1760 Cape Home in Falmouth Maine

Whitten Architects ~ Portland Maine

Original structure

More views here.

Feeling Sheepish

via

Sheep and fog, my two favorite things. This is such a great photo, showing the contrast between congestion and seclusion. Sheep know best! They just keep climbing until there's breathing room.

Shakespeare. 1st Folio Book Tour. USA

I knew about this tour but didn't know when it was happening. Drew University in Madison was selected as the sole New Jersey location and will host the exhibit for a month during the fall of 2016.

Where will this exhibit be shown to your state? Check the full list here. Once you find out the location, you will be able to search for WHEN yourself as I did for Drew. You're welcome!

Wonderful Dining Alcove Park Ave. NYC

Wonderful Breakfast Room in a Park Avenue Apartment

John B. Murray Architect, LLC

Snow Walk Today with Webster

We got a dusting of snow today. Then it stopped.

This isn't going to be like last year, is it?

Sheep on A Slippery Slope

Okay, now what? via

Nice Clouds at My Cottage

Yesterday started out as a rainy day and ended with beautiful clouds on the horizon at sun down. I took this photo from my back balcony. The temperature dropped overnight and it was very windy. I had to pick up some big sticks on Webster's morning walk.

I read an article online that season 7 of Doc Martin is coming to PBS station KCET in California on Thursday, January 14. I'm so jealous. I hope my local station picks it up soon since it's the final season. Boo Hoo.

Sussex Farmhouse Pictorial Hooked Rug and More

Isn't this wonderful pictorial hooked rug fabulous in this English farmhouse? See more interiors of this fabulous residence here. Enjoy Downtown Abbey and Sherlock tonight!!!

Happy Sunday

via

My favorite morning.

We had heavy rain all night.

It's supposed to get up to 60 degrees later.

I'm going to an early afternoon movie with a friend.

The Big Short. I've heard it's very good.

It's the true story of the financial crisis of 2008.

Have you seen it?

Country Snow Scene

This is gorgeous.

I think my blood has thinned this year. We've had a very mild winter so far except for a few cold days when I simply couldn't get warm. via

A Little School Fit for A King

Westacre Montessori School UK

First day of Kindergarten for Prince George.

He's only the royal family's second generation to attend a real school. His father was the first at his mother's insistence he mingle with other children. His grandfather, Prince Charles, was educated in a room at the palace with a desk, a chalkboard, and a tutor. Sounds lonely, doesn't it?

I have been reading a lot about the Montessori history and it's absolutely fascinating! Maria Montessori is my new hero. 

Google Images

Floating Sink / Floating Desk

I like this idea of all your stuff in bags. My bathroom drawers are all in a jumble anyway. 

I love this little work space for listening to the radio and daydreaming. Cozy too with the little radiator underneath. photos

On The Prowl

This is a beautiful cat and a beautiful photo. Look at that paw that's on the ground. I see lots of toes! I have always loved this gray color and this kitty is a beauty. via

Miscanthus Hedge

I keep seeing the most amazing photos of this type of hedge and I finally learned the name. 

Miscanthus produces showy copper colored flower plumes in September and brilliant fall gold foliage. This perennial is zone 5 hardy and is both deer resistant and drought proof once established. Make sure to shear back this hedge plant in the spring to about 12” from the ground. This helps to re-energize the plant for the coming season. This sounds perfect, doesn't it? Except for the shearing back part (smile). photo source

Dog Bed in the Kitchen

Yes. The dog bed next to the island is such a nice touch and proof positive that this is not a trophy kitchen. When I first moved to New Jersey, Sister Parish was a noted interior decorator among the rich and famous and her signature was always putting a dog bed in the living room. That impressed me no end. Complete kitchen renovation with numerous photos including this one here.

Furry Friends Forever, Sleeping

If this isn't the picture of pure contentment, I don't know what is. Don't you love the dog's back leg thrown over the cat? via

Looking for a way to boost your protein intake at breakfast? I am. This one is my favorite for those mornings I'm rushing out the door. I always forget about the amazing amount of protein in cottage cheese. Pot style is my favorite. Other breakfast ideas here and here. Healthy eating when you first rise in the morning is so important. Good luck!

Envelope Art

via

I am so glad this lovely 1887 painting survived the post and was saved by the lucky recipient. 

Winter Bluebirds

via

I definitely have winter bluebirds but I can't recall ever seeing them in the snow. Isn't this a great photograph?!

Sherlock New Year's Special 2016

via

I have to watch Sherlock again, this time on my iPad, really up close and personal. I fell asleep toward the end last night and missed quite a lot. When I watch the full episode online, I will be able to read the writing that pops up now and again in the program that I can't read while watching in bed because my tv screen isn't big enough. I'm sure others must have the same problem. I won't have any trouble with my iPad. I love watching movies on it too. The full episode won't be available on PBS.org until January 11th.

