Marrakech: and a tale of dining at Peacock Pavilions

We love eating around here at Peacock Pavilions.  Oh yes, we do.  Nestled among the olive trees, we have our own organic herb garden (in French parterres) & a small but delicious kitchen garden (in raised beds), too.  

Here's a few things we've been cooking up:

Our own version of salade Nicoise.

Tomato tarte tatin with pastry made from scratch.

Bread pudding made withour homemade lime ginger & strawberry jams.

Oh, did I mention, we love drinking around here, too? (ahem, in moderation, of course)

PS I would love to hear what yummy things your whipping up in the kitchen, also.  Do tell!

Marrakesh: and a tale of decorating at Peacock Pavilions

Oh the weekend always seems to fly by so fast and then I find myself again at Monday.  This week I'm embracing Monday, and vowing to have a very productive and positive week.  {And of course, I want that for you, too.}

And on that note, hello from Peacock Pavilions!  A few pretty things to start the week from me to you.

Old amethyst glass decanter with a golden W, found in the Marrakesh souks & doubling as a vase.  Black and cream mosaic tile table, vintage pink silk caftan.

Hand carved Moroccan 8-sided tea table.  Commissioned sculpture by Caroline Douglas, wrapped with old prayer beads.  Leather coasters bought in Senegal and curtains made with antique Yemeni silverwork saris.

200 year old Persian Qajar painting, chain sconces from Zia Priven, dining room table made from antique Berber door, old large green bowl from Tamgroute, vintage patent leather chairs and bench from the Paris flea market, 3 glass mosque lanterns from Egypt.

Beaded Yoruba chair, lamp I made from an old beaded Afghan hat.

Egyptian hand blown bottles with crocheted shawls made by former Peacock Pavilions intern Dave Winward, part of my collection of black and white photographs.

 PS Does it all seem too ethnic and odd to you?

Marrakesh: and a tale of a Moroccan design retreat at Peacock Pavilions

Ah, lovelies......Hello.  It's been a whirlwind past week at Peacock Pavilions.  You see, there was a Moroccan design/shopping retreat at our place with an adorable group, that included Arianna, Bonnie, Carole, Erika, Fanny, Lenny, Natalie, and Tawney.  It was filled with pretty things to learn, do, see and eat in our olive grove and in my beloved city of Marrakech.  So fun!

When we talk Moroccan design around here, it's simply not enough to chat about it and look at it.  Oh no.  Why you have to be a part of it and it has to be a part of you............

And so it was that there was a Moroccan henna party on the rooftop of the Medina Pavilion at Peacock Pavilions.  

First there was pondering over what inspiration to choose.  Hmmmm....

 

 And then they were off! 

Oh!

Why everyone's henna looked as if it were made just for them....{And it was!}

And even the shyest and sweetest in the group were turned into Arabian princesses in a flash....!

PS Did you know that henna is believed to be able to transcend the skin and cleanse the soul.  Oh my!  *Magic*

PPS I am busily hatching plans for my next retreat at Peacock Pavilions {Moroccan design/shopping and wellness!}.  The last week of October.  Details soon to follow but let me know if you might like to join in!  I promise an amazing time you won't soon forget!

Marrakech: and a cyclical tale of gardens at Peacock Pavilions

When events don't go as planned, when actions are unthinkable, when the whole world seems to run amok....I try to remind myself that life come in cycles.  Treasures are snatched away and then gifts are given.  It rains for days and then it clears. Loves wither but others take their place and shyly flourish.  

And if we steep ourselves in sadness, in regrets, in recriminations, we lose our opportunities to see our beauties today.  Miracles, yes miracles, are everywhere.  Now and just around the corner.

There are hundreds of roses blooming at Peacock Pavilions. Two weeks ago, there were none. It's a sign of better things to come.

Please, for all of us.

To know that This, too, shall pass and believe in the power of dreams, read THIS.  You'll see just how far we've come.