. Patrick's gentle nature also made him particularly good with animals -- I was always amazed at how well even the more difficult dogs in my family responded to his soft touch and firm voice. He was also wonderful with my Grandpa in the last years of his life. Now that Patrick is released from the confines of a body no longer able to contain him, I pray that he is able to find peace, a few dogs (take care of Olivia and Gretel for me!) and a great spot where the fish are always biting.

A few weeks ago, Dave and I heard a verse from Jeremiah (31:1) that has stuck with me: “The people who survive the sword will find favor in the wilderness; I will come to give rest to Israel.” The hardest part of the last six weeks has been watching my dear cousin and her sweet baby girl go through such heartache and stress. This has indeed been a trial by sword (and fire and whatever else). And I pray that God grants them both that rest and peace. I love you Carol and Annie!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of year. I absolutely love the holiday's emphasis on family, gratitude and (of course!) food -- especially since those same virtues don't come with the attendant stresses of gifting and performance anxiety that Christmas inevitably seems to put everyone under. After a stressful fall, I'm particularly thankful this year for what I do have: my health, the support and love of my husband, family and friends, and the anticipation of getting to spend next Thanksgiving with a new addition to our family. 

Dave and I are off today to Florida to see his family. Whether you're traveling or staying at home, I wish you the happiest of Thanksgivings.

Photograph courtesy of MarthaStewart.com.

What's in a name?

To borrow a line from Shakespeare, "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." But what about a little boy? While I'm normally the type of person who makes quick, confident decisions, I find myself almost completely immobilized when it comes to naming my future son. I'm afraid of making the wrong decision, of saddling my son with an overly popular or trendy name, of having the other parents in my son's class silently wondering "what were they thinking?" In short, I'm feeling overwhelmed here folks. And, to be honest, Dave hasn't been much help as he's preferred to veto names rather than offer up suggestions or provide any ringing endorsements.

At the start of my pregnancy, the proverbial question was "what are you having?" Now, the question has become, "what are you naming him?" Even my OB/GYN asked me the question at my check-up last week! My answer so far has been a noncommittal "we're working on that," but I know that I'd like to sort that out before I get to the hospital -- if not long before that so that I can get my family and friends off my back. After all, they're desperate to start monogramming!

There are a few things that I know: (1) I'd like to use at least one family name, if not two; (2) I'd like a name that works as well for an adult as it does for a child; and (3) I want a name that fits with our last name (Conn), a task that's tougher than I'd thought.

I also know that we've narrowed down the potential universe to four possibilities...okay, at least I think we have. And since Dave and I have been testing these names out on friends, family and co-workers to gauge their reactions, I thought I might as well open the vote up to a wider focus group, if only to get a more accurate reaction. Bear in mind of course that I reserve the rights to ignore everyone's input altogether or even to go in an entirely different direction.

Here's a quick rundown on the origins of the names (in no particular order) that are still in the running:

William Evander: Named for two men in my mother's family (William Evander Averill and William Evander Hall), the former being my own namesake. William has also been a common name generally in my mother's family -- in fact, both my maternal grandfather and my uncle are Williams (though they went by Bill and Wendell, respectively). Unrelated but nonetheless interesting is that Evander is Greek for "good man" and a deific king in Roman mythology. The classicist in me loves that. Downside: William is uber-popular; Evander may conjure up images of boxer Evander Holyfield.

James Michael: Named for Dave's father Jim and my father Mike. Pretty simple, really. Downside: Both James and Michael are popular (though less so than William); feels rather uncreative on my part.

Graham Kirk: Named for both my uncle and great-uncle, the latter of whom was killed in WWII. Kirk is Dave's middle name as well as his father's. Downside: No workable nickname for Graham (that could be good though, too).

William Moultrie: Named for this guy, a direct ancestor of Dave's through his paternal grandmother. And, as noted above, William is a frequently used name in my mother's family. Downside: Again, William is uber-popular.

And now you get to vote. Of course feel free to leave me comments explaining your vote or even if you've got another name you'd like to throw into the ring.

poll by twiigs.com

Olivia...

Unfortunately we had no choice but to let go of Olivia today, just five short days after she first became ill. We still don't know the cause (it might have been bacterial, fungal, or a toxin), but the effect was quite simply devastating -- her liver completely shut down, and no manner of drug nor treatment was going to bring it back. I'm still in a state of shock at this twist my life has taken in less than a week. But I suppose you never expect tragedies, nor can you ever prepare yourself for one.

