My New Year's Eve

A friend sent this to me and I love it. xo

Flourless Muffins and A 1945 Movie

I used my last banana this morning in a smoothie but when I go to the market again I will definitely make these muffins. I need carrots too.

Recipe HERE. It has a place to click to double and triple the recipe if desired. 

It has been overcast with gray skies for days here. 

Yesterday I decided to look for 

A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN 

movie to watch and found it on YouTube. I have always thought of this as a Christmas Movie but that must be a well-kept secret because you never see it offered anywhere. I streamed it from my laptop to my TV using Chromecast but I would have been just as happy watching it on my computer. 

It was free had had no commercials. 

Here's the link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FMYoKfgAKk

Bookmark it if you want to watch later.

ENJOY!

Scandinavian Christmas DIY Ideas for Next Year

I love the simplicity of these architectural  gingerbread cookies in a skyline arrangement.

Who wouldn't love a gingerbread house hanging on the rim of a cup filled with hot cocoa?

You wouldn't even need a pattern for this A-Frame gingerbread house! Start looking for a large heart-shaped cookie cutter. You could do the triangles from a paper pattern in the scale of the hearts ending with rounded ones at the entrance. More ideas here.

If you leave your Christmas decorations up until 

12th night, you might still want to keep 

baking and making! xo

William Shakespeare's Family

Shakespeare Family

I learned so many things I did not know about Shakespeare's family life. When he married Anne Hathaway in 1582, he was 18 and she was 26! 

Read more about his early life in this article.

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/William-Shakespeare/

Enjoy!

Christmas in The Countty

A winter scene transformed into a Christmas landscape with the addition of a wreath with a red bow on the split rail fence. Image found here.

Parmesan Crisps Decorated for Christmas

Aren't these savory crispy cheese shortbreads beautiful?

My friend Stacey made them and dropped them off on Christmas Eve along with many more delicious dishes. See the first batch she made and posted on Instagram below. 

These are photographed right out of the oven in her kitchen. Read more about the changes she wanted to make with the next batch on her @staceysnacks Instagram post HERE.

Have a great Sunday! xo

Merry Christmas from PBS: Downton Abbey Movie

The Downton Abbey Movie that aired in theaters in 2019 is on PBS tonight at 7PM and again on January 2 at 9PM. Check your local listings. You have to watch it live or record because it will not be streamed. In my area it will be repeated on another PBS Channel (WLIW21) on January 3rd at 9PM. ENJOY.

♡ M E R R Y ♡ C H R I S T M A S ♡

xo, Rosemary

This charming Merry Christmas Greeting by Beatrix Potter was found on Tumblr.

Christmas Eve

We had a dusting of snow overnight.

Here it is in black and white.

M E R R Y   C H R I S T M A S

From my cottage to all of my followers.

Perpetual Christmas Card Project at My Cottage

Remember when I posted this image in early December?

Click here to see the old post.

I said I might do something with it and I did.

I found some of these small frames that were designed

for place names at a wedding dinner. 

I decided to turn them into Perpetual Christmas cards for my neighbors.

I stuffed the mailboxes for the neighbors around me and hand delivered others and mailed one. It was a fun project. I had to trim the image for the small opening but I included the full size print with my Merry Christmas greeting. I found a way to print multiple copies of the same image on one page on my MacBook Air. I am making gift tags from the image too. I kept one "card" for myself and I love it.

Merry Christmas. xo

Dish Towel Dryer Christmas Tree

It was an afterthought to hang ornaments from my vintage dish towel dryer in the kitchen.

I think it will become a Christmas tradition because I love it.

🎄🎄🎄

Christmas Decor at My Cottage

The wire carrier that is usually loaded with fruit makes a cute Christmas tree on my coffee table filled with shiny vintage balls and bells. The sun is just rising so the light is dim. I have been on a mad metal polishing marathon and all of my silver trophies and brass candlesticks are shining bright.

I had completely forgotton about this mercury glass tree stored in my attic. It looks perfect with the tall thin Santa that was a gift from friends years back. Little gift box ornaments complete my desk decor. The "tree" looks gold in the early morning light but it's actually silver. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.🎄 xo

Amazing Pen and Ink Masterpiece

Franklin Booth

Illustration for a 1909 poem "Wind of Dreams"

by Rosamund Marriott Watson

American artist of detailed pen-and-ink illustrations with the appearance of wood engravings. He created this style when he was young, self-teaching from illustrated magazine art, not realizing they were engravings. Such talent! I love this.♡

Jane Carkill -- Wreath

This artwork is lovely, isn't it?

Read an interview with the Irish artist HERE.

Earliest Known Picture Letter from Beatrix Potter 1892

via

These picture letters were written from her seaside vacation to Beatrix Potter's 4 year old nephew with pictures and words he could easily understand. Click on the link called "via" below each picture to see it full size and read further in The Morgan Library & Museum's description. It's so interesting to see the actual penmanship written with a dip pen and see the places where the ink was running low.

via

via

Enjoy this delightful glimpse into the life of our favorite author and illustrator.

Isn't this green book Christmas Tree the best?

Found on Tumblr.

A Very Elegant Bathroom

No Words!

Simply Spectacular.

Enlarge image here.

Are the walls hand-painted or nautical wallpaper?

