Owning a farm and a home is a huge responsibility. I oversee the care of all my animals and gardens as well as the maintenance, safety, and upkeep of every house and structure on the property.
I have several buildings here at Cantitoe Corners, and the one I use the most is called the Winter House where I live. Recently, I decided it was time to replace some its sisal carpeting. For this task, I enlisted the help of our friends at Westport Carpet & Rugs in nearby Westport, Connecticut - they've been taking care of my carpeting needs for many years. This latest installation process took two days to complete, but everything was done neatly and efficiently.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
The team from Westport Carpet & Rugs arrived right on time with my new sisal carpets. They carried the rolls of carpet and carpet padding into the Winter House where they would be cut and serged on site.
The shop is located in Westport, Connecticut not far from my previous home on Turkey Hill Road.
Back at my Bedford farm, the old carpeting is carefully removed from the stairs. The life expectancy of a sisal rug depends on where it’s used and the carpet’s exposure to traffic, spills or damage.
After the old material is removed, the carpet tack strips are replaced. These strips are narrow lengths of wood used to keep the carpet in place.
There are many types of carpet padding for different areas of the home. Carpet padding serves as the foundation for the carpet. It provides cushioning underfoot but also provides stability, insulation, and noise reduction.
The best carpet padding will protect the backing on the bottom of your carpet and keep it from breaking down, thus prolonging the life of your carpet.
Here, the sisal is being cut to size, so spaces can be measured precisely. For most of the rooms, I use the same sisal. I like its durability, natural color, and coarse, slightly scratchy feel. Sisal comes from the long green leaves of the cactus plant Agave sisalana and is stronger than other natural fibers.
Once the padding pieces are cut they are installed first on every step.
This is a carpet edge serger machine, or carpet-binding machine. It is used to quickly and easily sew a border around the perimeter of a carpet.
The matching colored yarns are placed on spools and the machine wraps the threads over the edges.
The machine is equipped with little wheels so it can be pulled along as it sews, making a very neat edge. The serged corners and edges look neat and tidy.
Here, the carpet piece is placed on the landing and over the top step.
Dave works his way down the staircase, nailing the carpet as he goes.
A carpet knee kicker is used to stretch the carpet. The tool grips the carpet with a set of tines on the head and then pushes it into place.
This is a carpet installation chisel – a tool with a wide, flat blade used to tuck the carpet into tight spaces and secure it against the surface and in corners.
Here is a top view looking down on a lower landing.
Within a couple of hours, the stairs are done.
Then the stair rods are returned. Stair rods help to keep the carpet securely in place, but also add an elegant design element.
Extra pieces are never wasted. They are used for high traffic spaces to provide extra protection over the carpeting.
This sitting room, which is located between my foyer and servery also needs a new carpet. The team unrolls the old carpet and the padding.
Because this room is large, two pieces of new padding are needed to secure the carpet. This padding is very durable and long lasting. Tape is used to connect the two pieces together, but don’t worry, the tape never touches the floor.
Because the carpet is cut slightly smaller than the space to expose the wood floors, the area between the carpet edges and the walls must be measured several times. This carpet is about four-and-a-half inches from the wall along every side.
To help flatten the carpet, the edges are rolled in the opposite direction.
Although it is exactly the same as the previous rug, once it is down it totally freshens the space and gives it a nice, clean look. Now to put back the furniture.
I am always thrilled to get new pots for my growing collection of rare and exotic plants, especially when they are from one of my favorite potters, Ben Wolff.
Ben is the son of Guy Wolff, also a master potter, who I first met years ago during one of my many trips through Litchfield County, Connecticut, searching for antiques, plants, and ideas for my magazine, Living. I was so impressed by Guy's work, I became a regular customer - of both father and son. Now, I have the largest personal collection of Wolff pottery ever known. Ben works out of his home where he creates all his pieces by hand on a traditional potter's wheel. Earlier this week, Ben personally delivered another batch of vessels to my farm in two different sizes, each one so thoughtfully handcrafted.
Enjoy these photos.
Ben Wolff drove down from Goshen, Connecticut in Litchfield County to deliver a batch of beautiful gray pots. Here we are in my head house putting them all on the table. Ben’s pots are his own designs. He uses different clays, glazes and finishes making them different from his father’s.
My large greenhouse is filled with Wolff pottery. I’ve been using Wolff pots for years.
Every time Ben visits, he asks to walk through the greenhouse to see all the many clay containers he and his dad have made for me.
Here is one of his smaller orchid pots.
