Cozy Room for Autumn

I adore this room with its deep stone walls and the stove inside the fireplace looks so inviting, doesn't it? That time of year has finally arrived at my house and I'm so glad. via

All White Kitchen

Tudor Revival house by architect Donald Lococo and designer Darryl Carter. Architectural Digest. via I love the dark floors and the beamed ceiling in this restoration, don't you?

What's Behind the Green Door?

The green door works with this house, doesn't it? I love the eyebrow windows. via

Hydrangea Leaves

I love photographing these leaves in bright sun. The veining is so beautiful. 

For The Birds

A lovely littly ivy covered cottage for the birds. Did you watch the Emmys last night? I stayed up until the very end. I was very happy for Homeland but a little disappointed that Mad Men was completely shut out. Did your favorite show get an award?

my photo

Late September Sky

The late September sky was absolutely amazing today with lots of white puffy clouds. I love always having a camera with me (iPhone photo). I took this sometime between 3:30 and 4:00 in the afternoon.

I like the sun rays in the corner of this shot.

We Want Our Biscuits

Webster has been babysitting his friends this week. Before we leave everybody goes inside for biscuits.

We go to their house for feeding and walking. Webster is such a good dog buddy. He's always happy to get work and I'm glad for the photo opps. 

Amazing Home and Courtyard Garden

There are no words. I have been clipping my boxwood so I can really appreciate the work involved here. It's wonderful and so is the house. Have a wonderful Sunday. via

Smooth Sailing

I'm not a sailor but if I were I wouldn't mind being on this boat. via

Have a Restful Weekend

Doesn't this look like the perfect place to enjoy one of the last weekends of summer? Or is it the first weekend of Autumn? Webster and I have already been out for a morning drive with a stop at the Post Office to grab our mail. See you later. via

Antiquarian Books and Prints

They are always perfect together, especially in such a lovely bookcase. I plan to reply to the comments left on various blog posts over the past two days this weekend. via

Panorama of My Living Room

I just updated my one year old iPhone 4S software to IOS 6 and now I can take panorama photos just like the new iPhone 5! I'm having so much fun. Starting with my fireplace on the left and panning to the right you see almost 3 complete walls and the hallway leading to my bedroom. 

I worked so hard outside yesterday I was a zombie all day today. I needed this diversion to perk me up. Have a great weekend. See you tomorrow.

Look Down When You Walk

You never know what you might find. My iPhone photo snapped this afternoon on a walk with Webster and my mom.

Amazingly Delicious Baked Chicken

Mix 1/2 cup sour cream with 1/4 cup parmesan cheese.

Spread over chicken breast in a baking dish.
Sprinkle Italian bread crumbs on top. 

I made this two days ago and it was amazing. I used the frozen chicken tenders from Costco. I did not defrost them first. I had a wedge of hard Italian cheese in the fridge and I coarsely grated it with my box grater. I used one cup of sour cream and about 3/4 cup of cheese. I didn't have any Italian bread crumbs so I crumbled a big piece of left over cornbread and it was perfect. I cooked at 400 since the chicken was frozen and I extended the cooking time. I just kept checking until I thought it was done. This was honestly the best chicken I have ever tasted. I found it on Pinterest. Original recipe here.

Storybook Cottage

Goodness.Gracious.Alive -- This is too good to be true. Have you ever seen anything more enchanting? I have not! via

Tree Silhouette

The Tree of Life by Norby on Flickr via Jersey Lady on Pinterest

Autumn Leaf

Just a beautiful leaf on a shrub turning to show it's autumn colors.

my iPhone photo

Colonial Christmas

I bought a fabulous book at a house sale over the weekend that was originally $60.00 and I got it for $7.00. I'm sure it's out of print -- American Home From Colonial Simplicity to the Modern Adventure by Wendell Garrett, David Larkin and Michael Webb. It's a big fat volume and I love leafing through it. I took this lovely photo with my iPhone. There will be more from time to time. I'm rushing around this morning because I have a helper coming and we are going to work outside all day long. See you later. 

