valentine's day Highland Living

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Main Staircase laid with carpet in the Campbell of Cawdor Plaid. Firearms taken from defeated French invasion forces from 1797.

Are you one of those people (like me) who collects all of the Oscar winning movies from every year? If so, then you have Braveheart in your collection. And so it might follow that you have a little place in your heart for the Scottish moors, castle strongholds, and tartan plaids.

Scotland has a rich history full of legends and romance from the drama of MacBeth to Nessie to the enchanting castle keeps. I recently received a copy of the upcoming book Highland Living from Flammarion due out mid-February. The authors, Stephane Bern and Franck Ferrand, splendidly capture the heart of Scotland with their tales of the early clan chiefs on through to the most recent inhabitants of Cawdor Castle. It reads like an historic novel with all of the color and depth of an epic family chronicle.

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But I have to say, my imagination was first captured when I opened the book and found page after page of brilliant photography by lifestyle photographer Guillaume de Laubier. You may be familiar with his work as it has been featured in Elle Decoration, Vogue, and A French Country Home (Flammarion, 2005). Castles and common dwellings, formal gardens and windswept moors, grand sittings rooms and cozy hunting lodges are all represented here in beautiful full page color.

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Cawdor Castle

The stories and photos focus on the Scottish National treasure, Cawdor Castle and the lands surrounding. We get a insider's view of lifestyle and decor inside the castle walls and the other dwelling on the vast properties.

I am showing just a few of the photos that particularly caught my eye.

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Main staircase with a group of monogrammed fire buckets.

The tale of Cawdor Castle is strewn with the personal remembrances of the current Dowager Countess of Cawdor, Angelika Cawdor. She has also written the Forward, in which she ponders the question: was Coco Channel inspired to design her famous logo after seeing the interlocking C's after visiting the Castle of Cawdor?

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The Main Drawing Room of Cawdor

The Drawing room shows off the architectural volume common to 17th century architecture. But even in it's grand scale, there is a sense of comfort, even coziness here, I think.

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Portrait Gallery

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Pryse Campbell, the 17th Thane of Cawdor

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Dining Room Mantle

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Doorway leading to the Dining Room

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Hallway at Cawdor

The keep at Cawdor was built between 1370 and 1380, maintained and owned by descendants of MacBeth himself. The castle has been open to visitors since 1976, but had been losing money until Angelika transformed it to what you see today. Now it is regarded as a fine cultural and heritage enterprise. As old as it is, it is no wonder there are legends of ghosts and spirits, all of which are written about in Highland Living. Wouldn't it be wonderful to sit in the castle restaurant and feel the presence of a Thane of days past sitting next to you?

The history of how the castle grew to it's present size and appearance is captured beautifully in this book, as well as the creation of the gardens and additions of surrounding properties which encompass 18,000 acres of forests. These forests are known as "the Big Wood" and look today almost "exactly as it did after the end of the last ice age", because of the guardianship of the family of Cawdor.

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The tree house in The Big Wood

But the estate does not end there. The Cawdor estate covers 58,000 acres, over 90 square miles. A hunting lodge or two would of course be necessary.

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Hunting Lodge Dining Room at Drynachan

I loved this photo of the Dining Room in the Hunting Lodge at Drynachan. Apparently guests at the lodge in the 19th century entertained themselves by decorating the walls, and it has stayed like this since. So very modern looking isn't it? The white walls with the river of local scenery washing across it is wonderful!

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Sitting Room at the Hunting Lodge

This Hunting Lodge can be rented for Family vacations. Located in the heart of the Highlands, I am just dreaming of making that visit.

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Desk at the Hunting Lodge

It would be the perfect place to tromp through the moors and discover ancient cottages.

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Cottage roofed with Heather at Culloden

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The moors at Drynachan

Highland Living is full of stories about Cawdor and the estate, but it also contains other fine jewels of information. At the end of the book, there is information about visiting Cawdor Castle as well as many other places of interest. There is a listing of the Best Hotels, Restaurants, and Bed and Breakfasts. There is also information on Shopping, Fishing, Golf, Riding and Shooting.

And I cannot forget the whole section on recipes served at the Castle, like Pheasant Curry, Cranachen, and Roast Rhubarb and Apple Crumble with Creme Anglaise. Top it off with Cawdor Elderflower Cordial.

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Haggis, the traditional dish of the Highlands

So I hope you are curious and inclined to look into Highland Living. It is the perfect companion for taking tea by the fire and letting your imagination take flight.

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Tea in the small Dining Room. Family Crest on the table linen.

valentine's day A Week in Napa Valley Starts with Ma(i)sonry

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Ma(i)sonry

I was in Napa a couple of weeks ago and really...I had meant to blog about it sooner. But life has a way of turning things on their heads...me included. I had a wonderful day with two good friends, and aside from the sweltering heat ( I think it was 120 degrees....OK I'm exaggerating, but not by alot) we had so much fun. So, this week I am blogging about all of the things we did and places we went. (I know the title is a little confusing. I was there for the day, but YOU will be seeing our day all week!).

We came to Napa Valley for a wine tasting and book signing event taking place at Ma(i)sonry in Yountville. One of only three stone buildings constructed in Yountville, the building that is now Ma(i)sonry was built in 1904 as the primary residence of Charles Rovegno, an Italian immigrant lured to the fertile farmlands of the valley.

The newest owner, Michael Polenske, has taken this historic building and through careful preservation and meticulous renovation, has turned it into a showplace for fine art, carefully selected vintage furniture and beautifully crafted custom furniture, as well as a a boutique wine tasting venue. Ma(i)sonry has become a collective for a partnership of wine makers such as Blackbird Vineyards, Brown Estate, Joel Gott Wines, Lail Vineyards, Pedras Wine Company, Renteria Wines and Tor Kenward Family Wines.

