Many Things Small Seem So Grand...

....like the beginnings of the raspberries

which later became black raspberries

or the dainty nesting tables Pat brought us from the thrift store

or the lobelia, happy in moss

Oreo under the grape vine

The faux birdhouse with the faux tin roof that Pete made for the lintel

I am not too proud to confess that having a lintel is a certain amount of pressure

The wild roses climbing over the fence

The baby sparrow preparing to leave the house

Marbles...always marbles...

The new additions to the fence

The yard bunny

and the ice cream wagon, "Scoop to Nuts", parked for the time behind town hall 

brimming with perfect-summer-day smiles.

*************

"may my heart always be open to little

birds who are the secrets of living

whatever they sing is better than to know

and if men should not hear them men are old"   
- e.e.cummings

Happy Birthday Weekend, Siggy!

Pat's Top Ten Tourist Tips

Pat and Pete

Carrie has asked me to write a "guest blog" and I somewhat reluctantly agreed.  I don't write nearly as well as she does, there are some other things I can do better and with greater ease:  cook, play the piano, garden.  But I'll give it a try.  So here it  is, a la David Letterman:

Pat's top ten list for guests visiting Sweet Little House

 10.  Shopping is always on any of my lists.  For outlets, start with Tangers Outlet - Williams Sonoma and Hush Puppies Merrell Sebago are here while Clinton Crossing has more apparel stores.  But the most fun is the Wear House Picking Pot Thrift Store.  As my suitcase was over-packed at the start of my trip, it's going to be almost impossible to buy anything, but they have a very eclectic collection of furniture, "art pieces" and general "stuff" that is hard to pass up.  
  

9.  Shoreline Gardens.  The most beautiful and artistically arranged hanging baskets I have seen anywhere.  All plants are started and grown there, I know of no other nursery that does this.  They are closing for the summer in late June - your loss unless you can schedule your trip for autumn or wait until next spring.  But rescheduling your trip is worth it.
 

8.  Oreo (the queen of cats).  Chipmunks hiding from and tantalizing Oreo!  Her very dedicated and purposeful walk through the living room, on the way to food of course.  Which she is immediately served (many times a day!)
 

7.  Carrie's garden.  This is lush and filled with so many different plants, many of which I don't know.  The bird feeders attract many birds who are almost as demanding of food as Oreo.
 

6.    Driving up to Chester.  Just wait until you see it, summer or, I am sure, fall; there are more maple trees than I have seen anywhere (I am a southern flatlander used to pine trees and no trees). 

5.    L & E restaurant in Chester ( luckily for us, Peter works there).  Most extraordinaire French chef who must always dream of food  for it to be so good.  Thank you, Everett,  and Patrick and Mark, for a wonderful evening.

4.    The plaster room.  How could it be called anything else even in its present refurbished and decorated condition?  And....it is on the same floor as the bathroom and the kitchen.  And...it has a most comfortable bed.  At present there is some contention between me and Sudie James as to whose room it is!  But be assured that you, as a guest, have #1 dibs.


3.  The Lobster Shack.  On the water, tables outside, order at the cash register.  And get a buttery, 1/4 pound lobster roll.  What else can I say?

2.  Thimble Islands cruise.  This is a lovely 45 minute cruise, easy parking, reasonable fares.  And a close-up look at these tiny rock islands with residences ranging from a gazebo to mansions.

1.  Sweet Little House.  I was moved to tears when I walked in; it was like walking into a dream because of all the pictures in Carrie's blogs that I had poured over.  
So - go, be a guest, it's the sweetest little house in America that comes with the sweetest hosts you could ever hope to have.  Much love to them, I will miss them and their hospitality.

Goodnight Plaster Room

   Though I may want to wax sentimental about leaving behind the room that once presented us with our greatest challenge, the fact of the matter is - it's still there.

   When we first saw this space, our initial response was that we didn't really need another room. This is actually laughable - hilarious really- in its defeatism. There are only two rooms on the first floor.

But all the hairy plaster you see...

and the exposed lathe......is still there...just beneath the 1/4 inch sheetrock ...left for those who come after us  to discover...

Despite my vivid imagination...

...I have trouble believing these are the same angle

We merely sheetrocked over it, because that is exactly what people who don't know how to do anything do!

And this was our first quick furnishing since it seems we were right after all; we really don't need another room. We live entirely in the other. But we do need a room for guests, and here is our second 'guest room' furnishing.

   So goodnight plaster room, and it was great having you, because now we have no idea where to keep our tools and vacuum cleaner and paints and caulks and liquid nails and....

***************************

Strawberries from Dan and Louise /Plate from Virginia/Photo for Leora

The Porch Revisited

   For those of you who are following this nesting saga, today I simply offer the conclusion to a Spring! project you were left in the midst of...and for those of you who follow us, you know the reason for "Spring!" And for those who aren't familiar with the story behind "Spring!" - it's because "Spring!" is so ridiculously fantastic and embarrassingly beautiful!
   So back to the subject - the screened-in porch.

It began for us as this-

Then became this-

And today became this-

Now, of course, this is entirely staged. Pete humored me and we carried the dining room table from the house and temporarily placed it on the porch just for the purpose of taking these photos...

...but now Pete has plans to build an even larger table since the room is so accommodating.

Pete would not agree to photographing the food because "it is only a sandwich!"

So we did have lunch here today since the table was beckoning, and it was absolutely lovely- the wind blowing through the many trees which lend us so much natural shade, and a robin taking a dip in the bath....and it's Spring!