Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Monday, April 29, 2013

Recycled Conservatory in Sweden

When your neighbor in Sweden offers you an old greenhouse to recycle, what do you do? Build yourself an orangerie, of course. Everything is recycled except the plexiglass roof. It's beautiful, isn't it? See more views here. Readers' questions answered here.

A Great Story about Pet Adoption

His name is Tank. Get your hankies ready and read the story behind his adoption after many failed attempts. Continue reading here. Sniff, sniff, wiping tears away.

Tabitha Enjoying the Nice Weather

This flagstone at the end of the walk is one of Tabitha's favorite places to nap and bask in the sun. Her face is shaded so she can see me if I open the front door. She wants to come inside less and less now that spring is here. Both animals went back to bed this morning after breakfast because we have rain!!! I'm so glad I got my mowing and trimming done. 

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Bletchley Circle, Episode 2 Tonight

Don't forget to watch Episode 2 Tonight
I love this feminist murder mystery. I just learned there are only 3 episodes in the miniseries (sad face). I'm off to the bedroom to watch The Good Wife beforehand. Here is a good review of all the great television on Sunday nights. Enjoy. 

The Carolina Wren


Nest and eggs of the Carolina Wren photograph by Brian Gordon Green, National Geographic

A Carolina wren. Photograph from Rolf Nussbaumer Photography/Alamy

You will enjoy reading this article about a man who works for National Geographic who was converting his South Carolina backyard into a Wildlife Habitat but was unable to build a proper house to satisfy the nesting requirements of the Carolina wren. This tiny bird picked his brass mailbox instead. Read more.

An Afternoon Nap for Webster

He's been working outside with me and this nap was well deserved. The open bedroom window wasn't far from his nose and he could smell the newly mown grass as he slept. my iPhone photograph

True Love

Don't these two pups look comfy curled into a perfect heart in the back seat of a car? I went back to bed after the cat got me up this morning and I think I might live. I worked outside all day mowing, pulling vines out of trees, trying to tidy up my visual corridor without the aid of power tools, etc. I have rolled giant logs out of sight, rearranged the huge ones so the wild roses will eventually hide them and I have to say I have enjoyed doing some hard physical work. We are having a very dry April, the third driest on record. Rain is on the forecast for tomorrow so I'll work outside again today getting ready. I still need to mow the front. See you later. image

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Another Interspecies Friendship

The secret life of the fox and the hare. via

Dining Room Library in NYC

Suzanne Slesin’s library/dining room may be in New York City, but the light fixture, chairs and glass doors give the room an “English library atmosphere”. Combining the dining room, which tends to get little use, with a library is such a typical NYC trick, but one that would be useful anywhere. Books are always the best decoration! via
The weekend has begun. Have a good one!

Friday, April 26, 2013

The Bookcase

I love looking at the various things that end up on a bookcase. Old things like to be together, don't they? via

Incredible Landscape

This is really the most amazing photograph, isn't it? It illustrates so many different types of weather. I like the sunshine best. via

Goat, Ready to Roll

"I'm ready when you are. Let's get this show on the road. Put the other guys in the back and let's get going." via It's Friday and the weekend is almost here. Have a good one.

Look Up at The Sky

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Painted Floor on a Deck

This is the first deck I've ever seen painted in a checkerboard pattern and I love it. I painted a kitchen floor in these colors at my last house and loved it too. Click here to see the one I painted.

Manhole cover with Lady's Slipper Design


Downtown Minneapolis. The Lady's Slipper is the state flower for Minnesota, I love it! via

Three Tulips

In all stages of the bloom cycle. my iPhone photo

Open Tulip iPhone Photo

I took this photo yesterday with my iPhone while on a real estate appointment with a buyer and her builder. Tulips are so beautiful in all the stages of their bloom cycle. This one looks like a kaleidoscope in the center, doesn't it?

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Best Library Ladder

“Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them! How I need them!
I'll have a long beard by the time I read them.”
― Arnold Lobel

Organized Work Space


This is the first of a 13-photo slideshow of the same work space rearranged. Make sure to look by clicking here. Miss Vu has the magic touch, doesn't she?

Purple Pollen Rain Anemones


Beautiful photo by Magda Indigo I love Anemones and so do the deer so it's a losing battle at my cottage.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Big Yawn from Webster

We worked outside today and we're both tired. Goodnight. my iPhone photo

Nice Greenhouse

Let the lusting begin. via

Wild Violets, Cropped.


