The Polohouse

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Island Time

When we were ready to renovate our kitchen,

I had to come up with an idea for the island.

Rather than have something custom made,

I wanted to find an antique piece

of furniture that would work.

But I couldn't.

I looked for almost a year,

and finally found this reproduction

English hunt board during a trip to North Carolina.

There were two tan marble slabs built into the top,

but I replaced them with carrera marble slabs.

It's almost ten feet long, and about 30" wide.

The open bottom gave us lots of room for storage

and displaying antiques.
I like the way the light passes through...

keeps the room feeling much more open

than a solid piece would have.

Chunky French milled cold pressed soaps from my friend and antique dealer, Lisa. Click here.

My Grandmother had Planter's peanut jars that she used as canisters. These are not hers but remind me of her.

View from the back.... paper towels stored in a crock, dog treats in the lidded crock, and extra cat and dog food in the baskets.

Swedish olive oil soaps in vintage bowls. Scallop-edged nesting bowls, also from Lisa!

Little collection of antique mortar and pestle bowls.

Little bitty one for herbs and salt grinding.

I skirted the bar stools to hide the chew marks from when our black lab was a puppy. Bad puppy!

Stirrups make great napkin holders.

Do you have a piece of furniture

that you use as your island?
Tell me about it!

Saturday, May 14, 2011

My dear friend published!

My dear friend Sherri,

who was by my side the day my son was born,

(18 years ago yesterday to be exact),

has written a children's book!

So exciting I had to blog about it.

Goodnight, Goodnight,

Construction Site

Sherri and her husband have two boys

who have always been

in love with with trucks and construction machinery.

My friend noticed that there weren't many books out there

written for children on this subject.

So she wrote a story.

Now it's a published book!

(So proud of her.)

With adorable illustrations

by well-known artist Tom Lichtenheld,

this sweet bedtime story

will endear your little ones' hearts.

Sherri's book is featured right now on

the cover of Publisher's Weekly.

Here is a little quote

from Sherri on the book:

As our youngest son grew more-and-more enamored

with trucks, our nightly "thank-you prayers" grew into endlessly long lists, naming every construction vehicle he'd ever seen. And, of course, in naming and thinking about all of those big, powerful trucks, our little boy was even LESS likely to settle down than before! So, together, we began to imagine how hard those mighty trucks had worked all day and how, right at that very moment, they were probably slowing down, turning off their engines and going to sleep, too.

It occurred to me that this might make a good (and needed!) idea for a children's book for

little truck enthusiasts

(and their exhausted parents) everywhere.

And thus, this journey began…