Ex Libris Charles Dickens

Can you imagine being lucky enough to own a book with this bookplate? This volume once owned by Charles Dickens is in the Special Collections Department of the University of Glasgow [Scotland]. 

Portrait of A House

Architectural rendering of a house in Massachusetts. 

This is one of my favorite categories of art. I would love to have a collection of watercolor house portraits. image ~ New York Social Diary

Clingstone Sea House in Narragansett Bay

CLINGSTONE, A faded, shingled 103-year-old mansion set on a rock in Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay, is one family's labor of love. It has been maintained for the past 47 years by working weekends in exchange for free lodging and food.

The Newport Bridge is visible from the windows of the Ping-Pong Room, to the left of the fireplace.

Casual array of multi-colored ping-pong paddles. There is time for play too!

The dining room table seats 14. Refinishing the chairs is a task on the list for a future work weekend.

Clingstone has survived through the love and hard work of family and friends. The architect owner (since 1961) says the house is always going to have rough edges. It's never going to look like the Breakers.

There are 14 photos in all that can be seen in this slideshow. I was fascinated by this story when it appeared in the New York Times on August 7, 2008.

I have been saving it for those of you who missed it. Enjoy.

Guardian at The Gate

What a nice job to have if you are a dog. He looks more like a 'meet and greet' Collie than one who would chase you away, doesn't he? That stone house is absolutely amazing and he's probably proud to live there and guard it.

I feel like I am living in the mountains today with all of this cool air blowing on me with no humidity. So happy.

Beautiful Morning

Goodness, gracious, what a beautiful morning. Somehow the humidity of yesterday disappeared and it feels almost like autumn here at the cottage. A great day for getting things done all around the house, both inside and outside. Webster and I are thrilled. 

Baby Elephant Having Fun

This photo has been everywhere and now I'm posting it too. It is such a joyful image by Michael Graham. I wish this elephant would squirt me with some nice cold water. That would feel very good in this heat.

Great Summer Bedroom

I would dearly love to have a window over my bed in the summer. I have one on either side but I want one behind the bed too. This small vacation home bedroom is delightful, isn't it? *

Awakening Landscape

I have always loved filtered sun rays. This spectacular photo by Tomáš Záhumenský is called Awakening and it's perfect for my first post this morning.