Best Fireplace Ever

Put me in that leather chair and let me toast myself in front of that wonderful fireplace! I would move the chess board so I could put my feet on the ottoman. I do love this room in a 15th century gatehouse in the Dordogne region of France. Tour here.

Welcoming 2013

Can't think of anything you want to change next year? Try the New Year's Resolution Generator.

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

Melting Ice

I think this photo is stunning! via

A Red Fox Visits My Cottage Today

I was passing by the french doors in the living room and spied this beautiful red fox in the snow. My camera with the long lens was nearby and I was able to get a good photo. He's beautiful, isn't he?

Wonderful House Tour - Tricia Foley

You will enjoy this ranch house in Long Island designed by Tricia Foley. I love the open floor plan and the use of sliding barn-style doors that are extensions of the paneled walls. Here's the house tour - view the photos horizontally. Isn't it great?

Brrr

You know it's cold when the dogs just want to take a quick visit to the woods and then head back to the door to get inside. I was fully dressed for a long walk in the snow but they decided otherwise this morning before breakfast. I took this photo of my frozen birdbath last winter and still love it. Enjoy your Sunday.

Baby New Year by Jessie Willcox Smith

How adorable! I've never seen this circa 1910 image of Baby New Year sitting in a black doctor's bag.  via

Webster and Henry Play in the Snow

Actually, Henry was the only one playing. I had him off leash and he was running around like a crazy little dog enjoying the new fallen snow. Now they are both in the house napping after an exhausting romp. Webster is happy about almost a whole week of puppy sitting his friend. Tabitha, not so much. She slept in the attic last night.

This village looks beautiful in the early morning hours, doesn't it? I see flowers so it must be spring with a little snow. I'm waiting for the snow we are supposed to be getting today. I picked up a few essentials at Trader Joe's yesterday so I'm ready. Enjoy the last weekend of 2012. via

Enchanted Cottage

I want to peek inside and I know I'll love it. It's a forever cottage made of brick with a tile roof. It is a bed and breakfast in Georgetown, SC near Charleston called Mansfield Plantation.

Cozy Fireplace Nook

I really like this cozy place to warm up just inside the door. The stone floor is perfect in case you have on snow-covered boots. Just stand in front of the fire until you melt and then go back outside for more fun in the snow. It is well thought out for reading too, with each wing chair having a floor lamp. A cozy nook with a fireplace and a bookcase wall -- what more could you want? via

This made me laugh.

This is such a clever way to illustrate writing rules, isn't it? via

Tabitha's Favorite Places

She likes the contour memory foam pillow. Webster loves it too. What is it about that pillow? Goodnight from all three of us!

She also likes my big thick Irish knit fisherman sweater on the bed in the other room. Maybe she'll teach me to put my clothes away.

Do Good Deeds

via

Christmas with Kelly

My friend Kelly has invited me to have Christmas dinner at her house practically every year since 2004. My mother stopped going a few years back and I ate my first big meal with her in the early afternoon. We usually dined on Cornish hens and all the trimmings. Last year we had the works here at the cottage because Kelly and her family spent Christmas in Florida and left Piggie with us. Yes, she's Piggie's mom. I had a wonderful time and it was especially meaningful this year. It took the sadness out of my first holiday without Anna.

Wonderful Conservatory

Wonderful Conservatory built onto the side of an old stone cottage. Pauline Hurren, Architect - South Australia

via Millie @ The Laurel Hedge on Pinterest

Book/Mitten Project for Newtown School Children

"Chester Raccoon stood at the edge of the forest and cried. 'I don't want to go to school,' he told his mother. 'I want to stay home with you. I want to play with my friends. And play with my toys. And read my books. And swing on my swing. Please may I stay home with you?'" — "The Kissing Hand," by Audrey Penn.
Kim Piscatelli of East Hampton, Conn., hit on the idea of sending a copy of this book to each of the kids from Sandy Hook Elementary with a pair of handmade mittens adorned with a heart in one palm, signifying the reassuring kiss left there by the mother of scared, sad Chester in the story.
Read more about this heart-warming project here.

Best Bookends Ever

Don't you absolutely love these handsome bookends? I hope I'll be lucky enough to find a pair for myself one day! I love the way they are displayed in this photo. via

I bought this for myself

I saw this fabulous KitchenAid coffee maker advertised in New York Magazine the last time I got my hair cut about 6 weeks ago. I came right home and ordered it online for $20 less than the manufacturer's suggested retail and it arrived the very next day from The Home Depot. It makes 2 perfect 9oz. cups of coffee and has one of those "gold" permanent filters so there's no guilt about adding anything to the landfill except for some coffe grounds which can go into the compost pile. It is fabulous! The coffee is HOT too, just the way I like it. I heat up some unsweetened soy milk in a small pan on the stove so as not to cool it down one bit. I don't drink it from the travel mug style pot. I prefer my favorite ceramic cup that holds exactly the right amount. I tend to get distracted on the computer with my morning blogging so I like for my first few sips to be super hot. The thermal brewing cup keeps my second cup nice and hot until I'm ready for a refill. If I wait too long, I zap it in the microwave once I pour it into my own cup for about 30 seconds. I'm a real snob about a hot cup of coffee. The water reservoir has markings for 8 oz., 12 oz., 16 oz. and Max. for 18 oz. I always use Max. This is not an advertisement - I just wanted to share my latest present to myself with you. I have a single-cup Keurig I will be taking to the office for my colleagues to enjoy.

My Thoughts on Coffee

Two 8-ounce cups every morning are all I need. Without them I am nothing! Love this coffee poster.

Merry Christmas - Vintage Images

My own front door Christmas past.

Have a wonderful Christmas and thank you one and all for your good Christmas wishes for me.

Charles Dickens said it best.

GOD BLESS US, EVERY ONE!

Great Christmas Eve Bedroom

Hang your stocking from this fireplace and see if Santa came on Christmas morning without even getting out of bed. I have a rug just like this one in my kitchen in front of the sink. Love it.

Merry Christmas to all of my wonderful followers, blog readers and friends. You are the best!

Gingerbread Birdhouse

What a cute variation on a traditional gingerbread house. One for the birds!!! via

Christmas in Finland

Sweet and simple. I love the tangled bunch of lights on the floor. via

Goats jumping to Jingle Bells - Video

This is so cute. Click here if you can't see this adorable video. Boy, they've got a lot of energy! xo

I don't think I've ever seen a kitchen countertop in this configuration. It's very interesting, isn't it? Do you think it would be awkward when trying to work here? Would you find yourself bumping into these projections or not? Anyway, it all looks very nice in this photo. I think I would just skip the plinths in favor of larger drawers and cabinets. via

My Mom A Year Ago Today

It seems like yesterday but it was a year ago today that I posted a couple of photos of my dear mother and Piggy the French bulldog. We were dog sitting while Piggy's humans were in Florida for Christmas. This year his folks are at home. I miss them both. See last year's blog post here.

Christmas Hares

I love this delightful image of hares in the snow holding holly sprigs. Happy first full day of winter! via

Anatomy of the Mitten Cookie

 

 

There were several questions about the mitten cookie I received yesterday. The size is small - 3" in length. It's plain on the back and is unfilled. The dark edge is piped with a thin edge of dark red and then rolled in a glittery sugar the same color. The white 'fur' top is a thick layer of white frosting rolled in tiny white balls. That's the anatomy of this cute mitten cookie. I used the Scrabble tiles for scale.