Bluebells At Dawn

Here is a lovely spring scene to get your day off to a beautiful start. I've never seen so many bluebells completely carpeting a woodland floor, have you? ©Barry Wakelin

Stone Cottage with Lilacs

I found a delightful (English?) stone cottage with a beautiful garden and a blooming lilac to get you through the early March doldrums when everything is so unattractive. Spring is literally right around the corner. photo ©John Goad

Potted Bulbs on The Breakfast Table

Isn't this breakfast table in the Netherlands absolutely stunning with the addition of potted bulbs in full bloom? I ate my breakfast standing over the sink in a huge rush to meet an early morning customer before the office meeting. In my mind I was sitting at this table. Enjoy the lovely day.

A Kitchen To Love

A creamy palette adds charm to a remodeled space.

This kitchen is new but feels original to the home. The old-meets-new design was achieved with sage-coloured, Shaker-style cabinets, a tongue-and-groove ceiling and vintage-look hardware. A footed cabinet houses the appliances, and sets it apart from the rest of the room. Meanwhile, the paneled dishwasher to the right of the sink cleverly masquerades as drawers. Photo Source I think this kitchen is amazing, don't you?

Boathouse with Unique Exterior Sliding Doors

You know how much I love to blog about sliding barn doors so I was really blown away by the genius design of this Hood Canal Boat House. The building is only two doors wide and the tracks extend beyond the building like wings so doors open completely allowing full access to the inside. What a great idea! Click here to see all of the wonderful full-size photos of this 2008 project by the Pacific Northwest Architectural Firm Bosworth Hoedemaker. I'm giving this project two thumbs up.

Your Dose of England for Today

"Milldale Cottage, Peak District National Park, England." I know you all love this little cottage as much as I do, right? The photo by Johnny Fez is very painterly, isn't it? via

William Arthur Ward Illustrated Quote for Monday

Pretty soon we will be seeing oak seedlings everywhere. The acorns have been buried all winter and are about to spring forth very soon. Gardeners who plant their gardens from seeds can relate to this quote by William Arthur Ward (1921-1994). I scanned the acorn from The Royal Book of Crests, one of the antiquarian books in my collection. 

Dreaming of England . . . Again

Awaiting teleportation to: The Dovecote in the Pigeon House Garden at Rousham Park House near Bicester Oxfordshire photographed by ©Paul Felix

Audrey Hepburn Illustrated Quote for A Sunday

Isn't it wonderful that Audrey Hepburn was brought up to put others first? What great parents she must have had. We still miss her loveliness, don't we?
 

Piggie Licks the Oatmeal Pan

Here is our house guest with his head in the oatmeal pan. Webster usually gets to lick it but he has generously allowed Piggie the opportunity because he doesn't think 'The Pig' gets to do this at home and we have a total lack of pieces of food dropped on the floor for him to forage. He has 4 juvenile owners who drop and spill things all the time. This will have to be Piggie's snack replacement here at the cottage. We have a very rainy Sunday today. Enjoy your day whatever the weather.

Rossetti Oil painting: 'The Day Dream' in The Victoria and Albert Museum

The Day Dream painted in 1880 by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood painter, artist and poet. The sitter for this painting was Jane Morris, the wife of William Morris, who often posed for Rossetti. At the time this was painted Rossetti was involved in an illicit love affair with Jane. He shows her sitting in the branches of a sycamore tree and holding a sprig of honeysuckle. This sweet-smelling climbing plant symbolized the bonds of love for the Victorians, and Rossetti may have included it here as a subtle reference to the relationship between artist and model. Rossetti was also a poet, and the title relates to his poem of the same name which ends:

She dreams; till now on her forgotten book  

Drops the forgotten blossom from her hand.

 This painting is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. 

Sweetest Little Blue Flowers Ever

I've never been able to get such a good photo of the blue forget-me-nots that grow wild around my cottage. Can't wait to see them again. via

Have a Lovely Weekend -- Or Not

This photo would be my first choice of how I'd absolutely love to spend my weekend. I woke up early to let Webster and our guest dog Piggie out and found it was drizzling rain so unfortunately I'll be in the next photo all day.

This seems to be ideal weekend to work on my taxes. So when you think of me today rest assured I will be in my third floor studio working with files and stacks of papers. This dreaded task has been weighing heavy on my mind so I might as well bite the bullet and just do the inevitable so I can get them to my accountant next week. See you later.

Yet Another Secret Garden

Isn't this a delightful peek into another secret garden? Wish I knew more about this place but I don't. Piggie is sleeping at my feet and I'm getting ready to wrap up my day. I don't see him but I'm quite sure Webster is already in my bed. Goodnight. See you tomorrow.

Dogs at Rest | This Sofa is Taken

Mae Belle, Maggie, and Banjo ~ Labradors from Raleigh, NC

I love this winning photo from Garden and Gun Magazine's Dogs at Rest contest. I dare not show it to Webster who is not allowed on my similar sofa. I'm picking up Piggie this afternoon for a 2-week visit while my friends go on a spring-break vacation. Remember him, he's our French Bulldog friend. I wonder how he will react to my new rule?

Something tells me I will be outnumbered when Webster and Piggie get back to their old routine here at the cottage.

1947 Saab | Back To The Future Car

This is the first Saab ever. It's the Saab 92001 or the UrSaab. Doesn't it look futuristic and so ahead of its time? It just screams Road Trip, doesn't it? I hope you have a great weekend. Rain is predicted for Sunday in my neck of the woods. 

Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II, Page 36

More good advice from our favorite little book. I often wonder how the author's son turned out after his father gave him all of this good advice. Does anyone know?

Beautiful Twin Beds

I think I'll sleep in one of these twin beds tonight. I can't remember the last time I slept in a single bed but these look very inviting as does the room. Are they metal? I love the spreads and linens. Goodnight. See you in the morning. -via

An Insect Alien

You will never convince me that this praying mantis is not an alien, and an exhibitionist as well. Agreed? The Animal Blog

Plaid Infinity Scarf | Tutorial | DIY | Handmade

I love this beautiful wool infinity scarf or cowl. It's very easy to make too; I've already made one this morning (in my mind).  I have some red silk and might make one to wear with my black velvet blazer for an upcoming affair. These would be great made from a light flowery fabric for dressing up spring outfits, especially on a chilly morning. One in a madras plaid would be fabulous too. I like the way this one looks on the headless mannequin. Happy sewing!

Tutorial from H is for Handmade.