Suddenly it’s mid-summer…

I woke up very early this morning, made my coffee and poured a cup, put a pan of biscuits in the oven, went to the back door and pulled on my flowered boots and out I went with Holly to wander through the garden while throwing out feed for the chickens in their favorite spot under the trees. I turned on the hose and set the whirling sprinkler  on the roses and then decided I would pick a few blackberries to go with my cantaloupe. Amazingly I found a handful of ripe and juicy and deep purpley-blackberries that the birds and deer hadn’t absconded with…but, my real treat this morning will be the biscuits and homemade jam. I really don’t do this biscuit baking very often for obvious reasons but having just looked through my BOUCHON BAKERY book last night and, well, THOMAS KELLER’S biscuit recipe was right there, I just couldn’t resist…Justifying with the thought that Holly would get one, I would have two, save some for dinner and then the chicks would get the rest…or maybe I’ll freeze a few for later in the week! And after all, I did have some buttermilk in the fridge…

Summer’s perfect moments and memories…Now that mid-summer is here, I find myself thinking back to all the summers I spent on my grandparents’ farm during July and August. What joy I had with grandmother when she would put a pound cake in the oven of the old wood stove and say …”We’ve got plenty of time while it’s baking, let’s go pick some berries and make a pie later….”SO, we would go berry picking after chores were done. Whether it was strawberries, blackberries or blueberries in season, I always managed to fill my little straw basket that I had decorated with scraps of ribbon Grandmother had saved from birthday gifts and sewing projects. Back in the kitchen she would have me gather all the ingredients, put them on the huge wooden table covered in blue and white checked oilcloth. We used this table, made from an old walnut tree that had fallen after a violent rain and wind storm years earlier, to prepare foods, roll biscuits, mix batter and eat meals on together…she even used it to set a big wash tub on and bathe my new baby brother… She would show me how to blend the cold, fresh-churned butter into the flour with my fingers and then how to roll it out gently…”You can’t overwork the dough…” she would caution. Oh, the aroma of a fresh fruit pie baking in the oven…

Later in the season, she would always let me climb up into the peach trees to pick enough for a fresh peach pie. This was such a wonderful time which led to many precious memories…the adventure of seeking and picking fresh fruits of the season and the rewards of learning how to make jams, preserves, pies and cobblers…and time spent with my precious white-haired Grandmother.

White bowl filled with fresh organic blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries garnished with mint leaves

A favorite find…I always loved cooking on Grandmother’s huge black iron wood stove and years ago when I told Carl how I would love to put one in the kitchen he looked at me and wandered off to the workbench to tie some flies, all the while shaking his head and muttering. So I soon found a beautiful substitute…a French make…Le Cornue!

One of the best stoves in the world…and a bargain at close to $16,000…luxury doesn’t come cheap! The cream de la crème of cooking! No need to describe his reaction and comment on my stove choice, needless to say I settled on a new gas drop-in with a much more acceptable price tag.

SUMMER is SERVED…As to cooking, here are a few summer ideas...Crab filled lettuce eaves, baby spinach salad with cucumber spirals and coconut shrimp, and a new favorite…chunks of grilled chicken and vegetables served in pita bread with a creamy lemon dressing…oh, I could eat these several times a week!!

Well, it wouldn’t be summer without home-made ice cream…On those long summer days on the farm, we often made ice cream. After a trip into town, sitting in the old International Harvester pick up truck, to get ice from the ICE HOUSE, we gathered under the shade of huge pecan and walnut trees where we would pack the old wood ice cream maker with ice and rock salt and watch excitedly as grandmother poured the cream and egg and fruit mixture into the metal cylinder…then came the work! Taking turns, we would turn the crank for what seemed like hours but in reality about a half hour total was spent churning. Nothing can compare to opening the top of the freezing container and pulling out the paddle for the first licks of the lucious mixture inside. Nothing artificial, just cream from our cows, eggs from our chickens and fruit from the garden!   For good health sake try an alternative, fresh made FROZEN YOGURT. A refreshing lime yogurt is simple: I mix a 32 ounce container of organic plain Greek yogurt, 3/4 cup of sugar and 1/4 cup of fresh squeezed lime juice, and for more lime flavor add zest from 2 organic limes. Pour into the churn container that sits in the freezer just waiting to be used and follow directions on your model. I have a simple Cuisinart ice cream maker that takes a little less than 20 minutes to churn this mixture into frozen yogurt. Refreshing as a summer rain shower!

