Cat's Face ~ Perfectly Framed

This cat has chosen the best part of this fence to perfectly frame her face. I love this photo and the tabby cat too. xo 

via

My Amaryllis Bloomed

This was a gift several years ago and it didn't do well in my house during the winter because I keep my house too cold. It's still in the florist pot and I've always overwintered it and this year it has a double bloom. This is the perfect time for it to be in my house too, long before it's time to turn on the heat. I didn't do anything special to it except water it. I was shocked to see it come alive again and the blooms are spectacular. Hope you are having a great weekend. xo

Stirring Speech by King Charles III

I thought King Charles II's 9 minute speech was quite wonderful. Especially the last line. 

"May 'flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest'." 

That was the perfect Shakespeare quote for his Darling Mama.

They truly enjoyed each other's company.

Read the article in THE MIRROR here entitled: Soul-stirring meaning behind King Charles' 'flights of angels' line for the Queen in his speech. Long live the King.

Last Photo of Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth on Sept. 6, 2022.
JANE BARLOW - WPA POOL/GETTY

I thought she looked so lovely in her Scottish plaid pleated kilt and powder blue cardigan. And now, only two days later, she is gone. This is her last photo after she met with the new Prime Minister. She truly worked as she promised, all of her long life. Photo from his article. I watched her coronation in 1952 and have admired her ever since and will miss her.

xo

Some Beautiful Sheep

Isn't this a handsome group of sheep? via

I love their white faces.

Another busy day regrouping.

xo

Clouds Reimagined

There is a new one every day! So fun♡

I just found this Instagram @adailycloud 

See them all here. You're welcome.

xo

September Clouds

The white fluffy clouds that you see in September are right on time and I love them. I took this photo late in the day on Sunday and I'm glad I did because today is overcast with rain coming tonight and for the next two days. I hope you are having a nice Labor Day weekend. xo

Final Photo Showing Chairs at My Front Door

I promise this is the last photo!

I bought these chairs last winter on the first day I was able to get out of my driveway after a blizzard. The patina of the heavy metal matches my lighting fixtures. They are so much better than the old shutters were flanking my front door. I gave them a good coat of lemon oil for protection from the upcoming winter weather. The seats are basket weave woven.

Enjoy your Sunday. xo

Fence Finial + Before & After House Paint Pics

Remember my post about finding three Artichoke finials at an estate sale? Now I can finally use them. I had to "doctor" this photo and remove all the color because they are not wood and the color is yellowish. I will probably paint them when I touch up some of the fence posts and pickets with a small brush. I put one on each side of the gate and one on the corner. I am so excited about finally being able to use them.

Eileen in Fla. made a special request to see a photo of my house in a BEFORE photo because she can't remember what it looked like in order to appreciate the transformation. 

Well, here goes.

I wish I had chosen white with black shutters 20 years ago when I restored my cottage but as the old Amish saying goes, "We are too soon old and too late smart."

I forgot to mention I removed the full length shutters on either side of my front door and I like it so much better without them. (The painters were happy too!)

xo

Some Gorgeous Hollyhocks + Hornets

Is there anything lovelier than hollyhocks up against a wall?

I think not.

Every year I wish I had these summer flowers but I'm glad this was not the year to try them because of the dry month of August. My dahlias don't have a single bud. The ones they had dried up. They are very tall and healthy looking though. I don't like having to dig them up in the fall either. I have been trying to get my life back but hornets have invaded my kitchen. I found their entry point on Tuesday and sealed it up. I have been sucking them up with the crevice tool on my vacuum cleaner and today I think I've finally gotten most of them. Tuesday after the painters left and Wednesday they were terrible but I never gave up. I turned the air conditioning on and they thought it was winter and gravitated to the warm window glass and were rather sluggish and easy to catch. I didn't get stung either. It's always something, right?

Hollyhock photos here and more for you to drool over.

xo