Saturday, April 2, 2011

Sleeping in Front of the Aga Stove


This looks like a real kitchen in a real home, doesn't it? There's nothing like curling up in your little dog bed in front of the Aga Stove, is there? I've always been told pets love them.  I'm getting ready to curl up in my own bed pretty soon and try to recover from a massive yard cleanup today. It looks so nice and it felt great to get a good workout. via

Content in a Cottage

A Mark Twain Weekend


I got rid of that big tree that fell on my private road in the back. So happy. When you work hard you can follow Mark Twain's advice and eat what you like. That's my reward today. I love his humor, don't you? I scanned his face from the cover of an old Time Magazine.


Content in a Cottage

Baby Elephant Love

Have a playful weekend doing something fun like this young pachyderm playing in the grass under the watchful eye of his mother. The sun is shining brightly at the cottage at long last. Webster and I will be dealing with some outside cleanup and it's nice enough to hang a load of wash outside on the line. Oh happy day!

Content in a Cottage

Friday, April 1, 2011

Happy Birthday - Webster is Nine Today

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR WEBSTER
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU 
Today Webster is 9 years old; that's 63 in people years. He looks a little sad because he got a rainy day. Actually we had snow earlier but it turned to rain. We got in one long walk this morning and I'm sure there will be another one after we get back from the post office and grocery store. He got 2 boxes of all natural dog biscuits -- one from Trader Joe's and one was a gift from California. Thanks Jill.

Content in a Cottage

'Life Would Be Perfect if I Lived in That House' by Meghan Daum | Book Review

From the acclaimed author and columnist: a laugh-out-loud journey into the world of real estate—the true story of one woman’s “imperfect life lived among imperfect houses” and her quest for the four perfect walls to call home.

After an itinerant suburban childhood and countless moves as a grown-up—from New York City to Lincoln, Nebraska; from the Midwest to the West Coast and back—Meghan Daum was living in Los Angeles, single and in her mid-thirties, and devoting obscene amounts of her time not to her writing career or her dating life but to the pursuit of property: scouring Craigslist, visiting open houses, fantasizing about finding the right place for the right price. Finally, near the height of the real estate bubble, she succumbed, depleting her life savings to buy a 900-square-foot bungalow, with a garage that “bore a close resemblance to the ruins of Pompeii” and plumbing that “dated back to the Coolidge administration.”

From her mother’s decorating manias to her own “hidden room” dreams, Daum explores the perils and pleasures of believing that only a house can make you whole. With delicious wit and a keen eye for the absurd, she has given us a pitch-perfect, irresistible tale of playing a lifelong game of house. via LA Times

This looks like a "must read" book for me and anyone who loves houses and real estate. 

Content in a Cottage

Vintage Cast Iron Pan/Wok by Michael Lax

This is Mother Nature's April Fool joke---it's snowing.

Vintage Copco Cast Iron Wok w/ Side Handles. Use on top of the stove or in the oven. I can't put my old wok in the oven because it has a wooden handle.  I'm thrilled that the lid fits perfectly on this estate sale $7.00 pan.

I've used this pan every single day since I got it over 2 weeks ago. Fried eggs are the best and so is any kind of stir fry. I've baked in it too. You can really cook anything you'd cook in a cast iron frying pan only this is easier because of the sloped sides.

COPCO - Michael Lax Design - Denmark He was an Industrial Designer and his work is very sought after by collectors of mid-century modern. I simply can't understand why anyone would get rid of this wonderful piece of cookware. Now that it's mine I can see myself getting rid of the pans it is replacing.

Content in a Cottage

Handmade iPad - A Wonderful Claymation Video



I loved this wonderful stop-motion video by a student from the British Higher School of Art and Design.

Content in a Cottage

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Goodnight ~ Day is Done


The sun will be setting soon and I'll be trading my computer for the television. I do love a good reflection and this is a great one. I put some new batteries in my remote in the bedroom and what a difference. I actually called for a technician to come out to the house because of the poor performance lately of the DVR but it's all fixed now. So happy.

Content in a Cottage

Best Sliding Board Ever


Can't you almost hear the squeals of delight from the little children shooting down this very high wooden sliding board? I love the juxtaposition of the tiny little girl and the elderly gentleman. Both of their expressions are priceless. This photograph is simply wonderful and brings back such great memories of the dangers of childhood. They are all but taken away these days. The wooden things at playgrounds are being replaced by plastic so kids don't get splinters. I'm all for safety but I think children are somewhat overprotected now. Click on the image to enlarge and get the full effect. What fun! 

Content in a Cottage

Eye-Dazzling Red and White Quilt


This is one of the quilts that was exhibited in New York City at the Park Avenue Armory. I don't have any information on this particular quilt but I really admire this monumental graphic design that makes me dizzy and a little woozy when I look at the photo. The display lasted only 5 days and there were 650 quilts -- all red and white. I saw a short segment on Martha Stewart and learned that this color combination was the most popular because the dye formula that was used made the red fabric the most stable color of all. This must be true because I don't see any fading or running in all of the quilts that were on view. I didn't go in person but I've seen many photos...including those sent to me via iPhone by a friend.

