We left Cottage Lover in the breakfast room of The Enchanting Cottage. . .
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Cottage Lover could not believe the wonder she beheld.
A strange creature floated above her; half woman-half bird.
Artist Steve seemed to read her thoughts. "That's Ladybird. An artist friend of mine created her," he explained.
"She's magical. She looks as though she could actually fly," Cottage Lover said.
Artist Steve smiled, and Cottage Lover thought she saw Ladybird wink at him.
Beyond Ladybird Cottage Lover spied the kitchen.
Now Cottage Lover loved kitchens almost as much as she loved Captain, and she loved The Enchanting Cottage kitchen more than any kitchen she had ever seen.
Artist Steve had created the cabinetry himself. Each cupboard door was hand carved and painted.
It was fantastical.
Spectaculous.
Over the stove hung a most unusual pot rack, enhanced by a carving overhead, and for a mad moment Cottage Lover thought to snatch the entire kit n' caboodle when Artist Steve wasn't looking.
For she loved everything about it. The carved clock and roosters perched overhead,
the rooster corbel that supported the pot rack, and the hand forged hangers another artist friend had made.
Cottage lover imagined it would be very pleasant to have such a pot rack in her own kitchen one day.
In the corner of the extraordinary kitchen -- in a little open box -- lived a fairy with a perpetual pout.
A parakeet, which was under an evil spell and could not sing, sat atop the doorway. Cottage Lover suspected the pouting fairy had something to do with the poor parakeet's dilemma.
Between the kitchen and the breakfast room stood a cabinet which held the sink. There were no cabinets overhead.
The open space allowed for a view of the cottage garden through the stained glass window. Cottage Lover suspected the garden must be splendid in the spring.
The kitchen towels occupied a very special place on the side of the sink cabinet. They hung on a carved towel rod with the face of a beautiful princess. Cottage Lover thought the princess looked a bit sad, and wondered if she was under an evil spell, too.
A delightful petite bowl rested between salt and pepper shakers on a whimsical shelf.
On one side of the kitchen a carved arch led the way to a short hallway.
At the end of the little hallway was a closet behind a door with elaborate trim. To the right an arched doorway opened to the pantry and laundry room.
Cottage Lover walked in and smiled when she saw the row of mason jars filled with bounty from the garden on one pantry shelf.
All the pantry shelves were handmade, and the backs of some of them were painted in a vintage style.
Cottage Lover thought the laundry basket hanging on the wall was perfectly charming.
And she wondered why everyone didn't hang an antique clock in their laundry room, as Artist Steve had.
To be continued. . .
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