Life's Little Instruction Book, page 146 + Nice House

I always try to put keys in the same place when I come in the door. The only thing that gets me in trouble is when I forget they are in a coat pocket and then switch jackets. I like this newer colonial home and the hearth with paneled wall in the keeping room. It's very hard to find a builder who can pull this off so nicely. Don't you love the blue door in the last photo? We had a surprise snow storm yesterday and I had to shovel the walk before turning in. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Have a nice Sunday. Rosemary

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Christmas Decorating Inside and Out

I don't know about you but after seeing these wonderful photos I am inspired to begin decorating the cottage for Christmas. I put my wreath on the door yesterday (last photo) and got out all of my decorations.

I usually don't begin this early but thought to myself, "Why not? 'Tis the Season!" Have you started yet? I got the wooden cranberry beads at a thrift shop yesterday and wrapped two strands around my vintage pinecone wreath. I had an extra stocking that I decided to hang outside to complete my door decor. Don't worry, I still have three more to hang inside at the fireplace for Santa to fill. One is for Webster, of course. Have a great day, Rosemary

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Ralph Waldo Emerson Quote about Home Ownership . . .

I know the television in this attic bedroom is inappropriate for a quote by Emerson, but somehow I thought it was a room he would like.




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Audrey Hepburn Illustrated Quote

I made this illustrated quote honoring Audrey Hepburn's inner beauty some time ago. It's timeless, isn't it?

Ladybug Uses Computer + Sunrise This Morning

I think this ladybug was trying to tell me something, don't you? I wish I'd had the presence of mind to move her to the "Home" key on my computer. That would have been great. I'm still seeing these cute little bugs in my house from time to time. I shot the sunrise photo when I got up this morning. It was very beautiful in person. Have a great day, Rosemary.




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The Gift of A Cat's Love via Charles Dickens

This early engraving from my Royal Book of Crests looks very much like Tabitha only her ears aren't as pointed. Even Webster the Wonder Dog loves her. After three years, she is finally loving him back in her own special way. She hardly ever hisses at him any more and she always seems happy when he leads the way on family walks. Animals enrich our lives so much every day. It rained all night and the wind howled but it's nice and clear and calm this morning. Perfect! Rosemary

Charleston Single House

I'm officially in love with the design of this home in Charlotte, NC. It was built four years ago in the Charleston Single House vernacular, a 19th-century architectural style in which houses reached to the sky from a small footprint. Typically one room wide and two deep, with the narrow side facing the street. I'm mad about the gated entrance on the left side of the house that leads to a covered side porch and the "real" front door. Why haven't I ever heard of this wonderful architectural design? I even lived in South Carolina for many years in my youth.

I searched and found a firm that sells plans in case you want to build one or at least look at some floor plans. The house in the photo is featured in the Holiday 2009 issue of Traditional Home Magazine. Pick it up if you want to see more photos and read the entire article. It's not online yet, but keep looking. The wreaths in each window certainly look beautiful, don't they?




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Britain's Smallest Library in a Red Telephone Box

Villagers in Westbury-sub-Mendip, Somerset, England were heartbroken when the mobile library service stopped coming to deliver books. The next library was 4 miles away...a long way to travel for a good read. Someone came up with the brilliant idea of buying a red telephone box and adding shelves to convert it into a tiny book exchange for all to enjoy. It has been a runaway success. The phone box library is open every day for 24 hours and is lit at night. There is a regular check on it to see if some titles are not moving. These are then shipped on to a charity shop to keep the phone box collection fresh. Read more + more.

I love wonderful stories like this, don't you? We have a free book exchange at my post office. There was a village uproar here when all of a sudden the USPS decided it wasn't appropriate. It wasn't in the actual post office, but the vestibule and it was quickly put back after we all wrote letters and made phone calls. We love our little place to buy a stamp, mail a letter, and take a book or magazine. There is a big turnover since everyone makes regular deposits too. All for the love of books.

What's your library card worth? Find out now.




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Meryl Streep Vanity Fair Cover January

“It’s incredible—I’m 60, and I’m playing the romantic lead in romantic comedies!” Streep says.“Bette Davis is rolling over in her grave.”

Meryl Streep grew up nearby in the Bernardsville / Basking Ridge (New Jersey) area. I have friends that bought her childhood home. When they did some remodeling, my contractor recycled some of the wood from Streep's deck to make a trellis for me at my former residence. I can honestly say that I've painted Meryl Streep lumber. I'm looking forward to seeing her new movie that comes out on Christmas Day It's Complicated because it's about remodeling a kitchen. Steve Martin plays the architect. I think the Vanity Fair issue with her photo on the cover comes out on Wednesday. That should be good too. Magazine credits.




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Origami Wreath | Paper Craft Tutorial

Origami wreath made from old book pages
glued on a gift tag.


I made this one from recycled security envelopes.

Wreath made from old sheet music.

Tutorial. (via Domesticali)
NOTE: I made a few changes.

I changed my dimensions from centimeters to inches.

I cut 8 strips measuring 1-1/2" wide x 3" long.

It was so easy.
I made the one in the second photo on the first try.

The strips interlock and pull apart easily as I found out when photographing my wreath outside in the wind. If you plan to hang these on your tree and have little children around, it might not be a bad idea to use a spot of glue on each strip. You will figure it out.

So much fun. So many possibilities. Once again, here's something wonderful made from nothing. I like that! Have fun. Make lots!

Nice to tuck inside a Christmas Card too.

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Life's Little Instruction Book page 145 + Two Photos

I can hardly believe it's December. I can't remember October, can you? I hope the weather will be clear tomorrow night because the full moon is on December 2nd at 7:30. The Santa card is by Martha Stewart for Crane. I love it because it reminds me of some of the great pictorial calligraphy from the 19th century.




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Decorate Christmas Cookies Easily

I scanned the images from an old insert in a Martha Stewart Living Magazine. I think the geometric colored sugar designs are quite beautiful and unique. Easy too. Look in your kitchen junk drawer and see if you can find some utensils with slots or holes. Don't forget to look at your barbeque tools too.