Twine and String Collection

Wouldn't you love to have all of this string and twine right now? I love this collection. via

Wonderful Home LIbrary

Lovely in almost every way. Maybe they hoved the table and rug closer to the chair just for this photo and moved the footstool or ottoman. Am I the only living human who absolutely must have my legs outstretched to get comfortable? I adore this room and the bookcases that round the corner. via This wouuld be a good spot for bird watching too with binoculars on the lamp table. I have bright sun this morning that will melt the snow on my balcony without shoveling. I'm happy to hear so many of you are enjoying my bird photos. xo

Mourning Doves at My Cottage Today

I took this photo in the morning before it started snowing. It was cold as you can see by the puffed up one on the left and I am thrilled that the one on the right is turned to show his true colors.

I got a nice frontal profile on this one. The first snow was just a nice dusting that I could sweep away with the greatest of ease -- my favorite kind. xo

English Robin in December Snow

I heard a bird sing 

In the dark of December 

A magical thing 

And sweet to remember. 

‘We are nearer to Spring Than we were in September,’ 

I heard a bird sing In the dark of December.“

‘I Heard a Bird Sing.’ by Oliver Herford.

British Robin Red breast, 

the National Bird of Great Britain.

via

Kitchen Sink View: Like a Painting

Best view from the kitchen sink, ever. via

My Homemade Fabric Face Masks

These are my home sewed masks that I have finally perfected after many attempts.

There are only 3 seams. I use a piece of 8-1/2" x 11" computer paper as my pattern. What could be simpler than that? If you are working with a printed fabric, you must place the pattern where you want the design on the front of the mask to be featured. You can make a pattern from a large gallon size zip-lock bag. The front of the mask will be at the bottom half. Cut your fabric and fold in half lengthwise, right sides together. Sew a bottom seam and turn right side out. Press. Fold over each side and sew a seam for the cording. I always insert my cording before sewing and don't catch the cording with any machine stitching. Raw edges are fine, nobody will be any the wiser, I have been working with 19" lengths of cording for each side. Now for the hardest part, the gathering. Pull the cording so both sides are equal before you start pulling. Gather the fabric as tightly as you possibly can and tie off with a knot on each side. Now fold the folded edge in half , gathered ends together, land make a small 1/8" tuck with about five locked stitches or so to mark the nose area. This is not a tapered dart, just a straight tuck. You can leave this part out if you like but it helps to have it. This is the most comfortable and breathable mask and I can wear mine for long periods without having to keep touching it because it stays in place. I just happened to have this cording in my stash of sewing and gift wrapping supplies. I think you could use bias tape that has been sewed shut too. Or any braided twine that would be comfortable over your ears. I have not tried elastic because I didn't have any.

I posted more photos on my Instagram for you to study. Just click on the arrows to see them all. Feel free to ask questions if I have not made the instructions clear. You can turn under the two sides before you start sewing if you want a finished underside rather than a raw edge but this just adds to the bulk. You could also overcast if you don't want a raw edge. You can whip these up in no time. 

They are tight to get on once you have your ends tied off but worth the effort. I use a square knot that says in place: Left over right and right over left. 

I don't know if hair ties would work. 

Winter Wonderland

This peek into the woods makes me so happy complete with the perfect amount of snow. I love the tall trees with branches all the way to the ground lining both sides of the road to the orange cottage. Who needs a yard when you can have this? I would love to see this same view in the summer, wouldn't you? 

Christmas Illustration by Thomas Nast

Christmas decor by Thomas Nast illustrating the poem 'Twas the Night before Christmas by Clement Moore. I have never seen this one and I love the mice not stirring in their cozy little beds. I but have often blogged about Nast and his famous Santa Claus illustration in my collection. I copied this delightful image from @maccullochhall on Instagram, a local house museum across the street from Thomas Nast's house in Morristown, NJ.

Chickadee and Downy Woodpecker at My Feeder

My birds, large and small, as illustrated by this Chickadee portrait. I have already featured the Red-bellied Woodpecker by himself. Chickadees are hard to capture because they don't stay on the perch very long. They just grab a seed and fly away very quickly.

