Back from Vacation

(click on the pictures - detail much clearer when you do. they just don't do the place justice!)

We drove for hours. Finally we came to this allee, lined with pines, cypress and crape myrtle. Our destination was at hand.......

.....there it was!  A romantic cottage.....on its own island....in its own 3 acre pond!

The toll house sat at the footbridge.

We brought our things across the bridge,

and into our cottage.

Pretty Byrd Cottage has lots of gingerbread.  Great roof lines.  The clapboard siding and all the trim, inside and out is wooden. 

The back porch is delightful for reading and watching wildlife.

It overlooks a garden.

The master suite has its own porch.  It's a lovely place for coffee, breakfast. 

The craftsmanship on the railing is exquisite.

I found Pretty Byrd Cottage at http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p225454.  I think I could devote an entire blog to it!
I will be taking you along with me for more!  We still have to see the inside, check out the farm, the estate house, treasures I brought home, places to go!

Please join me!  I promise that you won't be disappointed!
Joining Cielo for Show off Your Cottage Monday, and Sally for Blue Monday!

Psalm 32:7 NIV

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. "Selah"

May each of you have a blessed Sunday.  Join me as I visit Charlotte and Ginger for Spiritual Sundays!

I am back from vacation and have returned with much blog fodder!  Prepare yourselves!

Carol

Yay!! Baby Kitty is 8 today!!!

Baby Kitty's mommy, Debbie, is having a Birthday Party for him and it's Today!!
Happy, Happy Birthday, Baby Kitty! We are so glad to know you!
Let us introduce ourselves.....

Happy Birthday, Baby Kitty!  My name is Tony Macaroni, but usually I am called Tones.  I am very talkative and busy.

My name is Sunny, aka Hunny.  I am Mommy's favorite.  If you check out her blogs about us cats, you'll find that it is true!  Happy Birthday!  Meow.

Isaac, aka Buddy the black Standard Poodle.  Major goofball.
Mo, aka Bubba.  Large and in charge gray cat. 
Happy Birthday, Baby Kitty!

Here I am, in my morning "hammock".  Lying in the curtain.  Since I am Bubba, large, loud and in charge, I already said Happy Birthday in the previous shot.

Hi!!!!!!!! I am (Action) Jackson, the youngest at 4 months of age! Mommy says my voice is extremely high pitched and whiny for such a little fellow.
Let's play, Baby Kitty! Let's play a Birthday Game!

Happy Birthday, dear Baby Kitty!  We love you and thank you for inviting us to your big celebration!

Love,
Tones, Hunny, Bubba, Jackson, Isaac and their mommy

New View

I pulled the curtain to the side of the foyer window. It lets a lot of sun stream in. Summer sunshine!

Many times a day, I walk through here.  I enjoy the new view - pots of geraniums.  A sweet, simple, summertime pleasure!

Joining Dayle for Simple Summertime Pleasures. Thanks for hosting Dayle!

Wishing everyone a wonderful week of summer!

Carol

Old Fashioned Hydrangea....before the blooms turn pink!

The adjectives beautiful, bridal, summery come to mind.

As you can see, this hydrangea is thriving! this year.
And I've finally come up with something for White Wednesday at Kathleen's!
Also joining Outdoor Wednesday with Susan!
And Wordless Wednesday, too!

Carol

My Vintage-Simple-Spacious Bath

Today we'll visit my favorite bathroom.  Our house is 102 years old, and this is the bathroom original to the house.

The tub, faucet, window and radiator are original.  As are the plaster walls.

It is lovely to soak in the tub and see all the greenery of the trees through the window.

We did install a new vanity and picked up the little dresser for a song.

The print is a favorite of mine. A summer island scene from the Thousand Islands that I bought 20-some years ago.





New vanity.

The mirror was here when we moved in.  It's old, but I do not know its history.

Original wall sconce.

Can you appreciate the size of this linen closet??? It's a walk in, lovely old floors, 3 sides of shelves. This is a terrific feature and I keep it neat and organized because I love it so. We even store our vacuum cleaner in here!

So that's it. Since becoming an empty nester, I've taken over this bathroom. Someday we'll redo the floor. But I enjoy the simplicity of it, the lines, the restful, quiet space of it.

Thanks for coming on the tiny tour! and have a wonderful weekend. It's glorious out this morning!

Carol
Joining:
Cindy for Show and Tell Friday
Debra for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Cielo for Show off Your Cottage Monday

Wordless Wednesday - Bad Idea # 368. Wrestling Match.

The Setting: Atop a little kitchen cabinet temporarily moved into the foyer while Mister puts the final coat of polyurethane on the kitchen floor.

Linking to Wordless Wednesday!

Just Thinking

I was rocking in my little hammock chair this weekend and thinking.

I am so glad that it is summer.  Because summer, you see, is my favorite season.

Spring and Fall are delightful.  And not as hot.  Winter, even when cold and dreary, or beautiful and snowy, is always a good time to stay cozy and eat comfort food.

But right now is perfect.  Because July has started.  Started, mind you.  There are plenty of blooms.  And fresh fruits and veggies.  You can't beat the fresh flowers and the produce. 

Which means there is still plenty of July left.  And all of August.

And Fall doesn't begin until the second half of September, right?

Which makes it my very favorite time of year.  Summer.  And there is plenty of it left!

Thanks to the hosts of these delightful parties - I'm joining Cielo for Show off Your Cottage Monday, Jean for Bloomin' Tuesday, Susan for Outdoor Wednesday.

Hope this is a wonderful week of summer for each of you!
Carol

Simple Summertime Pleasures

It is wonderful to be near water in the summertime.  My favorite times of day are early morning and then evening, times when the water's surface is smooth as glass.

Joining Dayle for Simple Summertime Pleasures!

North Carolina!

Over the 4th of July weekend, Mister and I traveled to Mooreseville, North Carolina for our niece's wedding.
We had a lovely time with family. Many pictures suitable for blogging were taken!

Here is the happy couple! Our niece looked gorgeous in her wedding dress. She and her groom were so happy! I don't think they ever stopped smiling!

The bridesmaids bouquets were exquisite......summer blossoms. 

The reception was held at The Arbors.  Oh my goodness, what a wonderful place.  Here are some flowers blooming in the meadow.

The house was glorious.  Beautifully furnished, downstairs had a garage, pool room, gathering room.  Upstairs was a lovely master bedroom/bathroom/porch with fireplace, guestroom, kitchen and loft.

The grounds were lovely.  I can see a ceremony under this arbor.

The hammock was perfect for one....or two.  Mister and I tried it out!

Past the hammock, the stream emptied into a pond.  Daylilies graced the footbridge.

The house was beautifully finished in stone, with lovely lines and details.

This porch was edged in blooms.

Around the corner, this porch featured twig furniture.

Here is a closer view of one of the twig chairs.

Mister awaited me on the dock of the pond. Notice he is carrying my delicate and be-blinged shoes with him.  Love the happenin' sunglasses.  Gotta tell you, I couldn't take my eyes off him all night.  He was very "hot" and is an amazing and romantic dancer.

The shoes kind of killed my feet, so I went barefoot all night. The grass was lush and soft under my feet. What a wonderful feeling!

Hope all of you had a wonderful holiday!

Carol
Join me as I visit Jean for Bloomin' Tuesday and Susan for Outdoor Wednesday!