December 29, 2024 • 23 mins
On this episode of Yard to Table Ellen and Trevor end the year - and this podcast season! - with creating intentions for 2025 for their home and gardens.
And to see what's happening with Ellen and Trevor at Stonebrook House follow @stonebrookhouse on Instagram today!
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Episode Transcript
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Trevor (00:14):
Well, hello Ellen.
Ellen (00:16):
Well, hello Trevor.
Trevor (00:17):
Here we are back at the table for our very last episode
Ellen (00:23):
of 2024
Trevor (00:25):
Yes, not, ever,
Ellen (00:26):
not ever,
Trevor (00:26):
not ever.
Ellen (00:27):
No, we're having too much fun.
That would be sad. We're havingtoo much fun
Trevor (00:31):
last episode of 2024
Ellen (00:33):
it's amazing how quickly that came.
Trevor (00:35):
We feels like we just did our first episode, but it
wasn't our first episode, we'redoing quite, quite a lot of a
many episodes. That's a word, bythe way, quite a lot of a many.
Ellen (00:47):
It is. It is. It's a good one. It's a new word. Maybe
Trevor (00:50):
it is. But that's what we're about here. We're about
finding joy, creating, creatingour joy, coming up with new
things. I like that word thatI've already forgotten. I don't
even know what I just said twominutes ago or seconds ago, as
it may be,
Ellen (01:04):
that's okay. It's also that weird week between holidays
and New Year, and we're all alittle mushy in the brain. I
think during this time,
Trevor (01:15):
I'm mushy in other places as well, because of what
we have been eating, because nowthat we don't have the amazing
bounty of our yard, yes tosustain us, most of it's just
cookies. Oh, it's been a lot ofcookies. It's cookies and a lot
of other things that are equallydelicious, totally, but not
(01:36):
quite as health filled
Ellen (01:38):
it is. It's been heavy on the sweets I made the pad
Lova on Christmas Eve, which isit has some fruit on it.
Trevor (01:45):
It has fruit on it, no fruit in it, but at least there
was, there was mint, yes, therewas yogurt, and yogurt. These
are all good things.
Ellen (01:52):
These are good things on a delicious, crusty meringue.
But other than that, there'seggs in that, some protein and
sugar from chickens. So yes, wehave, when we talk about all of
that delicious eating, it tendsto have people come up with some
intentions around a new year anda new start. But we're not about
(02:15):
resolutions here at Stonebrook,
Trevor (02:17):
no, and still, not a big resolution. Person, no, I'm not.
You're much more of a like yousaid, an intentionality,
Ellen (02:23):
yes, intentions, hopes and dreams, setting goals,
Trevor (02:27):
finding our joy,
Ellen (02:29):
finding joy. Nothing that makes you feel that you're
losing, right,
Trevor (02:33):
like you're failing massively,
Ellen (02:35):
right? Setting yourself up for disappointment. There's
Trevor (02:38):
beetles for that, that's that's gonna come, squash
cucumberborers, squash borers. We're
gonna have a massivedisappointment throughout the
season. We don't need to startour season with nastiness now.
Ellen (02:49):
Yeah. So I think, as we reflect in this time, intentions
are the are the goal, yes. Andthinking about that for 2025,
already, oh my gosh. I know it'scoming up. And I have intentions
for the yard. I have intentionsfor the table. I love it. Yard
end table, all of it, it's justgood. I'll start. You can start.
(03:10):
So why don't you start? I'llstart. So for the yard, my
intentions, dreams, some goalscoming out of the holidays. I
was actually texting withChristina Koether from state of
Nomatica in creating a lot ofour seasonal displays inside the
house, I realized that we don'thave enough winter berry on our
(03:32):
property. That's we have, likeone
Trevor (03:35):
one tree, yes, which produced close to zero winter
berries.
Ellen (03:39):
And I didn't want to take it from the bird, a bush.
It's like a bush, bushy tree.
Yeah, Bush. So of course, now Iwant to plant you want a lot of
winter. I do because that thebirds need it. That's a very
important source of food forthem, native. And also it's just
gorgeous in the mantle and inwreath displays and things of
that sort.
Trevor (04:01):
We've done a lot of it, and it really does add that
lovely pop of color.
Ellen (04:05):
I love a red
Trevor (04:06):
that's listeners, if you know Ellen at all. Red is her
spirit color that's very true.
And there's a lot of it,
Ellen (04:16):
and it's holiday, so it's, it's a necessary so
Winterberry. And of course, wehave our tradition of sharing
bayberry candles with ourfriends and family, and I'd like
to plant some bayberry bushesnow, I know it takes a lot of
babies to actually make acandle. I'm not saying we're
going to go into Stonebrookproduction of candles,
Trevor (04:35):
even though we talked about that just recently, future
intention and we had a wholediscussion about how much it
takes. It's a lot. A la maple.
Yes, it leaves you undeterred.
Ellen (04:47):
Well, I'm going to start with a couple of bushes,
because, again, I think thatwould be super fun to
incorporate into our Yuletide.
Trevor (04:55):
I'm all about building for Yule for next year, always.
Ellen (04:59):
And I love having.
Seeing that brightness, thebayberries are more of a bluey
green kind of color and but Ilove the idea of having that
because this time of year itstarts to get a little brown, a
little drab, which I'm also veryexcited that I have the tulip
subscription coming fromChristina in January. So once a
week until our tulips grow, Iwill have those from her 500
(05:20):
tulips. Yes, think it might besix.
Trevor (05:25):
Is it six? Oh my gosh.
Okay.
