A Garden and A Library

  

Well, almost everything. I might have to throw in a computer. Agreed? What else would you require? Maybe a cute little dog? How about this one?

   

Not A Castle But A Folly | Broadway Tower in The Cotswolds

On my first trip to England in 1974 I headed straight for Broadway in the Cotswolds. This structure is often called England's Smallest Castle, but the Broadway Tower is really a folly. You can get a commanding view of the surrounding countryside from the top. photo ©Al Cooper

In architecture, a folly is a building constructed primarily for decoration, but either suggesting by its appearance some other purpose, or merely so extravagant that it transcends the normal range of garden ornaments or other class of building to which it belongs. In the original use of the word, these buildings had no other use, but from the 19th to 20th centuries the term was also applied to highly decorative buildings which had secondary practical functions such as housing, sheltering or business use.

Bluebells At Dawn

Here is a lovely spring scene to get your day off to a beautiful start. I've never seen so many bluebells completely carpeting a woodland floor, have you? ©Barry Wakelin

Stone Cottage with Lilacs

I found a delightful (English?) stone cottage with a beautiful garden and a blooming lilac to get you through the early March doldrums when everything is so unattractive. Spring is literally right around the corner. photo ©John Goad

Potted Bulbs on The Breakfast Table

Isn't this breakfast table in the Netherlands absolutely stunning with the addition of potted bulbs in full bloom? I ate my breakfast standing over the sink in a huge rush to meet an early morning customer before the office meeting. In my mind I was sitting at this table. Enjoy the lovely day.

A Kitchen To Love

A creamy palette adds charm to a remodeled space.

This kitchen is new but feels original to the home. The old-meets-new design was achieved with sage-coloured, Shaker-style cabinets, a tongue-and-groove ceiling and vintage-look hardware. A footed cabinet houses the appliances, and sets it apart from the rest of the room. Meanwhile, the paneled dishwasher to the right of the sink cleverly masquerades as drawers. Photo Source I think this kitchen is amazing, don't you?

Boathouse with Unique Exterior Sliding Doors

You know how much I love to blog about sliding barn doors so I was really blown away by the genius design of this Hood Canal Boat House. The building is only two doors wide and the tracks extend beyond the building like wings so doors open completely allowing full access to the inside. What a great idea! Click here to see all of the wonderful full-size photos of this 2008 project by the Pacific Northwest Architectural Firm Bosworth Hoedemaker. I'm giving this project two thumbs up.

Your Dose of England for Today

"Milldale Cottage, Peak District National Park, England." I know you all love this little cottage as much as I do, right? The photo by Johnny Fez is very painterly, isn't it? via

William Arthur Ward Illustrated Quote for Monday

Pretty soon we will be seeing oak seedlings everywhere. The acorns have been buried all winter and are about to spring forth very soon. Gardeners who plant their gardens from seeds can relate to this quote by William Arthur Ward (1921-1994). I scanned the acorn from The Royal Book of Crests, one of the antiquarian books in my collection. 

Dreaming of England . . . Again

Awaiting teleportation to: The Dovecote in the Pigeon House Garden at Rousham Park House near Bicester Oxfordshire photographed by ©Paul Felix