Daffodils In My Window

The sun was streaming through my kitchen so nicely this morning backlighting my vase of daffodils. After cropping and adjusting a bit with Adobe Photoshop Elements, this is what I got. Like it?




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Time For Spring Cleaning

I think cleaning these clocks would be more fun than cleaning my house but somebody has to do it. I've never had any outside help in this department so I guess I'm elected. The hardest part is getting started...after that it can be fun. Agreed?


via Pixdaus


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Day Is Done ~ Goodnight

Another day is over. I'm calling both of these sunsets though it's possible they are sunrises. If you are reading this post at the end of the day then they are sunsets. First thing in the morning, they are sunrises. Either way they are amazingly beautiful, aren't they?

Images from Pixdaus


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So Many Architectural Styles To Love

Various homes that I found charming while searching real estate for sale. The last one is my favorite. Wish I could see inside before I make up my mind. I really like the yellow colonial too even though it's much too large for me. It's just as pretty in the back as it is in the front. You can't say that about all homes today. Most have Queen Anne fronts and Mary Jane backs.

My last home was a cape cod and I can still remember how hot it was upstairs even after central air was put in so I'll pass on owning another. However if the master bedroom is on the first floor and guest rooms are upstairs that might make a difference. Each of these home is charming in its own special way. Which one would you like?




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Is It Morning Already?

Webster sneaked into my bed after I got up this morning and completely rearranged the pillows and blankets to his liking. I didn't have the heart to run him off, he looked so comfortable.

This was our wake-up call this morning, the first wild turkey spotting. I've heard their gobbling in the woods the last few days but this big guy was right outside my bedroom window. I dashed up the the third floor, grabbed my camera, and captured him from afar through the screen. He's a beauty, isn't he. Hopefully he'll come back with the Mrs. and the babies real soon.


My photography equipment:
Camera - Nikon D-40
Lens - Nikon 18-200 zoom with Vibration Reduction


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My Recycled Kitchen Farm Sink

Here are several shots of my re-purposed kitchen sink found on the side of the road. It's a vintage porcelain double laundry sink with a center divider and slanted front for the wash boards. The drains are solid brass. It was awful looking when I found it a few doors down from my old house in a pile ready for the yearly trash pickup. Yes, you read that right...yearly. Around here people have to save their non-garbage stuff for a whole year and believe me it leads to pack-rat behavior in many households. This sink had been used in a basement forever and there were lots of rust stains from old tin cans, paint splatters, and just plain dirt. I though it would clean up nicely and it did with lots of elbow grease, CLR, steel wool, Softscrub, Zud, and whatever else I could find that wouldn't harm vitreous porcelain. I even got the shine to come back. Then I stored it in my barn for the day my plumber could tell me if it would work as a kitchen sink in my cottage. As you can see, it's perfect. It's super deep and wonderful for soaking big soup pots, washing sweaters, filling up my watering can, etc. It's under-mounted with a marble counter on top. I couldn't be happier with it. Lucky me!

Potting Shed Sinks To Love

It's great to have a big deep sink to use when you are repotting plants and arranging flowers. I will feature my own vintage porcelain double laundry farm sink later today. I picked up on the side of the road (with help) and it's my very favorite thing in the cottage. I'll show it as my next post so stay tuned.


First image from Restoration Hardware

Second image from herbgardener


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Giraffe Manor in Kenya

I though we should all go on a little trip tonight and sleep in different beds. I've decided to take all of you to The Giraffe Manor, surrounded by 140 acres of indigenous forest just outside Kenya's capital, Nairobi. As well as the giraffe, the property is also home to many species of birds, large families of warthogs and the elusive Bush Buck.

Travellers from all over the world now make The Giraffe Manor part of their East African safari, the only place in the world where you can enjoy the breathtaking experience of feeding and photographing the giraffe over the breakfast table and at the front door.

The Giraffe Manor is an elegant, personally hosted, small and exclusive hotel, famous for its resident herd of giraffe. The Giraffe Manor offers a rich blend of welcoming accommodation, highly trained and friendly staff, as well as one of Nairobi's finest kitchens.

All photos from the website of The Giraffe Manor. The 1932 mansion was designed to resemble a Scottish hunting lodge. In 1974, two highly endangered Rothschild giraffe were moved onto the estate where their future generations have thrived and live today. Wasn't that a fun place to visit? I enjoyed it too, Rosemary.




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