Ellen (05:30):
Well, there are a couple extra ones that looked really
cool, so I wanted those. Wantedto plant those. But anyway, so
those are my initial thoughtsaround garden intentions. But
then I'm getting into the actualgarden of it all. I have some
thoughts too. But do you haveany
Trevor (05:42):
Well, our my garden intentions for the yard are also
around the space itself. So I'vebeen also thinking about we've
had a really interesting idea todo a mural on the wall,
Ellen (05:57):
yes, and this was the one where we were going to make
it something that we could useto show what we were planting.
Trevor (06:04):
Yeah, so the idea was to sort of create a bigger map on
the wall, under our overhang, onthe storage barn. On the storage
barn, we have this area thatwe've developed, and we're
continuing to build out as ourgarden workshop and our area to
really help with all of thetools. We put that vintage sink
in. We've got a lot of differentthings that we've been building
(06:25):
out. A whole new patio backthere with some blue stone from
the property, vintage blue stonethat we got, yep. And then on
this big wall is really a hugecanvas to be able to play with.
We decided that we were going todo a mural of the garland, yeah,
basically all the beds, so thatwe can change it as we change
them seasonally, as we rotatethe beds. If we're putting
(06:47):
garlic in a different space thanwe put it last year. It's a sort
of chalkboardy idea.
Ellen (06:52):
Well, you know, I had an inspiration from another place
for that. I can't claim thatthat was an original idea that I
had, just like in all of this. Iwas inspired by something I saw
somewhere else. Do you remember?
Trevor (07:04):
Yeah, it was at Beach Plum Parm, that's right, in
beautiful Cape May New Jersey.
That's right, those, those finefriends down at beach plum they
are doing it right. That is, weshould try to get them on the
podcast.
Ellen (07:16):
We should, and that is, we should try to beauty in their
yard. Yeah, and
Trevor (07:21):
stay there and then also see if they'll join us.
Ellen (07:26):
I would love that idea.
That's a podcast intention.
Trevor (07:29):
That is one of our yard to table podcast intentions, I
love it to talk to the amazingproprietors of Beach Plum Farm
down there
Ellen (07:38):
absolutely and they had this incredible mural of their
lands and their gardens, andthey would change it out for
when, seasonally, for what theywere planting. I think that's
just a really lovely way ofhaving this visual of what's
going on and and updating it. Sowe're going to expand upon that
for Stonebrook, because
Trevor (07:58):
good ideas are worth stealing. That's right. That's
right. Somebody once saidimmature artists borrow and
mature artists steal.
Ellen (08:11):
Who is that quote attributed to? I wish I could
remember,because I have listeners tell us
Trevor (08:16):
no clue who said that, but somebody said it probably
like Picasso or Einstein, orsomebody.
Ellen (08:23):
Well, I love the idea of the mural and the plot of our
land. I love this idea anythingelse that you had on your
garden, yard list of intentions.
Trevor (08:32):
The other thing I really wanted to do, just because it's
getting a little wobbly, isbetween the peonies in the
center of our garden, we have aan old blue stone pathway, and
it's kind of as the frost heavecontinues to sort of push things
around here and there. I reallythink it's getting a little too
(08:54):
wide, I agree. So I need to sortof just tighten up the screws
little loosey goosey,
Ellen (08:59):
yeah, make it a little more compact
Trevor (09:02):
and correct. Yes, we've taken some other areas out. We
added a whole section in ofpasta on the side next to one of
our barns, and out of that camea lot of stone. Yes, when we dug
up that small little area
Ellen (09:16):
Any time you dig in Connecticut, anytime you're
gonna get some stone, nationalcrop of Connecticut is rock,
that's right, and lots of italso planted some giant Allium
over there.
Trevor (09:26):
Oh, that's the giant Allium patch, that's right,
Ellen (09:29):
yes, I cant wait
Trevor (09:31):
one of the other intentions we'll have for those
alliums is to dry them.
Ellen (09:35):
Yes. That is also an inspiration, aka steel to steel
from Christina, that's right,she did it, although she did
give me permission to be tellingme how to dry them.
Trevor (09:45):
That doesnt count.
Really, I would prefer to justhave this essentially be, I
don't
Ellen (09:50):
know who said this quote, but imitation is the
sincerest form of flattery. Weknow that's out there. Someone
said it,
Trevor (09:55):
somebody did say it.
That's true. I think LionelTrilling was the one. Have said
the immature artists borrowquote, oh,
Ellen (10:04):
that renown inker, Lionel, Trilling, anybody
anyway? Any background on thatone? Do
Trevor (10:11):
you see? None, none at all. It's a that's a straight
Google lookup. But I've said ita lot. I love it. Oh, no wait,
Picasso might have said it also.
I said, Picasso. You did, Ithink I said, I said, Picasso or
Einstein, one of the other,close, anyway, yes. So that's,
that's the goal is to try tomake things a little bit tidier.
We have so many different stonewalls, outcroppings, patios,
(10:35):
it's amazing, and it'swonderful, but it is a constant
need of maintenance throughoutour different systems to just
try to keep it up and havethings not fall down all the
time.
Ellen (10:49):
We like it a little wild, but it needs to be
maintained wild,
Trevor (10:53):
correct. It's a little bit more tidy than it, than than
messy,
Ellen (10:56):
yeah. And the other fun part this time of year is really
thinking about the laying out ofthe garden, what we want to
plant in 2025 what we're goingto put in those beds, things
that were successful from thisyear. Obviously, we had an
amazing we talked about thisamazing year for tomatoes. More
always for me, how do I fit moreflowers in?
