45 Zero Waste Hacks to Delight You

Are you hooked yet? 

I adore both of these, 

especially the Injure Bread Men! 

Here is the link to see 43 more things people out there are doing to recycle castoffs into upcycled things with a second life. 

Article found on Bored Panda 

Enjoy, and you're welcome. 

Waste not, Want not.

xo

Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme with Music

Another scanned page from an old book. I think it would have made music lessons more enjoyable for children. My mother was forced to take piano lessons and she disliked them immensely, so much so she couldn't play a note later in life. 🎹 

I was never able to read music and I've heard that part of the brain is also where learning a foreign language is located. I was never good with those either. I woke up to a nice cool morning in the low 60s and it felt wonderful. xo

18th Century Dog Collar Inscription

Too tired to post tonight so here is an old illustrated quote I made back in 2011. I have always been interested in antique dog collars and I love the comical inscription on this 18thC one worn by a dog presented to the Prince of Wales by Alexander Pope. I copied the dog from my Royal Book of Crests and added the text.

I AM HIS HIGHNESS' DOG AT KEW,

PRAY TELL ME, SIR, WHOSE DOG ARE YOU?

See the old post here. 

xo

Hanging Out The Clothes

An illustration from one of my old picture books for children. I love the flowering trees used as clothesline posts. Notice the high brick wall to "hide" the laundry, especially the undergarments. Randolph Caldecott was the illustrator.

See all of my old posts about this illustrator and MANY more examples of his delightful artwork. I love each and every one and you will too. Enjoy. xo

Bookplate Etching: A Miniature Work of Art

I have blogged about this bookplate from a 1931 gardening book in the past, as well as on an Instagram post shown below. The small shell beside the bookplate shows its actual size. I have more than one book with this bookplate and the one I scanned above did not have the wrinkles in the left margin. I experimented with the scanner on my new printer over the weekend and the scan above shows all the detail in this bookplate. So many bookplates are miniature works of art that are worthy of being enlarged. The engraver was Banks B. Gordon. He was hired by the Etchcraft Company to engrave the steel or copper plate for printing a design that had already been drawn by an artist. I'm not sure whether he was an artist himself and could do custom work directly with the end user of the bookplate.

The book collector with more than one bookplate design to paste in her books was C. A. Maude Eden. See another one I have blogged about with a poem about her love of books, birds, and flowers. xo

1736 Child's Tombstone Returned to Newbury Massachusetts Graveyard

This stolen tombstone for two year old Abigail Chase has been returned to Newbury, Massachusetts, settled in 1635. An astute auctioneer in Bucks County Pennsylvania is responsible for the recovery of this looted hand-carved folk art grave marker. This article speaks to the diphtheria epidemic that raged through colonial New England for five years between 1735 and 1740 taking out 22 of every 1000 people, mostly children. At the same time, scarlet fever advanced from the south, the two plagues eventually meeting in Essex County in the autumn of 1735. The Museum of Old Newbury is planning a ceremony later this summer when the recovered stone is unveiled at the Old Bridge Street Cemetery to celebrate long-lost Abigail’s memory. 

Read the entire article in the link below. 

https://www.antiquesandthearts.com/pook-pook-reunites-puritan-family/

Saturday Blooms

Random blossoms from my back yard shot yesterday (Friday) after mowing with the walk-behind mulching mower when the grass was finally dry enough. Today I'll do the front before the afternoon rain that may or may not transpire. All the hydrangeas are outperforming this year as you can see. The first photo is a gift from a neighbor as a thank you for a favor. At first I thought it was a potted plant but after research I learned it is a compact hydrangea. The label said summer splendor but all I could find online was red splendor. Anyway I am going to plant it and see what happens. My neighbor said it was deer resistant too. I am going to love something with such vibrant colors. The second photo is my Lacecap Hydrangea and the third and fourth are my Limelight that has become a tree this year this year rather than a woody shrub. Last year, I cut back the bottom branches to encourage this and it worked. Have a great weekend. xo

