AND THE WINNER IS...

Congratulations to everyone who has joined my Waterside Wednesday blog bandwagon.(fish fresco from Herculaneum)

In my mind, you are all winners, but the lucky number for the Little Fishie belonged....

... to Joan from Anything Goes Here.

I have lots more photos from the Amalfi Coast to share but I have a writing deadline looming for an article on an amazing High Country, North Carolina home for Timber Home Living, so adieu for now.

WATERSIDE WEDNESDAY: The Hamptons

I just got back from the beach late last night. Sharing photos from The Hamptons seemed like a perfect Waterside Wednesday post.

It was a great trip. I hawked my book, relaxed with friends, and ate scrumptious beach food.

We stayed in Amagansett (one of the towns on the south fork of Long Island, New York that is collectively called The Hamptons) at a former sea captain's house owned by my husband's best friend (since age three) and his wonderful wife Ashley.

Their home features gorgeous original details such as this carved newel post.

The house is located two blocks from the beach and a few blocks from the town's main street. Since I live where you need a car to go anywhere, it was a treat to be able to walk anywhere I wanted to go.

Most of the houses in Amagansett are covered in weathered wood shingles. It's hard to tell the historic cottages from newly built homes, because many humble dwellings have been added on to and remodeled through the years.
Many of the really huge oceanfront mansions, owned by the rich and famous, are hidden behind gates or tall hedges.
Originally a farming community, all but a few of the remaining barns are now guest houses.
Thanks to Hurricane Bill, the beaches were off limits to swimmers.
But our visit was far from a washout.
Ashley and I went shoe shopping! We each bought several deeply discounted pairs. These Progetti pumps came home with ME.
But women cannot live by shoes alone, so we also stopped to shop the end-of-season sales at Roberta Freymann (for cotton print beach kurtas), Purl By The Sea, a terrific yarn shop that is unfortunately closing in a few weeks, and Haven, Montauk's cool coastal home decor emporium.

Here's a peek at the beach glass candle cups I found there.

I'll be featuring more photos of the shop and owner Kathi Cogen's bright and breezy decorating tips on my Waterside Styles website next week.

On Saturday night we had dinner at The Laundry in East Hampton. Despite it being a hang out for the rich and famous, the only stars we sighted as I munched on their fabulous panko crusted crab cakes were the ones in the sky. They were highly visible from our table on the back porch.

On Sunday we had lunch at the Hampton Chutney Company. They specialize in dosas. These are large rolled crepes stuffed with the filling of your choice. But the real scoop was who sat about 20 inches from me at an adjacent picnic table...Paul McCartney.

Our friends said they run into him all the time. I was at the right end of our table and he was at the left one of his.

He looks fabulous, even close up. I need to know who his colorist is. It's the first thing you notice… his fab hair, then his boyish grin. No photo, alas. It would have been rude.

In the Hamptons, Paul is just one of the guys. He was lunching with his girlfriend Nancy and her teenage son. They planned to go on a post-lunch boat trip but Nancy thought the waves were too rough. Although the harbor looked fairly calm, if Paul had asked my opinion, I would have agreed with Nancy.

*** It's not too late to join Waterside Wednesday and win a little Italian fishie. I will draw one lucky linker on Thursday. Good luck. ***

WATERSIDE WEDNESDAY: SEASIDE GARDENS

Waterside landscapes try the patience of gardeners. Few plants can adapt to sun-baked sandy soil, harsh winds and salt spray.

Amazingly, there are plants, such as nasturium, day lilies, giant hibiscus and echinacea, that love, or at least tolerate, these conditions.

Choose hot color flowers. Unlike pastel blooms, red, orange and yellow blossoms stand up well to relentless sunshine.
Plant short annuals and perennials instead of tall ones. In windy locations stake everything!

Grow modern shrub roses and heirloom rugosa types (with deeply crinkled leaves.) Both thrive in coastal locations.

Add an evergreen backdrop to serve as a windbreak. This looks especially attractive contrasted against gray, silver and pale lavender plants.

Hold off erosion with hidden barriers and decorative edgings.
Place containers and windowboxes in sheltered locations. Filled with enriched soil you will be able to grow flower varieties that shun sandy soil and full exposure to the elements.

** A GREAT BIG GRAZIE**

A few days my BFF Natasha Burns of Artistic Creations sent me an email saying "Don't look at my blog until you get a package from me in the mail."