Saying goodbye to her this morning was one of the harder things I have ever had to endure, but I know that in the end Dave and I made the right decision by ending her suffering rather than needlessly pursuing life-extending (but not life-enhancing) treatments. The process was made somewhat easier by a wonderfully supportive and incredibly gifted veterinarian and staff. I know they did all they could for her...and I was amazed to see them all in tears as well at the end. But then again, Olivia was (and I don't think I'm overstating things here) just about the cutest dog out there, with the personality to match. I wish I could have brought her home with me at the end of this ordeal, but I know that just wasn't meant to be.

Olivia taught me so many things in the 3 short years I had her. She taught me how to take care of someone else, someone totally dependent on me. She taught me greater patience, especially in her puppy phase. She taught me to take joy in the simple things: food, sun...feathers. Beyond these lessons, she gave me so much joy and comfort. My hope is at the end she knew this, and that she knew how much she was loved -- not just by Dave and I, but by so many other family and friends.


I have often been accused of loving her overly much, but to quote my father "if you don't love 'em, what's the point?" And I have to agree. Despite the pain Dave and I are going through now, it's worth every second I got to spend with her. I had hoped to enjoy Olivia for years to come, but I know that I was lucky to have her, if only for a short while.

St. Francis of Assisi believed that all animals, and not just humans, have souls. Because all living things are an expression of God, to St. Francis, they were considered sacred and to be cared for. And I would like to think that's true. For we are all God's creatures, and His heart and His heavenly home have room for the lot of us. If that's the case, then I know for certain that Olivia is there now, playing with my childhood dog Gretel and in good hands until I can be with her again.

I used to joke that Olivia was the puppy of my dreams, the puppy of my heart. And she will be in my dreams and in my heart forever. I know that in time Dave and I will get another dachshund -- I'm just a dog (specifically, dachshund) lover. But no dog will ever replace her: she was, after all, my Olivsita, my Chub-buns, my baby.

Olivia Update

After a horrible day yesterday, when every sign pointed towards me having to say goodbye to Olivia today, we have received some very positive news this morning. Olivia has started to respond to treatments, her liver is recovering and, while we're not out of the woods yet, the vet is "cautiously optimistic".

I will still count it as a tremendous blessing if I get to take Olivia home after this ordeal, but this is the first real sign of hope that I've had since she fell sick on Saturday afternoon. And, for now, I'll cling to it. Many thanks for all your sweet comments and notes. I have been reminded how lucky I am to have such amazing friends, family, coworkers and blog readers.

In the interim, please continue to pray for Olivia's recovery. And of course for my cousin Patrick, who continues his fight in NICU after suffering serious head trauma during a terrible car accident two and a half weeks ago. A family friend has been sending around daily devotionals for Patrick (and for my cousin KB who is serving in Afghanistan as a surgeon). Today's was particularly poignant for me.

Psalm 23 is one of the most famous passages in the Bible, and its first 3 verses read as follows:

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases verse 3 in a way that really spoke to me today:

True to your word,

you let me catch my breath

and send me in the right direction.

 

I do not know yet whether we are past the storm or merely in its eye, but today I am grateful for this moment of calm to catch my breath and collect my thoughts.

Olivia...

Update (7pm): Many thanks for all the sweet messages and comments. We had to do a plasma transfusion today, but fortunately Olivia has responded very well to treatment so far and her vitals and behavior are both markedly better. We won't be out of the woods until tomorrow when we can do some more blood work, but this is a very hopeful development.

Please excuse the lack of postings this week. My darling dachsund Olivia has become suddenly and extremely ill. The vet is saying she is suffering from acute liver failure and now the job is to ascertain the cause (many of which are, thankfully, treatable). In the meantime though, to say I'm distracted (okay, distraught) right now is an immense understatement.

The verdict is in....

Dave and I went to our anatomy ultrasound today and are happy to report (first and foremost) that everything looks great and....that we're expecting a boy in early March! Time to launch the nursery design efforts in earnest.

In the meantime though, and (unfortunately) on a more somber note, I ask that you keep my cousin Carol, her husband and their darling daughter in your prayers and thoughts today. Patrick was in a serious car accident 10 days ago where he suffered serious head trauma. He's undergoing another surgery today to try and relieve mounting pressure in his brain. I hope and pray that the surgery is successful and Patrick can finally begin the long process of healing.

