Yesterday's Organizing Find

Thursday seems to be my lucky day to find things to make my life easier when I donate items and shop at the same charity's retail outlet. Yesterday I found this metal hanging file to go on the back of my attic's batten door. I usually have the stairs piled with things that have to go up to be shredded or filed away. I usually have the half basket full of mailing labels I have ripped off the junk mail and I will still use it for the small ones. But now I have a place for the full-size sheets to be destroyed. I try to shred every single item with my name and address on it to prevent identity theft. I surprised myself by hanging it today instead of just propping it against a wall for ages as I have been known to do. I have a closed attic and I had to go outside to take this photo through a raised window. I couldn't back up enough in the hallway to get the full door and staircase. I can't believe how perfect it is. The area to the left is my living room's fireplace wall and my kitchen's huntboard wall is to the right. Happy Friday. I am late in publishing my daily post because I was invited out to have breakfast with friends. Happy Friday. xo

My Guilty Pleasure: The Donna Reed Show on Decades

The Donna Reed Show comes on in my area on DECADES from 9am until 10am and I always switch to that channel if I'm home. I think it's on MEtv too. Since cutting the cord I am definitely stuck in the 1950s with my Air Antenna and commercials unless I'm watching a PBS channel. That's fine with me because I'm finding the commercials healthy because I jump up and do quick tasks while they are playing. It reminds me of my childhood days when my mother and I would jump up and rush to the kitchen to finish cleaning up and rush back when a program came back on asking, "Did we miss anything good?" to my dad and brother. 

I found this photo in a NewYorkTimes article entitled: 

Back When Mother, Too, Knew Best.

I just love that all the "living" was done in the living room including dancing with music from the record player in the corner when teenagers came over. There was no rec room or den. The kitchen was for breakfast and lunch as well as ironing, and paying bills. The family ate in the dining room most nights. I don't recall any episodes with a TV set. There are 8 seasons in all from 1958. Try it, you'll like it. Yup, I'm stuck in the 50's and loving it! xo

Before There Were Patios, We Sat On The Grass

I took this photo at a realtor open house near my cottage.

The dwelling was a caretaker's cottage and the grounds were fabulous. Who needs a patio when you have vintage wicker furniture and a beautiful lawn? The cottage was delightful with no central air and was really untouched since it was built. It had always been maintained and lived in and was being offered for rent. The outdoor furnishings were included and there was garage/barn for storage. There were custom waterproof covers for the chairs to protect them from the rain. The open house was years ago as are my pics. Due to Covid, there are very few (if any) open houses these days. Just virtual tours and private showings by appointment.

Cutting Garden Diagram

This is the 2021 cutting garden belonging Anya, the garden fairy, arranged with the lowest in front and the tallest in back. She is so inspiring and a real hands-on DIY gardener. She grows most of her flowers from seeds and she is fun to watch on Instagram @anya_the garden_fairy xo

Irish Lemon Pudding Recipe

I bookmarked this recipe because it calls for ingredients I always have on hand very little sugar. It's almost like a lemon meringue pie and is adapted from an authentic Irish recipe in the cookbook pictured below. I'm a true lemon🍋 lover and buy lemons in bulk and always have them in my refrigerator crisper drawer. Limes, not so much, except in limeade.

Irish Traditional Cooking by Dariana Allen

This link has a preview of the book and the history behind it.

Recipe and images found here along with the cookbook information. Happy baking. Enjoy! xo

Natural Pest Control Has Wings

Barn Owls have the best ♡ shaped faces.

Shy barn owlet peeking out.

It's a lot to read but this article is very rewarding if you are at all concerned about pesticides on your fruit or in your wine. Fruit growers in California have begun putting up nest boxes in their orchards and vineyards and letting the occupants help with pest and insect control. They are finding the birds are outperforming the pesticides and I find that to be quite thrilling. I always enjoy Penelope Bianchi's owl videos on Instagram showing her barn owls bringing vermin back to the nest box to feed their young. Of course, bluebirds in nest boxes help with insect control as do other small birds.

I have two more dahlia photos awaiting processing which I will add to this post later. I have to transfer them from my Nikon camera on my attic computer which has a card reader. I am waiting for my generator to come on for the weekly 15 minute test cycle before I turn on the computer. I'm glad so many of you are still enjoying my cottage flower photos. xo

The green background seems to fighting the green dahlia foliage of this Black Velvet beauty in my backyard.

I enlarged this dahlia by cropping out all but the flower. It's the same photo I posted yesterday minus the rooster.

Lovely Porch

Old houses with porches are always fun viewing and this one is the perfect place to sit and chat without being is direct sun. I'm a shade lover myself. Have a great weekend and check back later for a dahlia photo. xo

As promised, here's another dahlia with one of my roosters in the background. I still enjoy watching the buds open, making every day a treat. I'm glad they aren't opening all at once. xo 

Wonderful Beehive in the Form of A French Country House

 I wonder if the bees🐝 know how lucky they are or were? Isn't this beehive wonderful🐝? I would never have guessed this replica of a French Country House was a beehive, would you🐝? The honey would have to be very special and the person who designed and build this structure should be celebrated because this is folk art at its best! It looks as if this house replica is being displayed indoors, saving it from weather damage. Nice! via Reminds me a little of the Early American Dollhouse I blogged about in 2010.

I surprised myself yesterday when I mowed the front in the morning and the back in the afternoon with my walk behind mower. Today I will do the field and more with my riding mower and more tomorrow. Happy Friday!

Landscape Perfection

This is ideal, isn't it? Pick one area of your property to be perfect and let the rest go natural. I love this landscape design, don't you?🌿 photo source

Friendship Token

The back of a Victorian 1883 Liberty Nickel.

I love the penmanship that was somehow etched into the metal looking as if it were done with a single stroke. I love the two engraved hands  symbolizing the friendship. source

♡ F + B ♡

Joan Didion's Kitchen

Vogue Magazine 1972

I never would have pictured this kitchen belonging to Joan Didion. It appears she's a real cook and this surprises me because she is so very thin  and I just never imagined her cooking. I love the wire baskets, the herb pots holding up the cookbooks, and her recipe cards in a real box!❤️

UPDATE: Thanks to PAM here is the article she posted in the comments. The 100 Greatest Home Cooks of All Time and Joan Didion is near the top of the list. Who knew? Thanks, Pam❤️