Less than a week before Christmas and everyone here at my Bedford, New York farm is getting into the holiday spirit - even the horses.
I have 10 residents in my stable - four Friesians, a Fell pony, and five Sicilian donkeys. Every day, during my tour around the property, I always stop in to see them. Caring for equids is a huge responsibility, but it brings me great joy to know that they are happy and in the best possible health. They get lots of exercise, good food and vitamins, regular grooming, and plenty of attention. Recently, we also took photos of them in their yuletide best.
Enjoy these images.
This is my stable located at one end of my long Boxwood Allèe. It is in the center of a cobblestone courtyard flanked by two other buildings – my carriage house and my property office. If you look closely, above the main barn doors is an ornamental cast iron horse head gifted to me by my friend, antiques dealer Jim Klinko, owner of Furniture on Consignment II in Westport, Connecticut.
Inside my stable feed room, the horses’ dinner bowls are set out every afternoon and filled with the appropriate supplements for each equine.
These are commercial flour bins from a bakery. I use them in the stable for storing grains, and in my greenhouse head house for storing and organizing different planting mediums.
Along with their various supplements, each horse gets a cup of their favorite grains.
We also add a special veterinarian-developed performance powder that supports joints, muscles, hooves, skin, and coat. The horses all love it.
The horses each get a couple flakes of hay. It is crucial that we monitor the amount of hay the horses consume, so they don’t become overweight or develop digestion issues. My stable crew is very mindful of the horses’ hay intake. Most of the horses like their hay wet, so we soak it about 30-minutes and then let it drain completely before feeding. Soaking also cuts down on the amount of dust generated by the hay. We’re using a Scenic Road wheelbarrow designed with a special custom drainage hole that works so well for this purpose and for washing my dogs.
A smaller tub is used to soak alfalfa for Rinze. Alfalfa is nutritionally dense. It contains high levels of calcium, as well as magnesium, potassium, iron, phosphorus, lysine, vitamin C, vitamin K, and folic acid. It is also high protein forage, so it makes an excellent supplement for senior horses.
All the other horses get a few soaked alfalfa cubes in their bowls as an added treat.
Here’s Fernando bringing Hylke and Geert back to the stable from their paddock. These horses are so active, they love being outdoors, even when it’s rainy or cold.
And here’s Banchunch already eating his grains and supplements. Because horses have small stomachs relative to their size, they eat little and often. A horse needs food spread out, preferably in two to three feedings a day.
On this rainy day, after eating, their legs and feet are given a quick wash with tepid water to remove any mud and debris.
And then indoors, all the equines got into a bit of holiday spirit. Here’s Hylke with a Christmas cap – made just for horses.
Bond walked through the stable with his – so handsome.
And Geert showed this holiday cheer out the window of his stall.
My Fell Pony Banchunch also joined the fun.
This is Rinze, the patriarch of my stable – he is a gorgeous and faultless steed.
Even the donkeys participated – here’s Billie, one of two jennys or females, in my stable.
And here’s Jude “JJ” Junior, the other pretty girl.
Wait, what about the boys? They’re wondering what all the activity is next door.
Not to worry, they all got a turn. This is Truman “TJ” Junior. I think he likes the holiday hat.
And Clive, the tallest of my Sicilian donkeys.
And here’s Rufus wishing everyone a joyous holiday season. Just six days to go before Christmas. I hope you all have a safe and festive week ahead.
There are always so many beautiful antique and vintage planters to see at The Tropics, Inc. in Hollywood, California - it's definitely become one of my favorite stops whenever I am in the Los Angeles area.
During a recent business trip, I paid a visit to Ron Horziencik, CEO and President of the 20,000 square foot gallery. You may have seen the post on my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48. Ryan and his team offer plants and accessories for both residential and corporate use, real estate staging, and television and film projects. I always find something interesting and inspiring whenever I walk through the space.
Here are some photos from my latest visit, enjoy. And if you're in the area and want to browse The Tropics, Inc. nursery, please call and make an appointment.
