Thursday, July 25, 2019

Two Good Movies from Kanopy via Your Public Library


Do you have KANOPY yet, the free movie streaming service accessed by your library card number? It is amazing. I watched these two movies this week and loved each one. If your library doesn't offer it yet, please ask them to consider getting it for the patrons. It's the best thing ever. It is also available through universities for students and faculty. I watch on my iPad because I don't have a smart tv or any of those attachments like Apple TV, Rocu, Chromecast, etc. Between Turner Classic Movies and Kanopy, I am never without a movie to watch. xo

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Carriage House Circa 1858

Have you ever seen a more charming carriage barn? Needless to say, the house that goes with it is already spoken for. It always makes me happy when an old house goes under contract quickly. This photo is from a listing in my office.

Monday, July 22, 2019

Kate Ellis: British Crime Writer's Writing Shed

Kate Ellis is a British author of crime fiction, best known for a series of detective novels, which combine history with mystery, featuring policeman Wesley Peterson. This delightful small building is where the magic happens.

Saturday, July 20, 2019

Drayton Hall Double Staircase Charleston SC

 So untouched and so beautiful.
Circa 1738 plantation.

Isn't this double staircase absolutely stunning? It really is an 18th century architectural masterpiece. Photos found on Google Images.

Friday, July 19, 2019

Tomato Pie Recipe : Looks Delicious

photo by Black Sheep Kitchen
Do you have Beefsteak and a variety of heirloom tomatoes in your garden? If not, when fresh homegrown tomatoes appear at the farmer's market, pick up a few and make this delicious looking tomato pie. You can make one large pie or divide up the dough and make individual ones. One large pie would be my choice. The right hand side of the pie above is multicolored heirloom tomatoes. I like the flavor of these ugly tomatoes best. YUM. I would be tempted to add some corn off the cob too. Tomatoes are the best part of summer food. xo You can Google the recipe: Tomato Pie Garden and Gun

Thursday, July 18, 2019

Outdoor Shower - Summer Pleasure

I had an outdoor shower here at the cottage and I miss it. I didn't winterize it properly one year and the outside pipes blew up.😢😢I did it successfully for many years but one year the temps got way below zero and I don't think I had drained the pipes. Luckily, the hot and cold faucets are still fine.

Monday, July 15, 2019

Autocorrect Correction

Amen. You definitely have to be careful before pushing the send button. My main pet peeve is autocorrect inserting 's when I had typed an s for plural, not possessive!!!!!

Sunday, July 14, 2019

Zucchini Muffins Recipe

I have been saving this recipe because of this photo. I will probably replace the maple syrup with a little more sugar. I don't like my muffins too sweet. If they are, they are really cupcakes. Article and printable recipe here. They look yummy, don't they?

Saturday, July 13, 2019

Snakes at My Cottage

This little harmless garter snake has taken a liking to sunning himself atop the two large English boxwood flanking my front walk. I realize most of you are rushing for your delete button to get away from my photo of him but I think he's cute. I embrace the snakes around my cottage because they eat mice and mice are the only critters that absolutely terrify me. 

I once had a blue-eyed snake at my cottage and blogged about him here. I used my Nikon to photograph him.

Snake in the grass.

Rare Blue-Eyed Snake at My Cottage

The weather seems more bearable today and I have opened a few windows and the central air is turned off. Have a great weekend. xo

Friday, July 12, 2019

Dog Photos to Warm Your Heart



This one is my favorite! What a wonderful idea. View 27 more photos with stories here. I am sorry I have been away from my blog for so long. My life is no longer my own since being a real estate sales associate is more like being a property manager if you have an expensive listing that needs to be presented perfectly. Thankfully, I am the perfect person for the job but it's taking a lot of my time. xo

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Female Hare with Daisies

This famale hare is lovely. Found on Instagram. I don't believe I've ever seen a wild hare, only rabbits. I tried Google to see if there are wild hare in New Jersey and all that came up was a beauty shop called Wild Hair😂😂😂

Sunday, July 7, 2019

Delightful Cat Painting at Christie's

Noted for her paintings of cats and dogs, artist Henriette Ronner-Knip lived surrounded by her favourite subjects who played and watched on as she worked.⠀
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Henriette Ronner-Knip (1821-1909), 'Kittens at Play' (detail). Estimate: £12,000-18,000.
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British & European Art: European Art – 11 July at Christie's London.

I love the colorful needlework on the stool mama cat is curled upon, keeping watch on her little ones. The geranium in the clay pot is pretty wonderful too. Found on Instagram.⠀

Saturday, July 6, 2019

Black Sheep: So Beautiful

How in the world did black sheep get a bad name as in "the black sheep in the family" being a negative thing? This one is a beauty and he looks very proud of his black woolen fleece. xo

Friday, July 5, 2019

OCD Wrens at My Cottage

This new Wren family in the penthouse apartment on my balcony have a bad case of OCD. Every morning the pile of nest debris under their house is in a different spot and it gets smaller every day too. This is not because of the wind, it's definitely the birds. See original pile of nest building supplies here. They are a very odd couple, not at all like the earlier inhabitants. She won't let him inside very often and he sits on the railing and sings his little heart out.

