Webster's Favorite Spot

Webster has a window on his world in this spot. He can watch me cook in the kitchen straight ahead, see my mother if she comes upstairs to his right, look out the french door to the balcony on his left, and nap whenever the moment is right. His dog dish is within sight from here too. I had a request for a Webster update so here he is. I might add that he has taken to sneaking on this sofa in the middle of the night too which does not please me at all.

He must have gotten tired of this sofa on the other side of the room. Little guy is Piggie who came for a sleepover.

And this one opposite the fireplace. I give up.

Greetings from the Leap Day Lamb

Leap Day -- February 29, 2012 

New Friends

I took these photos yesterday at an open house and it seems like 10 years ago so much has happened since. You don't want to know the details which are mostly paperwork related. Anyway I took these on the fly and they aren't very good. The sheep is huge and adorable and she's in a paddock next to the last horse. The two horses are opposite each other so they can chat if that's what they do when no one is looking. It's raining here at the cottage today and I might start a fire when I'm sure I won't have to go out again. I have to go to the office in a little while. See you later.

WOW The Life of Flowers | Timelapse Video

The Life of flowers (Жизнь цветов) from VOROBYOFF PRODUCTION on Vimeo.

Open House Day

I am excited about real estate this year. I'm rushing to get ready for my weekly office meeting with broker open houses after it's over. The spring market is upon us and there is a lot to see today. I should recharge my iPhone too. This is a pond behind a home I visited recently. See.You.Later!

Night Sky -- Good Night Moon

I took this iPhone photo of the night sky recently. The moon isn't quite this big now...It is just a sliver of a moon. I have a wonderful big open sky to enjoy when I walk Webster before bed. I love looking at the stars. See you tomorrow.

Courtyard Garden

Designed by Fairfax & Sammons Architecture. The far building must be a combination conservatory/garden room/pool house assuming there is a pool on the other side. via

Is it A Soup or Is it A Stew?

BLACK BEAN + BUTTERNUT SOUP // Serves 4-6

Original Blog Post/ Recipe HERE with more photos.

Some of the measurements are pretty vague, but in a stew-like soup, perfection is not necessary. Taste as you go, add more spice if necessary but beware that both chipotle and cayenne are SPICY, so start small. You can cook your beans from scratch or use canned for the sake of time.

1 Tbsp. coconut or extra virgin olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 a small head of cabbage, chopped (heaping 2 cups)

3 cups cubed butternut squash (sweet potato would be good too)

3 cups low sodium vegetable broth

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. cocoa powder

pinch of chipotle powder or cayenne pepper

2 cups cooked, black beans (about one can, rinsed and drained)

salt to taste

avocado, for garnish

cilantro, for garnish

// tortilla crispies //

3 corn tortillas

scant 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp. sea salt

Laundry Day Upstairs

I have looked and looked at this photo and I cannot figure out how they got the clothes on the line. I don't see a pulley system; just stretched lines. It looks all but impossible to me. I have a couple of loads of wash I hope to be able to hang outside tomorrow. We have a cloudless sky today so I think I'll be okay.

A Kitchen to Drool Over

Shall we start with the ceiling and work our way down in this kitchen? Are you impressed yet? I love these hanging lights with the black shades...always a favorite. I think a serious cook would be very happy here preparing deliciousness for tonight's Oscar presentations. via

I'm pretty sure the only movie I've seen that is up for an Oscar is 'The Help' so I won't be compelled to stay awake until the end.  I'll start watching early because the best part to me is studying  the stars as they walk down the red carpet. Enjoy the last Sunday in February.

Look Out | Puppy Driving

Have a great weekend and take the dog along wherever you go. via

Love This Mud Room Floor

Beautiful ‘mud room’ back entrance by Amy Morris. Atlanta Homes Mag. This is the best floor I have EVER seen!!!!!!!! via

Cool Kitchen

Oh.My.Goodness -- what a great kitchen. Starting with the checkered floor and working my up the white cabinets to the great drawer pulls to the white subway tiles to the old-fashioned upper cabinets -- I love it all! via

Virtual Road Trip -- Wonderful Video

Address Is Approximate from The Theory on Vimeo.

Story: A lonely desk toy longs for escape from the dark confines of the office, so he takes a cross country road trip to the Pacific Coast in the only way he can – using a toy car and Google Maps Street View. Have a great weekend...use your imagination the way this desk toy did!!

I have an invitation to come back later this spring and see this perennial garden when it is in full bloom. It is supposed to be fabulous. I'll post an updated photo afterwards. The homeowner's office is a wall of windows with french doors looking out on this. I think it's a lovely design, don't you? That 'ghost' you see outside is a window reflection of my white iPhone...the black dot in the lower right corner is the camera lens. The gravel form looks like a big gingerbread woman cookie.

Upholstered Chair | Both Tailored and Fancy

I love the fabric and the style of this upholstered chair. The top is very tailored and the gathered skirt is very feminine and fancy. 

It looks perfect in this shot beside a milking stool that was converted to a floor lamp. Isn't that a great idea?

Via Natalie Haegeman Interiors via Belgian Pearls.

Goodnight

I though this was the perfect last image of the day before jumping in bed. Goodnight world. via

Home Maintenance Around My Cottage

Remember when I painted my picket fence two years ago? The finials didn't hold up too well as you can see. I am starting a list of the things that need attention outside. The list will be long too. You can only hide your head in the sand for so long before reality takes hold. 

