Saturday, April 30, 2011

Stacked Wood Architecture

I have zero information on this structure but I really love it. It would have been so much fun to play around with the woodpiles until they were perfectly arranged. The sod roof is amazing too. 

Breathtakingly Beautiful Bride

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

I'm Still Watching You


I'm Watching You


May Day Flower Cone Template | Free Download

Happy May Day

Wouldn't it be fun to leave one of these hanging May Baskets on the front door of a friend as a May Day gift? I might make some too. Here is the FREE TEMPLATE to download. Have fun.  

I didn't have to make any adjustments when I printed my template but the following note was included by the original author of this template. Technical Note: Please make sure your printing margins are set to .5 inches  (1/2 inch) or the template will not print completely. In your browser's Menu bar, select File -- Page Setup, and change the margin settings to .5. (The selections may be slightly different between browsers.) This template makes a cone measuring 6 inches high, and the opening diameter is 3 inches. This cone is perfect for holding fresh-cut flowers, small clumps of potted plants, flower petals, or small candies! I plan on reinforcing the hole on the reverse side with some heavy packaging tape I have on hand. You should apply the tape before poking/punching the hole.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Cotswold Cottage - Brick Rather Than Stone

I've always liked a nice brick cottage with a thatched roof. This one is perfect. Have a nice weekend.*

Blue Bike

I'm very excited about the good weather we are going to be having for the next 3 days. I was able to get my riding mower started very easily and actually enjoyed getting a head start on the back forty. I should finish tomorrow. Isn't this a pretty blue bike? It would be perfect for delivering May Baskets on Sunday. Have a wonderful fun weekend.*

Keep Calm and

I don't know about you but I can't stop thinking about the royal wedding. I loved Harry's messy hair so I couldn't resist making this poster. I can't believe I'm not even tired after waking up so very early to watch all the festivities live. Fairy tales really do come true.

Laundry Day

I can hear my washing machine on its final spin cycle at this very minute. I'll be hanging my laundry outside on this sunny, breezy day. I have a number of contraptions for drying clothes inside the house but none will be necessary today. Yay!

The Language of Flowers

I woke up this morning at 3:03 a.m. without the aid of an alarm clock. I watched every minute of BBC America's LIVE broadcast of The Royal Wedding in high definition on my PBS station with no commercials whatsoever. I loved the symbolism of the 6 field maple trees (humility) and the 2 hornbeams (resilience) decorating  Westminster Abbey.

You may read an 1892 edition of The Language of Flowers illustrated by Kate Greenaway by clicking here. You will be asked to type in a few letters first to protect this digital copy. Enjoy. 

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Queen Elizabeth's Drop Scones [Recipe]

I have all of these ingredients in my pantry and you probably do too. Will you be eating Queen Elizabeth Drop Scones while you watch the wedding tomorrow? They sound fabulous.

In 1960, Queen Elizabeth II sent President Dwight D. Eisenhower her recipe for Drop Scones which she had promised to give to him when he’d visited her at Balmoral Castle. Eisenhower was an avid cook.

Elizabeth II doesn’t seem like a likely cook, but she was an auto mechanic during World War II. She could probably stir up a batch of scones, if called upon in the line of duty.*

Cottage Reflection

What an absolutely beautiful little cottage on a pond in the woods. Wouldn't you love spending time in this darling outdoor sanctuary?

Palace Foot Guard Gets Royal Wedding Haircut

 
Just when you thought you'd seen everything concerning the royal wedding! Bet you thought those hats were made of bear skin too. It seems there are very special physical qualifications for becoming a Foot Guard at Buckingham Palace. 

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum - Boston, MA


The Gardner Museum's website is wonderful. Give it a few seconds to load and you will then be able to click around the background and explore the art, architecture, antiques, rooms and courtyard pictured above.
Start Exploring GardnerMuseum.org

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

A Wonderful Vertical Garden

I love this idea ~ A long vertical wood-framed planter hanging on an outdoor wall becomes an eye-catching garden filled with wool pocket planters.  

