Rolling Garden Bench in Pea Green

One of my most popular posts ever was on a rolling garden bench I have in one of my out of print English gardening books. See the post here. This one above with the slats is nice too and I like the paint color from England. 

But this rolling bench remains as 'The Garden Bench of My Dreams'.

New Farmhouse Cottage to Love

I love the simplicity of this newly built farmhouse style cottage, don't you? Everybody knows how much I like an exterior photo with all the lights on inside the house. A lot of thought was given to this design and it all works beautifully. Great job!!! via

Vintage Gas Stove in a Kitchen

I always stop to study small kitchens with vintage gas ranges. I could work here happily! via

Big, Beautiful Bathroom

The black and white basketweave floor is my favorite tile. This huge master bath is quite wonderful, isn't it? You don't often see one that has walls with subway tiles up to the ceiling. Just think, these people will never have to paint anything in there except for the ceiling and the current paint might last forever. This classic design is timeless and will last forever too. The large antique bovine print in a black frame must have some personal significance. How very nice! via

Organizing Your Potting Shed

Whether you store your gardening items in its own potting shed or in your garage, as I do, you might get some ideas from this article. The few nice days we had this week sent me into a frenzy of pulling every weed in sight and more. Yesterday, I deep cleaned my Trex balcony floor with my hose on the jet setting to clean out all the fine debris from the cracks. After that I scrub brushed it by hand with a mixture of Dawn and bleach and it looks almost brand new. It was way too early in the season for this task but I wanted to take advantage of an 80° day. I might have to do it once more later but it will be much easier the second time around with just a mop. Have you been killing yourself outside too? 😅

Dutch.Door.Love

A Dutch door is perfect for this tight spot. When the top is open, there is still access to the drawers and cabinet doors and the closed bottom is like a safety gate for kids and animals. I wouldn't mind if all of the doors in my cottage were Dutch doors. via

Beautiful Pink Hollyhocks

Some cheer for a cloudy day. I always stop to admire hollyhocks even though I've never grown them. They are my favorite old-fashioned flower. via

Mary Delany Flower Collage 1776

Narcissus by Mary Delany (1776)

Narcissus Tazetta (Hexan. Monogynia), from an album (Vol.VI, 98); Polyanthus Narcissus. 1776 Collage of coloured papers, with bodycolour and watercolour, on black ink background.

How very lovely!

Mary Delany (née Granville) (14 May 1700 – 15 April 1788) was an English artist, letter-writer, and Bluestocking, equally famous for her "paper-mosaicks" and her lively correspondence. Her biography reads like a fabulous historical novel. Collage source: British Museum

Antique Planter with Tulips

Could anything be pretier? Just look at the size of those trimmed evergreens on either side of the magnificent planter. The size of this copper vessel is amazing and the patina is wonderful. Love this photo!!!via

Screen Door Season

Screen door season is almost here and boy, am I ever ready! via I like this large entrance hall too.

Vineyard Haven MA Dining Nook

‘The Gray Barn Farmhouse in Chilmark'
 Holmes Hole Builders, Vineyard Haven, MA.

I like a sawbuck table next to a window wall. via I love the cupboard wall and the paint color.

Gorgeous London Photo

I wonder how long it took for so many red busses to cross the bridge while composing this gorgeous photo? via

I woke up to snow again this morning but it stopped in fewer than three hours and is melting quickly. I got in two full days of manual labor outside this week. I severely pruned (hacked down) the bushes that were obstructing my view of oncoming cars at the other end of my half-circular drive drive. I have wanted to do this for years and for some reason the mood struck me on Wednesday and Thursday. It felt so good to do some hard work in between snow storms and before the hot weather sets in. I took down some large weed trees too called Trees of Heaven. They spread like wildfire and are an invasive species from China and they grow very tall in one season, thus their name.

