Grill it Up

As many of you most certainly spent some time around BBQ's and grills this holiday weekend, I thought it mighty appropriate to bring you some eye candy in the way of Outdoor Kitchens. If you find your skills in the (interior) kitchen lacking, perhaps all you need is an exterior oasis of the gourmet kind to stoke your culinary flames!

Where weather permits year-round outdoor entertaining, this to-the-hilt set-up might be a worthwhile investment

I can certainly imagine catching cross breezes by the perfectly-placed water element near this pavilion

image via here

Gas grill - Check. Pizza oven - Check. Guacamole ready for me to dive in - Check. I'm good to go.

If a smaller, more organic feel is what you'd prefer - consider a rustic-but-not-rusty grillin' area

Don't let the relative simplicity of the above picture fool you - it's the work of the doyenne of outdoor spaces, Sandy Koepke. Here, one of my all-time favorite al fresco spaces, complete with zinc-topped table and a kegerator ;)

More examples of her work:

If you're more Urbanite, and have not an acre to spare - I feel certain a simple Weber would feel right at home on this divine rooftop.

from here

If you're a Purist, you can have a true, Brazilian Churrasco (shoo-has-ko) installed. Pit fire set for the perfect flame...

...Especially when your final results might look like this. Mmm....Tasty!

I won't be a buzz kill with the estimated costs of building your killer outdoor kitchen - Dream a little outdoor gourmet dream!

So we wonder why we ever go Home....

...And by Home, I mean Texas! Actually, I don't wonder, but that Buffett song is one of my favorites, so...

We're 24 hours in, and it's no wonder it feels good to be Home...There's lots to appreciate here at my parents' casa... Like perfect spots to sit and watch sunsets..

Or surround yourself in South Texas tropics...
And, of course, there's the Welcoming Committee

Survived the trip, am still catching up on some rest, and have (what I hope you'll agree) is an extra-special post para mañana!

The Accidental Eco-ist

When we first arrived in Brazil, I experienced a lot of culture shock. I suppose that's to be expected. When you're from Texas, any place OUTSIDE of The Lone Star State seems like foreign country - this was the Real Deal.
We did not live lavishly prior to moving here, but we, like many other Americans, took for granted the amenities many homes in The States have to offer. Things like dishwashers, garbage disposals and central air and heat are just a few.
At first, living without those conveniences regularly set me into "WHY can't this Country just . Be. Normal?" mode, but as time has gone by, I realize we just might have turned into Accidental Eco-ists.

Previously, I wasn't the most fastidious about remembering my reusable grocery bags - but when I saw these very "designerly" totes in the Brazilian supermarket, I was converted!

So, yes, I still miss a garbage disposal terribly, but what is my loss is our garden's gain. Whatever fruit/vegetable scraps, leftovers, coffee grounds (they are fabulous soil-enrichers, ya know!) we have get blended up into a scrumptious soil concoction...

Looks downright yummy, huh? ;) Yeah, I wouldn't go near it with a ten-foot straw, but our plants LOVE IT! Not exactly traditional composting, but who cares? Check out my "kitchen garden!"

Rarely have I had lavender that survived, much less bloomed!

And the rosemary....oh, the rosemary!

We've even had some surprise newbies pop up - the result of onion, ginger, and cilantro remnants taking root!

Don't get me wrong, this is not a pat on the back for me. Given the choice, I'll still take an SUV (OK, maybe a Crossover) any day over a Smartcar. All I'm saying is, without any noble intent, we've become "greener", and the thing is I DIG it! Not because I feel holier-than-thou or some idiotic sense of empowerment (because I don't), it's just nice to know we can adapt - we ARE facing unique challenges - and we (and our garden!) are thriving just the same...

P.S. - Guess who had a project-filled weekend? Yessir, now that (I'm declaring) the Rainy Season over - the paint cans and tools were bustin' a move!
Remember this ol' guy?

...And this little chula?

Should have some fun "after" pics for ya by Wednesday!

A Glass House

Have you ever noticed how the British do such a wonderful job of providing nomenclature to their structures? I sometimes wonder how it is that we've watered down or lost entirely some of their charming verbage. Wouldn't you love to say "I'm heading to The Loo," without your friends thinking you were acting hoity-toity? Or in my case, how I'd be so tickled to say I have not a sunroom or potting shed, but a Conservatory! I've always dreamed of having one...

