Small Summer Cottage in Denmark

This looks very nice, doesn't it? Isn't that huge window fabulous? See the floor plan and many interior photos here.

Wendell Berry Environmental Quote

“...the care of the earth is our most ancient and most worthy and, after all, our most pleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it, and to foster its renewal, is our only legitimate hope.”

― Wendell Berry
The Art of the Commonplace: The Agrarian Essays

Google Images

Wendell E. Berry is an American novelist, poet, environmental activist, cultural critic, and farmer. A prolific author, he has written many novels, short stories, poems, and essays.

Born: August 5, 1934, Henry County, KY

He's 80 years young and still going strong. A truly inspiring man of the earth.

View from A Friend's Terrace

The beauty of mature landscaping photographed from the terrace of a friend. Then I went home to my weed patch. Sigh.

Great Bungalow Kitchen + Family Room

That's Julia Child in the artwork on the wall next to the range hood.

I love the X detailing on the sides of the cabinets and island. Read the article and see the rest of the family room here. It's a nice space, isn't it? Have a great weekend.

The Myth of Red Clover and The Bee

Remember last week when I told you I always believed bees could not get the nectar from red clover because their tongues were too short? This bee hasn't heard that rumor. Sorry my photo is a little blurry but I'm glad I got him at all. I have fields of both white and red and the bees seem like both equally. The hummingbirds love the red clover too. It's a nice cool breezy morning here at the cottage and the dark clouds are beginning to gather for a thunder storm. Have a great weekend. xo

Birr Castle Gardens in County Offaly, Ireland

It's simply enchanting, isn't it?

photo source 

My Lacecap Hydrangea is Starting

The Lacecap hydgrangea buds here at my cottage are just beginning to open. I took this photo with my iPhone yesterday.

I think my variety is Taube or maybe Lemon Wave based on the photos on this website. I'll have to wait a little longer to find out. I didn't buy this plant that I've had for at least 5 years, I dug it from a friend's yard and it is thriving. I think I should try to root a cutting and plant one in the front too. This one is in the back in a corner under my balcony where it gets the perfect combination of sun and shade. 

Climbing Roses and a Beautiful Window

I have never had roses except for the wicked multiflora growing on the edge of my woods. The thorns on these beautiful pink roses look like the ones I've been dealing with. I'm happy with peonies and hydrangeas because they aren't dangerous. Smile. via

Napping Dog: Webster's Watercolor

Doesn't he look like the most contented dog ever? It's been way too long since I used the Waterlogue App on my iPhone to convert a photo into a watercolor. Now I want to do more. Don't have it yet? Get it here. xo

Delightful Sleeping Porch

I go to sleep every night in the summer with both windows wide open and most of the time there is a faint breeze blowing on my face. So far I haven't had to turn on my A/C this year but I'm sure I will have to break down eventually. I always turn it off at night in favor of open windows. I've never slept on a sleeping porch but this looks like a great one. via

Chicken in the Red Clover Patch

I have lots of this red clover here and there on my property mixed in with the white clover which is predominant. I'm told white clover is better for bees because their tongues aren't long enough to get the nectar from the red clover. I have no idea whether this is true or not because I have seen red clover honey on the shelves. via

Tuesday Gif with Peonies and Tabitha

Peonies in full bloom cannot take days and days of unrelenting rain.

I bought a couple of herb plants from Whole Foods in Morristown. I divided the Rosemary into two plants and repotted them. The Lavender was divided into three plants that I arranged in a clay pot shaped like a chicken. They look so nice at my entrance.

Too Much Rain !

We are in the worst weather pattern and the peonies are not happy. We went from no rain to too much rain and I really need a few sunny days for a project at one of my real estate listings. 

Artwork in Progress

I love seeing artwork in progress with the scene and the sketch in one photo.

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A work in progress in a very large sketchbook.

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The finished drawing is very nice, isn't it? It looks like an engraving but it was done with a gel pen. Sjaak Kaashoek is a professional artist living in the Netherlands.

Wonderful House Tour

Like what you see so far? 

It's even more wonderful inside.

Enter the Tudor Cottage here.

Great Kitchen Sink

Don't you love this farm sink with the high back? The rest is pretty nice too. via

P is for Pink Peony

William Morris Letter P via

My very own pink peony captured with my iPhone. They really got battered this week with all the rain but I still love them.

