Sunday, January 23, 2011

Webster is Under the Weather

I'm not trying to humiliate my dear dog Webster but I wanted you to know he has a problem. He had to have a shot on Thursday and he's taking 4 pills a day to help clear up a skin infection on his chin and his paws. I put socks on him last night to keep him from licking his feet and it worked well. He's napping on my bed right now listening to NPR. He feels fine that the medications have kicked in. I just hope it isn't something awful that will require a biopsy when we go back to the new vet next week. We both like Dr. Coleman so very much!

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Today is National Handwriting Day


Today is National Handwriting Day 2011

National Handwriting Day was the invention of the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association and was inaugurated to remind us of the importance of Handwriting as a skill and a means of communication and personal identification. Never has this concept been more important than now, when the digital age tricks us into thinking that it would be perfectly fine if handwriting were to become obsolete. Here are the just 5 reasons why it wouldn't:
  • Handwriting as an activity involves more of the human brain than any other activity except for speech. "Use it or lose it....."
  • For most people, the act of writing is slower than the act of keyboarding. Sometimes it is a good idea to slow things down and consider more carefully what one is communicating.
  • Let's not lose the ability to communicate more personally - Computers are great, but let's not put all our communication eggs in that one basket.
  • The act of learning to write plays a special part in the development of young brains, and should not be discarded thoughtlessly.
  • The skilled handwritten signature is still an excellent method of identifying an individual and a document.
I found the above information here. Are you going to write something today? I think I will fill up my fountain pen that was a high school graduation present and see if I can still write as beautifully as I once could. I still have a bottle of permanent black ink. See one of my previous posts on this subject with some flash cards to download and print.

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Saturday, January 22, 2011

Another Interior Sliding Door | Just Wonderful

You know I have a thing for interior sliding barn doors. I especially like this one, don't you. I think this is a fad that's here to stay.

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All This and A Grass Tennis Court Too

This is almost too much to absorb. A fabulous old stone English country house with a walled garden, lovely sculpted plantings and a grass tennis court too. I'll take it without the tennis court please. Or maybe I'll convert it to croquet; that's more my speed.*

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A Geranium + A Set of Antiquarian Books

My day has been very hectic so far with real estate showings and phone calls. I'm just now turning on my computer. I published many comments from my laptop this morning but haven't replied to any yet. Hope you're having a nice weekend. I only have one geranium in bloom right now. Doesn't it look nice against a background of antiquarian books with fine decorative bindings? See you later.

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Friday, January 21, 2011

Snow in the French Alps + A Puzzle

When I see a photo like this cabin in the French Alps, I can't complain about my overnight snowfall. It was about 5" of light powder. Nothing I couldn't manage. We've had 4 snowstorms so far in 2011.

INTERESTING PUZZLE: This year we will experience 4 unusual dates: 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, and 11/11/11. Now take the last 2 digits of the year you were born plus the age you will be this year (in 2011). The total will be 111 ~ how is this possible?

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And The Winner Is . . . Sharyn Sowell | Ramsign Giveaway



The winning comment for my Classic Enamel House Sign Free Giveaway from Ramsign is Sharyn Sowell from Mount Vernon WA, USA. Congratulations Sharyn (comment #4). Please contact me so I can forward your information to the company.

PS...I just went back and read her comment. Aren't you glad she won the sign? I know I am.
"Oh, how amazing! And how I'd love one of those signs. I am on the opposite side of the country but can't resist telling you my story about a cottage and a sign. We are bidding tomorrow on a cottage by the lake... it has been a secret dream of mine for more than 20 years. The 1915 cottage is completely derelict and absolutely forlorn which is how we can afford it. I won't bore you with the details but whether I win or not I think that sad little place needs one of these beautiful pieces as a sign of hope. There is restoration on the way for this ruin of a cottage that has been unloved for so long and is filled with garbage. A lot of elbow grease and sweat are ahead but someday I hope that I, too, will be content in a cottage! Thank you for this post. It's lovely."

UPDATE FROM SHARYN: I am back to tell you, Rosemary, and your sweet readers, that you are part of my dream come true. This afternoon (oh, could it really happen?!?) we learned that the offer was accepted, the little home in the woods will soon be ours. The sign will read "Hope Cottage." Rosemary,you wrote me this morning "Here is your sign of hope." Thank you, thank you, thank you. You were right. Literally.