Trevor (11:15):
I think we need to build a whole nother section for you,
just for flowers,
Ellen (11:20):
yes, and kitchen herbs, I want to have a separate bed up
by the house, a little closer tothe house for some kitchen
herbs. That's another intention,because we have a great patch,
obviously, in the garden, butjust even being able to walk out
and grab some will be is justwhen you're busy and you're
fast, you know, that's a that'sa good thing to have.
Trevor (11:39):
But I think the intention should be the
opposite. We should probably tryto put the kitchen herbs further
away to get us more time in thegarden as much as possible.
Ellen (11:47):
And really, I mean, that is what we have now, and it's
wonderful. But, you know, toomany herbs can you have too many
herbs? I don't think you canreally commute. I don't think
you can. So, yeah, that likethat idea. That'll be fun to
start to think about that, howit all lays out and have some
more ongoing flower fireworksgoing on out in the yard. Flower
(12:08):
fireworks, yeah, we have areally good succession of things
that bloom on the property, butI really want to take a look at
that some more and see ifthere's some other places we can
put some things as well that aregoing to bring some pops of
color and joy all over becausethat's my favorite.
Trevor (12:22):
I want to work on those Bee balm, Bee Balm is a good
one. I'm gonna work on thosetree peonies, the yellow ones
that we have. Oh my God, thoseare so gorgeous. And maybe find
another spot for them that theycan be a little bit more
visible. They're just kind ofoff in the corner. And that's,
that's they need to be have likea spotlight pointed on them all
the time
Ellen (12:42):
That yellow orange color is so unique and beautiful, you
don't expect it from a peony ortraditional? Yeah, I would say a
modern peony. What people see?
Obviously, that coral color,like people love the pinks, but
this is a yellow, the tinge oforange. It's gorgeous. It's like
a dinner plate. It's just hugeand beautiful. So yes, obviously
for me, always more flowers,just
Trevor (13:02):
flowers in general, flowers everywhere. The 600
tulips is not enough, because itonly lasts for so long.
Ellen (13:08):
That's right. I have nothing to say. 600 maybe next
year be 1000 I don't know,
Trevor (13:13):
1000 tulips?
Ellen (13:14):
There is nothing better than looking out in the
dreariness of late February,early March, and seeing this
riot of color in the garden thatis, those tulips,
Trevor (13:26):
maybe one of the things we should think about doing is
work on the greenhouse a littlebit.
Ellen (13:31):
Now, the list is getting long. We haven't even talked
about the table intentions.
Trevor (13:35):
Oh, the table intentions are getting real. Dear friends,
we have some we have some verymajor happenings. Big Table
intentions,
Ellen (13:44):
yeah, tell us a little bit about that. Mr. TC,
Trevor (13:46):
well, we at Stonebrook have decided to redo the
kitchen.
Ellen (13:51):
Dun, dun, dun.
Trevor (13:52):
At Stonebrook now that redoing the kitchen is also
basically moving the kitchenentirely from the room which it
is currently in in the center ofthe house, another room which is
currently a dining room in thehouse,
Ellen (14:08):
which was originally, we think, bedrooms, a bedroom,
Trevor (14:12):
yeah, which was then converted into an office,
offices, which was then sort ofjust a big table put in and
turned into a Dining Room,right?
Ellen (14:20):
Not real, functional space, no air conditioning,
because you didn't need that inConnecticut in 1930 Correct? You
do now.
Trevor (14:28):
It's a much warmer place here than it used to be, but I
think that the new kitchen isgoing to have some lovely
features.
Ellen (14:37):
Yes, we're not going to share all of them yet. We're not
going to share them. No, oh,we're going to save them. That's
going to be part of someupcoming content.
Trevor (14:46):
Because I think the some of the I will just say that some
of the preservation of saidplants may benefit from our new
space.
Ellen (14:54):
Our goal with this renovation is to ensure that
we're keeping we always saidwhen we purchased this. Property
that we were going to bestewards of this we're not a
historic home. We're notregistered as a registered
historical The home has deep,abiding history in our town, and
obviously Alice Delmar, who whoowned the home and poured so
(15:14):
much love into it, we reallywant, in this time that it's our
home to be putting that samelove and attention into it so
that it continues to age asbeautifully as it has with all
the previous owners that havehad it before. We're number four
only, right?
Trevor (15:29):
We are the fourth owners of the home, yes, since it was
done created in 1932 Yeah.
Ellen (15:36):
So it is exciting and also a big responsibility to
make sure that things we'redoing are in character with the
house and of its history and butit's also exciting. It feels
like a real opportunity. And Iknow we're nervous we're up to
the chat, but we're excitedabout it as well.
Trevor (15:54):
We are also crazy people, we are addicted to
production, so this should seemlike a totally normal process
for us,
Ellen (16:01):
and we're fully prepared that any amount of months they
say it's going to be will bedouble that.
Trevor (16:05):
I better not be double, because it'll be Christmas that
will be sitting here havinganother late year podcast in our
next season, and saying, well,the kitchen's still not done
yet, which I would really likeit to be done by then.
Ellen (16:19):
yes. That is, that is, we'll say that is a resolution.
You don't like them, but inthis, in this circumstance, to
have a resolution for realpairing, we're preparing for it.
And if anyone has any ideasaround how you peacefully manage
a kitchen renovation for afamily, please give us all your
tips. We are here to receivethem gratefully, but we're
(16:43):
trying to do some things. We'reprepared. We were very we've
talked about this a lot. We werevery intentional in our
preserving of the garden thisyear and creating some healthy
dishes that are in our freezer.
So that was also with this ideaof the renovation and be able to
pull things up that were goingto be easy to reheat our
freezers. Yes, multiplefreezers.
