The Summerville Cottage Adieu

The digital ink had no sooner dried on my previous post - when the call came in, letting us know that we would be moving yet again!

I'll remember fondly our time in this little cottage.  The house is small that when we have guests over, everyone spills out into the garden.   Our beautiful friends Bart & Katherine first introduced us to this house.    Their friendship, hospitality and southern grace, will stay in our hearts always.

 Spring and summer are so beautiful here.  The landscape was mostly in place when we moved in.  I planted a few things.  Failed at some and had success with others.  The ground is nothing but sand!

 I'll miss the Highlander felines that live next door and visit now and then.  I hope to have one of my own when we are more settled.  They have tipped ears like a bob cat.

Living here gave us the opportunity to explore Charleston, Savannah and Atlanta.    Thanks to B&K, we attended the Masters Tournament each year.  Jim scored four tickets to the Masters one year via the lottery and his best buds Mike and Frank flew out from California spend a few days.

 Many other friends and family came to visit during our time here.  It has been fun to show them how beautiful the south is!

The payoff!  Now we get to move to the Austin, Texas area to spend more time with "THE CENTER OF OUR UNIVERSE!!!!!"  Ever since this sweet little boy was born we have been working our way back to him.  He has stolen our hearts and we just can't be away any longer.  He needs his Nana & Gramps!

Bonus - We will be able to spend more time with his sweet Mama, Dada,  brother and sister.

 I fly to Austin next week - check out the housing scene - fly back to meet up with the moving company - spiff up the house a little as it is going on the market - drive back to Texas  and spend weeks unpacking!

Adieu to this little cottage and Bonjour to the next chapter in our lives!

Cheers!
Ry

Photos By: Ryannan Bryer de Hickman (except the last one - taken by my daughter)

The Summerville Cottage

 Yesterday, as I was wandering around the house snapping photos for insurance purposes, I realized
that, although I spend hours combing through interior design photos on other blogs, I seldom post photos of my own houses. There are several reasons for this:  I never feel as if a room is completed,
because I'm a professional photographer, I should take the time to set up lights and make an effort to arrange flowers, etc. and usually our houses are under construction and we are living in chaos!

With that said, these photos - are just ones that I snapped without too much effort involved.    So here it is - our little
cottage in the enclave of Summerville,  along the Savannah River in Georgalina.  This post features the living room.  I'll do separate posts for the rest of the house.
                                                                                                                                                               My style is rather eclectic - things I've collected over the years.  I'll list the sources, if
anyone is interested!

Top Photo:  Art by:  John Hulse, Steve Northup, Yvoy and a SC artist that I can't recall the name
of.  I have it written down somewhere.  Just can't locate it at the moment.

 Linen Churchill Sofa - Rooms and Gardens - Santa Barbara.  Pillows - William Sonoma Home (top) and a custom pillow in Richard Allen fabric.  Throw - Kelly Wearstler for SFERRA. Antique French
Garden table from Precious Cargo - Summerland, CA.  Lamps from Elegant Earth - Urn -bo-tan-ik  - Summerland, CA

Antique Chinese jars from Jack-a-lope - Santa Fe, NM.  Ottoman - designed and built by me, covered in Restoration Hardware Belgian Linen.  The wing chair is covered in RH Belgian Linen as well.  Photograph on the wall: Julie Graber

 These are the before photos.  Due to a leak in the roof, the ceiling caved in.
We bumped out the fireplace to support the rafters above and refaced the fireplace with a
simple traditional mantle to match the rest of the woodwork in the house.  This little cottage
is nearly 100 years old and needs constant care!  I built a long rad cover to enclose the
non-functioning radiator.  I also built the sofa table to match.                                                                We replaced the ceiling fixture with a vintage chandelier and painted the
walls BM Edgecomb Gray and the trim BM White Dove.

 As you can see - the roof needed some serious repair work!   (Still needs more!)

 Vintage McGuire chairs give extra seating and add texture.  Circa Lighting lamp, antique Navaho Rug,
Sabina and Mesquite wood table from Mexico.  Pillow - African textile.  Cashmere throw - Banana Republic.  Art - Top Photo: Ryannan Bryer de Hickman.  The bottom piece is a framed
Buck & Hickman antique saw.

Photos By: Ryannan Bryer de Hickman

Christmas Morning & Adana's Pecan Tarts

 Merry Christmas Everyone!  It has been a beautiful morning here in our little cottage.  The paper whites planted several weeks ago bloomed just in time.

 Others are just getting started...................................

 The gifts have all been opened...............................

