A Fox Visits The Cottage Today

I saw this fox with the strange tail outside my bedroom window this morning. I shot the third picture first and got the back end so you can see that a lot of the fur is missing from his tail. I ran to another window for the first, second and fourth pictures. Luckily Webster didn't know what I was doing or he would have had a fit. The car is cleaned off and the walk is shoveled. Both tasks were done with absolutely no enthusiasm. See you later.

Oh No ~ More Snow

Just when we were hoping it was all over too. I know how this little guy feels. I couldn't believe my eyes either when I woke up this morning to about 4 inches of snow. It looks pretty light and fluffy so it won't be hard to shovel but I am not at all thrilled with this batch of white stuff.
snow day with squirrel by ron lacey

Wonderful Hanging Bookshelves

I love these painted hanging bookshelves. And the rest of the room plus furnishings too. Hope your weekend was as lovely as mine. Is tomorrow a holiday for you or do you have to work? Some people will be off for Presidents Day. 

image source unknown

Buy Good Goods

I love this quote by Ray Eames and I 'm crazy about this little plywood elephant too.

The Eames Plywood Elephant was designed in 1945. Conceived both as a children's toy and as a decorative interior object, this newly reproduced Plywood Elephant catches the eye with its cheerful curves and flowing shapes.

This post gets longer and longer as the day progresses. I found this great animated film about these toy elephants called A GATHERING OF ELEPHANTS. It's wonderful!

Have A Wonderful Weekend

Have a fun weekend whether or not you are lucky enough to be in Paris. It is a long weekend here in the US because of Presidents Day which is celebrated on Monday. Some of you don't have to work or go to school so try to have some fun. It's still cold at my house and the wind is howling fiercely. We shall see what tomorrow brings. Goodnight. 
image via  flickr

A Simply Wonderful Bedroom

I love this bedroom but think I'd prefer a reading lamp beside the bed rather than in the ceiling above. I would also need a tv on the wall opposite the headboard. It would be nice to have a window on both side walls too so I could get a nice cross breeze in the spring and summer. I have bookcases in my bedroom and am so glad I built them in when I did my cottage restoration.

My Dream Gardener

Does such a person exist in real life? I would so love to have a caring worker to help me around the cottage. ~sigh~ Webster and I took our first walk to the "way back" today in the spring-like temperatures and a giant tree limb had fallen right in the middle of our path. This man could help me deal with it and I'll bet he would use a hand saw instead of a chain saw, don't you? He would know I don't like leaf blowers either. He would whistle while he worked and always know what to do without asking or being told.

Sweet Potato Pie Recipe from Pure Green Magazine

I love illustrated recipes and this is a great one for Sweet Potato Pie.

The creator of that recipe is an illustrator for Pure Green Magazine which is new to me. It looks like a wonderful on-line publication. Have fun reading it this weekend.

Spring is In The Air Today

Today I am removing the pine cone wreath from my front door. I undecorated it after Christmas but now it's time to take it down and pack it away. I went out last night after dark and I was amazed at the number of people who still have outside Christmas lights blazing away. I am declaring that it's time to take those down too...especially the colored lights. 

Fabulous Kitchen Decorating Ideas

If you like the four kitchens I picked to show you, you will definitely love this wonderful slideshow from Country Living Magazine. The Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Decorating ~ with decorating ideas and tips to help you create your dream kitchen. Ideas for Decorating Your Kitchen

Fabulous Laundry Room/Plant Room

It was unseasonably warm today and more of the same is predicted for tomorrow. I can hear the call of the clothes line and the watering cans. I can't even remember the last time I hung clothes outside to dry on the line since we've had deep snow on the ground since the day after Christmas. It's going away slowly. I love this laundry room/plant room from ElleDecor, don't you?

Owl Love Bite

I keep finding the dearest photos of owl couples and this one shows how affectionate they are with each other. Have a sweet Thursday. via

Fear of Twitter

This is without a doubt the funniest thing I have ever seen. I honestly can't stop laughing. Found here -- and of course I'm following her now.

The Changing Face of William Shakespeare

"Artist unknown, The Cobbe Portrait of William Shakespeare, ca. 1610, oil on panel. Collection of Archbishop Charles Cobbe (1686–1765); Cobbe Collection, Hatchlands Park."

In 2009, when the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford-upon-Avon unveiled a previously unknown portrait painting with strong claims to be the only surviving life-time portrait of William Shakespeare, it created an international sensation. The Jacobean painting had hung unrecognized for centuries in an Irish country house belonging to the Cobbe family. Click on the following link to read more about this portrait and current exhibit at The Morgan Library/Museum - The Changing Face of William Shakespeare 

Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II, Page 33

Another page from a favorite book. More good advice from a father to his son.

How To Fold Your HERMES Scarf -- 21 Diagrams

I never knew there were so many different ways to tie a scarf. You might learn something useful if you have lots of scarves in different sizes. You can make halter tops, purse straps, belts, headbands and many other items. Click here for the Free PDF Download from the Hermès website. Have fun tying yourself up in knots.

Love Stamp Series Slideshow

Here is a nice little slideshow featuring a collection of LOVE STAMPS from previous years. I don't buy many stamps these days since I learned how to pay my bills online. I've shown my favorite one above. Love Stamp Series Slideshow

Dreaming of Tulips

"A Group of Tulips" from Robert Thornton's The Temple of Flora published in London in 1799. I scanned this image from the cover of one of my reference books on flower prints from 1799-1900. It's nice to think there are tulips beneath all of this snow that will be blooming in a couple of months. 

We had a rather balmy day yesterday with the thermometer hitting 60 degrees. It's cold again today though. I decided to tackle shoveling the snow from my balcony off the living room so I could get to the bird feeder. The snow was over a foot deep and it was wet and heavy because of the melting temperatures. It was a rather difficult task because I had to throw the snow over the railing and it was pretty strenuous. I did it ~ wonder woman that I am. Now I don't have to worry about the melting snow dripping through the floorboards on the patio below and freezing once again. One more job I can check off my list.

American Silver Nutmeg Grater

I've never seen an antique American Silver nutmeg grater in this classical urn form. From the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Details here. 

EAT MY WORDS ~ This Book Looks Good

"It’s a wonderful book which reaches far beyond recipes (or receipts as they were called long ago) and into the social lives of women, the struggle for equality in regards to learning how to read and write, and the struggle of women to become published authors." via