Tuesday, March 3, 2020

My First Hellebore Plant




I had a hard time picking out the perfect first Hellebore and here she is. I put her in the ground right away and topped the soil off with a fresh bucket of wood chips. It rained lightly overnight and I am thrilled with my new shade-loving perennial. The flowers are beautiful when there is nothing else in bloom except the snowdrops. We shall see when they bloom next year. They are also called Lenten Roses and this one is called Glenda's Gloss (Helleborus x 'Glenda's Gloss' PPAF)
I have been transplanting a huge grove of snowdrops I found in my woods where I used to dump my weeds. There is always a bulb or two in the mix and they multiply like wildfire. It's nice to have another flower in the garden before the daffodils are in bloom. 

Sunday, March 1, 2020

Hello, March and A Lamb Cake

March came in like a lamb at my cottage. It was 23° when I thought to look at the weather app on my phone but there's no wind. I was thrilled to see a bluebird checking out my bluebird box so hopefully she liked what she saw and is ready to set up housekeeping soon. Fingers crossed.

Do you have a lamb cake mold? No? There's still time to find one and if you do, here's the recipe. I found a link for this mold on Amazon. Be sure to read the reviews about putting wooden skewers in the ears and neck for stability. Happy baking.

Friday, February 28, 2020

The Leap Day Lamb

I posted this in 2012. I added the text to this darling leaping lamb. I plan to work outside on the extra day tomorrow. It's going to be cold but not windy so I will be fine. If you dress warmly for outdoor work, it can be most pleasant. Happy Leap Year Day! xo

Dog Topiary in London

Love this. I saw it on Instagram and just had to post it. One of the comments said she saw this dog topiary in Islington London. It is simply wonderful, isn't it? This post is short but sweet. I had an 8:30 annual eye exam this morning and my pupils are still huge from being dilated. Have a great Friday. xo

Thursday, February 27, 2020

California Movie Star's Cottage Home


I love both views of this restored home owned by a movie star we all know. I'm not telling who until you fall in love with these two photos in Architectural Digest. The article is a reprint from 1993. Click here to read it and be amazed. I am usually disappointed in celebrity homes, but not this understated one.

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

THE PERFECT BEDROOM

I don't recall ever seeing a more perfectly made bed! I could fall asleep between those crisp white sheets in an instant. This bedroom ticks all the boxes and I absolutely love everything in it. via

Monday, February 24, 2020

Rabbit doing Yard Work

I wish I had a bunny to help me clean out all the leaves I didn't get rid of in the fall. I have learned it's best to leave them and wait until spring because wildlife can find things to eat under them. Maybe this rabbit is clearing them away to get at some tender grass to eat. via

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Two 19thC Farm Buildings

These two 19th Century farm buildings or ice houses were partially buried for cold storage before refrigeration and are still useful. I photographed them at a Broker Open House on Thursday. They are lovely and are currently being used for storing gardening items.
Have a great weekend.
xo

Friday, February 21, 2020

Kitchen Garden Near My Cottage

I photographed this raised bed kitchen garden all ready for planting on Thursday at a Broker Open House up the street from my cottage. There was a huge fenced garden with raised beds on the other side of the house too. I love the design of this one. It looks just right for herbs and vegetables. I will keep going back to see if anything gets planted since the gorgeous home is now for sale. I love the doggie door too that opens into a mudroom off the kitchen.

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Bunny Ears

This bunny looks as if he is on high alert and his ears indicate he has heard something straight ahead. photo credit Rabbits' sense of hearing is their most vital sense. Their large ears can detect sounds from a long way off. But the key to rabbits' hearing ability is their ability to swivel independently. This helps the ears funnel sounds from every direction. More information on their 5 senses here. I never knew their ears swiveled, and independently at that, did you?

The life expectancy of a wild rabbit is much shorter than our domestic pets. In fact, a wild rabbit usually only lives for about a year….sometimes two.

Wild rabbits don't live very long because of a variety of different factors. Disease, harsh winter conditions, lack of food and predators all influence how long the rabbit will live.

Although it seems harsh, this is nature's way of balancing the rabbit population. via

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

George Eliot Quote: Feeling Safe

Mary Ann Evans, known by her pen name George Eliot, was an English novelist, poet, journalist, translator, and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era.

I love this quote. via

A set of fine bindings in my antiquarian book collection. See old post here.

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Frog Mug

Yet another find from last weekend's estate sale. I have always wanted a frog mug since seeing my first one at a neighbor's house around 1976.

I am a very patient person, aren't I? My patience paid off and I got three frogs instead of a single one in the bottom like my neighbor had and two handles instead of one as well! I posted these photos on my Instagram yesterday so this will be a repeat for some but not all of you.

Sunday, February 16, 2020

SWEET LAND movie recommendation

I watched the BEST movie last night on Pluto TV  This is an on-demand movie under the Romance category. There are commercials but they don't detract too much from this utterly charming film produced by Alan Cumming. Elizabeth Reaser is beyond fabulous as young Inge. It is also available on Amazon Prime. It is the sweetest movie and I know you will love it!!!! It is very heartwarming and wholesome too.