My distraction...

As many of you have suspected for weeks now, I am indeed pregnant! As of today, I'm 14 weeks and 5 days along, which means I'm just into the second trimester and due March 8, 2011. This ultrasound was taken two weeks ago at a routine first trimester screening. I'll be back at the doctor's this Wednesday for (yet another) check-up. So far, everything's looking great and I'm feeling good. I feel very blessed that I was able to get through the first trimester without morning sickness or weight gain. Unfortunately though, I have been suffering from truly miserable fatigue that's made it all but impossible for me to do anything other than work and sleep -- which is why I've been such a terrible blogger the past 6 weeks or so.

Recently, I've noticed that I'm slowly starting to perk up...and that means my blogging will be perking up, too. Of course, expect more postings on pregnancy, babies and -- of course -- nurseries than I've done in the past, but I promise not to alienate those of you who aren't pregnant or who don't have young children. Rest assured there will be plenty of posts of decorating and style that have absolutely nothing to do with children. Above all though, I wanted to thank you all for your patience and understanding as I've taken the end of summer to focus on these major mental and physical adjustments. Your sweet notes and comments have been much appreciated. Believe me, I've missed y'all big time.

Knackered.

It may just be the beginning of August, but it's already been one helluva summer. My day job continues to get busier (made all the worse by several coworkers' recent resignations and an increase in my travel) and I suddenly find myself with a fully-booked social calendar. Oh yeah, and the recent "distractions" that I alluded to last week continue to, well, distract me (but more on that in a few weeks). Accordingly, please excuse me while I take this week off from blogging to rest, recoup and rediscover my muse.

Hugs and kisses,

Averill

Vacation Recap: Scotland, Part 4

{Holyrood Abbey}

[Note: This is a continuation of the recap of my recent trip to the United Kingdom. To view Part 1, click HERE. To view Part 2, click HERE. To view Part 3, click HERE.]

Day 9, cont.: After driving through Glen Coe, Dave and I made one final stop before heading into Edinburgh at Stirling Castle. Strategically situated atop an extinct volcano along the narrowest part of the United Kingdom, Stirling has been an important military fortress for the Scots since the early middle ages (though the castle itself primarily dates from the 16th century, when it became the primary residence for the Stuarts).

What was once the royal residence of the Stuart household (and the childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots) is currently closed for restoration work, but we were able to tour the chapel, banquet hall and the grounds. I was most impressed though with the location: the view is truly spectacular. Unfortunately, with our late afternoon arrival we were only able to spend a few hours there and we were kicked out at 6pm for what appeared to be a student bagpipe competition. (I'm not a fan of bagpipes but I did enjoy seeing all their various highland regalia). But in any case, we were itching to make it on to our final destination of the day: Edinburgh.

After a long day of driving and sight seeing, Dave and I finally made it into Edinburgh in time for dinner. During our long weekend in the "Athens of the North", Dave and I had the good fortune of staying at Hotel Missoni, which is everything I had imagined it to be and more. Situated just a few hundred yards from Edinburgh Castle on the Royal Mile, it's incredibly well located for walking all over Old Town. In short, it was worth every penny and should I ever find myself in Edinburgh again, you can bet I'll be booking a room at the Hotel Missoni. If a room isn't in your budget, you should at least visit their bar, to take in the ambiance and enjoy any number of really wonderful drink options.

Day 10: Of course, almost as soon as Dave and I arrived in Edinburgh, we headed out again, this time northeast to the Kingdom of Fife and the university town of St. Andrews. When I visited Scotland last in 2002 our most memorable day was probably in St. Andrews and this time around it was just as picturesque and idyllic as I had remembered it.

The climb to the top of St. Rule's Tower was long, narrow and a bit claustrophobic, but the spectacular view of the town, surrounding countryside and Firth of Forth more than made up for it. Between the scenery and the perfect weather, I was just about ready to emigrate to St. Andrews. But, alas, after a few peaceful moments taking it all in, it was time to head down and on to our next stop: St. Andrews Castle, which is situated directly next to the Abbey.

