Happy Cinco de Mayo! Margaritas and queso immediately come to mind. In San Miguel de Allende, Ann Dupuy created the ideal hacienda for celebrating this Mexican holiday. 

If you enjoy history, then check out the World Digital Library at www.wdl.org. An international digital library operated by the American Library of Congress and UNESCO, it features historical maps (such as the one below of Florida in 1584), an engraved portrait of Thomas Jefferson from the early 19^th century, a photograph of Abraham Lincoln taken during the Civil War, and the first novel (a Japanese work titled The Tale of Genji). 

The items have been scanned in their original language, but a brief explanation of the content and significance of each item is available in seven different languages. It’s amazing to look at the unique items that represent the different countries around the world. The World Digital Library hopes to promote understanding of other cultures with its 1,200 documents, rare books, music, and films, all with historical or cultural importance from cultures around the world, and the library will continue to add more items to its database.

All images from the World Digital Library

It's generally assumed (rightly) that the color navy blue got its name from the color of the uniforms worn by Navy sailors. But have you ever wondered why the Navy chose this dark blue in the first place? The answer hit me last week, when I was vacationing in Puerto Rico, with plenty of time to gaze out onto the ocean and wonder about such things. 

On a catamaran trip to the island of Culebra, I was mesmerized by the dark color of the water and thought that this had to be what prompted sailors as far back as the 1700s to adopt this as their signature color. 

 

Navy is often combined with red and white in fashion and nautical decor. While you can find all shades of blue used in this combination, I'm partial to a dark, almost black, navy. Suzanne Kasler created my favorite interpretation of nautical style in our 2004 beachside showhouse. With stripes, warm woods, propeller fans, lacquered red cabinets, and a porthole-like mirror, she evokes the feeling of being on a ship without making you feel like you've stepped into a July Fourth parade. 

  

 

 

I’m battling with a serious case of wanderlust. I think it has something to do with a little vacation envy that’s triggered when colleagues return to the office with a fresh-from-the-beach glow or neighbors whose newspapers pile up after a weeklong getaway.

I’ve decided to plan my own weekend escape and two hotels on my short list happen to be NEW properties that have a fabulous design pedigree: The Viceroy Miami designed by Kelly Wearstler and the Lorien Hotel & Spa designed by Vicente Wolf.

Last week I had the good fortune to find myself at a flea market. Rather than wander aimlessly, I set about hunting high and low for blue-and-white ginger jars, inspired by some of the lovely photos posted on one of my favorite design blogs, Anna Spiro's Absolutely Beautiful Things.

Anna, an Australian, loves fresh flowers even more than I, and her appreciation for blue-and-white wares reminded me of a story from our archives— a tablesetting story featuring contributing editor Peggy Sewell's amazing collection:

 
Southern Accents
January-February 2006
photographed by Ka Yeung

Shown above is a genuine treasure: the famed Hatcher trove of porcelain that was recovered from a shipwreck after eons under the sea.

Obviously, my flea market finds were not anywhere near as fine as the china shown here. But the three ginger jars I turned up couldn't be more cheerful. My garden's peonies and hydrangeas may be just contemplating a return, but I'll be ready once they're here.

Here's another photo of Peggy's amazing wares:

 

In the story, writer Rebecca Hawkins quotes Peggy as saying: "When I'm traveling, I always look for something unusual, like a tulipiere or an interesting teapot."

Now that I think about it, I was slightly further afield that day as well. Could it be that blue-and-white china, like travel itself, takes us out of the mundane and serves as a reminder of the great wealth of diversity in the wide, wide world? Is that why these patterns charm so many of us—young and old, modern and traditional? I'm not quite sure, but mine will always remind me of a sunny day in an old town, hunting and gathering for the fun of it, and inspired by an Australian designer with a penchant for flowers and beautiful things.