I always add The Tropics, Inc. to my list of must-see places whenever I travel to Los Angeles. It’s a trove of beautiful items. Ryan’s father, Ronald J. Hroziencik, started the business selling junk at a swap meet with his college roommate. Occasionally, they would have plants to sell, and customers loved them. Now, it’s a successful establishment with a large inventory of unique and beautiful plants, containers, and more.
Ryan has a variety of planters for sale inside and out – in all different sizes, forms, and materials. Here is an assortment of vintage vessels inside the showroom.
Some of his interesting pieces are planted. This is a Sanseveria “Featherwood” Forest in a low iron ceramic disk planter.
Here is an Abromeitiella brevifolia mound in a vintage French faux bois planter. Abromeitiella plants are mat-forming succulents with spined leaves arranged in numerous rosettes. They grow slowly and sometimes form cushion-shaped colonies. In their natural environment, they almost never get water, and have developed the capacity to absorb water from the humidity in the air.
In another area are these specimen sculptural aged Aloidendron dichotomum, formerly Aloe dichotoma, the quiver tree or kokerboom – a tall, branching species of succulent plant, indigenous to Africa, specifically in the Northern Cape region of South Africa, and parts of Southern Namibia.
This is a vintage Willy Guhl planter. Willy Guhl was a pioneering Swiss furniture designer and one of the first industrial designers in Switzerland. He designed a wide range of objects and furnishings, from chairs to door handles, church pews, and vases. He is probably best known for his chairs, especially the Loop Chair. In 1951, the Swiss company Eternit commissioned Guhl—along with his students at the School of Applied Arts in Zurich—to create a line of attractive and durable planters for use indoors or out. These planters were made using concrete. This Willy Guhl tulip planter is resting on a vintage French faux bois table with chair.
Here is a miniature Tylecodon bonsai in a low vintage French concrete bowl planter. Tylecodon butter tree is a robust succulent shrub with a caudiciform trunk and usually well-branched.
Perhaps some of you recognize this – I have several at my Bedford, New York farm. It is a giant vintage steel sugar kettle. Sugar kettles were used on 19th century Louisiana plantations for the production of sugar. Sugar cane was placed in the large, spherical vessels and cooked down to make syrup. Because they could withstand such high heat, they were also used for cooking. They also make instant and effective fire pits and can be used as planters.
As many of you know, I am a big fan of faux bois planters and always spot them wherever I go. Faux bois is from the French meaning “false wood” and refers to the artistic imitation of wood or wood grains in a variety of mediums. It was probably first crafted with concrete using an iron armature by garden craftsmen in France called “rocailleurs” using common iron materials such as rods, barrel bands, and even chicken wire. This large vintage French faux bois planter has handles and the original patina.
This is an aged Ficus nuda bonsai “forest” in a vintage steel disk planter. Ficus is one of the most popular trees for indoor bonsai. It is an excellent grower and needs little care.
Here’s another vintage French faux bois planter.
And in this corner, a smaller vintage faux bois planter on a faux bois stand. In Mexico and Texas, this style is sometimes known as “el trabajo rústico” meaning the rustic work.
And yet another vintage French faux bois planter – I admired them all.
In the back, I spotted several assorted vintage Willy Guhl planters.
This is a vintage French concrete garden table with a wooden base.
This vintage French faux bois planter is rectangular – they can be found in all shapes and sizes.
Here is a pair of rare Willy Guhl geometric planters – mid-century abstract triangular vessels made from eternite, a durable and lightweight fiber cement.
Here’s a vintage French faux bois branching planter.
And a vintage Betty Cobonpue basket planter. Betty Cobonpue is a Philippines-based designer. She describes her design sensibility with a simple mantra: “No hard edges.” This piece is very smooth all the way around.
This is a vintage French concrete planter with encrusted seashells.
And perfect for the holidays – a vintage French concrete deer sculpture. The Tropics, Inc. is a one-of-a-kind botanical gallery full of amazing and interesting pieces. If you are ever in the Hollywood area, please visit.