Since I love surprises, I complied -- but it was hard.

Yesterday, the package arrived and I was speechless. Natasha sent me a watercolor that she painted from a photo of a Positano view I posted.

How did she know it is my favorite photo of the entire ridiculous 1600 photos I shot. Natasha isn't just talented... she's a obviously a mind reader!

Even though I've barely unpacked from my trip to Italy, I'm hitting the road again. This time, I'm heading for The Hamptons for a waterside vacation that's closer to home. See you next week.

** WATERSIDE WEDNESDAY**

Please join the fun. Everyone who posts is entered to win a Little Fishie (sorry, leaving comments won't count for this giveaway but they are greatly appreciated) Can't get it together to post? Visit all of the site links and wish them good luck!

SENSATIONAL CERAMICS

Since ancient times, ceramic arts have been the mainstay of Vietri sul Mare on the Amalfi Coast.

What makes this pottery so special is the artistry of its makers who over hundreds of years have interpreted and reinterpreted traditional motifs to suit their personality and their clientele.

The local clay, rich in volcanic minerals, is used for everything from everyday dishes to public water fountains.

The vibrant glazes that reflect the colors of the surrounding landscape are employed on decorative tiles, wall plaques, murals, and architectural cupolas.

Tile embellished church steeples are the norm in Vietri and in nearly every town up and down the Amalfi coast.

One of the major – and most visible --ceramic factories in Vietri is Solimene. It was designed by Paolo Soleri, a student of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

In operation since 1947, Solimene’s landmark building features more than 20,000 pottery vessels embedded in the façade with even more pieces of pottery available for sale inside.

In the 1980s, Solimene’s classic motifs were synonymous with Vietri and Mediterranean ceramic patterns.

Today, it is run by the grandchildren of the original founder and is known for its excellent variety of tableware.

Pitchers are one of their specialties. They are exported worldwide.

But you need not go into a “ceramica”, as the local factories are called, to view local craftsmanship.

It's on display on every street corner, restaurant and windowbox.

Everywhere from the local fruit store to the town hall is decorated with painted tiles.

Some street plaques are religious in nature.

Some tilework is purely decorative.

Ceramics offered for sale frequently reflect Vietri’s proximity to the sea.

One of my favorite ceramica’s is Bottega di Vietri Romolo Apicella where I purchased my fish platter.

Homeowners from all over Italy travel to this two-story showroom to commission tiles for their kitchens, pizza ovens, walls, floors and gardens.

One of my other favorite spots to shop has as much to do with the location -- on a hill in Positano -- as with the exceptional colors of the plates, platters and kitchen basics.

Look at those sunflowers, grape clusters, and lemons!

*** WATERSIDE WEDNESDAYS***

Time flies! Tomorrow is Wednesday. To join in just post your own WATERSIDE WEDNESDAY entry and don't forget to link back to The Book Blog! I will add a link tomorrow morning.

Everyone who posts is entered to win a Little Fishie (sorry leaving comments won't count for this giveaway but they are greatly appreciated!)

And please visit all of this week's participants by clicking the Mr Linky box.

** BLOG DU JOUR**

Run right over to Things Created By Me for some great shell projects. If you gave access to beachcombed sea urchins, scroll down for a tutorial on the best way to clean them.

SUL MARE

This week's Waterside Wednesday blog is a natural for me. Only a week or so ago, I was enjoying life sul mare (on the water).(Positano beach)

While exploring Italy's Amalfi Coast, I stayed in Vietri Sul Mare, a little town famed for its hand-painted ceramics... (one of dozens of pottery wall placques in Vietri)

and its active fleet of small fishing boats.(fishing boats in Vietri's calm harbor)

Most mornings, I would stroll along the narrow streets of Vietri with my trusty camera. (a small farmhouse at the edge of town)

If I woke up early enough, I'd sometimes see the fishermen stocking up on food for the day or tending to a last minute equipment check. (a fashion-conscious fisherman dresses to match his nets)

But even if I decided to sleep in, I could see the water from my bed!(view from my hotel window)

*** WANT TO WIN A CUTE HAND-PAINTED FISH?***

Just join us by posting your own WATERSIDE WEDNESDAY entry this month and don't forget to link back to The Book Blog! (sorry leaving comments won't count for this giveaway but they are greatly appreciated!)

And please visit all of this week's participants by clicking below box.