Rabbit with Peonies

"My soul can find no staircase to Heaven unless it be through Earth's loveliness." Michelangelo

The Wonderful Artist: Koo Schandler's Homepage

The peonies here at my cottage are standing tall but have no buds yet. They are aching for some sun but there is none on the horizon for the upcoming week. They can't complain about lack of rain though because we have had plenty. Have a great weekend no matter what the weather.

💦💧💦💧💦💧💦UPDATE: I was wrong. All of my peonies have small buds. Yay!

A Carolina Wren Nesting on my Balcony

I snapped these photos yesterday when this nesting wren came out for a breath of fresh air. See more information about this tiny bird here. I am looking forward to more activity when this pair has to deal with feeding their young.

Scottish Blackface Sheep: Ewe + Lamb

via

Mother and child portrait. Click on the link above to learn more about this easy-care breed.

Potting Shed in a Walled Garden

via my Instagram.

I took this photo yesterday at a Broker Open House tour. I have worked really hard for the past month on my three large 30-year-old English Boxwood trimming away the winter kill and yellow leaves and they look wonderful. I dug them up and brought them with me from my previous home. Every year, the deep snow breaks a few branches but I manage to rearrange the inner branches to conceal the gaps. I have noticed lots of new growth in the center and that makes me happy. Happy May Day!

Smooth Sailing

via

Safe and secure on Mother Swan's back. So sweet.

Climbing Roses + Embroidery Stitches

via

There are so many charming elements wrapped up in a single photo, right?

via

This handmade cloth needlework book illustrating embroidery stitches is truly a treasure and a work of love. I think this woman is the creator of this embroidery book.

Watering the Pots to Start the Seeds

I should be doing this but I have yet to deal with my seeds. I love this old wooden crate filled with peat pots and lots of good earth. via

Pretty in Pink

Pink perfection. It's nice to see a well-maintained home, even if it's painted pink. via

Bunny Ears

He's betting back to normal after a very busy Easter, hiding all those eggs. via

Throw Open the Windows

Isn't it joyous to be able to open the windows again? I have been sleeping with one in my bedroom open for about a week and I adore waking up to birdsong. I like what I can see in this country kitchen. The marble backsplash and marble windowsill are nice with the wooden countertop. I have always wanted windows that open like this but everything has a trade off. I would have to move all the stuff I have on my kitchen sill before I could open them. via

Wild Violets + My Living Room

I need to do a third mowing but I don't have the heart to decapitate my wild violets. They are considered to be a broad leaf weed by some, but not me!!!!

I love both varieties. These are solid purple.

These are white with purple pansy-like faces.

Grape hyacinths, crowded out by long grass, but still gorgeous.

A view of my living room as seen from my kitchen. French doors on either side of the sofa lead to my balcony that was power washed on Saturday. I cannot believe how controlling I am when I hire outside help. The workers did a fabulous job at the house I am getting ready to list but they didn't bring those skills to my cottage. WHY? But in the end, my balcony floor looks much better and my red barn garage looks brand new. So all is well I suppose. I am actually so much happier doing things myself. I am a hard taskmaster when I hire things out and I can usually work circles around almost any worker. 

Now if I only had a chain saw and a power washer of my very own. 😂

My Favorite Gardening Tools

I probably own every gardening tool that was ever invented but I use these two the most. All of my tools are second hand purchases from garage sales or in the case of these two, side of the road finds.

graphics fairy

HAPPY EASTER

See all of my Easter posts over the years here. The weather at my cottage today is perfect. Wishing all of you a blessed Easter. xo

Owl Hatches a Wood Duckling Egg

This is my "feel good post of the week". A wood duck moved her last egg to another nesting box because it had been raided and only one egg had survived. Oddly enough, a mother owl sat on the duck egg for over a month and the hatched duckling thinks he's an owl. Read the charming story here with lots more photos. Am I forgiven now for being missing for almost a week?