Trevor (17:04):
Thanks to Genee, we've got so many, multiple freezers.
Ellen (17:09):
So it is that'll be, that's a big one, That's right.
Trevor (17:13):
yeah, that's gonna be, that's gonna take a big impact
on our table in 2025, and I'mgonna make a table, an actual
table,
Ellen (17:20):
yeah, talk a little bit about that.
Trevor (17:22):
I have decided we have a beautiful beach tree that has
sadly passed on in the front ofthe property, which was kind of
on its last legs when we startedhere. Yeah, we did everything we
could. Yeah, we did everythingwe could, but it things age and
pass on. And it's 100 plus yearsso, but it is tall and straight
(17:42):
and gorgeous. So it will beturning into our new dining room
table, which is very exciting,not all of it, by the way,
because that's a lot that wouldbe a very thick dining room
table. And I know I have apropensity to take large,
humongous pieces of wood thatalso need to be moved by crane.
Ellen (18:03):
And listeners, he's referencing a mantle that was
built in our home in California,basically on the arrival of our
daughter so we could hang ourChristmas stockings. Large.
Trevor (18:14):
That's a big one, which we talked about, but I think
it's a it's a lesson, but thereis a moderation. I work on it.
I'm going to work on it. That'san intention. We still need to
have a large enough place table,place settings so that we can
have a nice, big dinner party inour new dining room, which is
also coming with thisrenovation. That's right. Also I
(18:35):
have to be able to make surethat I can move said pieces, and
I have a portable sawmill thatis coming that will help to mill
this right on site, andhopefully cranes will be less
needed than I think they will.
Is that your march project?
That's the February Mark Marchproject. February March. I love
it. Yeah, that's gonna beexciting. I'm excited some kiln
(18:58):
drying may be needed and somebut it'll be lovely, 12 foot
boards and so
Ellen (19:05):
incredible it'll be from the property, which is from
here. Well, so many of thethings that were in the house
when Alice built it, or thingsthat were made from the land
around us, or on the land aroundus, from iron forging to glass
black, get into iron Forge. Oh,I know you're gonna get into
iron forger. I need some hooksin the new way to oblige you.
(19:27):
Yes, I know. So that is alsoWow. Our list is getting long.
Trevor (19:31):
It's a long but that's why these are intentions,
resolutions. You can't peg me onneeding everything
Ellen (19:39):
and I think this is the important part about the
resolution versus intentionconversation, when you focus on
something has to be done. We allhave things that we have to do.
The list as an adult is endless,but when you're setting goals
and dreams, flexibility in thesethings is really important to
not steal your joy in theprocess. Because. That's the fun
(20:00):
part. Is imagining all thethings the way you want them to
be, and putting the work intomaking it happen. But it doesn't
have to all happen overnight,something you and I sometimes
have trouble with, by the way,
Trevor (20:12):
sometimes have trouble with? That's like our number one
trouble. That's ourprimarynumero uno problem. Why
is this? This is not apsychology podcast, but it is
true. I think that's the thing,that it's the journey and
enjoying the journey along theway. Because if you do look
(20:35):
back, and we even we look backon our year at Stonebrook, just
this year, incredible year ofvegetables and growing and
Ellen (20:47):
work around the property that the patio outside the
storage walkway, we reappointedall of the stone in the back
decks that was this year, rightbeginning of this year,
Trevor (20:59):
yeah. I mean, we just did a lot of work. We did all
over the property. We startedthis amazing podcast, yeah, we
met a lot of amazing people. Wereally did. We interviewed a lot
of really fantastic friends,
Ellen (21:13):
and oh my gosh, we're not gonna talk about it yet, but
on our podcast, intentions for2025 we have some incredible
people lined up.
Trevor (21:21):
Yeah, we have some amazing guests that are very
exciting. We've got some fieldtrips. We've got some we're
taking it to a whole new level.
All sorts of folks are going tocome around and join us.
Ellen (21:34):
But I think you bring up an important point, and as we're
closing out 2024 and looking at2025 an intention that I have
for us and our family is to alsomake sure that we're making time
for rest and to breathe and toenjoy this incredible life that
(21:54):
we've built together
Trevor (21:55):
that is just needed more than anything else. I think,
Ellen (21:58):
yeah, I think we all need that a little bit, don't
we?
Trevor (22:01):
I think so. I mean, that's kind of why we moved
here, that's why we started thispodcast. That's why we spend so
much time in the garden, becausewe're trying to find those
moments, because life isincredibly hectic. There is so
much to do. Yeah, being an adultis hard. Yes, maybe we realize
that out there, being an adultis incredibly challenging
(22:23):
parenting.
Ellen (22:23):
Working, add a child to it. gardening.
Trevor (22:25):
Oh my goodness, yeah, it's a lot. So I think trying to
find those moments of joy andhappiness and rest is well said.
We need more of that.
Ellen (22:36):
Yeah. So I think that's an intention I have, for sure,
good intention, create thespaces for those moments to be
able to happen. Because ifyou're not intentional about
creating those spaces,
Trevor (22:47):
life will run over you roughshod and fill every second
of your day with nonsense.
Ellen (22:54):
well, I've really loved every minute of doing this
podcast this year, and I'm soglad that was our intention to
do in 2024
Trevor (23:03):
and we did it and we did it. So that was an intention.
That's a check mark,realizedcheck yay.
Ellen (23:10):
And I can't wait to see what comes up in
Trevor (23:12):
2025 it's gonna be lots of good stuff. We can't wait.
Ellen (23:15):
Thanks for being with us and having a seat at our table.
