Hillside Manor House -- Buckhead -- Atlanta, GA

So Nice.

I love everything I see in this photo.

Perfection.

via

Sweet Country Kitchen

Looks like a happy place, doesn't it? It bothers me a that the sink isn't centered below the window but there must be a reason. I think those two things to the left are dishwashers that slide out. So I would have put in a larger sink, maybe a double. Otherwise it's very sweet. Wish I could see the whole room. I'm sure they made use of all the space to suit their needs rather than my need for symmetry. I like the nook above the window. via

My most Recent Instagram posts

Content in a Cottage on Instagram

For those of you that aren't on Instagram, this is a screen shot of my most recent posts. All of the photos were taken with my iphone around the cottage or on walks nearby or at realtor open houses. Enjoy this last day before the election and be sure to vote tomorrow. xo

Frog Went A-Courting

I love this delightful animated gif.

Frog Went A-Courting

Million Dollar Owl Painting found in an Attic

William James Webbe (fl.1853-1878), The White Owl, ‘Alone and warming his five wits, The white owl in the belfry sits,’ signed with monogram and dated ‘1856’ (lower left), oil on board, 17¾ x 10 3/8 in. (45 x 26.3 cm.) © Christie’s Images Limited 2012

Alone and warming his five wits, 

The white owl in the belfry sits.

I can't believe this wonderful story. I also cannot believe I am able to find such interesting news and articles on Instagram. This story will have you running to your attic to rummage around if yours is packed and you have no idea what's up there. That's what happened when a lady had to move things for a plumber in hers.

"Everyone dreams of finding that one priceless item hiding in the corners of a dust-ridden attic. One UK teacher recently experienced the joy of rescuing such a forgotten antique, all thanks to an old owl painting that turned out to be worth nearly a million dollars."

Read the entire story on The Huffington Post. Enjoy this beautiful November Saturday as I shall. xo

Country Cupboard in Blue Paint

I love everything I see in this beautiful room. via Happy Friday!

Cozy Antique Room

What a nice peek into a period room with period antiques and an open fire. Perfect for fall and the upcoming winter. via

Fried Apple Rings

I haven't had breakfast yet. These apple rings dipped in a yogurt batter and fried made my mouth water. Great donut alternative. See more photos and get the recipe here. xo

Traditional Home with Greenhouse

This Baker Greenhouse backs up to a 100 acre nature preserve.

Front view of the gorgeous greenhouse with standard hydrangeas in pots. Read the article and see photos of the beautiful traditional home, inside and out, in Atlanta Homes. Enjoy!

BEST Owl Photo

Owls and Halloween go together, don't they? This is the best barn owl photo I have ever seen. via

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Hope it's spooktacular!

Sliding Interior Shutters

Is this a perfect room, or what? Love the comfy chair and ottoman with a little table beside and a reading lamp behind. And the view!!! I can't imagine a better one, can you. Now the icing on the cake is the interior sliding louvered shutters.  Look carefully, the valance going across the top of the window hides the track. Genius! Such a clever way to block the sun when it gets too bright but allow air to get in. LOVE! via

It was very warm today, almost hot. I zipped through the grocery store this afternoon and almost everybody was wearing shorts and flip flops. It's a little cooler now and raining. Some of the trees are completely bare, some are still green with all their leaves, and others have their fall colors and half their leaves. It's still too early for my final gutter cleaning. I want ALL the leaves on the ground first. xo

Double Decker Sliding Barn Doors

I still like this sliding barn door trend, especially on this converted barn/home. via

I woke up early after a half day of mowing yesterday and I'm almost finished with my fall cleanup. I was shocked into getting it finished after I saw photos of an early dusting of snow in Connecticut and upstate New York this week. It is unusually warm today and that's good for the trick or treaters. Happy Halloween. xo

Lovely Conservatory

YES, Yes, and yes to everything I see in this photo. The conservatory is especially nice. via

Simple Top Crust Pie Decor

Isn't this fork decoration beautiful? What a great and super-simple idea! I will definitely copy it when I make a chicken pot pie in the near future. The apple pie above is going to be beautiful. via

Cutest Little Black Lamb

This could possibly be the cutest lamb I have ever seen. via Have a great Halloween weekend. 

Brown and White

Brown and white transferware with brown and white upholstered chair -- NICE! via

An Architectural Wonder in Mexico

See more architectural photos of this amazing concrete home in Mexico here.

Comfy Indoor Cat

This made me laugh. Woke up to a rainy day but it's warmer than yesterday so all is good here at the cottage. xo

Dahlias Saved from the Frost

One of my good friends was out of town this week and she texted me to go over and cut all of her dahlias to save them from the frost. So I did. There were only a couple of big open blooms but lots of tight buds that are beginning to open. It's so nice to have fresh flowers in the house this time of year and a friend who wants to share. 

