Vegetable Drawers That Can Breathe

I love these wooden crate drawers. They don't match the kitchen cabinets but they match the butcher block counter. They are probably designed for vegetables so they can breathe but I will fill the second one with dish towels. I love the look, don't you? Enjoy this October Monday. xo

UPDATE: I FOUND MORE PHOTOS OF THIS KITCHEN IN THE COTSWOLDS HERE.

The Perfect Small House

I realize this wonderful small cottage has a large house attached. I hope it isn't dependent in any way to the big one but could easily stand alone.

I have mowed all of my grass very close to the ground with the #2 blade setting on my push mower. Now all the leaves can blow away with no raking required. I still have a few geraniums outside in big planters that I have to repot and bring inside. My peonies haven't been pruned to the ground yet either. And I need to put in more weatherstripping on a door or two but otherwise, I am pretty prepared for cold weather. I haven't turned on my heat yet and am wearing warm neck scarves indoors. If my neck is warm, I feel warmer all over. I do this in bed too when watching TV before I turn off the light. Try it, it really works! photo source

xo

Swan Mom and Cygnets

Swan Family Outing

When swans are born they're called cygnets, which is pronounced sig-net. Cygnets keep their name until they're a year old at which time they have two options for names. An adult male swan is called a cob and an adult female swan is called a pen.

Darling photo found on Tumblr. 

xo 

Wonderful Vintage Bathroom

 The Sleeper-McCann House

Gloucester, Massachusetts

Instagram Photo @torimellott

Beauport, the Sleeper-McCann House (1907)

A designer’s dream 

GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS 

BEAUPORT

Beauport, the Sleeper-McCann House, a National Historic Landmark, was the summer home of one of America’s first professional interior designers, Henry Davis Sleeper. Perched on a rock ledge overlooking Gloucester Harbor, Beauport was Sleeper’s retreat, backdrop for entertaining, and professional showcase, and an inspiration to all who visited. 

After Sleeper’s death, Beauport was purchased by the McCanns, who left it largely intact. Visit Beauport and see Sleeper’s lifetime collection of curiosities, colored glass, folk art, china, and silhouettes in every nook and alcove. Each of the forty rooms is distinguished by a historical or literary figure, theme, color, shape, or object. No two rooms are the same, and each is more visually dazzling than the last. Get to know Sleeper, a gay man living in the early twentieth century; his housekeeper, Mary Wonson; his fascinating neighbors; and the house’s many colorful guests.

How has this eluded me all these years? 

Now it's on my bucket list.

xo

Open Porch connecting to Screened Porch

If this isn't the best of both worlds, I don't know what is. How wonderful it would be to have an open porch that connects to a screened porch? ‘Weybridge, farmhouse renovation.’ Smith & Vansant Architects, 

Norwich, VT. redhousebuilding.com. J. Gantz Photography.

Photo found here.

xo

Brass Bathtub Fixtures

So beautiful but I would never be able to remember which knob was for hot and which one was for cold. What is the big one in the middle for? The Shower? Anyway, they are beautiful but not for me. You couldn't even reach the top knob if you were soaking and needed more hot water. Found on Pinterest. xo

 

Wonderful Pantry

So pretty.

Photo found here.

I hope there is another place

for the canned goods and things

that are not pretty but essential.

xo

New Curtain Rods at Firehouse Flea Market

My favorite day was Saturday. The annual Firehouse Auction and flea market was back after a two-year absence due to Covid. I have been looking and looking and looking for new curtain rods for my dressing room and found them just before I was leaving for the day. I spent most of the day on Sunday looking for screws to hang them with the wooden brackets I already had. I looked through all of my screws and found nothing so I was forced to go to Ace Hardware nearby and one of the men there helped me find the perfect ones. 

I dashed home, got out my trusty new ladder, and hung the first one. The one on the right is the before photo. I have been unhappy with the old rods for a long time but have been making do until I found just the right new ones. Saturday was the day for scoring them. Now I can close them in the winter quite easily to prevent heat loss at night. My old rods were tension rods within the window frame and the curtains fell out when I tried to close them. I think moving them up to the top of my woodwork has transformed the whole room. I am in the process of putting away summer and getting out winter clothes and bedding. I put the cover on my air conditioning unit outside yesterday too. I had a great weekend, hope you did too.

xo

UPDATE: See an older blog post with the old look of these draperies HERE.

Blowing Leaves

It's happening, slowly but surely. Some trees turn loose early and some wait as long as they can. I slept so soundly last night under two blankets. Will repeat the process tonight. Have a great rest of the weekend. via

xo

The Queen's Last Corgi Pups

The Queen's Corgis miss her.

