Adele sings 'Someone Like You' in her own home [video]

It's almost impossible to listen to the radio for any length of time without hearing Adele sing this beautiful song. I was delighted to find a video of her sharing the history of this song and then to be able to hear her sing it live from her home. The house tour is amazing. I'm glad she has a sweet little dog. Watch and listen here.

Coffee Cup on My Assistant's Head

I had a request for a picture of my folk art assistant with my coffee cup on his head. Here it is before my first sip of the day.  See how handy it is to have such a great item? The edge is burned from the days someone used it as a smoking stand. I'm sitting just to the left. Aren't you glad I don't have to reach 'all the way' over to the coffee table each time I want a sip of coffee while I'm blabbing blogging?

Remember to make a wish at 11:11 am today (11/11/11). You'll have to wait 100 years to do it again. You might as well stay up late and make another wish tonight at 11:11 pm. It can't hurt and remember to wish big.

Delightful Hot Spring in Japan

Shirahone Onsen 

'White Bone' Onsen (hot spring), named for the milky blue white minerals that make this water opaque. Wouldn't this be a delightful place to soak before bed? All that would be required is a trip to Japan. via Flickr

Saw Some Sheep Today | Finally

I was pretty far away while photographing these sheep this afternoon.

I wish I could borrow this one to graze at my house before I do my final cutting.

I was standing behind a fence along the road way back here. The barn is in front of the white colonial house.

The noon sun was shining so brightly I couldn't tell what I was doing here. I was on my way to pay my property taxes when I pulled over to take this shot. I can walk to this location but haven't seen these animals in ages. This flock of sheep is grazing on a property next to a Richard Meier contemporary. I love the juxtaposition. Once again I was very far away focusing directly into a blinding sun.

Babysitting for Peanuts

I wish I knew more about the history of this fascinating vintage photo from Life magazine showing an elephant nursemaid pushing a baby carriage. Were they running away to join the circus? via 

My Personal Assistant

I got this wonderful dog smoking stand years ago at an antiques center. He now has the job of holding my coffee cup in the morning as I work on my laptop in the living room. It's so nice to have a hot cup of coffee right at hand.

He has a real dog tag around his neck too.

Have you kissed a sheep today?

Wednesday morning animal pic of the day. We can thank these two for the wonderful wool they give us for our sweaters and the lanolin we put on our lips to keep them from chapping in the winter. I use pure food-grade lanolin on mine and I'm addicted to it. I use CVS Pharmacy Lanolin Cream found in the baby aisle. via

The Literary Cat

via Pinterest

Great Flocks of Black Birds in a Murmuration

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo. Watch....it's wonderful. via

Morning Oatmeal

I was hoping to be able to capture the steam rising from my morning oatmeal but couldn't. It was rather awkward holding the bowl with one hand while manipulating my iPhone with the other. But I did it. A hot bowl of thick rolled oats with European style yogurt and a drizzle of agave nectar is a fine way to start your day. I'm off to an office meeting and should stop playing around and get ready. I'm so easily distracted. See you later.

Bluebird on Watering Can

I adore this photo. I always look for old watering cans and they are all but impossible to find these days. Don't forget to bring yours inside for the winter or they will fill up with water and freeze which almost always results in a leak. I learned this the hard way. You know I love bluebirds too. Have a great day. via

Steve Jobs’s Genius ----- A Fascinating Article

Jobs’s sensibility was more editorial than inventive.

 “I’ll know it when I see it,” he said.

Steve Jobs’s Real Genius : The New Yorker

If you want to save yourself some time and money, read the 1,000 word review of Steve Jobs's authorized biography in The New Yorker. It's absolutely fascinating. Steve's wife deserves a medal.

The Chicken Dance | Video

If these dancing chickens don't make you smile, I don't know what will :)
http://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/the-chicken-dance/

Laundry Day at My Cottage

My day so far.

Webster and I hung out two loads of clothes today. It was very mild with temperatures in the mid 60s.

I always hang the wicker laundry basket on a piece of rough bark sticking out of this tree.

These ugly apples from a friend's orchard are the most delicious I have ever tasted. We picked all we could reach with our long apple picker on Saturday.

The sun was shining brightly on these leaves and they almost looked as if they were on fire.
(iPhone photos all)

Elephant Fix for The Day

Isn't this a fabulous photo of a mother and her sister taking the baby elephant for a walk? via Pixdaus--click link to enlarge. 

