Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Cottages and Roses

Cottages and roses are perfect together, aren't they? I decided to skip my office meeting and broker open houses today to give my place some much-need attention and some real elbow grease. I'll never forget the first time I heard those words...I was cleaning my bathroom tub as a 4th grader and my mom walked past and told me to use some elbow grease and I actually started looking for it. And that's the truth. My mother laughed when I asked her where she kept it.  

Stone and Brick Outbuilding with Dovecote

I hope there is something like this at the end of the drive I pictured yesterday. I've always preferred the gardener's cottage to the big mansion behind the gates. Now I have my own cottage having wished for one since childhood.

Monday, May 2, 2011

My Dream Driveway

Isn't this the best driveway ever? I'm not talking about the site with the trees on either side and the gate...I'm talking about the road itself. I love the packed pebble center and sides and the packed whatever lanes. I'd love to know more about it. I have a gravel drive with belgian block curbing to contain it. I am not a fan of blacktop at all. We had a lot of snow last season and I'm amazed that all of the gravel did not end up on the lawn but it was very minimal for some reason in spite of all the snow plowings. I think I finally mastered parking in the right place.

The road above has a concrete look but it probably isn't. I'll let you know if I ever find out the secret of this paving technique. 

This Hallway Has Gone To The Dogs

 
Osborne and Little Wallpaper appropriately named 'Best in Show'

Hand-Painted Bike Helmet

Isn't this the best idea? I love the phrenology head design on this hand-painted bicycle helmet.

Each helmet is hand-painted by Danielle Baskin in acrylics and sealed in a UV-protected oil-based varnish that repels water and prevents chipping. They range in price from 100-400 USD depending on the design and detail. If a helmet is provided 30 USD will be deducted from the total cost. Here is the website for Belle Helmets -- be sure to look at the image gallery for other amazing designs. It's so nice to see a young artist with talent and a great idea.

My Summer Bedroom

I've been looking for quite a while for my new [virtual] summer bedroom and I do believe this is it. I love this tiny sleeping porch with the most beautiful view you could ever wish for. I hope that bed is long enough for me. If it isn't who wants to be next in line?

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Joyful Royals


Three Happy Princes
Prince Harry, Prince Charles, Prince William


Royal role models - 63 years married
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Riverside Cottage in France

What a nice French riverside cottage. Sign me up for the month of August.*

Dance Around the Maypole


Dancing around the Maypole
Half of the dancers should go in one direction around the Maypole, while the other half dance in the opposite direction. Each dancer should alternate between going under or over the dancers that they are meeting. This will weave the ribbons around the Maypole.

Take Your Dog on A Bike Ride Today

Webster would love this but he's so friendly I'd be afraid he would jump off every time he saw a person or another dog. So he's banned from the bike and restricted to four wheels.

Flowers for May Day

Flowers for the first of May. My lawn is beautiful after its first cutting. I could hear little screams as I mowed over the violets so I left that area until they've bloomed out. The birds are chirping and the sun is out. I'm starting to embrace the out of doors again now that I've gotten a big block of work under my belt and I'm looking forward to more. Have a great Sunday.

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Stacked Wood Architecture

I have zero information on this structure but I really love it. It would have been so much fun to play around with the woodpiles until they were perfectly arranged. The sod roof is amazing too. 

Breathtakingly Beautiful Bride

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

I'm Still Watching You


I'm Watching You


May Day Flower Cone Template | Free Download

Happy May Day

Wouldn't it be fun to leave one of these hanging May Baskets on the front door of a friend as a May Day gift? I might make some too. Here is the FREE TEMPLATE to download. Have fun.  

I didn't have to make any adjustments when I printed my template but the following note was included by the original author of this template. Technical Note: Please make sure your printing margins are set to .5 inches  (1/2 inch) or the template will not print completely. In your browser's Menu bar, select File -- Page Setup, and change the margin settings to .5. (The selections may be slightly different between browsers.) This template makes a cone measuring 6 inches high, and the opening diameter is 3 inches. This cone is perfect for holding fresh-cut flowers, small clumps of potted plants, flower petals, or small candies! I plan on reinforcing the hole on the reverse side with some heavy packaging tape I have on hand. You should apply the tape before poking/punching the hole.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Cotswold Cottage - Brick Rather Than Stone

I've always liked a nice brick cottage with a thatched roof. This one is perfect. Have a nice weekend.*

Blue Bike

I'm very excited about the good weather we are going to be having for the next 3 days. I was able to get my riding mower started very easily and actually enjoyed getting a head start on the back forty. I should finish tomorrow. Isn't this a pretty blue bike? It would be perfect for delivering May Baskets on Sunday. Have a wonderful fun weekend.*

Keep Calm and

I don't know about you but I can't stop thinking about the royal wedding. I loved Harry's messy hair so I couldn't resist making this poster. I can't believe I'm not even tired after waking up so very early to watch all the festivities live. Fairy tales really do come true.

Laundry Day

I can hear my washing machine on its final spin cycle at this very minute. I'll be hanging my laundry outside on this sunny, breezy day. I have a number of contraptions for drying clothes inside the house but none will be necessary today. Yay!

The Language of Flowers

I woke up this morning at 3:03 a.m. without the aid of an alarm clock. I watched every minute of BBC America's LIVE broadcast of The Royal Wedding in high definition on my PBS station with no commercials whatsoever. I loved the symbolism of the 6 field maple trees (humility) and the 2 hornbeams (resilience) decorating  Westminster Abbey.

You may read an 1892 edition of The Language of Flowers illustrated by Kate Greenaway by clicking here. You will be asked to type in a few letters first to protect this digital copy. Enjoy. 

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Queen Elizabeth's Drop Scones [Recipe]

I have all of these ingredients in my pantry and you probably do too. Will you be eating Queen Elizabeth Drop Scones while you watch the wedding tomorrow? They sound fabulous.

In 1960, Queen Elizabeth II sent President Dwight D. Eisenhower her recipe for Drop Scones which she had promised to give to him when he’d visited her at Balmoral Castle. Eisenhower was an avid cook.

Elizabeth II doesn’t seem like a likely cook, but she was an auto mechanic during World War II. She could probably stir up a batch of scones, if called upon in the line of duty.*

Cottage Reflection

What an absolutely beautiful little cottage on a pond in the woods. Wouldn't you love spending time in this darling outdoor sanctuary?

Palace Foot Guard Gets Royal Wedding Haircut

 
Just when you thought you'd seen everything concerning the royal wedding! Bet you thought those hats were made of bear skin too. It seems there are very special physical qualifications for becoming a Foot Guard at Buckingham Palace. 

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum - Boston, MA


The Gardner Museum's website is wonderful. Give it a few seconds to load and you will then be able to click around the background and explore the art, architecture, antiques, rooms and courtyard pictured above.
Start Exploring GardnerMuseum.org

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

A Wonderful Vertical Garden

I love this idea ~ A long vertical wood-framed planter hanging on an outdoor wall becomes an eye-catching garden filled with wool pocket planters.  

Royal Dog Collar



I made this illustrated quote using a scan from my antiquarian book, The Royal Book of Crests. I have no idea what breed of dog actually wore the collar from Alexander Pope. I was amazed that I could find an image so fitting for a Royal Dog Collar.

Crown Graphic for Royal Wedding Parties



Here is a nice crown graphic you might like to use for your Royal Wedding invitations, place cards, buffet food markers, etc.

Keep Calm and Watch the Wedding

The countdown has begun. What time will you be rising on Friday? Everything starts on my side of the globe and time zone at 3:00 am. I created this poster at the Keep Calm Generator site. 

I linked this Royal Wedding poster here.