The master bedroom looks nice too, doesn't it?

Swoon.

❤️Coziest of Cozy Kitchens❤️

I love the mismatched seating. The penny tile floor is pretty great too. So are the cafe curtains...with wreaths. via

Greenhouse Interior

Someone's getting ready for a gathering in the greenouse. via

Christmas Again by Carl Larsson 1907

Click photo to Enlarge

 Carl Larsson 'Now is it Christmas Again' 1907 

 “Nu är det jul igen” 

(Now it is Christmas time again) 

This is an old Scandinavian Christmas song. 

It is often sung while dancing around the Christmas tree. 

 The painting shows the interior of Carl Larsson's home in Sweden at Christmas time. 

 The huge oil painted triptych is held at the Helsingborgs Museum.

Among family members in colorful costumes he has placed 

the virgin Mary and baby Jesus in front of the cupboard in the center.

Free Christmas Images to Print

I found a site with 147 pages of free Christmas images 

to copy and send electronically or print. 

Elegantly Simple Christmas Decor

I'm not exactly sure what this is; a changing room for a pool or a gatehouse? The double wreaths are perfect, aren't they? via

Thank you, auntp for your comment identifying James Farmer as the owner of this delightful structure. It's on the cover of his new book.

http://www.jamesfarmer.com/shop

Carl Larsson "Christmas Eve"

Carl Larsson watercolor 1904-1906 in the Nationalmuseum, Sweden. I adore seeing his family gatherings. Isn't this Christmas Eve buffet spectacular?

All I Want For Christmas is:

♡I love this, don't you? Truer words were never written. My wants and needs have all been met and I get more joy from giving things away than for getting anything.♡

 

Amazing Snowscape

Isn't that yellow sky the perfect backdrop for this snowscape?

via

Greenhouse Envy🌿

♡LOVE THIS♡

It's too big for a Christmas stocking but otherwise perfect. 

via

Four More Unknown Drawings by Beatrix Potter Discovered While Cleaning

I never discover anything while cleaning but dust and more dust! This bedroom is at Medford Hall, the home of her cousins the Hyde Parkers. All the relatives' homes I've seen are stately mansions and they all should have a sign out front saying "Beatrix Potter Slept Here"

I love here interior renderings and you can see all four here: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-36716973

 
One picture was discovered by Lady Hyde Parker, who lives at Melford Hall with her husband, Sir Richard, where Potter took regular holidays between 1899 and 1916. The article contains a beautiful photo of Medford Hall.

Genius Idea for A Pot Filler

I love this idea for a pot filler over an expresso machine tucked away in a cupboard. I never could understand them over a range because you still have to pick up the pot to empty it. This is a terrific idea, isn't it? Photo found in a wonderful before and after kitchen remodel.

Enjoy all the wonderful photos and have a good week. xo

https://erinkestenbaum.com/2019/11/06/one-room-challenge-fall-2019-the-kitchen-reveal/

♡VERY COZY LIVING ROOM♡

I wouldn't change a thing! 

Have a great Sunday.

xo

 

Santa's Problem With Old Houses

I honestly never thought about how hard is for Santa to land on the roof and get to the chimney of an old house like this one. Click to enlarge this delightful image is by illustrator Jan Brett in the 1998 edition of "The Night Before Christmas"

♡Old Christmas Illustration♡

♡How much do I love this?♡

Virgil Finlay (American illustrator 1914-1971) Winter Stars

found on Flickr

Unknown Albrecht Dürer Drawing Discovered at House Sale for $30

The Virgin and Child with a Flower on a Grassy Bank 

(around 1503) Agnews, London

This is an absolutely fascinating story. This signed Old Master drawing, in an antique frame, was sold by the daughters of a deceased architect/antique collector/dealer. They thought it was a 20th century reproduction but it has been authenticated as a circa 1503 original and the auction estimate is in excess of $50 million. The whole story can be read in the link I will leave below this post. If you want to see the Dürer in person, this drawing will be on exhibit in NYC in January 2022. Keep going to estate sales and maybe you can make a discovery too. Let me know and I will post it. xo

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2021/11/19/unknown-durer-drawingbought-for-just-dollar30-at-a-house-clearancecould-sell-for-dollar50m

Too Many Platters?

I'm trying to decide if an intervention is needed here.😂

This ironstone collection is pretty impressive but has gotten to the dangerous stage and it's time to stop buying more. 

Enough is enough. 

On a more serious note, maybe this is a warehouse for a china replacement company rather than a private home. 

Let me know if you know the backstory.

Welcome DECEMBER. 

It's really here and maybe this year I will be more prepared. 

Maybe not. 

xo

UPDATE: Pam found the link for shops in Paris and there is a similar display in one of them: https://privatenewport.com/perfectly-paris-shops-to-love/

Antique Desk & Mirror Drawing: Beatrix Potter

From 1903 one of Potter's favourite haunts was Gwaynynog in Denbigh Wales, the old rambling home of her uncle and aunt, Fred and Harriet Burton. I am beginning to love her interior sketches as much as those of her animals. Especially because they depict rooms where she stayed when visiting homes of relatives. ©Victoria and Albert Museum

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1386982/sketch-of-a-writing-desk-drawing-beatrix-potter/