Happy First Day of Spring

I honestly woke up to a bird singing the same song over and over this morning to welcome the first day of spring. I think this rooster has been used several times on this date in past years but here he is again. He's an engraving from one of my antiquarian books, The Royal Book of Crests. I hope your day is like mine with bright sun and a blue sky. xo

Lisa D. wanted to know the name of that bird I heard. I found a YouTube video of New Jersey birds singing and have identified my bird as THE TUFTED TITMOUSE, the first bird in this YouTube video. Enjoy seeing so many of the birds of New Jersey who enjoy bird feeders and sing for their supper. xo

H A P P Y 🦃 T H A N K S G I V I N G

This is my annual post for Thanksgiving

made from a scan from my favorite antiquarian book, 

"The Royal Book of Crests"

The font is Elizabethan Script 

I lost it when my 

Windows PC crashed ages ago. 

This font is called
Jacques  Francois Shadow

it's a free download from Google
Let me know if it's garbled and I will replace it with another universally recognized font.

H A P P Y 🎃 H A L L O W E E N

HAVE A GREAT HALLOWEEN WEEKEND

The history of this image here.

Hello, August -- Gather Your Rosebuds

First published on my blog back in 2008

New version of this etching from my Royal Book of Crests showing what a difference a thin black border can make. It's not that obvious when you view it on a computer and in the full version of my blog with the gray background. But it makes all the difference in the world when you see it in the email version if you subscribe or in the mobile version if you are viewing on an iPad or your phone. August always make me want to hold on to each day in the last month of summer and gather all the buds I possibly can before the leaves start falling.

xo

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING

I didn't hear any crowing when I woke up early this morning but a rooster must have welcomed the first day of spring somewhere. I photographed this image from my 19th century Royal Book of Crests.

I started doing a little bit of spring cleaning yesterday doing the inside windows in my kitchen and two in the living room. It's still too chilly to start on the outsides. Enjoy this promise of finer days to come. xo

Halloween Bat

I probably posted this last year but I love it so here it is again. I took the photo from my antiquarian book, The Royal Book of Crests, and added the text myself. Be safe tonight and don't eat too much candy. I am turning off the lights early and will be watching movies in bed. I voted today and placed my mail-in ballot in a designated drop box in front of a police station. I really wanted to vote in person but decided this way was safer and ever so much easier. Count Dracula would have loved this crest. xo

The Gift of A Cat's Love via Charles Dickens

This early engraving from my Royal Book of Crests looks very much like Tabitha only her ears aren't as pointed. Even Webster the Wonder Dog loves her. After three years, she is finally loving him back in her own special way. She hardly ever hisses at him any more and she always seems happy when he leads the way on family walks. Animals enrich our lives so much every day. It rained all night and the wind howled but it's nice and clear and calm this morning. Perfect! Rosemary

Quote with strike through.

 

  If you don't find it in the index, look very carefully through the entire catalogue blog.

Quote by an unknown author with my own correction. Image from my Royal Book of Crests.

Isn't this a a great idea for getting new readers? 

Wild about Crests . . .

Welcome to Isel Hall, a 15th century Historic house in England's Lake District.

 

  

The Lawson Crest, the sun supported by the arms of the law, is a motif which is much in evidence both outside and inside the hall.

 

Distant view of the estate showing a pair of the crests atop a stone wall.

   

Closer view of a wonderfully weathered crest.

 

Rooster crest on my everyday antique English silver flatware. I couldn't believe my luck when I found the set at a local flea market!

I have a 19th century antiquarian book entitled The Royal Book of Crests. It is full of engraved crests like the rooster above. 

xo