Category Archives: Sun Valley Home

Greetings From Sun Valley

Posted on by

61

.

Slim Paley photo

.

Greetings from Sun Valley!

I escaped the “June Gloom” in Santa Barbara and I’m basking in the gorgeousness that is Idaho this time of year.

.

Slim Paley photo

My intention was to treat this as a “spa” week; no naughty foods, no alcohol, lots of water and plenty of exercise. For the most part I’m doing well, but last night I got carried away listening to 70′s music on satellite radio (again) and all that reminiscing about high school and boys forced me to crack open a Corona!

A Bob Seger song led me to the edge and “Bachman Turner Overdrive” pushed me over. Remember the faces boys used to make when they danced to those “Guy songs”?!

Ick.

We’d be like “Gaawd-that’s Ricky from my math class” and your friends would be like “How do you know? You never go to math class” and then you’d be like “that’s why. Dorks.”

.

The first day I arrived this is how much snow was still in the higher mountains

.

A few days later it’s almost entirely gone.

It’s not hot yet but the days are long, with a hint of light still lingering in the big sky til after 10:00pm.

I know because last night I was telling myself I couldn’t possibly go to bed before it was dark!

.

I love roasting vegetables in my kitchen fireplace winter or summer.

These are Anaheim chiles meant to be stuffed with cheese, except I ate all the cheese so they were just served drizzled with ghee, lemon and sea salt. Delicious.

Ever since “The incident of The Missing Wiener” on the outdoor bar-beque last year I’m a tad fearful of outdoor grilling .

.

.

The scene of the crime

Tell me a bird can get into this grill when it’s burning hot and smoky and located underneath a really big overhang and fly away with a jumbo wiener.

I think not.

(don’t tell the fire dept. about the “big overhang” part)

.

Speaking of animals,

Does this giant sweet potato/yam not look just like a walrus?

 It even has whiskers!

This photo was taken before the Corona.

.

.

.

Speaking of the Great Outdoors, what are we watching on TV now that “Madmen” is over? 

Anyone going to watch the new “DALLAS”?

.

.

~

Dear Abbey

Posted on by

58

Lady Mary at the train station bids adieu to Cousin Matthew

.

.

And I must also board a train to distant lands…

(after a plane, a car, then another plane, and one more car, but those bits aren’t so romantic)

I’m off to Sri Lanka and Burma (Myanmar) with a girlfriend for 3 weeks!!

.

Cousin Matthew and Lady Mary say good-bye

but it could just as well be my husband seeing me off

(after he catches his breath getting all my bags into the car)

.

I’m quite beside myself with excitement and slightly overwhelmed at what’s involved in leaving home & hearth for 3 whole weeks.

Packing is the least of it.

No, it SO isn’t, but I’ve always wanted to say that.

One MIGHTY BIG concern is the fact that I’m going to be missing the last 3 episodes of Downton Abbey, including the 2 hour Christmas Special!

I’m afraid if I do have internet access I’m going to get ‘spoilers’ coming at me left and right.

The Husband’s never been great at keeping secrets either, which means he might be banned from watching until I return.

.

I’ve recorded this for him as a warning reminder;

Downton Abbey

 

.

Will they get back together?

Will the cheeky chauffeur have his way with her Ladyship?

Is Robert really going to leave Downton to be in the employ of such a nouveau riche bounder?

~

Meanwhile, I’m going to miss my favourite character

Lord Grantham

but I’m slightly worried about the glint he’s getting in his eye when talking to the new maid…

.

Hmmm- and who might that new precocious parlormaid be??

.

.

Impostor or the real deal?

And if dead cousin Gordon or whatever his name is can just waltz up from The Titanic’s watery depths, albeit burned beyond recognition and with an American accent, to  crash the party,  why can’t our favourite Turkish delight rise stiffly (no pun intended) from his grave to make a repeat performance??

.

.

Who amongst us would mind?!

oh here, let me get that mud for you with the warm edge of the lace hankie I keep tucked just inside my heaving bodice.

.

.

and while we’re at it…

Is it just me, or is Lady Mary’s fiancé Sir Richard Carlisle not  the love child of Richard Chamberlain and Peter Beard?

.

Richard Chamberlain

Sir Richard (Iain Glen)

and Peter Beard

Separated at birth, no??

.

.

Is the treacherous Thomas softening slightly this season?

I do believe I’ve almost caught a glimmer of a smidgen of a smile once or twice.

.

.

I might I need to ask Cousin Matthew who followed me on Twitter recently

.

Although he’s not exactly the chattiest follower on Twitter.

Perhaps the paralysis is migrating upwards…

Hey! Matthew! WAKE UP

.

.In any case,

.

 Cocktail napkins from Rue de Lillie Antiques, Summerland, CA.

