Wonderful Kitchen Island w/ Big Farm Sink

I really like the double farm sink, the island, and the cabinetry. Everything except the window treatment and perhaps the floor.

I would put a colorful runner in front of this busy work area and that would help the coldness of the floor. The whole room needs to be accessorized to make it warmer. I have a really busy day ahead of me and I'm trying to keep my head on straight to get everything done in an orderly fashion. See you later. xo

Cotswold Cottage with Thatched Roof

There are no words, are there? It's just wonderful. via

Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II | Page 81

A few more suggestions, observations, and reminders on how to live a happy and rewarding life.

This is a great page. I agree with all three points. The last one might be hard to do for a while. Here's what I'm picturing in my mind. Parent: "Okay?" Child: "No problem!"

Adorable Cottage

Don't you love the brick exterior and wood shingle roof? It's tiny but it appears to have a fireplace. Let's peek in the window. via

Simple, Understated, Gorgeous House

This house is an exercise in Puritan simplicity. I wish I could see the rest. via Big pumpkins on either side of the front door would look nice here in the fall. Right now, it's a blank canvas.

The Perfect House

I adore this house with the wrap-around porch and the most delightful recessed balcony on the second floor. It's perfection, isn't it? via

Have a wonderful weekend. xo

Every Morning

I usually have a hard time going back to sleep once I wake up. I'm trying something new to see if it helps me sleep later instead of getting up at the crack of dawn. For the past two evenings, I have done a short workout with my hula hoop and it worked. I slept better and later. I did 10 minutes the first night, 12 minutes last night and tonight I did 15 minutes. Fingers crossed!!!

1965 German Apple Cake Recipe

I picked up a vintage spiral cookbook from 1965 today and this recipe was marked with a paper clip. I was impressed by the tiny amount of sugar called for and will definitely make this German Apple Cake. When in the world have you seen a recipe that calls for only 1/4 cup of sugar? Of course there is a little more, because you have to sprinkle cinnamon-sugar on top.

I will use coconut oil as the shortening and real butter to dot on top. This recipe will probably take at least 4 apples. I have Pink Lady on hand now and they are nice and sweet. I will probably cut my apples into 16ths -- not sure about that part yet. I will add the apples one at a time in case it takes fewer than my guesstimate. I will grease the pan with butter too. Yum!
I made this. See photos and my revised recipe here.

Great Country House

Image from The Fuller View on Pinterest

This gorgeous white on white colonial home is already all decked out for the Memorial Day Weekend that's just around the corner. The summer's almost over and it has really been a great one. I haven't had my AC on for ages! We had howling wind and a really rain last night. It was predicted so I had already closed all but my bedroom windows. The curtains were blowing at a 45° angle when I bounded out of bed to close them before the rain started. I'm enjoying an overcast morning and the sun has promised to come out this afternoon. xo

Classic Colonial

I love every inch of this white clapboard house. via

Succulents

I love this river of succulents. via

Electrical outlets in baseboards.

I wish I had my outlets down low like this. I think they are an eyesore no matter where they are placed, especially if you have paneled walls. I honestly didn't think of putting them down low when my house was being rewired. I anxiously await the day when all lamps are wireless, just as they appear in interior design magazines where they have been photoshopped. Wouldn't that be nice? photo source

DIY Weed Spray

I got this in my email this morning from a friend who lives nearby. I think she's trying to tell me something in a nice way. I have seen all sorts of recipes for homemade weed spray but never this one. I sprayed RoundUp on my driveway twice last year and worried about what I might be doing to my health the whole time. I was covered head to toe and had a bandana over my nose and mouth. I honestly don't think it's worthwhile because the weeds came back. This recipe has nothing harmful in it so I shall make it and let you know if it works. I have all of the ingredients on hand too, though I might have to buy more vinegar. I am so excited!

Weed-Be-Gone

1 Gallon Vinegar

2 Cups Epson Salts

1/4 Cut Dawn Dish Soap (the Blue Original)

It will kill anything you spray it on. Just mix and spray in the morning after the dew has evaporated. Walk away. Go back after dinner and the weeds are all gone!

This sounds too good to be true but it's worth a try. Have a great weekend everybody. xo

Country Kitchen in Summer

Nothing says summer better than watermelon and peaches, right? via

Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II | Page 80

This makes me want to finish my weeding. I never did finish the front. We are supposed to have rain for the weekend and I've been waiting for a rainy day to loosen them. xo

A Gerdener's Perfection

I would never be able to have anything this perfect without a full-time gardener. Real gardeners are hard to find that can work alone without supervision. via

Love this Kitchen

I love the floor. It looks like cork tiles which I love because they are so easy on the feet, legs, and back when standing for long periods. This is a great layout and I wouldn't change much. I would want a sink the width of the window even though there's another in the island. I would probably skip that one for a deep double sink under the window. Wish I could see the rest of the room. via

Sweet Shingled Cottage

It's getting harder and harder for me to find inspiring photos of real cottages that aren't wings of much larger homes. This appears to be a stand-alone dwelling and I love it. via

Wonderful Pantry Cupboard

At first glance, I thought this was a corner cupboard, but it's not. It tapers back slightly, but it's flat across the back. I love it, don't you? The floor to ceiling glazed double doors are fabulous. via

Oatmeal Pancakes, Gluten Free

This is supposed to be the most popular recipe among the contestants on The Biggest Loser.

Ingredients:
3 eggs
1 cup rolled oats, dry
1 cup cottage cheese
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla

Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and that's your batter! Cook 'em up like you would any other pancake! They taste like a delightful cross between pancakes and French toast. Butter on top of mine, please.

I am definitely going to make these. The original recipe calls for 6 egg whites. I changed it to 3 whole eggs. Seems a shame to throw away the yolks, doesn't it? You choose. Here's a list of all the recipes from the show. I've never watched it. Since I started eating unrefined whole foods and stopped eating sugar, bread, and cheese, I've lost 15 pounds since Easter. My favorite snack is a large bowl of popcorn -- 1/3 cup popped in coconut oil or avocado oil. I eat the whole thing too with fine sea salt. I put the salt in with the oil in my stovetop popper. It is the only snack on the list of unrefined carbs.