Autumn Bliss

I am always excited with the transitioning of each season, and must admit that fall is my absolute favorite. Perhaps it is because I am not a huge fan of summer heat or it’s more likely a result of getting older. Well, whatever the reason, I love the fact that life appears to take a quieter turn after the hustle and bustle of summertime.

{Cocktails are a must from Eddie V’s at Tysons One Pl. in McLean, their Boozy Vietnamese Coffee is the perfect liquid dessert made with Gosling’s Black Seal Rum, a dash of espresso, sweet milk and served over coffee iced cubes}

I miss the autumn of my youth, where we would rake leaves into gigantic piles, sometimes while battling a sudden wind, and before placing them into the compost, my brothers and I would jump into the mountainous crunchy foliage, only to re-rake the leaves back into a colossal piles. We also celebrated Halloween as a group with friends and family strategically maneuvering the neighborhood in search of tasty treats.

Lately, Halloween has become an adult affair at Heath, children in our neighborhood are grown, and now the holiday belongs to the grown-ups. There’s nothing like burrowing into a cozy throw on a blistery windy evening with the fireplace blazing! Candles are lit throughout the family room and kitchen, and a pot of delicious beef stew bubbles on the stove. As, we no longer have to pop up every 3-5 minutes to hand out candy, the time is now ours to curl up on the sofa with a bowl of earthy stew, watching classic horror movies such as, The Thing from Another World-195 1 with James Arness, Creature from the Black Lagoon– 1954 or though not so horrific, but still timeless , Charlie Brown’s It’s the Great Pumpkin- 1966 episode.

I am always up for creating new traditions to replace the old standards, and making myself and the family extremely comfortable in the process!!!

Enjoy the season,
K

Escape in Style

It’s summer’s twilight, and a mini-vacation is in order. Throughout the season work has been abundant, as we ready Heath for the cooler months. So, what better way to wind down than by taking a three-day weekend to indulge in a bit of site seeing and food tasting?

When time is critical, short trips can be an absolute luxury. Several of us from the Stylish Heath team set ourselves the task of exploring Savannah and Charleston in 72 hours. Reviewing our notes from previous trips, we decided to focus on cultural picks and restaurants to save time. Listed are our top choices.

Tony, Sean and I have a lovely routine upon arriving in Savannah, when our flight lands in late afternoon; we head to the Pirates’ House for a delicious lunch and cocktails. This rustic Inn established in 1753 is said to be the oldest standing building in Georgia, which was a place for seafarers then became a rendezvous for bloodthirsty pirates and sailors.

Upon arriving in Charleston our schedule is packed. Starting with the Calhoun Mansion on Meeting Street we, as artist are most impressed with the contents of the home rather than with the sheer size of 24,000 square feet. We come for ideas and inspiration each time we are in the city. Our guide indicated when the current owners moved in they had 18 moving trucks loaded with antique’s to fill every nook of this stately home. The new gift shop is open and the owner is selling pieces of the collection to the public.

Next on the list was Middleton Place to purchase items from their exquisite gift shop. I bought crab plates that are perfect for summer meals; several Charleston candles and the most gorgeous “camellia” place mats for the breakfast room. I also came with sketchbook to draft ideas from the gardens for Heath.

Lunch on Monday was at Jestine’s Kitchen, which is another tradition of ours. The Low country meals are unbeatable along with the history of Jestine Matthews. When you arrive at the restaurant you are given a brief history of the family and their relationship to Ms. Jestine, and then your are invited to share a meal that could have come from her kitchen. And, what I love most is her recipes are shared with those who ask.

A few favorites:

  1. The Pirate’s House
    20 E Broad St, Savannah, GA 31401
    912-233-5757
  2. The Calhoun Mansion
    16 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC
    843-722-8205
  3. Middleton Place
    4300 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC 29414
  4. Jestine’s Kitchen
    251 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29401

This is all for now and remember to travel stylishly,
K

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