17th Century Chesterton Windmill UK

© Al Cooper

The windmill on legs is one of Warwickshire's most famous landmarks, standing on a hilltop overlooking the village of Chesterton for nearly 350 years. It was built in 1632-1633, probably by Sir Edward Peyto, who was Lord of the Chesterton Manor House. At this time John Stone, a pupil of Inigo Jones, was in Chesterton, designing the new Manor House, and he probably helped with the Windmill as well. Sir Edward was a mathematician and astrologer and probably his own architect to the windmill, but although claims have been made that the tower was originally built as an observatory, the estate accounts now at Warwick Record Office show that it has always been a windmill making it the earliest tower mill in England to retain any of its working parts.

Nutella Mug Cake for Microwave

This looks like a good recipe to have on hand for unexpected company or a must-have-chocolate attack. If you don't have any self-rising flour on hand you can make your own: 1 cup flour, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 1/2 tsp baking powder.
found here You should definitely click on this link and read the comments below the post. This one is my favorite: "Will you people stop with the calorie thing??? Its CAKE, people! No one says you HAVE to eat it, and no one said it was a “diet cake”…….."

Poor Kitten with A Broken Arm

This adorable photo of a sleeping kitten with a pink cast on her broken arm was first published on Cute Overload in 2008 but it's new to me. It really is one on the cutest pictures ever, agreed? 

Watercolor of a Room with Books + Antiques

This painting is signed lower left but I can't read the name. I'd love to know more about the artist and the owner of this lovely antique filled reading room. It's wonderful, isn't it?

More information just provided by a reader...thanks so much.

Painted by Norwegian artist Harriet Backer (1845-1932). The room is The Library of Thorval Boeck. via Gatochy on Flickr

Cat Sleeping on the Porch Swing

I hope you can do some quality relaxing on the porch swing this weekend. I found this wonderful cat doing just that on The Animal Blog.

Dachshund Fun

I've been running around in circles all week so that I can relax and have fun tonight and all weekend. I thought this dachshund image would encourage you to chase your tail and get everything done too. 

Purse Love

Love these purses patches and all. Do want! via

Library at Château de Groussay in France

{Click photo to enlarge}

The private library or bibliothéque of the Château de Groussay located in Montfort-l'Amaury, France. The Château was built in 1815 by the duchesse de Charest, a daughter of Louise Elisabeth de Croÿ-Havré, marquise de Tourzel, the governess of the royal enfants de France of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

The desk is especially wonderful, isn't it? I'd love to have a similar one with a much deeper horizontal working surface so I could pile up more books.

Strange Footprints in New Snow at The Cottage

I just returned from a walk with Webster and saw some footprints that look like perfect arrows all over my property. Wild turkey? I can't say for sure but they look as if they were made with a rolling branding iron. I thought at first a hunter was sending secret messages to another hunter but there are no human footprints anywhere except mine. They are left in a single line by each animal with foot dragging lines inbetween each perfect arrow. 

A single bird (or alien) leaves a print like this.

Lots of them in one spot. Help me please if you know what bird leaves such a distinct impression in the snow. Whatever it was it came very close to the house. Should I be scared? :-) These are my photos taken today.

Never mind. I just found out they are Pheasant tracks. I'm so excited. I've never seen a pheasant on my land before. See more on Google Images.

image by ©wikesgerald

Petunias Make the Best Hats

Mitza in the garden.

Just a quick post to make you smile. I'll never look at petunias again without thinking of animals wearing them as hats. [image by ©Dragan*]