Small Summer Cottage in Denmark

This looks very nice, doesn't it? Isn't that huge window fabulous? See the floor plan and many interior photos here.

Wendell Berry Environmental Quote

“...the care of the earth is our most ancient and most worthy and, after all, our most pleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it, and to foster its renewal, is our only legitimate hope.”

― Wendell Berry
The Art of the Commonplace: The Agrarian Essays

Google Images

Wendell E. Berry is an American novelist, poet, environmental activist, cultural critic, and farmer. A prolific author, he has written many novels, short stories, poems, and essays.

Born: August 5, 1934, Henry County, KY

He's 80 years young and still going strong. A truly inspiring man of the earth.

View from A Friend's Terrace

The beauty of mature landscaping photographed from the terrace of a friend. Then I went home to my weed patch. Sigh.

Great Bungalow Kitchen + Family Room

That's Julia Child in the artwork on the wall next to the range hood.

I love the X detailing on the sides of the cabinets and island. Read the article and see the rest of the family room here. It's a nice space, isn't it? Have a great weekend.

The Myth of Red Clover and The Bee

Remember last week when I told you I always believed bees could not get the nectar from red clover because their tongues were too short? This bee hasn't heard that rumor. Sorry my photo is a little blurry but I'm glad I got him at all. I have fields of both white and red and the bees seem like both equally. The hummingbirds love the red clover too. It's a nice cool breezy morning here at the cottage and the dark clouds are beginning to gather for a thunder storm. Have a great weekend. xo

Birr Castle Gardens in County Offaly, Ireland

It's simply enchanting, isn't it?

photo source 

My Lacecap Hydrangea is Starting

The Lacecap hydgrangea buds here at my cottage are just beginning to open. I took this photo with my iPhone yesterday.

I think my variety is Taube or maybe Lemon Wave based on the photos on this website. I'll have to wait a little longer to find out. I didn't buy this plant that I've had for at least 5 years, I dug it from a friend's yard and it is thriving. I think I should try to root a cutting and plant one in the front too. This one is in the back in a corner under my balcony where it gets the perfect combination of sun and shade. 

Climbing Roses and a Beautiful Window

I have never had roses except for the wicked multiflora growing on the edge of my woods. The thorns on these beautiful pink roses look like the ones I've been dealing with. I'm happy with peonies and hydrangeas because they aren't dangerous. Smile. via

Napping Dog: Webster's Watercolor

Doesn't he look like the most contented dog ever? It's been way too long since I used the Waterlogue App on my iPhone to convert a photo into a watercolor. Now I want to do more. Don't have it yet? Get it here. xo

Delightful Sleeping Porch

I go to sleep every night in the summer with both windows wide open and most of the time there is a faint breeze blowing on my face. So far I haven't had to turn on my A/C this year but I'm sure I will have to break down eventually. I always turn it off at night in favor of open windows. I've never slept on a sleeping porch but this looks like a great one. via

Chicken in the Red Clover Patch

I have lots of this red clover here and there on my property mixed in with the white clover which is predominant. I'm told white clover is better for bees because their tongues aren't long enough to get the nectar from the red clover. I have no idea whether this is true or not because I have seen red clover honey on the shelves. via

Tuesday Gif with Peonies and Tabitha

Peonies in full bloom cannot take days and days of unrelenting rain.

I bought a couple of herb plants from Whole Foods in Morristown. I divided the Rosemary into two plants and repotted them. The Lavender was divided into three plants that I arranged in a clay pot shaped like a chicken. They look so nice at my entrance.

Too Much Rain !

We are in the worst weather pattern and the peonies are not happy. We went from no rain to too much rain and I really need a few sunny days for a project at one of my real estate listings. 

Artwork in Progress

I love seeing artwork in progress with the scene and the sketch in one photo.

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A work in progress in a very large sketchbook.

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The finished drawing is very nice, isn't it? It looks like an engraving but it was done with a gel pen. Sjaak Kaashoek is a professional artist living in the Netherlands.

Wonderful House Tour

Like what you see so far? 

It's even more wonderful inside.

Enter the Tudor Cottage here.

Great Kitchen Sink

Don't you love this farm sink with the high back? The rest is pretty nice too. via

P is for Pink Peony

William Morris Letter P via

My very own pink peony captured with my iPhone. They really got battered this week with all the rain but I still love them.

Spinach, Peppers, and Swiss Cheese Omelet

My Saturday morning omelet in the making. So yummy and healthy too.

Webster. His first animated GIF.

I am so happy I finally learned how to make a Webster gif. The wonder dog is so worthy, isn't he? He's rolling in clover and loving it. xo

How did I do it? It was very easy. I downloaded the Google Photo app to my iPhone. Then I selected these photos that had a similar background. Then I clicked the + sign on the tool bar and the rest was done for me automatically. So fun! Joanna Stern from the Wall Street Journal has a great tutorial here.

Blue and White Checked Slipcover

image source

My favorite fabric. This chair looks like the perfect place to curl up with a good book, doesn't it? I hope there is an ottoman somewhere. I love that the owner dragged another chair beside the easy chair to hold all the books because there were fresh flowers on the table. 

We had rain all night but it stopped at daybreak. Enjoy your Sunday whatever you do, inside or outside. xo

Classic Georgian Home in Evanston Illinois

Beautiful in every way. Don't you wish we could go inside? Click here for a little peek.

Hello Nantucket

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Such a nice compound. Looks like the lawn person is there today. We have had an entire week of rainy days and the grass is ready to be cut but I'm waiting for several sunny days first. 

Wonderful Container Garden

Simply beautiful. This gives me some ideas. Must buy a large bag of topsoil when I go to Costco today. via

The Squeaking Cat

Hold your cursor on the screen and turn on the sound. Squeak! Squeak. So cute. via

20 Homemade Popsicle Recipes

Lonny Magazine has a great link to an article with 20 very interesting and unusual recipes for healthy homemade ice pops.

This one from Jessica Alba has bananas, pineapple chunks and fresh spinach with no added sugar. Get this recipe and 19 more here. I think popsicles are the perfect summertime snack, don't you?

White Scandinavian Inspired Kitchen

This would work for me. Want to see a little more of this home? Click here. White painted floors throughout!

Austin Garage with Apartment and Tower

You can view the entire Austin Texas skyline from the tower.

This is the view from the kitchen sink of the house. The outbuilding doesn't look like a garage, does it? Tour the entire Alley House project (inside and out) by Tim Cuppett Architects here.