Proceed Gently

Here's an article about this new series that should be coming to your PBS station soon. Inspector George Gently, read here. So far, only 3 episodes have aired in the US. I'm not even sure I watched the first one. You can catch up on Hulu free. I hope you can find it in your area. xo

Heirloom Tomato Tart

Doesn't this look delicious. I've looked everywhere trying to find the recipe with no luck. Recipe for this tomato cheesecake here -- thanks to gkmelton for finding it. Love the photo anyway. I am exhausted from moving furniture and burning up the road. I bought two beautiful loveseats at a house sale, a pair of lamps and a few other things. My living room looks amazing. Photos later. I will be watching inspector George Gently tonight on PBS. Hope you have something that good to watch too. xo

Abandoned Cabin

Abandoned cabin. Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia, Canada. via It's so sad when the last person in a family dies without anyone to leave their possessions. This looks like a delightful place, doesn't it? Once loved too.

An Ad for My Welch Air Flight Circulator Fan

Now I love mine even more.

Beautifully styled Welch Air-Flight Circulators solve the problem by making offices amazingly comfortable too. Watch office efficiency go up! • Welch Air-Flight Circulators draw in the cool air from the coolest part of the room — just above thefloor level — and circulate it to ... W. W. WELCH COMPANY Department O Cincinnati 2.

Webster approved. The weather is nice and cool this morning after an early evening storm yesterday. I've been moving my vintage round floor fan around from room to room to circulate the fresh air that's coming in the house through the screens. I finally got my attic windows washed inside and out yesterday and put in the last three screens. They were all taken out last September when my house was painted and I left them in the loft over the garage for the winter. I love open windows much better than air conditioning. Webster likes A/C better so he's very happy about having "his" fan again. Happy Friday.

Shingle Cottage Love

I've always loved a cottage with an entrance on the gable end. This one is especially nice! via

Brown Cat Blanket / Dog and Cat Love

So adorable! More wonderful photos of these two best friends here.

Make your own luck.

I love this and think it's great advice. via

200 Year Old Stylishly Restored Rectory in England

The 200-year-old house, built from Cotswold limestone, sits in a valley in Gloucestershire on a site that has been occupied since the 15th century. The garden has been re-planted by the current owners, who tackle a new project each year, adding two ponds and developing a rose garden, orchard and vegetable garden. The formal garden in front of the house looks out over a wooded valley, part of its seven-acre estate; the small summerhouse behind it was originally built for a footman. View the interior photos here. I wish I could see the footman's cottage too.
photo Simon Brown via The Telegraph

First Autumn Leaf of 2014

I'm always surprised when I see an autumn leaf in the middle of the summer. It is my understanding that real farmers start getting ready for fall right after July 4th so I suppose this leaf is right on time.

Repurposed Doors

Great George Street ~ Liverpool

It must be very confusing trying to get in this building. Which door is the real entrance? What a clever use for salvaged doors. via

A Real Picture Window

The perfect window for the perfect view. via

Mystery Fruit/Vegetable

I saw these in a big bin at an indoor Farm Market recently and wondered what they were. Any ideas?

A Dog and His Fan

Webster always goes to the attic in the early morning hours so he can look out the eyebrow windows. I found this vintage ottoman fan under my antique rope bed that I had completely forgotten about. Its lowest speed is hurricane force and Webster loves it. I usually find him at the top of the stairs in this position. Now he's a cool dog. I'm headed to the bedroom to watch some TV. See you tomorrow. xo

Charming Bathroom

The floor to ceiling window really makes this room! via

A sense of place.

Do you have a sense of place or are you still searching? via Don't give up your current place until you are sure you won't be sorry.

A Sunday Well Spent

I'm going to spend mine well. Hope you will too. via

I can't stop watching this.

See what I mean? Silly parakeet! xo via

Moving Furniture Again

Every time I move a piece of furniture to a new location, I end up spending at least one whole day moving accessories around. This hunt board was downstairs in my mother's sitting room. I moved it into a recessed area in my kitchen and I love it there. My slant front desk used to be in this location and if you remember, I moved that to the living room after having the lid repaired. The same restorers took this piece with them when they delivered the desk. They evened out the color from some water damage and gave it a good French polish. They did such a good job and I'm thrilled. I now have all of my miniatures on ivory displayed together for the first time. I think I need a few more, don't you? The weather is cool and breezy, a rare treat for July. No A/C and all the windows are open so I'm a happy camper and so is Webster. Have a great weekend. xo

Happy July 4th 2014

I took this photo in my kitchen with my iPhone last year to celebrate Independence Day. Here it is again because I still love it and think it's so appropriate. I have eaten three large bags of sweet red cherries in the past couple of weeks and each and every one was delicious. I like them cold and right off the stem rather than cooked, even in a pie. They are my favorite fruit and the season is short so I eat as many as I can! The beaded flag pin is a rummage sale find. We had horrific rain, thunder and lightening last night thanks to Albert but it didn't last very long and I didn't lose power. It's much cooler this morning and still pretty gloomy but it should clear up nicely for evening fireworks. Enjoy the long holiday weekend and I'll do the same. xo

Weedless Garden

This really appeals to me since I have more weeds than I can possibly pull up. Have a great July 4th weekend. via xo

The Audience

This is so cute. I think someone in the kitchen must be preparing their respective meals. Loading the dishwasher couldn't be this fascinating. found on The Meta Picture

I see faces.

