Every day is a grooming day here at my Bedford, New York farm.
I have always been a firm believer in regular brushing and bathing for all my furred friends. My gorgeous dogs - the French Bulldogs, Creme Brûlée and Béte Noire, and my Chow Chows, Empress Qin and Emperor Han, are groomed and checked for ticks and fleas every afternoon. Their faces are also wiped thoroughly. And, if it's muddy outside, they also get their feet washed, so they don't track any dirt inside the house. Sharing a home with any pet is a huge responsibility - it requires time, knowledge, and commitment to ensure every animal gets the best possible care.
Enjoy these photos.
We’ve had several days of mild, spring-like weather here at my farm. This is a photo of the upper Linden Allee between the horse paddocks. At the end is the carriage road leading to my home.
Because of the warmer temperatures, a lot of the snow and ice have melted. There is still quite a bit on the roads, but one can now see the grassy winter fields. The ground is also pretty wet from all the saturation.
And, with wet ground comes lots of mud. Here’s Empress Qin with muddy front legs and paws after her daily walk around the property – they must be washed and dried before going back to my Winter House kitchen.
Carlos brings the dogs to the grooming area in the basement, where there is a prepared plastic bin of room temperature water waiting.
Qin is considered a medium sized dog, but too big for all her feet to be washed at once, so Carlos does two paws at a time – first the front.
He carefully washes all the dirt and mud off one by one. This is also a good time to make sure any small pebbles or gravel did not get lodged in between the pads of her feet.
Always have the towels nearby, so each paw can be wiped quickly and thoroughly after washing.
When it’s time for the Frenchies, all four legs can fit comfortably in the bin of water. Creme’s feet are also quite muddy – look at the water.
That looks much better, Creme Brulee.
It may not be the most fun to get their paws washed, but I am sure all my dogs feel much better after it is done, right Creme?
My massage brush is made with soft natural bristles, which remove shedding hair and debris. The round rubber comfort pins massage the skin.
Creme Brulee loves being rubbed and massaged with this brush – she stays very still on the table.
Brushing and massaging also help to stimulate natural oil production, leaving the dog’s coat smooth and healthy.
Emperor Han is next. Han loves the grooming table and will jump up on the table himself. Carlos is brushing underneath Han, making sure to get his armpits, stomach, and inner thighs where mats can form.
A Chow Chow has a thick double coat which should be brushed often to remove all the dead hairs. Another distinctive feature of this breed is the curly tail. The tail has thick hair and lies curled over its back.
When brushing, it’s also a good idea to hold the coat with one hand, while brushing with the other, so the hairs are not pulled – this makes it a more enjoyable experience for the dog. During this time, Carlos inspects the skin for any scratches, irritations, or signs of allergies.
Lastly, using a damp cloth, Carlos wipes around the eyes and face.
Qin is so comfortable on the table. She is a champion show dog, so she is very accustomed to this grooming routine. Carlos brushes her arms and paws. It is important to brush down to the skin to ensure any mats that have formed are completely removed.
Look at all the fur removed after just a few strokes. And, do you know the difference between hair and fur? Actually, hair and fur are chemically indistinguishable. Both have the same keratin composition. The primary difference between hair and fur is simply the word usage. Fur is the collective term used to describe the hairs on any mammal other than human.
And look, another special trait of the Chow Chow is its blue-black tongue. Chow Chows come in five colors: this red, which can be light golden to deep mahogany, black, blue, cinnamon, and cream. Both Han and Qin are red Chows, but I’ve also had black Chow Chows. Qin is smiling at the camera.
After grooming, the dogs are let out once again. Here is Creme Brulee out in the courtyard behind my kitchen.
Bete loves to roll and stretch on a towel inside – it must feel nice on her stomach.
Here is Han taking a break after his grooming session. The Chow Chow’s large head with broad, flat skull and short, broad and deep muzzle is proudly carried and accentuated by the big ruff and pronounced scowling expression.
Here are all my freshly groomed canines – happy, and once again guarding their domain, or patiently waiting for a visitor to play with them. I’ve been away on business the last few days, but I’ll see you very soon my dear doggies.
So many of you love my Martha Stewart CBD line of Wellness Gummies. First there was my 'Citrus Medley' made up of Meyer lemon, kumquat, and blood orange. Then the 'Berry Medley' featuring red raspberry, huckleberry, and black raspberry flavors. The third variety I released was a 'Harvest Medley' of pomegranate, concord grape, and green apple Gummies. And now, my newest offering is a delicious 'Tropical Medley' of Alphonso mango, coconut, and pineapple - available later this month! You're going to love it just as much as the others.
