Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Did I Mention That I Am Sick?


I woke up on Tuesday morning with a vicious sore throat and I took to my bed.
While rummaging around in one of the bathroom cabinets looking for something to relieve my symptoms I discovered this very Neti Pot and packages of a saline mixture. I had forgotten all about having it. I immediately started irrigating my sinuses every couple of hours and I think it has had a marvelous result. I've been able to breathe and I think this little device is going to keep the cold from traveling into my chest. Fingers crossed. It has been years since I've had been sick and I blame it on this warm weather. 
Other things that are helping: watching movies in bed and drinking plenty of liquids. I was glad I could bring my laptop into the bedroom so I could still manage my blog. I hope I can stay awake to watch Revenge tonight. See you tomorrow.

Wonderful Bookplate

This is great, isn't it?
via

Too Gorgeous for Words

Could anything be lovelier?
via

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Three Dogs Hamming it Up - Hilarious

The expression on the wiener dog cracks me up.
Each one is trying to out do the other.

Miniature Period Room Doll House on a Bookshelf

I love this open ended box that became a period room on a shelf with books of the same period. Made by sweetington .. see more photos of this shelf room on flickr. Found on Book, Paper, Scissors

Duchess of Devonshire with Her Chickens

The duchess with her beloved chickens at Chatsworth in the 1990s. Photograph: Christopher Simon Sykes/Getty Images

Wait For Me: Memoirs of the Youngest Mitford Sister
by Deborah Devonshire
I've been saving this article and book review from the Guardian until I could sit and enjoy it and this morning was the perfect time. If you are looking for the ideal Christmas gift for a friend who is a dyed in the wool Anglophile, this is certainly a book to consider.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Day is Done at My Cottage


What we saw on the wonder dog's after-dinner walk. Mine is still on the stove cooking and it smells delicious. It is so handy having my iPhone in my pocket.

Delightful Cabin Bedroom


I love this cabin porch conversion to a children's bedroom. Especially if the grandparents have the cabin next door. I think a family compound would be delightful--togetherness with privacy. via

Laundry Day in Winter

I am glad to see someone else thinks it's never to cold to hang out the clothes. By Alec Soth, Sleeping by the Mississippi. Peter’s Houseboat, Winona Minnesota 2002

We are still having unusually mild weather and I have already put in my first load. Monday is the traditional laundry day after all.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Five iPhone Fotos from This Afternoon's Walk

Webster was lost in thought about something and stood still for me.

Down in the wetlands on the bridle path. It is usually much wetter.

These mushrooms are growing horizontally on an old cut on a large tree. Something has been nibbling at them.


I was holding this piece of horsetail grass in my hand and focusing on it.

This is the house diagonally across the street from me photographed from my land using the zoom.

This Photo is Completely Magical

Agreed? 

'The Look' we all loved has been Royally Passed On

How cute. It's in their DNA
via

An Amazing Kitchen | Architectural Digest

Antique beams crisscross a Nantucket kitchen. Painted diamonds span the wood floor (love, love love this detail), and the counters are butcher block. via Architectural Digest This kitchen is #6 of 13 in a slideshow on Rustic Kitchens. Click here to start at the beginning. One of the kitchens belongs to Diane Keaton.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Stove Top Saturday Night Supper

Everything cooked on top of the stove in stages in the same vintage cast iron wok: one split Cornish hen, stuffing and brussels sprouts. Easy and delicious. Pumpkin pie with whipped cream for dessert. I love one-dish meals because of the quick cleanup. Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Baby in the Mailbag | Special Delivery

This city letter carrier posed for a humorous photograph with a young boy in his mailbag. After parcel post service was introduced in 1913, at least two children were sent by the service. With stamps attached to their clothing, the children rode with railway and city carriers to their destination. The Postmaster General quickly issued a regulation forbidding the sending of children in the mail after hearing of those examples. via Smithsonian Institution

Who Knew Seals Could bBe So Friendly?


Charlie Bird meets elephant seals while travelling through Antarctica following the route of explorer Tom Crean's final expedition alongside Ernest Shackleton aboard the Endurance in 1914-15.

Two Recent iPhone 4S Photos


We have had the best weather since Thanksgiving Day. This is a perfect blue sky photographed as the perfect backdrop for my giant black walnut tree.

I drove my friend Karen to the mall to pick up something that was being held for her on Black Friday. I dropped her off and was prepared to drive around since there were no parking spaces in sight but got lucky and found one. These parking lot lights were the only thing of interest I could find in a sea of parked cars.

Antique Bird Prints

I love this mixed media image I scanned from an old copy of Town and Country magazine. I have always admired these antiquarian prints from The Natural History of Birds, by Eleazar Albin, published between 1731 and 1738. These large scale hand-colored antique bird prints are favored by decoupage artist John Derian. When reproduced and laser printed they make wonderful trays

Friday, November 25, 2011

Ralph Waldo Emerson House with Friends Quote

There must be lots of happy houses this weekend. I scanned this image from an old address book and added the type. I was honored by being a guest at a lovely Thanksgiving dinner last night in a happy home. 

Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II, page 49


More great fatherly advice from H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Lauren Bush weds David Lauren = Lauren Lauren

The bride wears a dress, designed by the father of the groom (also in Ralph Lauren), of antique tulle hand-embroidered with Swarovski Elements, beads, and pearls.