Royal Dog Collar



I made this illustrated quote using a scan from my antiquarian book, The Royal Book of Crests. I have no idea what breed of dog actually wore the collar from Alexander Pope. I was amazed that I could find an image so fitting for a Royal Dog Collar.

Crown Graphic for Royal Wedding Parties



Here is a nice crown graphic you might like to use for your Royal Wedding invitations, place cards, buffet food markers, etc.

Keep Calm and Watch the Wedding

The countdown has begun. What time will you be rising on Friday? Everything starts on my side of the globe and time zone at 3:00 am. I created this poster at the Keep Calm Generator site. 

I linked this Royal Wedding poster here.



Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Tiny Paris Balcony

Here is another way I could rid myself of lawn mowing. Move to Paris and have an upstairs flat with a tiny vine-covered balcony. Too bad I don't speak French. It's lovely, isn't it? *

House on Stilts

This looks so appealing to me. A great looking house with no lawn. My grass is getting thicker and taller every day and the dandelion crop is thriving. I hope my riding mower will start without a tuneup since I paid a fortune to have it fixed very late in the fall last year.  Have you done a first mowing yet? Does this house on stilts look good to you too? *

Doorway Decorated for Spring

Now if this doesn't look inviting, I don't know what does. It's nice to see an entrance decorated for spring since we've waited so long for it to come. I don't embrace the sudden heat though. I just like a gentle increase at a slow rate without the blast furnace being turned on high, please! *

I overslept the morning and I'm running late and rushing to get ready for my weekly office meeting. See you later. 

Monday, April 25, 2011

Wonderful Shelter in The Garden

I'm totally smitten with this post and beam covered dining area with a tile roof and a back window. The structure begins where the high garden wall ends so the window lets you peek through to the other side. image PeriodHouse.net

Botanical Prints as Wallpaper

I couldn't possibly tell you where this image is from. It's one I've been saving to my computer for ages. This wall took some serious planning finding just the right prints to paste on the wall without having to trim away too much of the margins. Looks very nice indeed.

Beautiful Shells



Beach weather is quickly approaching. It was 80 degrees yesterday and was really hot sitting in sun so I sat in the shade. This is a beautiful beach composition, isn't it. You could really hear the ocean in that big conch shell I'm sure, even when far away from the shore. *_*

Tandem Bicycle for Ten | Yikes



Such fabulous images! I've never ridden on one of these, have you? Famous Bicycle Built for Two 
Vintage photograph from detnews.com

Feathers Flying at My Cottage

When I woke up this morning there were feathers everywhere. I was pretty sure the fox had been in the hen house. Upon closer examination I found a slit in my summer-weight down blanket. I think Webster must have gotten hot in the night and when he jumped off the bed, one of his nails must have gotten caught. I was sound asleep in my food coma after a day of Easter treats yesterday.

When I went back with the vacuum cleaner the culprit had claimed my space and was oblivious to anything out of the ordinary. 

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Old Trees in A Mist

 
Such a wonderful grove of gnarly old trees. I love anything in a foggy mist. I'm gearing up for the final episode of Upstairs Downstairs tonight. The perfect end to a perfect day. *

Rose Cottage

Blue door, thatched roof, tree roses, white picket gate, stone wall love. I ate too much at my brunch. The weather is quite warm and I am resisting a nap. Hope you're having a nice Easter day.

Vintage Photo | Animals on A Scooter

I love old photos of animals wearing clothes. This one is especially charming. *

Polka Dot Rabbits



Happy  Easter Everyone. 
Great Artwork. Illustration by Jason Holley 

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Vintage Easter Greetings


Wishing you an old-fashioned Eastertide
I was thrilled to find this fabulous vintage Easter Die Cut to share with you. Nothing modern can compare with old German scrap. This one is especially charming. I hope your table is as lovely as the one the Easter bunny has set up under an awning. Be careful not to break any eggs. ©Suzee Que

Lavender Fields Forever

Inhale deeply. Smells wonderful, doesn't it? * Happy Easter.

Doctor Who Party Recipes and More!

