Kitchen with Dutch Door

I like the bifold shutter on the inside of this dutch door. The locks and latches don't look very secure to me so this home must be in a safe area. So is mine, but you can't be too careful, can you? There are a lot of things I like about this kitchen but I would need a window over the sink and I'm not wild about that tile over the cooking area and that mint green door would not work for me either. Don't you wish we could see more?

A Beautiful Flower Photo

We haven't had a killing frost yet but it was pretty chilly when I woke up this morning. Tabitha is undecided about how long to stay outside so she has gone in and out several times since I got up. It's time to be thinking about bring in the few geraniums that are still outdoors. I love this beautiful lily and the composition behind the photograph. I'll see you later after my real estate showing. photo source

Classy Pumpkin

I spent most of the day working inside cleaning and rearranging furniture. It always amazes me how things that were practically invisible look so fabulous when you change things around. I'll take some pictures when I finish. I love the equestrian pumpkin in the photo above. I haven't decorated for fall or Halloween outside yet. I do what I can on a daily basis and I have moved mountains in the past several weeks. photo source

Mantis - Praying for My Cottage

This praying mantis has been on or near the new copper downspout near my balcony since Friday. Is he praying for my cottage or getting some minerals from the copper? I hope it's the former. If he's just admiring his own reflection, I hope he has an alternate plan for the winter!

Delightful Writers' Cottage

It's time to see someone else's cottage.

I stumbled across this one in New York State designed by Crisp Architects.
All photos by Bob Karosis

It's fabulous, isn't it? More photos here.

White on White Outbuilding

Here is another example of white on white that is beautiful. I wonder what's inside? My second cup of coffee is kicking in and I'm beginning to feel more alive and ready to continue with outside projects on a mild cloudy day with rain this afternoon. I've been chipping away at the thin skim coat of pigmented stucco that was covering my foundation in the front. Lots of it had already been damaged by the weed whacker and it was bothering me. The rest of the house is fine because it sticks out of the ground a lot more than my front. I think the masons were running out of product by the time they made their way there and put it on too thinly. Anyway, the original foundation is great except for some old whitewash/paint stains in white here and there. The rest looks like a giant slab of cut stone. My cottage was built in the late 1930s so it's probably just old concrete over block. I am going to doctor it up with some masonry paint or something I can find on the shelves in the basement. Most of the old skim coat came off pretty easily and there were spiders living behind it so its days were numbered before the rest fell off piece by piece. I filled up two grocery bags full of debris. Why do I do this to myself? Not sure. Guess I am a glutton for punishment, always eager to take on a hard task. image from Pinterest

The Red Leaves Have Arrived

We now have some red color in the woods here at the cottage. Hope you had a nice weekend. I certainly did. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow. Too tired to talk right now.

Two Beautiful Owls

These two night owls might be able to stay up all night but I cannot. I am getting ready to call it a day and watch a movie. I had another busy day outside and got more things on the laundry list done. It was a good day and I hope yours was too. See you tomorrow. Good night. image