A Quote from Shelley

I think this quote from Shelley is so beautiful, don't you? Photographed from one of my old books.

My Farmhouse Kitchen Sink in Early Spring

This caught my eye when looking through old photos. WOW. This was a while ago before I had so much junk on my kitchen counter. Now I'm tempted to go back to that sparse look. The green vase full of daffodils came with my house. I found this old porcelain laundry sink on the side of the road when I lived in my former house. My sweet mother and I put it in the back of my car and I stored it in my barn for several years before I found my cottage. It's still one of my favorite things. Hope you have a great Labor Day Weekend. I don't think the weather is going to cooperate here. Sad face. xo

Wonderful Gates with Squirrels

At the Brooklyn Public Library.

I love theis entrance to the Children's Library.

via

Nice Kitchen/Family Room

This family room / kitchen looks pretty perfect to me. I love those chairs with the shared ottoman. The color palate is so soothing. via Happy first day of September. It rained overnight and it's so much cooler! I slept extra late this morning because I totally forgot to set my alarm. See you later. xo

Tater Tots Cooked on a Panini Press

Yep. Tater Tots right out of the bag. This idea came to me recently when there was nothing in the house to eat and it was too hot to turn on the oven. Just line them up frozen hard as a rock, close the lid, and look after a while. They are flat and crispy and delicious. Good for a snack anytime, as a side with burgers, or as tiny hashbrowns for breakfast. Perfect comfort food. You are welcome! xo

Black and white etchings

A loose bookplate I found in my stash of old paper. via

I have always loved black and white etchings in thin black frames. via

Can you believe August is over? Boo Hoo.

Garden Shed Ideas

I love this little shed and I know you do too. The following link has a slideshow with 24 sheds for you to drool over. A Gallery of Garden Shed Ideas Enjoy!

Bedtime -- Sunday Night

This will be me pretty soon. I might watch a movie on my DVD player but I doubt I will be able to stay awake until the end. I will probably wake up early and watch the rest in the morning. Good night. xo via

Seed Saving Envelope

I designed this seed saving envelope back in 2011. Now is the time to start saving your seeds so I thought I should publish it again. Click on the image to print it full size. Turn the page around and print another to get two on one page. You can also save the photo to your photo editing software to adjust the size to your liking and print multiples on a page. Share your seeds with a friend. Tuck into an envelope along with a card as a small gift. xo

Another Great Kitchen

This kitchen looks lovely, doesn't it? I would have skipped the window treatment though. Don't you wish we could see the whole room? via

Have a great weekend. It's hot again in New Jersey and very humid. xo

Blue and White Love

Interior Design : Anthony Baratta LLC | lovely blue and white wallpaper in this pretty, fresh traditional vignette with Hepplewhite or Sheraton sideboard and blue and white porcelains. This was well thought out with the look of a recessed nook and the window placement. Really nice! via 

Dutch Door Love

I have a lifelong history of loving Dutch doors and this one is no exception! via

Do you have a telephone landline?

I have a landline that I seldom use. Only a few friends call me on it and I use my cellphone for almost everything because it's always in my pocket or nearby. My phone used to ring off the hook late at night and early in the morning with automated recorded calls made by robots until I found a service to make them go away. For some reason, I switched channels recently to the CBS Morning News. I have been watching MSNBC and CNN news ever since the debates. Right when I switched channels, CBS had a person explaining a service called Nomorobo. It's free and very easy to set up. I have the triple play from Verizon and it worked with that. You have to know or set up your username and password for your cable service. I already had those set up because I control my DVR from their FiOS App on my phone or iPad to schedule my recordings.

Are you still with me? Watch the YouTube Video below. It's the same video that appears on the link.

After you get so far with signing up at "nomorobo" you will have to log on to your FiOS account or whatever cable account you have. You will need to set up "simultaneous ring". It's easy. You have to check a box and put in the phone number the robo service gave you. When any calls come in on your landline, if it is a Robot call, your phone will only ring once and hang up. If your phone rings twice, that means it is a call from a real person. Robot calls emit a special signal that the blocking service can read.

This might sound complicated but it's really pretty simple. It is like the Do Not Call that no longer works and is useless. 

It really works. The link is HERE. Scroll down and see how many trusted business recommend it. It's also FTC approved.

I have friends who set this up for their parents. Now they don't have to rush to the phone to be annoyed by solicitors. They just wait and see if there is a second ring before they head for their landline phone. If you have trouble, ask your children or grandchildren to help you set this up.

You can thank me later. It's free for landlines. It's also available for cell phones but there is a monthly charge so I didn't sign up for that.

Bathroom with Great Wallpaper

I love the Lotus Smoke wallpaper in this powder room, don't you? See more photos here as well as the "before" photos of the same room. What a transformation! I know you love before and afters!

Finale of Inspector Lewis on PBS tonight

Tonight is the final episode of the final season of Inspector Lewis. Boo Hoo. I love this show and being an armchair visitor to Oxford, England. Maybe they will bring in a new show starring Hathaway. That would be nice! Enjoy

Kitchen Love

I love everything about this photo, especially the exhaust fan treatment over the range. via

Antique Garden Urn with Tulips

Could anything be lovelier? I think not. via

The Queen Mother's Decorating Style

The Queen Mother’s collection of Vanity Fair caricature prints at Birkhall in Scotland. Often called SPY prints in the trade as this was the signature of the artist on many. Love the tartan carpet on the stairs! via

Library and Reading Room Under The Stairs

This is the best use for that area under the stairs yet. Don't you love the built-in book shelves and the comfy chairs for reading? Found in Country Living Magazine. Link here.

Portland Apartment w/ House Tour

Take the tour of this Portland stylist's apartment. via Apartment Therapy