Little Free Library in Madison Wisconsin

THE LITTLE LIBRARY THAT COULD

On Felton Place, a residential street in Madison, Wisconsin there is a very small library holding about 20 books. Not much bigger than a bird house, the little library is of rustic construction. A door adds to the charm and to the notion that the books are to be valued and protected. It’s based on the pay it forward principle. Take a book, leave a book. Read the rest of this wonderful story here.

Happy First Day of Fall

It's here as of early this morning. Are you looking forward to fall? via

Sweet Sewing Shed

This little sewing shed is very sweet, isn't it? I love the natural light coming in over the sewing machine. I ran across a big stash of vintage ticking I had completely forgotten about this week and it made me want to sew. Sewing rooms are probably pretty rare these days but they are a must for the serious seamstress. You can just close the door and pick up where you left off later. We always had one when I was growing up and my mother and I both sewed with a red-hot needle on our Singer. via

Bookshelves Over The Fireplace

Okay, light the fire and I'm there. I think this setup is perfect, don't you? via

Pomegranates Are In Season

Though the ancients used pomegranate skin and bark for medicinal purposes, only the seeds are edible. Fresh pomegranate is available from September until January. When refrigerated in a plastic bag, pomegranates will keep for up to 2 months. I love the colorful seeds in a salad or sprinkled on plain yogurt.

I superimposed this pomegranate scan from my Royal Book of Crests over one of my leaf studies with Photoshop. 

Great Book Bag for A Book Lover

"When the itch of literature comes over a man, nothing can cure it but the scratching of a pen." via

Edinburgh Castle

Just a preview of what's to come. M J Turner photography

Wednesday Kitchen Love

I've looked and looked at this kitchen and my eyes always fall on something very pleasing. Agreed? via

A Wonderful Townhouse

I enjoyed a rainy day and was thankful for a break. The sun just came out in time to start setting. More rain is predicted for every day through the weekend. That means rain on Saturday for the annual auction and sale at the firehouse :(

I'm especially sad for the trash day stuff out at the road that is getting ruined before the scavengers discover it. I'm very thankful that I got an early start and the "good stuff" was picked up before it got wet. 

Don't you love this beautiful townhouse somewhere down south with the lights on inside and out at dusk? Is that a parking meter out front? via

Fall is For Apples

My favorite apples from New York State are in my local market freshly picked and unwaxed. They are 'ginger gold' and I love them. These beauties are crisp and slightly tart and they snap when you bite into them. Never buy an apple that doesn't have a stem still in place. I think I'll go have one right now. See you later. via

Cat Lookout

Don't you love little windows that were put there strictly for animals? And they always manage to find them too. I'm looking forward to the beginning of the fall TV season with some new shows and some old favorites. I should be in my pajamas any minute now after another day filled with lots of manual labor. Progress was made so I'm happy. See you tomorrow. via

Elephant Landmine Victim with New Prosthetic Leg

Raising her trunk, three-legged Mosha salutes her new prosthetic limb, which means she can get back on the jungle trail. She lost her leg at age 7 months in a landmine accident. Now she is 3 years old and has grown so much that she is now on her second 'jumbo-sized' artificial limb. See many more photos and a video too about this heartwarming story . . . here.

I wish someone would arrange a photo shoot with the giant tortoise I blogged about recently with a most unusual artificial front leg. Doctors who treat injured animals are heroes in my book.

Washing Hats, Scarves, and Mittens

When I put away all the winter gear for the summer everything smelled a little musty. I want to wash the hats, scarves and mittens this week in Woolite and get the cold weather season off to a fresh start. These items were drying on my kitchen radiator last winter. Hope you had a nice weekend. 

Lovely Sunday Morning

Enjoy your Sunday walking on country roads looking for castles and follies, real or imagined. via

Crepe Squares with Ham and Egg Inside

Ham and Egg Crepe Squares

1 cup flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups milk

4 large eggs

3 tablespoons melted butter

9 thin slices ham

9 eggs

Chopped fresh parsley

1. Combine flour, sugar, salt, milk, four eggs and the melted butter in a blender and blend on high for 30 seconds. Let rest for 15 minutes.

2. Heat a 12 inch non-stick skillet over medium heat and lightly coat with butter. Add 1/3 cup batter and swirl to completely cover skillet. Cook until underside of crepe is very lightly starting to brown, about 2 minutes.