St. Andrews Castle, like many of the castles we toured in Scotland, is little more than a ruin (after all, the English couldn't take any chances that those pesky Scots wouldn't up and revolt again!). What makes St. Andrews Castle a bit different though is that it was owned by the church and not by the state. Before the Scottish Reformation, St. Andrews was the epicenter of the Catholic Church in Scotland, and the castle was home both to the bishop and to the church's military forces. During the Scottish Reformation itself, the castle imprisoned many of the protestant reformers and passed violently between Protestant and Catholic hands for decades. Evidence of these bloody times remain and you can walk through the mines (and countermines) dug by the attackers (and the besieged). While Dave crawled through one of these mines that goes from the castle to the outer walls of the town, the tight, narrow dark spaces were just a bit too much for my latent claustrophobia. And so I have to take Dave's word for it when he dubbed it "really cool".

Day 11: After four consecutive days of perfect weather, it was inevitable that the rain would catch up with us. And, on Sunday it finally did. Nevertheless, we were determined to make the most of our one full day in Edinburgh so we braved the cool, drizzly weather and set out to explore Old Town, which is dominated by the Royal Mile, the steep road connecting Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace (the official residence of HRH Elizabeth II when she comes to Scotland). Our first stop was Edinburgh Castle, where we fought the throng of tourists to explore the grounds and buildings. Despite the madness, it's well worth a visit.

After finishing up at the castle, we wandered down the Royal Mile to the Palace of Holyroodhouse (or Holyrood Palace), which is nestled next to its namesake (and yet another romantic ruin) Holyrood Abbey in a beautiful park surrounding Arthur's Seat (a group of hills overlooking the city). [By the way, Holyrood simply translates to "Holy Cross" in Old English.] Since the palace is still a royal residence, we were only able to tour the public apartments (and not take any photos!), which were initially decorated by the Stuarts but updated by Victoria. Mary Queen of Scots' apartments, however, retain their original Tudor look and it was great fun getting to explore them as well as the Victorian-era cabinets of curiosities collected from the period (including a lock of Mary's hair!).

The palace is built practically on top of the remnants of Holyrood Abbey, which in the rainy Scottish weather and amidst their lush garden surroundings take on a truly romantic/Gothic air. After seeing the many, many ruined abbeys and castles scattered about Scotland, I can see why a belief in ghosts and spirits was so pervasive -- it's all very foreboding!

In stark contrast to the history of Holyroodhouse stands the very modern (and very controversial) Scottish Parliament. Dave and I were trying to decide what precisely the architects were going for. While the lines of the building clearly echo the hills of Arthur's Seat just a few hundred yards away, I'll admit that the rest of the building's unique facade was somewhat lost on me (and certainly Dave, who declared it hideous).

After catching the French Open final (which was remarkably hard to find on the BBC), Dave and I enjoyed a quick dinner before enjoying an evening tour of the Real Mary King's Close (the long-buried but recently discovered 17th-century neighborhood underneath Mary King's Close). To say the tour was creepy would be a serious understatement, but it was also fascinating and a whole lot of fun. I highly recommend.

So that about wraps up our recent trip to the UK. Dave and I had an absolutely fantastic time. Should you find yourself in Scotland or the greater-London area anytime soon, please feel free to contact me and I'd be happy to share with you my recommendations on where to stay and dine and what to see.

Family Room: Not Quite Finished Yet, But...

So I lied on Tuesday. I didn't get the family room done this week. But I should've known that. After all, I'll probably never consider the room totally, 100% complete. And I'm still waiting on a few key accessories for the built-ins. But I wanted to get you an update on where I am now. If you'll recall, this is what the room looked like when we moved in last August:

After moving from a much smaller townhouse, I decided to put our existing living room furniture in the upstairs den (which is actually larger and therefore better able to accomodate our large sectional). For months, we lived with an empty family room while I searched for just the right pieces. As you may recall, here's how things looked 7 months later:

Not bad, eh? While the major pieces had all fallen into place pretty quickly, I was still struggling with how to deal with both the large niches on either side of the fireplace as well as the two-story wall of windows. For the windows, I knew that I wanted to add some softness to the room, visually lower the tall ceiling to create a cozier feeling, but I wasn't sure exactly how to go about doing it. After consulting with a decorator, I decided to hang long panels from the top of the highest window all the way to the floor -- and I think the result is pretty stunning:

I love the hit of pattern and how the blue ikat really helps tie everything all together. The fabric is called Kalah Blue and is available at Calico Corners. It's got a good weight on it though I did have the panels lined to give it a better drape (particularly important given the length of the panels). All in all we needed about 30 yards to create four single panels. We kept the hardware simple and classic (RH's antique silver rod with a ball finial) since it's so far from the ground to really be visible (and I wanted to keep the focus on the print). Fortunately, my fabricator did the installation as well so Dave and I didn't have to scale a huge ladder to get these up there.

