"The lesson [Henry David Thoreau] had taught himself, and which he tried to teach others, was summed up in the one word 'Simplify.' That meant simplify the outward circumstances of your life, simplify your needs and your ambitions; learn to delight in the simple pleasures which the world of Nature affords. It meant also, scorn public opinion, refuse to accept the common definitions of success, refuse to be moved by the judgment of others. And unlike most who advocate such attitudes, he put them into practice." (Walden and Other Writings by Henry David Thoreau--Edited and with an Introduction by Joseph Wood Krutch, Bantam Books, 1962, P. 1)

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Almost


juicy
Originally uploaded by a COWsignal from outer space

It's almost blackberry picking time. Yum.


(Click on the picture for credits.)

St Nicholas Church


Alfold..1 Mar 2008
Originally uploaded by strussler

A church for your Sunday.

(Click on the picture for credits.)

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Home Sweet Forest Home


IMG_4022
Originally uploaded by jordansmall

If this had skylights, I think I could be quite happy to live here.




(Click on the picture for photo credits.)

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Links, Links and More Links

If you are reading this in Google Reader, come on over and see all the links I now have on my blog(s). Maybe you will find something new to like.

Messy No More

Oooh. I really appreciate this post over at Unclutterer. Simple tips for keeping your home looking good.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Do You Love This as Much as I Do? (not mine)


Broken dishes wip
Originally uploaded by qusic

Thank you to qusic for this great example of one way to use fabric charm packs. (Click on the picture for more about this photographer.)

Is That a Cute Baby, or What?

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

We Likes Google Reader

Are you using it yet? If not, here is a video to help you get started.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Birthday Breakfast Cake


Sour Cream-Blueberry Crumb Cake
Originally uploaded by 2chacha

My mother made this every birthday morning. I passed the tradition down to my children. Now they, if they wish, can pass it down to theirs.

Birthday Breakfast Cake

Grease a 9x9 inch cake pan. Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat together:
1 egg
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons cooking oil

In another bowl, combine:
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder

Add wet ingredients to dry. Pour into baking pan.

Combine:
1/4 cup brown sugar (firmly pressed into measuring cup)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon flour
1 tablespoon softened butter

Sprinkle brown sugar mixture on top of cake batter in pan.
Bake 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Serve warm.

(And serve something with protein in it alongside. You need to watch your blood sugar even on birthdays.

[Listen to your mother.])

(Thank you to 2chacha for the cake picture. Click on the photo for credits.)

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Bomber


curious squirrel in tree
Originally uploaded by Sara Heinrichs (awfulsara)

We learned on our walk today that squirrels climb to the top of Douglas Fir trees this time of year and throw pine cones down to the ground. We had to run down the tree-lined sidewalk bent over with our arms covering our heads, for a bit.

Funny squirrels. (Glad it wasn't coconuts.)

Yearbook Yourself


We're having lots of fun with this.

Come and play!

Friday, August 22, 2008

Stitchindye's New Quilt


Baby quilt
Originally uploaded by stitchindye

Isn't this latest quilt from Stitchindye just beautiful? (You can link to her flickr quilt pictures on the right sidebar under Quilts of True Artists. Her lovely blog is here.) Very inspiring!

Peacefull Stroll


Peacefull Stroll
Originally uploaded by Arnold Pouteau's

This looks like a scene from my teenage years.

I was blessed, wasn't I?

(Thanks, Mom and Dad.)

Still Quilting

I haven't posted about my quilts for a while because I have been working on the most intricately hand-quilted project to date, and I must finish it before I start quilting the next one. In the meantime, here is a peek at the quilt-of-a-million-stitches, as well as a preview of the fabrics I will be using next. (In case anybody is interested.)

Thursday, August 21, 2008

foresta


foresta
Originally uploaded by angelicchiatrullall

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

"Sol en Cirque"


The kids' lipdub from Capucha on Vimeo.

I love this song.
I love these children.
I love the French.

I just love this video!

Kidney Beans and Tomatoes


9th July 2008 - Beans means...
Originally uploaded by mrszooropa

Here is an old family recipe.


Step One:
Empty into a small saucepan
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 can kidney beans

Step Two:
Heat to simmering.

Step Three:
Serve with a dollop of sour cream (for K), or not (for me).