Last week, while on a business trip to Florida, I celebrated the new Martha Stewart CBD Tropical Medley CBD Wellness Gummies with a launch event at The Colony Hotel Palm Beach. I hosted an intimate cocktail and dinner party with Canopy Growth CEO David Klein. The hotel's East Garden was transformed into a tropical oasis complete with swaying palms and gummy-filled citrus trees - all arranged and decorated by New York-based event producer and designer Chris Hessney, of Hessney & Co. More than 60 attended the event. It was a great success and so much fun - I hope you all saw the photos on my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48.
Here are more images from the great day and evening, enjoy.
The tropical themed event was held in The Colony Hotel Palm Beach‘s East Garden, its largest outdoor venue at 2700 square feet. It was the perfect space for our seating plan and decor. (Photo by Carrie Bradburn/CAPEHART)
The Colony Hotel Palm Beach is located in the heart of Palm Beach and has been an exclusive guest getaway since 1947.
Our team packed gift bags for all our guests attending the event. Each bag is filled with an assortment of Martha Stewart CBD products including the newest Tropical Medley CBD Wellness Gummies.
The entire event was brought to life by New York-based event producer and designer Chris Hessney, of Hessney & Co. and his hardworking team. Here’s Chris helping with the set-up.
Here, Hessney & Co. producer, Dominic Benevento, reviews and checks off the long to-do list.
James LeBorne, also from Chris’ team, stops for this quick snapshot. Here he is between the two long tables, each seating 30 guests.
The table scapes also featured tropical fruits inspired by the new flavors – pineapple, coconut, and mango.
The space was surrounded by palms and gummy-filled citrus trees, where guests could “pick their own” delights – these are kumquat flavored gummies.
The welcoming area featured beverage stations ready with tropical cocktails. (Photo by Carrie Bradburn/CAPEHART)
Here I am with my longtime publicist and dear friend, Susan Magrino, CEO of Magrino PR. We stopped by during the day to see all the preparations.
The tables look terrific. Our guests included Palm Beach influencers, members of Canopy Growth, press, and friends. (Photo by Carrie Bradburn/CAPEHART)
Here I am with some of The Colony Hotel Palm Beach wait staff. The day’s weather was a bit cloudy, and it did rain just a little bit, but it ended up perfect for our outdoor celebration.
As guests arrived, they sipped on CBD-infused cocktails from one of several stations – everyone loved them. All the products in my CBD collection are natural and made with the purest, safest CBD, derived from 100-percent US hemp. (Photo by Carrie Bradburn/CAPEHART)
We planned a delicious three-course meal inspired by the gourmet gummies. Here is a copy of my menu place card.
Daphne Oz was among our guests. (Photo by Carrie Bradburn/CAPEHART)
Canopy Growth CEO David Klein and I welcomed everyone to the event and talked about the success of the Martha Stewart CBD line and how it has become, in just a little more than a year, a best-selling CBD ingestible brand. I am so proud of how well it is doing. (Photo by Carrie Bradburn/CAPEHART)
This is my main entre – grilled swordfish with fennel salad, salse verde, and cauliflower puree.
My friend, Charlotte Beers, also attended. Here she is with business etrepreneur, Alex Quattlebaum. (Photo by Carrie Bradburn/CAPEHART)
Our meal concluded with my famous Coconut Cake recipe. Everyone devoured their servings! (Photo by Carrie Bradburn/CAPEHART)
In this photo – influencers Isaac Boots, Pippa Cohen, and Jeffrey Patrick O’Brecht. Isaac’s poodle, Davis Boots, sat on his lap throughout the entire dinner. (Photo by Carrie Bradburn/CAPEHART)
And here I am with David. It was such a wonderful evening. (Photo by Carrie Bradburn/CAPEHART)
After the event, I posed with The Colony Hotel Palm Beach chefs and pastry chefs – thanks for a great dinner! Follow us at IG @MarthaStewartCBD, and look out for our new Tropical Medley on shopcanopy.com!
If you're looking to refresh a room, but don't want to purchase new décor, consider giving it a new coat of paint - even a subtle change in color can totally transform a space.
