Early To Bed

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Good Night Sweet Friends. Sleep Tight. xo

For some reason I've been waking up way too early lately and my mind starts racing immediately. I don't have any personal problems, but lots of real estate issues prior to a closing next month. This dog looks the way I feel when I fall into bed each evening. Early to bed and early to rise isn't really my preferred style but that's the way my body has been working lately. I'll be glad when it decides to return to normal.

Yellow Iris in a British Riverbed

Yellow Iris, Weston, Staffordshire, England

An Original Photography by this blogger.

Angel Keeping Watch Over A Grave

This lichen covered antique marble angel is so very lovely. She's looking over someone's departed earth angel. via

Hide and Seek: Lamb Style

Boo. I found you. via

Old Westbury Gardens, the former Phipps Estate on Long Island

There is a wonderful photo tour of the Phipps Estate and Gardens on The New York Social Diary. There are photos showing winter and summer views and it's fabulous. One of my friends toured this mansion and others on The Gold Coast of Long Island recently and she enjoyed this one especially.

Now that summer is almost here, snow seems like a vague memory, doesn't it?

Gorgeous Home that Needs Some Pruning

This beautiful home is on the verge of being overgrown. I'm really into pruning and thinning and clipping so I could easily take this on and really enjoy it. via 

Prelude to Summer - Memorial Day

What a great outfit. Circa 1951 but timeless.

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HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY

A Garage with a Porch

Is this a cottage? No, it's a garage.

How very clever. See the rest of the Pinewold Cottage complex here. Isn't it wonderful? What a place to celebrate Memorial Day. Have a good one. xo

Poppies for Memorial Day

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In Flander's Field by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

From an old blog post of mine.

A Lovely Scene in the English Countryside

I honestly can't tell if the gentleman on the tractor is driving the sheep or trying to get around them. Either way, this photograph is wonderful. Just look at that newly plowed field in the background! via

Happy Caturday from Tabitha

Tabitha went back to bed this morning. It's really chilly outside so she's cozy, warm and happy on top of my woolen blanket. It went down to 45° last night but the sun's out and it will be in the low 70s later. I am still wearing my flannel pajamas and it's great sleeping weather. Have a great Memorial Day weekend. Be safe xo

An Impressive Entrance w/ Screen Door

This has to be the best door surround I have ever seen. I really like the Chippendale screen door too. Beechwoods, Allan Greenberg, Architect. Click on the link for more exterior photos.

The View from The Bath Tub

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Soaking here would be a delight. There's nothing like a nice hot bath in an old tub with a beautiful view from a vintage window. Total privacy overlooking the water is the icing on the cake. I wonder if this is a year-round home or a summer place? Memorial Day weekend is the traditional time for opening up and preparing your summer house for the season. It's all I can do to keep one house in order so I am not jealous one bit. Really! I alternate between having a great outside and a messy inside. Right now my cottage is almost in apple pie order and the outside is calling me. I have to say I am really enjoying spring this year. I think it's because my mower turned over the first time I tried and I never got behind as I usually do, waiting for it to come back from the shop.  Have a safe long weekend and I'll see you later. xo

Covered Open Porch with Balcony Above

I love the lattice work and especially the Chippendale railing. It's still pretty chilly here in New Jersey but outdoor living is just around the corner. Memorial Day seems very early too. via

Wickford Village, Rhode Island Historic District

One of America's 10 Best Main Streets.

Wickford is a small American village in the town of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, which is named after Wickford in Essex, England.

Established in 1709, Wickford Village provides picturesque waterfront streets lined with one-of-a-kind shops featuring jewelry, housewares, clothing and more. You’ll also find galleries, antique shops, cafes and restaurants nestled amongst beautifully maintained churches, colonial homes and gardens. Have a boat? Tie up to the town dock while you explore the village.

Whether it’s stress free holiday shopping or watching the boats go by on the harbor, Wickford offers something for the whole family in every season. Even your dog will enjoy a refreshing drink of water outside the many shops and restaurants in our pet friendly village.

Hmmm. Sounds perfect, doesn't it? I've never been there but it's now on my bucket list.

photo source

The Art of The Silversmith

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Antique sterling creamer circa 1880. 

Yes, please, I'd like a little cream in my coffee and the creamer in my purse.

