Late Saturday afternoon I paid a return visit to “Ruined Finery”, a conglomerate of two long-neglected houses and a ramshackle barn not to far from my home. I wanted to see it again, now that the brush had died back somewhat, and to see what toll time and tide were taking. It was hushed and peaceful, and a bit sad, to witness what was happening. These are some shots from the barn. The late afternoon light washed the buildings in melancholy.
Photos by Joel Woodard
As you may know from reading Rustic Chic, I’m big on breaking routine to explore new sights. So imagine my surprise when I came across a herd of Texas Longhorns in my neighborhood! These guys are all very handsome with beautiful markings and a few sporting their trademark (and a little scary) horns. I must confess I didn’t know much about Longhorns and my only experience with cows to date was as a youngster and visiting my maternal grandfather’s farm where he kept a few Black Angus for beef and a couple of Jersey cows for milk and butter.
Wikipedia research indicates that the dramatic horns of a Texas Longhorn can span up to 7 feet from tip to tip,and that the breed is long-lived with an exceptionally long breeding life.
As I approached this small herd, corralled behind (what appeared to be, I hoped) a high fence, the Longhorns appeared curious and walked over to where I was standing. Fortunately it was a nonchalant saunter and not a full-press charge!
Photos by Joel Woodard
Filed under Food and Drink, Gardening, Interior Design and Style, Lifestyle, photography, Portraiture, Style
Maybe it’s just my southerness showing, but I don’t believe there’s a more beautiful tree than the magnolia with their beautiful, showy blossoms (a bit messy to clean from the lawn once they’ve fallen) and a heady perfume. The magnolia’s leaves, having a glossy, deep green top and a soft, buttery, suede-like underside, look great in arrangements this time of year. Dramatic, romantic and most definitely Rustic Chic.
Photos by Joel Woodard
I was just thinking (actually, lamenting) to myself the other day – why don’t you ever see scarecrows in fields anymore? My granddaddy always had a sharp-looking dude in overalls hanging out in his cornfield. Perhaps they’ve gone the way of carbon paper and typewriter erasers. But as I was driving home and as there was some road work going on along my usual route, I took a detour. And lo! a scarecrow rowing a rowboat on a pond! It was such an unexpected site on this overcast fall afternoon that I just had to snap a few pictures of him, thereby proving that sometimes it’s Rustic Chic to pond-tificate.
Photos by Joel Woodard
Filed under Furniture, Gardening, Interior Design and Style, Lifestyle, photography, Portraiture, Style, Uncategorized
Really, take one. It’s the perfect time of year to stroll down a dirt road and soak up all the sights and sounds of fall before they’re gone. Who knows what Rustic Chic treasures lie just down the lane?
Photos by Joel Woodard
Let’s face it. No one wants to cook on a Monday night. That’s why it’s a good idea to whip up some grub over the weekend that can be warmed quickly and on the table in a hurry. Soup, a loaf of crusty bread and a little wine are the ticket on a chilly autumn night. And just because it’s a Monday night, it doesn’t mean you can’t set an inviting table as I did here with a selection of gourds from the farmer’s market. While the selection there ran the gamut of oranges, yellows and deep greens, my eye was attracted to all the varieties of pale beiges and whites. Who says you can’t wear white after Labor Day?
Photos by Joel Woodard
The Norway maples are just past their peak but are still offering up their showy, showery display, and will do so until the last vestige of their translucent gold floats to the ground. On a clear day such as this, with a gentle breeze rustling the papery leaves, the gold seems brighter against the cerulean sky and it’s time to think about bringing some of the branches into the barn and to enjoy these fleeting moments as much as possible. And so, armed with loppers and on the lookout for the shiniest leaves within reach, the maples generously consented to part with a few of their honey-coated limbs. I plopped a few into a cast iron urn at the end of a hallway. They are so bright, there’s no need to turn on the lights. It’s always Rustic Chic to bring the outside inside.
Photos by Joel Woodard
It’s a little early perhaps to be talking about turkeys. But a recent visit to a friend’s home had me moving this mammoth, carved (but not in the ususal sense), wooden turkey decoy around – first to the dining room (appetizing but a little sawdusty) and then to the center table by the front door. It’s humorous and unexpected and guaranteed to bring a smile to a visitor’s face. Now that that’s done, bring on the second turkey (the real one)!
Photos by Joel Woodard
Just because summer’s flown the coop doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy flowers in your home. These hydrangeas, the type which will dry and change color when cut, will last forever in arrangements. Best of all, they require no attention whatsoever – no muss, no fuss. They begin life as a deep chartreuse and turn lovely shades – from parchment and green to soft pink and lavender. Sometimes it’s Rustic Chic to soft pedal the soft petals.
Photos by Joel Woodard
Filed under Gardening, Home Furnishings, Interior Design and Style, Lifestyle, photography, Portraiture, Style, Uncategorized
Pretty much anything encased in a glass cloche, used here to shelter a generous terra cotta pot of baby’s tears, commands attention. This antique cloche, filled with air bubbles and charming waviness to the glass is an impressive twenty-four inches high by twelve inches in diameter and is perfect to show off all sorts of plants and flowers. And just like I always say, it’s Rustic Chic to be cloche to you.
Photos by Joel Woodard
Rustic Chic 