The Downy Woodpecker is a frequent visitor but he has a much harder time latching on to a perch than the large woodpecker above who is quite the expert. Both of these woodpeckers feed from my balcony floor too when the smaller birds are hogging the feeder. I use my Nikon camera for bird photography because of the telephoto lense. Enjoy your Sunday.  xo

Male Cardinal: Bird Portrait

I get pairs of cardinals all the time but they mostly peck at the thrown seeds on the balcony floor and that's not a very good background for a portrait. I hardly ever see them on a perch at the feeder. I think the females are lovely too and one of these days I hope one will pose for me. I am trying to get a decent photo of all the birds that visit my feeder. See you tomorrow. xo

Sunkissed: Small Brick House

This reminds me of my grandparents' house in South Carolina. via It's a gray rainy Saturday morning here at my cottage with the promise of sun this afternoon, My birds have been fed and the balcony floor swept and I have my coffee by my side, so all is well. Enjoy the weekend and I'll see you later. xo

Very Formal Bathroom

No detail was overlooked in the design of this very formal bathroom. I like the hand-held shower fixture in the built-in bathtub. The tub looks vintage and probably has claw feet that might have been too casual for the fine woodwork. I like the framed butterfly collection. The urn over the door and the presentation is worthy of a museum. The arched tunnel for the vanity is another nice touch. It's a masterpiece in every way! via

A Partridge in A Pear Tree

I just discovered Robin Lucas on Instagram and I love his artwork. This Partridge in a Pear Tree is in the Wildlife Artwork category. Enjoy exploring all the categories. xo

Antique Wooden Bowl in Bathtub

What a great find. You could look forever and not find an oblong bowl that would fit within your bathtub but this old house owner did. Found on this Instagram account that is a delightful mix of authentic antique decor. Enjoy. xo

Flicker Family ~ Beautiful Birds

I had two families of Flickers on my property this summer. I love these large colorful birds. I wish I could have seen their tree nesting spots and I was thrilled to discover this photo today. Both couples brought their babies to feed in my back yard and drink from my birdbaths. I feel confident they will return next year. xo

Fantasy Cats

I love this photo. I found it here with no explanation.

Missy Went Home

Missy went home in the pouring rain yesterday but I still have her crate in my kitchen. Weather permitting, she will be back this weekend. I think the only real downside to having a dog again is the deer tick situation at my house and maybe being forced to go outside in really bad weather. I am happy for now just being a dog sitter for a good dog like Missy.

Are you a picture reader? Did you know I always add the photos from my blog to Pinterest? Take a look here. If you see a photo you like, click on it and it will take you to the blog post. My Pinterest name is contentcottage because they limit the number of characters you can use.

Happy December! xo

Small but Sweet Kitchen

via

This tiny kitchen is delightful and I can see myself working there quite nicely. Just a pivot is all it would take to reach what you need. Sweet!

Amazing Paint Decorated Cupboard: Before & After

This is a screenshot of an Instagram post by @axelcharlesdahlgren, a decorative artist and restorer and collector of antiques. This blank canvas is on a corner cupboard and fireplace surround in his own dining room that he built during quarantine, a project he had been wanting to do forever.

Can you believe this transformation? Go to his Instagram Account and see more photos of this project and be more impressed than you already are. Isn't it fabulous? xo

Decorated Hot Chocolate

I guess you have to make your own marshmallow men -- I see thick ones in the background. Martha Stewart makes them all the time. Maybe you could flatten out store-bought ones with the rolling pin and cut out with cookie cutters. Anyway, it's a cute idea. via

Cozy Sofa in Home Library

via

This cozy arrangement would suit me just fine. I could prop my feet on the table, easily reach the bookshelves, have a proper reading light that is adjustable, open the window for fresh air, go outside easily. and ther is probably another seating arrangement that would please me on the opposite side. Enjoy your Sunday. Bad weather with wind and rain is coming tomorrow so I will try be prepared. xo

Dog Sitting Weekend with Missy

Missy came over early Friday morning and has been a perfect house guest ever since. She is well behaved and very mellow. She asks for nothing but is grateful for every kindness shown to her. Her crate is in the kitchen with the door open and she is enjoying the new bedding I put inside. She can't decide which dog bed she prefers, Webster's old blue one or the mattress pad and pillow with a flannel pillowcase in her crate. She's a good walker too and doesn't pull on the lead. 

Her eyelashes match the color of her fur. I think she's an English Setter. She had a haircut on Tuesday to prepare for her good girl visit. Have a great weekend. xo

Birch Forest in Fall

Could anything be lovelier than this birch grove in fall? I think not. via

Kitchen Opening to Family Room with Fireplace

I think this room arrangement is better than having a fireplace in the kitchen. It's the best of both worlds having it overlook the family room. Love it all, don't you? designed by Amelia T. Handegan, Inc. Interiors Charleston, SC.

The Almost Perfect Reading Room

Add one ottoman and this room would be perfect. 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. xo

photo source

Thank-ful Pie for Thanksgiving

I should have posted this earlier instead of on Thanksgiving Eve. There is a template for this design and a recipe for pie crust so you can embellish a FROZEN pumpkin pie from the supermarket. Tutorial and recipe here. If you are baking your own you could just use strips of dough and make these letters by hand.

H A P P Y   T H A N K S G I V I N G   xo