Gallery Wall Behind a Desk

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This is quite wonderful, isn't it? What a great place to sit and day dream. I love it all! xo

Antique Globe on Stand

Vintage (circa 1914-1924) Terrestrial Table Globe on Tripod Stand from W. and A.K. Johnston Limited, Edinburgh via

WOW. What a Laundry Room

If you've ever dreamed of a combination laundry room, flower arranging, potting room, this is definitely it. via

Floor on The Ceiling too.

Wonderful Floor and Ceiling treatments. 

Love both of them in this hallway.

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Cone of Shame for Humans

This made me laugh. We all probably know someone we can send this to, don't we? 

Click here for 27 Funny But Thought-Provoking Images Of How Smartphones Have Taken Over Our Lives

Beautiful Family Entry

This is too pristine to be called a mudroom and I'm sure everyone is trained to leave the mud outside. It's beautiful, isn't it? via

The Human Body, Animated

This is great, isn't it? via

Illustrations: Animals w/ Wanderlust

These two are my favorites. See more wonderful crafts and pictures from children's books showing animals with wanderlust here.

Sheep: Enjoying The View

Dibs on the bench. I got here first. via

The Hollyhocks Still Bloom at an Abandoned House

The people are long gone but the hollyhocks remain. via

A Picture-Perfect Cottage

Oh.My.Goodness. 

I love this cottage on the edge of the woods.

Have a great weekend.

xo

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Outside Fireplace Deck: NC Mountains

This elevated covered deck with a fireplace wall in the mountains of North Carolina is fabulous. I'm sure many chilly evenings will be enjoyed there by the owners and their guests. There's just something about an open fire, right? via

Great Garden Supports for Climbers

I love these birch teepees for the vegetables to climb on. So beautiful and organic. via

Wall of Wisteria with Deck Chairs UK

I have never seen wisteria growing on a wall. Original photo from Calke Abbey, England

Antique Window Mirror in A Bathroom

I love the repurposed mirror. It's quite stunning in this fabulous bath or powder room, isn't it? via

Busy as a Bee

I have been very busy outside all week long and things are shaping up very nicely. The weather went from 20 degrees above normal for this time of year to below normal and I like that. I can work all day without stopping if it is breezy, cloudy and cool as it was yesterday. My peonies are up and the buds get a little larger each day. via

Very Nice Screened Porch

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I like the sliding door, the outside light, and the decorative woodwork to protect the screening. A friend of mine calls this the XO pattern.

Lovely House, Lovely Landscaping

Simply gorgeous. via

Aren't the PeeGee hydrangea standards perfect?

I found a great tutorial for hydrangea propagation here. Keep scrolling down to see all the helpful hints readers have provided. I like the last method best. Here's the home page with helpful information on the enjoyment and care of all hydrangeas. Happy gardening.

Potted Topiaries

Look at the size of those pots. They don't look so large in the distant views. There's a lot of clipping going on in this landscape. Small hedges, huge hedges half-round spherical standards and perfect grass. I wonder how many gardeners take care of this property. I'm sure this is just a small portion of a much larger estate. It's spectacular, isn't it? via

Barn Before the Rain

We really need some black storm clouds around my cottage to water the grass. Tomorrow will be two weeks since I cut grass for the first time this year and it hasn't grown very much. Usually you can't keep up with it in the spring but we had a very dry April and May hasn't been much better. We've had a spritz or two but we need several days of soaking rain. The temps we are having this week are 20° hotter than normal to boot. Webster doesn't like hot weather one bit. Tabitha loves it and I am holding up okay. Off to an office meeting this morning. See you later. via

Traditional Kitchen in Nova Scotia

This home in Bedford, Nova Scotia is a coastal retreat in the city. The owner overhauled her kitchen to incorporate an upper level of cabinets, polished concrete counters, cork flooring and vintage-look taps. The island functions as additional workspace and adds a rustic touch to the space. The lantern is a fabulous find from Stadacona Lodge, a military hall in Halifax. via House and Home

Beautiful Outdoor Window Treatment

I absolutely love every single thing in this photo. The stonework, the window, the windowsill and especially the arched iron and wirework canope for the vines to climb on to give shade in the summer. via

Here's Tabitha, By Popular Demand

She was asleep in a little ball on the wood chips. When I opened the door to take her picture, she woke up and wanted to come inside. She loves the nice weather we've been having and so do I. Enjoy your Sunday evening. Tonight I'll be watching Call The Midwife, The Good Wife and Mad Men. I couldn't get interested in Wolf Hall. It seems more like a series for winter.