Pretty Pie Crusts + A Pastry Board

What a great idea. The next time I bake a pie from scratch I'll try this. I'm going to look through my cookie cutters right now and see what I can come up with. How about little gingerbread men people for a pumpkin pie? Awesome.

I've been anxious to try out this pastry board I got at a garage sale recently along with 4 pyrex pie plates. There's no stopping me now!

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Your Dog

I made this illustrated quote long before I knew an actual French Bulldog. Webster and I are doing well since we returned Piggie to our friends. I think Webster likes being "only dog" again. We woke up to a cold morning and I see some dark clouds overhead. Thinking about a fire later and comfort food all day long.

Have a great weekend. Kiss your dog for me.



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Night Lights for The Holidays

Aren't these outdoor holiday lights lovely? I'm a total failure in this department but I'm so glad other people go to all this trouble so others can enjoy the fruits of their labor. Snow the ground courtesy of Mother Nature makes them even nicer.

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Snow is All Around

Snow is all around me but so far we've had no accumulation. Crossing my fingers that it holds off for quite a while. It feels very raw today and the frost on my garage roof is rather heavy. Brrr. See you later.
Photo by ©Brian Vanden Brink

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Illustrated Quote About Architecture

My photograph of a beautiful sky seemed perfect for this quote. Agreed?



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Baby Hummingbird Rescued | Great Video

You have to watch this wonderful young man and the baby hummingbird he rescued. It's very touching with nice background music by Jack Johnson (Better Together).



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Perfect Home for Christmas

Even though this luxury mountain home in Ketchum, Idaho is only three years old, it looks as if it's been there forever. "I wanted a house that looked like we had rescued it, like we brought it back to life" said the interior designer/owner. Custom-made steel bookcases line the walls of the dining room.

Read the complete article in Elle Decor. Don't miss the gallery link at the end of page 2 with an 11-photo slideshow.

The family room looks very inviting too. I think you'd always be torn between staying inside or playing outside if you lived here. The owners obviously have deep pockets but they also have good taste. Just wrap me up in that Hermès Avalon blanket and wake me on Christmas morning. So nice!



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End of Summer at The Cottage

This scene in my backyard seems like a faint memory but it was only a couple of months ago. The rain has stopped. Webster and I just got back from a walk and I picked up all of the sticks that came down in the wind. I'm that way you know, getting the sticks as soon as they fall so it doesn't seem so much like work.

My gutters are nice and clean and I just had copper baskets put in all of my downspouts. I'll let you know later whether or not this was a wise decision. The men who clean my gutters tell me that sometimes they present a problem. We'll see. Too late now, the deed has been done.

A Cute Dog with A New Trick

Don't you love the acrobatic trick performed by this English Bull Terrier? I'd love to see what happens next.



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MY DOG TULIP | Free Movie Screening | RSVP

As the year-end awards season approaches, New Yorker Films would like to invite you and a guest to a special screening of MY DOG TULIP brought to you by Stella & Chewy's. Featuring the voices of Christopher Plummer, Lynn Redgrave and Isabella Rossellini, MY DOG TULIP is the beautifully animated feature from acclaimed filmmakers Paul and Sandra Fierlinger that is currently playing in theaters nationwide.

The by-invitation-only screening will be

• Tuesday, December 14th at 6:30 pm
• The Dolby Screening Room
• 1350 Avenue of the Americas
• New York, NY 10019

RSVP to Julie Sisson
[ NTProdsassistant@gmail.com ] or 212-397-6605

Seats will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Call or email right away if you (and a human guest) want to attend.

I'm very pleased to have been chosen to present this free giveaway.

Read the great article from the Los Angeles Times about 'My Dog Tulip' Oscar Screenings. I hope they will be serving dog biscuits as a take-away treat for all the dogs waiting for their owners to come home from the screening.

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How Do You Gift Wrap an Elephant?

Just tie a big bow around it! What could be easier?
image

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Rain, Rain Go Away

The weather out is frightful as you can see from my photo. I have to go outside in it too in about 30 minutes so I'll see you later.

Happy First Day of December.



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Blue Spruce At The Cottage

I hope I never have to cut down any of the blue spruce trees that I grew from seedlings. They are my favorite evergreens and I have a whole grove in front of my cottage. Today this tall tree is covered with rain drops; it's a very gloomy day indeed. At my office meeting today I noticed that the people in the house across the street already have their Christmas tree up, lights and all. It's way too early in my opinion but I guess people with little children get the Christmas spirit long before I do. 

Big Table Covered with Big Books

Big tables were meant for big books. I'd love to sit here all day and scoot my chair around reading them, wouldn't you?



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Cottage in A Maze | Must See!

This must be the gardener's cottage. He works on his own land after long hours at the manor house. I'm just making this up because I am still trying to comprehend what my eyes are seeing. I want to know more, don't you?

I have a busy day ahead so I won't see you until much later.



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Topiary of My Dreams

Only in England. Sigh. I want the topiaries and the gardener. Manor house optional.

via Crush Cul de Sac



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Rudolph in Waiting

Here is another great opportunity to change a white deer head into Rudolph with the addition of a red nose. via tumblr.com

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