About Boston’s Old State House: “Known today as the Old State House, this building was the center of Boston’s civic life in the 18th century and the scene of some of the most dramatic chapters in the lead-up to the American Revolution. Within these walls, Samuel Adams, James Otis, John Hancock, and John Adams debated the future of the British colonies. Just outside the building, five men were among the first casualties of the battle for independence, in what would later be known as the Boston Massacre. The Declaration of Independence was proclaimed from the balcony to the citizens of Boston in 1776.”

I love this old building. Boston’s Old State House stands in the center of the city’s financial district and even houses a stop on the city’s subway system, which makes it a place that thousands of people pass by and through every day. It is so cool to see this historic structure dwarfed by all the modern skyscrapers that surround it and appreciate the history of this great city.

If you have never been to Boston you must visit and be sure to walk the Freedom Trail, which connects the city’s Colonial and Revolution era historic sites, including the Old State House. There is no better time to explore Boston than in the summer, so plan a trip and help celebrate the 300th birthday of one of the city’s historic gems.

Help celebrate the 300th birthday of this great site and visit the Boston’s Old State House Museum here.

This recipe for Vanilla Extract is simple – it has one two ingredients, and one of them is bourbon. I’m in!

About the Bottomless Vanilla Extract recipe from Southern Living magazine: “Homemade extract is something every baker should have. It’s more flavorful and generally less expensive than store-bought versions. Cooking speeds up the infusion, but you can omit the process by letting the mixture stand an extra week. Then use it in frostings and baked goods.”

Find the recipe for Bottomless Vanilla Extract here.

Check out Southern Living magazine here.

FF: Red Retro Mini Cooler Fridge from Kalorik

 I love this Red Retro Mini Cooler Fridge from Belgian appliance manufacturer, Kalorik.

About the Red Retro Mini Cooler Fridge from Kalorik: “Collectors will love the RETRO themed detailing on this nostalgic vending fridge. Its red exterior features the Drink O Matic logo in polished chrome and the words “Ice Cold” below the open compartment at the bottom. The unit can hold up to twelve 12-ounce cans. To further evoke a nostalgic trip down memory lane, the fridge will dispense the beverage of choice at the push of a button vending-machine style. The unit cools up to 30 degrees F below the ambient temperature, and its thermoelectric cooling system runs quietly and efficiently, without any of the noise or vibration associated with compressor-style units. The vending fridge runs on 110-volt AC power for use at home or at the office, but can also operate using 12-volt DC power for tailgating parties or when entertaining on a boat.”

See all the fine Belgian-designed products of Kalorik here.

FF: The Bamboo (and totally awesome) Bicycles of Erba Cycles

So yeah, I guess bamboo bikes are a thing… but none are as cool as the bamboo bikes by the good folks at Erba Cycles.

About Erba Cycles: “The frame of the bike is made from a specific species of bamboo that is known for being light and incredibly strong. It is stronger and lighter than most alloy steels. Our frames are joined using either hemp or flax fiber treated with an epoxy-resin. Bamboo has been used for hundreds of years as a structural material for houses and is commonly used for scaffolding. We think that riding a bike made from a great, renewable resource like bamboo doubles your eco-consciousness. Perhaps, one of the best qualities of our bikes is the smooth ride quality. Bamboo, with its dense cellulose structure actually dampens road vibration and is noticeably smoother on the road than bikes made from the usual materials (steel, aluminum, and some carbon bikes ).”

Check out all the totally awesome bicycles of Erba Cycles here.

FF: Catacombs Black Diamond Fountain Pen

Fancy pens have always made great gifts. You can choose from any number of nice pens at all price ranges. However, you would be hard-pressed to find a pen as cool as – or as pricey as – the Catacombs Black Diamond Fountain Pen.

About the Catacombs Black Diamond Fountain Pen: “The Catacombs of Paris, created in the late 18th century refers to the underground ossuary holding the remains of 6 million people. Created by master artist-jeweler Philippe Tournaire. Fashioned from sterling silver and finished in black diamonds. ‘S.T. Dupont by Tournaire’ is engraved opposite the roller; Cast in solid .925 Sterling Silver; 48 Black Diamonds (2.78 carats) placed on the pen. Only 10 pieces released worldwide. Packaged in a custom Black Lacquer box.”

The $20K price tag for the Catacombs Black Diamond Fountain Pen may be a little much, so may I suggest a more humble alternative? Try the Paper Mate® InkJoy™ 100 Ballpoint Stick Pens – only $3.99 a dozen from Staples – sorry no diamonds.

The Catacombs Black Diamond Fountain Pen is available from Lighters Direct.

About the Maker’s Mark® Barrel Rollerball & Fountain Pen: “Crafted from a gorgeous chunk of a Maker’s Mark® White Oak whisky barrel stave—the Oak barrel wood looks amazing and comes with a certificate of authenticity—featuring your choice of either the extremely smooth rollerball cartridge or medium fountain pen nib with gunmetal accents. The magnetic cap posts securely at both ends for easy writing and storage. Its rounded styling allows the pen to rest snugly in your hand with minimal pressure from your fingers.”