Step Four:
Be surprised by how yummy this is.


(Click on the picture for photo credits.)

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

A Bit of Ireland


(Click on the picture for photo credits.)



A Bit of Ireland
Originally uploaded by Sandra Leidholdt

Monday, August 18, 2008

The Avenue in Mist and Sun



(Click on the picture for photo credits.)
The Avenue in mist and sun
Originally uploaded by algo

Sunday, August 17, 2008

English Countryside

If you love England even half as much as I do, you will love these latest photos from Nicky Frasier. Stone cottages and more.

Frampton-on-Severn


Click on the picture for photo credits.
Frampton-on-Severn
Originally uploaded by canong2fan (on the road again!)

Nice church, what? And the adjacent cottage quite loverly, too.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Solar Power


Solar Power
Originally uploaded by giggex

I came upon this while looking for something else, and I thought it was worth sharing. Pretty, huh?

Friday, August 15, 2008

window box


window box
Originally uploaded by crankysue

Someone else's window box. ( I think I will show this to my gardener husband.)

The Poor Man's Garden


The Poor Man's Garden
Originally uploaded by linda yvonne

Click on this picture to see a lot more California prettiness. (Thank you Linda Yvonne.)

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

More Pretty Quilts

Amazing thrift store finds. From Cassie Griffen at Bella Dia.

On the Power of Words

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Mostly for Kate: "Recess"


Recess from eat a bug on Vimeo.

Mandala Cupcakes

Click here for the prettiest cupcakes ever. (Thanks to Nokiomi.)

Monday, August 11, 2008

Scraparadise (Not Mine)


Scraparadise
Originally uploaded by qusic

Just so pretty!

(Click on the picture for proper credits.)

Lowe's Cottages Revisited


I posted some time ago (here) about the Lowe's Katrina Cottages. There is an additional photo gallery at cusatocottages.com, with a few interior shots (thank goodness).

I am in love with KC697. There is a model home of that one in Gautier, Mississippi, as pictured above. There must be some pictures of the interior somewhere.

Anybody know where?

Sunday, August 10, 2008

tumbleweed Enesti


Enesti Pictures
Originally uploaded by Tumbleweed Tiny House Company

Another charmer from Tumbleweed Tiny House Company.

Little Deer



Originally uploaded by ~K~

One of my favorite things about living where I do now.

(Click on the picture for photo credits.)

Friday, August 8, 2008

Harbinger


Harbinger
Originally uploaded by Tumbleweed Tiny House Company

I think that this is adorable. Could this be my attainable mortgage-free dream house? (It is a tiny 297 square feet, plus a loft.)

See more like this at Tumbleweed Tiny House Company.

A Fun Decorating Quiz

This was fun to do, even though the results page didn't work for me. Maybe you will have better luck. It is fun just to look at all the options and click on your favorites. (Thank you to How About Orange for another great post.)

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Letting in the Morning Air


Our green way of keeping our house cool is to open up all the windows in the morning, when it is cool (and how thankful we are for cool evenings and mornings here in western Washington) and then to close everything up tight when the temperature outside begins to climb. (We also have coverings for our windows, which we move according to where the sun is shining, but that's another story.)









One benefit of this is that, while opening the downstairs windows in the morning, I get to look out onto my porch with it's flower-laden window boxes and smell the clove-scented dianthus wafting in on the morning breeze. The scent is one of the best parts, but I'm afraid I can't share that here.

I do have these pictures, though, including one of the quilt I leaned over this morning, as I opened the window behind the couch.

Monday, August 4, 2008

The Cutest Little French Girl


Too much candy from Capucha on Vimeo.

Cottage, Regneville sur Mer, Normandy


Cottage, Regneville sur Mer, Normandy
Originally uploaded by *Susie*

Click on the picture for more from*Susie* the photographer. ( Aren't we grateful to have found her?)

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Rose Cottage


Rose Cottage
Originally uploaded by Steel Steve

( Thank you to Steel Steve. Click on the picture forhis flickr page.)

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Seaside Garden


Seaside garden
Originally uploaded by *Susie*

Thank you to *Susie* for this pretty picture of a coastguard cottage. (Click on the photo to see her flickr page.)

Friday, August 1, 2008