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creating space for beauty & simplicity

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The Media 5 Miler

June 21, 2014

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Have I mentioned how much I love my town? There is always some sort of event or celebration to look forward to throughout the year, one of our favorites being the Media 5 Mile Run.
Since our home sits right on the course with over 1600 runners racing by twice, we make sure to throw a big soiree each year. We aren’t the only ones who celebrate though. The whole town is like one big party!
Some years I have run and some Hannah has too. But this year we sat back and cheered until we were hoarse.

To keep the dishes to a minimum we served mostly finger snacky foods. And with an over abundance of mint growing in the garden, Mojitos were the featured drink of the evening. Our muddler got a workout!

But maybe not as much of a workout as those runners. Especially the hamburger and hotdog.

We can’t wait for next year already.

A few of my favorite thrift stores

June 18, 2014

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Life has been busy. Busy enough that I haven’t been thrifting for over a month. A record in my book!
I broke that spell this week with a little trip to a few of my favorite spots.

1. Studio pottery bowl, perfect for summer fruits.

2.Wooden handled silverware tray. Just in time for back porch parties.

3. Large cotton madras tablecloth. I plan to use this for summer picnics and for the beach.

4.Blue striped mixing bowl. One of my favorites recently broke so this was a timely find.

5.Wooden handled wire basket for the farmers market and our CSA share.

6.Cobalt blue and grey studio pottery vase for summer wildflower  bouquets.

7.Woven basket case perfect for the pool, the beach or as a summer handbag.

For the local folk, as promised a list of my favorite spots…….

Riddle Thrift

Not only the closest in proximity to me but also full of high quality goods. The top floor is full of clothing, handbags, shoes and bags all in impeccable condition  and the bottom floor, full of housewares. This place has washed and ironed linens!

Note: Riddle is closed on Saturdays in the summertime.

Neighborhood League

High quality beautiful goods many of which are antiques. Some of my most treasured pieces of pottery and kitchen wares come from here.

Note: Neighborhood League is closed for the summer months and opens right after Labor Day

Pennywise

A great mix of collectables and housewares as well as clothing and jewelery.

Note: Pennywise closes in the summer  months but reopens after Labor Day

Bryn Mawr Thrift

Some of the best furniture around!

Nana’s Attic

This one has a bit  more “junk” to sift through than the others but I still have found many treasures here. All proceeds go towards the Domestic Abuse Project.

Harry’s Treasures and Collectibles 

This is an antique store but the basement is full of 1/2 off treasures. Some of my favorite pieces of furniture have been found at Harry’s.

Sunday Scenes

June 2, 2014

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Happy June!
Yesterday was a relaxing one with time in between for hanging laundry on the line, making a big batch of granola for the week and arranging little bouquets from the garden to scatter about the house.

Making pretty with what you have

May 27, 2014

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We hosted a little birthday celebration for my mom yesterday.
As we were driving back from the beach in the morning my mind began to wander as to what needed to be done once I got home to prepare for the party. Bake a strawberry rhubarb cobbler, clean the bathroom, marinate the chicken and asparagus for the grill, make a few flower arrangements…..

I wanted to be able to entertain mostly outdoors since it was going to be a warm evening but I began to get into a funk as I thought about our back porch which is looking a bit run down (plans to rebuild it next month!) and the fact that we needed new outdoor furniture and that I wished there was some money in the budget for some new plants and …… you get the point.
I stopped myself and said “Amy you can do this. You can get creative and make a beautiful outdoor experience with what you have. I know you can!”

After the car was unpacked and a visit to the market I got to work.
I swept the patio and porch clean (what a difference a clean swept space makes!) and unearthed the patio umbrella from the garage. I brought out a woven rug and laid it out on the porch. To serve hors d’oeuvres, I set up my antique ironing board with a pretty cloth napkin and glass jars filled with stems of Solomons Seal and Honeysuckle. I placed a piece of large flagstone on top of a clay crock and one on top of the stand that holds our fire pit to make little tables to set food and drinks on. I used a basket tray to place on top of one the tables for a homey feel and set out a bouquet of flowers and a votive. Instead of buying flowers, I made arrangements from my own garden of Lambs Ear, Catmint, Hosta leaves, Enonymous and Comfrey. I got out the birthday flags and stuck them in arrangements and planters and set out a chalkboard wishing my mom a Happy Birthday when she arrived.

