I have to say the weather here has been simply gorgeous for the past few days, even though my time outside is limited. Low humidity, sunny skies, cool nights….heavenly, indeed. In fact, I’m sitting here in the blogging chair wrapped in a lightweight throw. Who would have thought?
I’m halfway through The Mockingbird Next Door: Life with Harper Lee and I’m completely caught up in this wonderful peek into Miss Lee’s life in Alabama. I spent most of the day reading it. Oh, Harper Lee, what an amazing person you are. Look for a review Monday on Just Let Me Finish This Page. I’m also halfway through Laura Lippman’s After I’m Gone, which will be reviewed on this blog next Thursday. I’m reading two-handed at the moment.
I missed the first bloom of the spirea because I was in Chautauqua. But there’s always a smallish second bloom, which I’m grateful for.
After I wrote about my obsession with Palamino Blackwing pencils, a couple of you ordered some and….you like them! There’s always a risk when I go on and on about how wonderful a thing is that you just might not feel the same way. So I’m very happy that you find them as terrific as I do. That makes me smile.
In that same vein, I want to pass along a couple of sites that I think you might like. You may already know about them, but I only recently discovered them and I’m hooked. There are so many design sites out there and some of them are regular stops on my daily travels around the web. But I find a lot of them a bit limited; too much mid-century modern, too much all-white, too much of one thing. I tend to avoid them. But my new favorite site, Remodelista, is full of all sorts of interiors. Yes, the hip is there, but there is so much variety that I think you’ll really like it. And it doesn’t just focus on ‘trends,’ thank goodness. Trends make my eyes glaze over. (Though, they do use the word ‘trending’ a lot. I just ignore it.) It’s run by a group of contributors and the content is fresh and varied and there’s something for everyone. The homes featured are from all over the world. When I first discovered Remodelista, I spent about three hours going through the archives. Because, like all of us, I like to look at photos of interiors, but I prefer seeing interiors that speak of the person living there, that look real and lived in and individual and are not so staged that they might as well be in a model home.
Then I discovered Remodelista’s sister site, Gardenista. Need I say more? Such gorgeous photos of all sorts of gardens; big, small, and in between. Lots of handy tips. And, like Remodelista, the gardens are from all over the world. I think you’ll like both sites.
And I also have to pass along a link to this feature on Houzz. This is the most adorable tiny cottage in New Hampshire. I just saw it this morning and fell in love with it. You’ll be fantasizing about living in your own tiny little cottage, not as tiny as the one room Tiny House movement, which is wonderful but more than a bit impractical for most of us, but in a perfectly small and perfectly perfect little clapboard cottage.
It’s now 8:30. I have to stall for another thirty minutes before I can have my second cup of coffee with half and half. I’m counting the minutes.
Happy Saturday.
Happy Saturday Claudia! I’ve been loving the moderate weather we’ve been having in Mid-Michigan as well. I’m used to the blazing hot summer of Texas so the coolish summer mornings are a great treat.
I discovered Gardenista and Houzz a while back and love both sites. I lose hours on both on them but they are good hours. And I can’t wait to get into the Harper Lee book but I’m already hopping between two books now! Looking forward to your review.
Have a good weekend!
~ Cassandra from Renaissance Women
I think you’ll really like the book, Cassandra. It’s respectful and honest.
Good Morning! Hope you are feeling better. I wanted you to know that I followed the link to Lauren. Oh my stars, is that house and the yards gorgeous! I think I need to move next door to her just so I could stare at the yard! Creepy sounding, huh? Anyway, her art is breathe taking. She is truly a talented lady. Thanks for sharing.
Hope you and Don have a happy weekend.
Hugs
Isn’t that house charming and wonderful? That yard is so beautiful and lush.
You continue to provide so many of us with a thoughtful, beautiful and inspiring place to visit each day, despite the challenges in your life (we all face challenges–not all of us can do so with the grace and integrity you display).
I looked at Houzz and was floored at how personal her space is and how it surely reflects a well-feathered nest, just like your home with Don does. What it reminded me of is highlighting with objects the special relationships in our lives, each item with a unique connection to a particular life. Also, editing!! I have many special items, but so many that I can’t focus. Also I have a few collections instead of one or two deeply expressed.
We don’t have a big house, but the rooms are good-sized. When I clear out my space upstairs, I feel more open and free, but I miss my little bits and pieces–it becomes too impersonal. When it’s cluttered, tho, it feels too hard to clean and keep up.
Well, clearly your post brought up lots of issues for me to ponder!! Thanks for introducing me to new ways of thinking and seeing.
Keep feeling better–can’t imagine coffee without milk!! You are a brave woman. Hugs to your precious “old lady” puppy. I enjoy seeing her, especially her marvelously floofy feets!
