Content in a Cottage

Thursday, January 19, 2023

Darling Canvas Tote -- Thrifted

I bought this darling canvas tote yesterday on my home from getting my new title and plates for my car.

It's a vintage Boston Hand Print.

My laptop fits perfectly inside.

I love it and it will be perfect to take to the office when I'm planning to come home afterwards. If I have to go somewhere after my office meeting I will bring an insulated bag for my laptop. I don't like to leave it unprotected in the car when it's hot or cold outside. I don't think extreme temperatures are good for electronics. I am so happy with this $2.00 purchase. I don't think it was ever used even though it's vintage. I wish I had owned it yesterday. It would have been perfect for my paperwork and tools at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Here is a black insulated bag like the one I have for cold or hot car travel. Mine has black leather strap and trim and the body is olive green. It is designed for two (or three) bottles of chilled wine. I have never used it for that purpose. I got it at an estate sale with only my laptop in mind and it turned out to be perfect. Repurposing an item is always on my mind whenever I go hunting. xo

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Maple Leaf on Blue Board

An old photo after a very busy day. I decided to buy the car I have been leasing for the past three years and did all the paperwork and legwork myself because the leasing company wanted too much to do it for me. I started two weeks ago sending forms and final payment to Philadelphia for the title that came in Tuesday's mail. That seems like an age ago but it was only yesterday. I left home this morning at 9:30 for a trip to Motor Vehicles to turn in the old license plates, get new ones, and get the new Title and Registration. I removed the plates in the parking lot and thankfully it was a beautiful day and wasn't too cold. It took a while waiting in lines once I got inside but I am a patient person and I had all my documents filled out. I put the new license plates on in the parking lot and it was pretty easy requiring two different tools. All in all it wasn't as stressful as I thought it would be and I'm so glad it's over and now I can relax. I only have a little over 5,000 miles on the car because Covid hit two weeks after I bought it and you know how the last three years have been with staying inside! Now I feel like a free bird.

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Jane Allen Boyer illustrations: So Charming

Making toast looks very dangerous, doesn't it?

I stumbled on the first photo of the young girl sewing and I had to know more. That was my childhood -- in the sewing room -- my favorite room in the house and we always had one wherever we lived.

Jane Allen Boyer (1875-1940) was from Riverton, New Jersey. She illustrated several WWI era books for girls. See the article I found here written by the Historical Society of Riverton NJ. It shows the book covers of her five books. Enjoy.

UPDATE: Here is a link for used copies of The Mary Frances Sewing Book

"The Mary Frances Sewing Book 100th Anniversary Edition:

A Children’s Story-Instruction Sewing Book with Doll Clothes Patterns for American Girl and Other 18-inch Dolls"

You can refer to the link for the Historical Society above for all the other titles of the Mary Frances books and search for them HERE.

Happy Hunting

Monday, January 16, 2023

Deer in my Back Yard

A little excitement at 4:45 this afternoon. These deer stayed for quite a while because they weren't bothered. This live photo (set on bounce) had the most action. I took it from one of my attic windows where the screens are still out from having the house painted in August. I couldn't get any good shots from my living room because the balcony railing was in the way. I hope they will be frequent visitors.

Sunday, January 15, 2023

A Corner of My Livingroom

I just looked at the clock, and yes, it's still morning for 10 more minutes. I moved this cast iron squirrel pushing a container so I could enjoy it more. I filled his little container with a tiger's eye or Agate polished egg-shaped stone I have had for ages. I wish I had a giant acorn but I don't. We have bright sunshine today and it's very welcome. Enjoy this Sunday and the long MLK holiday weekend.

Friday, January 13, 2023

Beautiful Woodblock Flower Print

Vase with white flower and leaves, circa 1900

colored woodcut engraved

by Andrew Kay Womrath 1869-1939

American Woodblock Print Artist

British Museum

I love this so much.

Found here.

I moved mountains today and feel so good about some quality work and lots of paper shredding in my attic. I will continue tomorrow. Hope you have a great weekend.

Brittany, #20/35 by Andrew Kay Womrath

ex. collection of Yoshijiro Urushibara

Courtesy of the British Museum

(woodblock print)

Found here with many more examples of his work.

Gravestone found in France correcting his death date as 1953.

Have a great Sunday.

Thursday, January 12, 2023

A Collection of Small Shells I Just Purchased

I have another small jar of figural shells similar to these in the 6" dish. They are somewhat larger too. Found before Christmas in a charity shop. I am just now looking at them and admiring these miniature miracles from the sea. Aren't they beautiful? I wonder how long it took to collect them? Are they easy to find? I have no idea since I haven't had very many seashore visits in my lifetime. My family vacations were always in the mountains. I'm having a rainy Thursday with a repeat tomorrow but both days are in the 50s and mild with no sunshine until Sunday and Monday. I keep looking for things to do so I won't have to deal with my mess in the attic. Hope you enjoy these shell photos.

