Mind Your Manners for Children

I love this.

Every parent should save this and print a copy for each child. via

Gentleman's Closet Extraordinaire

I hope this beautifully fitted walk-in closet doesn't have a door, for it's far too lovely to be out of view for even a minute. via

Rustic Shed with Attached Greenhouse

The rustic shed was built with wood recycled from a car dealership that was being demolished and the windows were found in the garbage. The conservatory top was probably the only really expensive item. It's a pretty wonderful DIY project for this handy gentleman and his sheep, isn't it? via

Ferns at My Cottage

The ferns are still going strong in the woods surrounding my property. The skunk cabbage is dying off and I consider that one of the first signs of fall. The crab grass is at its peak and it's the weed I dislike hate the most. I am slowly getting rid of it next to my front walk so I can put down more wood chips. This is not a fun job either. Webster and Tabitha like having me out there in the cool of the evenings before we all turn in. I slept like a log last night and that's an excellent benefit, right? Enjoy your Sunday. xo my photo

So Many Things To Love in This Kitchen

Where do I start? Dutch door, island, nail-studded stool, floor + ceiling, wall cupboard beside the sink, the window over the sink, and on and on. I love it all. via Elle Decor Have a great weekend.

Greenhouse with Potting Cottage

Greenhouse : The handsome attached brick structure has a slate roof, flower and bulb rooms, and a half bath. I always like the outbuildings better than the mansions. photo source MLS

Wonderful Outside Room / Greenwich CT

Landscape architects Conte & Conte, Greenwich, CT via

Hollyhocks, Tall and Beautiful

This photo looks like a painting. These hollyhocks are perfect against this brick wall and near the weathered shutters. They are my favorite old-fashioned flowers. via

Free Range Chicken + Envious Dog

Maybe the chicken is wishing the dog could come out and play.

They seem okay with each other and the dog looks calm and wishful too. Both are beauties. Source

Clipped Hedges w/ Potted Orange Trees

This is a really lovely walled garden. I'd like to see a bird's eye view to see the entire geometric design. via

White Galley Kitchen

This tiny kitchen works because of the window. via

Beautiful Greek Revival Estate

Di Biase Filkoff Architects Click through to photo #4 and continue for a few more views of this delightful compound.

Elephant Slide: Girona Spain 1975

Have a fun Sunday.

What a great beach jungle gym for these lucky kids.

Boy, I'll bet that metal slide is hot!

via

1908 House with A Wraparound Porch

I think this is a great house with stunning curb appeal and I can't believe it's from 1908 either. Doesn't it seem perfect for today? Don't you wish we could go inside? via HGTV

J.R.R. Tolkien Quote

Via

Every line is its own quote, isn't it? I like seeing them all together too. Have a great weekend. We  had rain here at the cottage that stopped. Now it's gloomy and muggy but I don't care. I like all kinds of weather. I'm already planning my afternoon nap. xo

So Many Butterflies

Monarch Butterflies by Claude Bernard

Cades Cove - Great Smokey Mountain National Park

My favorite rail fence around log cabins. Nice. 

by ajgarrison3

Don't Be Delicate Quote

I'm not and I'll try. via

I have a lot of irons in the fire right now and I'm trying with all of my might to keep the fire burning. I haven't tried being vast and brilliant yet, but it's worth a try since I don't have a delicate bone in my body.

Delightful Irish Cottage

Irish Cottage with rock walls and hens. via

The Husky and The Kitten

This is a great story about how a Husky nursed this kitten back to health. Read here. There are many heart-warming photos of Lilo and Rosey too. Love!

Is Watchman the Unedited Mockingbird?

See where 

‘Go Set a Watchman’ overlaps with 

‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ 

word-for-word

Maybe it's not a new book at all. I found this article to be fascinating. Read highlighted passages from both books that are repeated almost word for word. The more I read, the more I believe this is Mockingbird before the two and one half years of editing and rewriting. What do you think? Read here. 

William Morris Wallpaper Designs

Brother Rabbit - William Morris - 1882

Marigold, William Morris, 1875
photo credits: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Wheat Fields next to Lavender Fields

Proof that man does not live by bread alone.

This is a stunning photograph.

via

Jimmy Stanton's Home

More photos here.

Harper Lee Manuscript found in Safe Deposit Box

I don't know about you, but ever since I saw the documentary on PBS about the author of To Kill A Mockingbird, I have had so many questions. Some of them are slowly being answered. I was wondering who was the owner of the safe deposit box? Who was present when it was opened? Who overlooked the unknown manuscript? Is there yet a third unpublished book?

Read this article and the link within from the Wall Street Journal: Harper Lee may have written a third novel, lawyer suggests.
Read the article in the Wall Street Journal ~ (click on top article when link opens).

I'm still curious about another aspect of the unpublished Watchman book from 1957. I understand it is being printed exactly as written. They why did it take 2 whole years of edits before Harper Lee's Mockingbird was published? This doesn't make sense to me. This fact was in the Documentary Film on PBS. Just wondering!

Watch Here via PBS

Let's Teleport to England Today

This looks like a good starting place, doesn't it? St. James Church, Shere - Surrey via

A Drive Down Memory Lane

Remember these car windows? I still miss the small vent window that you could open to keep your hair from blowing. I also miss the roll down mechanism. My front passenger window is electronic and it no longer works. To keep my hair from blowing when I have the front driver's window down, I have to roll down the back windows too. My air conditioning doesn't work either. I don't mind since I rarely turn on the central A/C in my house and I'm not really used to being cool all the time. The summer will be over soon so I'll wait until next spring to have more freon added. I mowed my back wildflower field just in the nick of time yesterday. It was very close to being too tall to mow. I had my mower deck all the up as high as it was go and it was hot and dry and it went well. Pretty soon my property will be in apple pie order once again. I got really behind because of that rainy weather pattern we were in, with 5 days of rain followed by 2 sunny days. Have a great Sunday. xo via

A Royal Christening: Family Portrait

I was so happy to find this royal family portrait on a cool Saturday morning here at the cottage. This is the first one I've seen with Princess Charlotte out of her pram. They are such a beautiful family and so perfect together. photographed by Mario Testino