March Lamb + Bathroom Repair DIY

March is coming in like a lamb at my house with a whole week of unremarkable weather. That means it will go out like a Lion!

I have been busy with a DIY repair in my bathroom that took the better part of Monday but ended successfully. I kept the original fixtures in my first floor bath, the corner tub and the American Standard toilet. I have never had a problem with my Kohler tub from the late 1930s but I have a problem with the other fixture on a regular basis. It's always the same thing. The tank ball. The rod gets bent, stuck, or something similar. This time another piece broke that guides the bulb's rod to the proper flushing place. I got a replacement ball at the hardware store and it was a perfect fit. Now to make it go up and down and stop in the proper slot without the broken guide. I finally got it to work perfectly without calling a plumber. It only set me back $4.25 and a chain I already had. The secret was to keep cutting the last bead at the end of the chain until there was no slack since the rod wasn't quite long enough. Success!!! I'm so happy I never give up.

This photo shows the work in progress.

There is another tool box involved that isn't in this photo.

Wonderful Figural Antique Food Choppers

Aren't these wonderful? 

Wouldn't they make food chopping more fun? 

Folk Art at its finest!

photo source

February flew by, didn't it?

Happy last day!

xo

The Art of Simplicity

"The ordinary arts

we practice every day

at home are of more

importance to the soul

than their simplicity

might suggest."

Thomas Moore

 1779-1852

Isn't this illustration just perfect for the quote by Thomas Moore? I found it on Pinterest. You might want to learn more about this Irish poet, prose and lyrics writer in this biography here.

Dog Toy in Washing Machine

I was cleaning my desktop of all the screenshot I have saved recently and ran across this one I hadn't shared. Here's your Saturday smile. His face says volumes as he sits, waiting for the buzzer. Will his owner hang his  bunny outside or put it in the dryer? Poor dog♡😂 Have a great weekend. xo

Ice Storm

I don't need to go out until all the ice melts this afternoon and the snow turns to rain. Be safe if you have ice too. xo

Delightful Cottage with House Plans

This twilight view shows the porch wraps around both sides.

Isn't this absolutely charming?

Click HERE for house plans and variations.

Plans sold on Etsy for $99.00

Click down the left column for more photos and interior views.

It is called Cotton Blue Cottage.

xo

Bedroom Perfection

This is almost exactly the way I stack my pillows for watching TV in bed. The short long one goes behind my back. Mine has a white pillowcase I made for it. I have to put all but one pillows on a chair before I turn off the light to go to sleep. I love this bedroom, don't you? Found here.

Chiaki Ogada Children's Book Illustrator

Japanese children's book illustrator, Chiaki Ogada.

I found the image above here and looked around for more on google images for those below. All of the books are in Japanese so you will have to use your imagination when viewing the pictures.

Chiaki Ogada, Encounter

Chiaki Ogada, Soon to Come

Chiaki Ogada, Stuffed Doll

They are all wonderful, aren't they?

xo

Favorite Purse: Other Side

I turned my purse around and there is a pheasant on the other side rather than another dog as I reported in the previous post. This is the "main" side showing the name of the designer.

PIERRE FREY

PARIS

I found a similar purse on "poshmark" with horses that sold originally for $450.00 and it was sold after being marked down to $50. I paid $40 for mine in a resale shop ages ago. That is a huge amount for me to pay for a handbag but it has held up beautifully and I still love it♡

 Happy Presidents' Day.

Presidents Day, the third Monday of February, is popularly recognized as honoring the birth month of two of the country's most prominent presidents — George Washington (February 22) and Abraham Lincoln (February 12). I liked it better when it was two separate holidays instead of a day for shopping.

Favorite Purse with Dog Portrait

There is another dog on the back but this one is my favorite. I never put this purse away but hang it on various places. It was on the bedpost but now it's on the doorknob. I was amazed to hear this morning that daylight savings time is coming back soon (March 13th). We often have some of our worst winter weather in March so there will be more sun to melt the snow. Enjoy the long Presidents Day weekend. xo

Seed Saving Envelope 2022

Gail, northern California

This is the best I could do.