SWEET LAND


In the aftermath of World War I, Inge Altenberg (Elizabeth Reaser), an orphan from Snåsa, Norway, arrives in America to a very cold reception. The parents of immigrant farmer Olaf Torvik (Tim Guinee) remain in Norway, where they met her. Dialogue reveals that the four of them have worked out an agreement that allowed her to emigrate to America for the purpose of marrying Olaf. The Minnesota farming village of Audubon, in which her intended husband lives, is horrified to learn that she is a German immigrant with no papers. To make matters worse, she has accidentally obtained membership papers for the American Socialist Party. Scandalized, both the town's Lutheran minister and the county clerk refuse to marry them.

When events lead them to openly cohabit with each other, they find themselves ostracized by the entire town. They are then forced to harvest their crop completely by hand and alone. This particular harvest season brings not only work, but love as well.

Saturday, February 15, 2020

Antique Wirework Find

My Valentine to myself. Yesterday's find at an estate sale is so exciting. I love this piece of wirework and will have fun finding things to display in the baskets. Fruit for now. I used the portrait mode on my iPhone for this photo. Have a great weekend.

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Double Hearts on Pen and Ink 18thC Family Record

I have this framed family record on a wall in my living room that never gets any sunlight. Sorry about my reflection in the glass. It is hand lettered with pen and ink and the calligraphy is beautiful. Every line is hand drawn.

I especially love the double hearts with the word together in the center. This is the perfect post for Valentine's Day.

First Ever Bluebird Twins

Four eggs (including an unusually large one, lower right) hatched into five chicks—a first report for Eastern Bluebirds. Photo by Gerald Clark. Read the article here. More sad news about the twins here.

If you are a bird lover and don't know about Cornell Labs, you are in for a treat. Homepage here.
Sorry about the poor quality of these photos. They are not mine but I wanted to share this story.

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Simpkin 1902 - Beatrix Potter Artwork

Simpkin at the Tailor’s Bedside, c.1902 by Helen Beatrix Potter (English, 1866–1943)
This is yet another illustration that is new to me. It is very charming, isn't it. The tailor of Gloucester appears to be doing needlework in bed and kind Simpkin is bring him a cup of tea. I love the big bed with a window view. The bedding is quite lovely too. xo via

Monday, February 10, 2020

Hot Chocolate Recipes

I like having this recipe for the hot cocoa dry mix. Mine will leave out the crushed peppermint candy and will probably never be served over homemade marshmallows. This recipe is worthy of being framed with the lovely poem around the edges. 
Thank you Karen and Pam for mentioning in the comments that Susan Branch is the illustrator and author of the poem.

Wonderful 19th Century Bookplate

How wonderful. I couldn't agree more. I still think about certain books I loaned out and never got back. I remember one in particular and know who has it but it's a book I can live without. When I was very young, I turned down the corners of book pages and then I quit. It still pains me to think about all those times I hurt a book. via

Sunday, February 9, 2020

Farm Sink and Topiaries

What is that extra faucet on the left? If it were Instant Hot it would not have dual handles. This kitchen detail has so many things to love; the extra-deep farm sink, marble counters, white cabinets, polished chrome faucets, big window, wonderful houseplants, black hardware. What is that counter cabinet behind the topiary in the clay pot? A garage for appliances? Does it pull up like a garage door? I hope so, otherwise you would have to clear the counter in order to open it. The rest of the kitchen must be nice too because this snapshot is very well thought out. Happy Sunday. xo

Saturday, February 8, 2020

Bluebirds in February

I could not be more excited having seen lots of bluebirds circling in my backyard this morning while brewing my coffee. This is an old photo and I recently replaced this house with a larger one from the Audubon Society. Last year the house wrens claimed it and I have high hopes the bluebirds will win out this year. I worked in the yard before the ground froze and installed a new metal post that is much sturdier than the copper pipe on the house above. Bluebirds are very picky about where they live and they were always happy here before the wrens took over. Fingers crossed. Spring is definitely in the air today and the sky is blue with no clouds. So nice after several days of rain. Enjoy your weekend. xo

Friday, February 7, 2020

Two Book Shelves in my Bedroom

Two shelves full of some of my favorite things in my bedroom. On Instagram, this is known as a #shelfie. I am loving taking interior photos on my second-hand iPhone which was a gift from a friend. The dual cameras are awesome and have encouraged me to take more photos for my followers.

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Early American Decor

I love the style of the curved stairs with the natural wood treads and handrail and the paint color on the rest. This looks like a homey cottage and I would love to see the rest.

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Teddy Bear Portrait

This is an old jointed teddy bear that usually sits in an antique child's chair in my cottage. I didn't notice that his left ear was turned back until I got back in the house after his photo session. I was just playing around with Portrait Mode on my iPhone 7+ and it is so easy and so much fun. It's an overcast gray day here at the cottage and pretty warm (55°) for February with rain coming this afternoon and continuing for a couple of days. Maybe I will get caught up on the three episodes of PBS programs I missed on Sunday night: Howards End, Sanditon, and Vienna Blood. I am enjoying all three.