Sunday, November 18, 2012

Shared Bedroom with Privacy

Clever small bedroom for two with privacy for each person. Each one has a window too. I think you have to get IN the bed to change the sheets on the left one. via

Shift Rotation: Webster's On Duty Now

Tabitha's shift is over and Attending Physician Webster just took over. He's keeping an eye on my mother and the cat too. He loves to sneak her food and maybe he'll have a chance while she's not looking. 

Greetings from the Infirmary

On Duty: Nurse Tabitha
This is the proper way to monitor the vitals. If you sleep on top of them, all of those wires are not necessary. Tabitha says she can feel everything this way.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Great Laundry Room

This is a wonderful laundry room, isn't it? The cabinets are wonderful and I really like the white porcelain farm sink. I can only imagine how fabulous the rest of the room must be. via

Thanksgiving Defined


I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week. We are on the BRAT diet here at the cottage so my mother's intestinal tract can get back to normal. Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and (white) Toast. These are all binding foods. I got rice milk and rice cereal too and some saltine crackers and chicken broth. So far, so good. Webster thinks it's all delicious.

Webster was a good house sitter.

But he's so glad we are back. Being home alone was no fun and a huge responsibility. He is trying to understand what happened but can't quite grasp the hospital situation. Anyway, Webster is glad we are returning to normal and he can go back to being a pet instead of a security guard. 

Cozy reading nook

I like this room with the cubbies for books and the chair beside the fireplace and the stone floor. My mother said it was so good to be home and know that everything you touch is yours. We both slept like logs last night and woke up to bright sunshine. Webster slept with me and Nurse Tabitha slept with Anna. The pets are happy to have us back.  Mother had a good appetite for breakfast and she feels good.
See more reading nooks here and have a great weekend. 

Friday, November 16, 2012

My Mother Was Discharged -- Hooray

Home has never looked so good. The pets were happy to see my mom and now we can concentrate on getting back to normal. Anna says she feels surprisingly good! The staff at the hospital loved her. She was a model patient since she was a nurse herself at one time. Thanks for all of your wonderful notes and your prayers.
The curved tree on the far left is the one that came crashing down during Hurricane Sandy. That was one I never considered would be a potential problem. Luckily the damage was minimal...just some scraped shingles. It was definitely guided by angels.
It's SO good to be home again! Sigh.

Mother is Sitting up

Waiting for the two thumbs up to go home later today. I hope it will be during the daylight hours. See you later.
Thanks so much for your prayers and get well soon notes. xo, Rosemary and Anna

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Lovely Interior Design

I love the window treatment in this room and everything else too...especially the lamp. via

I'm home for a short break to feed and walk Webster. He's been a doll during this hospital ordeal. Once a day is for feeding, walking and bathroom breaks is all he needs. He's really a dog you can trust to be home alone. The good news is that my mom will probably get to come home tomorrow afternoon. Cross your fingers for us. xo, Rosemary

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Broadway in The Cotswolds UK

Don't you love the sculpted bushes? Broadway was the first town I visited in The Cotswolds in the 1970s. It's was love at first sight.
My mom finally got a hospital room around 6:30 tonight. After I got her settled in I dashed home to feed and walk Webster and Tabitha. I'm running a hot bath too. I'll go back later. I hope we get to the root of her problem tomorrow.
Thank you so much for your wishes for her speedy recovery. She's miserable being away from home as we all would be. I miss my bed too.
Goodnight. Now for a good long soak. xo

My Mom is in the Hospital

We went to the emergency room yesterday per doctor's orders and we are still waiting for a room. The inn is full because of the hurricane. We are at the top of the list. She is dehydrated and more. Updates to follow.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Pointer Puppy Love

Someone else loves him too and knitted his pillow/dog bed cover. Just look at the size of those paws!!! via

A Great White Kitchen

I really like wha I'm seeing here. I always like antiques in a kitchen and this flip top trestle table is great. I love all the white woodwork, the wooden countertops, the unpainted wooden knobs, the white sofa, the built-in oven and cooktop. The window is fabulous and I like not having any overhead cabinets. Two thumbs up. via

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Beautiful Entrance


via
I love everything about this photo. What a wonderful door. Love the bittersweet color too.

Weathered Wheelbarrow Bench in England


Wheelbarrow bench, Abbey House Gardens, Malmesbury, Wiltshire.
I have blogged about rolling garden benches many times and have always wanted one. See my older posts here.

The Definition of Home

I hope everyone gets their querencia back soon. We've all been feeling displaced lately here on the east coast. I am one of the fortunate ones and my heart breaks for those who suffered the most. I think we will all have to adjust to a new normal. via

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Fine Leather Bindings with Dog Bookends

I have to search pretty hard around the cottage to find something to photograph that does not look as if the hurricane hit inside the house. I really need to straighten things up and I will, eventually. I just need the strength!
This photo shows only one of my favorite dog bookends. The mate is at the other end of this 11-volume set of decorative bindings with hand-colored plates. [my iPhone photo]

Neighbors Through The Fence

HaHa. Where there's a will, there's a way. via

Post Sandy Snowstorm Before The Melt

The balcony and railing are perfectly clear now. It was beautiful but annoying too. I am usually a fan of snow when I have power but it wasn't a welcome sight this year. I hope to get some work done inside this weekend so I won't feel so bogged down. I took this photo from my living room looking through one of the french doors that opens to the balcony.

