Saturday, May 22, 2010

The Skeleton Armchairs of Vincent Price

The Skeleton Armchairs of Vincent Price:
Here's the auction house description: Hand-carved of hardwood; these chairs were apparently modeled after a rare 18th-century chair which sold for over $100,000 at a New York auction. By oral tradition, they were part of a set custom-ordered by actor Vincent Price. However, Price died before they were delivered. In any case, they make a wonderful conversation piece! Excellent condition. Each measures 54' x 24' x 24'.

I think I'll pass on these chairs offered by Heritage Auctions. I don't think they "go" with the decor of my cottage.



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Interior Design in Children's Illustrations

Baby Eats At The Table

I picked up a great little book with wonderful illustrations at a garage sale this morning. I'm always impressed to see the great care that goes into getting the design of the room into children's illustrations. Reproduced from Le Journal de Bébé first published in Paris in 1914. Don't you love the wallpaper, chandelier shade, potted plants, and table cloth? Simply a wonderful composition I think. Great dining room too.



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Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II | Page 12


Southerners have always done this.



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Belton House - Lincolnshire, UK

Belton House is a country house near Grantham, Lincolnshire, England. The mansion is surrounded by formal gardens and a series of avenues leading to follies within a greater wooded park. Belton has been described as a compilation of all that is finest of Carolean architecture, the only truly vernacular style of architecture that England had produced since the time of the Tudors. The house has also been described as the most complete example of a typical English country house; the claim has even been made that Belton's principal facade was the inspiration for the modern British motorway signs which give directions to stately homes.

Have a wonderful weekend. A lady gave me 3 beautiful peony plants if I would dig them up yesterday at an estate sale nearby. Of course I said yes and they are already in the ground. They are exactly like the one I photographed recently at a friend's house. I also got a snowball bush, at least that's what I think it is. It's covered in buds that should pop open any day now. It might be a hydrangea; I must identify the leaves when I get more coffee into my system. I was outside until after 9pm last night planting everything. They don't even know they've been moved. So happy!!!



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Friday, May 21, 2010

A View in Ireland.

I've never been to Ireland, have you?



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Chives in Bloom | Make Some Flavored Vinegar

My chives are in full bloom as you can see from a photo I took earlier this week. I think I should make some flavored herb vinegar.

Chive Blossom Vinegar

2 cups white vinegar
2 cups freshly packed chive blossoms

Bring vinegar just to boil, but do not boil. Pour over chive blossoms. Let stand in a crock or large glass bowl or bottle in cool, dark place for one week.

Strain vinegar, discard blossoms.

Transfer to bottles and add sprig of fresh chive blossom to each bottle.

Great gifts from the garden.



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Sliding Barn Doors Used Inside

This is probably about the 4th time I've featured sliding barn doors used as an interior feature. I always stop to look at photos of them when I'm browsing blogs. I forgot to make a note of the source of this photo for these new doors that maintained the look of their barn/carriage house origins. It's a lovely Friday morning so far. I'd better get my outside work done early because I think it's going to be quite warm. Have a great weekend, Rosemary

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Sarah Jessica Parker: Audio Guide at The Met


Sarah Jessica Parker becomes audio guide at The Met:
Those who visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art during its exhibition titled "American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity" will be greeted by a familiar voice. Sex and the City star and self-confessed fashionista Sarah Jessica Parker has taken on the role of audio guide for the Costume Institute's annual fashion exhibition at the museum. The exhibition runs through Aug. 15, 2010.

Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Web site to hear a sample of SJP’s audio narrative--go to the bottom of the page.



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A Cheerful Kitchen

I like this happy kitchen a lot, don't you? Those upper windows are especially pleasing. We have bright sun at the cottage today after a week of dreary weather. Enjoy your day, Rosemary.




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Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Taking The Cat To The Vet

You can't back out now. It's going to be all right.
Don't worry. I'll be there when she wakes up.



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Polar Bear Pickets in Washington

No more off-shore drilling.



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Tiny Bath Under The Stairs

I love everything about this tiny bath tucked under the stairs. I'd love to have a window over my sink instead of a mirror. I usually walk over to the window to look outside while I'm brushing my teeth. It much more interesting than my reflection and oftentimes I see bluebirds.



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Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Goodnight, Time To Count Sheep

Pretty soon it will be time to jump under the covers and try to get warm. It was a wet bone-chilling day but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I'll turn out the light and start counting sheep around 11:00 pm. I like the big fat ones like this. Goodnight, see you in the morning.



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Wildflowers: Common Fleabane and Multiflora Rose



I thought the first flowers on my property were some sort of wild aster but found out they are common fleabane. Who knew? The multiflora roses are so fragrant this time of year. Walking among them yesterday was like being in a perfume factory. I honestly never knew they had such sweet tiny pink rosebuds.

I found a great site where you can search wildflowers by color with results shown in great photo galleries @ The Connecticut Botanical Society. I showed the photo gallery photos they provided as links under each of my photos. Hope this site helps you identify your wildflowers.



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House Wren Posing For The Camera





Click to enlarge each photo. This little bird is one of my favorites. I love the happy singing that fills the air as these tiny house wrens flit about. The last photo is the scene of the action. I was standing on the bank way to the right beyond the width of the photo.

Don't you love all the buttercups? I've never had so many. They are such happy little wildflowers, aren't they?

Camera: Nikon D-40
Lens: Nikon 18-200 zoom with VR



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