Cottage Kitchen in The Cotswolds

This half wall is a clever way to disguise the mess in a small open kitchen. I love the way the space under the stairs was used. It even has a window! See more of this Cotswold Cowman's Cottage here.

Copper Kettle + Cast Iron Stove Plate

I have a copper kettle just like this one. via

Hopefully, this photo will inspire me to polish it.

I love the decorative cast iron stove plate too. The urge to start spring cleaning is coming on!

Kitchen Corner

Love what I can see. Want to see more. via

My Morning Routine

Yes. Every day. Without fail. via

Sophisticated Geometric Painted Floor

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This is stunning, agreed?

Very well thought out and extremely well executed!

Love. Enjoy your Sunday. xo

Dowager Duchess of Devonshire's Home

Click here to view the 13-photo slideshow

I have a feeling this March 2nd auction at Sotheby's in London will be mobbed. Be sure to expand the description beside each photo in the slideshow by clicking "See More". You will then be able to read wonderful things about her like this: “If second childhood means going back to first loves in old age then I am deep in it.”

Brown Cat with White Mustache

He's beautiful, isn't he? I don't think I've ever seen a brown cat, have you? He looks as if he has a white mustache and look at the size of those legs! Big and gorgeous. via

Elizabethan Duck

There's nothing like a duck wearing a ruff, is there? This portrait made me smile. via

Saltbox with Snow

I definitely think the groundhog was wrong, don't you? via

Herringbone Walkway

I really love this walkway with the pavers laid in a herringbone pattern. There is a lot of period detailing on this shingle style home. I love the craftsmanship on the archway. Image found on Tumblr.

One Yellow Duckling

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Do you think he even knows he's not like the rest? Such a sweet photograph. 

Frozen Mercedes

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When I woke up on Sunday morning it was 1° outside! It has warmed up somewhat and now it's a balmy 18° with snow coming this afternoon. Stay warm. xo

Happy Day of Hearts

I am republishing some of my own photographs with a heart theme today for Valentine's Day. I found the last one online and like it a lot. Valentine's Day really is for everyone. Enjoy!

My Three Favorite Things

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Coffee and Sleep and My Pillow

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I have a new pillow from Costco that is really helping me sleep and dream better than I ever have.

I have always heard keeping your head cool and your feet warm is the secret of a great night's sleep and I found this 1925 article that proves it.

What kind of pillow, you ask?

It's a cooling gel memory foam pillow in a standard shape, not a contour. It has one side that feels like bubble wrap filled with a cooling gel. The other side is plain. It took me a while to get used to it. At first my neck felt stiff because my head was elevated higher off the mattress than my old pillows. But I felt more rested so I knew it was a good pillow and I went back to Costco and purchased a second one. Now I have a matched set and can search for cool spots across my entire bed. I am a hot sleeper and have always tossed and turned flipping my pillow to find cool spots. Now I can't wait to see how these pillows perform in the summer. I keep my room cold at night in the winter so it stands to reason that the gel away from my head will stay cool as the part I'm resting on absorbs my body heat. I just automatically gravitate to cooler spots without really waking up. I'll do another report in the heat of the summer. Fingers crossed.

My shoulders are feeling better too because the new sleeping height is reducing stress on them. Hope you like this "unpaid" product review. See you later. I have to attend a home inspection later today. xo

Vegan Mashed Potato Patties Stuffed with Mushrooms

Vegan Potato Cakes Stuffed with Mushrooms

These are definitely on my "must prepare" list. Can you find dill this time of year? Thyme would be good too. My mouth is watering just looking at the photo. Recipe in the link above. YUM.

I recently watched Michael Pollan's interesting documentary IN DEFENSE OF FOOD. He suggests eating real food made from scratch if possible. 

His message in a nutshell:
Eat food
Not too much.
Mostly plants.
Watch the full movie on PBS here.
This recipe is perfect.

