Fabulous Goat Weathervane

I saved this fabulous weathervane to my computer because I love it so much! This goat was made circa 1880 and has survived with most of its yellow undercoat topped with gold leaf. The patina is wonderful! via

 

Sign up for a free email subscription to follow my post

HOME PAGE WITH ALL POSTS + UPDATES

Lady Liberty in a Folk Art Painting

Both photos and a wonderful article about our American flag found in link below. More delightful folk art and antique flag photos as well as a photo of the event (depicted in a painting) that inspired The Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key. Perfect reading today, July 4, 2021.

The Feeling of Love and Respect for the Red, White, and Blue By Judy Gonyeau

Read the article & enjoy the Fourth of July 🇺🇸 

New posts, updates & comments

SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW MY BLOG BY EMAIL 📧

IT'S FREE, OF COURSE!

I finally learned how to make a link for you to get my new posts delivered to your inbox by email. The link calls it a Newsletter. The old emails are going to being discontinued by feedburner at an undisclosed date in July 2021. Thank you so much for your continued interest in following me.❤️  

https://follow.it/contentinacottage

Lady Liberty Gilded Antique Weather Vane

Lady Liberty still prevails!

Tall Case Clock in My Kitchen

New Jersey Tall Case Clock circa 1820

I found this old photo with the sundial that is now in my garden next to the tall case clock in my kitchen. There was an area of my attic over the kitchen that was too low for me to stand upright so I incorporated it into my kitchen during the renovation. That was fortunate because the kitchen ended up being the only room where my clock could stand after I moved in. My former house had eight-foot ceilings and I never measured the room heights in my cottage but they are only seven feet, eight inches.  My clock needs a minimum of eight feet to stand up with the finials in place, so in the kitchen it went and I have absolutely loved it there ever since. It fits perfectly between my cabinetry and the pantry even though this space wasn't designed to house the clock. It couldn't be any better if I had planned it this way! xo

Kitchen Opening to Family Room with Fireplace

I think this room arrangement is better than having a fireplace in the kitchen. It's the best of both worlds having it overlook the family room. Love it all, don't you? designed by Amelia T. Handegan, Inc. Interiors Charleston, SC.

Double Hearts on Pen and Ink 18thC Family Record

I have this framed family record on a wall in my living room that never gets any sunlight. Sorry about my reflection in the glass. It is hand lettered with pen and ink and the calligraphy is beautiful. Every line is hand drawn.

I especially love the double hearts with the word together in the center. This is the perfect post for Valentine's Day.

Flying Staircase at Shirley Plantation

The flying staircase at Shirley Plantation, Charles City County, Virginia. Shirley is one of Virginia's oldest plantations, founded in 1613, and construction of the current house began in 1723. Eleven generations of one family have lived in the mansion, and descendants still operate it as a farm. via

I never cease to be amazed at beautiful architecture created without the aid of power tools.

Geraniums 1888

GERANIUMS

Childe Hassam

1888

via

19th Century Handmade Southern Crafts: High Museum Atlanta Exhibit

Unknown African-American Maker: A North Carolina Quilted Bedcover, ca. 1875–1900, cotton top, linen back, and cotton stuffing. High Museum of Art, Atlanta; on view through August 4, 2019

HAND TO HAND: SOUTHERN CRAFT OF THE 19TH CENTURY 

Stoneware water cooler attributed to Thomas Chandler, Phoenix Factory, South Carolina, c. 1840. This photo is from an article in The Magazine Antiques about the High Museum exhibition. See more items and read the article here. 

I thought these wonderful images would be a good contribution to African-American History Month.

Americana Christmas Tree

I thought I would be anxious to start taking down my Christmas decorations now that Christmas has passed but I'm not. I think I'll wait until New Year's Day. This tree is nice. via Here's hoping all of your celebrations were as nice as the one I attended at a friend's new home.

Alexander Hamilton Documentary on PBS

Hamilton's America premiered last night on PBS and I forgot all about recording it. But as luck would have it, the full episode is available online. I just watched the entire documentary on my computer and it was absolutely wonderful. ENJOY.

Gentleman's Closet Extraordinaire

I hope this beautifully fitted walk-in closet doesn't have a door, for it's far too lovely to be out of view for even a minute. via

Video: Bunny Mellon's Collection Displayed at Sotheby's

I can't get enough. This is old news but it still interests me immensely. Read the article and see more photos in a slide show @ Architectural Digest

Guests of Architectural Digest celebrate the collection of Mrs. Paul Bunny Mellon at Sotheby's. 

http://www.architecturaldigest.com/video/2014/celebrating-bunny-mellon-collection-video

Click on the link above to open the Architectural Digest video and then click to start it. Enjoy!

Colonial Silver Valentine

Wonderful Early American Love Token via

Samuel R. C. Moffat

of Portsmouth New Hampshire

New England

in North America

Perfect for Valentine's Day

Veblen House in Minnesota

Such a nice restoration! via

White Out

I love a house with the lights on in every room. This one is especially nice, isn't it? We only got a few flakes in my town but my driveway is solid ice and it's super cold! via

Garden Pavilion at Monticello

There are those windows again that go all the way to the floor. I love the caption on this photo I found for you this evening: "FOR THE LOVE OF MONTICELLO Thank you, Thomas Jefferson, for understanding that contrary to modern American sentiment - size does NOT matter, and that a single room garden pavilion can bring you to your knees." Well said. 

Found here.

Great Before and After Farmhouse Renovation

A year before the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, a man named Joseph Wheadon built a modest, one-room house in New Milford, Connecticut. Wheadon cut the lumber by hand and scavenged foundation stones from the surrounding property. After his premature death, a Greek Revival wing was built, followed by other less-distinctive additions.

More than 235 years after Wheadon first wielded his ax, a Greenwich woman discovered the property while searching for a weekend retreat. By this time, the house was dated and neglected, with systems that had outlived their usefulness. "It was my duty to the community to maintain and uphold the architectural history of the house," says the homeowner, a former student of historic preservation, now earning a doctorate in environmental policy. "However, on the backside of the house, I wanted to bring nature in and to connect the house to its surroundings."

The Greek Revival wing had been added after the original house was built — probably around 1820. "We wanted to keep that absolutely intact, and use that as a reference point for all the materials and proportions and style of the rest of the house," says the owner.

AFTER. The architect used a variety of architectural tricks to keep the second floor as low as possible, out of deference to the Greek Revival facade. The old shutters were not original or authentic, so the owner opted to remove them.

Working with Mark Goodwin of Beinfield Architecture, and Jim Blansfield of Blansfield Builders, the owner remodeled and expanded the house, opening the interior spaces to each other and the view. I think this is wonderful, don't you? See the inside too ~ here.

Folk Art Bust of George Washington

I love stories like this.

Early folk art carved bust of George Washington. Found as a finial on the top of a staircase in an old farmhouse in Sneedville, Tennessee. via

Acorn Street, Boston

Beacon Hill. Acorn Street. Boston.

via

via

via