Waste Not! Want Not!

I always save empty glass cosmetic jars for buttons and small notions in my sewing room. I was amazed that I could almost completely fill this one with the unreachable product in the bottom of my lotion bottle. I used a box cutter this time to cut the bottle and it worked perfectly. I have to say I was really amazed there was this much lotion left. I usually drain the almost empty bottle upside down on top of a full bottle. Most people just give up and look how much they are throwing away😱. Yes, it's shocking.

I finished my taxes and it feels good. I have caught up on my sleep after Daylight Saving Time went into effect on Sunday. I am doing a little Spring Cleaning each day and the weather has been very nice! See you again soon. xo

HELLO, APRIL

APRIL --- The trees are budding forth, the grass is springing green, and April, young and fair appears upon the scene. Pale golden is her hair, her eyes are misty blue, and even when she smiles her tears fall like the dew. Clad all in tender green, she comes with timid feet; A basket with her bringing, filled full with blossoms sweet.The primrose pale & fair, T

the yellow daffodil, the wind flower, wild hyacinth, and other flowers still. All these she casts around to show that Spring is here, with first a smile so sweet, but dropping next a tear.

THe verse by Beatrice Crane -- Design by Walter Crane -- 1889

It feels like an April Fool's Day trick but it isn't! Today is really the first day of April full of April showers this morning at my cottage. I'm glad I did my grocery shopping yesterday! Be safe if you are experiencing severe weather. Some of that is in my forecast for later, probably in the night. xo

Happy First Day of Spring

I honestly woke up to a bird singing the same song over and over this morning to welcome the first day of spring. I think this rooster has been used several times on this date in past years but here he is again. He's an engraving from one of my antiquarian books, The Royal Book of Crests. I hope your day is like mine with bright sun and a blue sky. xo

Lisa D. wanted to know the name of that bird I heard. I found a YouTube video of New Jersey birds singing and have identified my bird as THE TUFTED TITMOUSE, the first bird in this YouTube video. Enjoy seeing so many of the birds of New Jersey who enjoy bird feeders and sing for their supper. xo

Before & After Fireplace Wall/TV Wall

This was my fireplace with a small TV in my living room. I have had only two fires in two years, both on Christmas Eve.

You've have seen this photo in a previous post but I wanted to show it again as an AFTER photo with the fireplace covered.

You've seen this photo too. My old TV was extending into the room beyond the hearth on the right.

New 43" TV with Donna Reed Show. It's on in my area mornings from 9am-10am on the Decades Channel.

Old 24" TV tuned in to the same program. It looks like a larger screen because I was up close with my camera. First photo shows size better. I am still pleased with my new arrangement and having a larger screen. Happy Spring Equinox or the first day of Spring. 

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING

I didn't hear any crowing when I woke up early this morning but a rooster must have welcomed the first day of spring somewhere. I photographed this image from my 19th century Royal Book of Crests.

I started doing a little bit of spring cleaning yesterday doing the inside windows in my kitchen and two in the living room. It's still too chilly to start on the outsides. Enjoy this promise of finer days to come. xo

Yesterday Morning's Photos

I never tire of photographing lady's mantle in the early morning with the dew collecting on all the fringed leaves.

A portrait mode photo of the African Daisies that aren't awake yet.

The brilliance of this scarlet geranium that is next to my front door is amazing. I have overwintered this plant for years and years and years. It was a rescue plant from a friend who was going to throw it out. Free plants are my favorite.

Duck Love

“Duck love is recognizable in any language.”
― Edmond Manning
Too tired to post anything original but loved this and thought you would too. via

My Bluebirds are Building a Nest and MORE

It's a good day when the first thing you see when you first wake up is a bluebird sitting on the edge of a birdbath. His mate was entering my birdbox and they both have been busy since then setting up housekeeping. I couldn't be more thrilled. There are birds of all kinds scurrying around the lawn looking for worms, mostly robins. I have seen bluejays, cardinals, house wrens, mourning doves and chickadees too. The photo above is from Instagram and I've been saving it on my phone because I love it.  See my previous posts about bluebirds here.

My oven is preheating, the oatmeal is soaking, and I'm almost ready to stir up another batch of Oatmeal muffins that are getting rave reviews. I added 1/2 cup raisins this time.

This recipe really is forgiving. Somehow I turned off the oven when turning off the timer for the 15 minute soak. When I was ready to put my heavy vintage blue enameled cast iron muffin pan in the oven, the temperature registered 176° but I put them in anyway and turned the oven on and set it to 425° and set the timer to 25 minutes. They turned out fine and I took them out before the timer went off. I left them in the muffin pan for 10 minutes just in case. They are so good with the raisins!

