New Years Dinner

This evening I cooked a spiral ham for New Years Dinner. I have made a lot of spiral hams and do not think much of the directions that come with the ham. Forget putting the ham on it's side, the spiral will unfold and you will have a mess. Wrapping the ham in foil will prevent a nice skin. Just place the ham face down like this and let it roast to a nice golden tone. I basted this one with a slurry of brown sugar & Jack Daniels.

Be Prepared

The snow fence is set out in the fields. The fence is set back from the road with the idea of trapping drifting snow before it can pile up on the roads. I like how the red fence is set off by the rich green color of the fields.

More from Sam's Creek

They sure have a fine range of homes in this area. The Gabriel roof has become very popular in the Hamptons. I think many think of the homes as barn style. Actually barns on the south fork do not typically have a Gabriel roof. There is a very early history of Gabriel roof homes in the Hudson Valley.

Poles & Wires

Most of the wires in the Hamptons are above ground. Some artists have captured these poles and wires in attractive light. We are told that it is cheaper & easier to repair overhead wires. These wires can have a hard time when we get a big storm, I would think that adds to their maintenance.

Modern Classic

Cutting edge in its day, the subtle choices made in this home might be missed by some. There was in interesting interview where Charles Eames talk about was it needed harking back to the broader idea on minimal living championed by the Bauhaus design.

Winter Light

It has been very mild this winter so far. It has been so mild that my pool is still open. I run the pump at night in case ice might want to form, but so far it has not been an issue. It has been so mild that when I was in Washington the geraniums out my mother's balcony are in full bloom.

Christmas Night

Many homes celebrate Christmas with festive lights. I liked these light on Elm Street in Southampton Village.

Holiday Decore

This historic home in Sag Harbor sports a fine wreath of Magnolia. Magnolia is used more south of here. When I was living in Maryland I once walked through a grove of Magnolia all towering over my head, the winter weather here keeps the tree in check.

Creek Side Cottage

This area of Bridgehampton was once potato fields with a buffer of marsh grass to separate it from the water. This body of water is an extension of Mecox Bay known as Sam's Creek. This home was probably built at the turn of this century in the style of homes from the last turn.

Hot Stuff?

These ornament peppers in my garden have held onto their color. My friend from Texas tell me 'they are not that HOT'

A Good Foundation

When these Terra Cotta bricks got made the builder would have planned to cover them with a finish. Some homes built in the 1920s have bricks like these under their stucco skin. I think these raw bricks are very handsome.

Get the Garlic, get the Oil

For years I have seen trails in the garden that I though came from slugs passing in the night. Today I learned that we also have full on snails. Ummm Escargot are not sea food, they are land snails.

Just the Basics

The classic farm house of eastern Long Island is different from what you find in New England. The rooms a little bigger, the angle of the roof less pitched. This home is a fine example.

A treat from the North

Violas come from an alpine climate this makes them more frost tolerant than most plants with this much color. If we get a hard frost they will appear to wilt, but pop back up if the frost breaks. A deep extended cold spell will knock them out for good. They do not like our hot July & August.

A Good Defence

Shutters on homes used to be designed to protect the windows. These shutters have strong hinges mounted into the frames of the windows. The hardware on the shutters allows the shutters to be latched from inside the home. The cut-out was intended to let a bit of light into the house after the shutters have been secured.

Winter Light

With the sun crossing the sky at almost the lowest trajectory of the year I come across some exceptional lighting conditions. The reflections off the pool water made nice highlights in my boxwood today.

Barn Style

This home in Bridgehampton looks like it might have started out as a barn. I like the handsome over size doors.

Season's Decor

It seems I go to Lynch's Garden Center a lot! I the bulb area they have a good selection of ornaments and decor. I liked this bowl of ice flakes.

Sleek Modern

I have featured this beauty before, but not from this angle.

Fed Up

This sing on the beach is proof the dunes are always on the move.

United Artist Southampton

Prior to renovation the movie theater in Southampton was one large hall and might have looked a lot like this photo of Detroit by noted photographer Andrew Moore.

What Way did They GO

Maye it was a complex dance and then a dog came by and broke up the party.

More from the Beach

English barns are often a large scale simple structure. This ocean side home has that same wholesome straight forward feel. The dark green trim was in keeping with that heritage.

Wide Beach

Before the cold snap came through last night with a very stiff wind it was still warm and sunny hear in the Hamptons.

