More Generator and A/C Photos

After taking these photos of my 14 year old air conditioning unit, I put a cover on it for the winter. As you all know, I don't use it daily in the summer, just on very hot days. But I'm glad I have it on those days. I love to sleep with my windows open whenever possible.

Here's the generator after some pruning and raking a couple of days ago. The black pipe above the gray piping is the new gas line.

More beautiful piping.

Now it looks like rain and I can take a breather before the four days of bright sunshine that start tomorrow. Sorry to have bored you with home maintenance photos but that's been my life lately. I went to an open house this morning but it wasn't worthy of any photos to show you. I see an afternoon movie in my future. xo

My New Guardian

My new 9KW Generac Guardian Generator.

This is an old photo when the work just got started and I had not done any outside work myself. I will post photos inside the fence to show you the neatness of my contractors later. Yesterday I took the grill off the top my air conditioning unit and cleaned out all the debris (old rotten leaves) with my shop vac and cleaned the "green stuff" off the fan blades and gave it a true fall cleaning. I never thought I could do this myself but it was very easy and I am so pleased. Now I have to get my day going and vote for a new New Jersey governor and some local officials too. See you later. xo

Beatrix Potter Red Squirrel

Here is another watercolor that is new to me. Beatrix Potter's Red Squirrel. via

Most Gorgeous Living/Family Room

This formal yet casual cozy large living/family room is fabulous. What a great seating arrangement for conversing with family and friends. I like the rag rug too and the wallpaper is subtle and interesting. I see it was in Architectural Digest and would love to find it online but haven't yet. via

My tired bones are looking forward to PBS tonight with The Durrells and The Collection. I raked tons of leaves and did quite a lot of outside work. I got a 9KW Generac Generator and it was installed on Friday. The plumber is coming tomorrow to connect the gas line and the plumbing inspection is on Thursday. It will be turned on and tested when the electrical inspector comes. It looks gorgeous and made my picket fence and the north side of my cottage look shabby so I washed everything down with Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day multi-surface spray and the shingles, my air-conditioning unit, all the panel boxes and pipes and especially the picket fence look almost new. I got rid of that green algae or whatever it is that likes to get on surfaces where there is no direct sun. It wasn't that hard since there was the nicest very soft rain that wet down everything for me so my spray cleaner could get right to work. I didn't have to scrub with any brushes, just a 3M thin pad and some old rags. I did a lot of raking and pruning earlier in the day before the rain. Will post pics later. Enjoy your Sunday night. xo

Vintage Gas Prices -- Remember When?

I must admit, this photo stopped me in my tracks. The least expensive gas I have seen lately in my travels locally was $2.49 a gallon. I don't even know if that includes tax, must look. Have a great weekend. via

Manners -- Emily Post

I love this. I loved Emily Post too. via

Wonderful Hallway / Art and Antiques

I was so happy to find this photo to share with you today. I know these antique dealers/interior designers personally from my days as an antiques dealer and this gorgeous home is in my neighborhood. See more gorgeous photos here. You are in for a real treat! Enjoy. xo

Tiny Vintage Stove

I am always attracted to tiny vintage gas stoves for some reason and this one is no exception. I could manage nicely with this arrangement. I have a very small counter to the right of my sink with the stove to the right so this would feel backward and awkward for a while. I think there's probably a larger counter to the right of this sink in the photo. I have a window beside my stove and a window over my sink. via Can you believe it's November already?

Andrew Wyeth Watercolor of a Cottage

Andrew Wyeth
Messersmith’s
Dimensions: 24 X 19.5 in (60.96 X 49.53 cm)
Medium: watercolor and pencil on paper
Creation Date: 1994

I like that he included the electric meter and the other meter. Maybe it's gas but I doubt it. The sky at my cottage today looks just like this. Happy November first. xo

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Very Cozy Room

I like this cozy, casual living room and all that surrounds it. via I hope you had a spooktacular Halloween.

Wonderful Cabin Bedroom

I would love waking up here on a cold morning, But at night I need to have a TV at the foot of the bed. Of course, I could always watch something on my iPad should I be lucky enough to get to sleep here. Dog could stay too. via

Whole House Renovation in Clawson, Michigan

See more photos here.

Looks nice, doesn't it?

City Dwellers Love Pumpkins Too

These three stoops are in Boston. They are all taking fall decor to the next level that easily transitions into Halloween. via It is raining like crazy at my cottage as I await watching 60 Minutes on CBS and The Durrells in Corfu and The Collection on PBS. Enjoy your Sunday evening too.

Enchanting Home

Use your imagination to envision Halloween decorations here. I want to see this lovely shingled home when the leaves are off the tree hiding the upper stories. That's what I love about fall and winter with bare trees. It really is the perfect time to house hunt so you can really see what you're buying. See you later. xo via

HALLOWEEN Apothecary Labels to Print

via Google Images

These labels are great. Start saving your interesting bottles for next year. Download and print the labels HERE. See more photos here.

