Kitchen Table on a Monday Morning

My kitchen looks as if a cyclone when through. Does your kitchen table act as the collection point for things to put away, throw away or deal with like mine does? What a mess!

Bathroom Bike | Fun Interior Design

How much do I love this? Lots!
Someone was thinking outside the box. via

iPhone Photos for Today

The trees are almost bare but some of the thorny bushes in the woods still have some brilliant color.

I thought you said we were going to work....not play around with the camera phone. So far, we've only pruned seven boxwood around the garage. Let's go load some firewood.

The freak winter storm we had recently broke off a big branch on the Japanese maple tree. Here is a twig against a shag bark hickory.

I just finished a light lunch. Guess Webster wins. Hi Ho! Hi Ho! It's off back to work we go.

Library Lust

 

Library in a grand apartment in Naples via Architectural Digest.

Private study off the dressing room.
More photos here.

Beautiful Collars

Collars ---- remember these?
I once had so many to wear with the sweater sets of my youth.
via

Bookcase in My Bedroom

Here's a portion of my cocoon-like bedroom. It's only big enough for a double bed with a table on one side and a floor lamp on the other. It has a window on either side and I love it. Small is the new big. This bookcase was an afterthought when my renovation was going on. It was designed for the living room but I didn't like the way it looked there and it turned out to be perfect here. I honestly can't imagine my bedroom without it. 

Mudroom of My Dreams

I absolutely adore this mudroom. Have you ever seen a better one? I haven't.

A Winter Garden

This beautiful photo sort of jolted me into making a list of all the winter-related tasks I need to do today before the weekend is over. 

• Drain hoses and store them in garage.
• Turn off water supply to outside faucets and drain them.
• Spread more wood chips before pile freezes.
• Buy some paperwhites to force.
• Bring in more firewood.

The first two items are the most important. Have a great weekend and I'll see you later.

In Flanders Fields

 

In Flanders Fields by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

"In Flander's Field" is a memorable poem that was written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae in a cemetery in the Flanders region of Belgium on May 3, 1915, the day after the death of his young friend, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer.

Perhaps the most famous poem written during World War I, these simple but powerful fifteen lines, and the poppies they immortalize, have come to symbolize fallen soldiers. I thought this was a perfect remembrance for Veterans Day. My town had a little ceremony under the flag pole and a number of veterans in uniform attended.

Image: Painting by Willy Werner -- History of Veterans Day

French Wall Sconce

I just ran across this gilded figural wall sconce I bought years ago. It is not wired and has an odd (European) bulb holder so I really can't use it unless I convert it to hold a candle or have it rewired.