The next major project we tackled were the awkward niches on the fireplace, that were just begging for built-ins of some kind. I decided to do something a little different than just simple bookcases as I wanted these to double as extra seating when we have company as the room is actually on the smaller side and can get crowded when we entertain more than a half dozen guests. Additionally, I wanted to move our TV from the bedroom into here so we could watch TV in here (or in the adjacent kitchen/breakfast room). After a few weeks of working with our contractor, this is what we came up with:

Of course as soon as these were up I was anxious to style them up and I've included some of my favorite things here for full display. I'm still awaiting the arrival of the navy (with white piping) cushions I ordered for the bench seats, which will add a much needed shot of color and contrast to these built-ins. Initially, I had thought about painting out the backs in a strong contrasting color (graphite, navy or coral, specifically), but I think for now I will leave them white and contemplate painting the walls a deeper color to create more contrast that way.

Here are a few detail shots of the space, which I'd now say is about 95% complete:

The Built-Ins. Our contractor was able to replicate the moldings on the fireplace surround into the bench and shelves for a seamless, "it was built this way" look. We also added closed storage in the benches. The cabinets on the left hold TV components while the ones on the right are perfectly sized to stash pet toys and other, less attractive items. Louvered doors lend a coastal, British colonial vibe and remind me of plantation shutters (which I would someday love to replace my existing blinds with).

The mantle. Sunburst mirror is from Restoration Hardware (no longer available, alas). Topiaries are from Ballard Designs. I scored the two blanc de chine ladies from High Street Market on Etsy. The blue and white urns are from my mother.

The shelves. This is my first stab at styling these, though I think I need a few more books to go on the middle shelf (and of course something fabulous for each of the corner niches on the top shelf). The large zig-zag jar on the top shelf is Mexican and from Emilia Ceramics (and second one is on order for the other built-in). On the middle shelf, the blue and white ginger jar is from High Street Market and the three Qing emperors are from Tozai Home (but purchased on One Kings Lane). On the bottom row, my dachshund bookends hold a few of my favorite Pengiun classics and the plate is my grandmother's (via my mother). I just got the petite framed intanglio from Quatrefoil Design (the virtual storefront for the fabulous Holly of Things That Inspire) earlier this week and it looks perfect sitting atop some of my favorite design tomes. The two small blue pagodas from the Chinatown collection at home, james! are actually a pair of salt and pepper shakers from (also purchased on One Kings Lane).

The sofa and some key accessories. A few throw pillows constructed by Melanie at Plum Cushion in two of my favorite fabrics (KWID's Imperial Trellis and Chiang Mai, both available through Schumacher) perk up my Ethan Allen sofa. The side table is also from Ethan Allen and holds my orchid, a bowl full of shells Dave and I have collected over the years while on vacation, and a grapefruit-scented Delirium & Co. candle. Behind the sofa, the Kate lamps from Circa Lighting flank a Jonathan Adler hippo, which makes me grin every time I look at his chubby figure.

I'll update more once I get the built-ins fully styled. In the meantime, have a wonderful Fourth of July weekend!

Family Room Preview...Almost There!

The curtains have been hung and the built-ins are almost complete, just a few more finishing touches and I promise I'll be sharing pictures of my (mostly) finished family room later on this week. Stay tuned!

{And please forgive the hideous utility boxes in plain view through the window -- the backyard is next on the "to do" list!}

My Style in One Picture

{Jeneration Interiors}

Last week Ally at From the Right Bank... challenged her readers to post one picture that thoroughly encapsulated their style. Intrigued, I set out to find my own picture...and it was a lot harder than I had initially expected. While I blog constantly about rooms and homes that inspire and awe me in some way, shape or form, I found it really hard to find a single room that felt like it was 100% me, that I wouldn't change a thing in. But this dining room does include a few of my favorite colors, motifs and elements: coral (both the color and the motif), gilt, quatrefoil, cotton velvet, slate blue, lanterns, clean lined dark wood furniture, a statement-making chair, and white ceramic animals (though I'd swap the greyhound out for a dachshund!). And, as a whole, this is a pretty incredible room, don't you think?

For today, at least, this is My Style in One Picture. What's yours?

Also, please join Sue and I today over at The Zhush where I'll be sharing some of my favorite summer style secrets. See you there!