A Conservatory is traditionally known as a structure, attached to a main building, that is primarily made of glass or other translucent material within a metal or wood frame. Because of the ability to allow sunlight, yet protect from harsh elements, Conservatories are ideal settings for indoor gardens. It is recorded that the first conservatory built in Britain was the Oxford Botanic garden in the 1800s - the popularity of the lovely structures grew from there.*

There's the Big Kahuna's - Conservatories that set the standard...

Like this one at the Biltmore EstateOr of course, the New York Botanical Garden - note to self: Make sure to visit during the annual Orchid Show!
Isn't this one grand, with it's Moroccan lamps and carpets?

pic via Nikkosan blog

Or, if you like to get your glamourpuss on - have at it at The Milestone Hotel in London

For me though, I don't need a vast expanse...Just a little nook where I could sit, read, have a cup of tea - and hopefully, reap the rewards of my own planting efforts....
Maybe something more like this...hmmm, well, maybe Victorian Gothic is still a bit grande...

via Conservatory Design

A petite Georgian style - maybe with a view...

via OakConservatories

The perfect amount of natural light - we're getting close...

Clonegal Conservatory

Ahhh, this is it - Divine!
Can I just add one of these?

pic via citydirt

Oh! And maybe a zinc potting table?
Antique French boardwalk rockers {swoon!}

via NorthStarAntiques

Any builders and horticulturists interested in donating to a good cause? MLHP lines are currently open! ;)

Spring, from upside-down

In case you missed it on your calendar, the seasons officially changed from Winter to Spring on Saturday. Down here, below the Equator, our seasons are opposite. Despite the Brazilians calling any rainy months "winter," we are actually moving into what will be dry, cool weather - the Southern Hemisphere's version of Winter.

I'm still functioning in North American seasons (I wonder if that will ever change?) - so for me, Spring sprung on Saturday!
Everyone always asks about the weather down here. Most people envision Rio when they think of Brazil - and Rio is indeed very tropical. Here in Brasilia, though, we are at a higher elevation. The terrain is considered "tropical savanna," and it is much more arid than Rio - despite being only an hour-and-a-half flight away. Our weather here reminds me of Southern California - typically very pleasant (60s) in the mornings and evenings, but quickly warming up to the 80s-90s in the warmest seasons. In the dry season (mid-April to early November), the humidity is very low - a bit irritating to the nasal passages, but perfect for "good hair days!"

Since I've got Spring on the brain, I thought I'd share some thoughts via photos from our yard down here in Brasilia...

This time of year always makes me yearn to get out in the garden - plant something new, or try my hand yet again at something I've been unsuccessful at growing (ahem, lavender!)
I'm a little slow this year, as I'm still learning the names of native plants, what will do well, etc, etc...
One of my all-time faves that will thrive just about anywhere are succulents - I'm a sucker (pun intended!) for all the unique shapes and sizes, AND the fact that each little bud propagates a whole, other plant!

Unfortunately, most of my pots look like this one...

Good news is, Ben will finally be home this weekend, and we have big plans to hit up the jardim botanico (nurseries) - I know, we have a fantastically thrilling life ;)

I'm not much of a rose person, but this bush was already going strong when we moved here, so I'll give her some props for bein' showy!

More spectacular to me, though, is the fresh little orchid I found growing on one of our palms. Orchids of all variety grow naturally on trees down here - I absolutely love it! I can't wait to see what this little beauty turns out like.

I have to say, though (and this is totally unrelated, and quite superficial)...one Spring wish I repeat each year is to hope I can pull out the white pants and look this effortless, chic, and yes....slim....

pants: Boden, image: thirdcoastpreppy

Happy Springtime, to You!

Roll Out the Welcome Mat

I've been wanting to make a small improvement to our entryway since we moved in....Although I'm not going to drop a lot of coin putting plants into the ground of a home I don't own, I also won't totally sacrifice a little charm at the front door...So, today - the little scrubby (read: ugly) shrub to the left of the doorway got to say buh-bye...

...and I got to say Hola to a lovely little palm, trailing purple-ish/blue flower in pot, and yellow Lantana that should thicken up to a ground cover. Muito melhor!

I'd love to take credit for the loveliness... but our "landscape architect" did all the dirty work. I picked out the plant combo, doesn't that count for something? ;)

Hope all your green thumbs are wigglin' as the weather is warming up - up there in the continuous 50!