Look what a Kentucky Lawyer did with $10 worth of Sharpie pens . . .

I just had to post about this. Look what Charlie Kratzer of Lexington, Kentucky did to his basement recreation room using $10 worth of sharpie pens and magic markers. Before he started on this project the walls were painted a classic cream. Ten dollars later the place was black and cream and drawn all over.

There are fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes, Winston Churchill lounging with George Bernard Shaw, and the TV squirrel Rocky and his moose pal Bullwinkle. Some of the places of interest include Blenheim Palace and the Cornell Law School (the homeowner/artist is the associate general counsel for Lexmark).

Read the entire article from the Lexington Herald-Leader and see the 360-degree scrolling movie of the whole room instead of the stills I am picturing above.

I am so impressed! This project takes tromp l'oeil to a whole new level.

Thanks, Tim.

A fat cat with a sense of humor . . .

Now here's an image to make you smile and get your day off to a good start!

Ready money . . .

Need I say more?

Oliver Airedale ~ Financial Dog and Industrial Leader . . .

A timely page from:

The Ordeal of Oliver Airedale
or
To the Dogs and Back
A Satire with Teeth in It

Written and illustrated by D. T. Carlisle
New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1941

Oliver Airedale was not the only financial and industrial leader in Caninia who disapproved the government's major policies, including those for social relief. At the same time he was acutely aware of the great need for a betterment of conditions, particularly in his city of New Airedale. He gave unstintedly of his time and means in the emergency and invented such slogans as "Keep New Airedale Out of the Dog Pound" and "No Pariahs in New Airedale". Oliver Airedale always believed in helping a lame dog over a stile and served many years as president of the Animal Rescue League.

There are always lessons to be learned from old books!

As always, you can enlarge either of the photographs.

Take care of your antiques and they'll take care of you.

SOLD ~ $5,234,500 to Albert Sack

New York City, September 26, 2008, Sotheby's Americana Sale. This carved walnut compass-seat Philadelphia stool circa 1750 brought a whopping $5.2 million. The figure above includes the buyer's premium.

The pre-auction estimate for this rare object was $200,000/500,000.

Ex-collection Rear Admiral Edward P. Moore and Barbara Bingham Moore.

Antiques really are a good investment. Buy the best you can afford, use them, admire them, care for them, and at the appropriate time in your life pass them on to the next steward.




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Hearts are hiding everywhere . . .

Walnut shell found in a puddle yesterday morning. I was delighted to see a perfect heart in the center!

Vine with heart-shaped leaf. All the leaves will soon be on the ground. My rakes are standing by!

Yellow flower with hearts in the center. A repeat photo from a July post for new readers to enjoy.

I continue to discover hearts on my walks and will share as I find them. Enjoy your day.

Tribute to a life well lived . . .

PAUL NEWMAN

1925 - 2008

Video is no longer available. Sorry.

Try this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSKM0YiU8LU

Rest in Peace. We will miss you. 'Danny Boy' recording by Eva Cassidy. 

Being kind is more important than being important . . .

Make Your Own Path . . .

Pumpkin patch in the yard . . .

I absolutely love this pumpkin patch that comes right up to the porch. Wouldn't it be great to open the door, take a few steps, and pick out your jack-o-lantern or the main ingredient for a pie? Pumpkin pie is my favorite ~ another reason for enjoying this time of year.

It looks as if we are in for a rainy weekend. Not good for the annual Fireman's Auction and Sale in New Vernon. Most things are under a tent...but some of the donations are in a big uncovered field. I hope they keep all the books dry. I'll wear my wellies and walk around in the mud. I always find a treasure.

My diminutive bookcase . . .

I finished the renovation of my cottage in 2004. I sold all the large pieces that did not have a place here before moving in and have been slowly filling in the bare spots ever since. Luckily I am a patient person as it is very hard to find small-scale antiques.