Alfred Hitchcock and His Curious Dog

I don't have to worry about Webster doing this. I don't get the paper and he can't read. via I do love Alfred Hitchcock.

Hitchcock, Sir Alfred (Joseph) (1899–1980), English movie director. Acclaimed in Britain for movies such as The Thirty-Nine Steps (1935), he moved to Hollywood in 1939. Among his later works, notable for their suspense and their technical ingenuity, are the thrillers Strangers on a Train (1951), Psycho (1960), and The Birds (1963).

Amazing Gray Paneled Walls

Gray and white is always right. I love the gorgeous wood-paneled walls in this room. And everything else too. via

A Wonderful Cottage

This would have been the perfect house for me to grow up in because I could have been inside and outside at the same time reading in that attic window.

Think Before Speaking

I found this illustrated quote on my upstairs computer. Saved long before I knew about giving image credit.

Transparent Leaves

This is such a beautiful photo. I wish I could claim it as mine! Found here.

The Fox and The Flower

Pickles the fox smelling the daffodil by ©Sweetmart via Flickr. Isn't this an amazing photo?

Royal Profiles

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh by ©Yousuf Karsh, bromide print, 1951 via

Meet Maddie The Balancing Coonhound

Meet Maddie. This amazing Coonhound can balance on anything. I promise you will get a kick out of her many poses @ Maddie on Things

Brown Kitten

I want this kitten because it matches Webster perfectly. Same color fur and eyes. I honestly don't think I've ever seen a brown one, have you? via

French Door Paint Red on the Outside

I have always loved a red front door but my shutters are green so I have resisted. I hope to have my house painted this year and I'm thinking about changing my color combination...and maybe sawing my front door in half. :) via

Great Place for A Fireside Chat

As seen in a remodeled circa 1908 home nearby. I'm so glad they kept this cozy nook with a fireplace in the living room. What a great place for guests to sit and warm up upon arrival on a winter visit just the way they did when this home was built before central heating was perfected.

New [Vintage] Tartan Plaid Blanket at My Cottage

The rummage sale at the Methodist church on the second day scored a wonderful vintage wool blanket. I changed my linens yesterday while I was cleaning my room and this blanket turned out to be perfect on top of my Matelasse spread. It is a thin weave and is so long that it has to be doubled lengthwise. The two bound edges wound up under the pillows. I'm sure it was made this way for double insulation because the bottom crease has always been this way. Maybe someone even made it from woolen fabric--there aren't any labels. It's in perfect condition without a single moth hole. Webster loves it too as you can see. It keeps both of us warm, cozy, and happy.

Have a restful weekend keeping watch while lounging in bed if at all possible. Everything looks better with a dog on it; doesn't the first photo look empty?

Webster and the Dust Mops

Webster has stationed himself right in the line of fire between me and the dust mops hoping he will get priority. We are not Swiffer people here at the cottage preferring the old-fashioned way to dust floors. Sort of like the catch-and-release method in fly fishing. There was a church rummage sale this week and I resisted with all my might buying one of those cutsie signs saying "this house is protected by killer dust bunnies" because it hit too close to home. I decided to get rid of them instead---thus the resulting cleaning frenzy. Wish me luck.

Best Slipcovers Ever

Don't you love the ties on these slipcovered chairs? Here's hoping you have a weekend filled with easy chairs, beautiful fabrics, good food, long walks, a movie or two, and hanging out with pets/family/friends. While you are doing all that you can picture me half-way through a cleaning frenzy pushing around vacuum cleaners and dust mops! via

Lake House in Winter

I don't think it's in the cards for us to be tucked in with snow this year. I don't really mind because we deserve a mild winter after last year, agreed? Lake house in winter. Maine home by Whitten Architects.

Tight Quarters

This is a really ceative small bedroom -- or is it a closet? I love seeing how people make the best out of a small tiny house, don't you? via

Morning Sun Shining Through the Fog

I stuck my iPhone out the one attic window that doesn't have a screen to capture the sun trying to burn off the morning fog. It won't be long now before we have a nice sunny day after two days of rain. Have a great Friday.

Remembering the Beauty of Winter

Isn't this one of the most beautiful winter scenes you've ever seen with the perfectly distributed dusting of snow? It really accents the geometric garden design. via

Adele Plans a 5-Year Break | What!

I feel as if we just got her back after her throat surgery. Five years off is way too long. I can understand the need for a vacation to work on a new relationship and to rest but don't lose your whole audience Adele. We love you. Read the whole article here and watch her music video of 'Someone Like You'. The author of the article said he/she felt like writing a breakup album. Maybe Adele will record it.

Seascape in Progress

How nice it would be to have talent and paint on site as you travel. via

It would be especially wonderful if you lived here and had artistic ability. ©Darien, CT waterfront home 

Could I Please Sit In This Booth?

Who doesn't want to sit in a booth at the diner? Wouldn't it be great to have one of your own at home? This one is perfect and it has everything. I like the antique drop leaf table, the upholstered cushions, the cubbies above and the built-in [cook]book shelves. The storage drawers under the seats are nice too. Sigh. I told you it was perfect! via

Dachshund Love

This adorable little guy looks very worried. Does he think he's barking up the wrong tree? 

Are you smiling yet? Little Friends - Lifestyle Pet Photography ©Seth Casteel

Wild about Owls

An elegant owl among the wildflowers. via

Wonderful and simple owl decoration on a cake or pie. via