restoring the roost

North Carolina Country Living and Farmhouse Style

North Carolina Country Living and Farmhouse Style
since 2010

2011 Run for the Roses

· Kentucky Derby

And they’re off!! Animal Kingdom shocked the world as he crossed the finish to win the 137th Kentucky Derby. It was a beautiful day for racing and good eats with around forty people attending our Derby party! The party was great fun, but I’ll admit I am totally exhausted…

Of course I never take as many photos as I had hoped to! We used our Buffalo Trace half a bourbon barrel to hold ice with bottled drinks and I completely forgot to snap a pic. Oh well. Here are some highlights from the afternoon:

“Louisville Shortbread” horseshoe cookie favors
a spread of Kentucky specialties and Derby fare
(in addition to burgoo we had cooking on the stove)

Derby Pies and desserts on the dining room mantel
Bourbon Balls
mint for the juleps

playing with the chicks
vintage decanter and Derby glasses
me and my friend, Heather

If you haven’t been keeping up with this Derby series and would like to see more, check out the first three posts: Talk Derby to Me!, Derby Preparation and Menu, and Derby Party Sneak Peak.

Hope you had a Happy Derby Day!

Derby Party Sneak Peak

· Kentucky Derby

The 2011 Run for the Roses is almost here! Can you feel the excitement building? If you’ve never experienced a horse race before, there is nothing like the Kentucky Derby. The sights and smells of well-groomed thoroughbreds, vibrant jockey silks, fresh mint juleps and lovely ladies in exuberant hats are all part of the experience! And when the time comes to sing the 1853 Stephen Foster classic, “My Old Kentucky Home,” there is scarcely a dry eye in the race track.

Since this blog has been a little quiet lately due to my efforts and energy going into the party preparations, I thought I’d leave you with a small taste of the festivities to come this Saturday…

A Derby display
I made “Louisville Shortbread” horseshoe cookie to give out as favors
freshly picked NC strawberries ready for tomorrow

And if you didn’t get a chance to read the first two posts in this series, click here for Part I and click here for Part II.

I’m linking to:

Derby Party Sneak Peak

· Kentucky Derby

The 2011 Run for the Roses is almost here! Can you feel the excitement building? If you’ve never experienced a horse race before, there is nothing like the Kentucky Derby. The sights and smells of well-groomed thoroughbreds, vibrant jockey silks, fresh mint juleps and lovely ladies in exuberant hats are all part of the experience! And when the time comes to sing the 1853 Stephen Foster classic, “My Old Kentucky Home,” there is scarcely a dry eye in the race track.

Since this blog has been a little quiet lately due to my efforts and energy going into the party preparations, I thought I’d leave you with a small taste of the festivities to come this Saturday…

A Derby display
I made “Louisville Shortbread” horseshoe cookie to give out as favors
freshly picked NC strawberries ready for tomorrow

And if you didn’t get a chance to read the first two posts in this series, click here for Part I and click here for Part II.

I’m linking to:

Vintage Handkerchiefs

· antiques and collectibles

I love vintage hankies. LOVE them.

There is just something so sweet and delicate about each and every one- from the painstakingly hand-crocheted and embroidered ones to the mid-century printed designs in vivid colors- they are each unique and lovely.

I love them so much that I began collecting vintage hankies in college. By the time I got married I had amassed enough to use as wedding favors folded up into “pockets” with a message inside for all of the ladies attending our wedding reception.

vintage handkerchief favors at our wedding with
history insert. Photo by Todd Nichols Photography

Since then I have done little else with my hankies except to stash them in a round hat box…but I have recently been thinking of new ways to incorporate them into my home so that they can be functional as well as beautiful. Of course, I have a handful that I actually use for their intended purpose- I find they are much softer on the nose and face than conventional tissues, and much more sustainable with less paper that goes in the trash. It also doesn’t hurt that they are pretty 🙂

These are some ideas of other uses for vintage hankies:

* pillows
* framed wall art
* curtains
* basket liners
* rosettes for pillows, clothing, or hair bands
* lavender sachets
* book covers
* table runners

If you collect vintage hankies, what is your favorite way to use or display them?

Linking to:

Vintage Handkerchiefs

· antiques and collectibles

I love vintage hankies. LOVE them.

There is just something so sweet and delicate about each and every one- from the painstakingly hand-crocheted and embroidered ones to the mid-century printed designs in vivid colors- they are each unique and lovely.

I love them so much that I began collecting vintage hankies in college. By the time I got married I had amassed enough to use as wedding favors folded up into “pockets” with a message inside for all of the ladies attending our wedding reception.

vintage handkerchief favors at our wedding with
history insert. Photo by Todd Nichols Photography

Since then I have done little else with my hankies except to stash them in a round hat box…but I have recently been thinking of new ways to incorporate them into my home so that they can be functional as well as beautiful. Of course, I have a handful that I actually use for their intended purpose- I find they are much softer on the nose and face than conventional tissues, and much more sustainable with less paper that goes in the trash. It also doesn’t hurt that they are pretty 🙂

These are some ideas of other uses for vintage hankies:

* pillows
* framed wall art
* curtains
* basket liners
* rosettes for pillows, clothing, or hair bands
* lavender sachets
* book covers
* table runners

If you collect vintage hankies, what is your favorite way to use or display them?

Linking to: