Sunday, February 13, 2022

Watercolors in Shells


This is such a great idea! 
These paints and watercolors are in shells.
Photo found here.

Saturday, February 12, 2022

An English Cat: Judging




Happy Caturday. This made me laugh😹
I adore British legal dramas with 
barristers and judges wearing wigs.
Have a great weekend.
xo

Friday, February 11, 2022

Climbing Vine on My Windowsill


I haven't rooted a sweet potato in water since I was in grammar school. This one in my kitchen is reaching for the sky and all I have to do is make sure the pitcher doesn't dry out. I will plant it on my balcony and let it climb on the railings when weather permits. Happy Friday. xo



https://101gardening.blogspot.com/2016/05/how-to-grow-sweet-potato-vine-indoors.html

My sweet potato was already putting out green shoots when I brought it home from a friend's kitchen counter. The link above has detailed instructions for using a whole one suspended in water root side down. The ones I did as a child were always cut near the top so we could eat the rest😂



Here is a link for using a cut sweet potato as I did. It also has instructions for rooting in potting soil. You might want to do a lot of these and plant them outside in your garden at the appropriate time. Who knew?

Eileen in Fla asked for instructions. Here they are, Eileen.

Happy windowsill gardening🌿

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Cutest Baby Owl I've Ever Seen


This adorable owlet should be the model for a stuffed animal, shouldn't it? It's so cute it doesn't even look real! I found it on Instagram, link below.

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

A Table By The Window


Isn't this a perfect place to pay bills, write letters, sip tea or coffee, and eat breakfast or lunch? I love it! xo

UPDATE: I found a link for a house tour with oodles of photos of this Georgian apartment in Edinburgh Scotland.


Enjoy! xo

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

The Toadflax Children in WINTER STORY by Jill Barklem


Winter Story is a 1980 children's book, the final of the four seasons of Jill Barklem's Brambly Hedge series. In the book the biggest snowstorm in years leaves enough snow for an ice ball. The Economist review of books described the book as a "Beatrix Potter through Brambly Hedge", "mousy little tales with beautiful, busy drawings". via

Monday, February 7, 2022

The Big Reveal: Roman Shades Are Hung

Daytime view when partially raised.

 
I had to do a little adjusting of the length of certain cords on the back to make them hang straight. It took me quite a while to figure this out but Rome wasn't built in a day and neither were these Roman Shades. 😂


This photo was taken on the first morning after I lowered them the night before. The room was warmer than it would have been otherwise. It was 10° outside but the skies were clear and the sunrise was bright. Did you notice I have "draft dodgers" below each door?


I really wasn't fond of the feel of the room.


It felt like a hotel room.


I am still getting used to them in the fully extended length. Having a warmer room is a big plus and it will be much cooler in the summer to block the blinding sun. I much prefer them raised and if I were willing to sacrifice warmth and coolness they could easily stay in this position all the time. 


When raised to conceal the top two rows of glass, the sun glare that has always bothered me is eliminated. I found a label on the back of the cornices with the name of the factory that made these shades that were constructed in 2006. Anderson Fabrics, Inc. Blackduck, MN 565630

I'm glad I didn't have to choose the fabric and the design of these window treatments. I am much better at restoring and repurposing something that already exists. I'm that way with houses too. I can work with one with good bones but have never wanted to build from scratch.

This exercise has made me give new admiration for the work professional designers do for their clients. Window treatments have to be one of the hardest tasks and the installation is another nightmare. Getting the completed projects to hang perfectly is no easy task and listening to the customers complain is another. It must take a lot of hand holding. Anyway, I have nobody to blame but myself when something I do doesn't turn out as expected and that almost never happens. I research everything to death and work out projects in my head before I start anything. So far, so good and I am basically thrilled with this project. Sigh of relief. xo