I lost all of my old patterns and the software

to create them when my desktop computer

crashed years ago. I did pasted 22 on top of

one I already had printed. It's not exactly

the same size but it's close

xo, Rosemary

Cat Igloo with Cat Sculpture in Austria

Happy Caturday (from Austria)

Details in the screenshot below.

Photo found here.

Isn't this wonderful? Have a great weekend. xo

Maine Workshop Transformation

A barn-like workshop in Falmouth, Maine was transformed into a one bedroom dwelling. Isn't it simply charming? I wish I could see the before photo! I found it on Instagram @mainehomedesign

Brick Manor House

This is total perfection to my eyes. The design of the house is really wonderful and the brickwork is masterfully executed. The surrounding landscaping and driveway approach were nicely laid out too. Imagine living in a house with six chimneys!

I did a little research and I believe this is a new house designed after Bacon's Castle, the oldest surviving brick dwelling in America in Surry County Virginia. See photos and I think you will agree.

Click here for numerous photos of this museum.

Bacon's Castle has been closed for for interior tours while they were cleaning but will open again in March. This is definitely a "must see" house tour if you visit Virginia. xo

More Animal Judges

I found out the history of animals wearing wigs.

Click here to see the cat judge in the group.

I featured the cat judge by herself a few days ago before I learned this was an advertising agency in Switzerland's 2014 campaign against cruelty to animals. These animals say a lot without speaking, don't they? 

The wigs give them a voice.

 

Morning Sun Filtering in My Living Room

This sun is already much brighter since I took this Monday morning photo 30 minutes ago. The design on the toile fabric on my Roman shades is much more defined to the naked eye but my phone's camera shows them blown out. However, you get the idea. I am sitting on my sofa in the lower right corner and the sun is still too low to raise the left curtain. The dog painting I showed you yesterday is behind the tufted leather armchair on the far right. Have a good week. It's still very cold here but a 60° day is in my weather forecast for Friday. xo

A Few of My Favorite Things

I purchased this dog painting several years ago. I have no idea what the dark splotches are and the estate sale lady didn't know either. I think they might be scorch marks from candles too close. It could be repaired but I like it as found for now. The terrier is fabulous. I got the two brass deer at the same sale. This cozy little corner is next to my living room fireplace. 

I had Missy from Friday morning through Sunday morning. She's always a welcome visitor. I have never had a dog with longish hair. We had 60° on Saturday but woke up to about 3" of snow on Sunday morning. Her paws were filled with little snowballs after the early morning walk that had to "melt" off once we got inside. She obediently stayed on a towel atop the dog bed until she defrosted. I can't even imagine her dangling snopballs after coming in from a much deeper snow! 

❤️Happy Valentine's Day❤️

 

Watercolors in Shells

This is such a great idea! 

These paints and watercolors are in shells.

Photo found here.

An English Cat: Judging

Found on Instagram

Happy Caturday. This made me laugh😹
I adore British legal dramas with 

barristers and judges wearing wigs.
Have a great weekend.
xo

Climbing Vine on My Windowsill

I haven't rooted a sweet potato in water since I was in grammar school. This one in my kitchen is reaching for the sky and all I have to do is make sure the pitcher doesn't dry out. I will plant it on my balcony and let it climb on the railings when weather permits. Happy Friday. xo

https://101gardening.blogspot.com/2016/05/how-to-grow-sweet-potato-vine-indoors.html

My sweet potato was already putting out green shoots when I brought it home from a friend's kitchen counter. The link above has detailed instructions for using a whole one suspended in water root side down. The ones I did as a child were always cut near the top so we could eat the rest😂

Here is a link for using a cut sweet potato as I did. It also has instructions for rooting in potting soil. You might want to do a lot of these and plant them outside in your garden at the appropriate time. Who knew?

https://thegardeningcook.com/growing-sweet-potatoes/

Eileen in Fla asked for instructions. Here they are, Eileen.