3. Loosen edge of crepe with spatula and then either using large spatula or your fingers, lift it up and flip it over. Cook another minutes and then slide out of skillet onto wax paper. Repeat until all crepes are done. You should have about 9 when you are done.

4. Preheat oven to 350. Place crepes on a rimmed baking sheet (you can fit 3-4 per sheet). Place am slice in center of crepe and carefully crack egg onto ham. Fold edges of crepe toward center, using the egg white as a kind of glue. Season with salt and pepper and bake until egg white is set, about 10-12 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve at once.

Recipe and entertaining dialogue found here. I will omit the sugar if I ever make this recipe. Wouldn't it be a nice dish for a Sunday breakfast or brunch tomorrow? Why not plan on making this?

Furry Friends

Enjoy the weekend and embrace the differences of friends and family.

Sweet Bathroom

I really like this sweet bath, don't you?
The free-standing cabinets are especially nice.
I like the sink cabinetry too. And the window mirror.
Very nice indeed. Agreed? via

Busy as A Bee

I am still as busy as a bee around the house and in the garage. I know you are tired of hearing about it but I must keep at it while the spirit moves me. I'm quite sure I am not alone. It's time to put summer away and prepare for fall and winter just like the animals do. 

I scanned this image from The Royal Book of Crests, one of my favorite antiquarian books in my own collection.

Home Library with Fireplace

Yes please. I'd like a fire today while I sit and read. A cold front came in and it's very chilly and windy. via

Wonderful Potting Bench

This would certainly come in handy for all of your potting endeavors. The big industrial wheels make this bench very useful since you can roll it around where needed. I like the galvanized top too. I put all of my watering cans away yesterday since my garage now has some extra room.

Much of the junk I put out at the road yesterday afternoon has already disappeared. Hooray. via

Botanical Wall in Spanish Summer House

I've always loved framed botanical studies and this collection in a Spanish summer house is especially attractive. Click here to see the rest of the house and be prepared to fall in love.

Hanging Out the Clothes

It's always a wonderful day when you can hang out the clothes. I did a white load today and they dried very nicely in the sun. I worked some more on cleaning out the garage too. I put another pile out at the curb for trash day a week from Monday. Webster supervised and was so happy being outside all afternoon. It was after 8pm before we all had dinner. A very productive day indeed.

This illustration is a scan I made from one of my antiquarian books:

R. Caldecott's Picture Book (No. 2) ~ The Queen of Hearts

These Chairs are Reserved

Get your own chairs.
These are saved.
via

Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II, page 45

We love to be told what to do, don't we? 

Medieval Houses in Sarlat, Périgord France

Medieval houses in France. Because modern history has largely passed it by, Sarlat has remained preserved and one of the towns most representative of 14th century France. via It looks wonderful, doesn't it?

Fantasy Cottage Ready for Halloween

Found on Flickr. Original drawing by cottagelover1953 and these are her words:

"I know it is nuts...but each summer at the onset of hot weather I dream a bit of October weather and fat, sassy pumpkins. Can't help myself. This is the latest in my Retro Storybook Cottage series inspired by vintage book and deco era ephemera."

Vermont Children Walk Over A Mountain to School

It may be weeks before storm-damaged roads are fixed in Vermont. Until then, there is the path. Students in Vermont can honestly say they had to journey through a forest and across a mountain to get to school every day. Read more about the resiliency of Vermonters in this wonderful article in the New York Times.

This is my favorite part of the article - Don't you love Riley and his mother too?

It was raining and muddy. Several of the girls, including Charlotte Tyler, a kindergartner, wore pretty boots, but not Riley, who said all he needed was sneakers. “If you walk around the house, the mud just wears off,” he said.

Hen Adopts Ducklings

Come on in guys, there's always room for one more.
via Pixdaus

Wall of Authors

I love this wall and the rest of the delightful room too. If you were an art lover you could stencil the names of artists you admire.  via

Checking Out the Chicks with A Trunk to Beak Kiss

Isn't this just the sweetest photo you've ever seen? We can learn so much from animals about trying to get along in spite of our differences and we should. via

Transparent Sleeper Cabin - Finland

Now this is what I call camping. Wouldn't this be a nice place to bed down and dream away the hours until sunrise?

Flag Covered Inn 9-11 Memorial

The 18th century Parrot Mill Inn Chatham New Jersey draped in American flags to pay tribute to September 11.  Read more. . .