I missed CALL THE MIDWIFE HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2014

Did you see it or did you miss it too?
It aired on Christmas Day.
You can watch it online at PBS here.

This will be the perfect program to watch while waiting for Downton Abbey later tonight. It's 75 minutes long. I'm so glad my friends told me about it this morning. See you later. xo

Nice Watercolors with Hand Lettering

I picked these three to share with you this Sunday morning. View all 15 charmers here -- watercolor lettering by June Digan.

Love Old Alarm Clocks

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I love the looks of old alarm clocks. I have one in my bedroom that doesn't keep very accurate time but I wind it up every night before I go to sleep. I rely on my iPhone to wake me up every morning.

Here is my clock on top of a great dog book, a thoughtful Christmas gift from a friend. The loud ticking of this clock when I first turn off my light at night helps put me to sleep. It also drowns out the "house noises" that usually keep me awake. I have very acute hearing and I can hear a pin drop in the next county. This old clock is a great noise canceling device and I'm so glad it turned out to be a sleeping aid. Enjoy the evening. xo

Downton Abbey Recap Must Read before Tomorrow Night

The Wall Street Journal has a great article to catch you up with each character exactly where you left off 10 months ago with the end of Season Four. Downton Abbey is starting up again Sunday night on PBS. Can't wait.

‘Downton Abbey’: Where We Left Off With Each Character

Pincushion Love

Globe Pincushions

Oh.My.Goodness! What a great idea. I still use my red tomato pincushion with the dangling strawberry to sharpen needles and another one that fits on my wrist. I've had them since high school or even before that. I'm loving these globes. via

A Good New Year's Resolution

If you make only one resolution, this could be it! via

Follow Me said the Little Lamb

Pasarela by Eliseo Miciu

This photo takes my breath away! via

Two Films about Stephen Hawking for You to Watch Online

Click here if you can't see the video below.

I watched it several days ago and loved it. At first I thought it would be too painful to watch and I clicked it off the first time. Then I decided to try again and I'm so glad I did. 

This is his own personal story told in his own words. The thing I liked best was the personal photos and movies from the time he was born. It covered his life at Cambridge and his marriage and family life with Jane Wilde and their children.

Watch it full screen on your computer or mobile device. This movie is 1 hour 28 minutes long. Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with ALS when he was 20 years old and he's been living with the threat of an imminent death for the past 52 years. His will to live is unbelievable as you will soon see if you decide to watch. This is real life. No actors. This is his story and this movie is very current, filmed in 2013 when he was 71 years old. He still goes to work every day as a Professor at Cambridge in a position once held by Isaac Newton.

The movie that is either out now or about to be released The Theory of Everything starring Eddie Redmayne is based on a book that was written by Stephen Hawking's first wife. It was published in 2008 and is out of print. This is a hardcover book to look for at garage sales, book sales, and estate sales. Hardcover first editions are selling for around $1,000.00 -- see listing on Amazon. It's also available as an e-book.

The BBC made a movie about Stephen in 2004 starring Benedict Cumberbatch. I watched it too AFTER watching the one above. I suggest you watch them in that order too. The BBC film fills in all the gaps about his education at Cambridge preceding his marriage to Jane. It's fabulous as you can well imagine. Benedict Cumberbatch never disappoints!

This film is offered on YouTube in 6 parts. As each episode ends, you will be prompted to start the next one. It was very seamless. I know you can do it.

Let me know if you watch either or both movies. You know I wouldn't recommend anything I didn't enjoy myself.

H A P P Y   N E W   Y E A R !
xo

Vintage Beatrix Potter TOM KITTEN Plush Toy Cat Circa 1973 For Sale on Ebay

I am selling this adorable Tom Kitten doll with no reserve on ebay. It isn't getting much interest so I thought it might be a good idea to blog about it again. Click here to see my no reserve auction. It ends on Sunday afternoon in case you want to bid. There are 12 photos posted for you to view so you can see him from all angles.

This is an old picture from an 2009 blog post about him.

He is sitting in one of my favorite antique side chairs.

I used to have him on the high chair shown in the first picture along with two antique teddy bears until Webster grabbed him one day and started giving him puppy love bites. He managed to rip one side of the little jacket before I could get Tom away from him. I mended it on the reverse side with light blue iron-on tape that I luckily had in my sewing basket. 

I just took this photo of him leaning on a pillow on my living room sofa. I forgot to position his tail so you could see it.

