Great Trollope Sofa, Book, Coffee Quote

Absolutely nothing. via

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.

Maxfield Parrish Clouds at My Cottage

We've had some very nice sunset cloud formations lately here at my cottage. I ran outside to capture this one with my Nikon last week because it reminded me of a Maxfield Parrish illustration in a book of fairy tales. Agreed? Click photo to enlarge.

The Cat Did It

“Mischief – Cat and Workbox”
Newbold H. Trotter (1827-1898)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dated 1858
SOLD -- before the ink bottle was overturned.

Childe Hassam Flags - July 4, 1916

Frederick Childe Hassam
Oil on canvas. 36" x 23.13
Private collection.

Childe Hassam - July 4, 1916

The Fourth of July, 1916. The Greatest Display of the American Flag Ever Seen in New York. This painting was inspired by the climax of the Preparedness Parade in May of that year. It must have been an inspiring sight to behold. Thankfully, we have this world-famous painting to document the historic World War I parade down Fifth Avenue.

Enjoy the Independence Day fireworks tonight. via

Sweet Bunny

Here's a drawing of a rabbit for your Saturday morning treat. I hope you enjoy the first full day of summer. via

Dogs Have Such A Great Purpose

And they do it so well. When I look back on my life, I sometimes measure the chapters by the dogs I have owned and loved. via

Wonderful Alphabet -- Handlettered

Fun with lettering.

Great alphabet drawn by twentysix.

Laundry Day by Andrew Wyeth

This makes me want to hang out clothes even though I can't since I lost the tree that held up one end of my clothesline. I still plan on having a post set in the ground to take its place but I haven't gotten around to it yet. I might even get one of those upside-down umbrella contraptions, and I might not. We are having another rainy day so hanging out laundry wouldn't even be a possibility. I washed all the windows and doors and screen on the outside of my lower level yesterday and one was in the laundry room. I think I'll do the insides today. I don't like to wash windows on a sunny day because it seems like drudgery. For some reason, I am in a cleaning mood so I must keep up the momentum. See you later. via

1902 Bookplate Ex Libris Robert Hall

Bookplate, 1902. Robert Hall, an avid collector of Kemscott Press books. via

On the library table are Kelmscott works, including William Morris’s The Glittering Plain and his 1895 translation of Beowulf. All the books are clearly bound in the distinctive Kelmscott full limp vellum tied with silk ribbons. The Wood Beyond the World is open to show a Morris-designed woodcut border and frontispiece. Leaning against the bookcase is a copy of the 1896 edition of Chaucer. Click here to see this wonderful bookplate enlarged.

Have a great long weekend. I'm anxiously awaiting the next episode of Orphan Black on BBC America. I missed the first 6 episodes and had to watch them online. When I was up to date I began watching on Saturday nights at 9pm. This will be my third week of watching on the TV set. It is really GOOD. It has been renewed for a second season too. Will you be watching?

Shallow Gallery Shelves for Artwork

This is such a great idea for a collector of framed artwork. No more holes in the walls when you get something new and want to display it. via

Leaves as Art

Beautiful. I love Nasturtiums. via

My own iPhone photo of Japanese Maple leaves. They are arranged in place by Mother Nature on a tree my mom planted on her birthday several years ago from a seedling she found growing wild. The tree has gotten quite large and I think of her every time I look in the back yard.

Carl Rüdell Watercolor

Carl Rüdell
(Trier 1855 - 1939 Cologne)

Doesn't this delightful circa 1910 watercolor on paper make you wish you could paint? Pre-auction estimate € 100. Sold for € 625. There was another of his watercolors in the lot shown below. via

Primrose and Robin.

John Wainwright - “Primrose and Robin” 1864. This painting is so very beautiful.

(c) Royal Albert Memorial Museum; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation via

Paying your Taxes the Old-Fashioned Way

click photo to enlarge

Pieter Brueghel the Younger (1565–1636), Flemish painter. Oil on panel circa 1620. USC Fisher Museum of Art, The Armand Hammer Collection. I always publish a photo of this painting on April 15th. I'm staying away from the post office today because of the lines to mail income taxes. I'll check my box tomorrow. I mailed mine on Friday. 

Nice Art Wall

This is a very nicely displayed set of bookcases and artwork. I love black with gray and white. via