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Thursday, January 20, 2011

A Very Nice Mud Room

I love it all, inside and out. The door, the sidelight, the tall case clock, the wellies, the umbrella stand full of sporting equipment, the doorstop, the stone floor. Did I miss anything? *

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Topiary Pyramids

English Gardening Lust. There are no other words. *

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Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Piglet in A Pile of Puppies

Hey, where'd the guy with the pink nose come from? Nobody seems to mind so I guess this little piglet belongs in this pile of puppies. Everybody looks pretty cozy and warm, I'd say. So cute.

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Decorated Stair Risers


I like both of these staircases. Which one do you like better, the yellow and white patterns or the library theme? The yellow stairs appear to be in a residential setting and the library stairs are probably in a book store or a publishing firm. via


There is still plenty of time to post a comment and enter the free giveaway for a beautiful enamel house sign from Ramsign.
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Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Classic Enamel House Sign | Free Giveaway

I am very excited to announce that I am hosting a free giveaway of your choice of custom classic enamel signs from RAMSIGN. They are a small Danish company that specializes in manufacturing and selling the best house signs and house numbers money can buy based upon original designs and techniques.

They ship worldwide so this giveaway is not limited to any one country. Your name and email address will be sent to the company and they will contact you directly to see what style and color combination you would like.

These signs are beautiful, don't you agree?

They are perfect for both residential and business applications.

This free giveaway begins on Tuesday January 18th. I will close the comments in 48 hours on Thursday evening January 20th at 7:30pm EST and announce the winner on Friday January 21st. The winner will be emailed and should then reply with contact information so I can sent it to the company.

If you don't win, you can still place an order with RAMSIGN here. I'm honored they chose me to make this presentation. These signs make great personalized gifts too. The possibilities are endless.

Make a comment to be included in the free giveaway. Good luck one and all. Winner will be announced on Friday. One comment per person please.

Open to bloggers and non-bloggers alike. Figure out a way to register with a name and email address so I can contact you. I don't permit anonymous comments. Thanks for your interest in this amazingly generous give away!!!

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Rain on A Snowy Day

This morning's icy mix has turned to rain and the cold drizzle is much worse than snow in my opinion. It makes the shoveling much harder because the stuff is now very heavy. One can only imagine what will happen overnight as the temperature drops. Winter has really been something so far, hasn't it? Stay warm.

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Stone House on A Lake

So simple. So perfect. I'm in love with this unadorned stone house on a lake surrounded by trees. I think the maintenance on this gem would be reduced to nothing more than an occasional window washing. Really nice!

We had a little more snow overnight and it isn't the fluffy kind that's easy to deal with. It's an icy mix that is much harder to clean off the walk and the car. At least it's not deep enough to require a driveway plowing so I'm happy about that.

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Monday, January 17, 2011

Amazing Papercutting Made From An Old Book

This is the perfect image for my last post of the day. Isn't this papercutting made from an old book simply amazing? It is truly a fairytale in and of itself. I don't know who made it. Found here. Goodnight all.

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Her Name is Olive

Her name is Olive and she definitely rules the roost in her household. This photograph is hilarious, isn't it? Webster would be so jealous. Dogs can make us cry when they show us their devotion and loyalty but they can make us laugh out loud too.

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Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Last Speech


RIP ~ MLK was assassinated the very next day.

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Paul Revere Teapot

American silver teapot by Paul Revere, Jr. 1734-1818 in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Americana week is upon us in New York with auctions at Sotheby's and Christie's and of course the Winter Antiques Show at the Park Avenue Armory. Will you be going?

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Sunday, January 16, 2011

Help Me Add These Icons to My Blog

Does anybody know how I can add these cute little icons to the bottom of my blog posts? I want them too but don't know where to find them. I looked on Feedburner but couldn't find a link. Help me please. Thanks in advance. xo, Rosemary

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Waiting . . . Forever

Photoblog - A dog takes its loyalty to the grave in Brazil
"A dog, 'Leao', sits for a second consecutive day, next to the grave of her owner, Cristina Maria Cesario Santana, who died in the week's catastrophic landslides in Brazil, at the cemetery in Teresopolis, near Rio de Janiero, on Jan. 15. Brazilians braced for more rain Saturday, fearing further landslides after walls of muddy water tore through towns and claimed some 550 lives in the country's worst flood disaster on record."

I don't know about you but I have a huge lump in my throat over this poignant photo illustrating the loyalty of man's best friend.

UPDATE:  Read the comments...this dog was rescued and adopted by a loving vet. Isn't that great news? Thanks Simone.

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A Wonderful Illustrated Quote

This is really good advice, isn't it? From the ever delightful Notebook Doodles.


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