My Picture Post Card Back Yard

Sorry I haven't been around much lately. I've been so busy outside and with real estate. I mowed the back yesterday and today and it looks fabulous, doesn't it? We are having some nice low humidity weather and I thought I should take advantage of it. I honestly can't believe today is the last day of July. I always try to savor August, the last full month of summer. my photo

Great Mac and Cheese Recipe

I went to a birthday party last night and took my heart shaped Bennington Pottery spongeware casserole full of the best Mac and Cheese I have ever made. It got rave reviews too. I doubled this recipe. I used unsweetened soy milk instead of 2% milk. I didn't think it tasted quite salty enough so I put some torn slices of muenster cheese all over the top. I was going to take that cheese back to Costco because I thought it was too salty but it ended up coming in handy. I also poked some thick slices of cheddar all around too instead of spreading grated cheddar on top. It was so good.

Nice Country Kitchen

I like this sleek, sophisticated and simple country kitchen -- Shelter Island, NY via

Royal Country Picnic

Another Royal family portrait with young children. William and Kate will be carrying the torch for us now. Can't wait. via

Young Royal Family 1986

I love this family portrait of Prince Charles holding Prince Harry and Diana, Princess of Wales, holding Prince William in the wild flower meadow at Highgrove on July 14, 1986 in Tetbury, England. via I'm very eager to see family photos of the new baby and his parents, aren't you? The whole world is waiting!

Classical Reading-Nook Hideaway

This is almost too wonderful for words. Don't you absolutely love this little reading room designed by Albert, Righter and Tittmann Architects, Inc. Boston, MA. More photos of this house called "Rocksyde" here.

A very Lucky Ducky

Are you considering a pet duckling? This one loves to be dried off with the aid of a warm hair dryer.

Watch here if you can't see the video above.

Kate and William Dueling w/ Magic Wands

Last april, the royal couple toured one of the main locations for Harry Potter films and got a short lesson in wand wizzard fighting and of course they mastered it right away, perfectly and effortlessly. She was wearing a white maternity dress with black polka dots and a black jacket and looked absolutely wonderful. via

Bull Terrier Pup in a Basket

"Take me with you, pretty please with sugar on it."

I have always loved this breed. You see bull terriers often in England but almost never around here. This pup is especially sweet and he's ready for the weekend. via

View of Summer

What a great view. I'm so glad all the chairs are pointing toward the outside. Happy Friday. via

Lady Mary is Not Amused

I'm still getting a lot of pleasure from all of the clever postings after the royal birth 4 days ago. What a joy. via

Super Duper Kitchen Detail

I love the wooden over-mounted counter top with the drainboard ridges on one side. The sink is amazing with the side pocket for the stopper and overflow drain. The wide windowsill that extends all the way to the wall on both sides is a nice feature and the cutout curve for the faucet is an interesting touch. I've always wanted a plate rack in old paint too. The cool weather is still here, it's only 64° at 3:30 pm. Mother Nature is showing off again after trying to melt us last week. There is no happy medium these days, is there? It's broil or shiver. Photo found here.

Blackberry Winter

Webster woke me up very early this morning barking his head off from the attic. He wouldn't stop so before he woke up the neighbors I dragged myself out of my warm, cozy bed to see what the commotion was all about and found two runaway dogs in the front yard. One was a beautiful wet, muddy chocolate lab and the other was a yellow lab also wet and both were starving. I called the number on their tags and the owner came right over. She said they had been out all night and she was so happy they were okay and that I called her before the police found them. It was so chilly outside before 6am I could hardly believe my eyes. The temperature was in the 50s and right now at 9:15 am it's only 61° -- a true blackberry winter. I'm not complaining either because it feels wonderful and I feel energized in spite of my lack of morning slumber time. I hope your heat wave is over too. See you later.

The Breeze Blowing Through My Window

We finally have a cool front and there is a delightful breeze blowing through all of my open windows here at the cottage. This 1947 tempera painting entitled Wind from the Sea by Andrew Wyeth is the perfect illustration for what I'm feeling on my face right now. It's perfect sleeping weather too. Sweet dreams, see you tomorrow.

Early Illustrated Antiquarian Books

Yes, please to every item in this photo. I love the large natural history engravings. via

First Royal Wave

Look closely. The baby nailed his first royal wave, didn't he? via

Future King Heaviest in 100 Years

The future King with No Name was slightly overdue and that made him a heavy weight. I did not realize his great grandmother The Queen was born by Caesarean section in her maternal grandparents’ London home in April 1926. At the time, she was third in line to the throne, but her weight was not announced. She met the little one this morning and then the happy family embarked on a one-hour trip to grandmother's house where Kate can be babied by her own mum while she recovers from the royal birth. Read more about royal baby weights here.

Are You A Skilled Sailor?

I love this illustrated quote. I never knew it was an English Proverb via Sleep tight. See you tomorrow.

Taking Baby Cambridge Home

He looks adorable and William and Kate look so happy. All photos above from this blog that has each and every up to the minute detail for us: Royal Love Story. Really, in the time it took me to write this post, she added several more photos!!!

15 Gorgeous Formal Gardens: Charleston

A series of garden rooms at a lovely home in Charleston’s historic district conjures the charm of the Old South. This is the first of 15 photos. Click here for the rest.

Beautiful Bedroom

Beautiful in its simplicity. I love it all. I worked outside today so I'll be tucking in early. So happy about the birth of the Prince of Cambridge. via

A Sophisticated Loft

I adore this arrangement and everything in this room designed by Michael Penney. Photography by Donna Griffith; House and Home January 2010.

The weather at the cottage cooled down enough for me to open my bedroom windows before I went to sleep. I'm sitting in the living room with my first cup of coffee with fresh air and I'm so happy. See you later.

What is Your Royal Name?

Fun to play while we wait.

In the future, please refer to me as:
Baronetess Regina Olivia Scarlett Beatrice of Websterchild. via

Bucolic Writer's Cottage between Two Ponds

What a place. It's called Duck Pond Farm and I know one of the previous owners. The main house is fabulous and so is the larger cottage, but this little jewel is my favorite. Click photo to enlarge. Sigh.

Something to make you feel cooler.

It's a tiny bit cooler today but not by much. We only got a few drops of rain overnight. I didn't actually see it but there are a few droplets dripping off the deck railing to prove it actually happened. It's overcast so maybe we'll get more later. I'll be so happy when I can turn my a/c off and throw open the windows! See you later. via

Office + Library above + below stairs

This is such a wonderful use for the space under the stairs and the approach to the landing above. Peter Zimmerman Architects Click on the first picture after the link opens and keep clicking for a tour of this wonderful Pennsylvania stone house.