I always enjoy eating out, especially when it's with dear friends celebrating special occasions.
Every year around this time, I always host a "Sagitarian" lunch - a fun meal with several close colleagues and friends who all have one thing in common... a birthday in December. This annual tradition happened earlier this week at Le Pavillon, Chef Daniel Boulud's exquisite culinary oasis located in the heart of midtown Manhattan at the famous One Vanderbilt skyscraper. The setting of Le Pavillon Daniel Bould is an 11-thousand square foot space featuring cathedral ceilings and lush greenery with views of the city's bustling Grand Central Terminal. Attendees included Jane Heller, Susan Magrino, Kevin Sharkey, Darcy Miller Nussbaum, Judy Morris, and myself - the group's lone Leo. It was a wonderful lunch and a gathering.
Enjoy these photos.
Here we are with Executive Chef Daniel Boulud – it was so nice to see him and to have him recommend some of his favorite dishes. If you’re ever in New York City and want to treat yourself to a delicious meal, please consider Le Pavillon. It focuses on seasonal menus, seafood, and the freshest locally sourced ingredients.
Darcy Miller Nussbaum, who worked with me as Editorial Director of Martha Stewart Weddings for many years, is now a celebrations expert and entrepreneur. She brought everyone a bottle of champagne tagged with her creative illustrations of each of us. This is mine. Follow Darcy on Instagram @darcymiller.
Here is Jane Heller’s gift bottle. You remember Jane – she is my friend and banker.
Judy Morris has worked for me on my television shows and special projects for 30-years. Here is her bottle and illustration. Her Instagram handle is @judy.morris.3.
Here’s Kevin’s bottle. You know Kevin, my friend and our own EVP of Home at Marquee Brands. See lots of Kevin’s great photos on Instagram @seenbysharkey.
Susan Magrino is another good friend and my longtime publicist. Follow her on Instagram @SusanMagrino7. She was recently a guest on “The Martha Stewart Podcast.”
Peter Grant, who couldn’t attend the luncheon, is one of my longtime attorneys, but don’t worry, we’ll make sure he gets this fun birthday gift.
Right away, everyone admired Judy’s sweater – bedecked in fun sequence and button rosettes. It was designed by my neighbor, Andy Yu, and bought at the Village Winter Market in Bedford, New York – did you see my blog on the two-day event?
We all had a glass of Colcumbet champagne – some added Crème de Cassis, a blackcurrant liqueur, to make flavorful Kir Royale drinks.
Among the delicious dishes we enjoyed was this Oyster Vanderbilt made with
John’s river oyster from Maine poached in chowder fortified with potatoes, leeks, crème fraîche, and hazelnuts with a parsley-seaweed crust.
Here is a winter chicory and black truffle salad with Heermance Farm Salanova lettuce, Italian chicories, sourdough “friselle,” hazelnut gremolata, king trumpet mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, and black truffle vinaigrette.
This is a Vidalia onion tart, served with dandelion, époisses emulsion, and thyme.
Also on the menu – fresh saffron cured hamachi, artichokes, ají dulce peppers, and mint rice crisp.
Here’s a fun photo I took of Chef Daniel, Jane, and Kevin. During the lunch, we all realized that if one were to add up all the years I’ve known each one of these Sagittarius friends, it would come out to more than 140-years.
This is a duo of yellowfin tuna with fennel pollen, socca crisp, and tonnato sauce, an Italian tuna sauce.
This bucatini pasta is served with shrimp, cuttlefish, tomato, parsley, and guanciale.
And this is grilled black bass with bok choy, basil, and a chili vinaigrette.
For dessert – an assortment of cookies including sablé Breton, Chamonix, and bergamot-black currant.
I gifted each of my December birthday guests a stack of this year’s New York Times Top Best-Selling books. I think I need a stack for myself.
Each stack of books was given with this Birthday sentiment. Jane, Kevin, Susan, Darcy, Judy, and Peter – happy birthday and may you enjoy reading every single work! And be sure to follow Le Pavillon on Instagram @lepavillonnyc.
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