Archive for Mary’s Raves
Swing into Summer…
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Just imagine. It’s a quiet, lazy afternoon at Lake Gaston. You are worn out from a busy work week and it’s time to relax. Grab your book and head to the porch or covered deck, climb into your porch swing bed and your week’s demands just fade away. Get the picture? Remembering my grandmother’s front porch swing makes this new swing version so appealing to me. There are many different varieties and styles. I love the idea of mixing outdoor fabrics, colors and patterns to create your own outdoor look. Here are a few of my favorites. |
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Porch bed swings are one of my favorite new trends. I am “dreaming” of where I may use one of these! |
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A smaller and comfortable swing option is the fabric swing chair. It is available in a wide variety of colorful outdoor fabrics. |
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Once you have selected your way of “swinging into summer” here are a few tips to get a longer life out of your outdoor swing cushions or any outdoor fabric products:
Here are some helpful links for more different swing bed style and a DIY video about constructing your own outdoor bed! http://www.livinglocurto.com/2009/07/hanging-porch-beds/ http://www.houzz.com/Porch-Swing-Bed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIbrgLQY48g
Happy swinging and outdoor “Lake Living”!
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Now you see it, now you don’t!
Posted by: | CommentsSummer at Lake Gaston is quickly approaching. With summer come visits from lots of family and friends. That’s what lake living is all about.
Where, oh where do you bed down all these visitors?
With the use of a Murphy convertible bed you can create a multifunctional space that helps to ease the sleeping predicament.
Do you have a need for extra sleeping space? Where would you like to incorporate a Murphy bed?
Let’ hear your comments!
Loving Tile Dots!
Posted by: | CommentsIn our new demonstration kitchen we found a wonderful new accent tile to incorporate in our design. Tile Dots are created by ceramic artist Kim McGinnis of Rocky Mount, NC. This is a truly custom product. There are over 30 colors to choose from. Mix and match the size and colors of the dots. Add an accent shape for a coastal or nature look. We can help you create the perfect tile accent design for your kitchen or bath project. But don’t stop with the kitchen or bath…how about a table top of tile dots or a small accent wall in a niche? Let’s explore the possibilities!
Watch this video as Autumn tells us all about Tile Dots!
How creative can you be? How would you like to use Tile Dots?
We love your comments!
Be Thankful Food Drive
Posted by: | CommentsAs we are preparing for a wonderful Christmas holiday with family and friends we should take a minute to remember that not everyone will be able to have a bountiful feast. Our “Be Thankful” FOOD DRIVE is one way we can help. We have selected the Bethlehem Food Pantry of the First United Methodist Church of Roanoke Rapids as our benefactor. We will be collecting food items through Dec 21. We challenge you to help us reach our goal of at least 25 bags of the twelve food items listed below.
Here are a few facts about this ministry and the items they particularly need.
The Bethlehem Food Pantry
Did you know that from April 7, 2009 to December 22, 2010:
We have helped a total of 805 families in the Roanoke valley?
These families consist of 2024 individuals, including 647 children under the age of 18?
These families also include 239 seniors over the age of 62. In 2009 we served 240 families averaging 58 per month.
In 2010, we gave 2403 bags of food to 719 hungry families in great need, averaging 200 per month.
This past year, The Panty has distributed $27,109 worth of canned/dry food, plus hundreds of donated items to our clients
The present cost per family is approximately $11. Each family receives 1 bag of food consisting of:
1 box of cereal
1 can of spaghetti sauce
1 box of spaghetti
3 cans of vegetables
1 can baked beans
1 box of saltine crackers
1 can of fruit
1 jar of peanut butter
1 box of Mac & cheese
1 6-pack Ramen Noodles
Other non-perishable will also be accepted.
Thank you for your contributions!
Wishing you a very joyous holiday!
Hey good looking what ya been cooking?
Posted by: | CommentsCooking classes may seem like an unusal offering for an interior design business. Think again! What do interior designers do? They create spaces in which to cook, to entertain, to play, to sleep and to be with family and friends. To do all of this we have to eat. (I think you can see where this is going.) So, cooking classes seem to enhance all the other parts of interior design.
Thanks to many loyal supporters our classes have become a hit. Here are a few of the things we had cooking at our 50′s cooking class presented by Lake Gaston’s cooking diva, Kathy Dikeman!!!
If you are as old as I am you may remember a lemon flavored, sponge cake cookie made in shell shaped molded pans called madeleines. These cookies are easy to prepare and perfect for a light luncheon dessert or an accompaniment to a raspberry sorbet. Sometimes these cookies are partially dipped in chocolate ganache for extra flare of flavor. In the 50′s they were frequently served at department store tea rooms and at ”ladies’ luncheons”.