When I was finished I stepped back and fell in love with the cozy outdoor party space made entirely with things found around my home and garden. Later that night as I was blowing out candles and cleaning glasses off of my makeshift tables I realized I hadn’t noticed all night how run down the porch was. I sort of like it now.

Ask Yourself, Do I Truly Love This?

May 13, 2014

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My all time favorite quote by William Morris is Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful. I live by this rule and it has only allowed for order, appreciation and joy.
I can honestly say there is hardly a thing in my home that I do not love.

It’s amazing how much less is bought or accumulated when you ask yourself at the store or when looking through a pile of hand me downs “Do I LOVE this? I mean do I really, really LOVE this?” And yes this should apply to everything, even a broom or dust pan.

Above are a few things I brought home recently from the thrift/antique store that I truly love. They even give me a touch of the goosebumps I love them so much.

Arrow floor lamp (dining room)
Hand forged iron and brass sconce (dining room)
Unsigned still life watercolor (dining room)
Studio pottery pitcher (kitchen)
Black and gold wood mirror (living room)
Wicker bee skep (garden)

Note: In my Creating Space for Beauty and Simplicity in the Home subscription I will touch more on this topic along with simple practices and ideas on creating spaces that reflect beauty, originality and simplicity in the home.
Stay tuned!

New and Improved!

May 7, 2014

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Hi Friends! Apologies for the little cat nap we have been taking here at Second and Edgemont.  Actually there has been no napping involved whatsoever. There has been a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes thanks to my talented friend Kate!

Welcome to my new and improved site! Things are still quite the same but a bit more user friendly. There is now a gallery full of photos of my home and garden that will be updated regularly as well as a list of categories on the sidebar which will link you to past posts. Check out the Work With Me page for services I offer including  garden consultations. And stay tuned for online subscription classes highlighting my Creating Space for Beauty and Simplicity series.

Check out Second and Edgemont’s Flickr and Instagram feed and head over to our Facebook page and like us!

For those of you who like to pin, you can now easily pin photos throughout the entire site directly to your Pinterest boards (check out Second and Edgemont over at Pinterest by clicking on the icon in the sidebar).

And don’t forget to click on Tend for loads of garden inspiration!

I am so excited for the change and some new and exciting things to come.

Easter weekend

April 22, 2014

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We had a lovely Easter holiday full of tradition, family and friends.
The weather was glorious this weekend allowing us to grill dinner for the first time this season on Saturday night and eat by an Easter eve bonfire.
Our bunny hutch has been empty for too long so on Easter morning we surprised the girls with Norwegian dwarf rabbits.Harry has two new friends, Tilly and Lucy.
There was an egg hunt and our annual cascarones
After breakfast we went for a hike in the woods to find trout lilies in bloom everywhere! They only bloom every seven years so it was a beautiful site.
We ended the night with a lamb dinner at Aunt Patty’s.

We have hard boiled eggs coming out of our ears and lots of chocolate and jelly beans to nibble on.
Our cherry trees are about to burst and soon we will have pink snow!

P.s. A new season has begun over at Tend! I write on Fridays.

Cookie Cutters

April 14, 2014

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Ever since I can remember I have always loved to bake.
My mother was ever so patient with me in the kitchen whenever I would help make cookies, scones and pies alongside her.
I still have the glued together pie plate I broke when I was about five years old due to my over zealousness and excitement to assist her.

As I got older I loved to sift through my mother’s Martha Stewart collection of magazines and dogear all sorts of cookie recipes. Even though I still lived at home I began to collect my very own baking accoutrements in my teens. One of the first things I acquired was a set of vintage cookie cutters and began to master the art of a rolled out sugar cookie. Soon I was collecting cookie cutters of all shapes and sizes for every holiday and special event. I made cookies for Christmas, Valentines day, Easter, Halloween, birthday parties, showers and weddings. I even made heart shaped cookies sandwiched together with strawberry jam for my own wedding.

When Hannah was born I couldn’t wait until she was old enough to help roll out dough and cut out cookies alongside me. By that time I had quite the collection of cutters for her to choose from. She loved to see how many shapes she could fit onto one piece of rolled out dough.

I recently culled through my cookie cutter collection which had grown into two huge baskets. I passed some along and kept my absolute favorites. As I sifted through them I thought about what each one was used for. A saw and hammer I had bought to make for my Pop’s birthday one year. An umbrella and stork for all of the baby showers. A guitar and musical note for Chris when he first started playing and an antique chicken cutter when we first got our hens.

