Memorial Day Monday

It’s quiet here at the old manor house on the hill this morning. It’s a good day to reflect on what this holiday really means and the men and women who have given their lives to defend it.

This morning I slept late. I know that my ‘late’ is many people’s ‘early’ but hey, my husband is up around 5 and out walking, so 7:30 is late.

I poured a cup of coffee and walked from room to room in my gloriously clean house. We had company over yesterday afternoon - people we’ve known for years and one old friend that was my high school bff. I still see Colleen once or twice a year and it’s always always good.

As I walked from room to room, I wondered what people in past lives did here on Memorial Day. Well, before it was officially declared a holiday in 1966, Memorial Day, or Decoration Day, was observed around the country in different ways, after the Civil War. My friends and I talked about it yesterday for a bit when we explained to them that the Mason-Dixon Line is just down the road.

I took a photo of the entry foyer with my back to the front door. We never use this entrance, preferring the one off the breakfast nook instead.




When we moved here, there was nowhere to put our bookcase, so here it stays. And yes, that’s a sheet you see hanging there on the right. A flannel sheet, to be exact. We have a window AC unit in that room and have hung sheets to keep the cool air contained. At the end of the hall on the right is a staircase, and on the left is a grand room that we don’t use because it houses many of the owners furniture and belongings.




We rarely use this staircase and believe me when I tell you that it needed cleaning after a long winter. I finally got around to doing so on Saturday.




Standing next to the staircase and looking out the front door. It’s a beautiful morning here in Maryland but it’s already begun to hold the promise of a steamy day.

My husband told me that when he got up this morning there was a chimney swift on the INSIDE of the screen in the living room. We have no idea how the bird got in but my husband was surprised that it stayed perfectly still and let him slowly open the window so it could go out. Either the bird was terribly smart or scared stiff – it’s a mystery.

Bluebirds have taken up residence in one of the two other boxes along the fenceline. I’m planning on heading out there soon and trying to get some photos. Later on, my husband is going to rig up the froggie sprinkler under the dogwood tree so I can sit under it. I believe that if I ever have a home with a pool, I might end up terribly missing the days when I had to use a sprinkler hooked up to the low branches of a dogwood tree to keep cool. I’m actually serious.  The sprinkler is a sweet way to stay cool and it waters the tree and the flowers underneath at the same time.

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Newest addiction: The vintage photos that have been appearing on The Sartorialist, one of my favorite blogs. It’s not just the photos that do it for me, but the captions as well. I’ve gathered several of them here to show you what I mean:


Sartorialist Vintage Photos


Have a blessedly wonderful holiday Monday, my friends. Love,