A toddler came over for 4 hours yesterday . . .

I babysat my toddler friend Margaret all morning yesterday. She came over very early with her own french toast with maple syrup. Webster sat in this pose and watched her eat every bite. Don't worry...she gave him a bite or two and he got to lick the plate as well as the guest. He has never been around many young children for extended periods but he was wonderful.

Save the last bite for me.

She came with one tear on her cheek.

I love the way children look at you so directly.

She's the youngest of 4 and they all have these eyelashes!

We all took a long walk with Tabitha. Margaret held the cat's leash tightly the whole way down to the "way back" and Tabitha came home without it. That's the way we always do it...Tabitha has to be forced to walk long distances. My mom came along too. I was fully prepared to be exhaused 4 hours later but I wasn't. This child was easy and fun. Under her Yankees hat her red hair was in two forward facing pony tails that looked like dog ears.

You might remember my blog post about her first birthday.

Wild turkey in the yard . . .

This wild turkey has been hanging around for a few days eating all the songbird seeds that fall to the ground. Webster takes great delight in chasing him away...he can fly...though quite awarkwardly. I don't let Webster out if I know Mr. Turkey is around but sometimes I don't look first and then I feel bad.

Mr. Toad has disappeared so it's nice to have a new wild friend around. I can't believe how awful my yard looks. The grass is soooo long after a week of rain. I haven't mowed for two weeks. Time to fire up the machines. Enjoy your day. Thanks for stopping by the cottage. ♥Rosemary

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Life's Little Instruction Book, pages 86 + 87 . . .

...To be continued...

Happy Mother's Day . . .

Happy Mother's Day.

Star Trek . . .

Great Star Trek Cover Shoots Of The Past 40 Years


Enter the site for the new STAR TREK movie.

May the force be with you.
Have a great weekend.

Photograph love . . .

You know I love to save photos to my computer. Here are some favorites.

A nest full of baby robins. Feed me!

A wonderful attic room.


A simple country kitchen that I like.


A great path.


A wonderful French Normandy home.


I like this office a lot. I would want a window though.
I once had a closet office similar to this and loved it.


A wonderful Connecticut courtyard.

A nice kitchen with a blue painted floor.

Do you have a favorite? Happy Friday...enjoy your weekend.

Life's Little Instruction Book, pages 84 + 85 . . .

...To be continued...

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.

Don't Gloat . . .

Try to cultivate sophisticated laziness . . .

Sophisticated laziness does not come naturally;
you have to cultivate it.

Cats have it all figured out, don't they?