Great Room with Neat Shelves

If you've been yearning for some built-in bookshelves but don't know where to start, these shelves would be a good alternative. I think they look very nice, don't you?  via

Peony in the Rain at My Cottage

The rain let up for a minute or two and I ran out front and snapped a few quick photos of my peony buds that are opening slowly. I hope the week isn't as bad as they are predicting with rain every day. I no sooner get ahead with my grass cutting than I'm way behind again. Oh well, what can you do? At least it's not hot yet.

 

Studio Flowers Video

Click here if you are unable to view the video.

A Really Interesting Quote

What a great quote!

via

Peonies are Great Flowers for Cutting

Agreed? I am always amazed at how long peonies last in arrangements.

 

Back Then - DANDELION COTTAGE

I downloaded my first audio book yesterday and had a delightful time listening to Dandelion Cottage.

It is a free download -- here is the site if you DON'T have an iPhone.

I never read this book as a young girl and I would have loved it back then. It's never too late to catch up, is it? The free app for iPhone and iPad is called Audiobooks -- The list of free books to download is wonderful. You can also read Dandelion Cottage online or on an eReader here.

440 East Arch, Marquette Michigan

Dandelion Cottage has historical significance for its association with a prize-winning Marquette (Michigan) author who made the house famous in her book of the same name. In 1904 local writer Caroll Watson Rankin wrote a popular children's story of four young girls who earned the right to occupy the cottage as a play house over the summer months for the rental price of ridding its yard of its dandelion crop. The cottage was constructed about 1880 and donated to Saint Paul's Episcopal Church by Marquette pioneer and philanthropist Peter White in 1888 as a rental property. The house was moved from its then-current location adjacent to the church on High Street to a site two hundred feet away on Arch Street. To avoid demolition of the disintegrating structure, then-mayor of Marquette, William Birch and his wife, Sally, agreed to purchase and move the cottage in order to maintain the noted structure's presence in the community. source

Real people still live in this delightful cottage. Read about them here: Back Then - mmnow.com

Dandelion Cottage by Caroll Watson Rankin -- Carroll Watson Rankin is the pen name of American author Caroline Clement Watson Rankin (1864–1945). She began writing the story one August day in 1903 when her young daughter Eleanor proclaimed she had read all the books in the world for little girls.

Have a Rosey Weekend

via

Wildflowers at My Cottage

BUTTERCUPS GONE WILD

MULTIFLORA (love the tiny rosebuds)

Photographs in Photos | What a Great Idea

Dear Photograph---Thank you for reminding me that if I wait just a little longer the seasons will always change. found @ Dear Photograph a site that combines past and present.

Perfect Peonies

Mine have not bloomed yet and are still full of big round tight buds. A friend dropped these off for me yesterday because they were dragging the ground at her house. I love having fresh flowers in the house, don't you? Have a great weekend.

Old Greenhouse

Have a great weekend playing in the garden whether it's inside or out. via

Glynallyn House Tour | Mansion in May 2012

Great room fireplace.

Plaster ceiling detail.

Statue at edge of glen.

Early 18th century sundial built in a stone wall.
All photos are mine. Click to enlarge.
Mansion in May

Perfect Hallway and Staircase

I love everything about this entrance hall and staircase. Designed by Norman Askins Architects. I adore the fancy dress the chair is wearing. via

Seen @ the MANSION IN MAY Designer Showcase

My friend Lynn and I went to a showcase in a medieval castle yesterday and had a wonderful time. I loved this figural wood carving best of all. This is my iPhone photo.

Mansion in May trailer. Click here to view the video. The Elizabethan-styled Tudor castle was inspired by England's Compton Wynyates in Warwickshire.

Lynn and I have gone together to almost every designer showcase house to benefit Morristown Memorial Hospital since the very first one. Somehow there was one we missed and neither of us can remember why.

Read the history of Glynallyn, the Tudor Castle here. Try to go if you can! Parking lot with fabulous shuttle buses located at 44 Whippany Road. 
This historic estate on 7.3 acres with 66 rooms, 15 bedrooms and 8 full baths is also for sale. The price is $5,700,000 for a gilded-age mansion, 32,000 square feet in size. My firm has the listing. Let me know if you have any interest. I'd love to show it to you.