This closeup of my wild violets is my original photo cropped to show how beautiful they really are.  I did not know they were called Viola Sororia or that they're the state flower of New Jersey. How nice.

Wild Violets in my lawn.

They're back in all their glory doing their appointed job of keeping me from mowing the grass. I took this iPhone photo very late in the day after supper last night. Don't you love their pansy-like faces? HAPPY EARTH DAY!

Sunday, April 21, 2013

The Owl and I Say Goodnight

See you tomorrow. via

Crime-solving quartet premiers tonight on PBS in 'Bletchley Circle'

BLETCHLEY CIRCLE
A new miniseries premiers tonight on PBS @ 10pm in my area. Set in Britain in 1952, this review says it's supposed to be smart and highly suspenseful. I have already set my DVR. When the sisterhood of four detectives gets together to discuss a case, it is under the cover of a book club. I like it already!!!

The story of The Migrant Mother

“Migrant Mother” was one of thousands of pictures Dorothea Lange took on assignment for the federal government, documenting the poverty of the Dust Bowl. Before it had that iconic title, the 1936 photo was captioned “Destitute peapickers in California.” But this was the one that stuck, coming to symbolize all those suffering in the Great Depression. Later, Lange would rage, “People think I haven’t made anything else!”
As you all know, I am a huge fan of NPR and rarely listen to anything else on my radio. I watch a little morning tv while I'm having coffee and then it's NPR all day until the evening news and the tv goes on again. I listened to the story behind this iconic photograph this morning on Studio 360 and then listened to the podcast again on my laptop while I was unloading the dishwasher. It's very interesting in case you want to tune in when you have 9 minutes to spare -- or you can just read the article. Podcast and article at Studio360.org. There is also a slideshow with 5 more views of this migrant worker's camp featuring Florence Thompson and her family.
This photo never fails to move me. It has become the symbol of hard times but has been exploited by the advertising industry to sell products from perfume to luggage. That should make you want to listen and I hope you will.

Beautiful Home Library

I hope there's a nice comfortable club chair and ottoman in this room somewhere. It looks like a very nice home office or study but comfort is needed in a reading room. via The Belding Group in Landrum, SC.

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Wonderful clothing label

What size do you wear? Happy medium. Love it. via

Cat pulling Toy Cat

My cat never plays with anything. This is adorable. via

Queen Elizabeth II morphed from infancy to Diamond Jubilee in 2012


Click here if you cannot see this fabulous video. The link will take you to YouTube. You will love seeing our favorite royal grow more beautiful through the years. Thanks to Sandy Lawrence for mentioning it. I can't believe I have never seen it, have you?

Rainbow Pancakes

What a great birthday breakfast. I think the whole world needs rainbow pancakes, don't you? Click below to watch the delightful tutorial video from Oh Joy!


Here is the recipe she used for the pancakes.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Wear The Crown

Lazy Dog

Let sleeping dogs lie or find comfort wherever you can. This dog is doing both. via

Kitchen Cabinets for A Tudor

The millwork on these cabinets is beautiful. The gothic touches on the doors are very appropriate for a renovated kitchen in an old Tudor style home. Casa Verde Design in Minneapolis. via

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Owls in a Hollow Tree

This photo is so full of gorgeous tones and texture. Someone named it fifty shades of brown. I'm with the left owl who is ready for bed. See you tomorrow. via

DIY Kitchen

Nothing is built-in, everything is free standing. I can't figure what that blurry thing is on the sliding track, can you? Anyway, I like this simple kitchen. via

Communal Spring Cleaning, pen and ink by W. Heath Robinson

Hilarious. I was watching the British Antiques Road Show and fell in love with this artist, W. Heath Robinson

Extraordinary Ampersand

WOW. This is so creative and really beautiful in every way. via 

Iced Coffee

Iced coffee is a favorite summertime treat of mine but never in the morning. I require HOT coffee to wake me up. How about you? 

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Pink Climbing Roses on a Stone Cottage

Such a lovely image. I wish I could smell them. Roses always remind me of my grandmother. via

Great Kitchen Island


A real cook would love this island. I wonder if it gets moved around? I love anything with wheels, don't you? via

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Stonehedge Farm by Catalano Architects

Everyone loves the previous photo of the foyer at Stonehedge Farm in Massachusetts. This is the view from the top of the stairs. Your wish is my command; click here for a complete house tour, inside and out. Photo Credit: Brian Vanden Brink

Elegant Foyer and Staircase

Oh.my.goodness. This is simply stunning. I love the restraint. Just enough decorating to allow the architecture to shine through. via