Oh, editing is everything! I don’t always do that so well, it’s something I have to keep working on. I have the same challenge, Nora. I want my special things around me but I have to be careful that all those things don’t turn into clutter. Tricky.
And thank you so much for your kind words, my friend.
Lauren’s cottage is so cozy and inviting..her work is amazing..love the animals..
Me too, Nancy!
What fun! That precious cottage is amazing! I love the Gardenista blog/ website. Some of the things they show every day are just wonderful.
We are enjoying these diamond days as well. The next 7 days look the same…. temps in the upper 70’s and nighttime lows in the 50’s. I guess we deserve it after what we survived just a few months ago!! We do need rain….. but I am not to the point of complaining about this glorious stretch we are enjoying. The flowers look wonderful and I have about 45 tomatoes on my kitchen counter right now w/ many more to come along. To me there is no better treat than a fresh tomato straight from the sun filled garden. Have to keep these images in our minds as we progress through the months ahead.
I’m sure by now you have savored that 2nd cup of coffee. Hope you have a wonderful weekend and that you continue feeling better.
We are so lucky the past few days – very little to no humidity. It’s going to be 85 degrees today, so it will be hot, but without the humidity it’s much more bearable.
I confess as a nester who likes to have her place stocked with personal items within reach— there are days when the minimalist look appeals to me and I gravitate to those type of sights. The all white place only stand to remind me how I like color;) I think I’ve seen Remodelista before- but not the Gardenista — I will check them both out. Hope you got your half and half this morning.
Enjoy the weather and your Saturday
Pat
Oh, I have days when the minimalist looks really calls to me! I’ve had a few of those lately.
Sometimes all I want to do is look at pretty pictures and there are some sites I go to for just that. My first home was 950 square feet and it was pretty darn awesome. Have a great day. Tammy
Some of my homes have been very small, yet very charming. I agree, Tammy!
I trust you’ve had your second cup of coffee finally. The weather is glorious here as well…we all deserve this! Thanks for the link to Lauren’s cottage. It’s wonderful! I would like to think we could live smaller…but it would take a lot of editing that’s for sure. There’s a fine line for me, between being surrounded by my favorite things, and pics…and clutter. I have to constantly tweak.
The other two links are new to me…but I will check them out. I could spend hours on Houzz…and I have…but not today. It’s too nice outside! Enjoy your day! ;)
It’s really nice here, too, but I can only spend a tiny amount of time outdoors! Waaaah!
Dear Claudia,
the both hand reader was the hook! It’s so very charming and familiar! What a wonderful blog you have. Congratulations and thank you for the link to Gardenista.
All my best from Austria and a happy happy time
Elisabeth
Thank you, Elisabeth! How very nice to meet you!
Thank you for all of the new (to us) things you share in your blog. Whether it is a blog, movie, book, author, pencil, etc. it is fun to explore what you have introduced.
I’d like to ask those who have purchased the Blackwing pencils where you have found them. I visited their web site, but there aren’t any local retailers in my area.
Denise, I know you can get them on Amazon as well as a site called pencils.com.
Thanks for your kind words!
Claudia, I love when you show your flowers. You look like a busy person, reading so much. I know there’s always cooking, cleaning and laundry too. We all can’t seem to escape those chores. LOL Our weather’s been pleasant too. I do not want to let go of our summer. I want to enjoy every last minute of it. Blessings, xoxo,Susie
No, we sure can’t escape them, Susie – at least not for long!
I’m in Denver today and the weather is beautiful! What a gorgeous place! Heading home late Monday and I think I’m ready! Look forward to your reviews!
hugs,
Linda
So glad you’re having a good time, Linda!
I will certainly look at the small space site and the others you recommend. Particularly interested in the small cottage site. At present we are dividing our time between our home and a 714 square foot apartment, while we await the sale of our home. It has been over half a century since I lived in an apartment. J has never lived in an apartment. We are both enjoying this community of apartment dwellers. The residents are from all around the world and some from our own backyard. We ran into a former sister in law living right down the walkway.
In away, the small apartment is a learning adventure for our future home. We are used to team meal prep. We seem to be adapting well to all areas of small space living, but the small kitchen is taking a tad bit more time to learn. Our dream is to finally get the house in the country sold and move to a small home nearer the city.
I must find the The Mockingbird Next Door: Living With Harper Lee. Looking forward to your review.
Enjoy your Sunday.
Wishing you well on your new adventure, Pat. I’ve lived in a lot of apartments over the years. It’s an adjustment, but it’s also a lot of fun!
I guess that nondairy creamer is a sacrilege. Hope you’re having a good day.
Yep. Can’t go with nondairy creamer, Missy! Have a great day.