Singing and waiting.

I am thinking of changing my name to Wren Cottage. This one lives in a bird bottle under the eaves of my front bedroom/dressing room. I have 4 nesting wren families in total.

This is my Friday morning barn/garage, field, and sky view with thunderstorms in the weather forecast. Enjoy your long July 4th weekend. xo

Thursday, July 4, 2019

Have a Safe July 4th Holiday

Have a safe trip if you are going to be on the road for any distance, or a nice picnic if it's a short trip. I am going across town for a cookout with friends. Happy July 4th!!!

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

July Home Maintenance Checklist

I found this article to be informative with great photos. I especially like this all white colonial home below with the partial wraparound porch. I have to do my grocery shopping early today to beat the heat and buy the items I'm preparing and taking to an outing tomorrow. Happy July 4th. Sorry, this list isn't on the internet anymore.


Sunday, June 30, 2019

Clouds Viewed from My Cottage

It has been a strange 27 hours. When I drove through a ferocious downpour and arrived home at a little after 5:00pm I heard my generator when I got out of my car. I am thankful I have it but I am always anxious for the power to be restored. It finally came back on at 4:00 this afternoon. This photo was snapped on Friday qt 8:30. It's the same sky as my previous photo but a different orientation. Click to enlarge.

Friday, June 28, 2019

Friday Night Eventide

I snapped this photo out back just before the end of the day. My lacecap hydrangea is to the right and it's more beautiful than ever this year. My field is looking very nice with some golden tall grasses mixed in with the weeds. The sky had some nice color too. I wish I could capture the fireflies that will be blinking after dark. They are absolutely amazing now that we are having hot summer nights. I finally went to the attic and put a new filter in my air exchanger and fired up my central air for the first time this season. 
Stay cool and have a lively weekend. xo

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

New Mrs. Wren Redecorates

The new Mrs. Wren who just moved in hated old Mrs. Wren's decorating so out it goes.🐦

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Birthday Card Request + The Death of Brown Furniture

Here I am again after a few days off wearing my Realtor Hat and working harder than you can even imagine. I am a member of NEXTDOOR, a neighborhood app where members can post and share. I am amazed at the questions, mostly looking for recommendations on home repair, good hair cutters, and child care workers. I especially love the photos of free things they are giving away!

The post below touched my heart:


I have my birthday card to this veteran who is turning 100 all filled out and ready to mail. I enclosed a dollar bill too, just like my grandmother always put in my birthday cards, ho matter what my age.

I typed out his address below if you want to send him a card as well. I love Hendersonville and my family always vacationed there. Doesn't Sunnybrook sound like a nice place?

Let's all help this 100 year old Veteran get 100 birthday cards!!!

Mr. Art England
Sunnybrook Assisted Living
Apartment 211
306 Spring Street
Hendersonville NC 28739

Now on another note. You know how much I love antiques and most of you do as well. This article that appeared in YANKEE MAGAZINE will break your heart. THE DEATH OF BROWN FURNITURE 
For those of us who still love old things with rich histories, it is a buyer's market. For those of the antique collecting community who paid premium prices for their possessions, it is very depressing. I rarely miss an episode of The Antiques Roadshow on PBS where they freely speak of the depressed market for fine antique furniture. I can't help but think the trend for "staging" homes that are for sale is partly responsible too. Having home sellers replace their possessions with rented furniture to go with gray walls with white trim might be sending another message. Maybe the buyers think they can't keep what they have but need all new furniture in order to move. I could go on and on but will get off my soapbox now. I am turning this platform over to you now!

Sunday, June 23, 2019

Garage Sale Find: A Cow Creamer

It doesn't take much to make me happy as you can see. It was an absolute delight this morning to pour my soy milk into my coffee from a cow's mouth instead of a carton. Why would anyone want to get rid of it? I have no idea, but I'm happy they did. Photographed on my hunt board in my kitchen. Click to enlarge.
Best dollar I've spent in a long, long time!🐄

Saturday, June 22, 2019

Magazine Photos waiting For New Watch Battery

Best wedding cake ever!

The only magazine in the Morristown Jewelry Store where I stopped in for a new watch battery was New Jersey Bride. I loved the photo of the wedding cake. Who wouldn't want to go to a wedding where there was Pumpkin Cake with brown sugar buttercream and cranberry preserves and macarons? Yum.

Friday, June 21, 2019

Swedish School Girl's Fight for Climate Change

Click here to watch and hear Greta Thunberg speak in this wonderful video. I loved it. She has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her advocacy work for climate change.

Thursday, June 20, 2019

Magazine Photos Snapped in Dentist's Office Today

This was an article about a house in Nantucket.

I would absolutely love to have a stacked washer/dryer in my kitchen.

Isn't this a lovely painting of a cottage?