Wonderful Eat-in Kitchen

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A simple eating arrangement in a kitchen with amazing millwork. Wouldn't you love to have Easter breakfast, brunch, or dinner here?

Wonderful Vegetable Garden

Can you imagine a lovelier garden? I cannot! via

Charlotte Moss: Quiet Place to Sit

Design by Charlotte Moss 

A Quiet Spot to Sit

If you had to describe my garden, it's not so much about parterres and sweeping vistas as it is about intimate spaces, small rooms—gardens within gardens. We invited Gilles Guillot, the head gardener of the Prieuré Notre-Dame d'Orsan in Maisonnais, France, to re-create the same rondel-like windows into our hedging as he did at Orsan, and to weave similar willow benches, a gloriette, and frames for the espalier. Like rooms in a house, exterior rooms also want furnishings. Drawing your eye to a quiet corner, at the end of an allée, or under a tree, garden seating begs you to stay awhile, to sit and enjoy the view and the fruits of your labor. via

Baby Bird Feeding Time

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“I think we consider too much the good luck of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the early worm.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

Hanging Box for Spring Flowers

I love this idea for an outside hanging box to plant with seasonal flowers in bloom! It would be easy to change varieties as the current ones fade and bloom out. via

Wonderful Dog Portrait

He's gorgeous, isn't he? I adore animal paintings. 

Head Study of an American Pointer by Maud Earl, 1932.

found here

or

English Pointer by George Percy R.E. Jacomb-Hood, 1882

found here

Doyles Auction House NYC March 24, 2009 HERE

Spring Cleaning Checklist

This photo is on the cover of a book I own on Spring Cleaning. 

Refresh throughout the home:

• Wipe down doors and trim work
• Clean interior and exterior windows – let the light in
• Spot clean walls and touch up any scuffed paint
• Clean and treat floorboards - especially if you’ve had wet pets in and out all winter
• Clean ceiling fans and light fixtures

Entryway and mudroom closet

• Store your winter gear including snow boots, heavy jackets, hats and gloves – if it wasn’t worn this winter, consider donating
• Thoroughly vacuum closet floor and re-organize any storage bins
• Corral small items into baskets

Kitchen

• Empty the refrigerator and throw out expired food. Wash drawers and shelving with warm, soapy water
• Purge the pantry and clean all shelves and drawers. Forgotten crumbs can attract unwelcome visitors like ants and pantry moths
• Remove all appliances from counter and clean behind each one
• Remove build-up on kitchen cabinets – try Parker & Bailey Cabinet Cream or something similar
• Polish stainless steel appliances – always with the grain
• Deep clean microwave and dishwasher; be sure there is no trapped food
• Check countertops to see if they are in need of sealer (stone) or catalytic finish (wood)

Living room and dining area

• Deep clean rugs and upholstered seating
• Remove all books and displays from shelving and clean
• Polish silver
• Add fresh flowers to dining table

Bedrooms

• Purge closets of winter clothes, shoes and accessories – consider donating items not worn by family members
• Remove heavy winter blankets from bed and change to lighter linens
• Flip all mattresses

Bathrooms

• Change shower curtains
• Purge worn towels or bath mats
• Organize vanity – dispose of expired medications and cosmetics
• Clean tiled areas and check grout for discoloration
• Clean mirror thoroughly

Are you exhausted yet? I found these detailed instructions by a Boston/Martha's Vineyard Architect with photographs here. Enjoy your weekend. xo

Robert Frost Quote about April

This quote describes an April Day perfectly. via

Yesterday afternoon I did a first mowing of a large portion of my rear property. I did not do a fall cleanup and my walk-behind mower did a fine job of cleaning up the overgrowth and crunching the leaves the wind didn't blow away. When my Robins return, they will love it. The deer are mad at me and are staying way back where the high field growth is and more long shoots of spring grasses. This is fine with me! It felt good to be outside and the weather was ideal for just a fleece. Today it cold again and rather gloomy with showers coming later. I wanted to do the front today but I need more gasoline and I am too lazy to rush out and refill my cans before the rain starts. It will just have to wait for the next nice day. I want to go over the front before the wild violets come up.