Enjoy your Friday. xo

Inga Moore: Animal Interior Design

Badger certainly has a beautiful home. I love illustrations featuring interior design by animals. The Wind in The Willows by Kenneth Grahame, illustration by Inga Moore via

Round Leaves: Hydrocotyle Verticillata

I love plants with round leaves. via Hydrocotyle verticillata, also known as whorled pennywort, whorled marshpennywort or shield pennywort, is a flowering plant found in South and North America and the West Indies.

Old Gardening Tools are The Best

I always reach for a vintage gardening tool first. I have quite a few and they are tried and true. via

s...NO...w

I honestly couldn't believe my eyes when I awoke this morning. It is noon now, and the snow has stopped and the temperature is rising. Somebody needs to push the reset button for spring. What a difference a day makes. At least the Easter weather was nice for egg hunts and driving. The poor travelers today aren't so lucky even though the melting has already begun.

Mac and Cheese to take to Easter Brunch

I made this Mac and Cheese yesterday and took it out of the refrigerator early this morning to get it down to room temperature. It's in the oven right now heating through and hopefully browning on top. I might have to put it under the broiler for that step. All the ingredients were completely cooked so heating up is all that's necessary. I used this recipe found online. I used a shredded cheese mixture called Fiesta Blend. I have never purchased already shredded cheese in my life and the giant 5-pound bag should last for a very long time. I made the cream sauce, added the 3 cups of cheese and poured the whole thing in my baking pan. The sauce tasted delicious and very cheesy so I skipped the step calling for more cheese in a center layer. I put it all on top.

I haven't eaten cheese in a couple of months, so this will be a real treat for me. I made my cranberry, pineapple, jello dish without the nuts to take to a dinner later. That link will take you to a blog post showing Webster, the wonder dog and it contains another link that will take you to a post with photos of my mom. So bittersweet.

I weighed myself this morning and I'm hoping I don't pack on too much weight but that's probably wishful thinking.

I did have to put it under the broiler. Here's the finished product, ready to pack in my carrying basket. HAPPY EASTER. Enjoy your day. See you later. xo

Vintage Easter Attire

This vintage Easter postcard perfectly illustrates the Easter Sundays of my childhood. My brother and I always had new outfits, head to toe. My dear mother probably made my dress and if the weather was cold enough to have to wear a coat to cover it up, I was heartbroken. When my brother was young, she made a lot of his clothes too. I can remember one year when he refused to wear the suit she made him because she made the buttons go on the "girl" side. He was positive everyone would notice this detail and make fun of him. In later years, I can remember putting the finishing touches on the outfits I made myself, usually just under the wire, time wise. My mother was always available to help pin up the hem at the end.

Are you planning an Easter Egg hunt for the children in your lives? The weather here is going to be perfect. xo

Mountain Retreat in Cashiers NC

Children's dining nook. See more photos:

A fresh take on cottage style yields a winsome mountain retreat in Cashiers, North Carolina.

Easter Baskets for You

I made this for you on on my phone. It is a gloomy rainy day and I was feeling a little creative. 

Powering Up for Easter Egg Deliveries

Easter Bunny, eating his greens in preparation for Sunday's deliveries in all the Easter baskets. via

The Keeping of Bees

Wonderful Woodcut by Horse and Hare

1920s Six Room Colonial + Floor Plans

This wonderful colonial home from the 1920 is still very timely today. Photographed from a wonderful book "500 Small Houses of the Twenties" compiled by Henry Atterbury Smith. This was a surprise gift from my friend JudyMac and I couldn't love it more. I love looking at homes from this period and will share my favorites from time to time. Thanks, Judy! xo

Click photo to enlarge. 

Lovely Lavender Topiary

Soon we will be able to change our woolen mittens for gardening gloves. Don't you love this lavender topiary? I surely do! via

Coziest Reading Corner Ever

This has got to be the most well thought out reading nook ever. I do wish I could see the rest of the sunroom because I know I would love everything. via I would be searching for the companion ottoman because like to have my feet propped up and a little TV would be nice as well. The secretary desk would serve as a home office making this little library the the perfect multi-purpose room. xo

Contemporary Snowy Owl Tavern Sign

Fabulous work by Heidi Howard