Same Scene with and without Trees

I had these three trees taken down after Hurricane Sandy and I haven't looked back. They really should have been removed long ago since they all turned out to be diseased and on their way out anyway. One tree hitting my house is more than enough, thank you.

I took this photo this morning. I will plant some grass seed in the bare spots next week. I need to rake that patch of mown grass behind the barn/garage. It was really long and I'm so glad I got my mower fixed just in the nick of time. I wish the sky were prettier so you could appreciate my opened up view of the property. The trees that were taken down had an assortment of seed pods that were constantly being dumped on my balcony so my sweeping chores are cut down to almost zero. I was originally worried that the back side of my house would be hotter but as it turned out, it is not. Those trees never really cast any shade in that direction because of the angle of the sun. It will look so nice next year when the lawn is restored. I have a giant underground bee/wasp/yellow jacket nest next to one of the boxwood I have to attend to as well. I am well under way with my window washing and maybe I'll even finish today. It's so nice to have a clear view from the inside. See you later. Have a great weekend. Webster has a play date with Henry today to help with his contractor withdrawal. 

Hold Fast To What Is Good

I love this. via

Fabulous Video: Cats Stealing Dog Beds

Cats Stealing Dog Beds

My friend Stacey of Stacey Snacks sent me this video yesterday because she knew I would love it and I did. It made me late for a real estate appointment. I almost slept the clock around I was so tired last night and my brain isn't allowing me to post anything original. Thanks, Stacey. I know our blog readers will enjoy this video of cats stealing dog beds too. Webster lets Tabitha do anything she wants because he is super respectful of her wishes, or terrified of her, I can't decide which. I think it's the latter. He won't even come inside the house if she's in the vestibule unless I stand in front of her so he can pass without having her hiss at him. 

Be sure to click on the link if you can't see the embedded video above. It's adorable. 

Kitchen Inspired by A French Bakery

From House Beautiful: A lovely kitchen in Tennessee inspired by a French Bakery. It's lovely. I got my mowing done and I'm tired. Can't wait to jump between the sheets and watch TV. I'm sure I won't be able to stay awake for any of my shows so I'll probably watch something I've already recorded. Image Source

My Riding Mower is Fixed

I just talked to the man at the mower repair shop and he told me I got lucky. There was only one bolt holding on the blade and he fixed everything for me. I guess it wasn't meant for me to be able to remove the dead battery, right? Today is going to be nice for mowing and blowing leaves before tomorrow's rain. I'm so happy!

Got My Haircut Today

Before via

After. I like it. As you can see from the before photo, it was long overdue.

Webster is lonesome!

I had to break down and have my riding mower picked up yesterday for a minor tuneup. I talked them into just putting in a new battery, changing the oil, and sharpening the blade. If it starts up after they switch the battery they will proceed with the other two things and bring it back tomorrow. Cross your fingers for me. After the man picked it up, I decided to use my walk behind power mower in the way-way back of my property. I let Webster outside to wait and watch me as he always does but it didn't work. The new owners of an old house diagonally across the street from me have workmen every day. They had to drill a new well and now they are putting in a new heating/cooling system. Their historic house never had air conditioning. I was about half finished with my hand mowing when I saw a young man approaching. He said he was busy working on the HVAC system when Webster appeared and started licking him. Poor thing. I had to stop my mower and walk all the way up to the front and put him back in the house. He's so lonesome now that our contractors have finished. He can see the heating men's vans and pickup trucks from the living room window where his bed is located. I feel so sorry for him and I know how he feels because I miss our workers too. I have become obsessed with wrapping things up before the cold weather and I never did wash my windows. Today I am determined to do the kitchen window over my sink and the two French doors in the living room. I can do those easily from the deck while the weather is still mild. That will change any day now. See you later. Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's off to work I go.

The Cats of Downton Tabby

Season 4 begins January 5th.

Downton Tabby, read more . . . 

Living Room at My Cottage

I did some Tabitha-approved rearranging last week. She's having a hard time deciding which sofa cushion is her favorite. I got rid of my large coffee table full of books (and junk) and put some low tables in front of "my" sofa. I'm liking this mix a lot even though the low tables are mid-century modern. I put a high tea table between the sofas and I love the way the lamp light shines on my antiquarian books in the glass front case in the corner. The mid-century tables used to be there and the lamp was much lower. I can easily move the low tables out of the way now when I need more room. I really need to get back on a new routine with my hula hoop for the winter. 

This cushion seems to be winning.

Another Great Bathroom

I like this bathroom a lot. I've always liked floating toilets because cleaning the floor would be a snap and this one doesn't have a tank so there's nothing to sweat when the a/c isn't on in the summer. How does it work? Beats me. The white floor with black diamonds is timeless. The shelves complete the picture. I'll take it. via

A Found Bird's Nest with Eggs

This nest with two unhatched eggs was inside one of my Williamsburg Pottery Bird Bottles that I recently took down and cleaned out prior to having my cottage painted. It's like a little work of art, isn't it? I don't know why this nest was abandoned before the eggs hatched. The tiny birds used it constantly over the summer.