Dog -- Waiting

If I ever went out on a boat and disappeared over the horizon, I'm quite sure I would return and find Webster patiently waiting for me too. via

Stay warm. We have really frigid conditions with wind coming my way. I've been running around wearing only a sweater and a vest lately. Time to put on a heavy coat! See you later. xo

Gorgeous Landscape with Sheep

It doesn't get much better than this, does it? A valley leading to the sea with sheep. The best! via

Fireplace flanked by Bookcases

This looks like the perfect cozy spot to sit and enjoy the fire or curl up with a good book, doesn't it? If a nap is called for, you're in the right place. via

Rustic Sliding Barn Door on Bathroom

I think this is pretty wonderful and I like that the overhead hardware is hidden. via

Lovely Kitchen Details

I like what I can see and want to see more, don't you? via

White Kitchen w/ White Antique Pottery Collection

Stunning. Show me more, please. Lovely creamware collection. via

Beautiful Pond at Friends' House

I am sure they will miss this view after they move. Photographed this week when I stopped by to get a contract signed. It's a shame the resident blue heron wasn't fishing then. 

Maggie Smith, Super Bowl Fan

Now I love her even more.

Sent to be by a friend.

Thanks, Corinne.

Snow on The Rooftop

Snow is very becoming on this early center-chimney colonial home, isn't it? via

I was able to get out of my driveway without the aid of a snowplow, so happy.

Melting Fast

For a brief moment I could see nothing but blue skies from my front door and nothing but gray skies in the back. I opened the balcony door and waited for the first patch of blue. Let the melting begin! The Ground Hog must be exercising his power, after all.

Ground Hog Error: Morning Snow

I could hardly believe my eyes when I woke up this morning to a really beautiful overnight snowfall. It's the heavy wet type variety too, unlike the powdery one we had earlier this week. Yesterday late, I completed the task of shoveling the snow with embedded gravel back into my driveway so I wouldn't have to rake it out of the grass in the spring. I hope it will melt quickly when the sun comes out after lunch. This is Old Man Winter's way of snubbing the Ground Hog who predicted an early spring. He's saying, "Not on my watch!"

Sotheby's: Collection of Deborah, The Duchess of Devonshire

She loved horses

and chickens

and Elvis ! ! !

See more of her collection here. 

She really was "One of a Kind" Read a wonderful article here.

So many lovely things! Read more here. Let's go!

Tom of Downton Abbey

I'm so glad he left Boston and returned to Downton Abbey. Tom is such a great addition to the family and so is this lovely pup. via

Sliding Barn Door in Bathroom

Talk about a tight space! This sliding barn door is the perfect solution for privacy while soaking in the tub.  It must be covering a window, right? Otherwise you still couldn't get into the room. via

Little Dog in Training to Herd Sheep

Go wherever you want sheep. I'm not trained yet and I don't care. via

Wonderful Mountain View

The views from this mountain home are so beautiful. What a great place to sit and have Sunday morning coffee. Enjoy. xo via

DIY Leftover Yarn Winders

Isn't this a clever idea for your leftover embroidery floss and knitting yarn? I have way too many clip clothespins and this would be a good use for them.

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Wonderful Small Townhouse

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This elegant townhouse looks pretty amazing, doesn't it? Not too big, not too small, but just right. 

Upstairs Hallway Nook

I love everything about this little bookcase nook at the top of the stairs. via

Built-In Wood Stove

Goodness gracious alive, I've never seen such an interesting and beautiful wood stove with built-in instant hot water, have you? That should send out some serious heat and must require quite a chimney and it already has a fabulous hearth. I guess you can cook on it too. Wow. via

Snowy Country Road at Dusk

Is this beautiful or spooky? A little of both, I think. It really is a gorgeous photo and setting. Are those cross country ski tracks? You could get lost drinking up the beauty of this forest and not even care. 

My snow is melting fast and furiously, thank goodness. I think the balcony will melt completely without any shoveling at all and for that I'm very grateful. xo via

Wonderful French Courtyard

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Too beautiful for words. 

I love the design in the pebbled courtyard floor and the stone house is amazing. Aren't the potted shrubs and plants attractively arranged? It's all absolute perfection! 

Cat in A Paper Bag

B o o.

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Snow Swag Still Holding On

I am so annoyed about the screen. I tried to take it out this morning but it's frozen in place. Anyway you can tell that the swag is still there. The snow is too deep for me to walk back there and get a better shot because it goes over my boots. I am pretty sure it will melt today and fall off. I got plowed out yesterday and I will venture to the post office and will surely be late for my office meeting as I am still in my pajamas but I don't even care. Many of my associates haven't been plowed and are snowed in at the end of long driveways. I will go in later as I need to get a document from the file for a closing next week. See you later. xo