Content in a Cottage

Friday, August 10, 2012

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

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Dog with his Elephant Friend

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

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

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

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

Miniature Portrait of A Dog

On display in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. I'm not sure if it's a miniature on ivory or a micro mosaic. I want it....badly! via

An Irish Blessing

via

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Nicely scaled new house with small rooms for cozy family living. I like it, don't you? I'm so glad sensibility is back. via

Family Album Necklace

This ancestry necklace would definitely be a conversation piece wherever it was worn. via

A Dog Named Steve

He can't see you but he can smell you! via

Happy National Lighthouse Day

It was on this day in 1789, that Congress approved an Act for the establishment and support of lighthouse, beacons, buoys and public piers. In Celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the signing of the Act and the commissioning of the first Federal lighthouse, Congress passed a resolution which designated August 7, 1989 as National Lighthouse Day. Read more here.

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Monday, August 6, 2012

Tonight's Dinner

This is what I had for dinner. There were three leftover salmon croquettes in the refrigerator that I sliced in half and reheated in a little olive oil. I cut a large red bell pepper in half and spread it with red pepper hummus. Delish. My mom enjoyed hers too. Cleanup was a snap. We had homemade brownie ice cream sandwiches for dessert. Ground Hog Day is over now and I can do as I please until bedtime.

Eating Porridge | Jessie Willcox Smith

This would be me almost every morning without the table cloth and my blue and white Canton bowl is much smaller. Oh, and no onlookers either except for Webster. via

Kitchen Love

Kitchen by William B. Litchfield Designs

Favorite Flowers at My Cottage

Forget-Me-Nots

Lace Cap Hydrangea

Lily of the Valley

I took these photos in the spring and can still smell the fragrance of the lily of the valley in my mind.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Lovely Library

I'm sure this family spends lots of quality time in this lovely library designed by Boris Baranovich Architects.

In the Hamptons

The nice thing about photographing homes in the winter is being able to see the architecture in spite of the trees. This weathered shingle beauty is in Southampton via The Idyll Explorer

Kitten in a Hollow Tree with Flowers

Someone was in the right place at the right time to take this adorable photo, right? Enjoy your Sunday. via

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Beach Cottage -- Cornwall UK

When I go to Cornwall and tour the Cornish Coast, maybe I'll rent this charming cottage. I've never been to that part of England and I so enjoy what I see when I watch Doc Martin. Click here to tour the cottage and see more photos. It's on 52 acres!!!!

Perfect Summer Dessert

Wonderful summer dessert - a jar of lemon curd whipped with light cream cheese topped with lush fresh berries on a split angel food cake. If you use a store-bought cake, this is a no-bake recipe. I think this would be good with pound cake too. YUM! via

Did you plant any seeds today?

via

Clouds over My Cottage

This is a recent sky view over my cottage captured with my trusty iPhone. Have a great weekend with or without white puffy clouds and a dark blue sky!

Friday, August 3, 2012

Extraordinary Stone Wall

Magnificent stone wall with hydrangeas behind. What a lovely setting! via

Have a Great Weekend

1912 illustration from Dickens's Children by Jessie Willcox Smith. Read the eBook complete with all ten of the full-color illustrations by this wonderful artist HERE.

image from Flickr

Broadway Tower Worcestershire UK

If you've never been to Broadway in the Cotswolds, you should definitely go. That's an order if you are going to be in England. I climbed to the top of this tower in the 1970s. I stayed at the Lygon Arms Hotel in a room with a Tudor decor. Photo source unknown.

Hideaway

This is sweet and simple and I love it. Garden gnome and all. via

Thursday, August 2, 2012

This delightful marble bathroom must be in a very private location. It opens to a balcony or porch and the glazed door has no covering. People after my own heart. I love what I can see and want to see more. via Country Living

Bird Waiting for A Bath

I wish this guy would hurry up. He looks so cute with his punked up head feathers.

He is a very enthusiastic bather. Don't you love my faux bois birdbath? I got it years ago at an on-site auction and it's one of the few real ones I've ever seen.