Kitchen Fabulous

This kitchen is super nice, isn't it? I've been too busy to take any photos of my own since I finally got to visit the outside world today. I did it all ~ post office, bank, real estate walk-thru, grocery store, vet, gas station, town hall visit to pay my real estate taxes. I still need to go to the library to return two videos but I think I'll save that for tomorrow. Whew. I'm bushed!

Antiques So Wonderfully Displayed

A place for everything and everything in its place. How nice. I'd love to see more of the wall of shelves decorated with antique baskets and miniature furniture. 

Baby Duckling - So cute!

Must be dinner time or play time or swim time and this little guy is running to catch up. Such a nice image to end my day. See you tomorrow!

DIY Boot Scraper

Here's a great winter project to get ready for the mud season that will be here before you know it. Check out The Project of the Week from MaryJanesFarm and make yourself one of these Boot Scrapers. 

Ice Everywhere at My Cottage

I don't have a doorbell and I sincerely hope nobody is coming anywhere near my front door today since the walkway is a solid sheet of ice and the iron bell is frozen too. I must deal with the outside pretty soon and scatter some seeds for the poor birds if I do nothing else.

Swimming Pond

I grew up swimming in ponds like this but I'm pretty sure I've lost my nerve. It always bothered me back then when I thought I felt a fish nibble at my toes. I recently saw a snapping turtle when I was showing a house with a pond and it was fierce looking. Now I wouldn't even dangle my feet off this beautiful rustic dock, would you?

I just had to post something showing Mother Nature at her best since she's showing her ugliest face at my house. My car is covered in about 3" of solid ice. I'm not sure I could open the door if I wanted to. I'll be fine until Thursday when I have to take the dog to the vet for a checkup. I think the sun'l be out tomorrow. Stay warm or cool depending on where you are. 

Photo full size here.

Google Takes Street View Into Art Museums

Google Takes Street View Into Art Museums - NYTimes.com
"Now that Google has conquered a majority of the earth’s major streets with its Google Street View project, the company is starting to move inside. It’s creating the Google Art Project, a virtual equivalent of 17 major art museums, including the the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Britain and the National Gallery in London, and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, among many others."

Dog Study in Concentration and Self-Control

Isn't this the best photo of a Weimaraner named Bella balancing a rawhide treat on the bridge of her nose? If I had some of these rolled chewy things around I'd try this with Webster. He is ever so much better and his skin infection is all but cured. He has medicine for today and tomorrow and an appointment with the vet on Thursday. He is acting like his old self and I'm so happy for him and for me too.

Decorated Valentine Cookies

Aren't these cookies beautiful? I love them. Have you started making your valentines yet?

Gardiner's Opera House in Paris | View from the Rooftop

An amazing view of the Eiffel Tower from the roof of Gardiner's Opera photographed by Antoine Lepetit

Gardiner's Opera House in Paris, the social cathedral. The genius of Charles Garnier was his determination to make this palace a huge theater where everyone becomes an actor. At the entrance, great mirrors allow the audience to readjust their clothing before entering an enchanted universe.

Backlit Poppies

I love the way these red poppies are so beautifully backlit by the sun. Another storm is coming and I refuse to think about more snow. We'll see what tomorrow brings as we dream of spring. *

Diamond Floors at Versailles

Robert Polidori - Versailles, Questel Staircase. This is absolutely stunning, isn't it? I love black and white diamonds on floors.

English Gardening Proverb

I am repeating this illustrated quote about gardening that I made ages ago. I'm so glad I remembered to put all of my watering cans in the garage for the winter. I learned the hard way not to leave them outside and let the water that collects freeze and expand to cause leaks. The nice old ones are getting harder and harder to find.

A Little Help Please? Dog in Deep Snow

A Little Help Please? This isn't Webster but it could be. Our snow wasn't quite this deep but it is still much too deep to even take a walk where it hasn't been shoveled. Poor dog. 

My Favorite Brushes

I always look for brushes like these at garage sales. I use them for so many things--most of which do not involve paint. Dusting books, washing windows, cleaning projects of every description, and the list goes on. I do use them for painting too and am very conscientious about cleaning them afterwards because I know how expensive they are to buy new. Are you also a fan of these round brushes?

Gourdon's Garden - Provence, France

Gourdon's Garden - Provence - France

The Castle of Gourdon is close by Saint Paul de Vence - Provence, on the top of mountain. Its gardens were designed by Le Notre, Louix XIV's gardener who also did Versailles park. The picture shows the very precise hard work done by the gardeners, resulting in the geometrical shapes of the trees and golf like lawn, AND the view of the impressive canyon below the garden. When taking the shot, I deliberately chose to frame it in those two parts (garden and canyon with the white wall being the middle line). The two gardeners, feeling the heat of the summer season, add a human touch to the picture.

Provence in general, St Paul de Vence and Gourdon in particular are great places to visit and photograph. photo and text by Pierre Metivier 

A Fabulous Gardening Motif

I absolutely love this gardening artwork from A Cottage In The Woods

I Love This

The refracted designs in these glasses of water caught my eye this morning. Seeing the world with your glass full is a good thing. Have a nice weekend. *

Wonderful Outside Sink

I just finished doing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen but it would have been more fun using this outside sink (in more suitable weather). I still love my own double porcelain farm sink rescued from the side of the road. Have a wonderful weekend.

Rudyard Kipling Illustrated Gardening Quote

It is time to sit by the fire and flip through all of those gardening and seed catalogs that arrive in the mail almost daily this time of year. I know many of you have cabin fever and maybe dreaming of spring will help cure it. 

Snow Swag on My Picket Fence

Look what happened to the snow that was on top of my picket fence; it started melting and stopped to form a perfect triple swag. Decorations by Mother Nature can be quite beautiful. This was the first thing I saw this morning when I looked out my bedroom window. It is a gray day and the icicles are starting to form. I shall venture out in the car today for errands. See you later.

A Very Nice Small Kitchen

There were lots to look at but this small kitchen was my favorite. I would really like to see some other views of this delightful room, wouldn't you? I especially like the shelf wall behind the KitchenAid mixer.   Favourite kitchens of 2010

All Shoveled Out: Snow Begone

It's nice to see my car again. I didn't go anywhere yet today but I might run out and buy more coffee. That's the only essential necessary here at the cottage.

The walk is finally completely exposed. Earlier it was only one shovel wide. I am like that you know. When I start a job it bothers me until it's totally finished.