The Holly and The Ivy

Isn't this a stunning image? found here

Let the Christmas preparations begin.

Vintage Thanksgiving with Grandparents

Here's my annual trip down memory land honoring the good old days and Norman Rockwell.

Happy Thanksgiving from my cottage to your table. 

Have a thankful day.

Happy Thanksgiving

Are you ready for the big day tomorrow? I'm pretty tuckered out from shoveling the heavy wet snow so I wouldn't have to do it tomorrow after it freezes overnight. I've certainly gotten my share of exercise in the form of hard work this week. Enjoy your day with family and friends tomorrow and eat as much as you can. xo via

Pink Tea Cup: Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

Liz Smith featured this recipe in the New York Social Diary:

PINK TEA CUP SWEET POTATO PIE

2 lbs. yams
½ cup of butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ginger
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
3 large eggs, separated
½ cup orange juice
1 tablespoon grated orange rind
½ cup of evaporated milk

Peel and boil yams until mashable. Add butter, spices, salt, sugar to hot yams. Beat until light and smooth.
Beat egg yolks until light and add to mixture.
Stir in orange juice, orange rind and milk. Beat egg whites until stiff and fold in.
Pour mixture into unbaked pie shell. Preheat oven to 350 and bake 35 minutes or until the pie puffs up and is firm in the middle. Cool on a rack.

Add whipped cream. Dig in Pilgrims!
Sounds good, doesn't it? Yum.

It's Snowing As Predicted

We don't have ice yet because it's too warm. Yes, you can have snow even if it's 36° and I'm not at all happy about it for all the travelers going home for Thanksgiving. Mother Nature is showing her bad side once again. Be careful if you have to go out. See you later. xo cardinal on icy branch

Clouds in the Moonlight

Have a great evening. I did too much yesterday and hardly anything today.

Cloudy Study, Moonlight - 1860 by Albert Bierstadt, American Painter via

DIY Copper Shelves for Kitchen

Clever shelving made with off the shelf parts from Home Depot. This system could work in other areas of a home too. They would be great for books.

I like having the washer and dryer in the kitchen. Read more about this project here. 

What a difference a day makes. Overcast and getting cooler. I am going to pace myself today and see how it goes. 

Transoms in a Bathroom

Two showers, side by side with overhead transoms for venting. Both have sliding barn doors. Love, love, love. via

Today was great. It was 72° and sunny after a rainy start this morning. The guys cleaned my gutters at 9:30 when the rain had just stopped. They used leaf blowers and it was somewhat messy because of the water, leaves, and the fine black sand from the roof shingles in the gutters. I have copper half rounds and it wouldn't have been so bad if the leaves were dry and crispy. I ended up hosing down my whole house after they left if you can imagine. It was actually fun. I have long hoses and good water pressure and it didn't take that long. Plus the outside of the house was still wet from the morning rain. I just couldn't stand dirty water stains on my pretty new white paint. It was a perfect day for being outside. I hosed down the balcony too and put away the furniture. I pulled the remaining thistles from a flower bed and raked leaves too. I might cut some grass tomorrow before it gets cold again on Wednesday. You have the seize the good weather days when they present themselves, don't you? I already have on my pjs and I'm ready to jump into bed. I actually had windows open all day long too. Webster is exhausted and so am I. See you tomorrow. xo