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

A Bookshelf Full of Friends

I made this illustrated quote about books long ago and just ran across it again and I still love the play on words. Is there any home decoration better than a bookcase full of books? I think not. I have been putting things away and my kitchen table is completely bare once again. Tomorrow I want to work on organizing upstairs in the attic. Wish me luck.

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Cat Sleeping with Seagull Teddy

So adorable. Do you think Santa brought this stuffed seagull? Don't you love photos of animals with their stuffed toys? via

After reading the comments about this photograph I learned there is a children's book THE STORY OF A SEAGULL AND THE CAT WHO TAUGHT HER TO FLY by Luis Sepúlveda

A cat. A seagull. An impossible task. A worldwide bestseller and the subject of a feature film, THE STORY OF A SEAGULL... is finally out in paperback! Her wings burdened by an oil slick, a seagull struggles to the nearest port to lay her final egg. Exhausted, she lands on a balcony where Zorba the cat is sunning himself. She extracts three extraordinary promises from him: that he will watch over the egg, that he will not EAT the egg, and that, when it's time, he will teach the baby gull to fly. The first two promises are hard enough, but the third one is surely impossible. Isn't it?

Interested? Search for a copy using my favorite book search HERE.

Monday, January 9, 2023

January Chickens

They seem to be going down the ramp willingly, don't they?

Somehow chickens and snow don't seem to go well together to me. I'm pretty sure the chickens agree. Fond here.

Sunday, January 8, 2023

Golden Hour Photo of My Cottage

A golden hour photo of my cottage taken a couple of days ago. Hope everyone had a great weekend. I am all set to watch 60 Minutes and then switch to PBS for three new series. I am especially looking forward to Season 3 of All Creatures Great & Small. See you tomorrow.

Saturday, January 7, 2023

New Bird Book for My Library

Stopped in an Old Bookshop yesterday and looked up to see this quote.

"I cannot live without books."

Thomas Jefferson

I took off the book jacket to take this photo of my purchase.

This is a nice addition to my bird books and it's very informative. The dust jacket was back on the book for this photo. It wasn't the book I was looking for but I am enjoying it. I've been looking for a large bird identification book I got rid of for some reason and if I ever come across it again I will buy it back. I paid $7.00 for this used book in fine condition. Here is a book search with prices starting at $1.00 and going up to $60.00 for a first edition. Happy Hunting.

Friday, January 6, 2023

Great Garden Room

If you like what you see here, you will love her Instagram.

@HelenNorman

You're welcome. I wasn't kidding, was I?

Thursday, January 5, 2023

Circa 1700 Former Laundry & Dairy Renovation

Former winner of Period Living's home of the Year award, this beautiful family home was once a neglected outbuilding

Every part of the house needed attention, from the chimneys down. You can still see the marks in the brickwork where the doors and windows were moved. New windows and a front door were made by RM Jones Joinery. The couple also added a bootroom (left of first picture).

The back hall, with wall-to-ceiling cupboards made by Gwyn Dowell. The flooring is limestone, which works well with the underfloor heating, and the walls and cupboards are painted in Farrow & Ball’s Oval Room Blue(opens in new tab) (Image credit: Kasia Fiszer)

Click HERE to see the fabulous kitchen and the rest of the in house Denbighshire, Wales. The building was in the husband's family for 5 generations. The article is fantastic and so inspiring. I know you will love it.

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Tree Portraits

So simple and so lovely.

Decorated by Mother Nature.

via

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

Wonderful Pen and Ink Drawing: Miranda

Pen and Ink Drawing

Robert Anning Bell, 1863-1933, artist.

Circa 1900

Found here.

Miranda is one of the principal characters of William Shakespeare's The Tempest. She is the only female character to appear on stage. Miranda is the daughter of Prospero, another of the main characters of The Tempest. Wikipedia

This drawing was done for Bell's decorated edition of Shakespeare's Tempest, published by Freemantle & Co. in 1901.

Click HERE to see more art by Robert Anning Bell.

Click on each thumbnail to enlarge and get more information.

Monday, January 2, 2023

Amazing.Photo

This amazing photo blows me away!

Artist | @niphisi

Do yourself a huge favor and look at the other photos on this Instagram feed. Each one is extraordinary and it would be quite impossible to pick a favorite. I am so glad I found it to share with you. Happy New Year.

Click HERE.

Sunday, January 1, 2023

New Year's Day Food for Good Luck

I slow cooked all of my New Year's Day lucky food on top of the stove today. Dish on left is cow peas, middle is organic brown rice, dish on right has collard greens. I ate mine on a blue willow divided dish and I had two helpings. It was so good. I should have made cornbread but I didn't. I thought I had black-eyed peas in my pantry but only had dried cow peas. They were actually better than the traditional BIPs. They are redder in color and have the same dark center. I emptied the bag in a pot and added 4 cups of boiling water and ended up cooking it for two hours and they were perfect. I had to add two more cups of water somewhere along the way. The rice took only 45 minutes and the collards 35 minutes. I like my peas on the soupy side. I had almost totally forgotten about this traditional southern meal until I got a text from someone in the midst of cooking hers with a ham hock.