Verde

Pen and paper in hand. Scratch that, pencil and manila folder. Electrical power flickering on and off. No internet. Quiet and calm outdoors—that is—excluding the occasional breeze making the Cherry blossoms fall like snow outside my window.

Yes, I’ve had all good intentions of writing a new post entitled “Green.” No, “Paradise.” No, “Container Entertaining.” Verde / Vert…. that’s the ticket, sounds just exotic enough.

*Maiden Hair fern, one of the first signs of spring*

Recently, I have had the opportunity to meet a few amazing talents as well as larger than life characters and catch up with friends. Danielle Rollins, Debi Lilly and Mark Isenberg just to name a few. What I have learned is that they all have one thing in common. In spite of the initial meet and greets that go along with book signings, presentations, and brick and mortar presents, they are all striving to make things a little more beautiful, accessible, and most of obtainable. For this they should be recognized. As Debi put it so eloquently in her presentation at the Apple Store on Michigan Avenue here in Chicago “my job is to help people celebrate”. In whatever fashion they desire.

Which brings me to the celebration of spring on this stormy night. Yes, it has finally arrived in the Mid-west and the competition has begun to see which neighbor has the greenest grass, the prize winning urn or the well decorated front stoop. All of this for the anticipated garden walk to take place in just a few short weeks. It may be a little premature now, but just wait.

*Debi Lilly Gatherings; A Perfect Event*

Here, I have selected, edited, and shot a few photos of what inspires me. Including a new find, introduced by my good friend Courtney Price, a company named Long Shadow, located right here in Illinois but ships and installs almost anywhere. They were well represented at the Art and Antique show at the Chicago Botanical Garden a few weeks ago, which I was fortunate enough to attend as a guest of Ms. Rollins with the MRD Crew.

There was much inspiration and product, so I found it hard to narrow down my favorites at the time due to our lack of springtime weather…I wanted it all. (At times I had to cut conversations short in order to take a peek at the new vendors’ merchandise! All of this to guarantee a beautiful, but delayed spring.) In any case here are a few ideas just to make the neighbors jealous.

*Take in the view and all that the season offers*

Just remember that, the sowing of one seed can give us tremendous opportunity with the very idea of its magic. It can transport a towering runner bean or a fragrant sweet pea into a showstopper. No matter what the container may be.

What will you be witness of this season?

Cabin Fever

The season always started with four to five full cords of aged wood. In the beginning, we had a fire everyday, which lasted for ten glorious hours of warmth and comfort.

Come March, running on limited fuel we only light it in the frigid evenings as the midday temperatures rose to the thirties.

This was my first experience with Cabin Fever, and it wouldn't be the last. The anxiousness and excitement that arose from seeing the first snow of the season could make any person hear sleigh bells. But now that the snow had overstayed its welcome, and the overwhelming lack of possible snow days that followed the first few big storms made my mentality ache for the sunshine of spring.

I stepped into too many snowdrifts and slipped on too much black ice to have any empathy left for the winter.

I, along with my family, still experience the Cabin Fever symptoms of my youth but with a new backdrop. By March, we've traded in cords of wood for gas fireplaces, mountains for skyscrapers, and have arrived to the same frustration of the lack of escape that snow-days provide. To put it simply, I couldn't be more tired of sporting sweaters and the idea of ‘layering’.

Stealth Barn - an 800-square-foot structure in Norfolk County, England with interior clad in OSB wood particle board by Carl Turner Architects.Photographs by Tim Crocker and Jeremy Phillips. — *Stealth Barn - an 800-square-foot structure in **Norfolk County, England** with interior clad in OSB wood particle board by Carl Turner Architects.*
*Photographs by Tim Crocker and Jeremy Phillips.*

*Fresh, New Kitchen Sinks from Native Trails contemporary with Historical appeal*

So while I gaze out my living room window, day dreaming in the artificial warmth of the sunlight indoors, I imagine snowdrops beginning to bloom and the daffodils on either side of my walkway guiding me outdoors to enjoy the newly warm temperatures of the season.

*Cabin details Bringing the outdoors in; Cabin via Sunset magazine Washington State*

*Wolfhound and color via Farrow and Ball*

To momentarily remedy the lack of spring outdoors, we bring the season indoors with cherry blossoms and violets proudly serving as both centerpieces and accents to the furnishings around us.

*Hand forged lighting via Troy Lighting*

*Warm woods and plenty of afternoon sun*

Yet, I still remain indoors—trapped by the polar vortexes of the winter. The Cabin Fever anxiety of my youth remains as I await impatiently for the signs of spring to pop up around me, reminding me of the new adventures to come with the welcoming of the season.

Verde

Cabin Fever

Michael Ryan Design