Restored Welsh Farm Without Electricity

This farmhouse bedroom in Wales looks charming doesn't it until you learn that this delightful renovation has no electricity...yet. It's off the grid.

Built in 1805, abandoned in 1948, and vacant for 40 years aside from providing shelter for sheep. The farmhouse and outbuildings were restored and the roof was recovered in thick local Welsh slate. Read full article and view lots more photographs here. Hackett Holland Ltd. Architect

Oak Leaves are Falling

I saw lots of oak leaves on the ground yesterday when I took Webster for his after-dinner walk. Most had teeny tiny acorns buds attached. This one landed on a sycamore leaf. The heavy rain we had all day on Friday is helping to re-green the lawn but unfortunately the only variety that has been reconstituted is the crabby kind. Crabgrass is my least favorite thing about the second half of summer.

Sweet Dreams

I'm quite sure Webster has this same dream every night and if it ever came true he would try to eat all of his biscuits at one sitting. Sweet dreams my friends. See you tomorrow. via

Have a Fun Weekend

Doing something like splashing your feet in the water would be a good start. via

I'm organizing EVERYTHING today

and this is what is going to happen to anything that gets in my way. Tabitha is hiding in her cat carrier (really) and Webster has a worried look on his face. How are you spending your Saturday? via

Giraffe Love

This wonderful photo by Mario Merino is appropriately entitled TENDERNESS. I never tire of mother and child animal photos, do you?

Baby Elephant + Little Girl

I want to know more about this darling photo, don't you? So charming! I hope she will remember this lovely time when she's older. The elephant will never forget. via

Beautiful Landacape with Reflections

Dreamer © Juliana Nan

It's hard to believe this is a photograph. It looks almost like a painting, doesn't it? This photographer has quite an eye. Love this image! Art photography at its best.

Astrolabe - The First Computer

The astrolabe is a very ancient astronomical computer for solving problems relating to time and the position of the Sun and stars in the sky. Astrolabes are used to show how the sky looks at a specific place at a given time. This is done by drawing the sky on the face of the astrolabe and marking it so positions in the sky are easy to find. Read more about astrolabes here. http://www.astrolabes.org/
This is the most beautiful scientific instrument I have ever seen and I want one! via

Zebra Blue Primrose

Isn't this the most amazing flower you have ever seen? This Zebra Blue Primrose is right up there with the checkered Fritillaria for being unusual, right? These images are not photo enhanced in any way. This is just the way they grow. I want some seeds, don't you? Second image via

Clover Blossom

Here is a captured clover blossom I photographed and processed with MarbleCam. That was before all of my clover dried up from the heat. We are having some rain and I'm hoping everything will spring back so the birds and the bees can get some nectar. Luckily my area escaped all of the fierce storms and all of our rain has been soft and soaking - just what the earth is crying out for. Happy Friday. See you later.

Yellow Cottage with Dandelion Lawn

Goodness.Gracious. Have you ever heard of the book Dandelion Cottage? If this isn't it, I don't know what is!! via

Exhausted French Bulldog

This breed does not know how to pace itself. Frenchies run and play to the point of exhaustion and this is what happens. This little one is named Allen and he's so tired. via

White Kitchen with Gray Island

Do you like islands that differ from the rest of the kitchen? I think I would prefer this one to match the white cabinets with white marble countertops. It still looks nice though. What would you have done? via

Serene Living Room

Don't you want a living room like this for its cool summer look? I love every single thing about it. It's cooler this morning at my cottage after the late afternoon storm yesterday. It was fierce in some areas but we just got the tail end of it and were thankful for the rain. See you later. via

Antique Delft Tile with Cow

This is an 18th century hand painted Delft Tile from my collection that was converted to a 'dot' image with an app called SnapDot. I'm having fun playing with it. I took the photo with my iPhone and worked on it with my iPad.

The tile is damaged but I love this $2.50 tag sale purchase just the same.

Fields of Gold in The Cotswolds UK

Field of golden rapeseed flowers in the Cotswolds. Will be harvested for rapeseed oil. via

Poppies

I have always loved these flowers that look so much like crepe paper. I like the buds, the blooms, and the seed pods. Poppies are so ethereal. via

The Art of the Cat Nap

Nothing can ruin this kitten's nap. So adorable. Click here if you can's see this wonderful YouTube video.

25 Things An Empty Nester Learned From Opening a Used Bookstore

25 Things An Empty Nester Learned After Opening a Used Bookstore

Please promise me you will click on the link above and read this interesting list and a little bio of the author. You will love it if you've ever dreamed about opening a bookstore! image from here.

Climbing Roses

The roses are such a nice touch over the carriage house doors. via

Entrance to A Secret Garden

What beauty lies behind this door? via

White Cliffs of Dover

This has got to be one of the most beautiful photos of the white cliffs of Dover I've ever seen. I've been there in person but I don't remember its being this lovely. via

Cutest Coot Chick Ever

I don't think I've ever seen a coot chick before and I know I've never seen anything cuter. Photo by ©Dan Belton

White Cat in a Black Window

This beautiful white cat can't hide in this dark setting. Great photo! via

Porch for All Seasons

 

Cole Farm Residence in Scarboro Maine. Whitten Architects. Read more about this lifetime home for a couple with adult children and grandchildren. Do you prefer the summer porch or the winter porch?

Morning in the Cotswolds

Wouldn't you love to be waking up on Awkward Hill in the village of Bibury in the Cotswolds this morning? I can't think of any place I'd rather be, can you? via

Great Family Bath

This looks like a great family bath, doesn't it? The children must be small and not in charge of hanging up their own big white towels. Bath time here would be fun in this wonderful tub! via

Moonrise Kingdom Movie Interior Scene

If you like anything at all about this photo, you will love the movie. Moonrise Kingdom was great. This is one of the few scenes where the boys were dressed. They were usually in pajamas all day long or their underwear. The girl was always perfectly groomed. I loved the record they played continuously too. I would love to own it. Hmmmm...I wonder if there is a soundtrack?

Moonrise Kingdom (Soundtrack)

The Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra, Op. 34 (Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell):

Theme F: (Full Orchestra) Composed by Leonard Bernstein, Performed by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

YouTube

Perfect Sunday Morning

I woke up way too early this morning and watched a TV program that I couldn't stay awake for last night. Then I forced myself to go back to sleep and didn't get up until after 9:00 which was a real treat.  Don't you love this tiny bedroom setup with books everywhere, French press coffee, laptop, croisants, beautiful bedding, large window and more? I'd like to spend a whole day there, wouldn't you? via

William Morris Illustrated Quote

Incident of Nature by Owen Gildersleeve

An illustration for the Royal Mail's 2011 Year Book, to introduce a chapter on the William Morris stamp collection. This quote is taken from one of Morris' 1892 lectures 'Town and Country', and the design is based on an amalgamation of Morris' patterns.

We go everywhere together.

The little dog is the leader. Thank goodness for mud rooms! via