Happy windowsill gardening🌿

Cutest Baby Owl I've Ever Seen

This adorable owlet should be the model for a stuffed animal, shouldn't it? It's so cute it doesn't even look real! I found it on Instagram, link below.

Here's the link:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CZpnnFNh0_1/

A Table By The Window

Isn't this a perfect place to pay bills, write letters, sip tea or coffee, and eat breakfast or lunch? I love it! xo

via

UPDATE: I found a link for a house tour with oodles of photos of this Georgian apartment in Edinburgh Scotland.

https://www.myscandinavianhome.com/2018/09/a-breathtaking-home-that-celebrates.html?m=1

Enjoy! xo

The Toadflax Children in WINTER STORY by Jill Barklem

Winter Story is a 1980 children's book, the final of the four seasons of Jill Barklem's Brambly Hedge series. In the book the biggest snowstorm in years leaves enough snow for an ice ball. The Economist review of books described the book as a "Beatrix Potter through Brambly Hedge", "mousy little tales with beautiful, busy drawings". via

The Big Reveal: Roman Shades Are Hung

Daytime view when partially raised.

 

I had to do a little adjusting of the length of certain cords on the back to make them hang straight. It took me quite a while to figure this out but Rome wasn't built in a day and neither were these Roman Shades. 😂

This photo was taken on the first morning after I lowered them the night before. The room was warmer than it would have been otherwise. It was 10° outside but the skies were clear and the sunrise was bright. Did you notice I have "draft dodgers" below each door?

I really wasn't fond of the feel of the room.

It felt like a hotel room.

I am still getting used to them in the fully extended length. Having a warmer room is a big plus and it will be much cooler in the summer to block the blinding sun. I much prefer them raised and if I were willing to sacrifice warmth and coolness they could easily stay in this position all the time. 

When raised to conceal the top two rows of glass, the sun glare that has always bothered me is eliminated. I found a label on the back of the cornices with the name of the factory that made these shades that were constructed in 2006. Anderson Fabrics, Inc. Blackduck, MN 565630

I'm glad I didn't have to choose the fabric and the design of these window treatments. I am much better at restoring and repurposing something that already exists. I'm that way with houses too. I can work with one with good bones but have never wanted to build from scratch.

This exercise has made me give new admiration for the work professional designers do for their clients. Window treatments have to be one of the hardest tasks and the installation is another nightmare. Getting the completed projects to hang perfectly is no easy task and listening to the customers complain is another. It must take a lot of hand holding. Anyway, I have nobody to blame but myself when something I do doesn't turn out as expected and that almost never happens. I research everything to death and work out projects in my head before I start anything. So far, so good and I am basically thrilled with this project. Sigh of relief. xo

Bundle Up: It's COLD Outside🥶🐾🐾

This adorable photo made me smile.

I woke up to 10° this morning.

There is bright sun though.

I hung my Roman Shades myself yesterday.

I have them all the way down.

The sun is blasting through and I have no glare.

I will post photos later.

I can't get a decent photo yet.

Have a great Sunday.

xo

Roman Shades Final Pressing

I removed all the pins yesterday and ironed my toile Roman shades and I am thrilled by how nice they look.

Now I can really appreciate how fine they are. I have never attempted sewing such complicated window treatments from scratch and these are exceptionally well made. The toile is lined, there is a clear plexiglass rod in a channel between each pleat, and the rear rings are attached at the top of each rod casement. I padded my ironing board with a thickly folded flannel sheet and I was able to iron the draped folds without a crease. I had to work quickly for fear of melting the rings.😱

I am patient and just worked one step at a time. I have never understood exactly how Roman shades worked but now I do. Today I'm going to wash the windows on the inside of the two doors and then I will be ready for hanging. Stay tuned. 

All of my snow has melted and there is bright sun and blue skies today. My area was spared the ice too but it's cold outside. Have a nice weekend and be careful where you walk if old man winter was not kind to you. xo