John Brunsdon, Printmaker with A Video Biography

I came upon this printmaker quite accidentally and I love his work. After he passed, all of his plates were destroyed so that all of his prints offered for sale by the Estate were printed during his lifetime. The print above called Valley in The Hills has been sold. I thoroughly enjoyed his video biography on youtube where he takes you through his entire life with archival footage. It's really fascinating. I have embedded the video below but it's also available within his website where you will see many more examples of his artwork and gain a bigger understanding of printmaking from start to finish. His color process, done all at once, is on the film too.
JOHN BRUNSDON 1933-2014

British Artist, Printmaker, and Painter

JOHN BRUNSDON -- THE PRINTMAKER. This YouTube Video is offered by The Tate Gallery -- Watch when you can set aside 20 minutes of viewing time. I promise you will enjoy the film. xo

My Attic Office Showing New Printer

There have been a few questions about the actual size of my new printer so here are two photos that might answer how it compares with the Apple iMac desktop computer in my attic home office. This is what is called "selective" photography with areas in the photo tidied up but not the rest of the space, if you know what I mean.😂

Here it is all in a closer view, ready for printing and scanning. I didn't realize how much I have missed my old scanner either. I have used it quite a few times and I remain very happy with my purchase. Are you sick of hearing about it yet? This is my first all in one printer that just happens to be wireless. I wasn't even shopping for that feature but it's very handy.

xo

Cookie Recipe for My Cookie Mold

 I found the perfect recipe for my Hessian Soldier mold thanks to a comment from @kathiquilts suggesting he would make Springerle cookie. I searched and found a recipe but I like the same auther's Traditional Speculoos Cookie better (also called Windmill Cookie). She illustrates how to use a mold like mine only hers are wooden.

The recipe calls for Baker's Ammonia (Ammonium Bicarbonate) and I have never heard of this but it's an essential ingredient to prevent the cookies from becoming too hard. I searched google and Whole Foods has it. She explains this on her blog post with recipe here. She walks you through every step with numerous photos. Enjoy. Save this recipe for the holidays.

xo

Hessian Soldier Cookie Mold from Williamsburg

I purchased this Virginia Metalcrafters item hanging on my wall long ago at an estate sale. It turned out to be the perfect size to hang in my pantry/office on a narrow space beside the front window. He is a Hessian Soldier made of Aluminum (called Silvertone) and was copied from an old mold used in the Bake Shop at Williamsburg. The impressed stamp shows the Virginia Metalcrafters’ familiar Betty Lamp hallmark.

I have never made a cookie with it but I would use a shortbread or maybe a gingerbread recipe if I ever tried.

I have seen a similar design on fireplace andirons too. There are wonderful items out there and it's up to people like you and me to find them, display them, brag about them, and love them again.

UPDATE: I FOUND A RECIPE TO USE WITH THIS MOLD HERE.

xo

Another View of My Pantry Home Office

This is another view of my home office in the pantry showing the hanging cupboard with yesterday's blog post's photo printed and hanging on the side. I have baskets on top full of  loose light bulbs of every description, a small portable paper cutter, and wooden rulers to the side. Bills waiting to be paid when they are due are in a standing organizer on a table below the chalk board. It really is a working office in this small space. Once bills are paid, the receipts go into a large filing cabinet in my attic office. This works beautifully for me. When I open my mail, the junk goes into a recycling bin and the important stuff goes into the proper divider until it is needed.

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HOW TO GARDEN

I made this illustrated quote years ago on a computer that died along with the software used to create it. I am finding/learning new ways to "doctor" my photos using only Snapseed and the iPhone editing software. 

I added an UPDATE to yesterday's post about my printer. I tried to answer all the questions you had and added a photo of the box it came in. 

♡thank you♡

xo

Adventures with My New Printer

Three agonizing weeks ago I got a new printer and yesterday I finally got it to work properly without really knowing what I did! As you know, I am technically oriented but it wasn't at all easy because the printer is wireless and I had a very hard time getting it to work with my laptop and I haven't even tried it with my phone yet. Yesterday I tried printing the alphabet photo in my living room from my laptop and it magically printed upstairs in my office where my desktop computer and printer reside. I liked the print so much I hung it on a cabinet wall in my pantry office off my kitchen. I still don't trust the printer completely and need to practice more so I will be a confident operator when I really need it. I loved my old wired printer but it decided to stop working quite abruptly and I couldn't fix it and you know I tried! I think I'm going to end up loving the new one, fingers crossed.🤞 Wish me luck.☘️ NOTE: The alphabet I printed is on regular computer paper. The angle of the picture makes it look much larger.