Content in a Cottage

Portrait of a King Vulture

This King Vulture is so ugly he's beautiful. What a great portrait taken at Riverbanks Zoo Botanical Garden in Columbia, South Carolina. Be afraid people, he's got his 'eye' on you. Click photo to enlarge for maximum fright.

Content in a Cottage

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

The Little Prince Pillowcase + Rubber Stamp Set

Just look at this adorable hand-embroidered pillowcase by Claudia Marchán. She made it for her nephew who lives in France. Translation: "Sweet dreams little prince WiWi"

Hand-made presents really are the best, aren't they?

I found someone who made this hand-carved set of rubber stamps from line drawings in the book 'Le Petit Prince" -- I don't know if they are for sale or not. Finding out is up to you. Please let me know if the answer is yes.

Content in a Cottage

Outdoor Lunch Beside The Shed


It won't be long before we can dine outside and I can't wait. Even leftovers taste better when you make the effort to set up your dining table in the garden, beside the shed, on the deck or just about anywhere in the open air. via

Content in a Cottage

Green Is The Arbor of My Dreams

via
I have completely gotten over wanting everything I see -- except for this arbor.

Content in a Cottage

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

I'm Sleeping in this White Bedroom Tonight

I had a great day today and hope you did too. I've chosen this as my virtual bedroom for tonight. Webster will have to change his fur from brown to white too. Anything is possible in the virtual world. Isn't it a beautiful room? Or maybe Webster can just sleep on the brown chair -- I hadn't thought of that possibility. Goodnight. See you tomorrow.

Content in a Cottage

H. T. Lindeberg, Architect. 1916 House on My Tour

Back

Front

I saw this landmark property built in 1916 today on the broker open house tour. I've been admiring it ever since I moved to New Jersey in 1973 so this was an opportunity not to be missed. It was grand in scale yet very livable.

An elegant vintage mansion located in the Historic District of Morristown, built during the "Gilded Age." Designed by H.T. Lindeberg, one of America's most prominent 20th Century domestic architects. Unique location offering privacy with 25 acres of conservation land in back plus walk-to-town and library convenience in front. Great detailing -- deep decorative moldings, high ceilings, transom windows, sweeping staircase and landings, 7 fireplaces, 9 family bedrooms, 6 full baths and 2 half baths, in-law apartment, updated kitchen with adjoining breakfast room, mudroom/laundry off kitchen. Price: $2,675,000. Taxes: $49,019. I can show it to you if you are interested.

Often noted as "H.T. Lindeberg", Harrie was one of the greatest residential architects to ever practice in the US. The former McKim, Mead and White employee and assistant to Stanford White had a keen eye for what was both warm and commanding in tone.


Book -- Domestic Architecture of H. T. Lindeberg by Acanthus Press. Introduction by Mark Alan Hewitt

Content in a Cottage

Charming Cottage

Heidi Claire  I'm off to my weekly office meeting this morning with open house tours afterwards. I hope there is something amazing to view. The spring market is well under way even though all the snow has not yet melted and it's really cold. I'll see you later.

Content in a Cottage

Monday, March 28, 2011

Great Bedroom for Summer


Wouldn't this be the perfect summer bedroom? I'd sleep with the doors open and go outside to look at the stars if I woke up in the night. I'd go outside to stretch when I first got up in the morning. I'd drink my coffee there too. I love it. via


Content in a Cottage

650 Red and White Quilts at Park Ave Armory NYC

Free to the public. On display March 25-30, 2011
Park Avenue Armory, New York City

This special exhibit has a very short run which is such a shame. Five days is not long enough!!! When will you ever get another chance to see so many red and white quilts in one place so beautifully displayed? It's free too. Are you going? Read a great article about these quilts in the online edition of the Wall Street Journal.

You can download the FREE App for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod showing all the quilts in the exhibit in case you can't attend in person. How cool is that?

Content in a Cottage

Gray and White Farmhouse Kitchen to Love

I think these under-counter cabinets are great. I like them flush to the floor without the toe plate which is completely unnecessary. I know because mine are like this too and I find that my toes never get in the way. via

Content in a Cottage

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Deer at Dusk at My Cottage


I really feel sorry for the white-tailed deer this time of year. The green shoots are just starting to appear in the woods and the skunk cabbage is starting to come up in the wet areas. They must be so hungry for there is still a lot of unmelted snow on the ground. It won't be long now before they have lots to nibble on after a long hard winter. I snapped this photo from my bedroom window just a short while ago.

Content in a Cottage

Pink Ranunculus Flowers

Pure pink and green elegance. These delicate pink ranunculus are also called Persian buttercups. Wouldn't this be the perfect bouquet to send to parents of a new baby girl?

Content in a Cottage