On the Beach

If I was thinking of a classic beach house, it would look a lot like this.

Beach Art

It is more common than one might think to see art work on the beach made from found objects. Some of these works are a single person's expression, others are collaborative and maybe added to over time. I liked this feather shrine I found near Cryder Beach.

Beach Modern

This modern home from the 80s was designed to be in harmony with the surrounding dunes.

Turk's Cap

As a child I never understood why these are called Turk's Cap Gourds. To me they looked like a basket of fruit. Then it was explained that they look like a cap when the large part is on top.

Nice Red Door

Up into the mid 90's Elizabeth Arden had a shop on Main Street in Southampton. The shop was only open for the summer season. Arden would send up people from there Palm Beach operation to cover the needs of their regular clients here for the season. This red door is on a private home on Bowden Sq.

Gum Drops and More

We have some fun shapes around the village. I think we do not notice them mostly.

Not a Cloud in the Sky

I was driving along RT 27 in the Bridgehampton area and liked how the wines looked in this clear fall light.

A Day in the City

I have noticed that the Salvation Army seems to have ramped up their red pot Christmas campaign. Most stations have music as well as the hand rung bell this season. The station in front of Bloomingdales featured a very talented singer as well as a bell ringer. 

It's a Wet One

Rian drops caught in the flash from my camera.

Another Warm One

The roses have been enjoying a nice warm stretch with many shrubs in a full third bloom cycle. I have also enjoyed needing less heat for my house.

The Right Light

I recall a great debate when Southampton Village was selecting new street lights for the shopping area. The lights that got installed  have settled in very well I think.

Smoke

This smoke bush just keeps giving. All Summer I got rich deep red foliage, then fun fuzzy froth. now this great fall color.

THE BIG SALE

The Parrish Museum does a black Friday sale the weekend after Thanksgiving. They do it a little smarter than the big box stores and charge for the right to see the goods first with a fine preview party. The sale is a mix of donated goods and boutiques from local vendors and runs through the weekend. This is the boutique from my good friends at Horse Haven their main store recently moved to Hampton Road.

Cranberry Sauce

Jelly vs Whole Berry, I like them both! Whole berry has the rich flavor and is fun to enhance with orange peal and cilantro. But for classic simple cranberry the jelly role has merit. I was concerned that the stacking can that only allows opening from one end would prevent getting the roll out whole. After removing the lid, I punched a hole in the other end and gave a good shake

Red Chicken

This dish is made in an enamel cast iron pot on the stove top.

Start with a bit of olive oil, brown boneless skin-less-chicken-thighs on both sides in the olive oil. then put the chicken to the side. Now brown coarse chopped onion and crushed garlic in the pot adding a bit of olive oil if needed. When the onion has turned golden now add back the chicken, get everything good in hot, just before it burns flood the pot with strong red wine (cabernet or zin) to deglaze the pot. Season with salt, pepper, bay and thyme. Add cubed mushrooms and or pearl onions. Let simmer, serve with rice or egg noodles. This dish may be made & re heated.

The Great Lawn

In English garden design the lawn is not just used to fill in the blanks. The lawn is thought if as an element in it's own right with a deliberate form. This lawn incorporates an serpentine edge to ad extra perspective to the property.

Autum Sun

This sleek ocean front home looks great in the late day sun.

Berry Berry Berry

The holly tree on the right hand side of my house is a big producer. This year looks like another big crop.

Wet Night

Main Street Southampton on a rainy night before they crank up the holiday lights.

*** 37 ***

If I am driving in my car and the temperature goes hits 37 degrees or below I hear a ding and a flashing 37 appears on my dash. The ding is to alert me to the chance of ice. This barn is our town getting ready for ice.

by the Sea by the Sea

The low fall sun raked these beach top shells in Shinnecock Bay.

Lofty

This bluff top home is set high in the trees to capture a great Shinnecock Bay view.

My Beach

We are so lucky to live so near the real beach.

Signing While Intoxicated

As I rounded this corner on Old Town Road I noticed many tipsy signs a clear indication of SWI.

Low Tide

Beach grass on the edge of Far Pond at the tip into Shinecock Bay.

Circa 1920

This Arts & Craft style home in Southampton Village is a perfect romantic get-a-way. In the early 1900s quiet a few home experimented with the English Cottage style we might expect to see in the Cotswold's.