Not long ago, I decided my Tenant House, the guest house where my daughter Alexis and her children stay when they come to visit, needed an update. I chose to repaint the kitchen, living room, and the bedrooms using a limewash finish. Limewash is made from limestone that’s been crushed, burned, and mixed with water to make a lime putty and then colored with natural pigments. Using limewash is a centuries old technique that creates a slightly mottled and matte appearance with a chalky texture, almost like suede. We used limewash from Domingue Architectural Finishes, which offers beautiful, natural soft shades and the rooms look fantastic.
Enjoy these photos.
My Bedford, New York farm has several buildings, including one, which has always been called the Tenant House. This little cottage was part of the original farm when I purchased it and it was, indeed, used as a rental for a tenant. When I moved here, I had it completely restored from top to bottom. It is a nice house for my daughter’s family when they come to visit. Like any home, it needs to be maintained and updated from time to time. Recently, I decided the interior was due for a new coat of paint.
Whenever my longtime painter, Stephan, comes to do a project, he and his team are very neat and tidy. All the supplies – brushes, paints and primers, scrapers, and other tools are brought in, organized, and stacked for easy reach.
The first step is to protect all the surfaces. Here, Stephan puts down Floorotex All Purpose Floor Protection. This is a wonderful, breathable, flexible material that protects a variety of surfaces. It is easy to fit on staircases and vents. Plus, it’s reusable.
Next, every surface not being painted has to be carefully covered with plastic and tape.
Here, the windows are covered with plastic and the tops of the chair rail molding are covered with brown paper. Everything is completely taped, so there is no worry later of accidentally painting something that should not be painted.
The next step is to prep the surfaces and fill any timeworn cracks, etc. with caulk.
All the areas are then primed and left to dry. Priming is an important step to any room painting project. The main reason surface preparation is so crucial is because paint can’t adhere to unprepared surfaces. If a paint job is rushed and prep work is left undone, the paint will peel, crack, bubble up, and flake because it is not sticking properly.
We’re using Domingue Architectural Finishes Bonding Primer. A bonding primer provides the best coating and promotes good adhesion to the surface.
The primer is applied and then all the supplies are organized neatly underneath the kitchen island until the next day. Keeping everything organized and ready to use saves time in the long run.
This paint is from Domingue Architectural Finishes. The company that makes these fine paints is Chateau Domingue, one of the country’s premier importers of European furnishings and architectural pieces. Founded in Texas in 2002 by Ruth Gay, Chateau Domingue specializes in French, Italian and Belgium designs from the 15th through the 19th centuries – all inspired by Ruth’s longtime passion for architecture and design, and her many travels throughout Europe. Over the years, Ruth expanded her business to include Atelier Domingue Architectural Metalcrafts, which fabricates custom steel windows and doors, and Domingue Architectural Finishes which provides beautiful plaster surfaces, and limewash and mineral paint finishes – all made from natural elements.
We’re using two different colors. This is called Nuvolo. I chose to use this for the kitchen and and hallways.
The other color is Scarpa, on top, designated for the living room and bedrooms. It is a little darker. Another tip is to use the same paint pans for like colors throughout the project, so there is never a chance of mixing or altering the shades.
Stephan applies a very light first coat of limewash to the wall. Limewash should be applied in several thin coats using a long-haired or masonry paintbrush that creates feathered strokes.
This is one of the kitchen walls drying. Limewash becomes much lighter as it dries. It’s up to 10 times darker when it’s wet, so it’s important to test the colors. The opacity depends on the number of coats that are applied; typically up to three coats. I decided on two coats.
This is the darker shade of Scarpa on a living room wall.
While the downstairs dries, the upstairs is prepped. Again, Stephan and his team apply the protective floor coverings in all the bedrooms and in the hallway.
All the thermostats are taped as well. Taping before painting not only provides a barrier to surfaces that aren’t being painted, but allows painters to work quickly without worrying about making mistakes. Taping also helps create clean lines and protect areas from possible drips.
Different types of tape with varying amounts of adhesive allow one to use stronger tapes in one area and less sticky tapes in another.
And here is the finished bedroom. The trim paint is in excellent condition, so none of the trim had to be redone. It also matches excellently with the limewash color.
Here is another bedroom wall – I love how it all came out.
The change in paint is subtle yet elegant. The next phase will be to put back all the furniture – of course, with some changes in placement. I will be sure to show you some of those images when the decorating is all all done.
Limewash is a great all-natural finish alternative. Traditional limewash is environmentally-friendly and because of lime’s high pH level, microorganisms can’t survive, which adds a hypoallergenic quality. Limewash can be used indoors and out and is best applied to porous surfaces, such as plaster, stone, and brick. Let me know what you think in the comments below.
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