Dream House – 5:00 Fridays

I dream of having a glorious old historic home with wide plank hardwood floors, ridiculously high ceilings, fireplaces at every turn and a massive porch bedecked with ceiling fans, rocking chairs, and wicker loveseats. And a porch swing. No porch is complete without a swing. There would be potted plants, a wind chime to jingle in the breeze, and a rack of my favorite magazines, Southern Living and Real Simple. I’ll have some ferns tucked into the shaded corners and pots of purple petunias flowing over mossy hanging baskets. This dream house of mine will have nooks and crannies with odd size shelves and doors sparkling with glass doorknobs. But the most delightful part of my house would be the kitchen.

Ah, the large kitchen that acts as more of a gathering room than a place to just cook. In my dream the kitchen would be full of light and have a walk-in pantry with labeled bins for rice, beans, and other staples. My kitchen would open out to the porch with clanging screen doors awash in sage green paint. Or maybe more of a celery green. My kitchen would have a six burner stove and a double oven. I have five burners and a double oven now, and I use every single inch of cooking space. I might have a funky tile backsplash to break up the traditional aura of the space and a marble island with barstools, but not the backless ones because they aren’t comfortable at all. There would nickel pendant lamps hanging overhead and under cabinet lighting for sure. I’ll have a long flat drawer dedicated to storing  cloth napkins and table linens wrinkle free. Just outside my door will be a giant planter full of herbs, ready for plucking to adorn a salad or garnish a cocktail. And perched on the round table that seats six comfortably, will be a tray of Tervis Tumblers emblazoned with Adirondack chairs and a pitcher of something cool to bring goosebumps to your arms, even on a sweltering summer day.

Dream House

1 ounce Bombay Sapphire gin

Tonic

Fresca (original citrus)

Fresh lime

Fresh thyme

Grab yourself a Tervis Tumbler (my favorite one happens to have a cocktail glass on it). Fill it up with ice and add gin. Top with equal parts tonic and Fresca. Squeeze in a lime wedge and add a couple sprigs of fresh thyme. Give it a gentle stir.

Oh, and I’ve always been a if-you’re-in-the-neighborhood-stop-by kind of girl so if I ever move into this dream house of mine, feel free to pop over. I’ll have something cold to wet your whistle.