I walk by this old cut branch on my black walnut tree every day and yesterday I noticed this face for the first time.

I cooked a baked potato for my lunch a couple of days but didn't have the heart to pick this one that seemed to be winking at me.

Both of these faces have the same crooked smile. Isn't that amazing? I opened my bedroom windows last night and enjoyed a great night's sleep. It wasn't too hot, as I thought it might be. So far, the summer nights have been comfortable enough to turn off the air conditioning. I have a handy man coming this morning to help me with some inside repairs downstairs. Wish me luck! xo

Sweet Dreams

It's never too early to start thinking about jumping in bed. I have a PBS evening to look forward to with no commercials. Yay! Victoria just asked if anyone was watching the Miss Fisher Mysteries. I've been recording the series but I have yet to watch the first episode. I usually start Tuesday nights with Father Brown. Sleep tight when you tuck in. xo via

Lovely Staircase in an Old House

I love the gentle curve of the stairs instead of a landing. I also like this thin radiator and the floors. And the window and the lantern. I guess I like it all ! ! ! via

Hello July

I like this simple red, white, and blue snack tray. People like me can avoid the white chocolate pretzels and concentrate on the "real" foods and still feel like part of the party. Can you believe it's July already? The year is half over! I'm rushing this morning because I have a 10:00 appointment. See you later. Photo from Pinterest.

My 18th Century House Listing

The owners bought a reproduction of a New Jersey fireback from the same period as the house. It is perfect behind the stove. I never even thought of using a cast iron piece instead of tile as a backsplast but it's very appropriate.

The right wing was built in 1763 and the main body of the house was added in 1793. The home inspection was today and I think it went well. "It's not good because it's old, it's old because it's good." This quote is so true. You can't beat 18th century post and beam construction.

Side view looking at the 1763 side facing east. Wish me luck getting through these inspections.

Wait For Me.

Cutest puppy ever. This photo is pure joy! via

PBS Masterpiece - ENDEAVOUR Season 2 tonight

Sunday night Summer TV is slowly coming back. Tonight is the premier episode of Endeavour, Season 2. Didn't watch Season 1? You can watch online here. It's the story of solitary Detective Constable Morse in his youth. Season 2 returns with four riveting new mysteries written by Inspector Lewis creator and Inspector Morse writer Russell Lewis. I think I might try to watch Season 1 again next week. Set your DVRs tonight and enjoy!

Cat in England who rides the bus

This elderly English cat named Artful Dodger recently moved to a house that backs up to a bus stop. Being very friendly, he started hanging around the passengers waiting for the bus and they eventually started bring scraps of food for him. It wasn't long before he started boarding the bus and sitting on their laps. He sometimes makes 10 mile round trips and never gets lost because everyone knows where to let him off. If nobody is waiting for the bus and he wants to take a ride, he sits in the middle of the road and waits for one to pick him up. Full story here.

South Carolina Tea Plantation

I must confess, I honestly did not know tea was grown anywhere in the states.

Charleston Tea Plantation
 ~ Wadmalaw Island, SC via

Kitty Cat Cake

Cutest Cat Cake

Or would you prefer a bunny? via

Restored Farmhouse Bathroom

I love this "new" bathroom in an old house. The smallish sink with the large marble surround and backsplash looks perfect. The old wide-board floors were saved and will enjoy a new life in this wonderful bath. Wish we could see the rest of the room, don't you?

Kate Johns AIA, Architects and Designers

More photos of this 19th Century Farmhouse renovation here.

Busy Bees

I love this animated gif, don't you? It made me sad to mow my clover field last week but the blossoms came right back, almost overnight. via

Wonderful Walled Garden

One can only imagine the home that goes with this wonderful walled garden with reflecting pool. Another great photo by J. Paul Moore.

Road Trip

Do you have plans to get away this summer? This car appears to be packed for camping. I hope they don't run into the killer mosquitoes I talked about yesterday. They aren't so bad today because there's a strong breeze. via

Rolling in Happiness

Webster's lucky and he knows it. I love to see him rolling in the grass. I'm not sure if he's happy or trying to get some bug relief. A google search tells me that New York and New Jersey are being bombarded by Asian Tiger Mosquitos. The bite during the day too, not just at dawn and dusk and they are beyond annoying. They are swat proof too. You cannot "get" them no matter how hard you try. They don't actually bite me because for some reason bugs don't like my blood. They never have. These flying tigers just annoy me no end buzzing in my ears, landing on my body, and getting in my hair. The article I read said they can breed in a capful of water. It's very dry here but thunder showers are in the weather forecast. Just what they need so they can multiply and annoy me even more! Do you have them too?

via

Haunting Seascape

Another painterly photograph. via

An Amazing Photographer

Photographs by J. Paul Moore. His portfolio is amazing.

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Beautiful, Bountiful Yellow Roses

These roses are breathtaking, aren't they? via

Artist at work

I love seeing this painting in clear focus in the foreground and blurred in the background. It appears to be very accurate, doesn't it? via Happy Monday, hope you have a great week! xo