Vacation Recap: Scotland, Part 3

{Inverness, Scotland}

[Note: This is a continuation of the recap of my recent trip to the United Kingdom. To view Part 1, click HERE. To view Part 2, click HERE.]

Day 7. After a nearly a week in London, we caught a plane to Inverness, the unofficial capital of the Highlands.

That evening, we were able to take full advantage of the long Scottish summer days and walk around the city. Situated on the River Ness and the Moray Firth, Inverness is a picturesque town full of B&Bs and all manner of tourist amenities. It is, for many, a great launching pad for day trips around the Highlands.

Day 8. We decided to spend our first full day in Scotland driving east. [And yes, we rented a car and drove ourselves around on the "wrong" side of the road. Fortunately, Scottish roads are well maintained and well-marked and we found getting around (with the help of my trusty Garmin) pretty painless.] Our first stop was Culloden moor, where the Battle of Culloden was fought between the Jacobites and "the Government" in 1746. Not only did Culloden effectively end Bonnie Prince Charlie's bid for the British crown, but it also brought an end to the Scottish clan system (which was made illegal shortly after the Jacobite's crushing loss) and the beginning of the Scottish diaspora to Canada, the USA and Australia. In short, it's a pivotal moment in Scottish (and really, world) history. The gloomy moor lends itself that kind of reflective, melancholic mood that the conjuring up of tragic parts of history tend to leave me with.

After a morning of walking around a battlefield, we pressed on to Cawdor Castle, the family home of the Thanes of Cawdor, leaders of Clan Calder. The most famous Thane of Cawdor is, of course, Macbeth, though the castle itself was built centuries later in the late 14th-century. What I enjoyed the most about Cawdor Castle, aside from its lovely gardens, was that it truly felt like a home, full of all the knickknacks, pictures and photographs that are in all our homes. (And, in fact, it is a home, as the Dowager Countess Cawdor spends half the year there, when the castle is closed to the public.) The castle is also reflective of layer-upon-layer of renovation, from the medieval basements to the Victorian bedrooms to the very '70s-tastic kitchen.

Our final stop for the day was Elgin Cathedral (or what's left of it, anyway). There are a good many ruined cathedrals, abbeys and monasteries throughout Scotland (and we'll visit more of them at the end of our trip) and these are remnants of the violent Reformation that took place in Scotland in the 16th century. Despite their ruined state, I still love roaming the grounds of these places, admiring the architecture and that gothic romanticism that seems to settle onto ancient, consecrated grounds.

Day 9. The following day, we headed west along the Great Glen, following Loch Ness down from Inverness to Fort Williams and the west coast. The drive is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful drives in the UK. En route, we stopped at Urquhart Castle, which is situated directly on Loch Ness. I kept my eyes peeled for Nessie, but alas, I never did catch a glimpse of her. [And yes, the Scots take Nessie seriously (or at least they pretend to for the many tourists who throng to the loch in hopes of seeing her).]

From Ft. Williams, we drove through Glen Coe, which is another breathtaking drive for the mountain-lover. Much of the drive follows the West Highland Way, a hiking and biking trail that traverses the highlands. My hope is that Dave and I will be able to return to Scotland and hike at least a part of it so we have more time to soak in the beauty than we did in a 45-minute car ride.

Next up: We wrap up our vacation with visits to Stirling, St. Andrews and Edinburgh.

Vacation Recap: England, Part 2

[Note: This post is a continuation of the recap of my recent trip to the United Kingdom. To view part 1, go HERE.]

Day 4. After a rainy, dreary Saturday, we awoke to a beautiful Sunday morning so we decided to head out of London for the second time to enjoy the gorgeous weather at Hampton Court in Richmond. Hampton Court was originally the private home of Cardinal Wolsey in the early 16th century, though Henry VIII took over (and enlarged) the palace for himself when Wolsey fell out of favor in 1529. While the palace remained a royal residence through the reign of Queen Anne, it's most often associated with Henry VIII and his daughter, Queen Elizabeth I.

When we arrived at Hampton Court, the palace was celebrating the wedding of Henry to his sixth (and final) wife, Catherine Parr. As devoted followers of HBO's The Tudors, Dave and I enjoyed the serendipity of this reenactment coinciding with the current plot on one of our favorite shows. We spent the afternoon wandering the palace and its lovely ground and enjoying the (admittedly cheesy) reenactments, which including jousting and falconry. As a tennis player, Dave was disappointed though that the real tennis court was closed for renovation. That aside though, it was a wonderful way to pass an idyllic Sunday afternoon.

