10 Tips for Being a Great Houseguest

The summer season kicks off this Memorial Day weekend and that means there will be lots of weekend get aways.  Emily posts great, great granddaughter Lizzie has ten great tips for being a great house guest.

1. Nail down the dates of the visit before you go—and stick to them. When your hostess doesn’t provide specific dates (and, trust us, she doesn’t really want you to stay as long as you like) it’s up to you to pick them. Listen for subtle clues (“Well, I’ll be super-busy at work starting August 8”) and be respectful. If you would like to visit for a week but suspect your hostess can only handle a three-day visit, stay with someone else for the second half of your trip.

2. Be clear about who’ll be joining you. It may be obvious to you that you would never travel without your teacup Chihuahua; you should also let your hostess know that Tinkerbell will be staying as well. The same goes for significant others and kids. Don’t say, “I’d like to come visit” if you mean “I’d like to come visit with my husband, two kids and the ferrets.”

3. Pack smart. The contents of your entire home won’t fit in a guest room, so stick to the essentials. Bring just enough clothing for the duration of your visit plus a few just-in-case items, like something to wear to a nice dinner and a light sweater in case the evenings are chilly. Ask if you’ll need a bathing suit or any other outfits for specific outings. If you have kids but the people you’re visiting don’t, pack a few small toys or games to keep them busy.

4. Keep tabs on your stuff. You’re not staying in a hotel, so don’t treat your friend’s home like one. A good rule of thumb: When you’re not in your room, it should look like it did when you arrived. Put your clothes away, hang up your towel and straighten the bed every morning. Don’t abandon your slippers in the hallway, your sunglasses on the kitchen counter or your trashy novel in the den; take your toiletries into the bathroom when you need them and bring them back to your room afterward. If your kids aren’t old enough to wrangle their belongings, do it for them daily.

5. Follow the house rules. No shoes in the house does not mean that your flip-flops are an exception. Watch out for sneaky indoor cats when you come and go, and don’t give the dog people food, even if he’s making his I’m really hungry face.

6. Watch your children. “Just because you’re taking a vacation,” says Lizzie, “doesn’t mean you can take a vacation from parenting.” Talk to your kids—before you travel—about minding their manners and being neat. Let them know you expect them to pick up their clothing and offer to help carry groceries or set the table.

7. Don’t expect your hostess to do all the work. She may not want you to buy groceries or lend a hand at dinnertime, but it’s important to offer. Take care of little chores, like washing the few dishes in the sink or emptying an overflowing trashcan, when your hostess isn’t around.

8. Remember that your hostess is not a tour guide. Or babysitter. If you must see the local attractions, keep in mind that your hostess has probably seen them all (several times). Plan the outings on your own and take the kids with you.

9. Don’t expect the household to suddenly revolve around you. Vegetarians don’t need to swallow a hamburger with a smile, but they shouldn’t expect their hostess and her family to stop eating meat. If you’re staying with smokers, don’t suggest they take it outside; and you can’t ask pet owners to board their four-legged family members, even if they make you sneezy. Unless you have a potentially deadly allergy—which, by all means, you should alert your hostess to—it’s up to you to adapt.

10. Bring or send a thank-you gift and follow up with a note. Some of Lizzie’s favorites: a pretty bowl with fresh berries, a vase with flowers or candles in candleholders.

Click on the images for additional information or visit the Didriks website for endless hostess gift ideas.

These tips via womensday.com.

Secret Gardens of Cambridge

The 10th Anniversary of the Secret Gardens of Cambridge, sponsored by the Friends of the Cambridge Public Library, will be held on Sunday, June 13th from 10AM to 4PM, rain or shine. This self-guided tour includes access to nineteen private gardens, special green spaces, and historic locations throughout the city. Now held on alternate years, the Secret Gardens is a much-anticipated very special event that is not-to-be-missed by gardeners and all those who appreciate gardens!

This year in addition to the private gardens featured, there will be a variety of innovative gardens, including: a newly-launched sustainable garden project; an urban habitat certified by the National Wildlife Federation; gardens that support multiple ecosystems and recognize the importance of native plants; a garden that functions as outdoor classrooms for elementary school children; and a cooperative community garden.

Tickets will be $20 per person in advance and $25 on the day of the event. Starting May 15th tickets will be available at all Cambridge Public Library locations and the following Cambridge businesses:

Bonny’s Garden Center, 41 Bay State Road

Clothware, 52 Brattle Street

Nomad, 1741 Massachusetts Avenue

Porter Square Books, Porter Square Shopping Center

Rodney’s Bookstore, 698 Massachusetts Avenue

Tickets will also be available by mail. Checks should be made out to the Friends of the Cambridge Public Library and mailed to the library at 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02138, ATT: Secret Gardens. Please include a $3.00 processing fee per mail order. Mail orders will not be accepted after May 28th.

On the day of the event tickets will only be sold at the five businesses listed above (check Sunday hours), the Boudreau Branch Library, 245 Concord Avenue and the Hooper-Lee-Nichols House, 159 Brattle Street.

If you’re inspired to work on beautifying your own outdoor space visit our store or website to see our extensive line of Barlowe Tyrie outdoor furniture.

Celebrating Oiva Toikka Part 2 – Kastehelmi “Dewdrop” Glass Tableware 

Oiva Toikka designed Kastehelmi Dewdrop dinnerplate by iittala

Oiva Toikka, known for his BIRDS BY TOIKKA series, is a man who at age 79 is still on a continuous voyage of discovery. He is undoubtedly the creator of some of the most important, innovative and challenging works in glass to have been made since the 1960s. It was in 1964 that Toikka designed a range of utility glass tableware, named KASTEHELMI/DEWDROP.

This series proved to be a great commercial success from 1964 to 1988. Just recently, it has been re-introduced in the US to great acclaim. The reissue is available in clear and apple green plates and bowls with a rich pattern of dense bubbles arranged in concentric circles of irregular thickness. This truly unique series is available on Didrik’s website, and also in the store.
Together with the BIRDS BY TOIKKA, DEWDROP will allow you to truly appreciate why Oiva Toikka is considered one of the most distinguished and prolific Finnish glass artist-designers of this century.

iittala Kastehelmi Dewdrop with Teema plate

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