Slow Down August

Are you all decked out for the next to the last weekend of August? Really! I just looked at my calendar and was shocked. Slow down August. I'm not nearly ready for you to end.

I've said it once and I'll say it again, "I love real antiques in the kitchen." See more of this delightful Swedish summer house here.

Ferns Unfurling

I adore this photo of fiddleheads unfurling. Found here.

A Chest with Many Drawers

Here is another great chest with lots of drawers. I'm beginning to think every home needs one based on the response I got from a multi-drawer chest I featured recently. Do you prefer drawers or cubbies?
Have a great weekend. We had rain all night but it stopped before I got up this morning. It is cooler too. See you later. 

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Have A Great Weekend

I love this oar converted to a wall-mounted coat rack. This looks like an easy DIY project. It's perfect for displaying the things of summer. via

Country Living Photo of a 24" Aga Range

Here is that photo I was looking for but couldn't find until a reader told me she was sure I saw it on page 79 of the July-August 2012 issue of Country Living magazine. She was right and it was on my coffee table. Doesn't this baby Aga look great?

my iPhone photo

Buttermilk Blueberry Breakfast Cake: WANT!

If I had blueberries in the house, this would be in my oven right now. Recipe here.

French Lavender Fields

This photograph is almost too beautiful for words. I love the simplicity of the architecture and the beauty of the surroundings. via

Martha's Vineyard poster

I had one of the best vacations I've ever had when I took a two week photography workshop on Martha's Vineyard in the late 1970s. I rented a tiny cottage in Menemsha called The Paint Box and I drove there all by myself from New Jersey with 2 dogs and a cat. We almost missed the ferry too. It was so much fun. I like the Vineyard better than Nantucket because of the variety. The towns are so diverse! Which of those islands off Cape Cod do you prefer?

The Aga Range Had a Baby: GaGa Aga

I saw a photo of a baby Aga in a cream color in a lovely kitchen recently and could never locate it again. I did a google image search and found some wonderful information over at Apartment Therapy. This tiny baby range or cooker is made to supplement a larger Aga but the Aga Companion can also be used alone. This baby has already been weaned! At only 24" wide, the Companion is the perfect stove for a small apartment or cottage, yet it still has two ovens and four burners. They're made of cast iron and available in 15 different colors from dark chocolate brown to a bright and vivid turquoise.

I often blog about these Aga cookers to great response. I think this is the best thing I've read about in ages, don't you? It's dual fuel too. I want this baby!!!

Extremely Early Bookmobile

I wish I could read the name of the city. This has got to be one of the earliest bookmobiles ever, right? It's so nice to see the children are more interested in checking out books than sliding down the slide.
UPDATE: It's circa 1917 somewhere in Minnesota. Found here.

Great Wall of Antiquarian Books

Oh My. Teleport me there. Now.

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Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II | Page 52

 

I like all of these. Sage advice from our favorite father.

What would you put in 24 drawers?

I love this look but I'm afraid they would all end up as junk drawers. You could alphabetize them with the last one being XYZ. via

Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II | Page 52

 

It's been too long since I created a page from this wonderful book to inspire you. I like all of these suggestions from a father to his college-bound son.

I've Been Jumping Off Cliffs

and exercising my wings ever since Friday. So far I haven't crashed to the ground. Good things are happening and so far I have everything under control. image from here

Webster Peeking and Flirting

 

Who needs words? The eyes say it all. All of his looks translate as 'is it time to eat?' or 'can we go for a walk?'

Are you a fan of open shelving?

I love the look in this particular kitchen. The cutout shelf supports are very nice as are the dishes. I have open shelves in my pantry and there are two windows in the room. Thank goodness it isn't a place that is often viewed close up because the dust is pretty deep in there. via

I like these room-dividing bookcases by Candace Barnes. Those shelves look as though they will never sag no matter how heavy the books. Nice indeed. via

Checking on the Cygnets

What a wonderful way to be transported by Mother Swan. They don't look like ugly ducklings to me. via

Thistle Do

Webster and I are up way too early this morning because I have real estate appointments at my new listing. I took this thistle photo yesterday and it's looking pretty dayglo to my sleepy eyes this morning. I've always liked these giant weeds and the birds go wild over them when they go to seed. Enjoy this August weekend. I just looked at my calendar and saw that Labor day is very early this year...just three weekends away. Slow down August, I have so much to do before you are over. That's an order.

Webster Behind a Chair

The wonder dog's face is rather washed out because the sun was shining on it in the late afternoon. We were both enjoying the coolness after the rain. I washed the insides of my windowsills while it was pouring and they smell so nice and fresh with the windows open. Goodnight from the cottage. See you tomorrow.

Have an Adventurous Weekend

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I have a VERY cluttered mind

I'm always suspicious of people with uncluttered desks. What is your like? via

Beautiful Breezeway

This is such a lovely way to join two buildings, isn't it? via

Do What You Can

I would love this even more if it were embroidered. What a great sampler this would make. I especially like the Use What You Have part. via

Dog with his Elephant Friend

You can't make these things up, can you? I have no history behind this delightful photo. via

Sign of A Nice Mother

with a sense of humor via

Books and Flowers - Perfect Together

This is a stunning image featuring two of my favorite things, antiquarian books with fine bindings and spring flowers. via

Breakfast Room with Fireplace

I love this room with the built-in chimney cupboard. I am posting this delightful image for those of you that are not sweltering in a summer climate. It must be cold somewhere, right? This raised hearth is perfect for dining. via

Scottish Garden of Ian Hamilton Finlay

The Little Sparta Trust Website

‘Little Sparta’ a garden created by the collaboration of poet and artist, Ian Hamilton Finlay and Sue Finley, his wife. Based on the idea that a garden is a place for poetry, philosophy, and political thought, words are carved on stone and wood, etc. throughout the garden. It is thought by some to be Scotland’s greatest contemporary work of art. Located near Edinburgh in Dunsyre. source

photo credit

Books and Globes and Library File Drawers

This room is so interesting. I wish I knew more about it. I can't understand the clothes. Is it a dressing room? I love the books and the globes and the old file drawers. It's a feast for my eyes. via