Stone Barn Converted to Guest Cottage and Library

All photos by Paul Massey

Wanting a place to display her treasured collection, Emma Burns, senior decorator at Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, transformed a converted barn at her country home into a sitting-room-cum-guest-cottage full of hidden surprises and witty details...tour the inside here.

Christmas Decorations with Snow

This setting is wonderful. I love the door and the Christmas wreath. I don't understand the little garage for boots though. If you took them off before entering the house, what would you have on your feet? There is still a lot of snow before reaching the front door. via

Sun on A Shingle Style Porch

The morning light shining on the porch of this shingle style home is exceedingly beautiful, isn't it? via

Christmas Cookies as Art

Christmas Cookies on a Cooling Rack.

Simply beautiful.

via

Evergreen Coconut Cake Topper

This little evergreen sprig looks perfect with a twine bow on top of a coconut cupcake that looks like it's covered in snow. via

Copper Pots Hanging From A Pot Rack

I have a "thing" for old copper pots and how people display them. This rod hanging from eye hooks between the beams is very nice. Hopefully, this is not the only sink in the kitchen! Smile. via

Kitchen with Open Fire

I don't really understand the open fire on the cooktop. It looks dangerous to me. I love the baby's laundry hanging out to dry up high. via

Beautiful Christmas Cookie Scene

So pretty. I love this Christmas Scene made of iced cookies and powdered sugar. I have the perfect background board but will I make one of these? Sadly, probably not. via

Field Mice Singing Christmas Carols

"Carol of the Field Mice" 

from THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS by Kenneth Grahame, 

illustration by Inga Moore

Hello December

Illustration by Jin Xingye

See more of his lovely storybook pages here.

Scottsdale Arizona Rustic French Country Kitchen

This Rustic Arizona Kitchen Feels Like a French Countryside Vacation. The steel French doors are my favorite part of this construction project. Do want! See more inspiring photos and read the article in House Beautiful. This empty-nesting couple really downsized in style.

Life Goals

Send to a young person you love. via

Spectacular Kitchen

I adore the backsplash with tiny subway tiles and everything else too. This kitchen is simply spectacular. via

Black Bunnies

Have you ever seen a black rabbit? I have not. The  portrait of the two Black Otter Rex Rabbits was found on Google Images. They certainly are beautiful, aren't they? I have always heard rabbits make good house pets and their only bad habit is chewing on the electric cords and that always scared me. I guess you have to keep them contained, especially if you are raising them for show competitions. This pen looks soft and cozy.

Small Kentucky Cottage with Woodpile

I am glad this modest Appalachian cottage has a proper overhang on the front porch to protect the woodpile which might be the only heat source. Don't you wish we could peek inside this Kentucky home to see the roaring fire? via

Kitchen w/ Butcher Block Counter Tops

Bring back the butcher block counter tops. I still love them. via

Read more about this kitchen here.

Amelia Handegan Virginia Restoration

18th Century Rose Hill Plantation

The music room at Rose Hill, an 18th century estate. I adore this painted floor.

The library holds books that have been at Rose Hill for two centuries.

Isn't this the perfect place to enjoy the books in the Rose Hill library before retiring to the adjacent master bedroom? The open fire is the icing on the cake. This old house has been decorated in such a livable manner. Read the article and see many more photographs of this plantation country house via Architectural Digest. Have a great weekend. xo

NYC: Townhouse of Bunny Mellon

Bunny Mellon's NYC townhouse at 125 East 70th Street. See the Sotheby's real estate listing with numerous photos, both inside and out, here. Meet the buyer.

Anne of Green Gables: The Good Stars on PBS Thanksgiving Night

Anne Shirley (Ella Ballentine) is back in the new TV movie "Anne of Green Gables: The Good Stars" airing on PBS tonight. In my area it comes on at 9:00-11:00. Can't wait.

Vermont Turkeys walk to Boston

During traditional turkey drives to Boston, children of Vermont farmers typically walked with the turkeys, scattering food to lure them forward -- but perhaps they would have appreciated wagon rides.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS photo.

