Return visit to Red Chair Antiques and meeting up.........

.................with blog friend Janet who drove all the way from Massachusetts to Peterborough, New Hampshire to spend time with us for lunch and shopping!  

Janet's fun blog is HOUSEPEEPERS. Do visit her to see great photos of beautiful New England homes. Janet invited us to visit last year when we were also on our way to New Hampshire, and entertained us in her lovely home with the most delicious breakfast.......she's a great cook!

Tucked away by the river is Red Chair Antiques.  You may remember my visit there last year.  Featured in several magazines over the past years, owner Jocie Sinauer sells the most amazing mix of French, Swedish and Belgian items for the home ranging from linen grain sacks to hotel silver and concrete mushrooms.  I LOVE this shop and really think it has the most stunning displays of unusual antiques anywhere.  Jocie truly has 'the eye'.  Most recently (don't remember which mag./issue and, as I'm away from home, can't reach for it), her home here in New Hampshire was featured - needless to say it's stunning just like the shop.

Jasmin, me, and Janet - ready to shop at Red Chair Antiques

This visit I was overwhelmed by such loveliness again....and kicking myself, and my DH, that once more we had flown here and didn't have our own car to load with piles of European beauty to take home!  Instead I had to restrain myself and just buy a few things to tuck into a suitcase.

The prettiest starfish for a Summer display.

Lots of interesting china.

Even a few Asian pieces such as these sweet ginger jars.

Aged and wrinkled French books - just as I like them.

If you'd enjoy seeing what I bought.........you'll have to wait until I get back home and unwrap my package!

Enjoy your 4th of July celebration today ~ we're heading to New Boston, NH for the always fun parade at 10 AM.  Hot 95 degrees forecast, no cool weather here either!

New Boston, New Hampshire - Photo from 2009 visit.

PINK SATURDAY.............and I'm on the road again!

I'm in New England for the Fourth of July.......celebrating in a small New Hampshire country town where they have a big old timey parade....with lots of red (pinkish red too!) white and blue.

.....hopefully viewing the always beautiful new England seacoast with PINK wild roses growing next to the blue water.....

....and enjoying my DH's hometown on the Merrimack River where we used to live.  We'll be celebrating his really big birthday on the 5th..............following the fireworks display over the river the night before!

From there we'll head even further North to Canada - looking forward to cooler days in Montreal and Quebec. 

Beverly our Pink Saturday hostess is allowing red, white and blue as well as pink today, yippee!  Go visit her at How Sweet The Sound and join in as we celebrate a colorful holiday weekend.  Have a fun time wherever you are.

***** Happy Independence Day *****

The Cheetah Boys..........

Waking to another beautiful South African morning.

This morning game drive at MalaMala enabled me to check off more animals and birds in the booklet provided by our camp.  This is such a fabulous area of South Africa for viewing wildlife.  Leaving early, bundled up in fleece blankets to ward off the Winter chill, we headed out.  Soon we threw them aside, along with our jackets, and by mid-morning short sleeves were fine as it was in the seventies with clear blue skies, just perfect weather.

Soon met up with another vehicle - guests were already getting photos of the cheetah boys!  These cats were a total of four brothers. Males are very sociable and will group together for life, usually with their brothers from the same litter.

CHEETAH:  Acinonyx jubatus

An atypical member of the cat family that is unique in its speed, while lacking strong climbing abilities.  It is the fastest land animal, reaching speeds between 70 and 75 mph in short bursts covering distances up to 1,510 ft., and has the ability to accelerate from 0 to 64 mph in three seconds, faster than most supercars.

Males are very territorial and mark their territory by urinating, on objects that stand out such as trees, logs or termite mounds.  Males will attempt to kill any intruders and fights result in serious injury or death.

As mentioned, there were four of these boys, however I could only get two, and then these three together in one shot.  We said goodbye when they decided to rest in the warmth of the late morning - cheetah usually hunt for food early morning or in the evening before dark when prey are more visible to them.

I'm off again.................but not using this mode of transportation.  Have to admit the terrapins have found the hippo to be a great place for a layover, much more fun than an airport lounge!