Let's Teleport to England Today

This looks like a good starting place, doesn't it? St. James Church, Shere - Surrey via

A Drive Down Memory Lane

Remember these car windows? I still miss the small vent window that you could open to keep your hair from blowing. I also miss the roll down mechanism. My front passenger window is electronic and it no longer works. To keep my hair from blowing when I have the front driver's window down, I have to roll down the back windows too. My air conditioning doesn't work either. I don't mind since I rarely turn on the central A/C in my house and I'm not really used to being cool all the time. The summer will be over soon so I'll wait until next spring to have more freon added. I mowed my back wildflower field just in the nick of time yesterday. It was very close to being too tall to mow. I had my mower deck all the up as high as it was go and it was hot and dry and it went well. Pretty soon my property will be in apple pie order once again. I got really behind because of that rainy weather pattern we were in, with 5 days of rain followed by 2 sunny days. Have a great Sunday. xo via

A Royal Christening: Family Portrait

I was so happy to find this royal family portrait on a cool Saturday morning here at the cottage. This is the first one I've seen with Princess Charlotte out of her pram. They are such a beautiful family and so perfect together. photographed by Mario Testino

Have A Cool Weekend

Webster likes to do this too. There's nothing quite like cold water straight from the spigot when it's hot outside. photo source

Toparies in Training

I took some cutting from my rosemary plants to root in water and then transfer to some small pots. I want to prune and train them to be straight and tall and bushy at the top. I have lots of moss growing on my property too. This will be a fun project. photo source

Breathtaking: Lavender and Topiaries

Gasp. Have you ever seen anything more beautiful? via

The horticultural art of topiary dates back at least 2,000 years, to when the ancient Romans cut bushes and trees into ornamental shapes.

Another Low Country Cottage

That's an awfully big house number for such a small cottage. I love the twin ceiling fans on the porch ceiling, It looks perfect in every way. via

Fabulous Ribbon Driveway

An old-fashioned design that harkens to the days when wagon ruts ran down the middle of a roadway, ribbon driveways typically put pavement beneath the wheels and grass in the middle. Back in fashion not just because they look great, they also create a permeable surface to reduce water runoff. Everything old is new again and I love this design. via

Prince George, Style Icon

Look out world, here I come!

His outfit by Rachel Riley sold out in sizes 12 and 18 months in fewer than 24 hours. Luckily the wearers will be too young to notice their peers wearing the same smocked outfit. I think Prince George looks adorable and I always love seeing him in action. His baby sister's christening was beautiful and it was so nice seeing the whole family together in their Sunday best. via

Cast Iron Urn Detail with Dog Handles

I love old iron gardening pieces with animal designs in the casting, especially dogs. via

Harper Lee Documentary coming to PBS JULY 10th, 2015

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO ABOVE.

Harper Lee: American Masters airs Friday, July 10, 2015, 9-10:30 p.m. on PBS (please check your local listings). This documentary will honor of the release of her new novel Go Set a Watchman on July 14, 2015 HarperCollins publishers. The link also contains an article about this film. Go set your DVR, right now! xo
PS -- This program will be a newly updated version of the Harper Lee 2012 documentary that many of you have already seen on PBS! It focuses on the release of her new (old) book.

Pink Climbing Roses

Don't you just love this beautiful trellis that's on its way to being covered with lovely pink climbing roses? via

Charming White Farmhouse

I like the dark gray windows, stair treads and porch floor as well as the plantings. via

Pets and Fireworks

I've never had this problem with Webster and Tabitha but it's still a good idea, especially tonight. We have fireworks at a nearby park and we can see them from a distance over the treetops from the balcony of the cottage. Have a great long weekend everyone. xo

THAT SINK.

Such a great arrangement for a repurposed kitchen sink. via

Be safe and have a wonderful July 4th holiday weekend.