"Turkey drives" were an autumnal tradition from the 1800s to the early 1900s, and involved the overland strolling of flocks of turkeys from all corners of Vermont to their destination, and demise, in Boston. Who knew? Read more about the fascinating history of this farm to table turkey drive HERE. 

Fabulous Bunny Downspout

I need this kind of whimsy in my life. Bring back the bunny downspouts! I could spend DAYS on this page looking at other examples. Have fun looking when you need a break from Thanksgiving preparations. xo

Kitchen Island with Drawers

I like this kitchen island with drawers instead of an overhang to accommodate stools for sitters. Do we ever have enough cabinets? via

This Made Me Laugh

Good One! via

Black and White Perfection

Love.Every.Single.Thing

via

Gorgeous Painted Stairway

I like everything I see in this gorgeous interior. via

Quick Cleaning Tips

This probably isn't the right week to post these cleaning tips since Thanksgiving is on Thursday but who knows, they might come in handy. I had a friend in my youth who didn't have a dishwasher and she used to put her dirty dishes in the trunk of her car if someone called and was coming over unexpectedly. That tip is not on this list. via Pinterest

Vintage Gas Stove: A Chambers

This functioning 1910 Champion gas stove is simply wonderful. . .love it so much. via

Coziest Dogs Ever

At first look, I didn't realize there were TWO dogs on the bed, warming themselves before the fire. via

A Man Called Ove -- Great Book

I was thrilled to finally find this book at the library after hearing people rave about it for a very long time. I loved it and devoured it in a single day. Read the book, skip the movie would be my advice after watching the trailer. Men will like it too, especially those who know a lot about home construction, Saab automobiles, and motors in general. Click on the link above to read a review from Good Reads. xo my photo

Charming Dog Photo

Love this dog peeking through the leaves. via

Charming Clapboard Cottage

I looked and looked but could not find a link for getting inside this charmer. It looks lived in and loved with perfectly imperfect landscaping. I would get rid of the shrubs across the front foundation that are hiding the house. If the foundation is unattractive, I would plant something lower. Maybe these can be severely trimmed, but boxwood would be better. Enjoy this lovely Wednesday. xo via

My readers are wonderful. Read the comments. Interior photos found and they are wonderful. HERE

Vermont Friendship Album Hearts 1849

Friendship album. Calais Vermont. Made in 1849. Hearts of woven hair. via

Pie Crust Tree

Another beautiful pie crust to drool over.

via

Cabin Love with Snow

Gorgeous Winter Scene

It's Coming!

Not quite ready for snow.

But love this photo.

via

Winter Table in Living Room

I was out pretty early on Saturday with a dental appointment and a real estate showing afterward. On my way home I passed a nice house with "free" stuff in the yard. One was a wonderful metal table base with great patina and definition and I grabbed it. There was a glass top too but I couldn't lift it. I thought I had an old storm shutter in original blue paint in the garage and it turned out to be the perfect size.

As you can see the top turned out to be perfect! It really looks made to measure.

It's nice for my potted plants and various pretties i already had. You really can't see the table base in these photos,

Here is a repeat of the first photo with less contrast so you can see the table base better. I had a tea table in that spot before but like the lower table so much better. The nesting has begun.

Flags All Over Town for Veterans Day

Madison, NJ

Veterans Day 2017

Every lamp post has a flag. It looks deserted but the town folk were gathering for a parade. My photos. The trees are bare and today was our first really cold day but the sky was blue and the sun was out. Later in the day, it warmed up a bit. It was a lovely Saturday to be out and about. xo

Turn Off Your Outdoor Faucet

Don't forget to turn off the water for your outdoor faucets and drain the line. It's going down to 19° at my house tonight. I winterized all my faucets a couple of days ago. We've been blessed with mild weather and today was a real shock to my system. Nesting season has arrived. google images

View from a Covered Bridge

Looking at this photo is almost like being there, isn't it? Simply gorgeous. via

Watercolors and A Butterfly

This animated butterfly gif is so mesmerizing it almost puts me to sleep. via

Needle Felted Grey Hare / Rabbit

So charming. This was made from a kit.

No, I am not going to make one but I love this.

From Etsy.