Over the summer I finally found a bookcase for my overflow of antiquarian books. I am thrilled with the size and style. I love the graduated shelves with waterfall sides, the bottom drawer with brass pulls, the legs with brass castors, and there is even an inlaid conch shell on the back panel. I found it at an estate sale nearby. I was not one of the early birds either. Luckily, this treasure was piled high with junk and the other lookers passed it by.

I just wanted to drive home the point that the best homes are not decorated overnight. I went to a realtor open house yesterday that looked as if all the furnishings were purchased on the same day. Not a good look in my opinion.

Don't be in a rush. Slow down and enjoy the hunt.

All things come to those who wait!

New Dollar Bill . . .

A little bit of humor about a very serious situation.

Stolen from: Bookplate Junkie ~ thanks Lew! (See my Recommendations List)

Inscription on a Dog Collar . . .

I wonder if this dog collar is still around? Don't you love the inscription?

Japanese Penguin goes shopping . . .

You will enjoy this Animal Planet movie about a shopping penguin in Japan.

My favorite things . . .

I can't believe this photo turned out so well. My wellies were on top of a windsor stool in my vestibule. I had just returned from the grocery store with my favorite apples ~ Ginger Gold from upstate New York. They snap when you bite them and are so tart and juicy. The best! This one had especially nice color so I sat it down in front of my favorite boots and snapped away.

I am very pleased with the way the apple "pops" against the dark background. I hope these apples are available for a long time. They are unwaxed and don't have those awful stickers. Just the way I like them.

Pretty soon I will be wearing these wellies each time I go out for a walk. The fall season will soon be in full swing. I am putting all the gardens to bed and am looking forward to another blogging season. My first one (summer 2008) was fabulous. I hope you will join me for my next chapter!

I am very happy that all of my favorite TV shows are starting up again too.

My kitchen has gone to the dogs . . .

Webster could never look directly at the camera when there was food before him!

He is the greatest pot licker in the East. I fixed scrambled eggs with cheese this morning and he thoroughly enjoyed the job of cleaning the skillet.

He wanted me to post the recipe for his favorite all-natural snacks.

WEBSTER'S HOMEMADE DOG TREATS
2-1/4 cups cornmeal
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup dry powdered milk
3 Tablespoons molasses
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2 eggs
--------
Mix everything together and knead into a ball.
Place on a floured surface and roll to desired thickness.
Cut dough with cookie cutters (bone-shapes are available).
Sometimes I just roll into a log and slice.
You can prick your dog's initial with a fork. A "W" is easy.
Bake on greased cookie sheets for 20 minutes at 375.
Enjoy all the licks and kisses you will receive from your pet.

Don't have a pet? Boo Hoo!
Make some for your canine friends. All dogs love presents!

Gwyneth + Mario in Spain on PBS ~ Premiers 9/20 . . .

SPAIN - On the Road Again premiers on PBS the week of September 20th. The 13-week series begins tonight in some areas. In New York and New Jersey it is on at 3pm tomorrow (Sunday 9/21). That seems like an odd time slot to me ~ I am so glad I checked the schedule so I could set my DVR. How did we ever live without those great machines?

You can view the listings for your area on this PBS site and see lots of photos and video clips. I don't think you have to be a foodie to enjoy this program. The scenery looks amazing. The stars are Gwyneth Paltro, Mario Batali, Mark Bittman, and a Spanish actress named Claudia something. So that's two actresses and two chefs.

I hope you read this in time to see the first episode. I should have posted about it earlier. Better late than never. Enjoy!

FREE DOWNLOAD Seed Saving Envelope for 2008 . . .

Seeds are maturing everywhere in my garden. The cilantro berries are nice and big. I will harvest and save them for my culinary garden next year.

Friday is usually an off day for blog viewing so I decided to give something away. I made a pdf document of the seed saving envelope shown above. It is fresh off the presses...I designed it this morning. You will see that it prints beautifully in a nice large size. Use it for big seeds or as a master envelope for the smaller ones I made for you earlier in the year. Search for them on my blog. They are filed under "seedpacket pattern".

FREE DOWNLOAD ~ SEED SAVING ENVELOPE FOR 2008

Save some seeds this weekend and remember me!

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