Natural Lawn

This is beyond charming. The perfect summer yard! xo

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Bunny Melon Designed Guesthouse for Jackie O.

This Gem of a Home in Virginia Was Originally a Guesthouse for Jackie O. Designed by Bunny Mellon, it's full of inventive compartments and time-worn finishes By Etta Meyer. Photography by Stacy Zarin Goldberg July 11, 2018 

Read the article and see many more photographs of the interior in Architectural Digest

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Quilter's Potato Salad Recipe

I photographed this recipe from one of my oldest and most favorite cookbooks, THE OLD-FASHIONED COOKBOOK by Jan McBride Carlton. It was published in 1975 and I grab it first when looking for a recipe. 

When I prepare this potato salad, I mix the hot dressing over the potatoes that have been cooled slightly in cold water but are still hot. I leave the red-skin peeling on and cut into cubes before cooking. The dressing makes this dish. Try it and let me know if you like it. I always get compliments when I bring it to a pot luck. People love it and are always surprised that it is somewhat sweet. Anyway, try it with the sugar the first time around. It's a fabulous recipe for the 4th of July or for Father's Day this weekend. xo

Here is a used book search with some very inexpensive prices if you want to buy a copy. The American First edition is earlier (1975) than the English one published in 1984. 

The illustrators also "wrote" a delightful children's book. Thanks, Mundi for mentioning OUR ANIMAL FRIENDS AT MAPLE HILL FARM in the comments. xo❤️

https://permies.com/t/34679/Book-Review-Animal-Friends-Maple

 

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HILL TOP: Beatrix Potter's Farmhouse

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If you happen to find yourself in the Lake District, be sure to visit Beatrix Potter's house. Large view of the photo below and more photos in this Lake District link. Enjoy your virtual visit. xo

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Old House Renovation Before & After

The operative word in the phrase "gut renovation" is the first one — it takes real guts to strip a house down to the studs, then build it back up again. Especially if you're new parents, like Lisa and Mark Hellman were (to then-infant daughter Avery) when they found their 106-year-old home, situated on a former chicken farm near Jeffersonville, New York. Not only had the sprawling 6,000-square-foot building been converted into six apartments, but by the time the Hellmans discovered it, the ramshackle residence had stood abandoned for 25 years.

Beneath the exterior's yellow asbestos shingles, Lisa and Mark Hellman discovered well-preserved clapboard, which they painted with Benjamin Moore's Flat White. The couple also had the roof and all 57 windows replaced, and the porch torn down and rebuilt.

Lisa and Mark Hellman, in a yearlong, top-to-bottom-renovation, restored this 106-year-old home to its former glory, creating a pastoral family retreat in upstate New York. See before and after photos of their intensive restoration and decorating. See the slideshow with more before and after photos via Country Living.

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Plant Stand with Geraniums

I have had the black antique plant stand forever and I could never find the right place for it until last Sunday when I discovered it would fit perfectly between the sliding glass door and the window on the lower level. I already had the geraniums on the top. I picked up four more today at the grocery store, repotted them in terracotta pots, and I am thrilled.

I got the pair of aluminum chairs on the Nextdoor App over the winter the day after I got plowed out when we had 24 inches of snow on the ground. I love them in this setting. Isn't it funny when things come together after years of being in limbo? 

Morning shadows. I love the chair shadows on Wednesday morning at 10:00, looking down from my balcony.♡

Beautifully Located Swimming Pool

Leaving the lovely old tree instead of cutting it down just makes this pool all the more lovely. A bit of shade instead of hot broiling sun all around is always a good idea. via

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Catalpa Tree Blossoms at My Cottage

I took a walk all the way to the rear of my property after dinner and the light was perfect for flower photography.

Some of the limbs on this Catalpa tree are so low I have to duck when I am mowing on my riding mower. After the blossoms quit, I will cut the lowest branches back for safety. The tree is huge and so are the leaves.

The flowers look like little orchids. Catalpas are very old fashioned trees. In the fall they have giant long seed pods. Every year, I marvel at them when they bloom. Have a great Sunday evening. xo

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TV Recommendation: HAMISH MACBETH on Acorn TV

HAMISH MACBETH: I absolutely LOVE this series filmed in Scotland. It's about an unambitious policeman who is more interested in keeping the peace than following the law. He likes where he lives and doesn't want to be in the limelight too much and get transferred. Each episode has a new "crime" and Hamish solves it always accompanied by his little West Highland Terrier named Jock. The small town is filled with quirky characters such as one named TV Bob. His family was the first to get TV when he was a boy and the nickname stuck. I am watching on Acorn TV but it's also available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Tubi TV. There are three seasons. It's old but timeless, circa 1995-97. Let me know if you've seen it or like it after you start watching and are hooked. xo

 

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Lacecap Hydrangea at My Cottage

The first blooms on my lacecap hydrangea are just appearing and the bush is lovelier than ever this year. It's in the perfect location and last year I was careful to cut back all the stems with blooms after they finished because this variety blooms on last year's growth. It looked a little haggard after I pruned it but the new growth filled in rather quickly. I love the almost perfectly round shape of this woody shrub as you will see in the next photo.

I took this photo this morning before I started mowing the way back. As you can see from the sky, it was overcast all day and cool, never above 70°. I finished mowing around 1:30 and 5 minutes later it started to sprinkle rain. I have mastered my John Deere Garden Tractor and I absolutely love it. I'm not afraid of it anymore and it does such a great job. It took an extra day this week to get it all done. The first day it was blazing hot and I ran out of gas before I finished all of the back yard. So yesterday I finished that and quit so the grass in the back meadow could dry out more. Today was such a perfect day and now I'm finished for a while. Have a great weekend. xo

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My Peonies

While scrolling Instagram this week I learned the true botanical name of my white peonies. Introducing Jan van Leeuwen. I picked what's left and have little bouquets all over the house. The hard rains earlier this week were not kind to peonies in full bloom😔

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1903 Illustration: The Wonderful Baby

THE WONDERFUL BABY

A 1903 illustration from the Crimson Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. Illustrated by H. J. Ford. You could lose yourself looking at all the wonder in this vintage children's fairy tale book illustration, couldn't you? Click to enlarge image.

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Beautiful Lavender Colored Bird

Wouldn't you think a bird named Plumbeous Water Redstart would be red? Instead he's a lovely shade of lavender.

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Dogs in Windows and One Cat

I adore all of these dogs in windows and one cat in the center frame. People watching must keep them entertained all day long. via

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Before and After Cottage Renovation in Vermont

BEFORE

AFTER - front

AFTER - back

ORIGINAL SINK - saved.  Love it❤️

Read the article from This Old House. More photos too. From Fixer-Upper to Refined Farmhouse

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Recipes from National Trust UK

Just start scrolling through this National Trust recipe site and you will definitely want to come back and save or try some of the recipes. Here is the link for the National Trust Fruit Scones pictured above. Enjoy!

Here is the link for converting the measurements and oven temperatures from UK to US. 

https://whatscookingamerica.net/equiv.htm

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Gray Cat on A Bed, Posing

She's beautiful, isn't she? The gray blankets set her off and the blue pillows accent her eyes. via

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Pancakes or Japanese Hot Cakes + Recipe

Don't they look delicious????? These Japanese Hot Cakes look like a stack of English Muffins, don't they? The recipe is easy and most of you will already have all the ingredients on hand. I can't wait to make them for breakfast. Recipe here. YUM!

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