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? *

Topiary Pyramids

English Gardening Lust. There are no other words. *

Piglet in A Pile of Puppies

Hey, where'd the guy with the pink nose come from? Nobody seems to mind so I guess this little piglet belongs in this pile of puppies. Everybody looks pretty cozy and warm, I'd say. So cute.

Decorated Stair Risers

I like both of these staircases. Which one do you like better, the yellow and white patterns or the library theme? The yellow stairs appear to be in a residential setting and the library stairs are probably in a book store or a publishing firm. via

There is still plenty of time to post a comment and enter the free giveaway for a beautiful enamel house sign from Ramsign.