This made me laugh.

Found on Instagram @retrieverloverz

Cutest Little Chick w/ Flower Hat

This darling photo caught my eye this morning after getting up way too early thanks to daylight savings time. I am now ready to go back to bed but dare not. Isn't this little yellow chick darling? xo

via

May Flowers in Bloom at My Cottage

I have no idea what this is or where it came from. A bird must have planted it for me. The purple flower is small, measuring only two inches across the two lower petals. There is a spider inside and some sort of winged pollinator on his way to the yellow stamens in the center. This looks like a small flat iris and I love having it in my front garden.

This is the third nasturtium blossom I have had from my overwintered plants.

My lamb's ears in the back are standing proud and tall this spring. The lace cap hydrangea in the distance is full of bud that will be blooming soon. The limelight hydrangea in the left foreground has no buds yet but it's are loving all the rain we've been having.

My pink peonies will be opening soon. This bud is the most advanced. They are already starting to droop because of all the rain drops inside. They are taller than ever this year, up to my chin. They are the loveliest of all spring flowers, agreed?

And last, but not least, the humble wild daisy.

Merry May by Walter Crane

I am a few days welcoming May. So far, she's has been chilly and rainy. I heard on the news this morning that in the past 20 days, 16 of them had rain. I have had to mow earlier and more frequently this spring than in any other. An illustration from: The procession of the months: the verses by Beatrice Crane; the designs by Walter Crane, [1889]. via Houghton Library at Harvard.

Watering the Pots to Start the Seeds

I should be doing this but I have yet to deal with my seeds. I love this old wooden crate filled with peat pots and lots of good earth. via

Throw Open the Windows

Isn't it joyous to be able to open the windows again? I have been sleeping with one in my bedroom open for about a week and I adore waking up to birdsong. I like what I can see in this country kitchen. The marble backsplash and marble windowsill are nice with the wooden countertop. I have always wanted windows that open like this but everything has a trade off. I would have to move all the stuff I have on my kitchen sill before I could open them. via

Baby Bird Feeding Time

via

“I think we consider too much the good luck of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the early worm.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

Robert Frost Quote about April

This quote describes an April Day perfectly. via

Yesterday afternoon I did a first mowing of a large portion of my rear property. I did not do a fall cleanup and my walk-behind mower did a fine job of cleaning up the overgrowth and crunching the leaves the wind didn't blow away. When my Robins return, they will love it. The deer are mad at me and are staying way back where the high field growth is and more long shoots of spring grasses. This is fine with me! It felt good to be outside and the weather was ideal for just a fleece. Today it cold again and rather gloomy with showers coming later. I wanted to do the front today but I need more gasoline and I am too lazy to rush out and refill my cans before the rain starts. It will just have to wait for the next nice day. I want to go over the front before the wild violets come up.

Happy Friday -- have a great weekend. xo

Bluebirds Building in A Nest Box

This photo brings joy to my heart. I fear I won't have bluebirds in my box since the wrens took over two years running. So far, it's empty and cleaned out so I still have hope. Photo and a story found here. The females do all the interior decorating!

I have had this bluebird photo saved to my desktop for a long time because it's so lovely. I cannot remember where I found it but will post the source when I find it.

Duck and Ducklings

This proud mama's babies have hatched and are already almost too big to wrap her wings around. I hope I will be able to photograph some wild turkey chicks on my property this spring. Duck photo found here.

Duplex Bird House

I guess the black-capped chickadee likes privacy and the mother robin doesn't. Robins build messy nests like this one on a ledge below my balcony and I do believe this chickadee is judging it. Can you see a look of disgust on her little face too? via

Hello, April

Happy April Fool's Day. This calendar page by Walter Crane has the perfect illustration for welcoming in the first month of Spring that we've all been so anxiously awaiting. It's bright and sunny with a blue cloudless sky here at my cottage but still chilly. I can't believe we are already into this year's second quarter. My, how time flies.

A Gift of Miniature Daffodils

I went to a Broker Open House near my cottage yesterday and the listing agent was handing out pots of miniature daffodils to all the realtors who came to the preview. I was so excited and came directly home to plant these bulbs where I can see them when working at my laptop in my pantry office. I told her this gift was so much better than a catered lunch and she smiled. I was able to divide the root-bound pot into three plantings which will multiply over the years. Now I want more! As you can see I have yet to begin any spring cleanup.