Bathroom Decor at My Cottage

It took a while to get all the perfect things for this wall in my bathroom and I love each and every item. I'm pretty sure I have shown this before but this is a brand new photo. The small oil painting below the shelf is the most recent purchase and that space was blank.

It's a local scene (oil on canvas) after the rolling hills have been cut and the round hay bales have been scattered about. All land owners who have farm assessments must mow their fields prior to August 1st every year and it's lovely. I purchased the painting at a local estate sale last year and I think it's perfect on my gallery wall in my bathroom, don't you? xo

Chicken & Rice with Carrots

I made chicken & rice with peas yesterday and added sliced organic carrots for tonight's dinner. I love having leftovers that I can improve with added ingredients the second time around. The stoneware dish with handle has a "chimney" top and I have three of them. They are the best for microwave cooking or heating leftovers. I cooked the carrots alone for a minute or two before adding the chicken/rice to reheat on top. So good. The brown and white transferware plate is one of my favorites. I don't often photograph my food but I'm glad I decided to snap this one. xo

UPDATE: If you ever see one of these in a charity or thrift shop, RUN and grab it. As I mentioned, I have three of these and use them every day in my microwave. They were originally "As Seen on TV" as the Stone Wave Microwave Cooker at $10.00 each. Now I see them on eBay for $39.00. The handle is hollow and they are honestly just wonderful for heating up leftovers or cooking some things (like carrots) quickly. I found the original link selling them for $7.94 each HERE. I'm tempted to order more but will resist. Three is the perfect number for me. They clean like a breeze too. Let me know if you get one or more. I have never had good luck backing a potato in one. They are perfect for my chicken & rice dish. xo

FABLE: THE BABBOON'S UMBRELLA

HAPPY MONDAY

It's Laundry Day here at the cottage.

Weather is nice enough to hang things outside.

Rain coming at 5:00 this afternoon.

Have a good week.

xo

 

My Miniature Daffodils

These miniature daffodils in my front garden are in full bloom and they make me very happy just to look at them. The deep yellow color is glorious.

I divide them each year and I have 6 clumps about this size. They were presented as hostess gifts to realtors who attended a broker open house several years ago. Each year, I email a photo to that realtor and thank her once again for them.

xo

Houses and Gardens I like

Southern Living has a great article with many more charming photos HERE. These are a few of my favorites. Enjoy. xo

Snowdrops Under a Tree Overlooking My Cottage

Are you tired of snowdrops yet? I have seen so many blooming daffodils in friends' yards but mine are all still in the bud stage. Snowdrops never disappoint and keep on blooming until the other spring bulbs start performing. I started these clumps in the fall and they are loving this woodland setting. Have a great Wednesday evening. xo

Patio Gardening

Somebody's been busy forcing bulbs in terracotta pots and it's paying off. What a delightful small walled garden. found here. 

I took my pruning shears on my walk this afternoon and got carried away cutting down multiflora rose. It's pervasive and has to be controlled along my paths or it will soon take them over. It was very satisfying. The thorns on those wild rose bushes are evil.

xo

Happy First Day of Spring

I honestly woke up to a bird singing the same song over and over this morning to welcome the first day of spring. I think this rooster has been used several times on this date in past years but here he is again. He's an engraving from one of my antiquarian books, The Royal Book of Crests. I hope your day is like mine with bright sun and a blue sky. xo

Lisa D. wanted to know the name of that bird I heard. I found a YouTube video of New Jersey birds singing and have identified my bird as THE TUFTED TITMOUSE, the first bird in this YouTube video. Enjoy seeing so many of the birds of New Jersey who enjoy bird feeders and sing for their supper. xo

Hunt Board & Art Wall in My Kitchen's Nook under Attic Stairs

I am standing in front of the door that opens into my kitchen off the vestibule. The Dutch door for my office/pantry is behind me. You can see a corner of my farm table in lower right corner. The shiny thing on right is my refrigerator. This little nook is another favorite area in my cottage that evolved over the years. The sideboard was my mother's and was in her apartment downstairs until she died in 2012. We bought it together at an estate sale in Madison,NJ. We toured the sale, I bought a few things, and when we got in the car I asked her if she wanted the sideboard for her room with the sliding glass door and she immediately said YES. We rushed back and bought it ($100.00) just in the nick of time before another person said she wanted it but we were already in negotiations and had paid!!!!!! My mother used it in her sitting room and loved it. I love it too! It's just the right scale for this nook with a low ceiling. The back wall is clad in old wood that was attic flooring salvaged when the roof of my kitchen was raised during the renovation. The lamps with blue silk shades came from a local estate sale. 

I have been gathering things all week for a Girl Scout Textile Drive at a nearby elementary school. I cleaned out stored linens and blankets and used clothing. The girls were young and very enthusiastic about the volume I collected. They were going to sort for the homeless and donate the rest for textile bundling to be picked up and made into rag rugs. I hope they do this again next year. Such a worthy cause and so easy to drop off. This is my favorite kind of recycling and donating.

Have a great weekend. xo

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I'm very late in posting this greeting as St. Patrick's Day will soon be over. A friend came for lunch and I honestly don't know what happened to the rest of the day. There's plenty of daylight left for me to try and do something constructive though. Wish me luck. 

Greeting found on Google Images

xo