HP DeskJet 4155e -- a photo of the box above

If you sign up for an HP+ INSTANT INK plan within 7 days of installing your printer, you get 6 months of free ink and one more year on the warranty which brings it up to 2 years. I decided to bite the bullet and sign up before I mastered THE MACHINE. I can do unlimited printing (up to 700 pages) the first 6 months and they sent replacement inks right away and the cartridges are twice the size of the ones that came with the printer. I signed up for 100 pages per month after the first 6 months is over and that is when the first billing begins. I think that will be fine and if I go over it doesn't cost very much. You have to sign up with a credit card and my plan is $4.95 per month. I can cancel at any time too. So it sounds like a win win to me. I think all of the newest HP wireless printers come with this plan. Click to enlarge the photo to see the box. 

I watched countless YouTube videos and each one had a helpful hint assisting me with the installation. The most interesting hint that the setup never mentioned was a little slider you have to push up against the left side of the paper to hold it in place!!!! You have to change it when using smaller sizes of paper for note cards or photos. I NEVER would have found that by myself and there was no mention in the instructions.

If there is a hinge on the scanner for thick items like books, I have yet to find it. 

You have to download the HP SMART App too. I have it on my laptop, my desktop computer and my phone as well. I am still learning about this.

The printer was $99 at BestBuy. This is not a recommendation or a paid ad in any way. It's just a review of the one I bought. You can spend more or you can spend less. This seemed just right for me.

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Have a great weekend.

It rained most of Friday night.

Today is nice and cool.

 xo

17th Century French Alphabet with Flowers

I photographed a page from one of my books on antique alphabets. Some of the letters are repeated and some are omitted. So this is just a sampling but still quite lovely, isn't it? I adore the flowers behind the letters, don't you?

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Have a great weekend. xo

Fabulous Goat Weathervane

I saved this fabulous weathervane to my computer because I love it so much! This goat was made circa 1880 and has survived with most of its yellow undercoat topped with gold leaf. The patina is wonderful! via

 

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Fabulous Screened Porch in Bellport, Long Island NY

The dining area of a fabulous screened porch attached to an 1850s shingled cottage in Bellport. The owner, Elizabeth Roberts, is an architect based in Brooklyn. I honestly don't think I could stop looking at the ceiling if I were there in person.

This porch view overlooks the delightful pool and some wonderful landscaping. Want to go inside the cottage? Really? OK. Here's the link.

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Wonderful Color Woodcut of Nasturtiums

Hall Thorpe (1874 - 1947) - Nasturtiums. Color woodcut. How much do I love this? As much as I love nasturtiums? YES! via 

John Hall Thorpe, invariably known as Hall Thorpe, was an Australian artist who achieved considerable success in England with his decorative prints of flowers, fruit and landscapes. via

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Great Galley Kitchen + Irish Cottage

Yup. I could cook here quite nicely. I love diamond stained floor and the topiary window. I would prefer the view to be a country one though. I don't know about having an open window opposite other open windows, especially at night. I had a galley kitchen once in a rental and loved it. via

Cottage Goals -- Ireland via

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Clouds at My Cottage: July 4th Sundown

The clouds last night (July 4th) were amazing at sundown. Hope you had a great holiday. I had the overgrown part of my field mowed yesterday and now I can see all the way down to the way back. 

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Lady Liberty in a Folk Art Painting

Both photos and a wonderful article about our American flag found in link below. More delightful folk art and antique flag photos as well as a photo of the event (depicted in a painting) that inspired The Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key. Perfect reading today, July 4, 2021.

The Feeling of Love and Respect for the Red, White, and Blue By Judy Gonyeau

Read the article & enjoy the Fourth of July 🇺🇸 

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Shakespeare's Daughter's House with 17thC Garden

I copied the two photos above (with my phone) from one of my coffee table gardening books, "The Garden, A Celebration" Edited by Howard Loxton. I love the timber-framed house called Hall's Croft and the rear garden with no blank spaces for the weeds to grow. It looks care free but we all know there's no such thing.🪴

Enjoy the long July 4th weekend extending into Monday.

xo

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