Domestic Happiness in 1835

This is the frontispiece engraving for one of my Antiquarian Books published in New York in 1835. I love looking at the interiors and checking out the furnishings. 

I am working on my taxes this week and might even finish today, fingers crossed. xo

Meet Jock VI, Ginger Cat at Chartwell

From nationaltrust on Instagram: Following an intensive interview process, we're proud to welcome Chartwell's newest employee. When Chartwell was left in our care, the family of Sir Winston Churchill requested that there would always be a ginger cat with white chest fur and four white paws named Jock in residence. Following the retirement of Jock V, we're honoured to introduce Jock VI! He likes afternoon naps, tuna and cuddles.

The unusual request stems from the affection Churchill felt for a kitten given to him on his 88th birthday by Jock Colville, one of his secretaries.

Churchill lived at Chartwell in Kent from 1924 until his death in 1965. The National Trust property has been kept exactly as it was when he lived there. See more photos and read the article here. I love animal stories like this, don't you?

An Old School Photo of Me

This is one of the very few school pictures of mine that is halfway decent. I remember those days being very frantic the night before and the morning of picture day before leaving home. It was always a hair thing. Usually getting a too short haircut the night before or worse still, a home perm. Remember those? I actually have some natural wave to my hair but I always curled it in my youth. Pincurls or rollers. The curls in this third or fourth grade picture look pretty tight as if the rollers were removed and my hair was never combed or brushed out. I had a gap between my teeth that eventually filled in without the aid of braces.

Irish Proverb for St. Patrick's Day

I scanned the dog from my antiquarian book on Royal Crests. After inserting the quote and putting it on a bed of shamrocks it became perfect for St. Patrick's Day.

My Healthy Breakfast

Breakfast fixing before assembly this morning. Life Changing Bread, 1/2 an avocado mashed with some organic lemon juice (Italian Volcano), and a 10 minute boiled brown egg. 

I toasted two slices of my bird bread in the panini press, spread on the avocado and topped with egg slices. Finished with coarse sea salt and ground black pepper, it was delicious. There really is some kind of magic in this bread. It's so satisfying and I can honestly say it keeps me from getting hungry. So the name is perfect!

Red Gate Farm

Here's the historic green barn that everyone is trying to replicate. It's a landmark property around here that was once owned by Seth Thomas, Jr. I love the black cast iron crows on the red gates.

Orange Sections For Breakfast

This was my breakfast dessert. I never drink orange juice anymore since I heard how it was processed on NPR. What? You haven't heard? Well, the stuff you get in cartons in the grocery store was stored in vats for up to one year after the oxygen was removed so it wouldn't spoil. Then when they get ready to reconstitute it, it is absolutely tasteless so they have to add flavor to make it taste like oranges again. Yuck. I couldn't find the NPR article but I found this for you to read. Eating a real orange is the only way to go, right?

I found a link to help you with orange juice brands:

http://www.toxinless.com/orange-juice

Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II | Page 71

A few more suggestions, observations, and reminders on how to live a happy and rewarding life.

Great advice from a father to a son that went viral and became two books. I like all the helpful hints on this page. The book was published in 1993. He was very insightful about the bankers, wasn't he?