My Favorite Seasoning in A Spray Bottle

I forgot to mention what I used to season my quick stovetop "stew" made from a small zucchini, an onion, and fresh tomatoes. I have eaten it 2 nights in a row. I pour some avocado oil in the bottom of my vintage cast iron skillet and add the unpeeled zucchini sliced longways into thirds and cover. While that's cooking I cut up an onion and add it to the pan and re-cover. Then I slice up a big tomato or two smaller ones and add to the pan. Flip the zucchini when it's brown on one side. Then I cut it into diagonal chunks in the pan and the tomatoes too. Stir to mix it all up and spray with Bragg Liquid Aminos. I have a glass cover for my cast iron pan. It should be ready to eat now. Spoon into a big shallow bowl and enjoy. It doesn't take long to cook and tastes SO fresh. I also have a large bottle of Liquid Aminos for refilling my spray bottle and for using in soups. It has much less salt than regular soy sauce and it's made by the same company that makes the Apple Cider Vinegar I use. I buy the spray in my grocery store. Try it instead of salt. I love it. xo

More information here. 

I haven't tried this but will look for it.

More information here.

Vegetables and My Cookbooks

One of my girlfriends dropped off some veggies from her garden this week. She didn't know what the two large things were. I think the one on the left is a fat zucchini and I won't know what the green item on the right is until I cut it open. It's probably a squash of some sort. Last night, I sautéed a normal zucchini with an onion and one large tomato and had a delicious ratatouille for one. I used my iron skillet and some avocado oil. I might have the same thing tonight because it was quick and healthy. xo

New Kitchen Counter Arrangement in My Cottage

Sorry I missed my daily posting yesterday. I was busy scrubbing down the full bathroom in the basement. I did a lot and haven't finished quite yet but it looks amazing. I had an office meeting this morning and when I got home my electricians appeared just a few minutes after returned home and I parked my car. 

I had a list for them and they efficiently solved all of my problems in an hour's time. I had two GFI outlets in my kitchen that haven't worked for ages and I am thrilled to have them back. I had to completely rearrange the counter space to the left of my sinks and I am very pleased. I haven't had outside lights for almost a year and I kept putting off the repair. That was all fixed too. 

My basement door is just around the corner from the portrait you see on the left. The rest of my living room leads to the hallway for two bedrooms and a full bath. I am feeling good about my productivity this week and it's only Tuesday afternoon. xo

Brown & White Staffordshire Platter

This Staffordshire already had the plate hanging hardware attached so it was on my wall within minutes of bringing it home.

It's right at home in my kitchen nook.

Beatrix Potter Kitty in Boots

I found an interesting New Yorker article about a new book being published based on a “lost” Potter work about a cat: “The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots,” which she had begun and abandoned two years earlier, in 1914. Several manuscripts of the story were discovered in 2013 in the Potter archive at the Victoria & Albert Museum. Read more here. Beatrix Potter complained to her publisher, "I do not draw cats well." I disagree and think her original drawing is quite charming.

Side Table with Blue and White Platter

This tin box on a stand has a top that rusted when one of my potted geraniums overflowed and I didn't notice right away. I have always admired Staffordshire platters on custom-made stands. I remembered I had a rectangular one and it turned to be the perfect size for this stand.

I thought my photo above was somewhat boring so I made three different "watercolor" versions using the Waterlogue App and I like each one. Have you downloaded it yet? It's free!

Isn't technology amazing? xo

Best Spiral Staircase

Spectacular interior. Photo found here.

I tried to find this grand house with no luck.

The spiral staircase looks as if it goes on forever.

Everything is hand crafted with no power tools.

Such a work of art.

xo

My Entrance Vestibule

I worked indoors today to I tackled my linen closet. I donated some household items on Tuesday and noticed the section with bedding was very sparce. I have linens I haven't used in ages because the fitted sheets don't fit my thick mattress. I honestly don't remember whether or not I have shown you this new arrangement in my entrance vestibule. Little by little I am beginning to see real progress with my endless organizing, donating, and rearranging. My hard work is paying off but I can't stop until old man winter makes me. xo

Quote About An Open Fire

I made this illustrated quote back in 2009. I found the empty frame with dogs in one of my old books and added the quote by Dorothy Draper. See my old post and a photo of her here.