Trevor (23:19):
Yard to Table is a production of Macrocosm
Entertainment. Don't forget torate us and subscribe anywhere
you listen to podcasts and fortips and more information,
follow us on Instagram@Stonebrookhouse.
Well, hello Ellen.
Ellen (00:16):
Well, hello Trevor.
Trevor (00:17):
Here we are back at the table for our very last episode
Ellen (00:23):
of 2024
Trevor (00:25):
Yes, not, ever,
Ellen (00:26):
not ever,
Trevor (00:26):
not ever.
Ellen (00:27):
No, we're having too much fun.
That would be sad. We're havingtoo much fun
Trevor (00:31):
last episode of 2024
Ellen (00:33):
it's amazing how quickly that came.
Trevor (00:35):
We feels like we just did our first episode, but it
wasn't our first episode, we'redoing quite, quite a lot of a
many episodes. That's a word, bythe way, quite a lot of a many.
Ellen (00:47):
It is. It is. It's a good one. It's a new word. Maybe
Trevor (00:50):
it is. But that's what we're about here. We're about
finding joy, creating, creatingour joy, coming up with new
things. I like that word thatI've already forgotten. I don't
even know what I just said twominutes ago or seconds ago, as
it may be,
Ellen (01:04):
that's okay. It's also that weird week between holidays
and New Year, and we're all alittle mushy in the brain. I
think during this time,
Trevor (01:15):
I'm mushy in other places as well, because of what
we have been eating, because nowthat we don't have the amazing
bounty of our yard, yes tosustain us, most of it's just
cookies. Oh, it's been a lot ofcookies. It's cookies and a lot
of other things that are equallydelicious, totally, but not
(01:36):
quite as health filled
Ellen (01:38):
it is. It's been heavy on the sweets I made the pad
Lova on Christmas Eve, which isit has some fruit on it.
Trevor (01:45):
It has fruit on it, no fruit in it, but at least there
was, there was mint, yes, therewas yogurt, and yogurt. These
are all good things.
Ellen (01:52):
These are good things on a delicious, crusty meringue.
But other than that, there'seggs in that, some protein and
sugar from chickens. So yes, wehave, when we talk about all of
that delicious eating, it tendsto have people come up with some
intentions around a new year anda new start. But we're not about
(02:15):
resolutions here at Stonebrook,
Trevor (02:17):
no, and still, not a big resolution. Person, no, I'm not.
You're much more of a like yousaid, an intentionality,
Ellen (02:23):
yes, intentions, hopes and dreams, setting goals,
Trevor (02:27):
finding our joy,
Ellen (02:29):
finding joy. Nothing that makes you feel that you're
losing, right,
Trevor (02:33):
like you're failing massively,
Ellen (02:35):
right? Setting yourself up for disappointment. There's
Trevor (02:38):
beetles for that, that's that's gonna come, squash
cucumberborers, squash borers. We're
gonna have a massivedisappointment throughout the
season. We don't need to startour season with nastiness now.
Ellen (02:49):
Yeah. So I think, as we reflect in this time, intentions
are the are the goal, yes. Andthinking about that for 2025,
already, oh my gosh. I know it'scoming up. And I have intentions
for the yard. I have intentionsfor the table. I love it. Yard
end table, all of it, it's justgood. I'll start. You can start.
(03:10):
So why don't you start? I'llstart. So for the yard, my
intentions, dreams, some goalscoming out of the holidays. I
was actually texting withChristina Koether from state of
Nomatica in creating a lot ofour seasonal displays inside the
house, I realized that we don'thave enough winter berry on our
(03:32):
property. That's we have, likeone
Trevor (03:35):
one tree, yes, which produced close to zero winter
berries.
Ellen (03:39):
And I didn't want to take it from the bird, a bush.
It's like a bush, bushy tree.
Yeah, Bush. So of course, now Iwant to plant you want a lot of
winter. I do because that thebirds need it. That's a very
important source of food forthem, native. And also it's just
gorgeous in the mantle and inwreath displays and things of
that sort.
Trevor (04:01):
We've done a lot of it, and it really does add that
lovely pop of color.
Ellen (04:05):
I love a red
Trevor (04:06):
that's listeners, if you know Ellen at all. Red is her
spirit color that's very true.
And there's a lot of it,
Ellen (04:16):
and it's holiday, so it's, it's a necessary so
Winterberry. And of course, wehave our tradition of sharing
bayberry candles with ourfriends and family, and I'd like
to plant some bayberry bushesnow, I know it takes a lot of
babies to actually make acandle. I'm not saying we're
going to go into Stonebrookproduction of candles,
Trevor (04:35):
even though we talked about that just recently, future
intention and we had a wholediscussion about how much it
takes. It's a lot. A la maple.
Yes, it leaves you undeterred.
Ellen (04:47):
Well, I'm going to start with a couple of bushes,
because, again, I think thatwould be super fun to
incorporate into our Yuletide.
Trevor (04:55):
I'm all about building for Yule for next year, always.
Ellen (04:59):
And I love having.
Seeing that brightness, thebayberries are more of a bluey
green kind of color and but Ilove the idea of having that
because this time of year itstarts to get a little brown, a
little drab, which I'm also veryexcited that I have the tulip
subscription coming fromChristina in January. So once a
week until our tulips grow, Iwill have those from her 500
(05:20):
tulips. Yes, think it might besix.
Trevor (05:25):
Is it six? Oh my gosh.
Okay.