Lakeside Cabins

So nice.

Nicer?

I actually prefer the first one. Which one do you like? Both were found here.

Charming Baby Painting from Estate Sale

It's not fine art but this charming oil on board of a chubby-cheeked baby sucking on an orange just makes me happy. I picked it up for $5.00 at an estate sale recently during the closing hours. It's hanging in my living room over my tiny television to the right of my fireplace so I can see it often. The lady who sold it said her aunt painted it years ago. Score!

Perfect Sunday Morning Setting

Doesn't this look like the perfect place to spend a nice Sunday morning? via

Everything was covered with a heavy frost when I woke up way too early this morning. Enjoy your extra hour if you live with Daylight Savings Time. Read the hilarious article in the Washington Post. The author says, "My only reason for supporting daylight saving time is that it makes keeping a work-life balance more difficult for vampires."

I certainly don't look forward to darkness setting in at 4:00 in the afternoon, do you?

Pinterest Pet Peeve

I really don't like to waste time and nothing is more frustrating than finding something I really like on Pinterest and the link doesn't take me there.

Read more if you are interested in this photo about an elephant landmine victim with a prosthetic leg here.

Rules for Happiness

Words to live by. via

Yikes | Giant Dragonfly

Curious Pets

Travis Louie will be opening an exhibit of new paintings at Merry Karnowsky Gallery in Los Angeles November 12 through December 10, 2011. I would definitely go if I lived nearby. His paintings are beyond curious.

Geranium and Delft Tile

My iPhone photo of the day. The power went off for a couple of hours while the crews repaired the lines at the end of my street. I'm happy it's back on now. I really must work on my emergency preparedness for the future. I need a good reading light worst of all. I once had a great Coleman camping lantern that operated on a giant battery but I haven't seen it in years. I used to take it to Brimfield for reading in the car at night while camping at Quaker Acres. I miss those antique hunting adventures. Have a great weekend. See you later.

Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II, page 48

More instructions for life from our favorite father to his son. Have a great weekend.

Three More iPhone 4S Photos

I think this looks almost like an impressionist painting. This was the view from my front door when it first started snowing last Saturday.

This is one of my old photographs of two dogs posing very nicely against a professional studio backdrop. It's signed and dated 1919. 

A Roseville 'Landscape' pitcher in my pantry dating back to 1916 or earlier.

I'm still having fun with the wonderful camera on my new iPhone. I don't want to become a broken record so please tell me when you want me to stop.

Licking the Yogurt Container

Piggie definitely needs a longer snout to get to the bottom of the yogurt container. I still need to learn how to adjust the color. The video on my camera is so much more colorful. Baby steps...this is very time consuming.

Webster watched carefully from another room waiting for the Pig to get all he could. Long snouts can get to the bottom. Webster had the oatmeal pan so he was happy the little guest had a treat too.

My Virtual Bedroom for Tonight zzzzz

I picked a good one, didn't I? This looks like a wonderful bedroom  for a country girl like me. Wouldn't it be great if those two drawers underneath were dog beds? One for Webster and one for Piggy sleepovers. His power came on late today so he's leaving us tomorrow. via

My First Video Ever starring Webster and Piggy

I have no idea what I'm doing but here is my first YouTube video ever.

Piggy Came for a Sleepover Last Night

Run Piggy Run -- That little French Bulldog can run like the wind when he gets wound up. His family is still without power so we have him for a while. Webster is so happy to have a playmate.

Try Another Way of Seeing your Everyday Surroundings

This might work. via

Drying Laundry by the Stove

I am so behind in my laundry. It's on my list of things to do tomorrow. I think I'll be able to hang them outside too. This would be the next best thing if I had an Aga range. Don't you love this homey scene? via

Late Afternoon at My Cottage

I'm very happy to report that my TV isn't broken after all. It simply refused to power up after my electricity was restored. I unplugged it overnight and plugged it back in this morning. Around noontime I heard noise from the bedroom and it had magically come back on. Maybe it needed to warm up, reboot, or whatever television sets do after being down for long periods of time. Webster and I just got back from a little walk and the setting sun was shining nicely on the trees behind one of my cast iron roosters.

Old Books printed on Old Dictionary Pages

I almost never print anything these days but every time I see something like this artwork I'm tempted to get creative. via