Hair, Julien Farel for Julien Farel Group; makeup, Bobbi Brown.
Photographed by Norman Jean Roy

Read the article and see the slideshow at Vogue.com

Be Safe if You Travel Today and Tomorrow

We have rain on the east coast. Be careful on the wet roads if you are traveling home for Thanksgiving. Think pleasant thoughts about those anxiously waiting for you to arrive safely -- humans and pets alike. via

Beautiful Cat

I couldn't resist this beautiful animal. I don't think I've ever seen a more stunning photo of a cat. Those yellow-orange eyes forced me to do it. via

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Butterscotch Shortbread Cookies [Recipe]

Lee's Butterscotch Shortbread
Recipe adapted from Lee Schiring and an ancient Jane Austen Society of Puget Sound Newsletter
yields: 2-4 dozen, depending on size
keeps: 3 weeks or longer, in an airtight tin

The only slightly tricky bit to these is judging doneness, as the dough is already brown from the sugar. There's quite a time range given, below, as I'm terribly uneven in rolling my dough. A few tips, then, to aid: note the sight and scent cues below to determine doneness. Also, note that the oven temp is unusually low, giving you more wiggle room than most cookies—if in doubt, give them a few more minutes. Finally, these biscuits are best slightly overdone than underdone: the end result should be crisp, not yielding. And if, after cooling, they're still tender in the center, a return to the oven (5-10 minutes) will correct that, spit-spot.

1 cup salted butter
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/4 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour

Heat oven to 300°. Cream butter, both sugars and salt, then add vanilla to combine. Scrape sides, then add flour, mixing just to combine.

Dust a clean surface lightly with flour, and roll dough 1/4" thick. Cut with desired cutters, and place on parchment-lined baking sheets, 1/2" apart (these cookies spread very little).

Bake 20-30 minutes, until cookies are fragrant, edges and bottoms are slightly darkened, and tops have lost their glossy look and taken on a matte finish. Cool cookies on sheet 15-20 minutes, then remove to rack to finish cooling. Cookies will firm up while cooking, and not be fully crisp until an hour or so after baking.

Recipe found @ remedialeating with lots of photos of children rolling and cutting these delightful cookies.

Hermès Bag may top $80,000 at Dallas Auction

DALLAS – An Hermès Diamond Birkin, with Diamond and White Gold hardware – a beautiful example of one of the most exceptional handbags made – is expected to bring $80,000+ when it comes across the block on Dec. 6, as part of Heritage Auctions’ Handbags and Luxury Accessories Signature® Auction at the auction company’s Design District Annex, 1518 Slocum St. ~ Read more~

Happy Thanksgiving


I scanned this graphic from my antiquarian book of crests and added the type. This is my Thanksgiving card to all of you.


Gratitude is the sign of noble souls. ~ Aesop

Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence.~Erma Bombeck
image #3 here and #2 here

Monday, November 21, 2011

Red Barn in Need of Repair

Red Barn in Wood County Ohio by dbthayer
I hope someone saves it soon.

Webster is Already Down for A Nap

Now this is what I call the end to a perfect morning for any dog. Webster really knows how to relax.

All About Dogs in A Nutshell


They never talk about themselves but listen to you while you talk about yourself, and keep up an appearance of being interested in the conversation.

~Jerome K. Jerome
via

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Tower Castle of Chatillon-en-Bazois in Burgundy

The garden at Château de Chatillon, Bourgogne
© collection Jean-Baptiste Leroux 
Absolute perfection.

Extraordinary Giraffe Photo

I hope you are having an equally lovely time today enjoying the scenery. via

Durable Outdoor Furniture

I love outdoor furniture like this that you can leave out all year long. It would look great covered with snow. That faux bois table is amazing and would be a great place to sprinkle bird seed for winter bird watching. via

Saturday, November 19, 2011


I have officially finished the fall cleanup in the back. These two pictures were taken when I started this afternoon. It was too dark to show you the finished product. I ran the tractor around after doing all my hand raking. I put all the leaves back in the woods where they came from and Webster supervised. It's supposed to rain on Wednesday and my goal was to get trench cleaned out beforehand. The line of leaves and debris where the wonder dog is walking came out of the trench after the tall grass and weeds were whacked down by the worker yesterday. It looks nice again and I'm so happy.

Deep in a Beautiful Forest

I adore this photo by Ivan Shishkin found here.
Doesn't it look like a painting?

Deserted Cottage in Oregon

This cottage in Madras, Oregon appears to be thriving on neglect. Found here. Photographed with a Hasselblad by colerise.

Have a great weekend...see you later.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Birdbath Reflection

I didn't have any time today to play with my camera. I got my haircut before lunch and when I got home there was a message that my worker would be dropped off to trim weeds with a metal blade. I was glad but not really prepared to work outside until late afternoon. My chin-length bob and I changed into work clothes and bit the bullet. I was excited about cleaning out the area with my trench for the rain water. We worked from 1:00-4:15 without stopping. I was in charge of the rake. It looks so good and I am glad I worked along with the hired hand. I think you always get a better job if you work as hard as they do. And I firmly believe they worker harder if they see you aren't afraid to get your hands dirty.
I took the iPhone photo of the birdbath yesterday. Tomorrow I'll pick up my trail of leaves after I take a picture to show you. Have a great weekend.