Ellen (05:30):
Well, there are a couple extra ones that looked really
cool, so I wanted those. Wantedto plant those. But anyway, so
those are my initial thoughtsaround garden intentions. But
then I'm getting into the actualgarden of it all. I have some
thoughts too. But do you haveany
Trevor (05:42):
Well, our my garden intentions for the yard are also
around the space itself. So I'vebeen also thinking about we've
had a really interesting idea todo a mural on the wall,
Ellen (05:57):
yes, and this was the one where we were going to make
it something that we could useto show what we were planting.
Trevor (06:04):
Yeah, so the idea was to sort of create a bigger map on
the wall, under our overhang, onthe storage barn. On the storage
barn, we have this area thatwe've developed, and we're
continuing to build out as ourgarden workshop and our area to
really help with all of thetools. We put that vintage sink
in. We've got a lot of differentthings that we've been building
(06:25):
out. A whole new patio backthere with some blue stone from
the property, vintage blue stonethat we got, yep. And then on
this big wall is really a hugecanvas to be able to play with.
We decided that we were going todo a mural of the garland, yeah,
basically all the beds, so thatwe can change it as we change
them seasonally, as we rotatethe beds. If we're putting
(06:47):
garlic in a different space thanwe put it last year. It's a sort
of chalkboardy idea.
Ellen (06:52):
Well, you know, I had an inspiration from another place
for that. I can't claim thatthat was an original idea that I
had, just like in all of this. Iwas inspired by something I saw
somewhere else. Do you remember?
Trevor (07:04):
Yeah, it was at Beach Plum Parm, that's right, in
beautiful Cape May New Jersey.
That's right, those, those finefriends down at beach plum they
are doing it right. That is, weshould try to get them on the
podcast.
Ellen (07:16):
We should, and that is, we should try to beauty in their
yard. Yeah, and
Trevor (07:21):
stay there and then also see if they'll join us.
Ellen (07:26):
I would love that idea.
That's a podcast intention.
Trevor (07:29):
That is one of our yard to table podcast intentions, I
love it to talk to the amazingproprietors of Beach Plum Farm
down there
Ellen (07:38):
absolutely and they had this incredible mural of their
lands and their gardens, andthey would change it out for
when, seasonally, for what theywere planting. I think that's
just a really lovely way ofhaving this visual of what's
going on and and updating it. Sowe're going to expand upon that
for Stonebrook, because
Trevor (07:58):
good ideas are worth stealing. That's right. That's
right. Somebody once saidimmature artists borrow and
mature artists steal.
Ellen (08:11):
Who is that quote attributed to? I wish I could
remember,because I have listeners tell us
Trevor (08:16):
no clue who said that, but somebody said it probably
like Picasso or Einstein, orsomebody.
Ellen (08:23):
Well, I love the idea of the mural and the plot of our
land. I love this idea anythingelse that you had on your
garden, yard list of intentions.
Trevor (08:32):
The other thing I really wanted to do, just because it's
getting a little wobbly, isbetween the peonies in the
center of our garden, we have aan old blue stone pathway, and
it's kind of as the frost heavecontinues to sort of push things
around here and there. I reallythink it's getting a little too
(08:54):
wide, I agree. So I need to sortof just tighten up the screws
little loosey goosey,
Ellen (08:59):
yeah, make it a little more compact
Trevor (09:02):
and correct. Yes, we've taken some other areas out. We
added a whole section in ofpasta on the side next to one of
our barns, and out of that camea lot of stone. Yes, when we dug
up that small little area
Ellen (09:16):
Any time you dig in Connecticut, anytime you're
gonna get some stone, nationalcrop of Connecticut is rock,
that's right, and lots of italso planted some giant Allium
over there.
Trevor (09:26):
Oh, that's the giant Allium patch, that's right,
Ellen (09:29):
yes, I cant wait
Trevor (09:31):
one of the other intentions we'll have for those
alliums is to dry them.
Ellen (09:35):
Yes. That is also an inspiration, aka steel to steel
from Christina, that's right,she did it, although she did
give me permission to be tellingme how to dry them.
Trevor (09:45):
That doesnt count.
Really, I would prefer to justhave this essentially be, I
don't
Ellen (09:50):
know who said this quote, but imitation is the
sincerest form of flattery. Weknow that's out there. Someone
said it,
Trevor (09:55):
somebody did say it.
That's true. I think LionelTrilling was the one. Have said
the immature artists borrowquote, oh,
Ellen (10:04):
that renown inker, Lionel, Trilling, anybody
anyway? Any background on thatone? Do
Trevor (10:11):
you see? None, none at all. It's a that's a straight
Google lookup. But I've said ita lot. I love it. Oh, no wait,
Picasso might have said it also.
I said, Picasso. You did, Ithink I said, I said, Picasso or
Einstein, one of the other,close, anyway, yes. So that's,
that's the goal is to try tomake things a little bit tidier.
We have so many different stonewalls, outcroppings, patios,
(10:35):
it's amazing, and it'swonderful, but it is a constant
need of maintenance throughoutour different systems to just
try to keep it up and havethings not fall down all the
time.
Ellen (10:49):
We like it a little wild, but it needs to be
maintained wild,
Trevor (10:53):
correct. It's a little bit more tidy than it, than than
messy,
Ellen (10:56):
yeah. And the other fun part this time of year is really
thinking about the laying out ofthe garden, what we want to
plant in 2025 what we're goingto put in those beds, things
that were successful from thisyear. Obviously, we had an
amazing we talked about thisamazing year for tomatoes. More
always for me, how do I fit moreflowers in?
Trevor (11:15):
I think we need to build a whole nother section for you,
just for flowers,
Ellen (11:20):
yes, and kitchen herbs, I want to have a separate bed up
by the house, a little closer tothe house for some kitchen
herbs. That's another intention,because we have a great patch,
obviously, in the garden, butjust even being able to walk out
and grab some will be is justwhen you're busy and you're
fast, you know, that's a that'sa good thing to have.
