Open House Sunday

Lighthouse Cove Cottage

Doesn't this look like the ideal place to spend an early fall weekend?

Today's open house is a new home built to look old.

It's designed by

This home was built on Lake Winnipesaukke in New Hampshire. 

TMS architects created a home that respected the Lake's historic past.

The details in this house are quite cottage....but it's a large home.

This is "On Golden Pond"-ish for sure.

Some of the decor in this house is not to my liking but it would not take much to make this home perfection. 

The bones are there just some weird decor decisions made.

Like those terrible sconces and pendant lights. I do not like the artwork up there on the ledge.

Do like the sofa and side table.

That's a massive stone fireplace that I think would have been better with a more traditional mantel.

One in white...don't you?

That wolf painting front and center is just soooooo bad. 

Different art and this room would be great.

How gorgeous is this view out on to the lake?

I can just imagine having Thanksgiving with all the family in this setting.

That chandelier or flying saucer is very unfortunate.

Not crazy for the glass topped table either. 

A nice wood farm table would make this space a stand out.

The kitchen...oh...why didn't they go with white cabinets?

It would have been so much better. 

Yes, aren't those pendants hideous?

Not as ugly as those lights overhead though. Notice the newel posts reflect the lighthouse theme.

Just look at those views!

Nice simple guest bedroom.

Pretty vintage influenced bathroom. 

Again...terrible light fixtures.

This bathroom could have been better.

Now this bedroom...I love. 

Not the furniture but the alcove the bed is set into.

It adds so much charm to the room.

What a spot overlooking the lake! Yes, I would gladly spend a fall weekend here.

See the entire house here.

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Blog Buddies

When in the dumps....

get help from a blogging friend.

See that cute painting above?

It was done by my friend Cindi of

Old Black Cat Boo

Cindi works at a veterinary clinic taking care of everyone's animals as her day job.

She comes home to a cute little cottage full of rescued animals.

She's a great writer and artist and has started selling some of her cute 

paintings on Ebay.

Like that one above.

This one too. The auction ends soon and it is perfect for Halloween.

Cindi and I are always encouraging each other.

I hope you'll go by and see her other paintings on Ebay and perhaps bid on one.

Cindi's Paintings on Ebay

Cindi takes care of so many animals that need to be cared for.

She cares for customers' animals like they are her own.

Actually, she has quite a few of her own because you would not believe how many people 

bring their supposed loved animal into the vet and then want to just leave them there.

She recently adopted a sweet little dog just because it's owners were tired of her.

Cindi couldn't bare to see the little one go to a shelter.

Poppy - happy in her new home with other family members and Cindi.

And this is the second dog this summer that was in the same situation and she had to take them in.

Earlier she adopted a little dachshund whose family just didn't want her any more.

Unbelievable how uncaring some people are.

But you know what? Cindi comes out on the winning end of this situation because her life is full 

of love and inspiration from her furry family.

Just go take a look at her little paintings. 

I'm sure you'd enjoy her blog too.

Old Black Cat Boo

Now...that I've helped a fellow blogger friend....I'll tell you about how a fellow blogger helped me.

I received a little help today from Amy of Maison Decor 

which was followed by help from some of my readers.

I spoke to Amy last night on the phone.

I was telling her that my hours have been cut at Pier 1 due to the fact

that they've hired holiday help.

So until the store gets busy for the holidays, all our hours are cut to allow room

for the new people. 

That's ok....except I need the extra income.

As it is now...I never have extra money for house projects and crafts these days.

I was complaining to Amy that if I just had money for supplies, 

I could do some wonderful things to show on the blog.

But I feel so stuck....trying to make ends meet.

House expenses and dog expenses...and you know how it goes....we've all been there.

Amy suggested I put a donate button on my blog and maybe those that 

value the blog would pay a little so that I can make the blog better.

I had another friend suggest I should do this but I just felt so weird about it.

But they are right...I spend a lot of time on the blog and my posts and projects would be 

so much better if I had the money for supplies to make things.

So...I did it....I added a donate button.

Don't hate me. I know it's tacky as hell.

Amy is a great friend. Her blog is one of my favorites.

And you know she opened two Maison Decor stores in the Boston area recently.

You can order Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint from her

and she carries Annie Sloan Chalk paint too.

Oh...I wish I could open the Oklahoma City branch of Maison Decor....wouldn't that be fun?

Her blog is full of ideas on how to paint furniture.

She also does paint workshops on how to use the paint.

Wish I was close enough to go.

I've been too poor to even try either paint...in spite of the fact that I have several things 

here waiting to be painted.

I'm also going to start offering blog design.

I'll be doing Amy's next week.

She has been wanting it redone.

I have designed many websites in the past and of course I designed my own blog.

So I'm going to offer my services to others.

Truth is...if I don't make more money soon....I'm going to have to go back to 

the corporate world where I'll be working so much....this blog is going to 

significantly suffer. 

I've tried to do a great blog and work 60 hours a week and it does not work out too well for the blog.

Anyway, keep me in mind if you need a blog design.

I'll be posting about that in the coming week.

I designed this blog too.

http://anurbancottage.blogspot.com/

You can't imagine how much I appreciate all your support.

All of my blog friends and readers got me through the roughest year of my life last year.

I can never repay you for that. 

Thanks to all of you that have donated already. 

Unbelievable....really how kind you are.

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Doily Table Runner

A Sad Story

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Confession...I really don't care for table runners very much.

I don't know why but...when I started seeing table runners made from vintage doilies online -

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Well, I changed my mind. I wanted one of these runners.

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Alas....I was stupid and didn't buy doilies every time I saw them over the past 20 years.

I didn't have a collection of them available.

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I thought...it will take me quite awhile to amass the collection of doilies I need to make a fabulous runner.

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Then, one day late last spring, I went to a small flea market in Norman.

My sister was selling jewelry there and I mainly went to visit with her.

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I made the rounds of all the booths and there was one booth selling vintage linens.

It was not a fancy booth...it was mostly junk.

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But there was one whole table full of vintage doilies.

The guy at the booth said 25 - 50 cents each!

I got like 30 doilies that day to make my runner. Lots of styles and sizes...much like those seen

in the photo above.

I was thrilled to walk out of there with a bag full for $10.

What a great day!

I'd soon make my runner.

Flash forward to about a month ago.

One day I think..."Hey, I think I'll make that runner today."

"Where are those doilies, anyway?"

I'd brought them home in a plastic grocery sack. 

That is what the flea market vendor had put them in.

I could not find them anywhere!

They are gone. Normally, I would have stuck them somewhere for safe keeping.

But life got busy and I must have forgotten.

I really think I threw them away one day when cleaning house.

One day I was sacking up junk mail and anything that I didn't need in the kitchen and or

breakfast nook and I'm almost positive I accidentally threw them away!

So disappointing.

Anyway when Donna at Funky Junk asked everyone to link up their table runners I immediately

thought about my runner that is never to be so I'm linking up

the inspirations of what it could have been if I hadn't been so careless.

Boo hoo...

sharing at

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