A Deep South Home Tour & Pickled Shrimp

Well, hi y'all!

Purely by chance, last week I found myself in Augusta, Georgia on the very same day as the spectacular Summerville 34th Annual Tour of Homes. When my uncle said he needed to do a little work at the piano that Saturday afternoon, I leapt at the chance to wander through some of the most beautiful, original, hospitable, and eminently livable homes that ever graced this weary old world.

Here is a twin-gabled Dutch Colonial from 1911. Renovated over the years and now filled with an eclectic mix of contemporary art and antiques, the home resonates with a bold, fresh elegance inside, while the manicured grounds and the staid, traditional exterior of the home exude the old Southern order a la early 20th C. I was not prepared for the joy of discovering the lightness of mood and the treasures found as I wandered from room to room. A delightful home.

in the barrel-vaulted foyer looking left into the dining room; the

art on the right is Australian Aboriginal and the left is Miro

the traditional twin gabled exterior belies the eclectic and

energetic mix of furnishings and colors inside

a stroll around the backyard, anyone?

the living room features a Nordic farm chair circa 1800s, artwork by

Ricardo Azziz, David Silva, Salvador Dali, Roberto Matta and the

gorgeous circa 1700 Chinese carved cabinet

I love this painting; the artist I believe is Ricardo Azziz

beautiful marble fireplace flanked by brilliant blue wing chairs

creates a very welcoming scene in the library

artwork by Miro

a closer view of the pretty sofa in the living room

a Calder hangs happily over 18c English antique sideboard

in the dining room

the spectacular solarium features Aboriginal Australian art with

rattan furnishings and stunning tile floor overlooking the

back patio and gardens

the tile pattern on the front patio at the

entrance to the house; beautiful in its simplicity

the rear of the house seen from about halfway back in the gardens!

love love love the mossy old bricks of

this garden pathway!

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And now for a truly delightful authentically Southern

recipe for your next party:

Gigi's Pickled Shrimp Recipe*

*(does not taste like pickles!!)

2lb Shrimp

Sauce:

2/3 cup Oil

1/3 cup Vinegar

21/2 T Catsup

1 T Mustard

2 T Heinz 57 sauce

2 t Tabasco sauce

1 T Worcestershire Sauce

2 cloves Garlic

1 small Onion, chopped

2 T Pickling Spice

Boil and Peel Shrimp

Place Shrimp into sauce and let stand in fridge for 2-3 days

in a large ziplock bag

Remove from sauce and serve

You can stick each shrimp onto a cabbage with a toothpick!

Old fashioned, Southern, and VERY delicious, we have been

serving this dish for many years in our family!

Champagne is good with this!

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Thanks for stopping by! Kit