New Friends

I took these photos yesterday at an open house and it seems like 10 years ago so much has happened since. You don't want to know the details which are mostly paperwork related. Anyway I took these on the fly and they aren't very good. The sheep is huge and adorable and she's in a paddock next to the last horse. The two horses are opposite each other so they can chat if that's what they do when no one is looking. It's raining here at the cottage today and I might start a fire when I'm sure I won't have to go out again. I have to go to the office in a little while. See you later.

WOW The Life of Flowers | Timelapse Video

The Life of flowers (Жизнь цветов) from VOROBYOFF PRODUCTION on Vimeo.

Open House Day

I am excited about real estate this year. I'm rushing to get ready for my weekly office meeting with broker open houses after it's over. The spring market is upon us and there is a lot to see today. I should recharge my iPhone too. This is a pond behind a home I visited recently. See.You.Later!

Night Sky -- Good Night Moon

I took this iPhone photo of the night sky recently. The moon isn't quite this big now...It is just a sliver of a moon. I have a wonderful big open sky to enjoy when I walk Webster before bed. I love looking at the stars. See you tomorrow.

Courtyard Garden

Designed by Fairfax & Sammons Architecture. The far building must be a combination conservatory/garden room/pool house assuming there is a pool on the other side. via

Is it A Soup or Is it A Stew?

BLACK BEAN + BUTTERNUT SOUP // Serves 4-6

Original Blog Post/ Recipe HERE with more photos.

Some of the measurements are pretty vague, but in a stew-like soup, perfection is not necessary. Taste as you go, add more spice if necessary but beware that both chipotle and cayenne are SPICY, so start small. You can cook your beans from scratch or use canned for the sake of time.

1 Tbsp. coconut or extra virgin olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 a small head of cabbage, chopped (heaping 2 cups)

3 cups cubed butternut squash (sweet potato would be good too)

3 cups low sodium vegetable broth

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. cocoa powder

pinch of chipotle powder or cayenne pepper

2 cups cooked, black beans (about one can, rinsed and drained)

salt to taste

avocado, for garnish

cilantro, for garnish

// tortilla crispies //

3 corn tortillas

scant 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp. sea salt

Laundry Day Upstairs

I have looked and looked at this photo and I cannot figure out how they got the clothes on the line. I don't see a pulley system; just stretched lines. It looks all but impossible to me. I have a couple of loads of wash I hope to be able to hang outside tomorrow. We have a cloudless sky today so I think I'll be okay.

A Kitchen to Drool Over

Shall we start with the ceiling and work our way down in this kitchen? Are you impressed yet? I love these hanging lights with the black shades...always a favorite. I think a serious cook would be very happy here preparing deliciousness for tonight's Oscar presentations. via

I'm pretty sure the only movie I've seen that is up for an Oscar is 'The Help' so I won't be compelled to stay awake until the end.  I'll start watching early because the best part to me is studying  the stars as they walk down the red carpet. Enjoy the last Sunday in February.

Look Out | Puppy Driving

Have a great weekend and take the dog along wherever you go. via

Love This Mud Room Floor

Beautiful ‘mud room’ back entrance by Amy Morris. Atlanta Homes Mag. This is the best floor I have EVER seen!!!!!!!! via

Cool Kitchen

Oh.My.Goodness -- what a great kitchen. Starting with the checkered floor and working my up the white cabinets to the great drawer pulls to the white subway tiles to the old-fashioned upper cabinets -- I love it all! via

Virtual Road Trip -- Wonderful Video

Address Is Approximate from The Theory on Vimeo.

Story: A lonely desk toy longs for escape from the dark confines of the office, so he takes a cross country road trip to the Pacific Coast in the only way he can – using a toy car and Google Maps Street View. Have a great weekend...use your imagination the way this desk toy did!!

I have an invitation to come back later this spring and see this perennial garden when it is in full bloom. It is supposed to be fabulous. I'll post an updated photo afterwards. The homeowner's office is a wall of windows with french doors looking out on this. I think it's a lovely design, don't you? That 'ghost' you see outside is a window reflection of my white iPhone...the black dot in the lower right corner is the camera lens. The gravel form looks like a big gingerbread woman cookie.

Upholstered Chair | Both Tailored and Fancy

I love the fabric and the style of this upholstered chair. The top is very tailored and the gathered skirt is very feminine and fancy. 

It looks perfect in this shot beside a milking stool that was converted to a floor lamp. Isn't that a great idea?

Via Natalie Haegeman Interiors via Belgian Pearls.

Goodnight

I though this was the perfect last image of the day before jumping in bed. Goodnight world. via

Home Maintenance Around My Cottage

Remember when I painted my picket fence two years ago? The finials didn't hold up too well as you can see. I am starting a list of the things that need attention outside. The list will be long too. You can only hide your head in the sand for so long before reality takes hold. 

Alfred Hitchcock and His Curious Dog

I don't have to worry about Webster doing this. I don't get the paper and he can't read. via I do love Alfred Hitchcock.

Hitchcock, Sir Alfred (Joseph) (1899–1980), English movie director. Acclaimed in Britain for movies such as The Thirty-Nine Steps (1935), he moved to Hollywood in 1939. Among his later works, notable for their suspense and their technical ingenuity, are the thrillers Strangers on a Train (1951), Psycho (1960), and The Birds (1963).

Amazing Gray Paneled Walls

Gray and white is always right. I love the gorgeous wood-paneled walls in this room. And everything else too. via

A Wonderful Cottage

This would have been the perfect house for me to grow up in because I could have been inside and outside at the same time reading in that attic window.

Think Before Speaking

I found this illustrated quote on my upstairs computer. Saved long before I knew about giving image credit.