Day 5. Monday was a Bank Holiday in the United Kingdom, so we were disappointed to find that the vast majority of sites and businesses were closed. As a result, we spent much of the day relaxing and taking in the streets of London. We spent a few fascinating hours at Fortnum & Mason, browsing its four floors of enticing foods and gifts. After freshening up at the hotel, we headed over to Rules near Charing Cross in the West End for an incredible dinner of sea bass (me) and duck fois gras (Dave). We finished up with a sticky toffee pudding, a traditional English dessert that had me wanting to lick the plate clean. Both Dave and I agree that this restaurant is not just one of the best restaurants we've been to in London, but perhaps one of the best restaurants we've been to anywhere. It's definitely going to be on our list of places to return to on our next trip.

Day 6. Our last day in London proved to be jam-packed as we scurried to take in all the sites we had hoped to spread out over our last two days. Our first stop was to the tiny borough of Holburn, also known as "Legal London". The bar in England is (unsurprisingly) full of all sorts of fascinating -- and archaic -- traditions, not the least of which are the four Inns of Court. All barristers (or what we would think of as trial lawyers) must belong to one of these four inns, which provide many of the same services as our state bars (e.g., discipline and enforcement matters, legal education). We strolled along the grounds of the largest (and oldest) of the four inns, the Lincoln Inn, which is located across from the Royal Courts of Justice.

The Temple Church is actually located inside the grounds of two of the Inns of Court (the aptly named Inner and Middle Temple). The church was originally built by the Knights of Templar in the 12th century, making it one of the oldest buildings in London and one of the few surviving examples of Norman architecture remaining. Unfortunately, the Temple was badly damaged during the Blitz, but it has been lovingly restored. The archway I'm standing under in the photo above is one of the few remaining original features of the 12th-century church and is beautiful in its design and detail.

Generally speaking, we tried to take in different sites than we did on our trip to London last summer, but we couldn't resist a second (well, fourth or fifth for me) trip to Westminster Abbey a place so rich in history and tradition that the air feels positively heavy with it. Each time I tour the Abbey, I see something different and this time was no exception.

After leaving Westminster, we headed west to Kensington to take in Kensington Palace (the childhood home of Queen Victoria as well as the home of Princess Diana post-divorce) and enjoy a proper English tea before our evening out at the theater. Unfortunately, the weather failed to hold and by the time we walked from the Tube station to the palace, we were thoroughly soaked through. After enjoying some very restorative tea (which really does hit the spot on chilly, wet English afternoons), scones and sandwiches at The Orangerie, we trudged in our wet clothes through the park and gardens of Kensington, which are lovely even on the nastiest of days. While we didn't make it inside the palace on this trip, I have been in before and it's a beautiful, stately home full of wonderful Victorian antiques and furniture as well as an impressive collection of Victoria's clothing.

We wrapped up our time in London at the Apollo Victoria Theater, where we saw Wicked. I've been wanting to see the show for a long time, but unfortunately missed it when the Broadway tour came through Houston, and I wasn't disappointed. The show was fabulous. London, like New York, is a major theater town and there are literally dozens of shows on offer in London's West End. Like NYC, you can often score a great deal on last-minute seats at one of the many ticket booths near Leicester Square.

Next Up: Dave and I head north to the Highlands, where we take in the lovely town of Inverness, walk the fields of Culloden and keep our eyes peeled for Nessie.

Vacation Recap: England, Part 1

I've finally managed to sort through the hundreds of photos I took of our recent trip and I thought I'd share some of my favorites here on the blog. I recognize that sharing the web-equivalent of a lengthy slide show of family vacation photos isn't exactly exciting stuff -- or really what this blog is about. But bear with me and I'll try and keep things lively and, in the interest of not boring you to tears, I'll be splitting the trip up into 3 separate posts, interspersed throughout next week with posts on my usual design blather.

Day One. Dave and I arrived to London Heathrow very early Thursday morning without incident. We staggered around the city until our hotel room was ready, whereupon we promptly fell asleep for 5 hours straight, awaking only for a brief dinner and it was back to bed.

