The Lamp in The Woods

I like this lamp reflection in the woods to add a bit of cheerful color on a gray rainy day here at my cottage.

Golden Grasses in the Woods

Golden grasses in my woods on an overcast day. The trees are bare thanks to the windy days we've had lately. I actually got out my giant shop vac yesterday and sucked up lots of leaves around the perimeter of my cottage and barn in the back. It was too cold in the shade to do the same thing in the front. I'm saving that task for tomorrow. Enjoy your Sunday. xo

Oak Leaf with Rain Drops

Photographed on Tuesday morning on my first walk of the day with Webster the Wonder Dog. We haven't been out yet this morning and he's waiting patiently at my feet for his breakfast. It's raining softly again now and is supposed to continue all day. I feel sorry for my neighbors who are putting on a new roof. They got all the new plywood on yesterday so they are buttoned up. Isn't this always what happens? Beautiful weather for weeks at a time until you schedule outside work. I still have to pinch myself about my unbelievable luck two years ago in September 2013 when I had my house painted and woodwork repaired with storybook beautiful weather every day until the job was finished. I think that will result in my paint job lasting for a very long time. 

Frost at My Cottage this Morning

Frost is one of my favorite photography subjects. My hands were freezing when I took off my gloves but all the while I was wishing I had gone outside just a little earlier. The morning sun had already started melting the frosty outlines of the leaves.

Wooden Spoons

The season for spending more time in the kitchen is fast approaching. We want comfort food! Just a quick shot of some old wooden spoons in my kitchen to remind me to use them more. Not today though because it's going to be in the mid 70s and I think my mower is calling me. See you later. xo

Red Leaf Still Life

This one was too pretty to rake into the pile so I set it aside for a photo session. 

Lamb's Ears in My Garden

Lamb's Ears are the perennial that keeps on giving. This is a cropped detail of the photo below. The tall flower spikes from the summer have been cut down ~ the bees loved them.

I have thinned and moved these plants three times and shared them with friends since 1976. Are these plants still being sold in garden centers? I have no idea. I probably got my first mother plant at Well Sweep Herb Farm in Port Murray, NJ

Thin Ice This Morning

There was a very thin layer of ice this morning on the birdbath. Can you see it? I went outside in my pajamas with bare feet and I was very surprised to see anything frozen because it didn't feel cold at all. The weather this year is perfect for Halloween trick or treating. Don't eat too much candy!

Gorgeous Day at My Cottage

We have a glorious week ahead of us. No rain for 7 straight days and daytime temps in the 60s and 70s. Yippee. I see a lot of raking in my future and maybe some mowing towards the end. I like to crunch up the leaves with my Snapper in certain areas instead of raking them. The American chestnut has dropped all of its leaves on my lower driveway and I must rake them because all of those dreadful pricker balls are hurting poor Webster's feet. He tries to dodge them but there are way too many. 

View from A Friend's Terrace

The beauty of mature landscaping photographed from the terrace of a friend. Then I went home to my weed patch. Sigh.

The Myth of Red Clover and The Bee

Remember last week when I told you I always believed bees could not get the nectar from red clover because their tongues were too short? This bee hasn't heard that rumor. Sorry my photo is a little blurry but I'm glad I got him at all. I have fields of both white and red and the bees seem like both equally. The hummingbirds love the red clover too. It's a nice cool breezy morning here at the cottage and the dark clouds are beginning to gather for a thunder storm. Have a great weekend. xo

Daisy Portrait

I have one lone daisy in my meadow so far. I snapped this pic on my walk with Webster yesterday evening.

Cone of Shame for Humans

This made me laugh. We all probably know someone we can send this to, don't we? 

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Tabitha Enjoying a Cat Nap in the Sun

We have cloudy skies and a light rain this morning but Tabitha chases the sun's rays whenever she can. She's very happy that she can stay outside for longer and longer periods now that winter is on its way out. She has discovered some delicious patches of grass to eat that have been buried under deep snow for months and a little nibble is the perfect way to start her day. (my photo)

Now if she just had this lookout, her life would indeed be perfect. via

Museum Portraits Taking Selfies

Fun at the art museum. via and via

Aren't these clever? Are you smiling yet? 

A Hot Radiator is a Beautiful Thing

Tabitha is becoming quite the expert at finding all the warm places in our cottage. When I woke up this morning she was in my bed. When she came in from the rain after breakfast, she warmed herself in front of the refrigerator. I guess the fan must exhaust warm air at floor level. After she defrosted, she jumped up on this chair in the kitchen and there she will sleep until she gets hungry again. I added the decorations and text with PicMonkey, my favorite free photo editing app on my computer. See you later. xo

The morning sun on my bathroom door and towels was quite nice this morning.

Today looks like an excellent day to get my gutters cleaned. I hope I can find someone. Wish me luck. xo

A Really Great Walled Garden

I took this photo yesterday with my iPhone. There are some really lovely secret gardens in my area and this one was especially beautiful. As you can see, it was a perfect day for touring several fabulous homes.

A Watercolor of Henry, The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

It's been a long time since I played around with the Waterlogue iPhone App. Henry was the perfect subject, wasn't he? He's very responsive to having his picture taken and his cuteness translates well into a watercolor.

Stately Fern

I took this photo of a lone fern standing against leaves of a darker green a couple of days ago. I loved the way it stood out with its lighter shade of green. Ferns are my among my favorite wild plants. I have a busy day this morning with another inspection and a carpenter bee treatment at the early blue house. See you later. xo