This is a truly cool pen – not only does it have that Maker’s Mark bourbon chic thing going on, it is a good old fashioned fountain pen updated with the best technology. I would make this pen my every day pen, but it would make a nice gift on a special occasion.

The Maker’s Mark® Barrel Rollerball & Fountain Pen is available from fine retailers like Bourbon & Boots.

See all the cool thing available from Bourbon & Boots here.

In addition to the satisfaction that comes with finishing a long novel, I now can’t wait for the third and final installment in Mr. Follett’s Century Trilogy. Winter of the World, the book I just finished, is the second in the series and takes off shortly after where the first book, Fall of Giants, left off.

I loved Fall of Giants and the families and character Mr. Follett introduced us to within its pages as they navigate the early days of the 20th century through the First World War. In Winter of the World, we meet the next generation of the families from the first book and pretty much follow them through World War II to the brink of the Cold War.

About Winter of the World: Book Two of the Century Trilogy by Ken Follett: “Ken Follett follows up his #1 New York Times bestseller Fall of Giants with a brilliant, page-turning epic about the heroism and honor of World War II, and the dawn of the atomic age. Ken Follett’s Fall of Giants, the first novel in his extraordinary new historical epic, The Century Trilogy, was an international sensation, acclaimed as “sweeping and fascinating, a book that will consume you for days or weeks” (USA Today) and “grippingly told and readable to the end” (The New York Times Book Review). ‘If the next two volumes are as lively and entertaining as Fall of Giants,’ said The Washington Post, “they should be well worth waiting for.” Winter of the World picks up right where the first book left off, as its five interrelated families—American, German, Russian, English, Welsh—enter a time of enormous social, political, and economic turmoil, beginning with the rise of the Third Reich, through the Spanish Civil War and the great dramas of World War II, up to the explosions of the American and Soviet atomic bombs.”

I am a big fan of Mr. Follett, who I think is a master storyteller, and his deft hand at weaving multiple stories together in epic detail are on full display in Winter of the World. However, I have found that the middle book (or movie) in a trilogy can’t truly be appreciated until the series is completed. More often than not it turns out the second part of the series is the best, but until then it is just a lot middle.

There is no doubt that Mr. Follett has great plans for the final book of his Century Trilogy as he has at least one fan primed and ready.

Winter of the World: Book Two of the Century Trilogy by Ken Follett is available from Amazon and other fine booksellers.

About WohnGeist: “The WohnGeist furniture workshop was founded in 1991 by Stefan Senn and has been expanding continuously ever since. Since 1995 WohnGeist has been a regular participant in the adjudicated special exhibition held by form forum schweiz at the MUBA in Basel. As a result, numerous new developments in furniture design and the successful furniture-style kitchen ‘La Cucina’ have become cornerstones of the WohnGeist product range. The stool/table ‘Ecco’, introduced in 2003 as part of a new kitchen accessories range, was awarded the prize ‘Complimenti!’ by the jury of the trades fair Ornaris. Combining ecologically aware production with perfect design and craftsmanship is a daily challenge and source of pride for the WohnGeist team. The production staff are supported by professional administration and design aids.”

WohnGeist makes wonderful products like this Whiskeyschrank – translation = whiskey cabinet, which includes a built in humidor for your cigars.

All the translation I need is Whiskeyschrank = perfection.

Checkout WohnGeist here.

About Bee Raw Honey: “Bee Raw Honey offers raw, unfiltered, varietal honey for the American table. We source our honeys from family-owned apiaries across the country, and each variety is derived from a single floral source, giving it distinct color, flavor and aroma. We’re committed to making premium varietal honeys more readily available to food lovers everywhere. Most honeys you buy in the grocery store are highly processed, stripping them of their natural flavor and goodness. We’d like to introduce you to honey as nature created it: raw, real and so pleasing to the palate that you’ll put away the imported honey bear for good.”

I’ve ordered Bee Raw’s Buckwheat Honey: “Bee Raw’s Buckwheat Honey is a stout and complex honey. It can be compared to other sweeteners such as sorghum or molasses. Hints of mossy earth and a not-so-sweet composition combine to develop a malty flavor with a pronounced bright finish.”

See all the products of Bee Raw Honey here.

This recipe is simple: “Purée 1 small garlic clove, two 15-ounce cans chickpeas (rinsed), 1/2 cup plain 2% Greek yogurt, 3 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tsp. Sherry vinegar, and a large pinch of ground cumin; season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Top with olive oil, pomegranate seeds, and coarsely chopped fresh mint.”

It really is all easy at that, and you can play around with the ingredients if you have the basics. I mean, I don’t have, and have no intention of ever having, pomegranate seeds. But as long as you have chickpeas and yogurt you are pretty much good to go.

Find the Recipe for Chickpea-Yogurt Dip from Bon Appetit here.

