Antique Leeds Pottery Jug Advertising The Otley Market

I'd love to have this great pitcher in my pantry. I'd also like to be in Leeds England to attend the Otley Market. Documented history for the market begins in 1222 when King Henry III granted the first Royal Charter. The town had two cattle markets; market days are Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, and there is a Farmers' Market on the last Sunday of every month.

I'd prefer to have this jug filled with beer rather than milk since that would go better with The Best Beef. I wonder if a butcher commissioned this fabulous decoration? I'd love to see the front and other side too, wouldn't you? 

Cottage at Road's End

This is the perfect image from the gray day at my cottage. via Green Wellies

I Love Sarcasm

HaHaHa ~ So funny. I've always enjoyed a sarcastic remark.

Scenic Yorkshire England

This morning I decided to wake up in Yorkshire. I'll be back a little later after Webster and I walk around the beautiful countryside. I hope someone offers us one of those fabulous English breakfasts with the thick bacon, tomatoes and beans. I'll have my eggs over easy please. 

HAVE A FUN WEEKEND

Do yourself a favor and run away from the ice, snow, sleet, rain, and awful weather as fast as you can and have a fun weekend. It would be guaranteed if you were lucky enough to drive around in this flowered convertible. 

Wonderful Inscribed White Enamel Mug

The Seaside Mug ~ White enamel mug hand-inscribed with the wonderful lyrics from this song:

'Stars shinning bright above you.
Night breezes seem to whisper I love you.
Birds singing in the sycamore tree.
Dream a little dream of me.'

Blodwen - Product Detail

Wake Me When It's Spring

Webster did this to himself. He went back to bed this morning thoroughly disgusted with the weather. Our walk is a solid sheet of ice and he didn't get to go to the post office and the church rummage sale with me this morning. Neither did my mother. They are both pining away for spring. I put the blue plaid blanket over the Wonder Dog in a normal fashion when he first nestled in his bed but this is how he decided to "fix" himself for a long winter's nap.

Cutest Kitten Ever ~ Really!

This little kitten's name is Sinatra. That sounds like a boy cat's name but I'm declaring her to be a girl. What do you think of her? Isn't she adorable? Photograph by Dreek Leeds via Flickr. Happy Friday!

Valentines to Print for School + Friends

For cutest results: print on 8 1/2″ x 11″ cream colored cardstock

Printer settings: highest quality

Envelope size: A2 envelope (4 3/8″ x 5 3/4″)

Click here to download the full-size image (PDF)
Thanks to OneCharmingParty 

HEAVEN'S GATE

Hmmm...I could do something like this...and maybe I will. Then I could let everything on the other side grow wild with only a couple of mowings a year. 

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