Well Done - Quote

Yes.

Well Done is Better!

via

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.

Mount Vernon: Beautiful Historic Rooftop Architectural Details

Detail of historic Mount Vernon in Alexandria, Virginia via Simply gorgeous and so beautifully maintained.

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.

George Washington's Headquarters Morristown NJ

General George Washington’s headquarters was established here at the Ford Mansion in Morristown, New Jersey on December 1, 1779.

I went here with my mom for a program at Christmas time three years ago. Must go again this year to see it all decorated for Christmas. It's a gorgeous building with a great museum. via

Thomas Jefferson's Tea Room at Monticello

Yes, please. I love this small, beautifully appointed nook with a wonderful view for having tea. via

Benjamin Franklin Quote about Happiness

Fun with Quotes. I made this one here.

Tranquility and Occupation

"It is neither wealth nor splendor; but tranquility and occupation which give you happiness."

~Thomas Jefferson

George Washington's View on The Debt Ceiling

Hello Washington, it's George. Is anybody listening?

Benjamin Franklin :: Secret Quote

Benjamin Franklin continues to amuse me. I scanned this image from one of my favorite books. I love the wood engraving showing fashion, interior design, and antiques of the period.

Happy Friday. Have a great weekend.

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George Washington by Gilbert Stuart

The finest and best and most reproduced portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart. Read the interesting history behind it.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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Attention All Boys ~ Learn Carpentry

Me too. This was posted by an 18 year old blogger from New Zealand. I agree and I am a zillion years older. A carpenter is about the best thing you can be and too few young people today realize this. You can build the things in your head that are so hard to describe to a hired man. You can never have too many bookshelves, can you?
I recently found a really interesting article about Thomas Jefferson's BOOK BOXES with the dimensions he used for his. These sound perfect and I really want a set or two. They have built reproductions at Monticello. Thomas Jefferson designed them and thought they were the perfect way to store, display, and travel with his books. They look very simple, don't they? Bookshelves don't have to be ornamental in any way. The books they hold are the decoration.




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Thomas Jefferson's Library Is Being Recreated

The Library of Congress is attempting to reassemble Thomas Jefferson's original library sold to Congress in 1815 for $23,950. Jefferson had the largest and perhaps the finest personal collection of books in the country which he offered to the United States government to replace the holdings in the Capitol that were burned by the British in 1814. His book collection became the foundation of the Library of Congress. A second fire on Christmas Eve of 1851 destroyed nearly two thirds of the 6,487 volumes Congress purchased from Jefferson. He never used the word "sold" when referring to the transaction but used "ceded" instead.

Does anyone know if there is a list of the books they are missing? I would gladly donate any volumes I might have in my personal library of antiquarian books to this worthy cause. Read more. I love stories like this, don't you?

Proclaiming that "I cannot live without books," Jefferson began a second collection of several thousand books, which was sold at auction in 1829 to help satisfy his creditors.

Stated in a letter to John Adams dated June 10, 1815.

Have a great weekend, Rosemary.

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Happy New Year | Antique Fonts

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and may each New Year find you a better man." Benjamin Franklin

I designed this greeting for you by scanning a whole alphabet from one of my antiquarian books and cutting out each letter with Photoshop to spell HAPPY NEW YEAR. Isn't it nice? It took a while to do and there was no letter W. I had to play around and stitch two Vs together and it worked. It's my present to you for the New Year. I hope yours is filled with health and happiness. Rosemary




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Maira Kalman picture story about Benjamin Franklin . . .

How Benjamin Franklin turned America into the land of invention.



I love Benjamin Franklin and I love all of the picture stories about our founding fathers by Maira Kalman. This could possibly be my favorite to date. In case you missed this article in the New York Times, read all about it here. Enjoy!
Thanks for stopping by the cottage today. ♥Rosemary

A picture story visit to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home in Virginia . . .

If you want to understand the United States and its people, says artist/author Maira Kalman, you need to visit Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home in Virginia.

You know how much I love Maira Kalman's picture stories. I've blogged about her in the past and her stories always thrill and delight me. I love Thomas Jefferson too so I was very interested to see what she had to say about him when she visited Monticello.

She was especially interested in the way he managed his time. The title of the New York Times story is TIME WASTES TOO FAST.

Read and enjoy the complete story here. You will be so glad you did.

This is the last weekend in June...enjoy it to the fullest. Thanks for stopping by the cottage. ♥Rosemary

Timely George Washington Quote about Debt . . .

Isn't this the best quote you've seen in ages? It is over 200 years old and still rings true. Too bad it is not practiced. Our national debt is incomrehensible to me.

Image is a scan of one of my early 19th century antiquarian prints. Engraved by A. Daggett from the original painting by Colonel Trumbull.

Abraham Lincoln Money Quote . . .

Timely Thomas Jefferson Banking Quote . . .

"Banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies." Thomas Jefferson

Source: stated in 1811 when President Jefferson refused to renew the charter for the First Bank of the United States (the 2nd central bank chartered by Congress in 1791).

The beautiful building shown above is The Second Bank of the United States, Philadelphia on Chestnut Street between 4th & 5th. It was founded after the War of 1812 when it was realized that without a national bank (the charter on the first bank was allowed to lapse) it would be impossible to fund another war such as the one just fought. Founded in 1816, the building was finished in 1818. William Strickland, one of the first great American architects designed the building, and Nicholas Biddle was the first president of the bank. After a long battle, Andrew Jackson disbanded the bank in 1832 during his crusade against the national banking system.

Abraham Lincoln's 200th Birthday ~ February 12, 1809 - 2009 . . .

Commemorative Stamp set issued by the US Postal Service to celebrate the Lincoln bicentennial. Buy only what you need or want to keep because postage is going up to 44 cents in May! Yet another increase with no added service.


Lincoln Portrait by Anthony Berger
at the Mathew Brady Studio 1864.


This image released by George Eastman House is a broken glass-plate interpositive of a clean shaven Abraham Lincoln, taken by Alexander Hesler at the Illinois state Capitol in Springfield on June 3, 1860.


The following photos are from Time Magazine.
Click to enlarge. Buttons don't work.

End of photos from Time Magazine.

When I was in school we celebrated this iconic President's birthday every February 12th. Now we have Presidents' Day which is celebrated next Monday so we can have a long weekend. It combines Lincoln's birthday and George Washington's birthday (February 22nd). I don't think children are taught the true dates for each President's actual birthday. What a shame.

Happy Birthday Honest Abe!




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