This photo is from Colonial Williamsburg where these bird bottles are still being sold. Order here. The house wrens love them. I put two on the front of my house on either end under the eaves. I still have one to hang on the back of the house near my bedroom window so I can wake up to their delightful singing from early spring and all summer long. Listen to them sing here. They raise multiple families and the parents are tireless workers. They love to perch on the wisteria and sing their little hearts out as they dart in and out of the bottle looking for insects to feed their young.

Another View of Dutch Door Kitchen

I found another view of the Spanish kitchen I blogged about several days ago. There is a second sink in the island. It seems the top of the dutch door will open almost completely against the hanging utensils. I think you could cook up a storm here, don't you? photo found here.

My Outside Water Faucets are Still On

I guess you have to live here to know which spigot to turn on. Mine are a little more straight forward except for the one has both hot and cold water. We are still enjoying wonderful, mild October weather and it's supposed to continue next week. Oh, I hope I can get someone to put a new battery in my riding mower. I think I'll try to do it myself today and get a replacement at Sears. Wish me luck. photo source

Saturday Morning Sky at My Cottage

I have been sleeping more soundly lately now that all of my cottage workmen have come and gone but I am still waking up too early in the morning. This beautiful sunrise sky with Maxfield Parish clouds was my reward today. Would I rather be sleeping? Maybe. I'll let you know later. I mowed all of my front lawn and part of the back near the house with my walk behind power mower yesterday before the afternoon shower. I tried to start up my riding mower but she wouldn't turn over so I think I need a new battery. I hate to get one at the end of the season but I really have to cut once or twice more before winter sets in. It's always something, isn't it? Have a great weekend.

Kitchen w/ Aga and Laundry Drying Rack

You know I love this kitchen!!! It has my favorite color scheme, a tiny Aga cooker and an overhead drying rack. The cabinetry is wonderful too. via

A Calm Life

I'm happy with mine!

Kitchen with Dutch Door

I like the bifold shutter on the inside of this dutch door. The locks and latches don't look very secure to me so this home must be in a safe area. So is mine, but you can't be too careful, can you? There are a lot of things I like about this kitchen but I would need a window over the sink and I'm not wild about that tile over the cooking area and that mint green door would not work for me either. Don't you wish we could see more?

A Beautiful Flower Photo

We haven't had a killing frost yet but it was pretty chilly when I woke up this morning. Tabitha is undecided about how long to stay outside so she has gone in and out several times since I got up. It's time to be thinking about bring in the few geraniums that are still outdoors. I love this beautiful lily and the composition behind the photograph. I'll see you later after my real estate showing. photo source

Classy Pumpkin

I spent most of the day working inside cleaning and rearranging furniture. It always amazes me how things that were practically invisible look so fabulous when you change things around. I'll take some pictures when I finish. I love the equestrian pumpkin in the photo above. I haven't decorated for fall or Halloween outside yet. I do what I can on a daily basis and I have moved mountains in the past several weeks. photo source

Mantis - Praying for My Cottage

This praying mantis has been on or near the new copper downspout near my balcony since Friday. Is he praying for my cottage or getting some minerals from the copper? I hope it's the former. If he's just admiring his own reflection, I hope he has an alternate plan for the winter!

Delightful Writers' Cottage

It's time to see someone else's cottage.

I stumbled across this one in New York State designed by Crisp Architects.
All photos by Bob Karosis

It's fabulous, isn't it? More photos here.

White on White Outbuilding

Here is another example of white on white that is beautiful. I wonder what's inside? My second cup of coffee is kicking in and I'm beginning to feel more alive and ready to continue with outside projects on a mild cloudy day with rain this afternoon. I've been chipping away at the thin skim coat of pigmented stucco that was covering my foundation in the front. Lots of it had already been damaged by the weed whacker and it was bothering me. The rest of the house is fine because it sticks out of the ground a lot more than my front. I think the masons were running out of product by the time they made their way there and put it on too thinly. Anyway, the original foundation is great except for some old whitewash/paint stains in white here and there. The rest looks like a giant slab of cut stone. My cottage was built in the late 1930s so it's probably just old concrete over block. I am going to doctor it up with some masonry paint or something I can find on the shelves in the basement. Most of the old skim coat came off pretty easily and there were spiders living behind it so its days were numbered before the rest fell off piece by piece. I filled up two grocery bags full of debris. Why do I do this to myself? Not sure. Guess I am a glutton for punishment, always eager to take on a hard task. image from Pinterest