Great Garden Idea…This canvas cover, simple to make, can provide a bit of shelter from the hot afternoon sun…get creative!

Take a break! We all need a break from our daily routines…not necessarily a full-blown holiday…but a day or a place for settling thoughts and calming mind & heart. Of course, my friends, you all know my heart’s desire would be to sit in the lavender fields in Provence…a scented scent of purple!

…but since that won’t be happening any time soon, I’ll just have to be creative here at home in my own heavenly hideaway! I can spend an afternoon in my own garden relaxing under a canvas shelter or beach umbrella…or on terribly hot days, spend time inside working on creative projects. It just becomes a matter of choice at the moment!

Watching dusk fall over the garden, I smell the honeysuckle’s evening scent as I walk out to close up the chicken pen and coop for the evening. Time for brushing Holly and another glass of wine…

Rediscover the Spirit and Sparkle of Merry Christmas…

Welcome family and friends…a bright, twinkling display of tiny lights strung over a deciduous vine or climbing rose already growing on an arbor creates a warm and welcoming entry to your home. To make it more festive for Christmas, add red plaid ribbons and bows with sprays of evergreens.

Capture the season by decorating your home with traditional garlands of fresh greens adorned with red velvet or gingham ribbons, winter berries and fresh foliage, simply wrapped presents stacked under the live tree shimmering with tiny white lights, flickering candlelight on the mantel…

Rows of candlelights in simple jam jars decorated with ivy and sprigs of holly flicker on a window ledge while bunches of seasonal greenery hang inside and out.A sparkle of red and silver set a gracious holiday table.

Bake/Make tasteful treats…gifts of food give so much pleasure and nothing evokes anticipation of the celebrations to come quite like the tantalizing aromas of Christmas baking…spicy gingerbread cookies, jars of fruity jams and jellies, dreamy chocolate fudge, steamed fruit puddings, homemade biscuits crammed with cheese and nuts, curried pecans, and so many other creative foods.

The joyful spirit of giving and sharing often gets lost in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. But, giving can be more fulfilling if we remember that the best gift is one that creates something special between you and another person.

Winter Warmers…’tis the season to eat, drink & be merry… 

Enjoy the magic of a winter walk through the countryside or nearby park followed by a steaming pot of soup still simmering on the stove. Later, spend time warming in front of the fireplace accompanied by a glass of rich Armagnac, or a smooth Cognac to sip and savor. Don’t forget, a bottle [or 2] makes a lovely and thoughtful gift. HINT:  In France, the Dartigalongue distillery has been producing spirits since 1831. The Roger Groult distillery offers some of the finest Calvados made from a variety of apples grown on their own trees…their region is in the heart of the Pays d’ Auge.

If you want to really splurge… Look for Jean Fillioux Cognac, considered one of the finest premier cru in the world of Cognac. The estate is located in the heart of the Grande Champagne region. Some of their RESERVE FAMILIALE bottles are over 50 years old.

Of course my choice, [ if I could even afford the gift box ] is DuPeyrat organic Cognac XO, aged a minimum of 15 years by the Du Peyrat family at their distillery in France. The family has been producing Cognac for over 300 years so I assume they have their production very well organized.

To keep the good cheer flowing…any of these wonderful, luxurious spirits would be perfect for a sit and slow sip by the fireplace.

This time of year marks both a beginning and an ending…the hard work has ended for a while and while I still putter about on warmer sunny days, I am looking ahead to next spring…For now it’s the beginning of winter and I know that long after I have closed the back door and hung up my very old blue denim jacket, the gardeners of Provence will still be out, having supper on the patio, snapping off stems of rosemary & thyme still warm from the sun…I knew it would be this way, winter slowly creeps on and I am already longing for spring and a visit with my French sister, Jeanine…

Love and All the Best Wishes for the Holiday Season…

Merry Christmas! says HOLLY!!

A home, a garden, a lifestyle, a season, an obsession…

Life moves along with the seasons…this is particularly true during the summer when fruits and vegetables and herbs are at their peak of freshness.

