Sunday Sketch

I love this playful illustration. via

Have a good one.

My New Glasses: Eyewear

I have never mastered taking selfies so this is my version that looks like a double exposure. My reflection in one of my balcony doors also looks through to one of my living room walls. I wanted to show you my new glasses and the photo below is an enlargement.

I am very camera shy and I can take better photos of myself than anyone else.

This closeup shows the subtle colors in the tortoise-shell frames. My old ones had smaller lenses and wire frames with nose pads. They were quite comfortable but not that becoming. I bought them because I had clip-on sunglasses that fit and soon after I got those glasses, I lost the clips, so that was a wasted effort in economy. I have clip-ons that fit my new glasses too but I didn't realize it until I found them in a drawer full of old glasses. I can see more clearly out of my new frames but when I watch TV in bed, I can see better out of my old wire ones since the lenses are smaller. My new eye doctor tweaked my left lens making it easier to read street signs so, overall, I'm happy. I think it takes a long time to get used to your own reflection in a mirror before you look like yourself to yourself if you know what I mean.

Enjoy this long Holiday Weekend. Be safe if you are on the road. xo

Nasturtium Seeds and An Acorn Tile

I found the seeds for trailing nasturtiums and bought 4 packets. I have already planted 2 packets in various planters in my front garden. It has rained every day since and I have turned on my heat twice. Mother Nature is still on a rampage of sorts but I'm ever hopeful the seeds will do their thing and give me a wonderful display. Fingers Crossed. I will put in supports for the ones I want to climb and leave the rest alone so they can trail.

The fabulous blue acorn tile was purchased at the same estate sale as my silver trophy. I adore the impressed acorn design, the intense blue color, and just looking at it makes me happy. Enjoy your Sunday. xo

Great Tub for a Nice Hot Bath

I love this look for a farmhouse bathroom.

It might be a challenge to get in and out, but the charm of this horse trough tub is wonderful. I hope they used marine paint to cover the galvanized metal but I'm sure they must have and maybe they even had it enameled! I hope I can find a link that shows the entire room and I'll post it if I do. I love the little hinged windows that open to the inside. Enjoy your Sunday. xo via

Snow Recovery at My Cottage

I have a path from my front door one shovel wide. My car is cleaned off and I hand-shoveled all around it. The pile of snow on the left, which you can't see, was harder to do because the evergreen was in the way. When I was about 95% finished, a car stopped, and a man got out and offered to help me. I thanked him and assured him that I was very fit and was almost finished. The Good Samitaritan and true gentleman reluctantly drove away. It made me feel good that he was kind enough to even stop.

The icicles are starting to form on my barn/garage and the snow on my balcony has melted enough to show the base on my long bench.

The snow on my table top is freezing in place as it droops.

Have a great weekend as you dig yourselves out if you got a lot of snow. I feel your pain if you are still without power as so many are in New Jersey. My street got lucky and we were only out for a day and a half and that was plenty as some towns nearby have been out for over a week. It makes me feel somewhat guilty for having my generator but I would much rather have this home inprovement instead of a couple of designer handbags. It was money well spent and I plan on keeping it in good working order for years to come.

Gorgeous Sweater Girl

Photo by American photographer William Wegman, best known for his portraits of Weimaraners. This puppy face is very sweet, isn't it. Have a great weekend! It almost feels like spring at my house and my driveway is almost melted. Hooray. xo

Lamb in The Warming Oven

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Now I've seen everything.

Here is a very new use for the warming oven on an AGA range. Warming a new-born lamb or a spoiled pet lamb! So sweet. Have a great weekend. xo

Wooden Drainboard Love

There are many things to get excited about in this photo. I'm mad about the long, deep window ledge and the wooden drainboard. It looks like an old fashioned kitchen that has had a slight facelift but still looks old. Enjoy one of the last weekends of summer. xo 

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My Wish for You

I love this calligraphy and its message. via

Southern Plantation Porch

Can you even imagine a better porch? I love the high ceiling with architectural interest. The rockers appear to be looking out on the water too. How nice! Charleston or Savannah? Have a great weekend. via

Dark Green Shutters and Door

I have always liked this dark green that looks almost black but have never used it because it is so very popular in my area and I always wanted to be a little different. I like the high gloss paint because it sheds the water so nicely. via

Have a great weekend.

Unusual House Pet in Diapers

This photo caught me by surprise and I suppose you weren't expecting a lamb either, were you? via

Have a great weekend!

Mass Planting of Crocuses

I photographed these crocuses at my office on Wednesday after viewing some houses. I think they were probably beaten down by the torrential rain we had all day on Thursday. I hope they survived. I worked outside today and it felt so good. We had nippy weather requiring a wool scarf around my neck, just the kind of day I needed for hard work. Enjoy the rest of the weekend. xo

Sunday Morning Sun in My Living Room

I put this photo on Instagram this morning and thought my blog followers might like it too. The sun was shining nicely on my fireplace so I had to leave my cup of hot coffee to capture it. Here's hoping you enjoy your first April Sunday. I'm helping a friend move and it's a beautiful day to be working and doing some heavy lifting. See you later. xo

Sweet Cottage with Front Garden

image source

Everyone I know is anxious for spring even though we have snow on the ground and a rumored big storm is coming on Tuesday. We can dream, can't we? Enjoy the weekend and be safe. xo

Don't forget to set your clocks forward one hour tonight before you go to bed. Spring forward, you know!

Snow Cat

Yes, it's safe to come out now. It snowed all day long at my house yesterday and somehow amounted to nothing. I would say I have 2 inches of powder this morning. I was able to sweep my walk when it quit last night with a stiff broom. I cleaned off my car too. I know most of you were not this lucky and I hope you have the same cloudless blue sky that I have to dig yourself out Sunday morning. xo

photo via google images

Pink Fog at My Cottage This Morning

I woke up early this morning and my bedroom was enveloped in pink. I hopped out of bed, grabbed my Nikon, and captured this rare pink fog. This photo is right out of the camera with no filters. It was probably the result of the refracted color of the sunrise bouncing off the morning fog. It didn't last long before turning to the normal gray. I'm happy I woke up just in the nick of time. Maybe I'll have purple rain later (smile).

Beautiful Entrance with A Tile Rug

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Absolute perfection.

Agreed?

Have a great weekend!

Double Decker Sliding Barn Doors

I still like this sliding barn door trend, especially on this converted barn/home. via

I woke up early after a half day of mowing yesterday and I'm almost finished with my fall cleanup. I was shocked into getting it finished after I saw photos of an early dusting of snow in Connecticut and upstate New York this week. It is unusually warm today and that's good for the trick or treaters. Happy Halloween. xo

Public Walking Path near My Cottage

I had a busy day and ended up here. There was a real estate viewing in the late morning, a baby shower in the mid afternoon and a walk on the walking path near my house before the sun went down. It was a perfect day. I have on my pajamas already and I am looking forward to The Durrells in Corfu at 8PM on PBS. Enjoy your evening too. xo