Final Photo Showing Chairs at My Front Door

I promise this is the last photo!

I bought these chairs last winter on the first day I was able to get out of my driveway after a blizzard. The patina of the heavy metal matches my lighting fixtures. They are so much better than the old shutters were flanking my front door. I gave them a good coat of lemon oil for protection from the upcoming winter weather. The seats are basket weave woven.

Enjoy your Sunday. xo

Fence Finial + Before & After House Paint Pics

Remember my post about finding three Artichoke finials at an estate sale? Now I can finally use them. I had to "doctor" this photo and remove all the color because they are not wood and the color is yellowish. I will probably paint them when I touch up some of the fence posts and pickets with a small brush. I put one on each side of the gate and one on the corner. I am so excited about finally being able to use them.

Eileen in Fla. made a special request to see a photo of my house in a BEFORE photo because she can't remember what it looked like in order to appreciate the transformation. 

Well, here goes.

I wish I had chosen white with black shutters 20 years ago when I restored my cottage but as the old Amish saying goes, "We are too soon old and too late smart."

I forgot to mention I removed the full length shutters on either side of my front door and I like it so much better without them. (The painters were happy too!)

xo

Some Gorgeous Hollyhocks + Hornets

Is there anything lovelier than hollyhocks up against a wall?

I think not.

Every year I wish I had these summer flowers but I'm glad this was not the year to try them because of the dry month of August. My dahlias don't have a single bud. The ones they had dried up. They are very tall and healthy looking though. I don't like having to dig them up in the fall either. I have been trying to get my life back but hornets have invaded my kitchen. I found their entry point on Tuesday and sealed it up. I have been sucking them up with the crevice tool on my vacuum cleaner and today I think I've finally gotten most of them. Tuesday after the painters left and Wednesday they were terrible but I never gave up. I turned the air conditioning on and they thought it was winter and gravitated to the warm window glass and were rather sluggish and easy to catch. I didn't get stung either. It's always something, right?

Hollyhock photos here and more for you to drool over.

xo

Crocheted Cat Hammock and Goodbye August

I love the expression on this cat's face. He seems to be taking for granted his owner crocheted him this wonderful hammock. I have always liked these smoky gray cats. Photo found here.

It's hard to believe August is only a few hours away from the end, isn't it? It was hot and dry but I got a lot done and once September rolls around the days literally fly by. See you next month. 

xo

My Newly Painted Cottage: So Happy♡

I was at the paint store this morning at 7am because today was the last day my painters would be here. We moved mountains getting ready for their departure and it all worked like clockwork. I am so proud of the end result. While the helper primed and stained the outside boards surrounding my balcony, the main painter and I hung the shutters and afterwards he went around and touched up this and that. The sky with big fluffy clouds really cooperated to set off this photo, didn't it? I absolutely love the black shutters and the black front door. My handyman suggested this and I will be forever thankful. It has transformed by cottage into a classic. The wing to the left doesn't show but it has a newly painted picket fence and my bedroom that sits back behind it. It's impossible to show the entire front in one photo. Needless to say I am glad it's all over but I will miss all the excitement of this transformation as I helped right along with the workers to move the project along. I have skills that had been dormant for a long and it was great to see how capable I really am. I honestly could not be happier.

♡xo♡

Cat on Rug -- Dutch Painting

Salomon Meijer (1877 - 1965)

The only subject that has been a constant during Sal Meijer's painting life is that of the cat. He paints portraits of cats as individuals; they are frontally depicted and look the viewer directly in the eye. Meijer's cats are seen in the comfort of their own home and in close up.

I love this one, don't you?

Auctioned by Christie's here.

Wonderful Shakespeare Quote

Still working on the house but can see light at the end of the tunnel. My days have been busy and long lately and I am so looking forward to a lazy Sunday morning to recharge my battery. I found this Shakespeare quote on Pinterest and I love it. My gift for the past two weeks has been teaching my painters things they didn't know and they are so very appreciative. 

Have a great weekend.

xo