ALFRESCO…Here, in the above photo, a lite breakfast of ripe, just picked fruits epitomizes the beauty of a summer garden. There is no better time of year than summer for creating fabulous meals while there is a limitless supply of fresh from the garden…or maybe the Farmer’s Market…colorful fruits, herbs, salad greens and vegetables. Eating out in the garden or on the porch/patio is a completely different experience from a meal served indoors. The fragrance of flowers…the scents of the season…mingle with the pleasure of delicious food and drink. Celebrate the tranquility and pleasure of bare feet on the grass or cool stone while sipping a chilled drink…

Long, hot summer days demand light food…plenty of salads, raw and grilled vegetables, simple fish, shrimp, crabs or scallops accompanied by a chilled while wine or Rose’ to bring the day to a close.

A hot summer day calls for cold drinks during the time just before the evening meal…enjoy a glass of Prosecco with fresh blended peaches. [Did you know that peaches originated in China?]

OR…a personal favorite…Try LILLET with lemon. Lillet is a French aperitif, made in the village of Podensac from Bordeaux wine infused with oranges, honey, fresh mint and spices. Serve it chilled with a squeeze of lemon for a refreshing summer afternoon drink or before a meal as an aperitif. Crisp and delicious and refreshing.

Of course, when I was growing up in the south, ALFRESCO…in the open air…meant taking a tomato sandwich out on the porch to eat while shooing flies away with a mesh swatter from the Piggly Wiggly…or cold fried chicken and corn on the cob under the tree by the wash house….all while my French sister, Jeanine, growing up in Lyon, enjoyed a bite of cheese or a piece of tortilla, a fresh lemon presse’ and a chunk of baguette from the “bakery” next door. And my friends wonder about my obsession!

Season of Summer...we fall into a slower pace, a more relaxed time for being outside, a time for picnics, for vacations at the beach or a cabin at the lake…a time for cooling off in the water, playing croquet on the lawn, canoeing on the lake…endless hours whiled away swinging into the lake dropping from a rope while yelling…”Geronimo”!!

Early summer in the garden…water your garden during dry spells, although we finally got rain yesterday and all night and shows 3 1/2 inches in my rain gauge!! There are 4 things to be mindful of in the garden: be alert for insect pests and diseases and be vigilant in your watering and weeding. Of course, if you follow my organic program you really shouldn’t be bothered by 3 of the chores, but watering is critical when the sky is dry for days and days…plants need about an inch of rain or watering a week. In loose sandy soil you’ll need more!!     So remember…plants are like people…they need to be clean and healthy to feel good and need air and water to survive!

A tip for you if you plan to put in a stone patio this season…which I am doing at my brother’s house…use creeping thyme planted between some of the stones on a terrace or patio to give fragrance and fresh green color year round.

Summer inside…close your eyes for a moment and envision the perfect room for  summer living. So, what do you see? For me it’s whitewashed woods and wicker, sorbet colors and white slipcovers on furniture. The look is comfortable and welcoming. However, I can’t change over furniture every season as would like to do so I think of simple tricks to give a breezy easy livin’ look to my rooms where I spend the most time. Lavender trimmings in the clean fireplace, fresh lavender, gardenia, and peony candles, a creamy white quilt thrown over the French paisley sofa, fresh little bouquets of herbs and flowers on every table, soft pretty pillows, a mantel full of gathered treasures, crisp white sheets on my bed topped with a lacy white cover from Portugal, all express my love for a somewhat simple, sophisticated lifestyle. My house is not perfect and never will be, I prefer comfort for Holly, my Border Collie, and me. It takes a lifetime to get where I am now!

AND, outside…I dream of a courtyard in a village in Provence…There is something, to me, about all things French that make them stylish and ROMANTIC! I remember a summer afternoon spent walking through a market in the south of France…a large woven basket, I still use for shopping, filled with some goat cheese wrapped in green fig leaves, a fresh still-warm baguette, a bottle of local Rose’, a few bars of handmade lavender soap and a new pair of red espadrilles and of course, a lovely bouquet of lavender stems. Later, nearing dusk, we, Jeanine and I, ambled down the lane towards a small stone house with lacy curtains fluttering in the breeze…our little cottage for the night! Roses clambered up the wall and eventually onto the roof…lavender just starting to bud…such wonderful fragrance added to a night sleeping with windows open to the night air.

Tonight, as I slip between the crisp white sheets, lavender sachet from Provence by my neck, I hope to dream of another time and back to that place…

Here’s to the Joys of July….