Sage Green Paint on Doors and Trim

I love the room that can be closed off with these sage green french doors. It is such a soothing neutral color that goes with everything. However, the furnishings in the room are without color and that brings out the beauty of the trim color even more. It's all very inviting, isn't it? via

Dahlia and Missy Watercolors Using Waterlogue

I haven't used the WATERLOGUE APP for such a long time. I transformed that black and white dahlia I posted earlier this week into a watercolor and here it is for your Sunday morning❤️

Missy went home on Friday after 10 days with me. She was the perfect houseguest 🐾🐾and I think she would approve this watercolor edit of my favorite photo.

Currently Watching: DOCTOR FINLAY

I am loving this series with 4 seasons. I am on the last one and will be SO sorry when it's over. It is a Scottish series with lovable characters and stories. I know many of you have mentioned Doctor Finlay on Acorn TV each time I post about something I have been watching. 

You were all right; I love it♡

Here is the link for a very old original Doctor Finlay's Casebook from the 1960s on YouTube. It is a full-length episode. Enjoy.

Tomato Zucchini Pie (Recipe)

This recipe is really called Tomato-Milpa Pie but suggests Zucchini as a substitute if you don't grow the Mexican squash called Milpa. The first thing you do is bake the empty pie crust so this is a perfect opportunity to use a frozen one and save yourself some work. It gets baked again after you layer it with your homegrown or farmer's market tomatoes, half-moon zucchini slices, and fresh corn kernels.

I think this is the perfect "end of summer" recipe! Enjoy. xo

A Wonderful Farmhouse and A Cobbler Recipe

Just wonderful only I wouldn't want to mow around all those rocks in the lawn. I'm sure they must have a backstory. via

I really like this cobbler recipe saved from an old newspaper clipping. It could be used on any seasonal fruit and the peaches are especially good right now. via

Ranch House Renovation: Amazing!

I love before and after photos, especially this one! 

Isn't it fabulous? Found here.

The Patio Under My Balcony

Now that summer is winding down I finally found the perfect spot for my outdoor table and chairs. It gets too hot upstairs on my balcony in the blazing sun so I decided to move it down under. I like the shade so it has turned out to be perfect, especially when I need a break when I am mowing. It does drip down there when it's raining but this set is easy to dry off when it quits. I still have Missy, today marks one week with her and she might be going home tomorrow. She has been no trouble and hasn't kept me from doing the work on my laundry list. This weekend I tore my bedroom apart for a good fall cleaning and I'm almost finished. The cooler weather makes housework much more pleasurable doesn't it? 

xo

Breakfast Room with A View

The view from this breakfast room window looks like a painting, doesn't it? The house by TruexCullins Architecture is in Charlotte, Vermont. I love the blue checked club chair with ottoman too!

HAPPY LABOR DAY!

xo

Sag Harbor Cottage Love

Raise you hand if you love this cottage too.

Found here on Instagram.

Enjoy your Sunday. xo

Dahlia in Black & White

I took some dahlia photos before the storm and played around with one of them with Snapseed this morning. I was able to delete all of the background and convert to a black and white phototgraph. I like it! 

I was so very fortunate with my house, my street, and general area with Wednesday evening's and Thursday morning's torrential rain. I have since learned of the devastation in the towns not far away that suffered from the flooding of the Passaic River. I live in the area of the headwaters of that river. I got up extra early on Thursday morning for some reason and was watching BBC World News on PBS and they had newsreel footage for NYC, NJ, and Philadelphia. Ita has turned out to be much worse that Sandy in 2012. Thanks for your concern and best wishes for my safety. I am meeting two friends for an early dinner today to catch up. Have a great weekend. xo

 

First Chilly Morning for Missy

After a hot breakfast (hot water over kibble) and a morning walk in the wet grass, Missy settled down for a long nap in a hot pink fleece blanket.