Hermès | The Story of the Kelly Bag | Download

Designed by Robert Dumas in the 1930s, the Kelly was simply unlike any other bag around. It was first called sac à courroie pour dames, meaning bag with straps for ladies.

How interesting. I learned lots of new things about the original Hermès Kelly Bag. Read more . . .

The bag became an overnight sensation after this photo appeared in Life Magazine in 1956. It wasn't officially renamed Kelly until 21 years later. Grace Kelly loved this bag and used the half-dozen in her collection to hide her pregnancy from the paparazzi. 

As you can see from this photo the bag did an excellent job for Princess Grace of Monaco, our American princess.

 Download your Kelly and make an origami paper version.

'Spring Forward' Tonight | Daylight Savings Time

Before you go to bed tonight you must remember to set your clocks ahead by one hour for daylight savings time. We will lose one hour of sleep but maybe our internal clocks will let us sleep an extra hour on Sunday morning. I hope so. Remember, SPRING FORWARD, Fall Back. This little ditty always helps me figure out which way to turn the dial.

I've been waiting for this date to fiddle with the clock in my car. The time is not correct and if I have to get out the dreaded manual I might as well kill two birds with one stone. I'll be fine until the fall when I have to set it back an hour. By then I will most certainly have forgotten how and will need to consult the manual once again. 

antique Swedish clocks: The Essence of The Good Life

Happy Reading Over The Weekend | Home Library

Don't you love this home library in a hallway? It's Saturday and there's no school so this little girl can read the day away. I'm planning on some outside spring cleanup. The sun is out and the temperature is rising. Enjoy your weekend whatever you do. 

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Knit The Royal Wedding

If you’re needled about not being invited to the royal wedding, don’t despair – for now you can knit yourself there. The designs are in a £9.99 book by Fiona Goble and the wool to create the 10-character set will cost around £80.

These include the bride and groom, the Queen and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. And, of course, the corgis. Other ‘characters’ include Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Camilla Parker Bowles and Prince Harry. Each will take around five hours to make – if you know what you’re doing. The dogs are said to be the most difficult because of their short stubby legs.

More pictures, a wonderful article and instructions for ordering the book here. You'd better hurry because you don't have a lot of time to 'Knit Your Own Royal Wedding' and I hope you'll let me know if you do.

The Beautiful Gardens at Fontainebleau

Here is another fine photo by ©David Giral of the Gardens at Fontainebleau.  

The first thing I am going to do this morning is take my taxes to the post office and mail them to my accountant. I'm thrilled that I finally finished that dreaded yearly job yesterday. A big weight has been lifted from my shoulders allowing me to have a great weekend. It stopped raining too. Perfect!

Fontainebleau Castle Reflections

Fontainebleau Castle Reflections, Seine-et-Marne, France (Southeast of Paris) ©David Giral This beautiful HDR photograph was made using three different exposures.

Free Range Chickens

These chickens are beautiful, aren't they. I love that they aren't in a cage and can peck away wherever they like. That's a big tractor in the background so I hope they are careful. I always buy eggs from from free range hens. via

I thought I Saw An Owl

I was working at the kitchen sink one morning this week and I was positive I saw an owl on one of the outside chairs but it turned out to be Mr. Squirrel.

Extraordinary Small Home | Innermost House

This tiny house called INNERMOST HOUSE is twelve feet by twelve feet in size. Do the math and that translates to 144 square feet. It has no electricity or power of any kind.

The five distinct rooms are heated by a fireplace in the living room, the heart of this house. All the firewood is free fruitwood prunings from local orchards. 

All of the books were carefully chosen over the years as contributing something essential to the Innermost Life. It is strange that it was not until they were displayed all together, illuminated by the fire at Innermost House, that the owners realized nearly every one was first written by firelight. 

Real wood, real plaster, real beeswax candles - the real things really do make a difference. Wonderful hand-crafted windows, woodwork, shelves were made by a master craftsman in Monterey, California.

I discovered this amazing story at The Tiny House Blog and it's a must-read for anyone wanting to simplify and/or downsize. There are more pictures to drool over. I loved it!!!!!! You will too. Enjoy.

Rijksmuseum ~ Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Rijksmuseum Research Library in Amsterdam has the largest art history library in the Netherlands. It has maintained a constant, high-standard acquisition policy since 1885 and contains approximately 250,000 volumes. The Rijksmuseum also plays an important international role in making Dutch art history available and disseminating it. via