Very Wonderful Bathroom

Don't you love the shiplap wall? It's very trendy now and I think it's pretty wonderful. The rest of this bathroom is lovely too. via

Public Walking Path near My Cottage

I had a busy day and ended up here. There was a real estate viewing in the late morning, a baby shower in the mid afternoon and a walk on the walking path near my house before the sun went down. It was a perfect day. I have on my pajamas already and I am looking forward to The Durrells in Corfu at 8PM on PBS. Enjoy your evening too. xo

Alexander Hamilton Documentary on PBS

Hamilton's America premiered last night on PBS and I forgot all about recording it. But as luck would have it, the full episode is available online. I just watched the entire documentary on my computer and it was absolutely wonderful. ENJOY.

Tool Shed with Dovecote

I dearly love this small timbered outbuilding with so many wonderful architectural details. Dovecote, cupola, timber frame decoration, interesting roofline, and goats too! Found on Pinterest.

DIY HALLOWEEN LIGHTS, Cats and Ghosts

So easy. Directions here.

Historic Brick Barn near My Cottage

I took this photo mid afternoon on my way home from the post office. This historic 19th century brick barn is off a public walking path that was once private property but was dedicated as parkland in 1989. This is the back of the barn not visible from the road. I am glad I pulled over and walked down the footpath for this photo on a cloudy day. I put it on Instagram too.

Dutch Apple Baby Pancake Recipe

DUTCH BABY PANCAKE WITH APPLES AND CINNAMON
(Adapted from Taste of Home)
*Serves 8* This looks so good I doubt it would serve 8 people, maybe 4 at the most
.
YOU WILL NEED:
Pancake:
3 eggs
1 cup milk
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 tbs unsalted butter, melted
1 tbs granulated sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
.
Apple Topping:
2 apples, peeled and thinly sliced
1 tsp granulated sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tbs unsalted butter
Confectioners’ sugar (for dusting at the end)
Recipe found here

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, flour, sugar and vanilla extract. Set aside. Butter a 9-inch round pan (or a cast-iron skillet, I didn’t have a skillet so I just used a round pan) and preheat your oven to 400 deg F. Pour your batter into the prepared pan, and bake for 20 – 25 minutes, or until the pancake begins to puff up, the edges begin to curl away from the pan and the pancake is golden brown!

2. While your pancake is baking, prepare your apple topping. Peel and thinly slice your apples, and saute them in a small pan with the butter, sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon. Cook until the apples are soft.

3. Once the pancake is done, sprinkle it with the confectioners’ sugar and top with cooked apples and serve!

Crows Visit their Old Parents

I love knowing this about crows, don't you? via

Garden Bench with Urns

This carved stone antique garden bench is quite wonderful. I wonder why nothing is planted in the urns? via

Sweater Weather

This image made me smile. via

Sweet Cottage and Garden

It's lovely, isn't it. So neat and tidy. Could be one of the outbuildings at Williamsburg but I'm not sure. image source

Nice Small Kitchen

I love the look of this kitchen. I have way too much stuff but have envisioned a walk-in pantry nearby. Then it would be perfect. See more kitchens here.

Tonight I am watching TIMELESS (episode three) on NBC. It's very good.

Racka Sheep with Unique Spiral Horns

Racka Sheep is a unique breed with both ewes and rams possessing long spiral shaped horns.The breed comes from Hungary and is used for milk and wool. Mature males may have horns as long as two feet or more. The cork-screw horns protrude almost straight upward from the top of the head. They look old and wise, don't they? via

PS -- I watched the new PBS series The Durrells in Corfu last night and LOVED it. 

A Room with Wonderful Symmetry

I love this entrance hall and the symmetry too. I could go down the list of everything I like but the word "everything" seems to cover it all. Enjoy this beautiful Sunday. xo via

Great Bedroom

It's getting nearer and nearer the time to jump in my own big brass bed and watch some DVDs from the library. I honestly don't look forward to the end of daylight savings time after Halloween when it will be dark before dinner. I like doing busy indoor work in the mornings and outside work after the sun dries out the dew on the grass. I guess I should try to get as much done in the next two weeks as I possibly can, right? Sounds like a plan. See you tomorrow. Enjoy your Saturday night. xo via

The Home of Yves Saint Laurent

"In the corridor leading to the library, a bright column of Ernest Boiceau terracotta and chair of English origin surmounted by a delicate drawing of Dante Gabriel Rossetti."

See more "over the top" images in the article that appeared in Architectural Digest France.

The article has been translated from French to English.

My 12 Recent Instagram Postings

If you are intrigued by any of the small photos in this set, look at my Instagram feed.

Wonderful Antique Fireplace

I'll take the dog painting too. Love it all. via

Celestial Globe 1579 Vienna

Celestial clockwork globe. 1579, Vienna, Austria, Met Museum via

This made my day. Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?

Falling Leaves

Be safe if you are in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and any other coastal areas that might be affected by Hurricane Matthew. For the rest of you, enjoy the long Columbus Day weekend. xo

Drawers Galore in This Kitchen

I would rather have this in a workroom instead of the kitchen. I love flat files, filing cabinets. worktables, and anything an architect would love. It's very nice in this kitchen but I would never be able to find anything. How about you? Found in Instagram.