18 Wonderful Black Bathrooms

Be sure to view all 18 of the dramatic black bathrooms here. I particularly liked this one.

Raised Hearth Fireplace: So Nice!

This entire image says cozy, doesn't it? There must be a window nearby for birdwatching to complete the picture. The all white paint on all interior surfaces extends the ceiling height so the mantle decor doesn't look cramped. I see some fireplace equipment for open fire cooking too. Perfection!

I have already wasted over an hour trying to change the time on my watch. So much for daylight SAVINGS time. I have a Swiss Army water resistant watch and the bezel is locked down. You are supposed to twist it counterclockwise until it pops out but it's not working. I always have this problem so I'll just have to keep trying. I have tweezers but they aren't helping. Wish me luck. xo

Halloween Bat

I probably posted this last year but I love it so here it is again. I took the photo from my antiquarian book, The Royal Book of Crests, and added the text myself. Be safe tonight and don't eat too much candy. I am turning off the lights early and will be watching movies in bed. I voted today and placed my mail-in ballot in a designated drop box in front of a police station. I really wanted to vote in person but decided this way was safer and ever so much easier. Count Dracula would have loved this crest. xo

Black Cat Halloween Kitten

Boo! Are you scared yet?

I love the roof ridge decor.

via

Painted Floor with Diamonds

Big Black Diamonds.

I haven't seen a good painted floor in a while.

Until Now.

via

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

H A P P Y   H A L L O W E E N

I adore these folky hooked rug snippets with halloween themes. This images was found on Instagram @glendoghalcottage. Look at more Halloween posts here. This is her bio: Waveney Whitney, A Highland lass at heart. Antique collector, interior designer, artist, stitcher, Gardner, & traveler. dog and animal lover. Don't eat too much candy tonight. xo

Gingerbread Skeletons for Halloween

What a clever idea! Turn your gingerbread men cookies into Halloween Skeletons. The placement of the piped icing makes all the difference. Love! Found on Tumblr.

Cloud Pruning, Who Knew?

Yesterday's post about those ancient plantings at Powis Castle opened up a whole new world of CLOUD PRUNING. I have often been drawn to unworldly-looking images of clipped evergreens but never knew the name of the technique called cloud pruning. There are 12 beautiful examples in this article about Jake Hobson who trained in Japan. He's not just any old topiarist but an expert in niwaki, or ‘cloud pruning’, the highly esteemed art of neatly clipping trees into a series of soft cloud-like shapes. The photo above is my favorite. It's #5 in the 12-photo slideshow. Read the fabulous article here. xo

Ancient Plantings at Powis Castle in Wales

No words.

Surreal plantings that have stood the test of time.

via

See many more photos and read more about Powis Castle

Halloween Humor

Love the vacuum cleaner.

Both images found on Tumblr.

Hooked Rug and Painted Furniture

I adore every single thing in this photo posted on Instagram by @patrickbell.oldehope, one of my friends when I was in the antiques business too.

Pumpkins and Gourds

Plant some seeds next year and grow your own fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving decorations. Those small sugar pumpkins make the best pies. photo source

Bathroom with No Tile

This delightful bathroom has wooden floors and walls. It looks old fashioned, yet modern and I love it. No grout always wins for me! photo source

Storage: Shaker Style

You can never have too many pegs.

This article is wonderful. There are 12 fabulous photos from Canterbury Shaker Village illustrating the ingenious storage ideas that can easily be incorporated into our lives today. Enjoy.

Current Obsession: KINGDOM on AcornTV

I just started watching this series on AcornTV last night and I'm hooked after three episodes. Watch trailer here. You can stream it on Amazon too, all three seasons. 

Stephen Fry (Jeeves and Wooster) stars in this "charming" (Examiner.com) British dramedy as Peter Kingdom, a compassionate solicitor running a law practice in a quaint and beautiful Norfolk town. As he handles the cases of his oddball clients, he also contends with the mysterious disappearance of his brother and the return of his wayward sister (Hermione Norris, Cold Feet).

Hoar Frost with Sheep

It's coming says Jack Frost. I do love a good hoar frost and a winding path full of sheep. The autumn leaves on these massive old trees have yet to lose their leaves so warm days are still possible. Found on Instagram @wolfypic  He photographs in Scotland and England's Lake District. This is probably the Lake District where Beatrix Potter raised sheep. xo

Lavender in Wicker Baskets

I always stop to look at beautifully planted wicker baskets. These two full of lavender are gorgeous. I see a boxwood in the background planted in a basket with handles. This looks like a gorgeous dwelling too. Wish we could see more. Photo found here.

I have been busy working outside. I literally washed the outside front of my cottage today and it looks and smells sparkling clean and rid of all the road dirt and mildew. I have a long telescoping pole with a bar at the end that is wrapped with lambswool-like material only it's cotton. It wasn't hard and I actually enjoyed it. It's much kinder than power washing and doesn't knock the paint off.

Perfect 1727 Colonial

Yes, please.

Such perfection has taken years and years to achieve. Someone had a vision when the shrubbery was planted and knew just how to take care of it. Circa 1727, Essex Connecticut. Just lovely! via

Copper Pots in a Great Kitchen

How high can you reach? I should do this with all of my old copper pots that live in my pantry. Don't you love all the blue and white porcelain? This photo was found on Victoria Magazine's Instagram feed. 

Fall in The Country

I adore this photo. The old 1909 barn on the edge of the woods is painted a deep maroon red that is set off by the evergreen tree and the overgrown straw colored grasses in the foreground. Fall is such a great time to be outside with a camera. via

Alien Visitor this Evening

This alien-looking creature was not camera shy in the least. He let me get super close to him for his portrait session. I wonder what he told the others when he returned to the mothership? Click to enlarge.

An Old Bookshop's Reading Room

"Give a man a fire and he's warm for the day. Set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life." 

Quote by Sir Terry Patchett

This is the perfect quote over the fireplace in a bookshop where you could sit and set fire to your imagination while looking for a book to buy. Google Images.

Pumpkin Dream Cake Recipe

Are you drooling yet? This sheet cake with cinnamon cream cheese icing is absolutely the best pumpkin recipe I have seen in ages. See more photos and read all about it here. Can't wait? Jump directly to the recipe here. You're welcome!

Repurposed Bath Accessories

I love this idea of using a cup for small brushes and a bowl for soap. There is another bowl in the blurred background for a sponge. A bathtub is one of the joys of life in my opinion so why not surround yourself with lovely things while you soak? via

Picnic for Mice Arthur Rackham

You know I love animals wearing clothes and this artwork by Arthur Rackham from Wind in the Willows is no exception. Offered at auction by Sotheby's.

Vintage Equestrian Wallpaper at A New Jersey Designer Showcase House

Everyone went wild for this vintage equestrian wallpaper at a designer showcase house and gardens in New Vernon, New Jersey. This room also doubled as the payment center for the numerous items the designers were selling. This event is held every other year and is a major fundraiser for the Women's Association for Morristown Medical Center. It is normally called Mansion in May but due to Covid this year, it became Splendor in September. It overlapped slightly into October and this past Sunday was the last day. Click HERE to see a beautiful photo of the Gilded Age Mansion and read about its history.