Ronner Really Rocks

I am simply in love with these clothes.  Made by a company in South America no less.  Am I alone in my adoration? 

 

You can purchase the line at LA Saddlery, not sure where else.  What's not to love?



The End of Snow?

I'm a conservationist at heart, and my husband, who reads physics for fun, talks often about how when the ocean currents change, life on earth will change as we know it, but luckily not in my lifetime.  It is truly alarming to read this article below from the New York Times and I hope you will read it and pass it on.  Ignorance is not bliss.



This photo was taken last winter at Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada, one of the most beautiful spots on the planet in winter (and summer too) but can you imagine this without snow in winter?  Better start imaging.



That's the Chateau Lake Louse with the ski slopes at Lake Louise in the background.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/08/opinion/sunday/the-end-of-snow.html?src=me&ref=general&_r=0

We're bracing for 8-10 inches of snow tomorrow but frankly, I will be cherishing snow this week!

The Goldfinch

Once in a blue moon a fantastic book comes along, one that you place on your shelf and know you'll read it over and over again. Donna Tartt's masterpiece, The Goldfinch, is one such novel, and even at 700+ pages you'll hope that it doesn't end (at least I didn't). Tartt's first book, The Secret History, was a favorite (and earned a spot on the bookshelf as well). If you crave fantastically written literary fiction, there are plenty of reviews about this new work.  Stephen King's is here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/13/books/review/donna-tartts-goldfinch.html

If you're not a reader, then you're going to really miss out.  At the very least this famous little Dutch painting has gotten a lot more famous thanks to Donna Tartt.



Casual Chic

Seems the entire world has gone casual. Long gone are the days of a formal work wardrobe, a cocktail wardrobe, and formal attire.  I wore dresses to work every day, kept Ann Taylor in business and shopped the major sales at Neimans.  Alas, Nike is my new Neimans.....

 

But I love the "athletic" look  that is creeping into fashion these days as I've always worn it.  Those of us who live in an athletic world anyway, well, we're all of a sudden fashionable, so in walks "casual chic."

 

J Crew has taken "vintage" New Balance and made it hot.  Who knew?  The look is fun, comfortable, doesn't need dry cleaning, well, what's not to love?

 

Add a Patagonia vest...a few pairs of Nike sweats....

 

A cute scarf:

Skinny jeans work too.



 

And a few baubles....

 



 

And you're off to a casual chic kind of day.  Happy Monday!  Hope your weekend was full of casual fun!









Back in the Grooming Stall.....

For those who own horses you know how much time is spent in this....the infamous grooming stall. 

 

 

Wouldn't it be nice if it looked that good?  This one looks pretty nice too!

 

As does this one!  Love the shelving until you have to clean it.  Ask me how I know?

This one is even better (the doors) and the light!

And a heat lamp is also very nice!

 

Even George Washington had a grooming stall (at Mt. Vernon):

 

 

And Hermes is also in on it:

 

 

And there are also inexpensive, simple products that also aid in the grooming of large 1200 pound animals, like this handy cart:

 

 

This spray:

And this carry-all, but especially the Corona:



(photos from Pinterest)











Sorel Boots

After waiting for the adorable Sorel boots to go on sale at J Crew (sigh, they did not), I took the plunge this past weekend and added a pair to my winter wardrobe as a local ski shop had the line.  Who says you can't look stylish on the farm?  Here is a photo of the J Crew boots:



Sorel boots originated in Canada.  The Sorel line was introduced in 1962 by Kaufman Rubber Co. (later known as Kaufman Footwear), and became the world's best-selling cold weather boot.  In the summer of 2000, Kaufman Footwear went bankrupt and the Sorel trademark was bought by Columbia Sportswear. Following Columbia's purchase, the Sorel brand was expanded to other products, such as nylon outerwear and other work-related garments. Prior to Kaufman's bankruptcy, Sorel boots were made only in Canada. 

I found that they fit true to size and they have that Barbour look going on.  I am hoping that they are warm and functional too!  They also make slippers.

Time will tell and I suspect there's still a lot left to winter so there will be plenty of time to try them out!  You can see the entire line at Sorel.com. 





Graylyn

In my hometown of Winston-Salem, NC sit two grand homes, Reynolda and Gralyn.  The houses are across the road from one another and both are now owned by Wake Forest University very near where I grew up. Graylyn, pictured below, is the second largest single-family residence in the state, behind the infamous Biltmore House in Asheville. Graylyn is now a conference center/hotel while Reynolda House is an American art museum.



In 1925, Nathalie Lyons Gray purchased eighty-seven acres of pasture land and cornfields from R.J. Reynolds, Inc.  Nathalie and her husband, Bowman, set out to build the home of their dreams. With nearly 60 rooms and 46,000 square feet, Graylyn is a massive house. 



(A room at "The Mews)

 



The Gray family employed artisans and craftsman from across the United States in order to make their home a masterpiece in and of itself. The Manor House showcased an imported fifteenth-century French carved doorway, custom ironwork, hand painted tile motifs, and rare Louis XV paneling imported from Paris. Guest and family accommodations were equally impressive. Each of the original bedrooms on the second floor had private baths. Amenities were very lavish and truly unique for their time. Gold-plated fixtures, solid marble tubs, heated towel racks, built-in scales and shower with 17 shower heads were what made Graylyn.



(The Mews - once the stables, now rooms)

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The Grays’ attention to the elaborate design of the home extended to the intricate networks of pipes and wires. The home is wired with over 160,000 linear feet of copper wiring with water and steam lines made of solid brass. Graylyn also boasted an original telephone system consisting of fifty outlets and a radio system, which channeled high fidelity entertainment to the major living areas of the house. A floodlight system controlled from the main building aided in the security efforts of the watchmen. Such luxuries were at the cutting edge of technology for the 1930s. The Grays moved into the completed house in 1932. After Mr. Gray’s death in 1935, Mrs. Gray lived in the house until 1937, and each son lived on the estate for the first years of marriage. In 1938, Mrs. Gray married Benjamin Bernard, and she lived in the guest cottage, now called Bernard Cottage, until her death in 1961. In 1946 the family gave the estate to the Wake Forest School of Medicine. It was first used as a psychiatric hospital from 1947 until 1959, and then for academic programs. In 1972, Gordon Gray bought Graylyn back from the medical school and on the same day, donated it to Wake Forest University.



Today, this glorious and historic estate boasts 86 private guest rooms, 15 meeting rooms and is considered to be one of the finest conference centers in America. It continues to be owned and operated as a non-profit organization by Wake Forest University. Graylyn's primary mission is to support the University by funding student scholarships.



If ever in Winston-Salem, make a trip to see Graylyn.  It is truly an extraordinary place!