Love from Patricia & Holly & Cerise, the Deux Chevaux…

A certain je ne sais quoi…

                         A post of a different color…it gives you a another viewpoint.

My friends know I have long been enchanted with all things French...the history, the language, the lifestyle, the elegance and simplicity, the furnishings, the decor, the passion and reverence for time worn pieces passed from one generation to the next, along with the rustic allure and charm of the countryside. Very few know why…

This great love and deep appreciation took root as a bookish 12 year old after reading The Diary of Anne Frank… I began my quest to find out all I could about World War II and especially the role of the Resistance in France, which, of course, led me to read many other books about the sacrifices made by other countries and their heroic people who fought and died during the Nazi Occupation of much of Europe! There were so many intriguing stories…Historical fact and fiction of Europe along with books about American history became my companions as I traveled the world through their words.

Traveling for the first time to Paris & Provence in 1999, I was thrilled to be walking the ancient and historic streets I had imagined and read so much about. On the Il de Cite’, Jeanine and I were standing in line outside a small ice cream/sorbet shop when I noticed a stone plaque on the building across the walkway. I walked over while Jeanine ordered for us and found a passage engraved on the stone…loosely remembered…”In this place Jewish children were hidden during the occupation of Paris.” So there I stood, thinking of all the historical events, this very thing I had read about, tears streaming, I thanked God for the people brave enough to fight the Nazis.

While living in the mountains of Colorado in my late twenties…I met a lovely, gracefully aging lady from France who happened one day to walk into my design shop. We talked and talked, she sharing about her home in Provence and why she was living in Colorado, me sharing how much I loved listening to her. She actually lived near me in the Evergreen Meadows east of the village. Enthralled with her accent, her soft, silvery gray hair styled into a bun at the nape of her neck, her blue eyes moist as she spoke of Provence, she asked if I would help with a party at her home. A few days later, excited by her invitation to visit, I followed the directions up the mountain canyon to what she called her rustic home…well, she personified grace and elegance and her home was very much a reflection of just those qualities. It was a home filled with timeless treasures, flea market finds beside the patina of well-loved furniture, enchanting vignettes of china pieces, copper and crystal, and a host of charming antique curiosities…peeling, cracked, and chipped! Her garden…a tangle of relaxed and carefree sunny blossoms. I was there to plan a Bastille Day Celebration for her which turned out to be a rather spectacular yearly event. We remained friends, sharing our love of France and gardening for several years until…Well, and then I moved away…

Living in California...This antique silver box was a thank you gift from a great French lady who became a client while I lived and worked in California. She hired me to design and completely furnish a large condo unit she had purchased in Century City….all while she was still in Paris. We spoke on the phone, weekly, through her daughter who spoke English.

Working for Madame, as I called her, was such a great experience…every selection and design element was presented and sent by courier to Paris…she would look over the details and then exclaim as we spoke on the phone, often as late as 9:00PM…’how very French this will look and how did you know so easily what I would like…’ That was the easy part, putting the “LOOK” and “STYLE” together. Getting the fabrics and wallpapers and  work and built-ins done and furniture installed in time for her first visit was the challenge. Another French friend, an antique dealer from Pasadena, in the last few weeks of the process, found many pieces from Paris markets that I used to furnish and accessorize the space that became a warm and gracious home filled with color, pattern, art and great spots for relaxing. I still remember her first words as she walked into her home away from home…’Oh, c’est magnifique!’

And, it happened again…Many years later later I met, by chance, my transplanted French sister, Jeanine, shown above on the right. Once more, I fell into the French of all things…talking, laughing, sharing so much. We began with our love of gardening, then we began cooking together and teaching others about cooking the French way, and then on to our trip to France where we evolved into sisterhood. We enjoy a rich history filled with wildly sumptuous meals, captivating & playful adventures, and an enduring deep friendship. I think back, that hard lump in my throat, of all the memories spent together, the four of us…her husband, Luat, and my late husband, Carl… and all the others who came to enjoy time spent eating and drinking wine while gathered around the pool. We still visit, text every few days and travel when we have time..that will never change.

Quoi de neuf? Our get-togethers over good wines and cheese and a baguette fresh from the oven were often the perfect ending for our day spent in the garden, our time to talk, to laugh, to relax and to sometimes cry…

So now you know and understand a bit more of how my life has been deeply influenced by …all things French.

