Cottage Times

In and out of the city. Summer is like this. When it rains, I'm home. But the cottage is for the sun! My 85 year old parents came for 5 nights last weekend and it was wonderful! The weather and fresh air couldn't have agreed more with them!

Thinking Rectangular

A new reason to watch British TV: Grand Design

I went back to my birth country about 4 years ago to visit my best friend, Viv, while she was living near Bath. We had a great time touring England (more on a later post) and what I noticed there, was this trend of converting barns and stables into the most gorgeous homes. The one below is Hillcot Barn outside Ross-on-Wye (not far from where I used to live in Wales).

Before

If you liked this, you will love watching this You Tube video of architect David Mann's design for Sara Rotman of MODco Creative. Here's a peek at what you'll see, two creative people collaborating to build a stunning home:

See it here

Followers!

I was going to take it easy on posting this week and tend to my overgrown garden: the roses need staking, the weeds need pulling etc. But I have just come indoors after trimming the hedges (whew, it's hot out there) and sat at my Mac to find I have finally a follower on my humble little blog!!! I was beginning to wonder if it would ever happen. I see visitors here all the time and love that they stop by. But for weeks, no one has joined me. Well, you can imagine how I might be tempted to write about it and say,

THANK YOU!!!

Of course, curiosity killed the cat and I found Tara has a lovely blog (or two) of her own; one I have added to my list of favs. A home is as much as what's on the outside as on the inside, at least if you appreciate gardens as I do. Tara is a landscape designer/author/speaker and you can find her and enjoy her photos like this by clicking here:

Slow Summer Posting

Since, I am spending all these hot, sweaty days at the cottage, there will be fewer postings for 2 months. Also, forgive me, but the posts will have a country feel as I ponder my kitchen counter for easy clean-up at the cottage and what to adorn my view with while washing dishes. Country Living Magazine: I lurk you!

If only porcelain sinks didn't mark. Surely, they have created non scratch ones. I will have to investigate.

I thought this would be a pretty addition to the kitchen window: a pompom trimmed gingham swag with a painting hanging just above it.

We have been considering surround seating in the screened in porch. I like this look, but we have a little more room to put back cushions on, against the wall. Tad more comfy I think. I like the idea of having storage beneath. We are always needing more places to keep things. A small cottage can look untidy quickly.