Orchard Floor paved w/ Fallen Apples

This photo is stunning. I want to know how the apples got so beautifully arranged. Is this an art installation or exhibit? I will post the answer later if I can find it. In the meantime, just enjoy the visual. Photo: Johnathan Ryan

I posted this photo on Instagram and got my answer. This is not staged. It is an orchard in Ireland after a Hurricane.

The storm brought a lot of rain which swelled nearby rivers and caused the field to flood. 

"The flood water gathered all the apples and as it settled down it left a carpet of apples." Jonathan added.

This is how Hurricane Ophelia left the Bulmers Orchard in Tipperary, Ireland in mid October 2017

The Bulmers Orchard after the hurricane (Image: Photo: Johnathan Ryan @Tipperaryphotos.com)

His stunning shot shows the ground covered in a carpet of apples which were blown off the trees. The apple trees which were covered in fruit are now nearly bare after the storm. Hopefully, this won't cause a cider shortage later in the year...read the article in the Irish Mirror.

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More photos here and another article on these apples and the storm from BBC News

A Kitchen w/ Fireplace + Dutch Door

There are almost too many things to love in this beautiful kitchen and we can't even see the cooking area. I'll take it, wouldn't you? Elle Decor Magazine

DIY Wine Cork Pen/Pencil Holder

This looks like a clever gift to craft using your wine corks and your glue gun. Photo found here. Christmas is two months from today so you'd better get started.

Painted Stairs

I think this staircase is beautiful and it was clever not to paint the design on the risers, just the treads. High upkeep, but beautiful. via

Another Amazing Pie Crust

This one is extremely beautiful, a real work of culinary art. via

XO Gate

This beautiful gate greets you with hugs and kisses every time you pass through. xo via

Nice Reading Room

Nice home library, reading room, homework center. via

Lamb in The Warming Oven

via

Now I've seen everything.

Here is a very new use for the warming oven on an AGA range. Warming a new-born lamb or a spoiled pet lamb! So sweet. Have a great weekend. xo

A Loaf Cake with Fresh Cranberries

I look forward to seeing fresh cranberries in the markets so I can make this tea cake. More photos and recipe here. Looks delicious, doesn't it?

Cats Rule

Both adorable images found on imgfave.

Artistic Pie Crust

This square tart is truly a work of art. It would surely be the centerpiece of any holiday dessert table. via

Chickens Carefully Crossing the Road

Law abiding chickens using the crosswalk. So cute! via

Halloween Hand Pies

How cute are these? I would love to bite into one right now with my morning coffee. Catherine, a reader, found the recipe and more photos here. Thanks, Catherine!

Pumpkin Fields Forever

Looks like a good harvest, doesn't it?

I wonder if this is a pick your own pumpkin field?

Hope so. They are just begging to become jackolanterns.

via

Yew Tree Farm, Cumbria UK

Yew Tree Farm, Lake District, England by Aidan Mincher When you see photos like this, it's easy to see why Beatrix Potter was drawn to this part of England in her later years. In 1929, when Beatrix Potter was 64 years old, the Monk Coniston estate came up for sale. The estate consisted of 2500 acres of land around the head of Coniston Water. It consisted of the well-known beauty spot Tarn Hows, seven farms including Yew Tree, Boon Crag, High Arnside, High Tilberthwaite and High Yewdale, as well as cottages, quarries and open fell land. She sold the half containing Tarn Hows to the National Trust, and bequeathed the rest of the estate to the Trust in her will. Read more here.

Beautiful leaf

via

This photograph is so beautiful!

My leaves are just starting to turn colors.

We are having a very late fall.

Enjoy your Sunday.

Painted Kitchen Floor

I wish I could see another view of this kitchen looking out the window. I love the gray diamonds painted on the floor. via Have a great Saturday night and a nice Sunday tomorrow. xo

Cats Wearing White Collars (Ruffs)

Marie Cécile Thijs - White Collar Series
CATS WEARING AN ANTIQUE ELIZABETHAN RUFF

'White Collar' is one of the newest autonomous photo projects of Marie Cécile Thijs, which she started in 2010. The models are wearing a 17th-century antique ruff collar that belongs to the collection of the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Because this collar is so delicate and rare, it was photographed by Marie Cécile Thijs separately in the Rijksmuseum and placed afterwards on her models by way of digital imaging.
She used human models too. See all of these fabulous images here. See all 14 images here.

Shedding Light on the Old Stairs

I love this photo. The patina on these old stairs is so beautiful since they have never been painted. My trees are still green because it's been so warm but I am looking forward to fall color soon. via

So Many Acorns to Love

A long row of perfect acorns to love. via

Knock. Knock. Who's There?

This made me laugh.

via

Welsh Farmhouse Kitchen to Love

I could not love this more!

Country House by Ben Pentreath in Wales, GB