photograph by rinne allen
peeking through
in Daily Beauty
a favorite spot of mine, graves barn stand tall near downtown sparta, georgia. it has not changed much in the 15 years that i have been visiting, and its folk gothic woodwork gets me every time. this style is very unique to the area; to my knowledge there aren't any other structures with these forms. and, on this late fall day, the barn was the perfect backdrop for the colors of the drying grasses and dark plum-reds of the leaves nearby.
graves barn
words and photographs by rinne allen
winter's palette
in Daily Beauty
photograph by rinne allen
simple wreath DIY
i have made wreaths for most of my adult life...with my mom and sister, with my grandmother, and with my friends. i have made them big and full, or stripped down with just vine and twine. this year, i gathered kudzu vine (about a 4 foot piece) and twisted it into a circle, weaving the ends around and into each other. then, i had some trimmings from our tree as well as some hemlock cuttings from the garden. i tied these into a small bunch with florist's wire, then attached it to one side of the kudzu base. next, i had a few dried things in my studio: pods from a friend, allium from spring's garden, and a twist of curly willow. i tucked these in or wired them first and tied them to the base. then, i hung the wreath using some vintage rosey-pink velvet ribbon that i had saved off of a garment years ago. super simple...and super perfect. enjoy.
wreath and photographs by rinne allen
red oaks
in Daily Beauty
photograph by rebecca wood
the ultimate inspiration
there are so many things that we consistently return to for inspiration around here. for me, one of these touchstones is the work of walter anderson, the late artist who spent most of his life living along the coast of mississippi. his work is so vivid and so evocative. words don't do it justice. but, his life story is even more amazing. rather than trying to sum it up here, i invite you to please visit the walter anderson museum's website to read more about him and see his work. in the meantime, take a moment to look through these images of his Little Room. they were taken way back in 2004 on a visit to ocean springs. the Little Room was a space where Anderson would retreat to paint. it was a private space, hidden from his family until after his death...they had never been inside until then. what a wonder it must have been to cross this threshold. if his work moves you, please consider donating to his museum or to Realizations, run by anderson's family, to support the preservation of his legacy.
words & photographs by rinne allen
rust
in Daily Beauty
photograph by rebecca wood
under a maple
in The Country
under a red maple, there was lots of beauty.
chestnuts
in Daily Beauty
photograph by rinne allen
secret pond
a friend took me to see a secret, spring fed pond. it was beautiful and dark, and surrounded by tall pines. chartreuse water lilies broke up the darkness. the bright color of the lily pads and the reflections of grey skies and floating pine straw was way beyond dreamy. must go back there to paint....!
hazel
in Daily Beauty
photograph by rinne allen
fallen leaves
in Daily Beauty
photograph by rinne allen
winter kale salad with pecan dressing
now that the colder days are upon us, i love making hearty kale salads to add a bit of freshness to a meal. the dressing is made with local georgia pecans, i think it is my new favorite winter condiment!
winter kale salad
-toast 3/4 cup pecans in the oven for 5 minutes
-in a blender, blend the toasted pecans, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 2 Tbsp honey, 2 cloves of garlic, and salt and pepper
-blend until ingredients are chopped, dressing should have a little grit from the pecans
-add more salt if needed
-wash and cut some fresh kale, removing any tough stems
-add any other seasonal ingredients
-i added pomegranate seeds and carrots
-i think roasted squash or carrots would be great with it too toss all of the ingredients together and massage the kale leaves a bit
-add the salad dressing and lightly toss it
-enjoy!
photos and recipe by kristen bach