Monday, August 1, 2011

Outdoor Shower Locations

Which location would you choose for your outside shower?

Near the house enclosed by a privacy fence?
or

Near the clothesline out in the open?
image #2 image #1

Country Kitchen in Your Vacation Home

or your everyday home.
Either way, I love this casual kitchen, don't you?

Briefcase Owned by F. Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald's Briefcase

The monogram reads:

"Scott Fitzgerald
597 - 5th Ave.
New York"

The address is not Fitzgerald's but that of his publisher, Charles Scribner's Sons.

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Wait Your Turn

This has never worked and never will. Single file please, one at a time. 

Nap Time

Isn't this the perfect place for my virtual afternoon nap? I might actually take one to rest up for some sundown weeding. It's too hot right now and the area that needs my attention is in full sun. 

Simple No Knead Olive Oil Pizza Dough Recipe


OLIVE OIL DOUGH
From Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day

Makes four (4) one-pound loaves. (This recipe can easily be doubled or halved.)

2-3/4 cups lukewarm water
1-1/2 tablespoon granulated yeast (2 packets)
1-1/2 tablespoons Kosher salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
6-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1. In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, or in a large (5 quart) bowl working with a wooden spoon, mix the yeast, salt, sugar, and olive oil with the water.
2. Mix in the flour without kneading. I found this process to be incredible simple with my stand mixer, but it will certainly come together the old fashioned way. If you are not using a machine, you may need to wet your hands in order to incorporate the bit of flour.
2. Transfer dough to large (5 quart) bowl or lidded food container. Cover (not airtight), and allow to rest at room temperature until dough rises and collapses (or flattens on top), approximately 2 hours.
3. The dough can be used immediately after the initial rise, though it is easier to handle when cold. Refrigerate in a lidded (not airtight) container and use over the next 12 days.

I really want to try this easy recipe. I will halve it the first time around.

Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II, pages 42 and 43







Two good pages from our favorite father to son instruction manual.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Easy Chair and Ottoman Slipcovered in Ticking

I adore this chair and ottoman and the slipcovers. What a cozy place to rest your weary bones. Perfect for Sunday mornings and a big fat newspaper too. Enjoy what's left of your weekend depending on your timezone.

Devour These Things

 
I love this.

Smooth Sailing This Weekend

I'd like to see the rest of this house, wouldn't you. What I can see is very nice.

My Wish For You

Getting to wake up in a wonderful vacation bedroom.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Goodnight Everyone, See You In The Morning

Isn't this a beautiful photograph? It's called Autumn Sunrise by Gary McParland. Have a great weekend.

Beautiful Georgian Manor House

The day I planned for myself did not turn out to be a reality. For some reason I pulled one weed after I took Webster for his morning walk and I honestly haven't stopped since. I am drenched to the skin and I'm going right back out there to commune with the crabgrass after I drink a pitcher of ice water and rest for a tiny bit. I have moved mountains and it's looking so much better which makes me very happy. I hope to have the front presentable by Monday. 

Why is it that some days you can just do things that you couldn't the day before? The spirit has to move me or I am a very unhappy camper. It has to be MY idea too. Wish me luck.

My place will never be like the mansion pictured above. I'm sure those people have a staff of gardeners and grounds keepers. I am a staff of one.

Have a great weekend.
Found on Google Images

Home Office Love

Bring on the bills because nothing could put me in a bad mood in this wonderful home office.

Have You Learned How To Live?

 
My plans for the afternoon :)

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Stella McCartney's Georgian Manor Country House


 
 
It's all gorgeous, isn't it? Stella says she's never bought a house that wasn't falling apart. I love that statement, don't you? I can really relate! Her home has been featured in Vogue twice; see more photos and a small writeup here.

Bicycle Library

  image 1 
  image 2 is mine

Take Your Desk Outside This Summer

If my desk were here I would get absolutely nothing done besides daydreaming. Curious? See more of this wonderful house in Croatia here. Wait a few seconds for the full-screen slideshow to begin.

Welcome Home

I love this house, don't you? There's nothing like a center hall colonial with a white picket fence in my book. This one looks like the perfect size, not too big. I love driving around looking at beautiful houses. See you later.

  image 

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Best Outdoor Shower

Outdoor showers are an ongoing theme of mine. Isn't this one the best you've ever seen? Nothing says summer like bathing outdoors.

Doggie version.

Before Buying That Island House

you'd better check to see what's under the water.  

DIY Book Lover's Library in France

Wow. This is every book collector's dream. It's a French Country House Library constructed from 60 Billy / Benno Bookcases from Ikea. How wonderful. Lots of pictures and text showing the project start to finish with instructions HERE. View a slideshow on Flickr with really large photos here. I'm impressed, aren't you?

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Beautiful Sunset -- Somewhere

I was looking through old saved photos and found this lovely sunset. Don't you love the clouds? Source unknown. We had a nice quick heavy shower and it really cooled things off for sleeping. Goodnight, I'll see you tomorrow. xo

Delightful Wiscasset Maine

Wiscasset is one of my very favorite vacation spots with so many interesting places to haunt.
I love Cabot Cove Cottages in Kennebunkport too.

  image

Love This Look

I love everything I see in this room. The old cupboard top now hanging on the wall as bookshelves and cubbies, the farm table with the wide board top, and the collections scattered all around. Decorating with antiques is the best!

Wrinkles Can Be Beautiful

Especially on an elephant. They can live to be as old as 86 and this looks like an old old. She wears her wrinkles well.

I have a meeting this morning and hopefully some good houses will be on the open house tour. I rather doubt it though because so many people are away. See you later.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Piglets in Faux Tiger Skins


Read all about this Urban Legend here. What goes around, comes around. The tiger mother was herself nursed by a pig in infancy and apparently regards these orphans as family, not prey.

Friends Make Happy Houses

 
I couldn't agree more. I scanned this image from an old address book purchased at a tag sale and added the text. I loved the cover.

More Interior Sliding Doors Hung Barn Style

His-and-hers desks in the living room are hidden behind louvered doors on tracks. I love this idea of really using the living room as an office/family room. Nice. Image is from an old article in Cottage Living magazine, a nice publication that bit the dust in 2008.