COCO ECO Magazine | Read It Online

Here is another great magazine that you can read online. I love Alicia Silverstone and her "kind" vegan lifestyle. Her new book, "The Kind Diet" sounds like something I'd like to embrace. Eating meat is so yesterday. Alicia has a website called The Kind Life that's brimming with interesting information. Check it out when you have time.




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Seed Saving Envelope | Seedsaver Packet

Enlarge and print. Free Download. Turn the paper around and print another to get two on a page.

Make some over the winter for garden club sales in the spring. Order garden seeds in bulk and share with friends. The possibilities are endless. Enjoy and Share. All seed saving envelopes I have designed.

"Happiness held is the seed,
Happiness shared is the flower."




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Life's Little Instruction Book, page 138 + some of my favorite things . . .

Brooke Astor's study designed by Albert Hadley. You know how much I love leather bound books and bookshelves!

A little Photoshop fun with a moth from an antiquarian print superimposed on one of my cement pots.

Don't forget to drain all your outside faucets so they don't freeze over the winter. I haven't shut off the water from the inside yet...yesterday was absolutely gorgeous.

I wear my Wellies daily; in the morning when the dew or frost is still on the grass and on evening walks with Webster. Actually, they are my favorite outdoor footwear for tromping around the cottage grounds.

A load of wash my mother hung out to dry. She always wears jumpers and flannel nighties. She hangs her clothes in a random sort of way. I could never do that. I have to hang all the towels together, all the socks together, all the pillowcases together, etc. After the house is painted in the spring, I want to hang that awful ladder from a rafter in the garage and plant something nice against the foundation.

Several people have been asking for pictures of Webster. These are not new, but they are good ones of the wonder dog.

I don't look forward to the dead brown winter grass. I wonder why Webster wasn't wearing one of his coats? Must have been warm that day.

This is definitely a spring or summer photo as you can see from the bird's nest in the background.

The carpenter is gone and Webster misses him. Thanks for stopping by the cottage for a few photos and a page from our favorite book. ♥Rosemary

The Story of Stuff [Video] . . .

I hope you will find the time to watch this fascinating 20-minute animated film by Annie Leonard. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever. You can also download the PDF version of The Story of Stuff with footnotes.

The New York Times had a feature article about the film and its creator recently that you will also find interesting.

I've had a link on my blog for The Story of Stuff for quite a long time and it makes me happy whenever someone clicks on it. I was especially distressed to learn how much stuff ends up in the land fills due to planned obsolescence. The kitchen industry is now trying to make us all dislike our stainless appliances in favor of colored ones. I will not fall for this. Mine are only 7 years old and they are just fine, thank you very much!

Thanks for stopping by the cottage today for an eye-opening film. I hope you will share it with your friends. ♥Rosemary

Bicycle quote + film with a great message . . .

THOUGHTS ON MY BIKE is a film made for the NYC Bicycle Film Festival 2009. The fabulous score was written by Kev Corbett.
Thanks for stopping by the cottage for some bicycle inspiration today. Enjoy your Friday and the upcoming weekend as well. ♥Rosemary

The stewardship of owning land . . .

I was so happy to find this quote to go with another page I ripped out of a magazine. I found the quote and added the text to the photo. I am going to type it again so it can be searched in case you want to find it months from now.

"I think having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art that anybody could ever want to own." Andy Warhol

I couldn't have said it better!

Unwanted newspapers still appearing in my driveway . . .

They're back! I shall have to resort to other tactics to keep the delivery boy from throwing unwanted circulars wrapped in plastic bags at my house. He just doesn't get it. Most of the neighbors don't even pick them up until there is a big pile.

This photograph is an antique folk art carving of a hand holding a newspaper. How appropriate for this post. It is one of my favorite things. The dark areas are tree bark. I added the cool stamp border here.
Have a great Sunday. Happy Father's Day.

Welcome toads to your garden ~ Tutorial for making a toad house . . .

Gal Friday just emailed me that she found two toads while digging in her garden today. She is busy making toad homes right now from broken flower pots.

Download PDF instructions here.

Picture and instructions via Garden Gate Magazine.

"Don't throw the smaller pieces of broken clay pots away. Those smaller pieces that have a hole in the top make wonderful homes for spiders, who are among some of a garden's best tenants. Invite them in!"
This wonderful tip was sent to me via email from a reader. Thanks, Mayo.

Further adventures of the toad in the toad house . . .

I put the toad I found in the garden in this toad house on Saturday. He was nowhere to be found until I looked again yesterday...and there he was!

This ceramic house was purchased at a rummage sale last year.


I tipped it over to get another photo.


I posed him on the ladies mantle.

When I put him back inside he hopped to the opening and peeked out.

I hope he stays and I think he will. A whole week of rain is the perfect weather for him to get settled in. Happiness is a resident toad. He will have lots of bugs to eat later in the summer.

You can make a toad home yourself by breaking an opening in a clay flower pot and turning it upside down. Instructions here.

Make your own flower and garden seed starting pots from recycled newspaper . . .

Pot Maker

Use yesterday’s news to start tomorrow’s flower and vegetable seeds. Tear or cut newspaper into 3½" x 10" strips and wrap around the wooden form. No glue needed. Fold the ends under and press the form into the base to make a biodegradable paper pot for seedlings—put the pot right in the ground when it’s time for planting. Makes an unlimited number of starter pots. A fabulous way to demonstrate the regenerative powers of recycling! Use gift wrap to make special snack cups.

I wonder if you could also make cupcake and muffin pan liners using parchment paper?

Every year I say I am going to order one of these wonderful gardening tools and this year I did.

This is sold as a children's toy but it has a place in every household. It is a wonderful thing to teach gardening to children at a young age. The site has many more items too. Click on the photo or link below it to enter.

These would be great for your school and garden club projects. Give one to your mom for Mother's Day and order one for yourself while you're at at.

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Wild violets in my grass . . .

I have lots of wild violets in my lawn now. I can't bear the thought of mowing over them. What should I do? I don't want to commit a violet murder.

Enjoy your Sunday. I have been so busy trying to get a jump on summer. It was very hot here yesterday and they are predicting record heat for today. We'll see how it goes. I guess I will have to get out the fans. Webster has requested one pointed right at him. Full blast, straight on, with no oscillating. Perfect for a hot dog.

Earth Day 2009 . . .

"Take care of the earth
and she will take care of you."
Author Unknown

"Don't blow it - good planets are hard to find."
Quoted in Time Magazine