Do you make a mess when you make Christmas cookies?

Isn't that part of the fun of making them?

“Empty?! You took all the cookies!"  

"They were crying to get out of the jar... Cookies get 

claustrophobia too, you know!” 

Charles M. Schulz 

The Lace Shadow

“Some people seemed to get all sunshine, and some all shadow…” 
Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

Abandoned in Southern New England.

Situated in a location that's not

The Thanksgiving Bluebird.

Shortly before

The cows and the pumpkins.

While traveling on a quiet country road recently, we happened upon this small herd of cows enjoying the remains of a pumpkin patch.  A blissful and bountiful lunch indeed!

House for Sale; Abandoned in Southern Vermont

You may quickly pass by this antique beauty or

A glimpse into the past; we found the original carriage house doors!

Hidden behind loads of

The wedding flowers; apres wedding.

Our son's recent wedding was graced with gorgeous flowers courtesy of my sister; the family florist.  Stunning, with deep burgundy,

Free flowers.

Do something nice for someone today!

Fixer Upper or Tear It Downer?

While in most states grant money is available for municipalities or non-profits, it's typically not available to the homeowner. That needs to change!  We should be doing everything we can to save spectacular places like this.  The history of American architecture is fascinating.

It's Connecticut's Historic Gardens Day!

Although I'm on

The lovely old dishes we found in the basement.

When you buy an antique

We treated ourselves to baked goods from Sift; home of Best Baker in America.

When you are in

National Pollinator Week

 The Secretary of the

For Sale on the Coast of Maine; a run-down beauty with a water view.

Perched on a generous 30 acre parcel, this home eludes memories of a by-gone era.  You can find the listing information here.  Complete with a lovely view; this 204 year old gem needs more than a little TLC.  Isn't that the best kind though?

Update - SOLD!!!

A pretty floral birthday cake.

You don't have to be a professional cake decorator in order to serve a lovely cake.  Here's a simple solution from the garden.

Simply make any cake using a bundt pan.  Frost the cake and insert a small jar or glass into the middle of the cake.  Gently place some flowers into the vessel with water and your cake is suitable for any spring or summer affair!  Note - Pansies are edible, however, hydrangeas are not and were used for presentation only.  Be sure not to serve any flowers that may be toxic to humans!

Making way for ducklings in Maine.

There's nothing more adorable or inspiring than the innate desire ducklings have to follow their mother.  Yes, I stopped the traffic in order to let her cross a very busy Route One.

A late spring walk in the woods of New England.

 If we only took more

Rhubarb fresh from the garden and a Rhubarb Charlotte recipe.

 We always look forward to

Historic Connecticut Inn for sale; the district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

This wonderful antique dwelling can be

Painting the porch ceiling blue.

Before you begin painting your porch

Wisteria at the old barn.

“There is much to be said for cherry blossoms, but they seem so flighty. They are so quick to run off and leave you. And then just when your regrets are the strongest the wisteria comes into bloom, and it blooms on into the summer. There is nothing quite like it. Even the color is somehow companionable and inviting.” 

Murasaki Shikibu, The Tale of Genji

The beekeeper.

Apiculture

noun

1.  beekeeping, especially on a commercial scale for the production of honey 

adjective, apicultural

noun, apiculturist

The Little Pink House

The Little Pink House is a true tale about one neighborhoods' struggle to keep their cherished homes despite planned redevelopment that favored corporate growth.  You don't have to live in Connecticut to appreciate the love these families shared for their small waterfront oasis in New London.  The case made it to the U.S. Supreme Court and sadly, the Court ruled in favor of the city.  The Little Pink House was ultimately moved to a new location, although the owner Suzette Kelo, no longer lives in this adorable abode.  The movie is based on the book by Jeff Benedict.  Check to see if it's playing in your area.  The truly unfortunate element is that to date, nothing has been built on the land where the Little Pink House and it's neighboring homes once stood.

Wicked Tulips Flower Farm; Johnston, Rhode Island

If you're in need of

Fix it upper or tear it downer?

 The number of antique homes like this that have

It's May Day.

 

May 1st exudes springtime and it was wonderful to come home and

The hummingbirds are here!

Put your feeders out if you haven't already done so!  I like a mixture of 4 parts water to 1 part sugar and I don't use any dye.  The hummers love it!

Revitalizing the raised garden beds.

Only a few short weeks ago, the garden beds were under snow.  One of the many Noreasters that we

The blizzard and a turkey soup recipe.

The wind is howling outdoors and the snow

Hundreds of birds visit on New Year's Day.

 It's a pear tree but there was nary a partridge!