Spinach, Peppers, and Swiss Cheese Omelet

My Saturday morning omelet in the making. So yummy and healthy too.

Webster. His first animated GIF.

I am so happy I finally learned how to make a Webster gif. The wonder dog is so worthy, isn't he? He's rolling in clover and loving it. xo

How did I do it? It was very easy. I downloaded the Google Photo app to my iPhone. Then I selected these photos that had a similar background. Then I clicked the + sign on the tool bar and the rest was done for me automatically. So fun! Joanna Stern from the Wall Street Journal has a great tutorial here.

Blue and White Checked Slipcover

image source

My favorite fabric. This chair looks like the perfect place to curl up with a good book, doesn't it? I hope there is an ottoman somewhere. I love that the owner dragged another chair beside the easy chair to hold all the books because there were fresh flowers on the table. 

We had rain all night but it stopped at daybreak. Enjoy your Sunday whatever you do, inside or outside. xo

Classic Georgian Home in Evanston Illinois

Beautiful in every way. Don't you wish we could go inside? Click here for a little peek.

Hello Nantucket

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Such a nice compound. Looks like the lawn person is there today. We have had an entire week of rainy days and the grass is ready to be cut but I'm waiting for several sunny days first. 

Wonderful Container Garden

Simply beautiful. This gives me some ideas. Must buy a large bag of topsoil when I go to Costco today. via

The Squeaking Cat

Hold your cursor on the screen and turn on the sound. Squeak! Squeak. So cute. via

20 Homemade Popsicle Recipes

Lonny Magazine has a great link to an article with 20 very interesting and unusual recipes for healthy homemade ice pops.

This one from Jessica Alba has bananas, pineapple chunks and fresh spinach with no added sugar. Get this recipe and 19 more here. I think popsicles are the perfect summertime snack, don't you?

White Scandinavian Inspired Kitchen

This would work for me. Want to see a little more of this home? Click here. White painted floors throughout!

Austin Garage with Apartment and Tower

You can view the entire Austin Texas skyline from the tower.

This is the view from the kitchen sink of the house. The outbuilding doesn't look like a garage, does it? Tour the entire Alley House project (inside and out) by Tim Cuppett Architects here.

Lovely Antique Garden Ornament

Yes, please. I would dearly love to have an antique garden ornament this lovely to delight my eye when I look outside.  via

Webster and Tabitha Together

It's very hard to get a decent photo of these two together but somehow I managed on a sunny day last week. As you can see, Tabitha is on her throne ignoring poor Webster but he doesn't mind. He's always happy to be in her presence and he happily lets her rule the roost.

An Amazing Animated Gif

This dot line wave reminds me how my stomach feels right now. I've been up for hours but still haven't had my breakfast. The animals have been fed and now it's my turn. See you later. xo

Hydrangea Explosion

image source

These are not Limelight hydrangeas, the variety I planted this year. My two bushes were just bare sticks with not much greenery when I planted them almost a month ago but now they are covered with lots of vigorous new growth and are thriving in the front and the back yards. I don't know if mine will bloom this year but they are on their way to becoming large bushes and I am thrilled. I have watered them daily and really babied them while they were in shock after being potbound. My plants were last year's stock and their roots were really packed. I untangled them and fed them lots of blue water almost daily. I followed my grandmother's advice too. She always said to plant a 50 cent plant in a $5.00 hole. The holes I dug were wide and deep and full of big rocks that I had to remove with my pickaxe. If you put in the effort when you plant something you will almost be guaranteed that you will have a successful growth. I mulched my plants too with wood chips to hold in the moisture. These plants are supposed to bloom on new growth so I am hopeful mine will too. Fingers crossed. I'm sure they are enjoying the rainy weather we had yesterday and last night with more on the way. Here is a very exciting HGTV article about Limelight Hydrangeas. Now I have high hopes that mine will bloom this year. I'm so glad I have them.