Brush Pots

With Kitten via

With Feather via

Brown Face Sheep

The mother is beautiful and her lamb is very sweet. Love the countryside too. via

Setting Up for July 4th

This looks like a fun place for a small gathering around the fire pit. via

Vintage Bathroom Mirror

Remember these mirrors? I would dearly love to have one now, wouldn't you? It would be so helpful when I'm cutting my own hair. What! Yes, I do a better job than any salon and I never hate what I've done. via

Wonderful Outdoor Shower in Hawaii

One of the best things about summer is taking a shower outdoors. Agreed? This one is super nice. via

A Serious Vegetable Garden

And a beautiful one too! via

Soft Grey Kitchen Love

I'm pretty sure I would spend all or most of my time opening drawers looking for something, but that thought aside, I love this kitchen. via

Do You Prefer The Deck or The Beach?

These people are ready for summer, aren't they? The decks have been repaired and you can walk all the way to the beach without having your feet touch the sand. What a spot! via

Do you have vacation plans?

What happened to June? Can you believe today is the last day and this is actually the week of July 4th? Time flies when you aren't looking. via

Perfection with Weeds

You can't imagine how good this photo makes me feel. These people have manicured bushes and beautiful plantings yet they have weeds in their pavers just like the ones I have in my gravel driveway. It's good to know somebody else doesn't want to spray either. I actually mowed my driveway last week and it's looking more and more like an extension of my lawn. via

Cattle Egret Bird Parents with Young

Mr. and Mrs. Cattle Egret look pretty shocked, don't they? Their triplets look like little aliens but the parents are quite handsome so this awkward, just-hatched stage will soon pass. via

The Studio with Pots of Flowers

This looks like a delightful multi-purpose room, doesn't it? via

My Wisteria When It Was Blooming

This wisteria is not mine. I don't allow anything to grow on my cottage. via

This is mine earlier this spring. It's pretty close to the bedroom end of my cottage and I have to keep an eye on it because it's always trying to climb up the downspouts. 

Marc Johns: Polka Dot Elephant

This surprises me too. via

Pretty in Pink: Flamingo with Chick

Isn't this a beautiful photo? Somehow I never imagined what these big birds looked like when they were hatchlings. via

Love the Interior Stone Wall

I like the cat too. What a great bedroom! via

Screen Porch w/ Fireplace and TV

j. paul moore photography

Now this is what I call outdoor summer living.

Best Friends Forever

The title of this photo is so cute.

"Forbidden Love"

via

I can't wait to get in my bed. I mowed and weed whacked all afternoon and I'm pooped. I got way behind because of all the rain we've had. I mowed yesterday too. I still have a lot to do but progress is being made. Yay.

I can't stop watching this.

I'll bet you can't look away either, right? via

Lovely Butterfly.

Butterfly or moth? I can never tell which is which. Anyway, it's a lovely composition. via

S is for Selling in Summer

via

These people are all set for summer and are hopeful about selling their beautiful home. Found on the MLS. I think they have done everything right from the looks of the outside, don't you?

Sweet Dreams: The Owl and The Dog

Dreams by Tanja Brandt

These two like each other when they're awake too.

Click on the link under the first photo and keep clicking the forward arrow to see more wonderful photos of these unlikely friends. Sleep tight. Zzzzz

Philip Mould's Oxfordshire Garden

Little wonder that the Oxfordshire garden of art dealer, writer and broadcaster Philip Mould, should be so appealing. Mould has had a life-long passion for plants and his 18-acre garden, a combination of wild meadowland and expertly-tended-to formal beds, demonstrates this love of horticulture.

Taken from the June 2013 issue of House & Garden.

Are you watching POLDARK on PBS?

I watched the premier episode of Poldark, Season 1 last night and loved it. Here's a little preview of 6 things you have to look forward to from PBS.

If you watched last night and are unclear about anything that happened, here's a recap from The Wall Street Journal. SPOILER ALERT -- Don't read it if you didn't watch the show.

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I really liked the show that came on after Poldark about the WWI nurses called The Crimson Field. This link will allow you to watch the entire first episode if you missed it last night. 

About the Series: In a tented field hospital on the coast of France, a team of doctors, nurses and women volunteers work together to heal the bodies and souls of men wounded in the trenches. The hospital is a frontier: between the battlefield and homefront, but also between the old rules, hierarchies, class distinctions and a new way of thinking.

Old Indigo Blue Textile

Vintage Japanese Indigo. This graphic design reminds me of an American wedding ring quilt.