Over many decades, I have collected vintage pieces from France,  and a few from Italy and England, that filled my homes around the country, reflecting the gracious marks of time and use, along with an occasional whimsy that inspired conversation. My heart fills with love for these everyday objects that were made to last, with the charm of the French way…to care for, to use and to lovingly pass down to the next generation…who will hopefully appreciate their passage through time.

Holly says hello…

Cerise loves her time spent in the lavender fields…one day I’ll see them again with her and Jeanine.

“Eating is not merely a material pleasure. Eating well gives a spectacular joy to life and contributes immensely to goodwill and happy companionship.”  Elsa Schiaparelli

Oh, baby, it’s getting cold outside…a bit of winter has arrived!

CHRISTMAS time…our hearts are soaring and our great spirit prevails during the glorious holiday season. Invite friends and family into the warmth of your home…there is nothing quite so elemental as a log fire in the hearth, nothing that excites the passions and imagination like its flames. A wood fire radiates the pure energy of nature.

The glowing warmth of a log fire captures the often forgotten spirit of down-home hospitality…If you’re bewildered and bothered by the holidays knocking on the door, take a while to sit by the fireplace with a glass of wine…or herb tea…Enjoy the glowing warmth, spicy fragrance of flickering candles, fresh from the oven cookies, and simply relax. NOW  truly is one of the most wonderful times of the year. It’s important to take time out to enjoy moments of an ordinary day, take time to be closer to family and friends, to find in each day a challenge to be lived and  in the process try to add joy to lives of others. And, at Christmas, more than ever…

The joyful spirit of giving and sharing often gets lost in the holiday season hustle and bustle. Giving can be more fulfilling if we remember that often the best gift of all is the one that creates something special between you and another person. The simple handmade heart shown here is one of several I have made for friends over the years. I use a variety of fabrics and trims and usually stuff the little hearts with lavender buds. A few other favorite “gifts” to consider giving…potted herbs and the promise to help with planting later, a certificate for precious time to spend together working in a friend’s garden, a basket of organic coffee beans and homemade cookies, a sleep pillow filled with lavender, jars of rose petal jam, an old-fashioned crock of vin d’ orange, an herbal wreath made from your own fresh cut, dried herbs for cooking in an antique crock, a collection of old hand tools…A garden gift will last for years and will be a perennial reminder of a friendship. What makes giving truly special is taking the extra step and finding what personal thing you can make or do to delight someone you care about. Remember the reason for the season…

A simple holiday arrangement…sprigs of juniper, cedar, holly and ivy with red berries and pine cones form a wreath-like centerpiece highlighted with fragrant candles resting in old jars. These same jars can be used as little lanterns hanging in the garden, candles lighting the way…simply wrap copper wire around the rims…simple.

GIFTS FROM YOUR HEART

The Christmas kitchen is a whirlwind of fragrant activity…a comforting stew simmers happily away on the stove, gingerbread in the oven…something bubbling, roasting or baking. Scents of citrus and spice fill the air…

Warm thoughts for winter...Birds appreciate the riches of decorations on your outdoor Christmas tree. Spread pine cones with suet and seeds and hang on the tree…they will flock to enjoy the fats and proteins!!

All this work makes me hungry!!  Time for a great ham and cheese, or as called in Paris…jambon-fromage…one of those completely special treats. When you bite into the baguette the brittle crust shatters, yielding thinly sliced country ham and thick pieces of Comte’ cheese, and a heavy smear of pure butter. That’s it, no mustard, no mayo, or lettuce, or tomato nonsense. The French solved the sandwich problem long ago. It’s the simplicity and quality of ingredients that make the sandwich satisfying. Salivating now…

Raison d’etre…or reason for living.  For me…my family, my friends, my home & garden, my cooking, my good wine and my books…What is yours?

As we approach the close of another year, let us celebrate the potential to create for ourselves, our families and everyone around us, a peaceful, safe and healthier environment.

From Holly and me, we wish you Happy Holidays and especially… a very Merry Christmas !!

