Handwriting Lessons for Children

Learning to write isn't easy. I have such admiration for the community of homeschooling parents facing this struggle now that the school year is well under way. Hopefully the following links will help.

Download these cursive flashcards here.

Online cursive lessons with animation.

I also found a site where you can download and print your own lined penmanship paper and regular notebook paper as well. Don't worry -- it's free.

Download lined penmanship paper here.

You can also download other things from this site. Look for the section that looks like the photo above at the top of the page under the large red title.

I have blogged about handwriting in the past and these links continue to attract viewers. I thought it was time to post them again so you don't have to dig so deep to find them.
First image ©Mary Engelbreit scanned from one of my books.



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Elaborate Shower Fixture Circa 1916

Everything old is new again. I photographed this from one of my architectural books. Caption reads: "At the Barrett House in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, a new bathing room was constructed shortly before 1916 to receive this elaborate shower bath with multiple controls that would have sent water all around the bather." What a wonderful classic beauty.

The Barrett House (circa 1800), also known as Forest Hall, is a Federal style American mansion located on Main Street. This nonprofit museum operated by Historic New England is open to the public several days a year. Read more. If you visit, ask to see the bathing room.

I washed the windows on one French door today inside and out; 15 panes x2 = 30 windows. I look at these windows and feel faint.

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Beautiful Garden Bench

A fragrant pathway of herbs leads to an English bench of curved teak set off against a brick wall. Scanned from one of my home landscaping books. Sigh.

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Webster | Waiting for a Walk

The coffee is brewing, the biscuits are in the oven, and Webster is patiently waiting for his Sunday morning walk. It's a beautiful day. Enjoy it too.

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Have Friends Equal To Yourself

"Have no friends not equal to yourself." Confucius

Scanned from one of my books: Underdogs ~ Beauty is More Than Fur Deep 

A REAL Bookshelf | Made from Books | Fabulous

This is so clever. A real bookshelf made from real books. So fabulous. Looks pretty easy to make. This would be a good weekend project for someone. Found here.

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Best Shower Door EVER!

Recycled factory window converted to a shower enclosure. I'm blown away. It's absolutely sstunning. Love this so much. From Remodelista

Another Fabulous Kitchen

I love this kitchen photographed by Emily Gilbert.

Newsflash ~~~ I see the sun! It's never been more beautiful!



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Wire Basket Love

I've always loved wire baskets. Aren't these wonderful for towels in this small bathroom? Yes!

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Kitchen Perfection

I love everything about this kitchen including the old ladder. Happy Friday!

I got up at 4:00 AM to watch some of the hardest rain I've seen in ages. My gutters are still working because the leaves haven't really started falling yet. Thankfully I have no flooding or damage that I can see. It's supposed to clear around noon. Good riddance.



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Pound Cake Recipe from Old-Time Cookbook

I got this cookbook yesterday at the church rummage sale around the corner from the cottage and I absolutely love it.

This pound cake will be the first thing I will bake. Enlarge image for easier reading.

The nostalgic illustrations are wonderful.

I'm sure many of you are wondering why I've been posting so many recipes lately. Well it's because I now have to do all the cooking. My mother used to cook most of the meals and she still cooks my oatmeal in the morning. Her eyesight has deteriorated to the point that I am now the chief cook and bottle washer. I don't mind a bit, dutiful daughter that I am. I've been working on organizing all of my cabinets and I'm actually enjoying myself. That's the story.

It's Easier To Keep Up Than To Catch Up

This was my grandmother's favorite saying and she lived by these very words. She was never behind in anything...housework, cooking, sewing, gardening, and more. I wish a little more of her had rubbed off on me. But then I remind myself that she didn't have the Internet!

My grandfather (a minister) used one of these little wisk brooms to brush off his coat before he left the house every day. This one hangs in my vestible here at the cottage. My mother always says the reason Grandma was so caught up on everything was because she made the kids do most of the work. All I remember is that in her elder years she did everything herself with only Grandpa's help.



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Homemade English Muffin Recipe

I had a toasted English muffin with cream cheese and apple butter for breakfast this morning. I've never even considered making my own until I saw this blog post. Here's the recipe. If and when I make any I will make them bigger than the ones you buy in a package. I always use English muffins instead of hamburger rolls for my burgers. They are sooooo much better than those gummy white bread buns.

It rained overnight as predicted but so far it's not the flooding kind the weather person told us we might be getting. I have my fingers crossed. See you later.

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Acorns Are My Favorite Things About Fall

I picked up this bunch of acorns from the way back when walking Webster after an early dinner. The kitchen is clean and I'm ready for a nice evening. I took this picture on the deck just now. I love acorns but I'm glad I don't have an oak tree near my front walk or near my gutters. They can be a nuisance. Thankfully my trees are perfectly situated. See you tomorrow.



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Charles Dickens Loved Cats

I scanned the cat from one of my favorite antiquarian books The Royal Book of Crests. If the ears were a little less pointy and the belly were fatter it could be my Tabitha.



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A Woman is Like a Teabag

I made this illustrated quote by Eleanor Roosevelt some time ago using the USPS postage stamp as the image. People liked it so I'm posting it again.



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Kitten Hearts

A sweet photo to get your day started. Have a good one! 

Blue Bird House

All of my bird houses have all been vacated. The bluebirds usually come back in February to stake out their territory. Pretty soon it will be time for the migrating birds to fly south for the winter and time to hang the bird feeders for those that stay.

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