Shrimp Cocktail Aspic is an updated version of the traditional tomato aspic of the 1950′s. With V 8 juice and the right amount of spice this recipe made a tasty cold soup (similar to a gazpacho). With the addition of more gelatin you can create a variation of this recipe which can be poured into a mold or loaf pan and congealed before serving.
The favorite recipe of the class was Smoked Gouda Cheese Fondue. Reflecting back to the days of the fondue pot this recipe adds a new twist. The fondue is prepared on the stove top and served in individual small boules created from whole wheat, crusty dinner rolls from the grocery bakery. Topping the fondue with bacon bits and toasted, sliced almonds made this recipe the winner.
Smoked Gouda Fondue
Ingredients:
8 ounces Gruyère, shredded
1/2 pound, about 6 ounces, smoked Gouda, shredded
1 rounded tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 large clove garlic, smashed away from skin
2 tsp. lemon juice
3/4 cup dry white wine
6 slices thick cut bacon
1/4 cup smoked almonds, coarsely chopped
Individual hard rolls, the top third cup off to form a cone shape in the inside
Directions: Make the fondue: combine cheeses in a bowl with flour and set aside. Rub the inside of a small pot with smashed garlic then discard. Add wine and lemon juice to pot and bring to a bubble over medium heat. Reduce the heat to simmer and add cheese in handfuls. Stir constantly, melting the cheese in batches. Stir in a figure-eight pattern with wooden spoon. Transfer the fondue to the rolls and top with chopped bacon and smoked nuts.
50′s cooking trivia was a big hit with the class. The Betty Crocker Cookbook was the bible of the 1950′s kitchen and the “in” way to find recipes. Do you know the first Jello flavor? What was the most frequently prepared food? What popular snack food was developed from a crop by Fred Mennen in 1959? What brand of doughnuts were introduced in 1950?
Send us your answers. Add your own 50′s trivia.
Upcoming Cooking Classes… Mark Your Calendar!
April 16 Bruschetta is not just an Appetizer presented by Yvonne Hoffman (just back from an Italian Cooking School)
June 4 Cranking Up the Heat with Grilling Flare presented by Gene St.Clair
Mary Sherwood Lake Living working with you to create your lifestyle at Lake Gaston and beyond!
Paul strikes again…
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The Fall is a very busy season for all of us. There are lots of festivals, football games, tailgating parties and community events. As we are in the countdown days of the local Fall for the Arts event my wonderful husband, Paul, strikes again but not in a way you may imagine.
Read here for his latest “heart felt” blog post.
Paul writes:
“Tonight is a night for celebration. Mary and I ate dinner together!
I guess that bears a little explaining.
Today I had a need… (Don’t go there!). Mary and I have been working really hard, thanks to all of you (come on! That was a genuine “Thank you”!). Recently, I’ve been catching up on taxes (Oct 15th). To do so I had to go into the office about 6 AM each morning for several days. Once that was done there was a delivery to be made in Maryland. Before I could get home from that trip Mary and Autumn left for market and were gone for 4 days. In addition, we’re ramping up to Fall for the Arts this weekend at Lake Gaston. As Chairman I’ve had a lot going on. Then, there is still Mary Sherwood Lake Living requiring time and attention. So there sometimes isn’t enough time for Paul and Mary.
So, it’s been about 2 weeks since Mary and I have even had the privilege of having breakfast together!
If you’ve been around me at all you know I love to kid about how it’s necessary for the guy to keep his head down or how that information may be above the guy’s pay-grade! Most of my buddies agree: things would be a lot simpler and easier if we didn’t have to translate woman-speak into man-speak.
All of which is pointing up the differences between Mary’s and my approach to things in general.
I don’t know how it is for each of you, but it appears that, none the less, I do miss my wife when I don’t see her for a while. And I have to say, I needed some time where Mary and I just enjoyed being together. And that’s what we did at the dinner table last night. The conversation was all work-related, but we both just enjoyed being able to share something we both love.”
Thanks, Paul! How I do love this man!
Now that we have totally become sentimental for a brief moment in time I have to remind you there is still time to purchase tickets for the 3rd Annual Fall for the Arts sponsored by O’Sail. It is this Saturday, October 23, 10 AM – 5 PM. Purchase tickets from our store or at the site(s) the day of the event.
I’ll be roaming the sites and hope to see a lot of MSLL friends.
It is going to be a beautiful Fall weekend at Lake Gaston for the art tour!
Enjoy!
Mary
BTW… Coming soon-our picture blog of Hot Trends from High Point!

























