Slipping Zoom Settings

Zoom level: 100%

Got myself quite an education yesterday when my zoom settings slipped. I saw what some of you have been privately complaining to me about. Hmmm... Well, I still like my background and will keep it *through Valentine's Day, but I admit that it's busy when you see that much of it. Personally, I can't handle the zoom level at anything less than 160%. What do you keep your zoom setting on?

Zoom level: 160%

Have a great weekend and enjoy the Super Bowl, if you're planning to watch. Are you?

*Edited to Add: Oh my! I had no idea the can of worms this would open. I hasten to add that I decided to change it rather than risk losing readers. Not over some silly background. This still isn't what I want, but I'll have to check into it further. Tried doing my own background and nearly lost my blog. Yikes! Closing comments for now and DON'T email me either. ☺

Kathy's Gift

What a nice surprise! Noooo, it really was more than that when I received an unexpected package earlier this week. It was more like a reminder...just a little something to say I'm thinking of you and wanting to encourage you. In fact, those were the kinds of words that Kathy used in her email later. It worked.







It's a vintage book of essays by Helen V. Taylor about growing up in Maine. Kathy suggests that my family may want to read the book aloud...true, but I've been doing some advance snooping and I've found a paragraph that could be written about my life here at Haven.

As an old lady she was like a little sparrow. She chattered and chattered and much of what she said was about herself. She was curious about everything and when a team went by the house she quickly went to the window and stood to one side and told us details about the passerby...her gentle voice flowed on and on, around us and beside us, and she didn't often expect a response.

Yes, this could have been written about my grandmother, perhaps about many grandmothers. Nan has, given her front room location, the job of town crier. She is quick to let us know when the mailman has delivered the mail or the plow is making another sweep. She doesn't think that I can hear these things without her announcement. Too cute! Her favorite announcement is that John is home. Mine, too.

Mostly, it reminds me of a Laura Ingalls Wilder book being from the same genre. And the illustrations are so sweet. The chapter called "Maine Winter" describes nearly every winter I've ever known...

Winters in Maine were long and severe. Snow usually fell in early November and the ground was not bare until late March.

But my favorite is a little recipe from the same chapter. Next time it snows I'll try this and report back...

When soft clean snow had just fallen on the kitchen windowsill, Mother would let me open the window quickly and fill a bowl with snow. Then I sprinkled it with sugar and the juice of an orange. It made snow ice cream which had to be eaten fast before it melted.

You will find Kathy at Shocking Pink Thread and you'll be glad that you did!

In Search of Built-In Beds

How do ideas come to you for posts? They often come to me from other bloggers. (I♥bloggers!) For example, I have always appreciated Swedish architecture and Swedish homes. I've told you about my love of Carl Larsson and all this before I married a Swede. So when I read Judy's post and found her little grandson cozily tucked down in Judy's closet, euphemistically described as "the other guest room," I thought about built-in Swedish beds and how much I've always wanted them and how perfect it would be for my grandsons. And I wondered if my Swede could be talked into creating some and on and on.

Let's begin with a photo of Carl Larsson's bed captured from my little book on Sundborn...

Although it appears to be a built-in as in up against a wall, it's really centered in the room. You can see another view of it here at Adventures in Daily Living. Though it's not up against a wall, it has those features that charm such as the curtains, which can be drawn and the curved lines.

Then, as it happened, I read Melissa's post about Winter Bliss(dom) and found the most perfect built-in situation, which sent me searching further.

Funny thing about this "searching further" as it often brings one right back home. And that's what I found in my search for built-in beds — a Maine architectural photographer and his amazing work — Brian Vanden Brink. You are in for a treat if you visit his web site. So much to see there...much more than beds! If the name sounds familiar, it's because his work has been featured in many books and magazines.

And I found what I think would be the perfect built-in for little boys, though mine would have to include a window. Those confined spaces get quite stuffy.



Or perhaps this...



maybe something like this, which is so charming again because of the curtains...

Source

No, I think the first, which I learned was created in Norway for an American ambassador now living on the coast of Maine. How interesting! The wave flourishes are a nod to the sea, of course. You can read more about the design *here.*

If you require beds using very little space thereby saving room for work or play or if you just think being cocooned in such a cozy spot would be bliss, perhaps you'll be thinking about built-ins, too.

A happy day to you!

~Vintage♥Valentines~

♥Source♥

Such a great resource for vintage kids' Valentine cards. They take me back...way back and are, in my opinion, far more charming than the Valentines of today.

(Oh, and for those who may not know and wish to...Alt and 3 equal a heart symbol.)
(Edited to add: Mac users? & hearts ; is the formula minus the spaces. Oh, and would a Mac user please let me know if that works? One more thing, Mac users have an options key instead of an alt key???)

As you can tell, it's been all about playing in here with color and what-not. My sincere apologies for not having a real post, but it's been great fun to goof around.

Enjoy this first February day of 2010...
(And it's true, you know: You do suit me to a tea!)
♥ ♥ ♥

Don't Worry

(Imagine a black and white photograph of a country road where two roads have recently converged. Newly fallen snow shows sets of tire tracks. There are trees overhead creating a canopy. Although I thought it best to remove the photograph, not having had permission to use the photo, you can see it by following the former photo source.)

On this final day of January...

Don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow's going to come and take care of itself in its own time. Embrace this day even with its troubles; pay attention to this day. (my take on Matthew 6:34)

...Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ~Matthew 6:34 NIV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. ~ Proverbs 3:5&6

Have a wonderful day!

Photo Source