Visit Bon Appetit’s great website here.

I saw this little guy peeking out from a table of junk at Todd Farm recently, and I just had to have him.

Seriously? Could you say no to this adorable face?

I am now on a search for a nice small succulent plant to complete this planter and make it perfect.

I just may redecorate my whole house to match him.

The fine folks at Rejuvenation have a ton of great products inspired by – or salvaged from – days gone by. However, it is their line of salvaged and recommissioned furniture that I like.

About the Salvage Furniture of Rejuvenation: “Our one-of-a-kind salvage furniture is constructed in our Portland workshop from found industrial machinery and reclaimed wood from Oregon. We select from vintage i-beam trestles, machine parts, and even streetlamps for the bases, and then scour our selection of reclaimed wood slabs to craft the tops. In most cases, this wood is from deadfall or “scrap” trees that would otherwise be pulped or chipped; in others, the wood is salvaged from old beams. When designing these pieces, we choose and place each piece of wood to best feature its natural characteristics – eccentricities of grain, high figure, burl bark intrusions, and the like.”

See all the great products of Rejuvenation here.

FF: The Audubon Bird Call from Hickorees

I have featured various bird calls in the past and for some reason I just like them. It is funny, as I really don’t care for birds themselves. Maybe I like bird calls because they are essentially tools designed to attracted birds so you can shoot them out of the sky. Pull!

Anyway, today I am featuring the Audubon Bird Call, a classic, which I found at Hickorees.

About the Audubon Bird Call from Hickorees: “The Audubon Bird Call is a classic, simple birdwatcher’s tool with a 60 year history. Invented by Roger Eddy in 1947, its success was immediate and its production ran parallel to Mr. Eddy’s other accomplishments: four published novels, several terms in the Connecticut state legislature, and maintaining a successful produce farm outside of Hartford. The Bird Call is made from cast zinc and birch wood in Rhode Island (the metal ring still reads ‘NEWINGTON CONN’ in honor of the factory’s original location). It doesn’t mimic specific birdcalls but rather creates a tweeting noise that curious birds recognize and investigate.”

See all the great product from Hickorees here.

FF: Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co.

I love just about everything there is about Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co.

I love their Radar Sconce: “Our Radar Sconce was inspired by a light originally used on an industrial parts washer. Utilitarian simplicity; we loved it. When sourcing parts, we stumbled upon a 1970s stamped electrical box from one of our East Coast vendors that had the vintage tooling but hadn’t used in decades. We crushed hard on all the stamped details, including a cross, risk-of-fire warning, and wattage rating on the canopy box face.”

I also like their Utility Stool: “Built to last, this industrial-strength, welded steel stool can be put to work in any room of the house. Crafted in the USA. Available in Persimmon, Sergeant Green, Machine Gray or Factory White.”

See all the wonderful products of Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co. here.

FF: The Reclaimed Wood Chalkboard Tablet from Cog & Pearl

Who needs an iPad when you can have the totally awesome Reclaimed Wood Chalkboard Tablet from Cog & Pearl.

About the Reclaimed Wood Chalkboard Tablet from Cog & Pearl: “Made from reclaimed oak, once part of an old steel mill in Philadelphia, leather that once belonged to a soldier’s spats in WWII, and chalkboard paint. The board is sanded smooth though may show signs of the wood’s prior use such as nail burn holes, nails, bug holes etc. The back and sides are finished with natural tung oil and the sides are beveled. There is a hole in the top for hanging. The optional reclaimed oak stand ($15) makes a perfect alternate home for a Chalk Tablet. This 1918 oak originated from the bleachers of Liberty High School in Northeast Philadelphia. This perfect list-sized tablet will replace any number of scraps on desktops, refrigerators, bedside tables etc. Each tablet comes with one Koh-I-Noor chalk pencil.”

See all the “handmade stuff” of Cog & Pearl here.

In the house where I am currently living – my parents’ old home that is being prepared to sell – there are several legacy dressers (bureaus, chests of drawers, etc.) that are remnants of our family’s bedrooms over the years. Many of these dressers are very plain wood pieces that have been painted multiple times. These dressers are very common so they are not really something that could be sold easily.

I have often thought that with a little time and ingenuity these plain pieces of furniture could be turned into standing works of art. I have seen many treatments for turning plain old dressers into something cool, but most of them involved a lot of work and considerable talent with paint. However, I recently came across plans for making a poster art dresser on the HGTV website.

About HGTV’s plans for Poster Art Dresser: “Give a boring dresser a fresh look by decoupaging your favorite vintage poster right on the front. Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza have some easy ideas for dressing up old furniture. They use French poster art to add serious style to a boring dresser, give a plain table a stunning mod design and chill out with a distinctive fridge that will look cool in any dorm room. Give a boring dresser a quick new look by sticking your favorite vintage poster right on the front.”

I have the dressers and plenty of decoupage, now I just need to find the right poster. Would my classic boyhood Farrah Fawcett poster work?

See how you can make a poster art dresser here.