Happy Friday -- have a great weekend. xo

Bluebirds Building in A Nest Box

This photo brings joy to my heart. I fear I won't have bluebirds in my box since the wrens took over two years running. So far, it's empty and cleaned out so I still have hope. Photo and a story found here. The females do all the interior decorating!

I have had this bluebird photo saved to my desktop for a long time because it's so lovely. I cannot remember where I found it but will post the source when I find it.

Duck and Ducklings

This proud mama's babies have hatched and are already almost too big to wrap her wings around. I hope I will be able to photograph some wild turkey chicks on my property this spring. Duck photo found here.

Duplex Bird House

I guess the black-capped chickadee likes privacy and the mother robin doesn't. Robins build messy nests like this one on a ledge below my balcony and I do believe this chickadee is judging it. Can you see a look of disgust on her little face too? via

The PERFECT Living Room

I wouldn't change a thing. Teleport me there now. 

Hunworth, Norfolk, UK © charlesplantex

Hello, April

Happy April Fool's Day. This calendar page by Walter Crane has the perfect illustration for welcoming in the first month of Spring that we've all been so anxiously awaiting. It's bright and sunny with a blue cloudless sky here at my cottage but still chilly. I can't believe we are already into this year's second quarter. My, how time flies.

DIY Stuffed Cats + Pattern Made from Old Sweaters

These cashmere cats looks simple to make and you could even add long floppy ears to turn them into rabbits for Easter presents. Directions here.

Dog Rules for My Friend Missy

I photographed this sign in the home of a friend who has a dog named Missy. She is shown below in a field of long grass on an exercise run. She's really well behaved in the house and isn't allowed on the furniture but she actually prefers the dog bed I gave her that belonged to Webster. 

She's a rescue dog too. I'm still not ready to get one of my own but can visit Missy anytime.

Coldwell Banker, Established 1906 (My Real Estate Office)

My real estate office moved to a downtown location on Main Street in Madison NJ in late June of 2018 and today we had a Grand Opening and a Ribbon Cutting by the Mayor. It was well attended and a lot of fun. The catered lunch was amazing as well. I snapped the new storefront decor on my way home. Coldwell Banker was founded in 1906 and when you are standing at the window the cutout dates feature vintage photos of the original founders from that time period. Click photo to enlarge.

Unboxing My Surprise Gift from A Blog Follower

An antique English Ironstone soap dish and two mystery boxes tied with bunny ribbon.

A natural bristle nail brush and a bar of Crabtree & Evelyn Gardeners Soap. It is infused with rosemary, sage and time and has fine pumice to gently clean my gardening hands.

The verse on my card is sweet. "It is often difficult to tell if a hedgehog is ticklish. If you try, you're more likely to find him pricklish."

I rearranged the cleaning supplies I leave in plain view on the counter behind my double farm sink and now I am ready for spring garden cleanup too. I always wear gloves when I work outside but I also manage to get my hands very dirty when I take them off for fine work. I already had the Gardeners Hand Scrub and my old nail brush was too embarrassing to leave out. I am fanatical about clean nails and I adore this new brush. Thank you, Katherine for such thoughtful gifts in appreciation of my blog. I am also impressed that you were able to find my address at the office. Some of the associates at my meeting yesterday wanted me to open the gifts right away but I decided to wait and open them for you and my other faithful blog followers and friends after I got home. Today's post was fun to prepare and present. xo

A Gift of Miniature Daffodils

I went to a Broker Open House near my cottage yesterday and the listing agent was handing out pots of miniature daffodils to all the realtors who came to the preview. I was so excited and came directly home to plant these bulbs where I can see them when working at my laptop in my pantry office. I told her this gift was so much better than a catered lunch and she smiled. I was able to divide the root-bound pot into three plantings which will multiply over the years. Now I want more! As you can see I have yet to begin any spring cleanup.