Vermont Farmhouse at Twilight

You know I love a house photo with all the lights on inside and the porch light too. Nothing is more inviting or beautiful. A little snow is the icing on the cake. via

SHERLOCK Special TONIGHT on PBS 9PM

MASTERPIECE and PBS today announced that Sherlock: The Abominable Bride, a 90-minute special, will premiere Friday, January 1, 2016, on MASTERPIECE Mystery! on PBS at 9:00pm ET, and simultaneously online at pbs.org/masterpiece. The special will have an encore broadcast on Sunday, January 10, at 10:00pm ET.

Hooray. I almost forgot about this because it's a Friday night rather than a Sunday night. Set your DVR.

Delicious White Kitchen w/ Stainless Butler's Sink

White marble countertops and a fabulous farm sink with towel rack! Yes to all. Love the leaded window above the cafe curtains. via

Donkey with Dolan Lamb Papoose

These are the world's most expensive sheep, costing in the millions each, being purchased by wealthy Chinese as pets. Better not let their feet touch the ground until these rare lambs can travel in a pack and not get hurt! Read more about Dolan Sheep here and here. photo source

New Year's Fireworks

This is my favorite animated gif.

I post it every year.

I text it to my friends too.

It's fun to have on your phone.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Filled with good health and good friends.

2016 ~ Bring it on!

Aud Lang Syne: Happy New Year ! ! !

This is an interesting history of the song we sing to ring in the New Year. I did not realize it was written in 1788 by Scottish poet Robert Burns. Read the complete article in The Independent with the words of the original poem and the English translation in case you want to sing along tonight at midnight.

London. New Year's Eve last year.

Sun Melting the Frost

I love frosty mornings before the sun comes up to melt it. via

White Enamel Range

I love the vintage range and the white dishwasher. White is always right in a kitchen. I wish I could peek around the corner and see the sink and the fridge. via

Country Walk in Derbyshire England

Oh, to be surrounded by such unspoiled beauty! via

No Diving

Clever Tile Work on this Changing Room Floor.

I'm not exactly sure what this little anteroom is but the writing on the floor leads one to believe there's a pool on the other side. What do you think? via

Be Patient.

So true. Patience is a virtue. via

Box of Beautiful Onions

Aren't these the most beautiful onions? 

I am going to eat nothing but vegetables next week. I need greens after eating too much ever since Thanksgiving. I love chopping onions and find they improve almost every dish. Sometimes I don't even know what I'm going to prepare until I start chopping an onion to see where it takes me. via

Bedroom and Orderly Closet

This is very inspiring as we approach the new year with resolutions of order in the house. via

Boxing Day Flooding in UK

I have to admit I knew nothing about the 3 weeks of rain north of London to Scotland. I hardly watched the news at all in December because of my cold. I just heard on NPR that Cumbria in the Lake District is being especially hard hit. That's the home of the Beatrix Potter museum that houses over 450 of her watercolors! It was hit by floods in 2010 but this is the worst in over 100 years. How heartbreaking to hear about such awful conditions inn the country and land we all love. Read more current news here. Sending my prayers.

Perfectly Planted Christmas Tree

Merry Christmas everyone.

via

Farmhouse with a Forked Path

via

Isn't this delightful? I hope they have a Christmas wreath hanging from both peaks. Happy Christmas Eve. I'm off to watch "The Bishop's Wife" on Turner Classic Movies! xo

Christmas Eve Blessings

See more vintage Christmas images here. 

The rain has stopped and we are having record warmth. It's supposed to be 74° today and it's already 70° and it's not even 9:00am. Oh well. I'll take it in lieu of snow. Have a wonderful day. You can do it. Here's hoping your stars align and everything will go smoothly and you will be ready for Santa tonight. xo

Thomas Nast: Santa Claus

Father Christmas. Santa Claus. Saint Nicholas. No matter what you call him, you probably think he looks like this drawing by Thomas Nast. From my collection.

The Morristown Club

Wreath on the door of The Morristown Club, the site of a Christmas luncheon today with my office colleagues. We were in the library and it was the perfect place for our get together. Delicious too.

UPDATE:  Did you know there's an app for TCM (Turner Classic Movies). I just watched "Come to the Stable" again on it. Go to the app store on your iPhone or iPad and in the search box type WATCH TCM. The app is free and it will work on you device if you have Turner Classic Movies in your cable lineup. Of course, you will have to know your user name and your password for FiOS, Comcast, or whatever your cable you have.  I am so happy I discovered it. You can watch whatever is playing live too. You have two choices on the iPad. East Coast and West Coast. It's awesome. Download it and be happy, You're welcome!!! The list of classic movies you can watch is unbelievable.

CALL THE MIDWIFE Christmas Day Special 2015

I missed their Christmas special on PBS last year and had to watch it after the holiday was over. I love this program on PBS. Here's the article about 12/25/15 programming. I'll be watching! Call the Midwife is one of my favorite series!