.

Robert: “You know, there is nothing more ill-bred than to steal other people’s servants.”

.

In honor of my favourite show, I’m sharing my bells once more…

Found years ago in London

.

Traveled across the seas to America

.

.

To live silently ever after in my kitchen in Sun Valley, Idaho.

Imagine the stories they could tell.

.

.

And how does One feel about Madame MacClaine joining the cast next Season?!

.

Is there really room for two Divas?!

.

Who is your favourite character?

Are you enjoying the second season as much as the first?

~

PS. I hope to be able to post  and keep in touch on my travels, but it’s rather a whirlwind itinerary and I’m not sure how available internet access will be.

I’ll try to check in on FB  & Twitter

 (It’s always been my dream to “Tweet” from Mandalay :) )

If you haven’t done so already, you might like to sign up for my email alerts at the top of this page to stay connected.

(don’t forget to click on the ‘confirm’ button you will be sent-it takes 1 second)

.

.

** Hoarder Alert;  It’s been 29 years since my last visit to “Ceylon” but I saved this 10 rupee bill (circa 1979) knowing that someday, I would return.

It’s going back with me this week.

Woo hoo!

.

I’ll see you at The Abbey tonight!

.

and dare we hope that Matthew felt a tingle??

.

~

Merry Christmas!

Posted on by

33

.

.

Slim Paley photo

.

.

.

Slim Paley photo

Sun Valley, Idaho, last Christmas

.

.

Slim Paley photo

And so I close the doors on my  Advent calendar

.

.

.

Slim Paley photo

Good night wrapping

.

.

Slim Paley photo

Good night raccoons

.

.

Good night old friends

Good night new friends :)

(2 parts Smirnoff marshmallow vodka, 2 parts whipping cream, 1 part white creme de cacao, shake in ice filled cocktail shaker, garnish with roasted marshmallow)

.

I’m off to dream of Sugar Plums and wishing the same for you

.

Slim Paley photo

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, & Glad Tidings for the Holiday Season to All.

xoxo

.

.

.

~

(last image from Metoyoutumblr blog)

.

The Ice Man Cometh Not

Posted on by

31

.

Slim Paley photo

.

Yes, some of you might remember this photo from around Christmas time last year.

I snapped it from the window of my home in Sun Valley.

Enormous icicles were hanging all along the north side of the house and the snow was deep.

This year, thus far…snow, snow, where did you go??

There’s nary a flake to be found.

.

.

Also from a post last Christmas, but well worth repeating;

The amazing Freddie Mercury singing “A Winter’s Tale”

Talk about chills!

.

.

Oscar de la Renta silver beaded tassel earrings $395

.

.

Giorgio Armani SS 2012 finale

.

.

So pretty, so easy!

.

.

Stocking stuffer from Buccellati

.

Tumblr

.

These are very cool

cast glass logs, that look like giant crystals

.

Jeff Benroth glass logs

(I saw some similar to this at Ruzzetti & Gow, NYC

.

..

.

“Snowball” votives available at Bloomingdales

Corto Moltedo clutch

.

.

.

.

PS. I know what you’re thinking- Slim, you missed a day on the Advent Calendar!

What you’re forgetting is that next year is actually a Leap Year and therefore, I didn’t really miss yesterday’s post.

Don’t think about that too hard. You’ll get brain freeze.

.

Day 22ish 23 People- time to get serious!

~

Thanksgiving Greatest Hits

Posted on by

39

.

.

Slim Paley Photo

.

.

“We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the Beautiful Stuff out” 

Ray Bradbury

.

.

The Big Day is rapidly approaching and life is wonderfully busy, so I hope you don’t mind if I take this opportunity to link to a few of my past Thanksgiving Season posts. I know many of you well-organized types are thinking about your tables already, but there might be an idea or two here to inspire you.  Some already know exactly what they’re doing, and possibly even have their tables set (don’t even speak to me if this is you)

Just kidding!

I would highly encourage everyone to weigh in in my comment section with any fun, beautiful, unusual, or just “Duh, basic, but who thinks of it?” Thanksgiving suggestions.

 For example; having take-out boxes ready & labeled for friends & family to bring left-overs home in.  Genius!

-To brine, or not to brine?

-How do you make Thanksgiving Dinner feel completely different from Christmas Dinner?

.

The suggestion lines are open!

I’ll be back in a couple of days.

.

~

Slim Paley photo

Our table set for Thanksgiving in Sun Valley

.

.

Slim Paley photo

.

Recipes…

 click here; GETTING EXCITED FOR THANKSGIVING!

.

Ideas for Table settings…

click here; FORGET ABOUT THE TURKEY-WHAT ABOUT THE TABLE?!

.

And more table talk…

click here; HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE!

.

.

.

~