Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Villers-la-Ville Abbey: Belgium’s Most Beautiful and Haunting Monastery Ruins



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Piggy The French Bulldog Came To Visit


I forgot to mention that Piggy came over for a visit yesterday. He just celebrated his first birthday and Webster wanted to give him a present. He ended up staying until bedtime and they both had so much fun together. Exhaustion doesn't begin to describe their state at 7:30 when I took The Pig home.

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Open Air Cabin


I'm really into open air this morning since I slept with my bedroom windows wide open last night for the first time this year. It was wonderful. I love the way this sliding door with a built-in window slides open to bring the outside in. I have my weekly office meeting this morning followed by broker open house tours. Several "over the top" residences are on the list but I'd rather have this cabin any day country girl that I am. via Home and Hearth

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Monday, April 11, 2011

Summer Cottage Love


Isn't this the sweetest cottage all decked out for summer? It must be really beautiful when the morning glories are in bloom. This photo makes me want a screen door on the front of my house. via

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Bach On a Giant Wooden Xylophone In a Forest









This is the most amazing thing you'll ever see or hear. Please watch -- I promise you will love it.
Bach’s Cantata 147, ‘Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring’ Played On a Giant Wooden Xylophone In a Forest 

"The video is a commercial for a phone of which there are only 15,000 being made. By combining who knows how many pieces of wood, they were able to make a long, downhill track in a forest in Southern Japan that was able to reproduce Bach’s Cantata 147, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring. This is a pretty phenomenal achievement and a beautiful piece of art."

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Bluebell Woods | England


Loughborough, Leicestershire, England ~ So beautiful!  

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Sunday, April 10, 2011

Daffodils - Four More Popped Open Today - Yay



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Art Nouveau Bookplate Ex Libris Louis Rhead



© Nancy Ellis ex libris Louis Rhead I adore this art nouveau bookplate.

Louis John Rhead (November 6, 1857 – July 29, 1926) was an English-born American artist, illustrator, author and angler who was born in Etruria, Staffordshire, England. He emigrated to the United States at the age of twenty-four. The Rhead family had operated and worked in the Staffordshire Potteries for at least three generations. Louis’s father George W. Rhead worked in the pottery industry and was highly respected gilder and ceramic artist. In the 1870s, George Rhead taught art and design in Staffordshire schools. He founded Fenton School of Art. Read more ... 

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Cake Update + 'Upstairs Downstairs' Premier


My coffee cake was good but I had to cook it longer because it didn't have a tube pan. Don't forget tonight is the series premier of UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS on PBS.


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Cinnamon Sour-Cream Coffee Cake


It's in the oven right now and the house smells heavenly. I didn't have any pecans but had everything else. I used a round pan with a removable bottom but without the tube in the center so my cake is solid. Cinnamon Sour-Cream Coffee Cake

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Saturday, April 9, 2011

Celebrities with Big Dogs

Audrey Hepburn Walks Her Dog

Movie Stars and their large dogs ~ photos from vintage Life Magazines. Gallery - LIFE Click to see many more photos.

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50 Tips for Baking Better Cakes


I'm taking some eggs and butter out of the refrigerator so I can bake a cake later if I can find a recipe using only ingredients I have in the house at the moment. Yum---cake. 50 Tips for Baking Better Cakes 

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Mad Men Goes Netflix

John Slattery aka Roger Sterling

Mad Men's multi-season renewal is still generating buzz from major outlets this week, while an announcement that Netflix will stream the series stirs new buzz.  This is great news for those of you who don't get AMC. Mad Men

The 20 Most Exciting New TV Shows coming to a channel near you. Wonderful Slideshow

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Friday, April 8, 2011

Weekend Kitchen Love

Wonderful Kitchen

Dining Area with Floor Cloth

Have a great relaxing weekend and do a little dreaming about the kitchen and eating area shown above. If the Government shuts down over the weekend, we should too. via

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Two Daffodils Do Not A Spring Make

Daffodil Number One

Daffodil Number Two

Look closely and you'll see them both.

This is what spring is looking like so far this week at the cottage. Very un-spring like. A little sun would help but I guess that's asking too much and believe me, I've been asking.

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It's Pretty Amazing That . . .

Earth Day is in April 22, 2011

When I saw this poster I could't wait that long before sharing it with you. Isn't  it perfect for Earth Day? Prints available.

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Thursday, April 7, 2011

Two White Owls Say 'Goodnight'



Goodnight. See you tomorrow.
nature

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Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II, Page 37




More great and useful advice from our favorite father -- H. Jackson Brown, Jr. I found a recipe for the microwave peanut brittle and now I want some. I can't remember the last time I had tapioca pudding. We never had it at my house and I think of it as being rather institutional -- but I found a microwave recipe in case you like it.

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Red and White Checks Love


Those of you who know me know I love blue and white checks. My next favorite is red and white checks. Isn't this a great bedroom? ...

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How Many Plates Can You Put on A Wall?


I love these white and transferware plates on the gray wall. I don't see any evidence of the usual wire plate holders and wonder how they are staying up? Maybe it's magnetic paint? Now wouldn't that be fun? Glue magnets to the back of the plates and stick them all over until you get a pleasing arrangement. via Crush Cul de Sac

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