I am anything but a gardener. And I can only take the tiniest bit of credit for these beautiful radishes. The lion’s share goes to my husband. But I did water them occasionally. I made sure the weeds didn’t choke them. And, most importantly, I pulled them from the earth.

Yes, I’d like a Blue Vervain Watersboten on the rocks please. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? The bottle looks as though it’s from a different century, the name implies that it’s from a different country and it tastes as though it’s from a different world. These are subtle elixirs. Fragranced and smooth. SD Watersboten, based in Pennsylvania, is a purveyor of what they call Herbal Table Waters. These are drinks based on Angelica, Verbena or Rhodiola Rosea. They have a rarefied quality. And at almost $17 per 32 fluid oz., they will be served accordingly. But don’t you just love the bottles! More information here. Photographs by Richard Quindry.

I received a similar pair of these as a gift a couple of years ago. I laughed so hard when I opened the box. It was the last thing I expected to be inside. Looking for something special for dad? Well, your search may be over. These bread slippers are being shipped from Lithuania, courtesy of Mother Eleganza, so they might not make it here on time, in which case a voucher will have to do. The small ones are obviously for junior.

If one were to look at the dysfunction in our healthcare system through the lens of design, one could safely say that we are in deep deep trouble. I went to visit a close friend in the hospital this weekend, and I was aghast at all the cords and clip and tangles. There was absolutely no attention paid to aesthetics, much less usability, neither of which are insignificant or shallow, especially when one is ill or injured. My husband said it best: Hospitals aren’t designed for patients. They are designed for practitioners. I’m not even sure that is true.

About the size of a small loaf of bread, and surprisingly heavy, this little beauty sits on the windowsill in Pamela Mayer’s shop. It wouldn’t mean much to someone who doesn’t sew, but to Pam, an amazingly gifted clothing designer, this pin cushion is something to be treasured (maybe even guarded) and used. Every day.