Why Cats Hate Snow


Need I say more? This was Tabitha's initial reaction when I made her go out in the snow for a bathroom break. It didn't last long thank goodness and we are slowly getting back to a somewhat normal routine. All of a sudden I am very tired but must soldier on. 

Friday, November 9, 2012

East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens Norfolk UK

via I think I'll plant a big hedge instead of more trees. East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens Norfolk UK

Evergreen Leaf Catcher


This is a photo I took before the storms after a walk with the wonder dog. This evergreen tree is still standing. I'm rather rushed because I have a real estate closing this morning. It has been delayed for one reason or another for almost a month. Thankfully the house and property suffered no storm damage and passed the re-inspection required by the lender. See you later!

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Webster Has A Sheepskin

Here's the sheepskin I was telling you about on top of Webster's dog bed. He loves it. I put my head on it to test it out and it feels wonderful. Like sleeping on a warm cloud.

Interesting Tree Fungus


This tree was hollow at the bottom and the fungus had traveled up through the tree trunk. I stuck my hand into the hollow base and it was very hot underground.

The pattern the fungus made is very beautiful, isn't it? A talented woodworker could definitely make something beautiful from this wood. 

Nor'easter Morning

Maybe Mother Nature figured she'd better cover up all the evidence of Sandy but she's not fooling me! The snow on the railing melted soon after I snapped this iPhone photo. I had to get up early to let the Wonder Dog out. He's walking normally today -- hooray. I found a big brown New Zealand sheep skin in the garage that I had forgotten all about owning. I put it on his dog bed yesterday and I honestly think it helped him recover faster than he would have without it. His bed is behind the sofa next to a radiator. He seems very happy today and so am I. Electricity does wonders for my spirit. Thanks for all of your comments expressing concern for all of us in the cottage. Now you can relax because you know we are fine. My followers are the best!!!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Books and Shells and Things on Shelves

Here is a detail of one of my bookshelves in the living room taken by lamplight with my iPhone tonight in a warm house. It's so nice and cozy I almost feel guilty knowing so many are still without power. Poor Webster really overdid it the last two days and he honestly was too tired to walk and stayed on his bed all day until he recovered enough to go outside after dark for the first time today. I was really worried about him but he's fine now. I know how he feels. Supervising people and working alongside is hard and exhausting.

Hurricane Followed by Snow

I would rather have snow than rain since so many of my friends get water in their basements and still have no power. I wish Mother Nature would get over her very bad mood.

Tree Has Been Removed from My Cottage


Click photo to view actual size.
This tree came down on the cottage guided by heavenly angels. Only a few scratched shingles. No broken screens or light fixtures. I found some roving tree men from New Mexico who helped me clear my property. They were earth angels. 

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Post Hurricane Observations

 
Our power was restored today at 5:52 pm, just a few hours short of 8 days being a pioneer and it was no fun. We at the cottage refuse to think about the nor'easter that's coming Wednesday into Thursday. The house was 44 degrees when the power came back. We were never cold though. Too tired to tell you more. Hope you are warm and cozy by now too. 

Thursday, November 1, 2012

No Power at My Cottage

But we are okay. Tree in second photo did not damage house. My street looks like a war zone. I have been reading a lot with my miners light that fits on my forehead. I am at municipal building recharging station with wifi.



Monday, October 29, 2012

Tree Almost Over the Road @ My Cottage

This tree is in the parkland next to the cottage. The power lines are the only things keeping it from falling across the road. My power went off twice but came back on. YIKES.

I'm still in my pajamas. I decided not to get dressed today. I opened my front door for these photos.

I hope the big black walnut tree stays upright and doesn't fall on my car.

The authorities already knew about this when I called it in.

Be safe wherever you are. I'll keep posting as long as I have electricity.

Brick Wall with Boxwood Topping

Another example of the landscape designer's vision. Could anything be lovelier? I would like to see the boxwood growing on the other side. via 
We are still fine. Big pan of mac and cheese in the oven. Bad weather calls for comfort food, doesn't it?

How to humiliate a dog :)

This photo never fails to make me smile. You can really see the humiliation in the dog's face, can't you? See more humorous animal photos created way before the internet was invented here.

So Far, So Good at My Cottage

There is nothing to report from the cottage this morning. We are as prepared as we will ever be and still have power. We will just hunker down and wait. The only thing I didn't do was have the gutters cleaned but my guess is the wind will do it for me. Nothing earth shattering happened overnight and it didn't start raining until dawn. This is just the beginning. Be safe everyone. I have a tub full of water, food, crank radio and flashlight, candles, matches, a gas stove, etc. I think we will be fine -- fingers crossed. via

Sunday, October 28, 2012

DIY Angel Wings

I love these angel wings made from old book pages or newspaper glued over a stiffer material. I want to make some for Christmas decorations. These would be good for Halloween too. I want to make a small version for my Staffordshire Spaniel on the fireplace mantel. I hope all of the guardian angels are on call during this terrifying time with the predicted hurricane. Be safe everyone.