He's all dressed up and ready to go to a loving home. Thanks for helping me say goodbye to this adorable character doll. The Tale of Tom Kitten is a children's book, written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. It was released by Frederick Warne & Co. in September 1907. The tale is about manners and how children react to them. Tabitha Twitchit, a cat, invites friends for tea. She washes and dresses her three kittens for the party, but within moments the kittens have soiled and lost their clothes while scampering about the garden. Tabitha is "affronted". She sends the kittens to bed, and tells her friends the kittens have the measles. Once the tea party is underway however, its "dignity and repose" are disturbed by the kittens romping overhead and leaving a bedroom in disorder.

Potter's career as a children's author and illustrator was launched in 1902 with the release of The Tale of Peter Rabbit. She continued to publish, and, in 1905, bought Hill Top, a farm in Lancashire, with the sales profits from her books and a small legacy from an aunt. Her tales were also inspired by the farm, its woodland surroundings, and nearby villages. Work began on Tom Kitten in 1906 and its setting became the Hill Top farmhouse. Illustrations depict the interior of the house and the gardens, paths, and gate at the front of the house.

Twenty thousand copies of the book were released in September 1907 and another 12,500 the following December. Potter composed a few miniature letters for child friends as if from the characters in the tale, and, in 1917, she released a painting book under Tom Kitten's name. In 1935, two books of piano pieces and piano duets for children were published with one piece inspired by Tom Kitten and another by the Puddle-Ducks. Tom and other characters in the book have become the subjects of a variety of merchandise over the years including porcelain figurines and plush toys. The tale is still in print, and has been translated and published in several languages.

Happy New Year's Eve

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This is my favorite animated gif ever and I shall post it every year. The link above is to my last year's post. I went to the movies today to see The Imitation Game with Benedict Cumberbatch and it was wonderful. I'm so glad I watched both seasons of The Bletchley Circle on PBS and was already familiar with Bletchley Park. Put it on your list of "must see" movies for 2015. See you next year. xo

Happy New Year 2015

I had to make a return at a small store today. The clerk wished me a Happy New Year and then she said, "The days are long but the years fly by." I haven't heard that one before but somehow it rings true.

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Looking Up in Canterbury Cathedral

Isn't this a gorgeous photo? via 

I would much rather look up at this instead of a falling ball in Times Square. 

Teleport me there at midnight! 

Happy New Year!

Center Chimney Garden Cottage + Plans

I don't see a utility room for the furnace so maybe this is just a summer cottage. It's a lovely design, isn't it? It would be perfect for someone with no possessions or desire to have any. Smile. Maybe there could be a barn close by for all your stuff. I like the side porch with french door access from both the living room and bedroom. This could be a house to aspire to if I ever sell almost everything I own. Found here.

Beatrix Potter Original Watercolors "This Pig Went to Market"

Sotheby's London, English Literature, History, Children's Books and Illustrations, 10 July 2012. Potter, Beatrix, Complete Set of Four Watercolours (on Three Sheets) for 'This Pig Went to Market,' £61,250.

I keep finding more and more unknown Beatrix Potter artwork. I'm happy about that and hope you are too.

The illustrations were originally published in "Cecily Parsley's Nursery Rhymes," published in 1922. The first drawings shows a colonial looking pig riding a horse and cart to the market while another pig lounges on the fence with the intent of staying home. To accompany the text "This Pig had a bit of Meat; This Pig had none," the second illustration shows a grandmotherly pig frying meat (we're hoping it's not pork), while another pig-companion peels potatoes. A third drawing brings the rhyme to a close, depicting an adorable weeping pig who can't find its way home.

Images and text found here.

View full-size images at the Sotheby's site here - use arrow > to see all three.

You are welcome.

xo

Enjoy the Christmas Lights

I'm still enjoying riding around after dark to see the Christmas lights. They will be going away soon so try to really enjoy them this week. This animated gif is quite magical, isn't it? via

Very Nice White Kitchen

I love this one and I can find nothing wrong with it. Very well thought out. via

Pie Crust Crimping Sampler

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Red Roof in The Highlands of Scotland

lovely photograph by david eustace

What a great pop of red.

Nantucket Residence: Pilgrim Court

I like it. It's not too over the top. This design on a small lot would work almost anywhere. I'm in! The Nantucket location is the icing on the cake.

Pilgrim Court residence, Nantucket. Real Estate Listing Here. Yikes.

It's a rainy Sunday here at the cottage and I can hear the heavy breathing near me from Webster's food coma. He had a big baked sweet potato chopped up in his breakfast kibble. I'm not sure where Tabitha is but it's either in her kitchen basket or in my bed. She went out early before the sun came up so she's down for the count for the rest of the morning. See you later. xo

Twilight in the Snow

My favorite time of day is here. I always like to be home when it gets dark. Sometimes that's hard to do in the winter when the days are short but I usually manage. I'm definitely a winter person. This snow scene with the moon is lovely, isn't it? Have a great evening. xo via