A Breakfast to Crow About

I want rooster jam on my buttered and toasted peasant bread too. via

All About Dogs

DOGS ARE MIRACLES WITH PAWS; Live Your Dog's Life! via

Vulture at My Cottage

There must be a dead animal around here somewhere. This vulture was flying overhead when Webster and I came back from his after-dinner walk yesterday. It landed on the telephone pole in front of the cottage and spread its wings and left them in that position for quite a long time. I don't care for these big ugly birds but they do have a purpose. Another one landed in the black walnut tree. I wonder if that deer I saw on the side of the road a few houses away is still there? That must be what they are after.

Breakfast Nook -- Booth Style

What a great place for eating, doing homework, putting together puzzles, reading the paper, having coffee, computing and more. Who doesn't want to sit in a diner-style booth?  ©Lincoln Barbour

Unusual Pillow

Goodnight. I hope I can find a more comfortable place to lay my head than a bicycle pedal. This old dog doesn't seem to mind at all, does he? Maybe he's guarding the bike for his owner. © Maciej Dakowicz

No Worries, We Have a Mudroom.

Recently I picked up a young runaway dog from the middle of the road who had been swimming in the brook. She pretty much destroyed my car before we found her home which was pretty far away. I would not extend the same courtesy to this bunch! via

New England Architecture

Madison Connecticut beauty. via

Low Country Architecture

Raised to catch the breeze. Lots of porches. Only in the south. via

Soft Rain on Monday

Webster is waterproof and needs no umbrella.
I usually enjoy walking without one too

but my iPhone does not agree.

The flowers capture the raindrops very nicely.

Mother's Day Supper was served here yesterday. Our new bluebird house is a speck in the distance.

Does Your Blood Type Describe Your Outlook?

This is great, isn't it? That's mine too -- for sure! via

Tiny House in Portland

The best porch swing ever!

I love the gable end natural wood wall.

So inviting!

The wall of books is wonderful.

via

Free App for making photo collages

My first picture collage using this free app. 

Webster Hunts for Snakes

Webster the wonder dog was out after lunch yesterday looking for snakes in the tall grass. He didn't find any but we have seen several small ones already this year. There were dragon flies buzzing around everywhere and it was a great day. 

Original iPad finger drawing converted to an eCard.

This beautiful drawing was done by a friend in Vermont. She didn't use a stylus---just her finger. After cropping it, I added the greeting and frame. I think it became a perfect Mother's Day card, don't you?

Happy Mother's Day to All Mother Hens

How dear is this picture? I love the peeking peep, don't you? This really is motherhood at its best!  via

Happy Faces

These are such happy little flowers, aren't they? I fertilized them last week with some blue water and they are finally blooming again for a second round. My mother always says they are heavy feeders. 

How to feed a giraffe.

Have a fun weekend. I love this vintage photograph. This was certainly a memorable trip to the zoo for these little boys and their super dad. via

Where's the salt shaker? | Young Robin Up Close

I had a visit yesterday from an immature robin who stopped by to supervise my yard work. He could fly but not very well so he hopped around for a bit and let me get very close. I could have sprinkled salt on his tail if I'd had a salt shaker in my pocket instead of my iPhone. 

My First Front Mowing @ My Cottage

Just a quick photo before I fall into bed to show you how nice my front lawn looked when I finished mowing after supper. Have a wonderful weekend. 

Dogs @ Windows

You'll really looking at this collection of photos showing dogs in windows. Webster is an expert at this as you well know. Link here.

Cottage Style

This stone house that was on my open house tour this week was a little too large to be called a cottage but it had many elements outside to tame it into almost being one. The garden court was a lovely approach to the front door and was accessible from the kitchen wing too.

Inside the Conservatory Looking Out

Here's proof that green is beautiful. The cloches are ready to protect some tender newly-planted seedlings. Have a great evening and I'll see you tomorrow. via

At My Cottage Yesterday After Dinner

I love the little faces on these tiny violas that are a johnny jump up variety. They are in a big pot at my front door. Who doesn't love a pansy face?

Webster the wonder dog was in deep thought about something. Mother and I were headed for the chairs that look like two tiny dots in the way back.