I'm excited about tonight's 'DOCTOR WHO' Season 6 premier on BBC America. Wouldn't it be fun to watch while eating Mini Chocolate Dalek Cakes? There are lots of other show-related recipes here. Click around this site to watch trailers, download wallpapers, and lots of other cool things. I can hear that music in my head right now. Enjoy.



Arranging Flowers Outside + A Swan Family

My peonies are starting to come up and their red shoots are about 6 inches out of the ground. My lone hydrangea is budding but it will be months before I can cut any flowers. It is raining pretty hard here at the cottage and everything is gray except for the bright green grass. The wild violets that always come up and bloom before the first mowing are very plentiful and so sweet with their little pansy-like faces. *

Enjoy the weekend with friends and family plus a generous sprinkling of animals too. *

Friday, April 22, 2011

Wonderful Stone Cottage with Climbing Roses

Wouldn't this be a great place to have an Easter Egg Hunt? I love this stone cottage with the door and window on the gable end leaving lots of room for the roses to climb. I don't know where it's located but I'd love to be there right now. Have a lovely weekend. *

Funny Bunny Folds--How to Make Bunny Napkins from Good Housekeeping with real picture instructions.

Disney To Celebrate Earth Day 2012 with 'Chimpanzee'




This upcoming Disney film has a real story to it – focusing on a baby chimp named Oscar who becomes orphaned and raised by another. The entire thing seems so incredibly scripted that it’s really hard to believe the cameras were just there at the right time, right place. I can't believe we have to wait one whole year to see this heartwarming film; expect the opening weekend to be a huge fundraiser for some chimp-focused conservation organization. found at Ecorazzi

HOW TO: Celebrate Earth Day Online

Horse Trough Garden and Bathtub/Shower

There is a wonderful article at MaryJane'sFarm about gardening in galvanized horse troughs.

I've been saving this image forever and can't remember the source. I love this bathtub with overhead shower made from a horse trough. What a great economical idea for a rustic bathroom in a vacation home, beach house or cabin. You can wash up in here after setting up all of your horse trough planters outside. 

Happy Easter from Beatrix Potter

Hop on over to Peter Rabbit dot com to play some Easter Games and explore the World of Beatrix Potter.

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and . . .

I thought this was a beautiful composition depicting the lyrics from Scarborough Faire. Don't you love the blue and white transferware herb canisters? *-*

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Easter Rabbits

The smaller one is an Easter Bunny in training. *

Easter Bunny Finger Puppets - Pattern and Directions


White Cat with Green Eyes and Pink Nose

 
This cat couldn't be lovelier if it tried. Have you ever seen a prettier color combination? The kitty is preppy for sure proudly wearing the pink and green. *

YouTube ~ The Royal Channel




This is where you'll want to be on April 29th since The Royal Wedding will be broadcast live on "The Royal Channel" on YouTube.

Little-Known Facts About the Royal Wedding Preparations Here is one example -- it can take up to 50 hours to polish each of the pairs of boots that will be worn by the mounted soldiers escorting Prince William and Kate Middleton through London after their marriage.

French Boxwood Garden

The sun is shining brightly here at the cottage and all's right with the world. You could hide Easter eggs in this boxwood garden and most of them would probably never be found. I have some major food marketing ahead of me today. See you later. _*_

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Extraordinary Doorway to Nowhere

I wonder if this surround ever had a real opening with a door or if it was simply a decorative architectural element? If only these old walls could talk. Anyway, it's beautiful. Maybe it was the ghosts' entrance. They walk through walls, you know. *_*

BBC America | Royal Roundup: Palace Releases New Wedding Schedule


Westminster Abbey
Royal Wedding Insider: Palace Releases New Wedding Schedule Buckingham Palace has released a new timeline of events for April 29. All times are London time. For the most comprehensive schedule, combine with previous timeline. You might have to print both schedules and put them together to find out what's happening and when.

In order to figure what time all this is taking place at your house you can refer to this: 
Every Time Zone in a visual display. I live in the New York time zone and London time is 4 hours ahead. I use this time zone checker all the time. Love it.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you -- The Royal Wedding will be streamed Live on YouTube. That's really exciting for those of you who will be at work or don't have a TV set. Actually I know several people who watch everything on a computer. Isn't technology grand?