New Rooms for Old Homes / Great Book

This is another favorite coffee table book that is in my collection and is currently off the shelf and at hand. 

NEW ROOMS FOR OLD HOUSES

Beautiful Additions for the Traditional Home

by Frank Shirley

Published by THE TAUNTON PRESS

"Inspiration for Hands-On Living"

All of the books by this publisher are wonderful.

Back cover. Mine has the dustjacket. 

The hardcover binding is plain.

Retail $40. My used copy from local bookshop $15.
Gold Seal on front dustjacket from

NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION

I did not know the term "monitors", did you? Such an interesting architectural detail for raising the roof and getting more light into a room without adding a skylight.

The pleasing addition is on the far right. Note slight color change in roofing material.

Have a great weekend. By now you know how to order used books, right?

xo

More about Monitors and Cupolas. Unknown left a comment about a monitor barn in Shelburne, Vermont. I couldn't find it but found a 1903 barn in Richmond, Vermont that was moved and beautifully restored with the monitor spanning the entire roof ridge and a cupola too! It's fabulous as is the article by KNOBB HILL JOINERY Preserving New England's architectural legacy for future generations with photographs of the entire process.

Read the article and see the amazing photos HERE. 
The barn is home to the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps.

Isn't this barn beautiful? Everything old is new again.
xo

The Winter Garden / Great Book

What I'm reading now. One of my favorite gardening books.

THE WINTER GARDEN

Structure, planting and romance in the garden in winter.

Eluned Price

Photographs by Clive Nichols

Author's dedication:

In memory of my beloved parents

Corinne and Justin Price

who taught me how to look

CONTENTS

Introduction

Structure in the Winter Garden

Planting in the Winter Garden

Romance in the Winter Garden

The Plant Directory

Index

Mine is a hardcover first edition published in 1996 with the destjacket. It's a large, beautiful book that is still available used. 

Search for it HERE and fill out form yourself. 

Search for used hardcover editions HERE with title and "hardcover" requested in search parameters.

xo

Birds and Yesterday's Snow.

Tufted Titmouse?

Black-Capped Chickadee

I think this is the Tufted Titmouse again.

Jd commented with a correction.  This a NUTHATCH.

Thanks, Jd.

The snow had just started when I took these photos yesterday and we got a couple of inches that required no shoveling at all. It changed to rain and everything melted overnight. It was fun to watch knowing it wouldn't last.

The clouds are lifting and the sun is coming out. 

This was my sky earlier this morning.

Have a great day.

xo

Porch with Window Box and Bench

This addition is very sweet, isn't it? It seems very roomy because there is no enclosure across the front as it's only a couple of steps off the ground. I love the bench near the front door and if this little window box were mine I would fill it with herbs for the kitchen. photo source

Stay safe if winter storms dump lots of snow your way. My area is expecting less that an inch but lots of heavy rain and wind later in the day and all night. Wind scares me the most.

weather update

Downy Woodpecker before the snow.

Here is a link for a documentary on PBS about Woodpeckers. Get an intimate look at what makes woodpeckers so special. Explore their unique abilities and intimate stories from around the world. Narrated by Paul Giamatti. 

WOODPECKERS THE HOLE STORY

It snowed furiously for a while and I got about an inch and then it got warmer and turned to rain. The temperature will keep getting warmer and will rise to 52° by 2am. Such strange weather. It's beautiful and the perfect amount of snow. 

xo

Shredding Marathon in my Attic Office

This animated live photo is set on LOOP. I filled up one bag last week and am working on a second one. Let me know if you find this annoying. It wasn't very effective on the BOUNCE setting.

I am taking this bag to our DIY recycling center in case we get snow tomorrow. I got this blue denim bag ages ago and it's perfect for shredding. I have rigged up my shredder on its side so it feeds directly into this container via a paper shoot. I do this every year in January. As you can see, I am not paperless yet. I still like a paper version of my bills, even if I have to print them myself. Have a great Tuesday. xo