Although I may not make as many cut out cookies throughout the year as I did in my younger days, not a Christmas or Easter goes by without them. This weekend I saw my Aunt Patty, who hosts Easter dinner every year. She asked “you’ll bring the cookies right?”
Of course I will!

The Beauty of a Basket

March 24, 2014

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Can you tell I have a bit of a basket addiction?

I can’t help but bringing just one more home from the thrift.
They are the pockets of my home, bringing order and beauty to the piles of stuff. Messes of toys, laundry and paper look so much prettier in a basket.

I love their texture, their handmade natural, organic feel and that they are both beautiful and useful.

Baskets can be the “jack of all trades” in your home. Think outside of the box and get creative. Give them a job and they will be sure to give a stellar performance.

::Baskets are very inexpensive at the thrift. Collect a variety. Look for different shapes, heights, color and design.
::Hang your baskets. Hang one in the bathroom to hold a hand towel, by your kitchen sink to hold dish brushes or by your desk for pens and pencils.
::Use baskets as artwork. Hang basket lids or trays for texture. Sometimes they can cast beautiful shadows.
::Plants and baskets make a beautiful couple. Hide an ugly plastic pot inside a basket and give your flora a whole new feel.
::Baskets can soften a space. A basket of blankets or books can warm up an empty corner.
::Baskets are beautiful on their own even without a use. Use baskets in your vignettes to become part of a scene.
::Turn a basket into a vase by tucking a glass or ball jar of flowers inside. A basket bouquet!
::Keep a stockpile of baskets stored away. They make the perfect gift full of goodies.

Make your Bed

March 12, 2014

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I remember making my bed as a child. I would find pleasure in pulling my quilt up and tucking it neatly under the bottom of my pillow, then placing my stuffed animals and dolls on top just so.
I also remember sitting for hours pouring over my Eloise Wilkin books, many of which involved domestic work. One of my favorites being We Help Mommy . I still have the book and now Norah likes me to read it to her. I loved the drawings of the daily chores and especially remember the making the bed page.

Funny enough, the love of making my bed sort of vanished when I moved out and on my own.
I admit that just in the last year did I start to consistently make my bed.
Maybe with tight morning schedules, small kids and just rushing out the door it never became high on my priority list.
And why would I want to take the time to make a bed when before I knew it I would be pulling it apart to sleep in?

Well I am here to tell you that I have turned a new leaf!
I now look forward to making my bed each morning and sometimes I kick Chris out earlier than he would like because I truly am excited to make our bed.

I don’t know what the turning point was but I have found that the daily routine of it brings me joy.
Also, my bedroom feels neat, orderly, clean and clutter-free when my bed is made. Even if there may be a pile of dirty clothes on the floor.

Not to mention, at the end of a day when I am tired and done, there is nothing like slipping in to a crisply made bed.

You would be surprised on how many tutorials there are out there on how to make a bed. But don’t get overwhelmed. No need to make a bed you can bounce a quarter off of. The simple act of pulling up your covers and smoothing out a few wrinkles is all you need.

A few bed making tips

::Try to make your bed as soon as you get up (or after everyone is out of it). It starts the day off on the right foot and feels good to check something off your to-do list right away. Believe it or not, leaving the house knowing my bed is made has helped me to be more productive with the rest of my day.
::Just because you didn’t get to make your bed in the morning doesn’t mean you can’t make it in the afternoon. It only takes a few minutes and you’ll be glad you took the time to do it when you are crawling in that night.
::Treat yourself to a new set of sheets, pretty ones that you love and maybe a few new throw pillows to brighten things up. They will make your bed-making experience that much more enjoyable.
::While making your bed, think of a few intentions for your day ahead. Making your bed can be a meditative experience that you will soon look forward to.
::Think of your bedroom as a place to retreat to. Walking in to a comfy, neat space mid day for a nap, to read a book or at the end of a long day can aid in relaxation and sleep.
::Lavender is a great aid for relaxing and winding down before bedtime. Sprinkle a few drops of the essential oil in your hands and rub on your pillow. Sweet dreams!

So make your bed. I promise, you’ll thank me in the morning (and at night!)

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Welcome Welcome Amy Johnson is a writer, photographer, gardener, teacher, mother and wife living on the corner of Second and Edgemont. She creates space for beauty and simplicity in all that she does.
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