Life at Chez V - The Essence of Chez V

The Chez V  Way of Life…

What is it all about?  This is a recurring question I get asked after people discover that I have a blog.  It is tauntingly similar to that pesky Elevator Speech thingy – the whole ‘who you are in 5 words or less’ - that I have been contemplating everyday since Chez V hit the interwaves.

Life at Chez V is not all rainbows and unicorns as life can so often seem through the rose colored lens of a blogger, particularly the ones who have it all going on.  I can assure you that I do not have much of anything going on excepting a crazypants laugh.  

photo credit:  Amy Elisabeth Photography

But we do have fun over here and everyday, I strive to do something better, to learn something new, and make little moments meaningful for anyone who happens to come into my orbit.  I operated much the same way in my professional life as well.  Every exchange with a colleague was an opportunity to kick some k-nowledge back and forth; to inspire and be inspired.

And that, my dear friends, IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT.  The Chez V philosophy is about being inspired and inspiring others to live a well-lived and entertaining life, one little moment at a time. 

If I was forced at gunpoint to distill that philosophy down to 5 words or less, then it would be this:  SEEING, FEELING, CHANGING.

When I SEE or experience something wonderful, that makes me FEEL something.  And that emotion inspires me to CHANGE - to do something.  It might be to change myself, my world view, my interiors, or my nearest friend in need. It might even be that I end up painting my bedroom while I am cleaning out the fridge.  Changing and improving something everyday. 

Mary McDonald - a picture that inspired a dinner party

SEEING, FEELING, CHANGING is about evoking emotions.  Setting a blue and white table is not just about creating a pretty tableau.  That tablescape is meant to provide a warm welcome, to evoke a sense of togetherness, of belonging, of community.  The meal that ensues serves to provide comfort and succor.

And experiencing a burger over charcoal, might just trigger memories of childhood camping trips, evoking that initial sense of wonder at cooking outside.  And it just might get you to change the way you grill your burgers next time.

This is why I share.  Even when I feel vulnerable about putting things 'out there.'  Even when I feel lonely because I am not sure if anyone is really reading this stuff.  I share because I hope to inspire someone with things that inspire me.   To see and to feel and to change. 

kisses,  mrs. V

Tales From the Projects - Stump Planters

Tree Stumps…

Ideas are brewing over here.  I dig tree stumps.  Not exactly sure why, but I think it has something to do with the life that was once contained within.  And the brilliant patterns and textures of wood.

I’ve got stumps on the porch that double as cocktail tables and foot rests for our rocking chairs.  I have stumps on the back patio that serve as perches to elevate potted specimens.  And now I have a stump fashioned into a planter itself.  I love it.

My in-laws can basically do anything but they are particularly good with wood.  My mother-in-law fashioned this planter for me and lined it with copper to make it a bit more durable for plantings. 

I envision all sorts of interesting applications for a planter/footed vessel such as this.  I planted violas because I was antsy to get some color outside.  But next I might plant some succulents and place this on my farm table in the kitchen or flowering bulbs + moss for Easter.

Would you buy something like this?  Inquiring minds want to know.

kisses,  mrs. V

Life at Chez V - Weekend Edition

Scenes From the Weekend

Pardon the radio silence.  These unseasonably warm days have us whistling Dixie over here.  We have been outside most of the time blowing bubbles, spreading grass seed, and grilling out.  Is there anything better than the smell of the grill wafting in through the windows?

bubble machine + pedal car = hours of entertainment

We’ve enjoyed lots of fresh guac and hand cut fries with spicy ketchup.  And the first mouthwatering grilled salmon of the season.  We are a charcoal family now that our mondo grill went kaput.  I can’t believe we spent hundreds of dollars on a big stainless steel gas grill that lasted only 3 years.  The gas rails rusted out over time and it costs more to buy the replacement parts than to purchase a new grill. 

mr. V has preached about the virtues of charcoal over gas for years but I was a skeptic primarily for the ease of use.  Who has the time to wait for the charcoal?!  I loved being able to push a button and grill away.  But that was BEFORE.  Before I had a burger grilled over hardwood lump charcoal.  What a revelation.  Everything tastes so much better over charcoal.  But not those nasty briquette things and definitely no lighter fluid!

olive oil, s & p, and garlic for hand cut fries on the grill

spicy ketchup

We officially became a Weber/chimney starter/natural lump charcoal grilling family last summer.  And when we do our outdoor fireplace situation in the future, we are planning on accommodating a grill rack in that business.

rocket balloons

What's good enough for Ina is good enough for me!  So what kind of grilling family are you?  Do you prefer gas or charcoal?

kisses,  mrs. V

Dutch Gardening - Tidy Symmetry

Nipped and Tucked

As promised, here are some pictures that I took during our trip to Holland and Northern Germany in 2009.  We were there for a wedding and to visit family in both countries. 

Rivers of hyacinth at the Keukenhof

 It was one of those trips of a lifetime.  So memorable for so many reasons, the primary one being that we got to experience it with mr. V’s father who is the only Vanderputten in his family in the States.  To see his homeland through his eyes and not just from stories and pictures was so special.  These memories I will cherish for the rest of my life. 

Aside from all that, one of the things I was most struck with during the trip, was the flora and fauna.  Even flying into The Netherlands you are greeted with blankets of color as far as the eye can see.  The tulip fields.  It was like flying into a painting.   Everything was so vibrant and verdant.  Sounds corny but I can’t emphasize enough that the pictures do not do justice to the rich colors and smells of earth and water.  The grasses were so green and the earth was so deeply brown.  It breathed.

And the gardens.  Even people living in the city centers with little more that a stoop would have some sort of plantings.  And I was struck by the tidiness of these plantings.  Very clipped and symmetrical.  Lots of topiaries.  Potted plants flanking benches or doorways.  Any container was fair game for a planting - at almost every house, apartment, farm, store etc.  Every.  Single.  One.  I saw no evidence of that neighbor.  The one who does not really care about how their exterior looks.  The containers were well maintained and the plantings at the houses with yards were very tidy.  Fastidious is a word that comes to mind.  All things were nipped and tucked just so.

My detail-lovin’ soul was in nirvana.  So many little moments to be discovered.  All of this nip and tuck perfection completely changed the way I gardened.  As soon as I got home I immediately cast aside my plastic planters and plopped everything into baskets.  I threw a bajillion tulips in the front beds.  And I clipped, clipped, clipped.  It looked so great.  For about 10 minutes.  Until I realized the daily maintenance required to get such a tidy look.  Sheesh.  It’s like waxing and botoxing everyday.  I have never been much a fan of needles or hot painful things so no go for mrs. V.

Uncle Henk's garden

the clogs outside Uncle Henk's door - they really do wear these - especially to garden

I have accepted that things will be a tad more wild at Chez V despite my best intentions.  But I do my best to capture just a hint of all that tidy perfection.

All photos by me

kisses,  mrs. V