 Sandy and Muick were the last pups Queen Elizabeth had during her life. They were a gift from her son, Andrew, who will now take over the dogs' care. Read more about them here in an article that says they are likely aware of her death.♡🐾🐾♡

xo

Antique House with Fall Mums

I have always loved center chimney colonials.

This one looks spectacular all decked out for Fall.

via

17th Century Welsh Cottage in The Cotswolds Restoration

No, this isn't the original kitchen sink. 

It was purchased on Ebay.

The living room is perfection, isn't it?

The perfect cottage garden was created for this 17thC cottage.

This article in House & Garden UK is a fascinating read about the authentic restoration. I learned a lot too. New stone floors and new wood floors were made to look old by rubbing in layers of wood ash and linseed oil. I need to read the article again and see what other tips I can absorb. Enjoy.

xo

Frog Scholar Illustration

FROG SCHOLAR

Found on the artist's page here.

The botanical illustration is quite lovely too.

XO

Almost Time to Store The Watering Cans

I caught up on my mowing over the last three days and it felt good to be outside and working hard. September days are so nice and I want to do some more serious weeding in the front and call it done until next spring. The geraniums that are looking so lovely outside will have to be potted for overwintering in the house. Getting things done before gloves and mittens are needed is my goal. I will be watching, with saddness, the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II tomorrow on BritBox (on a continuous loop all day) saying a final goodbye.😢 

xo

image source

 

Last Night it Dipped into The Low Forties

Isn't this the perfect description for the upcoming fall season?

via

life starts

all over

again

when it

gets crisp

in the fall

f. scott fitzgerald

xo

Beautiful Cat in The Fall

Such a beautiful pose for this lovely cat.

Found here.

xo

Public Garden on the Welsh Border

Bryan’s Ground, a public garden in Herefordshire on the Welsh border. See many more lovely photos here.

xo

UPDATE: More information about the history here with more photos and visiting information. It's REALLY interesting and worthy of a blog post all by itself. Be sure and visit.

Princess Anne at 70: A Documentary

PART ONE ~ PRINCESS ANNE AT 70

I was astonished at how busy Princess Anne was every day during her mother, Queen Elizabeth II's, later years. She was honestly on the road from dawn until dark most days. This documentary was on PBS and has been added to YouTube for your viewing pleasure. Her children are lovely and she has a very supportive and nice looking husband. I was glad to learn she has a happy family.

PART TWO ~ PRINCESS ANNE AT 70

PART THREE ~ PRINCESS ANNE AT 70

I hope you enjoyed learning about the devoted daughter of Elizabeth and Philip. One can only imagine the sorrow in her heart this week. xo

Cat's Face ~ Perfectly Framed

This cat has chosen the best part of this fence to perfectly frame her face. I love this photo and the tabby cat too. xo 

via

My Amaryllis Bloomed

This was a gift several years ago and it didn't do well in my house during the winter because I keep my house too cold. It's still in the florist pot and I've always overwintered it and this year it has a double bloom. This is the perfect time for it to be in my house too, long before it's time to turn on the heat. I didn't do anything special to it except water it. I was shocked to see it come alive again and the blooms are spectacular. Hope you are having a great weekend. xo

Stirring Speech by King Charles III

I thought King Charles II's 9 minute speech was quite wonderful. Especially the last line. 

"May 'flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest'." 

That was the perfect Shakespeare quote for his Darling Mama.

They truly enjoyed each other's company.

Read the article in THE MIRROR here entitled: Soul-stirring meaning behind King Charles' 'flights of angels' line for the Queen in his speech. Long live the King.

Last Photo of Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth on Sept. 6, 2022.
JANE BARLOW - WPA POOL/GETTY

I thought she looked so lovely in her Scottish plaid pleated kilt and powder blue cardigan. And now, only two days later, she is gone. This is her last photo after she met with the new Prime Minister. She truly worked as she promised, all of her long life. Photo from his article. I watched her coronation in 1952 and have admired her ever since and will miss her.

xo

Some Beautiful Sheep

Isn't this a handsome group of sheep? via

I love their white faces.

Another busy day regrouping.

xo

Clouds Reimagined

There is a new one every day! So fun♡

I just found this Instagram @adailycloud 

See them all here. You're welcome.

xo

September Clouds

The white fluffy clouds that you see in September are right on time and I love them. I took this photo late in the day on Sunday and I'm glad I did because today is overcast with rain coming tonight and for the next two days. I hope you are having a nice Labor Day weekend. xo

Final Photo Showing Chairs at My Front Door

I promise this is the last photo!

I bought these chairs last winter on the first day I was able to get out of my driveway after a blizzard. The patina of the heavy metal matches my lighting fixtures. They are so much better than the old shutters were flanking my front door. I gave them a good coat of lemon oil for protection from the upcoming winter weather. The seats are basket weave woven.

Enjoy your Sunday. xo