The Pecan Tarts - baked and consumed................................................. 

The Christmas Ham is in the oven - time to set the table...........................

with the little stockings and the bird place card holders from Nandina....................

 the bronze S&P shakers from Michael Aram acquired with a gift certificate given to me last Christmas from my darling husband for Charleston Street ........ one of my favorite places to shop.................

 later we will have tea and cookies.............................

 but first..........time for a little Champagne!!!!!

 Cheers!
Ry

Photos By: Ryannan Bryer de Hickman


Adana's Pecan Tarts

 Adana Whyte shared this recipe with me 25 years ago.  I've  made them nearly every Christmas since.


For the Pastry

1 cup flour (I substitute Gluten Free All Purpose Flour)
3 oz softened Cream Cheese
1 Stick softened Butter

Blend together to form a soft dough.  Roll into a ball and place in the refrigerator for a least one hour.  Remove and roll into 24 small (3/4") balls.  Use the dough to line mini muffin tins by pushing the dough into place with your fingers.

Filling

3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
pinch of salt
2/3 cup chopped Pecans

Cover bottom of pastry shell with Pecans.  Fill shells with the Brown Sugar mixture.  Complete by putting pecans on top.

Bake in a preheated oven at 325 for 25-30 minutes.

Landon presenting Nana with a gift certificate from Gramps - Christmas 2012                                                  

The Stockings Were Hung..........................

 For the last couple of years, I haven't done much in the way of decorating for Christmas.  We were in the middle of a fireplace/living/dining room facelift last year at the Georgia house and for the last two years we have spent Christmas out of town with our family.  I realized that I didn't have that many Christmas decorations at this house.  I can never remember what is where these days!

 With the fireplace now finished, I needed some stockings but wasn't inclined to go out and buy some.

I collect textiles and beautiful fabrics and have never been able to bring myself to throw out a cashmere sweater, even if it is too small or has holes in it, so I dug out some of the winter white ones and an Angora/wool sweater that had been accidently washed and dried and was therefore felted.  Perfect for making stockings.

The stockings made - they were in need of trim.  Ever wonder what to do with that 50 year old fur coat that you inherited, but wouldn't ever consider wearing?

To make full use of the sweaters - I cut the sleeves off, sewed one end closed, stuffed them with poly fill, sewed up the other end to make boot stuffers.

Cheers!
Ry

Photos By: Ryannan Bryer de Hickman

December Morning in the Garden

While half of the country is getting ready for a deep freeze this evening, Camellia flowers are blooming in my garden.

The Japanese Maple turned a brilliant orange seemingly overnight.  The color enhanced by the morning rain.  Everything else is still green.  One of the many things I love about the South.

CHEERS!
RY

One day turns into two.....................

A week melts into the next.........suddenly a month, then two have gone by. Summer brings friends and family - outdoor fun. The bathroom renovation has taken up more time than I could have imagined ..........and I'm not done yet! Right after I started the renovation, our shallow limestone well pump gave up the ghost. No big surprise as it had been giving us trouble for some time, usually turning off when a guest was in the shower. A nearby lightning strike and power surge finally did it in, along with the refrigerator and a few other things not plugged into a surge protectors. A friend of Jim's convinced him that we could replace the well pump ourselves, so we pulled the pump up 80 feet out of the ground and replaced it with a new one and new pipe. Back in the bathroom, I was able to resume the plastering and finished building the vanity base, mirror and stone countertop.

Here is a peek....................I built the vanity base and mirror out of odd bits of moulding and trim that I have been collecting. The moulding came from my Mom and the more ornate piece came from a shop on State Street in Santa Barbara.
A crystal chandelier and sconces were found in two different antique shops.
All of the plumbing had to be either redone or moved along with new electrical wiring, walls and Sheetrock. It is starting to take shape and actually look like a bathroom (it had been gutted for five years). Next on to the shower. Visiting friends haven't seemed to mind using the outdoor shower. They even seemed to delight in it. So do I, but summer will be over before I know it and even though this house is a weekend house - the shower needs to be finished!
All the rest of my spare time is spent in the vineyard coaxing the vines along.

The lavender was ready to be harvested last week. Now if I could just find a little time to catch up on all my favorite blog sites, answer all those emails and maybe even spend a little time at the beach.....................................................For all those fellow Foodies out there who have wondered if I've giving up cooking ...... Check out the new online magazine The Zenchilada (the first issue debuted yesterday) and you will see what I've been up to in the kitchen.

Cheers!

Photography By: Ryannan Bryer de Hickman

Sotto Il Monte Vineyards