Spring Rituals: Opening the River House

 Today's post is in partnership with STIHL.

The regular change of pace between the city and the river over the last few months has been a welcome escape. Now into our second year with this home, we’re quickly learning what it takes to officially “open it up” for the season in terms of maintenance.

Meet Me at Joe's?

Just the other day, Tim and I joked about how nice it would be to walk to Joe's Inn for breakfast — and it was in that moment I realized just how quickly our "normal" can change.

On Giving Grace in 2025

Midway into a bottle of wine on New Year's Eve, Tim and I began thinking back on all the cornerstones we could remember over the last decade — I'd moved back down to Virginia, Brandon had graduated high school (wait, did Stephanie too? Yes, wow and now she's married!), we'd brought Basil home, traveled to Hungary, moved into our current home and so on and so forth well into the night. We'd agreed to go dry for January again this year, so nearing the end of that bottle and indulging just beyond our norm, we got sentimental. We've been together a decade, but longer really. So much has happened over the course of our years together, yet some things stay the same, continuing to strengthen and grow. Love and relationships are funny like that. 

17Apart Holiday Gift Guide: 17 Gifts (Naughty or Nice!)

Each year we always ask our big kids to make and send a gift wish list shadoweocket电脑端 Thanksgiving so we can take advantage of the big sale weekend. It's one way we know we can get them something they really want and a few surprises while keeping on budget. This year, we've compiled a list of our favorite ideas to share. From those you know best to those that stump you every year, to unexpected hostess gifts and budget-friendly stocking stuffers — here's what we're loving (and buying!) this year.

And! Today many of these ideas are on super sale so you can stock up while staying on or below budget too.

For me, a real fire crackling into the night during the cold season is one of the coziest ways to spend an evening in. We knew we wanted to be able to enjoy burning fires as the weather turned at the river house and recently had the chimney updated to code so we could do exactly that. I even painted the hearth and firebox black to give the fireplace a modern update.

How To: We painted our fireplace at the river black!

The first time we stepped inside our river house — it was the initial viewing — I immediately knew I wanted to paint the fireplace hearth black, even before we decided to put an offer on the home.

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Over the weekend we welcomed in the first autumn-like Friday by picking up a box of our favorite oysters and lighting up the outdoor brick fireplace at the river house for a small roast. Tim prepared an array of toppings that we spread out on the picnic table and we indulged in oysters on the half shell, roasted oysters, Oysters Rockefeller and my personal favorite — fresh oysters with a homemade mignonette sauce. The sauce is quick to make with just 6 ingredients and fool-proof for serving with chilled oysters — recipe below!