Saturday, March 31, 2012

Paperwhites and Lilies of the Valley


The paperwhites I started forcing just before Christmas have their own internal clocks. These just came into bloom this week. I thought they looked nice photographed with my iPad against the guest room draperies with a Lily of the Valley motif.

Pink Columbine


Here is another lovely photo of a pink columbine flower that I discovered on my third floor computer. With this nice soft rain can the wildflowers be far behind? via Pixdaus

April Showers are One Day Early


Don't you just love this beautiful photo? I wish I could claim it as mine. I woke up to a rainy morning on the last day of March here at the cottage. I am not upset in the least. I have lots of indoor chores and projects to keep me occupied. Have a wonderful weekend. via

Friday, March 30, 2012

Perfect Pond

I've had this photo saved on my attic computer for ages. I love this naturalized swimming pond but I would be fearful for my toes in case of snapping turtles. I love the mass planting of tall grass and purple iris. So very lovely!

A Decoupage Plate distorted with my iPad


I pointed my iPad's terrific camera set on the fun built-in PhoneBooth/kaleidoscope again this morning and focused on a John Derian decoupaged plate. It's pretty interesting, isn't it?

Aren't you just itching to do something like this? Dig up a big patch of earth, plant some seeds, and wait for them to grow. I love this painting by the Bucks County New Hope School artist Daniel Garber (1880-1958) entitled 'In the Springtime' via

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Birdbath turned Planter


Vintage terracotta birdbath turned planter is unusual and spectacular. via

Taupe, Putty, Gray, Grey, What?


I love the color of the walls in this room. It is very warm and soothing to the eye. Does this cross between a tan and a gray paint color have a name other than tannish gray? via
ladyhawthorne thinks it's 'Mushroom' and I think she might be right.

A peek into a Vermont Cabin


Isn't this a great room?  Burlington, VT cabin. Susan Teare Photography. I want to see what's at the top of the circular staircase, don't you? via

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Wow! My coffee table with Kaleidoscope Effect


I was playing around with PhotoBooth on my iPad and doesn't my coffee table look like a work of art? It's actually a big mess with a wadded up pink damask napkin and piles of books but doesn't it look cool using the kaleidoscope? So fun! Picasso would have loved playing with this.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Sun Rays + Koi Pool This Afternoon


I went to the most amazing open house today with amazing Zen gardens. I was the only one who even bothered to go outside. I was in heaven wandering around soaking up the beauty. I got some good sun rays beaming down on a faux bois bench. 

The reflecting pool full of colorful koi was lovely too. I'll share more photos later. I had such a nice day and a productive one too. I think that cool crisp air gave me a jolt of energy and the gardens were good for my spirit. 

Sighting of Foxes at My Cottage

 
 
 
 

The one that was lying down in the first photo stayed behind and let me get pretty close with my Nikon and its telephoto lens. Luckily Webster didn't know what I was up to since he was on the bed taking a nap. He can't stand for them to set one foot on 'his' property. He's very territorial.

Blue Stamps in A Frame


I thought Sweet Paul had a good idea when he picked out all of the blue stamps from a Brimfield score and framed them. Old stamps are miniature works of art themselves and almost everyone has a stash of them stuck in a drawer somewhere in the house. Let's get them out and display them.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Cold Again


Webster and I just got back from our last walk and I had to run back and grab my ski hat and mittens to go with my down jacket and scarf. The wind is howling and it's very cold. All the fruit growers are worried about the blossoms on their trees. It's supposed to get down into the 20s and it feels like winter again. This is a porcelain cold water faucet handle from my box of vintage hardware. How's the weather at your house?

Window Seat Flanked by Two Great Cupboards -- Creative DIY Project

 
You can create a custom built-in look by connecting two pre-fabricated hutches on two sides of the room, and then connecting them with a custom window seat and with the same trim. What a great idea! via

A Scene in An English Garden


I found this saved photo and don't know the source. My notes tell me it was a garden scene in Wiltshire, England. It's lovely, isn't it? Have a great week.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Barn Turned Greenhouse


I would say this is pretty wonderful, wouldn't you? I dearly love the awning windows. via

A Fallen Flicker

 

This Northern Flicker just fell dead from the sky yesterday and landed right in the middle of the place where I sit in my  Adirondack chairs in the way back. I don't usually do post-mortem photography but I decided to take photos of this beautiful bird before moving him to a more out of the way spot. I turned him over to reveal the yellow flight feathers on these birds here in the east. Out west they are red. Click on the link to learn more about this woodpecker and listen to his call. I'd still like to know what happened to this poor Flicker.

Wonderful Bird Bath


Someone is all set for spring and Easter. I love this old cast cement bird bath, don't you? It looks like one that will never spring a leak and can stay outside all year long. via

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Taxes are Boring


We've been at this for 3 days straight.