Day Two. Friday morning we got up bright and early for our day trip out to Kent, a county in southeastern England just a short distance from London. My grandfather's family hailed from county Kent and, like many of their Puritan brethren (Kent was a hot bed for so-called Round Heads), emigrated to New England in the mid-17th century to escape religious persecution. As far as I know, I'm the first member of the family to step foot in the motherland since.

I saw our trip to Kent (my first despite a half dozen or more trips to the United Kingdom) as something of a homecoming. And I was pleasantly surprised by how lovely the county is, which is marked by gently rolling hills and lush gardens. Historically the breadbasket of England, Kent's chief cash crop is now lavender -- and I think that fact accurately sums up my impression of the area: simply lovely.

Our first stop in Kent was Leeds Castle, a picturesque castle sitting astride two small islands in a lake. The original palace dates from the 12th-century, but was modernized and expanded by Henry VIII for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. When Henry divorced Catherine after twenty-some odd years of marriage, it was here that Catherine spent the remainder of her life, virtually a prisoner.

While a few rooms in the castle retain much of the look and feel of the Tudor period, most of the castle bears the hallmark of the last private owner, Lady Baillie -- and her decorator, Stephane Boudin. Boudin was the decorator of choice for another famous lady, Jackie O. and he, together with Sister Parish, redecorated and refurbished the White House for the Kennedys. Interestingly enough, many of the carpets at Leeds are the same ones as those Boudin used in the White House and, while they have long since been removed from the White House, remain in pristine condition at Leeds.

Perhaps most magnificent though are the gardens and grounds at Leeds, which include a number of gardens, ponds, a maze, a grotto and even a golf course. We were very lucky to arrive in late spring as the gardens were in full bloom with roses, wisteria, tulips and all manner of gorgeous flowers. I could have spent a lovely afternoon reading (and dozing) quietly on the grass, but it was quickly time to get back on the bus to continue our tour of Kent.

From Leeds we drove down to Dover to take a look at the white cliffs, where the RAF would take off for France and Germany during the Battle of Britain. The only evidence of which are the many bunkers and tunnels hidden along the cliffs, the first line of defense to protect London (and the rest of Britain) during the Blitz. We then headed to Canterbury, to see the great cathedral. While Canterbury has great historical and ecclesiastical importance for the Church of England, I'll admit that I was a bit underwhelmed by the architecture. Indeed, there are far grander churches in England. Nevertheless, the town was lovely and we had a great meal of cider and meat pies at a local pub before heading to Greenwich and then back to London via a boat on the Thames.

Day Three. On Saturday I was determined to make it out to Notting Hill to see the market on Portobello Road. Unfortunately, the weather was awful. Despite that, we spent a lovely morning strolling the markets where there were all manner of interesting curiosities and collectibles. Vintage cameras? Check. Antique bugles? Check. Old wooden tennis rackets? Check. I'd say the real strength of the market though is china and silver (unsurprising given that it's England), neither of which I have tremendous interest in. Ultimately nothing really struck my fancy and so we left empty-handed, though we still really enjoyed the search.

Tip: If you find yourself on Portobello Road (or anywhere near it) run, don't walk, to The Hummingbird Bakery. I'd heard about the cupcake mecca through my sister, who has their cookbook (which is excellent -- the Nutella cupcakes are heaven) and when I saw it I immediately insisted we go in and try a few. Incredible.

After leaving Portobello Market in early afternoon (the weather was getting worse and worse), we headed indoors to the Imperial War Museum (which is -- fun fact -- housed in the old Bedlam Hospital). In addition to housing some incredible examples of WWI and WWII aircraft, tanks and guns, the museum also has some incredibly moving exhibits on the two world wars. (By the way, Dave is standing next to a chunk of the Berlin wall.) What strikes me as mind boggling is how recently these events occurred. Not too get too heavy here, but as a member of generation Y I find it hard to fathom how events like the Holocaust happened less than 70 years ago -- less than a lifetime. I also find it hard to believe how much England has changed in the interim. From the strict rationing of the post-war era to today, where the English are perhaps rivaled only by Americans in their disposable income and consumerism.

We wrapped up day 3 with a wonderful meal at St. John, a restaurant in up-and-coming Smithfield that prides itself on its "nose to tail" cooking. Not for the squeamish diner, St. John is nevertheless a fantastic restaurant, distinctly English and not to be missed. If you're not going to be in London anytime soon, check out their cookbook, which is available on Amazon.

Next up: Our tour of London wraps up with a day trip to Hampton Court, a tour of the Inns at Court and some Wicked fun.