NOPE. Not going outside today.

"Maybe we'll just stay inside today."

Darling photo found here.

xo

The Best of British Taste

Like this detail? Wait until you see the rest of this Welsh dresser all decked out for a party.

You will see more inside this amazing English house too.

There are a total of TEN (10) photos on one Instagram post @bibableofbritishtaste HERE

bibleofbritishtaste Sunday lunch chez painter and muralist @a_h_dodd , a beautiful muddle of stuff assembled with an artist’s eye, a double row of milk jugs hanging on the dresser, a tented bedroom in Regency stripe, a minute hall hung with linen printed for the House of Lords by Giles Gilbert Scott - and chinoiserie upstairs, all in an old red brick house with a friendly face. Dodd has lately and very justly been featured in BOTH @cabanamagazine and @theworldofinteriors - but I suspect they tidied everything up

I love this beautiful middle of stuff, don't you?

See the Instagram of painter/muralist @a_h_dodd (Alan Dodd) HERE

Enjoy it all.......xo

White on White Scottish Christmas

Glencoe Village Scotland

Image from Instagram @map_of_europe 

Click to learn more about this village in the Scottish Highlands

Photo by @garyhook2 

Too pretty for words, isn't it?

xo

Synchronized Birds Feeding

This made me laugh. Two birds eating in unison at my feeder. I learned a new trick with my camera too. I took a live photo and learned you can edit how you want to view them. I chose BOUNCE for this one and it converted it to a gif. This is so much fun. Hope you had a nice Christmas and are enjoying the day after as much as I did. xo

UPDATE:

I looked through my other photos and found this one taken earlier than the one above. It looks as if the cardinal was practicing the pecking rhythm shown above.  

L@@K below and look carefully at his nodding head.

Do you think he is practicing too? 

I have quite a few shots of him standing still, just observing.

Have a good week.

xo

Christmas Day: Snowstorm in California 1920

William S. Rice 

Snowstorm 

Calaveras, Calif. 

1920 woodcut

via

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone.

I love this image and hope you do too. I prefer "dreaming" of a white Christmas rather than having one since I have to drive later today. I hope you are all safe and cozy wherever you are.

Click photo to enlarge.

xo

Wonderful Before and After

This before and after in Cashiers, North Carolina is fabulous.

I want to come back and explore more when I have time.

This designer says she's showing the inside next

and it's scary. Look at the before photos here.

I love the Adirondack gate♡

xo

English Robin in the Snow

Lovely English Robin in the snow.

Photo found here.

xo

More of My Christmas Decor

I decorated my dish towel dryer with ornaments.

I did this last year and liked it.

Two favorite ornaments.

This is shows my fireplace blocked by the flat screen tv I bought last summer. I enjoy my tv much more than a few open fires and my house is much warmer since the heat doesn't go up the chimney. I cut a piece of pink rigid insulation to fit the opening and put an antique storm shutter in old blue paint to cover everything. I draped some cranberry beads and hung two stockings and I'm ready for Santa.

I saved this Christmas Card box lid from a partial box I purchased years ago at a tag sale. It never fails to make me smile. 

My kitchen windowsill at night.

With the last one I shall say goodnight to all.

See you tomorrow.

xo

Bird with Perfect Camouflage

This bird give new meaning to "blending in" with its perfect camouflage. Found on Instagram @birds_perfection. 

Willow Ptarmigan(lagopus lagopus)  

Photograph By:©Anthony Madden

xo

A Little Christmas Decorating Happened

I put a stool for books and a floor lamp beside my sofa a couple of days ago because the lamp on the other side isn't good for reading and I am really enjoying it. It overlaps the opening to my hallway but I think it looks nice. I put my wooden cranberry strands around a lot of my artwork too.

It's not much, but it's a start.

I have straightened this painting since taking this photo. I can remembering stringing popcorn and real cranberries with my mother for Christmas trees in my youth. She loved these wooden ones!

Happy decorating and wrapping.

It's almost here.

xo

Sunday Morning around My Cottage

Filtered sun streaming in my windows.

Try as I may and try as I might, I simply cannot stop myself from piling things on my farmtable. This half is opposite my vestibule which is unheated. I always take of my shoes and start dumping at this end.😂

I took this photo late Saturday just before sundown. I liked the way my kitchen polished chrome sink faucet shines but nothing else shows.

My birds keep me busy refilling their feeder. All perches are occupied and a little chickadee patiently waits his turn.

Enjoy your Sunday.

xo

An Owl in His Element

A snowy owl in the snow!

What could be more perfect?

via

Just.Wonderful

Night shadows in the snow are the best, aren't they?

Photo found here.

There are no decorations but it looks like Christmas.

Nature provides the best natural ones!

xo

Best Christmas Tree

It's very old fashioned, isn't it? The candle lights look almost real candles and there aren't many ornaments. Most of them are probably handmade. I see a box of ornaments on the floor and some red ball fringe so I suppose there will be more decorations. I wish I could see it after they finish. I think it looks perfect just the way it is right now.

Photo found here.

xo

Amazing Photo of Clouds

I am a big fan of cloud photos and this one is amazing.

Found here.

I had a productive day today.

Hope you can say the same.

xo

A Few of The Books I Collect

I collect antiquarian books with fine leather bindings.

This set is my favorite with the sporting motif.

I love the red ones too.

Another favorite set. Now you know why I liked that bookshop window about book collecting.

xo

Blackberry Pies with Cornmeal Crust - Recipe

Don't these look divine? I bought two cartons of big fat blackberries a few days ago and they were delicious. I think they are my favorite berries since I grew up picking them in the wild. 

The recipe looks very simple and so does the cornmeal crust.

The website is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen.

Enjoy viewing it and dreaming of blackberries.

Click HERE.

xo

Book Collecting Quote

This made me smile. 

Only a book collector will understand.

Photo found here.

I hS rain today mixed off and on with snow that didn't stick.

xo

Late Saturday Afternoon Pictures

I was standing close to the stump and finally got a bird and the leaping deer in the same frame. The birds absolutely love this feeder and it's working just exactly the way I planned it. The sun was low and was shining where the bird is standing.

The sky was a lovely blue late Saturday afternoon an hour before sunset. Have a great weekend.

xo

 

Portraits: Tabby Cat & A Fox in the Snow

He's absolutely gorgeous, isn't he? He looks happy and warm even though he's posing on a snow mound. Tabby cats are the best! I love his coloring, a mixture of orange and gray with black stripes. Photo found here.

This fox must be waiting for something to pounce upon without having to jump so high. What a great portrait! Photo found here. I am not ready for snow but I still love to look at snowy photographs. 

xo