Webster is Under the Weather

I'm not trying to humiliate my dear dog Webster but I wanted you to know he has a problem. He had to have a shot on Thursday and he's taking 4 pills a day to help clear up a skin infection on his chin and his paws. I put socks on him last night to keep him from licking his feet and it worked well. He's napping on my bed right now listening to NPR. He feels fine that the medications have kicked in. I just hope it isn't something awful that will require a biopsy when we go back to the new vet next week. We both like Dr. Coleman so very much!

Today is National Handwriting Day

Today is National Handwriting Day 2011

National Handwriting Day was the invention of the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association and was inaugurated to remind us of the importance of Handwriting as a skill and a means of communication and personal identification. Never has this concept been more important than now, when the digital age tricks us into thinking that it would be perfectly fine if handwriting were to become obsolete. Here are the just 5 reasons why it wouldn't:

• Handwriting as an activity involves more of the human brain than any other activity except for speech. "Use it or lose it....."
• For most people, the act of writing is slower than the act of keyboarding. Sometimes it is a good idea to slow things down and consider more carefully what one is communicating.
• Let's not lose the ability to communicate more personally - Computers are great, but let's not put all our communication eggs in that one basket.
• The act of learning to write plays a special part in the development of young brains, and should not be discarded thoughtlessly.
• The skilled handwritten signature is still an excellent method of identifying an individual and a document.

I found the above information here. Are you going to write something today? I think I will fill up my fountain pen that was a high school graduation present and see if I can still write as beautifully as I once could. I still have a bottle of permanent black ink. See one of my previous posts on this subject with some flash cards to download and print.

Another Interior Sliding Door | Just Wonderful

You know I have a thing for interior sliding barn doors. I especially like this one, don't you. I think this is a fad that's here to stay.

All This and A Grass Tennis Court Too

This is almost too much to absorb. A fabulous old stone English country house with a walled garden, lovely sculpted plantings and a grass tennis court too. I'll take it without the tennis court please. Or maybe I'll convert it to croquet; that's more my speed.*

A Geranium + A Set of Antiquarian Books

My day has been very hectic so far with real estate showings and phone calls. I'm just now turning on my computer. I published many comments from my laptop this morning but haven't replied to any yet. Hope you're having a nice weekend. I only have one geranium in bloom right now. Doesn't it look nice against a background of antiquarian books with fine decorative bindings? See you later.

Snow in the French Alps + A Puzzle

When I see a photo like this cabin in the French Alps, I can't complain about my overnight snowfall. It was about 5" of light powder. Nothing I couldn't manage. We've had 4 snowstorms so far in 2011.

INTERESTING PUZZLE: This year we will experience 4 unusual dates: 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, and 11/11/11. Now take the last 2 digits of the year you were born plus the age you will be this year (in 2011). The total will be 111 ~ how is this possible?

And The Winner Is . . . Sharyn Sowell | Ramsign Giveaway

The winning comment for my Classic Enamel House Sign Free Giveaway from Ramsign is Sharyn Sowell from Mount Vernon WA, USA. Congratulations Sharyn (comment #4). Please contact me so I can forward your information to the company.

PS...I just went back and read her comment. Aren't you glad she won the sign? I know I am.
"Oh, how amazing! And how I'd love one of those signs. I am on the opposite side of the country but can't resist telling you my story about a cottage and a sign. We are bidding tomorrow on a cottage by the lake... it has been a secret dream of mine for more than 20 years. The 1915 cottage is completely derelict and absolutely forlorn which is how we can afford it. I won't bore you with the details but whether I win or not I think that sad little place needs one of these beautiful pieces as a sign of hope. There is restoration on the way for this ruin of a cottage that has been unloved for so long and is filled with garbage. A lot of elbow grease and sweat are ahead but someday I hope that I, too, will be content in a cottage! Thank you for this post. It's lovely."

UPDATE FROM SHARYN: I am back to tell you, Rosemary, and your sweet readers, that you are part of my dream come true. This afternoon (oh, could it really happen?!?) we learned that the offer was accepted, the little home in the woods will soon be ours. The sign will read "Hope Cottage." Rosemary,you wrote me this morning "Here is your sign of hope." Thank you, thank you, thank you. You were right. Literally.

www.ramsign.com

A Very Nice Mud Room

I love it all, inside and out. The door, the sidelight, the tall case clock, the wellies, the umbrella stand full of sporting equipment, the doorstop, the stone floor. Did I miss anything? *