Trevor (11:39):
But I think the intention should be the
opposite. We should probably tryto put the kitchen herbs further
away to get us more time in thegarden as much as possible.
Ellen (11:47):
And really, I mean, that is what we have now, and it's
wonderful. But, you know, toomany herbs can you have too many
herbs? I don't think you canreally commute. I don't think
you can. So, yeah, that likethat idea. That'll be fun to
start to think about that, howit all lays out and have some
more ongoing flower fireworksgoing on out in the yard. Flower
(12:08):
fireworks, yeah, we have areally good succession of things
that bloom on the property, butI really want to take a look at
that some more and see ifthere's some other places we can
put some things as well that aregoing to bring some pops of
color and joy all over becausethat's my favorite.
Trevor (12:22):
I want to work on those Bee balm, Bee Balm is a good
one. I'm gonna work on thosetree peonies, the yellow ones
that we have. Oh my God, thoseare so gorgeous. And maybe find
another spot for them that theycan be a little bit more
visible. They're just kind ofoff in the corner. And that's,
that's they need to be have likea spotlight pointed on them all
the time
Ellen (12:42):
That yellow orange color is so unique and beautiful, you
don't expect it from a peony ortraditional? Yeah, I would say a
modern peony. What people see?
Obviously, that coral color,like people love the pinks, but
this is a yellow, the tinge oforange. It's gorgeous. It's like
a dinner plate. It's just hugeand beautiful. So yes, obviously
for me, always more flowers,just
Trevor (13:02):
flowers in general, flowers everywhere. The 600
tulips is not enough, because itonly lasts for so long.
Ellen (13:08):
That's right. I have nothing to say. 600 maybe next
year be 1000 I don't know,
Trevor (13:13):
1000 tulips?
Ellen (13:14):
There is nothing better than looking out in the
dreariness of late February,early March, and seeing this
riot of color in the garden thatis, those tulips,
Trevor (13:26):
maybe one of the things we should think about doing is
work on the greenhouse a littlebit.
Ellen (13:31):
Now, the list is getting long. We haven't even talked
about the table intentions.
Trevor (13:35):
Oh, the table intentions are getting real. Dear friends,
we have some we have some verymajor happenings. Big Table
intentions,
Ellen (13:44):
yeah, tell us a little bit about that. Mr. TC,
Trevor (13:46):
well, we at Stonebrook have decided to redo the
kitchen.
Ellen (13:51):
Dun, dun, dun.
Trevor (13:52):
At Stonebrook now that redoing the kitchen is also
basically moving the kitchenentirely from the room which it
is currently in in the center ofthe house, another room which is
currently a dining room in thehouse,
Ellen (14:08):
which was originally, we think, bedrooms, a bedroom,
Trevor (14:12):
yeah, which was then converted into an office,
offices, which was then sort ofjust a big table put in and
turned into a Dining Room,right?
Ellen (14:20):
Not real, functional space, no air conditioning,
because you didn't need that inConnecticut in 1930 Correct? You
do now.
Trevor (14:28):
It's a much warmer place here than it used to be, but I
think that the new kitchen isgoing to have some lovely
features.
Ellen (14:37):
Yes, we're not going to share all of them yet. We're not
going to share them. No, oh,we're going to save them. That's
going to be part of someupcoming content.
Trevor (14:46):
Because I think the some of the I will just say that some
of the preservation of saidplants may benefit from our new
space.
Ellen (14:54):
Our goal with this renovation is to ensure that
we're keeping we always saidwhen we purchased this. Property
that we were going to bestewards of this we're not a
historic home. We're notregistered as a registered
historical The home has deep,abiding history in our town, and
obviously Alice Delmar, who whoowned the home and poured so
(15:14):
much love into it, we reallywant, in this time that it's our
home to be putting that samelove and attention into it so
that it continues to age asbeautifully as it has with all
the previous owners that havehad it before. We're number four
only, right?
Trevor (15:29):
We are the fourth owners of the home, yes, since it was
done created in 1932 Yeah.
Ellen (15:36):
So it is exciting and also a big responsibility to
make sure that things we'redoing are in character with the
house and of its history and butit's also exciting. It feels
like a real opportunity. And Iknow we're nervous we're up to
the chat, but we're excitedabout it as well.
Trevor (15:54):
We are also crazy people, we are addicted to
production, so this should seemlike a totally normal process
for us,
Ellen (16:01):
and we're fully prepared that any amount of months they
say it's going to be will bedouble that.
Trevor (16:05):
I better not be double, because it'll be Christmas that
will be sitting here havinganother late year podcast in our
next season, and saying, well,the kitchen's still not done
yet, which I would really likeit to be done by then.
Ellen (16:19):
yes. That is, that is, we'll say that is a resolution.
You don't like them, but inthis, in this circumstance, to
have a resolution for realpairing, we're preparing for it.
And if anyone has any ideasaround how you peacefully manage
a kitchen renovation for afamily, please give us all your
tips. We are here to receivethem gratefully, but we're
(16:43):
trying to do some things. We'reprepared. We were very we've
talked about this a lot. We werevery intentional in our
preserving of the garden thisyear and creating some healthy
dishes that are in our freezer.
So that was also with this ideaof the renovation and be able to
pull things up that were goingto be easy to reheat our
freezers. Yes, multiplefreezers.
Trevor (17:04):
Thanks to Genee, we've got so many, multiple freezers.
Ellen (17:09):
So it is that'll be, that's a big one, That's right.