When we could be outside doing fun stuff.

Wake me when the taxes are finished.

Guess what?!! I'm We are finished. Webster will be so happy tomorrow. He's sick of all the filing, calculating, shuffling through papers, pencil sharpening, highlighting, and especially the shredding. The only fun part for him will be the ride in the car to the post office on Monday. Whew. I'm glad that's over for another year.

Red Barn with Garden


I took this photo several years ago in Basking Ridge, NJ. It wasn't that far away from a great old farmhouse so the homeowner could run outside and tend the garden easily. Don't you just love barns that become garages, potting sheds, and great dry storage lofts?
I can see the light at the end of the tax tunnel.

Just before spring.


Some of the trees in my area have buds and some don't. My grass is greener than this barnyard and I already feel as if I'm behind in my yard work. My riding mower is being picked up on Tuesday for a spring tuneup. I'm in solitary confinement on the third floor this weekend until I finish my taxes. I was hoping for a rainy day but it's gorgeous. Webster has been offering moral support and keeping me company up there with his head on the windowsill looking longingly outside wanting me to finish too. I'm pretty organized [finally] and I'm on the homestretch.

Friday, March 23, 2012

MAD MEN : How many ways can you say WHAT?


Click here if you can't see the video. The new season starts on Sunday at 9PM with a 2-hour premier after an absence of 17 months...way too long. Are you a fan of MAD MEN? More videos here on the AMC 'Mad Men' website.

Eleanor Roosevelt and her fabulous sense of humor:

“I had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalog: ‘No good in a bed, but fine against a wall.’” -Eleanor Roosevelt

Life's Little Instruction Book, Volume II, Pages 50 and 51

 
 

It's been a long time since I posted any of these great pages from one of my favorite books. Aren't you glad I remembered?

Thursday, March 22, 2012

More Daffodil Twins


The daffodils I photographed yesterday wanted you to see their profiles.

Papercutting to The Max -- Video -- Elaine Penwell


ElainePenwell
Don't fail to visit her website. She.is.amazing!

Great Sun Porch


I love the fireplace in this room. It's time to start thinking about moving outside again with the nice early spring weather we've been having. I think the lawn mowing season is just around the corner and way too early if you ask me! via

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

The Daffodil Twins

Every year the daffodils of spring delight me in the woods and naturalized areas around my cottage. I photographed these twins with my iPhone this afternoon under overcast skies with no shadows.

"When I bought my farm, I did not know what a bargain I had in the bluebirds, daffodils and thrushes; as little did I know what sublime mornings and sunsets I was buying." 
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Andy Warhol's Art





Albino Peacock Showing Off


The white peacock (or white peafowl) is a color variety of the Indian Blue Peacock. photo by Silvain de Munck

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Beautiful Puffy Clouds Today

After a chilly beginning the day got prettier and prettier. The sun came out and big white puffy clouds rolled in after lunch. I snapped these with my iPad from the balcony. 
By the way, it's been a week since I got my weighted hula hoop and I can do over 100 twirls now before it goes out of control. I try to pick it up and keep going and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I'm not sore anymore and my bruises are diminishing thanks to applications of Aspercreme. Did you know that stuff takes bruises away quickly? It really does. I'm having fun with the hoop and at night I put it on the 'good' sofa and it keeps Webster from sneaking on it for some quality sleeping during the night. So it's a dual purpose device [smile].
UPDATE: This morning I did 161 consecutive twirls on the balcony in my pajamas. It's just easier to go outside instead of moving furniture in my cottage.

Potting Shed Envy

 
 
 

I wanted to post them all but I resisted. There are more charming potting sheds for you to lust over at My Sweet Savannah

Faux Bois Bench


via Faux bois (from the French for false wood) refers to the artistic imitation of wood or wood grains in various media. I love the concrete bench a lot, don't you. It would be absolutely maintenence free and a joy forever.

Monday, March 19, 2012

The Skunk Cabbage is Coming Up


I ventured out beside a little stream (slippery iPad in hand) to show you the skunk cabbage that is growing by leaps and bounds in the wetlands surrounding my property in the way back. Pretty soon the peepers will sing me to sleep at night. Spring has sprung! If you've never heard of skunk cabbage and want to learn more about it click HERE.

Beautiful Spring Day at My Cottage


Webster was off looking for snakes when I snapped this photo with my new iPad. It's very awkward I must say and slippery too. I can't imagine taking this anywhere except around my own property as a camera. If you are lucky enough to have a beautiful cutting garden or lots of interesting things to photograph around your own home you are in fat city. Otherwise, it's much easier to use your iPhone. It slips into your pocket and doesn't have to be babysat. The new iPad is capable of capturing great pictures though.

Are You An Early Bird?


If this doesn't signify spring, I don't know what does. I wonder if this determined robin fell over backwards when the worm finally let go? via Pinterest