William Morris Wallpaper

I love this pattern. Wallpaper by William Morris called “Marigold”. via

Spectacular Art Deco Owl

Wonderful Art Deco Owl above the door of the center reading room on the fifth floor, Library of Congress John Adams Building, Washington, D.C. Owls and libraries go together perfectly, don't they? via

Elegant Entrance

Isn't this the most elegant entrance you've seen in ages? It's an example of fine woodworking at its best.  via

Sleep

This is such a sweet peaceful photo. I'm on my way to clean the kitchen so I can get in bed and watch TV. See you tomorrow. via

Red Velvet Dog

Webster would never do anything like this at least I don't think he would. It appears to be all in a day's work for this hilarious dog. via Dog Shaming

Antiquarian Books Still Life

All of my favorite things in one photo that looks like a painting. via

Ivy Under Control

I'm sure there is a lot of clipping involved to keep this nice ivy arch maintained. The whole scene is perfectly lovely! via

Brooke Astor's Dog Paintings

Side staircase in the late Brooke Astor’s Westchester, NY estate, Holly Hill. I wonder if these wonderful dog paintings are in the auction on September 24 and 25? All copies of the Sotheby's printed catalog have been sold. I found a few of her dog items here. Photo above found here.

Beautiful Bookplate

Ex-libris by Alphonse Inoue designed for Yoshiki Yamamoto. Alphonse Inoue is the pseudonym of a Japanese artist, known for his sensuous bookplates. via

Morning Dew

This beautiful photo inspires me to keep weeding to make way for something beautiful. I wish I knew the name of this plant with leaves that capture the dew drops in such a lovely way. Happy Monday! via

Virginia Creeper

The Virginia Creeper vines are starting to turn red, a sure sign of autumn. I made a real dent in my weeding this weekend and did a big mowing from the road to the rear all yesterday afternoon. Weeding is being done piecemeal so I don't burn myself out. That job is somewhat demoralizing if you know what I mean.

my photo

floating Ivy

Look carefully and you will see the tiny roots on the ivy just waiting to attach to something. It is very determined!

my photo

Dog and Cat Sleeping

This is so adorable. I'll be jumping in bed when I finish this post. Goodnight Bloggerland. via

Life is Like a Camera

via

End of Summer Roses

I took this photo at dusk yesterday of the last roses of summer 2012 at a friend's house. They are going to be especially beautiful too. Have a nice weekend.

Beautiful Pair of Owls

I never get tired of seeing beautiful owls and these two are simply stunning. via

Dachshund Buried Alive

Have a fun weekend! via

A Fairytale Life

Hans Christian Andersen 1805-1875 via

Attic Office

I love all the little drawers in this delightful attic studio/office. So clean and simple and efficient. Wish I could see more. via

A New Purchase at My Cottage

I bought this three tiered stand from a private home recently with absolutely no idea of where it would end up here at the cottage. It turned out to be perfect in my bedroom and I love it. I keep all of my iPhone and iPad chargers and cords and earbuds in the drawer under the center shelf and so far the bottom drawer remains empty. It is a very handy piece of furniture that is appropriately scaled for the space. Actually it looks custom made, doesn't it?

Sorta, Kinda, Almost A Dutch Door

Can you even imagine having this door and a thatched roof as well? This isn't a dutch door but it has a hinged door within a door for peeking to see who is on the other side. It's pretty wonderful as is this straw cottage. via

Floating Daisies

I took one of my photos from this summer and somehow darkened the background without losing the two daisies and then cloned out the few blades of grass that remained to get these floating daisies. I'm sure I could never figure out what I did again....but I like the end result.

Boris the Cat

Meet Boris.

He is Piggy's cat.

I photographed him this afternoon. He has a new "Lion Cut". The gray fur you see on his chest in the top photo is very short. Some day soon I'll try to get his whole body. He looks really cute and he's huge. I'll find out the breed too.

Things to Love About Fall

via

Yet Another Dutch Door

I've never met a dutch door I didn't like. via

Nothing Changes

So true. via

In Praise of Fall Flowering Shrubs

I photographed this hydrangea today in the contrast of the noon-day sun and played around with it using one of my photography apps. It looks very old fashioned, doesn't it?

This is the same photo without any filters. 

Webster and I are going to bed very soon. I'm tempted to leave the dishes in the sink but I'll hate myself in the morning when I wake up and feel as if I'm a day behind before my feet hit the ground so here I go to the kitchen sink.

Goodnight.

Old Maps for Photo Corners

I love this idea of using old maps for scrapbooking. I always buy old atlases at house sales. via Martha Stewart

A Beautiful Succulent

I took this photo yesterday with my iPhone and did no processing whatsoever. This is straight out of the camera or should say straight out of the mobile phone. I love my iPhone 4S (new last year) and I can't imagine wanting to trade for another model anytime soon unless the camera were dramatically better. I use it more for the camera than for the phone part, but the latter has really increased my productivity with real estate. I saw some amazing homes today. I'm off to the dentist in a few....see you later.