Quite a few sunsets have passed…

…since I started this blog in 2012, just after my husband had passed away. Even though I felt such great sadness, there was so much I wanted to say and share…perhaps a bit of therapy for me, too! It has helped me greatly…

See July 2013 post…

I wanted to share my thoughts, experience, and knowledge about many things, my more than 30 years as an Interior Designer, all over the country…but most of all about the simplicity of creating and maintaining a stress free garden using methods that were in use long before organic became a descriptor for gardening…somewhat a guide to growing & gardening…based on my years of experience, knowledge, thoughts, ideas, observations, and information…Usually you will find a bit of Landscape Design, Interior Design, Cooking good food with organic ingredients, Natural home care AND, most of all…My love for all things French…

If you follow my blog posts…oh, please do…you can tell from the over 3 years of postings that some of my great joys are as simple as a new rose bloom, a butterfly floating over the phlox, hummingbirds feeding at the window, fresh scones, great French Roast coffee…my family, my friends and my Border Collie, Holly.

So for now, follow me down the path to home…OH, how I wish…and hopefully you’ll find something to enjoy or perhaps create!

Elegance and Simplicity…there is something, to me, about all things French that make them stylish and romantic! A simple silk scarf thrown around my neck [with my pearls] always makes me walk with grace and confidence. At home, the way colors and patterns are mixed, fragrant little bouquets from the garden on every table, the carefree mix of flowers, herbs and vegetables in a potager… the fresh bread, the cheese…the wine and my CERISE!

Cerise and I travel through many gardens…

Style…CHIC, the word is FRENCH, for goodness sake! The world has looked to France for luxury and style for hundreds of years…elegance seems effortless… France is a country that cherishes its past…household treasures are proudly displayed and used: time-worn furniture, the elegance of faded fabrics and heritage bed-linens, fresh rose in a cracked vase, a tapestry bench, vintage lace, gilded boxes, aged copper pots handed down from generation to generation, faience, a cashmere shawl, a treasured Limoges soup tureen,  shelves brimming with books, old glass and distinctive white china crockery, unadorned windows illuminating the space, a tiny patio with table & chairs for morning cafe’…

Seductive and Soothing…the taste of chocolat, the fragrance of lavender fields, the perfumes of GRASSE, the fresh scent from a patisserie or boulangerie tempting you in to decide between baguette, croissant or pastry, Veuve Clicquot bubbles tickling your nose, creme brulee for dessert…Coco Chanel, Edith Piaf, Alain Delon, Brigitte Bardot, Yves Montand, whoops, visiting the past again…oh so much more!

Time for a glass of wine and a bit of reflection…I read recently about even ANOTHER study done in Europe on the aging process…oh, why do I bother! It was discovered that there is no boundary between mind and body…seriously! Both interact in a psychosomatic information network linking mind, emotion and soul to our ‘material envelope’ of molecules, cells and organs…ah, com’on!

Grief, stress, joy, fear, joy, love…all the emotions that swirl through our minds…impact our bodies and are carried around by hormones, neurotransmitters and other big words.TO GET TO THE POINT OF THE RESEARCH…we have power over our bodies and can change our biology by the way we think and feel…we become our expectations. Maybe that’s why I always feel so much better when I stop working outside in the 90 degrees plus and close to 100% humidity…come inside…take a shower, settle into my chair with a glass of wine, a bit of cheese & baguette. WOW, The immediate impact of this decision to change my biology, as well as state of mind, is quite evident!! Now if only all that helped with the wrinkles!

Something colorful for your garden…I just loved the way the garden gates echo the color of  hydrangeas…why not try a spot of different! Never be afraid to add that touch of the unexpected…it is your garden!

Summer phlox adds such a splash of all season color and fragrance…I can never have enough of these glorious blooms…The cedar arbor is another nice accent for the garden!

SCRAPBOXES…Not a garden thing…just a great idea for saving memories which come to life with photos and bits of collections displayed in simple white frames…however, you could do some gardening boxes with photos and dried flowers and petals, etc…

Multiple Scrapboxes are easily displayed on shallow white “shelves” attached to the wall…this is such a great idea I am anxious to start gathering some items…

Last words…When it gets REALLY hot…just remember last winter, 2 feet of snow for weeks, 18 degrees, frozen gardens!

Are we ever “weather-satisfied”??

…and some words I love from Joanna Gaines, and her shop, MAGNOLIA, in Waco, Texas:

“Today is a Good Day for a Good Day”

Love, from Patricia and Holly