Orchid pots have holes primarily for aeration. The holes facilitate airflow to the orchid’s roots, preventing them from sitting in stagnant water.
Ben has made many orchid pots for me over the years in different sizes.
Here’s another one with a beautiful edged rim.
When I order pots, I always order a sizable amount to cover my planting needs for some time. Here’s a batch of orchid pots I purchased in 2023.
This Ben Wolff pot is planted with one of my Chinese money plants, Pilea Peperomioides.
This succulent is potted in a six pound vessel, the wet weight amount of the clay used. This standardized system for marking horticultural pots was adopted by Victorian potters.
And here is another pot from one of Ben’s older collections.
Ben has been crafting pots since 1999. Here he is at his potter’s wheel in his home.
He makes every pot himself and then ships them out with the help of his wife, Corinne.
Ben’s pots are sold personally and to stores around the country.
Most of these gray and terracotta pots under my greenhouse table are Ben Wolff pots just waiting to be potted with new plants.
Most recently, Ben delivered two-dozen gorgeous large gray pots.
I needed these bigger sized pots and these wide pan sized planters.
Each pot has a large drainage hole at the bottom.
On one side, Ben stamps his name and the wet weight of the clay – these had a wet weight of 10-pounds.
On the other side, he stamps my name. Thanks, Ben, I love every vessel and can’t wait to pot up my next plant. Please go to Ben’s web site to see what’s available and follow him on Instagram @benwolffpottery.
I urge anyone looking for a pet to check out local rescues and shelters - there are so many desirable and wonderful animals waiting for homes.
Last month, I heard about a young female Persian cat in need of adoption. She was under the care of Rock 'N Rescue, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Bedford Hills, New York, not far from my farm. I love Persians and have been thinking of adding another to my family. I made an appointment to visit right away, and that same afternoon I took her with me back to Cantitoe Corners - her new "forever" home.
Here are a few photos of Magnolia, enjoy.
Here I am in front of Rock ‘N Rescue, an animal adoption center and community cat and kitten therapy facility. This larger location opened last fall and is now able to accept more pets and expand its foster and adoption outreach.
Once inside, I was greeted by Julia, Rock ‘N Rescue’s office manager. The center is completely run by volunteers who give so much of their time to fostering animals and providing them with good transitional care while waiting to be placed in permanent homes.
This is Juli Cialone, founder and executive director of Rock ’N Rescue. She is holding Kit, one of the center’s two office cats.
And this is foster coordinator, Kathleen Birmingham, with Scooter, her cat and the facility’s therapy office feline.
In the back of the rescue is a quiet room for new adoptees. Cats are medically evaluated and temperament tested and then given quiet areas to decompress and acclimate to unfamiliar surroundings.
And while Rock ‘N Rescue focuses on placing cats, it also takes in dogs, birds, rabbits, and other small or exotic animals needing homes. All reputable rescue centers will conduct interviews, reference checks and contracts for the safety of the pet and its new guardian.
Potential adopters are able to use these “meet and greet” rooms to spend time with prospective companions.
As each pet is adopted, new guardians are able to pick toys to bring home.
Adopters and visitors are also able to purchase t-shirts and other pet supplies and gifts to help support the organization.
I was eager to meet the four year old female Persian I heard so much about in texts and emails. I was directed to the front “cuddle” room with large floor to ceiling windows. This room is used as a meeting area and animal therapy space.
Here she is, known as Angel, resting comfortably in the basket of a cat tree – so calm and content.
And here she is at her new home – my home. I renamed her Magnolia, and she is a most lovely silver shaded Persian with beautiful golden-copper eyes and a friendly disposition.
Magnolia lived in Manhattan, but after her previous owner passed away, she was transported to New York City’s Animal Care and Control Center and then to Rock ‘N Rescue.
Persians are known for being laid-back, charming, and affectionate. Magnolia loves people and greets all those she sees.
These cats are well loved for their regal appearance and are often referred to as the “aristocrats of the cat world.”
Males and females are medium-to-large-sized cats with round, flat faces, known as brachycephalic, and long, flowing coats.
Magnolia is also quite curious – roaming from room to room, upstairs and downstairs.
In addition, she is a very good eater and drinker – a sign of excellent health, especially when acclimating to new surroundings.
And, she also takes well to grooming. In fact, she purrs with every stroke. Persian cats with long hair require daily combing and brushing to prevent their fur from matting.
Right now, Magnolia is still going through a transitional phase – getting to know me and all the activity around my home, but she’s doing extremely well and will be a wonderful addition to my menagerie and my family. Welcome home, Magnolia.
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