TV over the Fireplace

I usually don't like flat screen tv screens above a fireplace but I really like this arrangement. The whole room is fabulous, isn't it? via

I recently entered the 21st century because I finally have a small (21") flat screen in my living room and I love it. Now I wonder why I didn't get one earlier. I have it on a small antique piece beside my fireplace in the same place I had my ancient fat 13" set from the dark ages. When I am sitting on my sofa it lines up with my eyes and my sight of vision perfectly. If I had it on my mantle I would have to put my chin up and head back and look up and that would be awkward. I think there is a formula you are supposed to use based on the distance between where you sit and the screen. Mine is the perfect size and it's perfectly located as well as being very unobtrusive whether it's on or off. I'm thrilled because as you all know, I'm a big TV person. xo

Tintern Cottage in Wales

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The hillside vegetation is trying to take over the lawn and the wonderful old cottage too. It's a constant battle, isn't it? We are having a nice soaking shower before the sun goes down so it will be a nice cool night for sleeping. I hope I can find something to watch on my DVR because there's nothing to watch on TV. I'll be glad when the summer programs start up. It's rare when there's nothing good playing on PBS. Next week we have the first episode of Poldark so things are looking up in June. xo

Multiflora Rose - So Invasive

The woods and the wetlands surrounding my rear property are being overtaken by this invasive species. The multiflora roses are in full bloom right now and they have a delightful flower and a wonderful fragrance. I have spent countless hours cutting them back so their wicked thorns don't grab me when I mow. Here's a little history of this Asian, non-native plant. It reminds me of the Kudzu that has overtaken the South.

Origin: Japan, Korea and Eastern China

Background: Multiflora rose was introduced to the eastern United States in 1866 as rootstock for ornamental roses. Beginning in the 1930s, the U.S. Soil Conservation Service promoted it for use in erosion control and as “living fences” to confine livestock. State conservation departments recommended multiflora rose as cover for wildlife. More recently, it has been planted in highway median strips to serve as crash barriers and reduce automobile headlight glare. Its tenacious growth habit was eventually recognized as a problem on pastures and unplowed lands, where it disrupted cattle grazing, and, more recently, as a pest of natural ecosystems. It is designated a noxious weed in several states, including Iowa, Ohio, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Distribution and Habitat: Multiflora rose occurs throughout the eastern half of the United States and in Washington and Oregon. It tolerates a wide range of soil, moisture and light conditions and is able to invade fields, forests, prairies, some wetlands and many other habitats.

Ecological Threat: Multiflora rose grows aggressively and produces large numbers of fruits (hips) that are eaten and dispersed by a variety of birds. Dense thickets of multiflora rose exclude most native shrubs and herbs from establishing and may be detrimental to nesting of native birds.
Continue reading here. My photo.

IMPACT ON FORESTRY AND FORESTERS

On Forestry: Multiflora rose readily invades forest edges, open woodlands and plantations especially where there has been land disturbance. It can form dense thickets, replace native vegetation and inhibit regeneration of trees.

On Foresters: This plant forms impenetrable, thorny thickets that make forestry work difficult and painful. The hooked thorns are known to puncture vehicle tires (YIKES) as well as inflict deep gashes in unprotected human skin. information found here.

Perfect Plantings

Love this townhouse.

Green and white plantings. My favorite. via

My Peonies Have Popped

It is cool and overcast this morning, perfect for photographing my peony patch. My white ones with the huge yellow centers are in full bloom. I can still look forward to the pink ones on the right and the magenta ones on the left that are still in the tight bud stage. Have a great weekend! xo

Mozart Locket Sold at Sothebys

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus

LOCK OF THE COMPOSER'S FAIR HAIR, CONTAINED IN A 19th CENTURY GILT LOCKET, WITH A 19th CENTURY MANUSCRIPT NOTE OF PROVENANCE. SOLD. 35,000 GBP 

See auction post here, scroll down for description.

Daisy Portrait

I have one lone daisy in my meadow so far. I snapped this pic on my walk with Webster yesterday evening.

A House Wren in My Bird Bottle

I have several of these handmade redware pottery bird bottles from Colonial Williamsburg hanging on my house. This one is on the back of my cottage so I can see and enjoy it from my balcony. It was fun watching the nest building earlier in the spring. Want one? Order here while they have free shipping. The two centuries old HISTORY behind these authentic bird bottles can be read here. Enjoy!

I got as close as I could with my iPhone in hand before Jenny Wren flew away. I promise not to bother her again while she hatches her babies. If you want to see an old blog post of mine with a photo of a bird nest I removed from one of these bottles on the front of my house, click here. I had to remove it when I had my cottage painted two years ago.

PS--I woke up earlier than ever this morning. Sigh.