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Here is proprietor and curator, Michael Polenske with girlfriend, Kimberly Miller (editor of Daily Candy, San Francisco by the way!) Handsome couple, no?

Also an art and furniture collective, Ma(i)sonry is currently exhibiting works by Chiara Mondavi ( yes, THAT Mondavi) and Wade Hoefer. Furniture collective partners include such greats as Ron Mann, Alexandra von Furstenburg, Citizen:Citizen, and Hudson Furniture.

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Front Room

Michael assembled a team of talent to renovate the building and the grounds with the help of Project manager, Paul Leary (also COO of Blackbird Vineyards....many hats!). Architects Douglas Thornley, Gould Evans/Baum Thornley, Designer Erin Martin , and Landscape Architect, Dave Roche of Roche + Roche worked to create the perfect marriage of historic preservation and modern design. Please check out the Ma(i)sonry website to learn all about the process. In the photo above you can see how the old stone walls were a rustic counterpoint to the new industrial modern staircase.

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The spaces are filled with antiques and art, like the landscapes of Wade Hoefer shown above and below.

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A piece by Chiara Mondavi hangs above a Bombe console.

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Clever "art"!

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Another piece by Chiara Mondavi sits above a console by Alexandra von Furstenburg.

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The decomposed granite patio is full of furniture designed by legendary Ron Mann.

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Doesn't it look lovely and cool here? I am sure it is wonderful on most days, but on this particular day it was hot, hot, hot!!!! I was very thankful that there was an abundance of a very refreshing citrus punch, and slices of cool watermelon, as well as delicious wines from the collective wineries. The table is all ready for the book signing for the Orlando Diaz-Azcuy book by Diane Dorrans Saeks, (which is available here)

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Somehow Diane and Orlando managed to look serenely cool, collected and quite wonderful! Be sure to checkout Diane's blog, the Style Saloniste! She has a wealth of knowledge about design and architecture.

Many thanks to Michael and Kimberly for hosting such a fun event ! Ma(i)sonry is a "must see" for anyone planning a trip to the Napa Valley.

All photos by katiedid except those of the patio provided by Diane Dorrans Saeks

valentine's day Who Turned Out the Lights?!?!? Evangeline's.....

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I've heard the mansion is haunted. I've heard there are spirits here and events that can not be explained. Perhaps this is the place where the spell originated. The place where, once one enters, one is enchanted forever. The place that has all of Sacramento, and places beyond, in it's power. For, in the months before All Hallow's Eve, people come. They come and cannot help but leave changed. And once they have come, they cannot but return, year after year. The place is called Evangeline's.

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When one encounters the entrance to the mansion, one can choose to risk the ancient elevator with the iron door. I have seen some enter, and I cannot say I have seen them again.

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But the tentative may choose to climb the stair to the inner chambers of the mansion.

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At first, it may seem like a beautiful and magical place.

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But......when one approaches another stair....things start to seem a little bit more....sinister.

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One might feel a bit comforted by the fact that a woman is dressed like Minnie Mouse sits on a ledge half way up the stair. Until one asks, what exactly is she doing there?! valentine's day

I have heard that the spirits walk these stairs. And that there are bumps...in the night.

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Quickly, one is reminded that this place is not of the day...but of the night. The night the spirits come out to play, and witches dance by candlelight.

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And candles shine brightly above the skulls of those that have passed before.

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The Devil himself has been known to hold court.

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And he is quite generous when it comes to offering up pitchforks to those unsuspecting.

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The spirits are always on hand to watch the fun.

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Many of the adventurous come to test their courage at the mansion. And to see the sights....the stained glass skylights and the polished wood antique bars and counters. They think they will be the ones who leave untouched with only a story to tell.

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But many lose their heads.

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Many are enchanted and lost in time.

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But even in the past, the spirits are awake.

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Perhaps a bit of a drink is in order to settle one's nerves. And at first, that drink seems to do the trick (or treat).

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Until one realizes, that perhaps it is not normal to be seeing fairies hanging in swings.

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Or meet Alice in Wonderland.

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Time seems to stand still and overlap. How does a poodle skirt suddenly become so sinister?!

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Things quickly go from bad to worse.

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And the only escape is past strange mad creatures.

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Careful.

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You may not be able to resist a visit next year.

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Evangeline's is surely part of the obsession that Sacramento has with Halloween. Housed in the three story Howard House mansion and the Lady Adams Building in Historic Old Town Sacramento, Evangeline's evolved from an antiques shop in 1974 to the Halloween fantasy it is today. To learn all about it's fascinating history, visit here. Both buildings are filled to overflowing top to bottom with costumes and all things necessary for a wicked Halloween season. There is a Renaissance Room, a Disco Room in honor of the former disco housed here, a Wild West Room, Fantasy land/Disney Room, Medical Room, Devil and Angel Room, and more I cannot remember. These all in addition to the ghouls, ghosts and witches one would naturally encounter this time of year. I hope that some of you will get the chance to visit. I promise you......... you will not leave unchanged.

An additional note....I have never had such a strange and difficult time trying to get a post to "post". I encountered some very strange "happenings". The photos were very fickle as to whether they would upload, and once they did, there was so much space between them, I almost thought they didn't upload at all. I went into the "edit html" tab to see what was happening and encountered a very strange code that repeated over and over! If anyone else has seen this, I would greatly appreciate and explanation! It was really sort of freaky. I tried to type the code, but it will not stay put, so I will describe it: 'less than' sign, p, 'greater than' sign, forward slash, 'less than' sign, p, 'greater than' sign. Any thoughts?! I am really not making this up.

In keeping with the season of spirits, I am planning a few posts this week to celebrate! I hope you come back and visit. I promise a hauntingly good time!!!!