Trevor (17:13):
yeah, that's gonna be, that's gonna take a big impact
on our table in 2025, and I'mgonna make a table, an actual
table,
Ellen (17:20):
yeah, talk a little bit about that.
Trevor (17:22):
I have decided we have a beautiful beach tree that has
sadly passed on in the front ofthe property, which was kind of
on its last legs when we startedhere. Yeah, we did everything we
could. Yeah, we did everythingwe could, but it things age and
pass on. And it's 100 plus yearsso, but it is tall and straight
(17:42):
and gorgeous. So it will beturning into our new dining room
table, which is very exciting,not all of it, by the way,
because that's a lot that wouldbe a very thick dining room
table. And I know I have apropensity to take large,
humongous pieces of wood thatalso need to be moved by crane.
Ellen (18:03):
And listeners, he's referencing a mantle that was
built in our home in California,basically on the arrival of our
daughter so we could hang ourChristmas stockings. Large.
Trevor (18:14):
That's a big one, which we talked about, but I think
it's a it's a lesson, but thereis a moderation. I work on it.
I'm going to work on it. That'san intention. We still need to
have a large enough place table,place settings so that we can
have a nice, big dinner party inour new dining room, which is
also coming with thisrenovation. That's right. Also I
(18:35):
have to be able to make surethat I can move said pieces, and
I have a portable sawmill thatis coming that will help to mill
this right on site, andhopefully cranes will be less
needed than I think they will.
Is that your march project?
That's the February Mark Marchproject. February March. I love
it. Yeah, that's gonna beexciting. I'm excited some kiln
(18:58):
drying may be needed and somebut it'll be lovely, 12 foot
boards and so
Ellen (19:05):
incredible it'll be from the property, which is from
here. Well, so many of thethings that were in the house
when Alice built it, or thingsthat were made from the land
around us, or on the land aroundus, from iron forging to glass
black, get into iron Forge. Oh,I know you're gonna get into
iron forger. I need some hooksin the new way to oblige you.
(19:27):
Yes, I know. So that is alsoWow. Our list is getting long.
Trevor (19:31):
It's a long but that's why these are intentions,
resolutions. You can't peg me onneeding everything
Ellen (19:39):
and I think this is the important part about the
resolution versus intentionconversation, when you focus on
something has to be done. We allhave things that we have to do.
The list as an adult is endless,but when you're setting goals
and dreams, flexibility in thesethings is really important to
not steal your joy in theprocess. Because. That's the fun
(20:00):
part. Is imagining all thethings the way you want them to
be, and putting the work intomaking it happen. But it doesn't
have to all happen overnight,something you and I sometimes
have trouble with, by the way,
Trevor (20:12):
sometimes have trouble with? That's like our number one
trouble. That's ourprimarynumero uno problem. Why
is this? This is not apsychology podcast, but it is
true. I think that's the thing,that it's the journey and
enjoying the journey along theway. Because if you do look
(20:35):
back, and we even we look backon our year at Stonebrook, just
this year, incredible year ofvegetables and growing and
Ellen (20:47):
work around the property that the patio outside the
storage walkway, we reappointedall of the stone in the back
decks that was this year, rightbeginning of this year,
Trevor (20:59):
yeah. I mean, we just did a lot of work. We did all
over the property. We startedthis amazing podcast, yeah, we
met a lot of amazing people. Wereally did. We interviewed a lot
of really fantastic friends,
Ellen (21:13):
and oh my gosh, we're not gonna talk about it yet, but
on our podcast, intentions for2025 we have some incredible
people lined up.
Trevor (21:21):
Yeah, we have some amazing guests that are very
exciting. We've got some fieldtrips. We've got some we're
taking it to a whole new level.
All sorts of folks are going tocome around and join us.
Ellen (21:34):
But I think you bring up an important point, and as we're
closing out 2024 and looking at2025 an intention that I have
for us and our family is to alsomake sure that we're making time
for rest and to breathe and toenjoy this incredible life that
(21:54):
we've built together
Trevor (21:55):
that is just needed more than anything else. I think,
Ellen (21:58):
yeah, I think we all need that a little bit, don't
we?
Trevor (22:01):
I think so. I mean, that's kind of why we moved
here, that's why we started thispodcast. That's why we spend so
much time in the garden, becausewe're trying to find those
moments, because life isincredibly hectic. There is so
much to do. Yeah, being an adultis hard. Yes, maybe we realize
that out there, being an adultis incredibly challenging
(22:23):
parenting.
Ellen (22:23):
Working, add a child to it. gardening.
Trevor (22:25):
Oh my goodness, yeah, it's a lot. So I think trying to
find those moments of joy andhappiness and rest is well said.
We need more of that.
Ellen (22:36):
Yeah. So I think that's an intention I have, for sure,
good intention, create thespaces for those moments to be
able to happen. Because ifyou're not intentional about
creating those spaces,
Trevor (22:47):
life will run over you roughshod and fill every second
of your day with nonsense.
Ellen (22:54):
well, I've really loved every minute of doing this
podcast this year, and I'm soglad that was our intention to
do in 2024
Trevor (23:03):
and we did it and we did it. So that was an intention.
That's a check mark,realizedcheck yay.
Ellen (23:10):
And I can't wait to see what comes up in
Trevor (23:12):
2025 it's gonna be lots of good stuff. We can't wait.
Ellen (23:15):
Thanks for being with us and having a seat at our table.
Trevor (23:19):
Yard to Table is a production of Macrocosm
Entertainment. Don't forget torate us and subscribe anywhere
you listen to podcasts and fortips and more information,
follow us on Instagram@Stonebrookhouse.
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