Rain, As Promised

It started raining about 6:30 this morning and has already stopped. We need a lot more than that amount and I'm hoping it will start up again. Three hours of rain is just a drop in the bucket compared to what we really need. My phone shows more this afternoon, fingers crossed. 

P is for Pink Peony

William Morris Letter P via

My very own pink peony captured with my iPhone. They really got battered this week with all the rain but I still love them.

Yellow Iris in a British Riverbed

Yellow Iris, Weston, Staffordshire, England

An Original Photography by this blogger.

Busy as a Bee

I have been very busy outside all week long and things are shaping up very nicely. The weather went from 20 degrees above normal for this time of year to below normal and I like that. I can work all day without stopping if it is breezy, cloudy and cool as it was yesterday. My peonies are up and the buds get a little larger each day. via

Spring at My Cottage

We had a nice day yesterday for a change. The grass is slowly greening up and it was nice to spend the day outside. I raked all the gravel back in my driveway that was left in the grass after the plowed snow melted. That's my least favorite job and I'm so glad it's behind me.

My first spring bulb has bloomed. No sign of the purple ones yet. 

Dahlia Explosion

Isn't this a wonderful time-lapse video? I love dahlias, don't you? via

Indoor Geranium

My indoor salmon-pink geranium continues to make me happy. I've been watering it with "blue water" and it is loaded with blossoms. I wish people potions worked this well. 

Peonies and Clover Blossoms

My pink peonies are blooming now and they are so beautiful.

I have fields of blooming clover that are spectacular. I can't remember such a profuse first blooming cycle and I don't have the heart to mow over them. The bees are having a "field" day.

The Pink Peonies Turned White

They are fully opened now. The pale pink peonies that I have been showing you as they open are now in full flower and they are bright white now.

Miss Tabitha is dining in her chair.

Here is a closeup of a single flower.

Peony, Showing Her Beautiful Center

This peony will be fully opened soon!!!

Here it is after yesterday's hard rain. I love the pale shade of pink.

A Lone Daffodil

Another new daffodil opened today. I picked all the spent blossoms today so all the energy can go to the bulbs for next year. It was very chilly and windy today and it's still howling outside. I'm off to my bedroom to watch some recorded programs. Enjoy your evening too. xo

Decoupage Plates

I love this fantastic decoupage plate by John Derian Company.

I have only one piece and it's signed on the back. There is some paint loss under the backing so it must have been a reject. I got it at a garage sale for 25 cents years ago. I don't know about you, but when I buy something I love at a local house sale, I can usually remember exactly where I bought it, what kind of day it was, the seller, and all sorts of other details. I bought this plate on a beautiful summer day and my mother was with me. The sale was in the driveway and garage of a lovely home. Friends and relatives of the owners brought their goods too, so there was a big variety of good stuff and junk. I hope they have another one this year!

My First Daffodil Bloomed Today

I was very surprised to see this beautiful daffodil had bloomed when I wasn't looking.

Here it is again with a filter to show the time of day. It was dusk after dinner tonight when I took the wonder dog out for his last walk. It's good to see a bit of color, isn't it? xo

Lily of the Valley

I took this photo last year and I really babied my lily of the valley to urge them to spread. I won't be seeing them anytime soon because there is still about 4" of snow in their garden spot in front along my brick wall. I have snow drops coming up in another location on the other side of the drive way near the spruce trees. They are in the bud stage and haven't opened. I found another big patch in the woods where I throw my weeds. I'm going to dig them up and plant them where I can see them. It's a gray cloudy day and we are supposed to get snow after midnight but not too much, they say. Fingers crossed.

A Beautiful Flower Photo

We haven't had a killing frost yet but it was pretty chilly when I woke up this morning. Tabitha is undecided about how long to stay outside so she has gone in and out several times since I got up. It's time to be thinking about bring in the few geraniums that are still outdoors. I love this beautiful lily and the composition behind the photograph. I'll see you later after my real estate showing. photo source

Blue Chickory Flower

Snapped with my iPhone yesterday. It's the only chickory flower blooming at this time after a whole field full in late summer. I'm loving the square photo format on my camera phone for images like this.

A Daylily and A Cotswold Cottage

On my last walk with Webster yesterday I ventured into a very thick weed patch on the edge of the woods to photograph this daylily with my iPhone. I was wearing my wellies so I'm not worried about getting poison ivy.

I had a real estate closing yesterday so my July is getting off to a great start. Hope yours is too.

You can only imagine how thrilled I was to have found and sealed the deal on a wonderful Cotswold Cottage. Who knew there was an authentic piece of England so close to my own cottage and no passport was required? My buyers are thrilled.

Beautiful Oakleaf Hydrangea

I took this photo yesterday at my friend Kelly's house. Her oakleaf hydrangeas have really taken off this year and they are beautiful. I learned through some internet research that this variety and the Annabelle are the only two varieties that are native to the US. I love planting shrubs that are natives, don't you? I want to plant several of each and the Annabelle will be in honor of my mother Anna.

Lacecap Hydrangea

My lacecap hydrangea is blooming! So happy. my iPhone photo

First Peony 2013

I was rewarded for getting out of bed this morning with my first open peony. It must have been waiting for some hot weather. I am so happy. my Nikon photo