Friday, January 31, 2014

Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II | Page 62


A few more suggestions, observations, and reminders on how to live a happy and rewarding life.

I like all of these!
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Are you watching FLEMING on BBC America?

This 4-part mini-series is SO good. It's about the life of Ian Fleming.
I stumbled on it quite by accident this past Wednesday. I didn't realize it was a 4-week event. Part One is being repeated tonight at 11:00pm in my area. Here is the website. Check the schedule to see when it's on again in your area. 
I'm really upset that Sunday will be the finale of Sherlock. Didn't it just begin? BooHoo. I would have preferred 6 one hour episodes instead of 3 two hour episodes. How about you? At least I'll have Fleming to look forward to on Wednesday nights. Aren't you glad you have me to tell you what to watch?
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Farm Gate at My Cottage

The metal part of this gate was knocked down by a fallen tree during Hurricane Sandy. I pushed it back up as best I could and decided to let the wild roses, grape vines, and various other weeds take over. My plan is working. Can you see the cut remnants of the tree? They are only visible in the winter. I pushed them around so I still have a walking path but the tall weeds hide them in the summer. The blue skies have gone and are replaced by gray this morning. We are supposed to have rain tomorrow. Back to my coffee now; see you later. xo
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Thursday, January 30, 2014

Dark Blue Skies and Free Bird Seed at My Cottage

This was the dark blue cloudless sky over the cottage this morning. The rusty colored tall foliage that fringes my property is a wonderful food source for the birds in this frigid weather.

Bird tracks in the snow. My tall weeds are in this area and the birds are eating the seeds. I never thought of them as a food source until this year. When I went out with Webster after breakfast there was lots of birdsong in the air and it really sounded like spring even though it was very cold. There were birds hopping around everywhere foraging for seeds. I have an endless supply too. The tall weeds on the bank and all around my property provide good cover for the small birds so they can eat in peace and not worry about the hawks.
Enjoy your evening and I'll see you tomorrow. xo
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Antiquarian Books in an Old Library

Old Library at St John’s College, Cambridge England via
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The Shadow -- Continued

His collar and tags are forming a wolf mouth.

The wolf keeps following Webster.

He decided to run away from it.
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Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Who's Afraid of The Big Bad Wolf?

Oops, sorry. It's just Webster. The shadow looks scary, doesn't it?
We are getting ready to take the last walk of the day. Enjoy your evening. Hope you are at home where it's safe and warm. I'm sure some of you have been through a tough ordeal. xo
PS...We just got back and the starry sky was beautiful!!!!!
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A Little Humor to Brighten the Day

He's taking his time so I guess nobody is home to scold this dog or clean up the mess before he's through eating it. I can see Webster doing this only he never would do anything bad when I'm not home. He does like to steal the cat food though. via
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Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II | Page 61


A few more suggestions, observations, and reminders on how to live a happy and rewarding life.

719 is very important when you move. Meet your neighbors, don't wait for them to knock on your door with a chocolate cake.
720 is critical when someone gets sick.
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Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Webster's Watercolors

I remember this day well. It was a nice summer day 2-1/2 years ago when I had a cottage in town under contract. I had to go over to wait for a home inspector and I took my mother and Webster with me. We sat on the front stoop to wait for the man and watched the locals walk up and down the street, with and without dogs. Webster was an angel. He never left the yard and was so happy as you can see from the expression on his face.




I should have doctored up the original a little bit to decrease the contrast so his eyes would show. I just wanted to show you some of the available choices. He looks so happy in all of them. I had an office meeting this morning and all of the agents were so excited when I showed them the watercolors of my listing. I had to make a few for the manager so he could post them on one of his listings too. Nobody could believe how easy it was! Love that Waterlogue app.
Stay warm. Looks as if we are all cold together on the east coast! I heard about the ice and snow in Birmingham, Alabama....I used to live there when I was young. Very tough for those of you not used to driving in it. Stay home and be warm. xo
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My Cat, Tabitha

She doesn't turn around and look out very often. She usually just curls herself up in a ball and sleeps. She doesn't stay outdoors very long in this cold but she goes out willingly when I make her. I understand a lot of animals put on their brakes and refuse. Webster and Tabitha never do and I am thankful for that. I'm the one that refuses. Brrrrr.
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Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II | Page 60


A few more suggestions, observations, and reminders on how to live a happy and rewarding life.

717 is a good one. "Remove your sunglasses when you talk to someone." Most people don't.
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Monday, January 27, 2014

MacAulay - Scottish Clan and Tartan

The MacAulay Tartan, watercolor version


MacAulay Scottish Clan History on left. Motto: Danger is Sweet. This brass running dog paperweight is one of my favorite things.
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Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II | Page 59


A few more suggestions, observations, and reminders on how to live a happy and rewarding life.

714 - When opportunity knock, invite it to stay for dinner.
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Heading Home

Webster is so hard to photograph outside. He's all business doing his tracking. We were just finishing our last walk of the day having walked the perimeter. He sticks his nose deeply into some of the tracks, probably those of our fox family. That's his job and he's very diligent. Webster is the best security guard ever. Happy Monday.
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Sunday, January 26, 2014

Flaxseed Muffins with Dried Cranberries


Cranberry Flaxseed Muffins

Yields 1 dozen muffins.
My muffin pan only makes 11 and I ate 2.

3/4 cup (95 grams) all-purpose flour
3/4 cup (90 grams) whole wheat flour
1/2 cup (53 grams) flax meal
1/3 cup (66 grams) brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1/4 cup (60 ml) vegetable oil (I used Olive Oil)
1 cup (235 ml) milk (I used unsweetened Soy Milk)
1 cup (120 grams) dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Grease a muffin tin or line with baking cups.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flours, flax meal, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Make a well in the center of the bowl and add the egg, vegetable oil, and milk, mixing until the batter is evenly incorporated. Stir in the dried cranberries.

Divide batter evenly between baking cups, filling each 3/4 full. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Serve with a small pat of butter or spread of jam.


They were delicious. I cranked up my wonky gas oven to 400° and that was perfect. My enameled cast iron muffin pan gets nice and hot and holds the heat after you take them out of the oven. I cooked mine for 20 minutes and let them cool for 10 minutes and they were done in the middle. I ate the first one hot with butter and the second on later with a cup tea and a spread of strawberry jam. 
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Great quote by John Steinbeck

Love!!! - found here
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New Snow on My Balcony

The snow on the decking is new because I shoveled the deep snow a few days ago. The accumulation on the top of the railing has already melted away and I hope the sun will do the floor too. I only shovel out there when it's unusually deep. Enjoy this lazy Sunday morning and let me know when you are tired of my Waterlogue watercolors. See this morning's photo here.
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Saturday, January 25, 2014

Interior Design Watercolor using an App

I had a request for an interior watercolor from a photo using the Waterlogue App for iPhone. This is the front hall of my real estate listing. I used the "technical" setting because it looks like the graph paper architects use. I like it, don't you? Request granted. Someone from Pinterest wanted this.
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