Ice Everywhere at My Cottage

I don't have a doorbell and I sincerely hope nobody is coming anywhere near my front door today since the walkway is a solid sheet of ice and the iron bell is frozen too. I must deal with the outside pretty soon and scatter some seeds for the poor birds if I do nothing else.

Swimming Pond

I grew up swimming in ponds like this but I'm pretty sure I've lost my nerve. It always bothered me back then when I thought I felt a fish nibble at my toes. I recently saw a snapping turtle when I was showing a house with a pond and it was fierce looking. Now I wouldn't even dangle my feet off this beautiful rustic dock, would you?

I just had to post something showing Mother Nature at her best since she's showing her ugliest face at my house. My car is covered in about 3" of solid ice. I'm not sure I could open the door if I wanted to. I'll be fine until Thursday when I have to take the dog to the vet for a checkup. I think the sun'l be out tomorrow. Stay warm or cool depending on where you are. 

Photo full size here.

Google Takes Street View Into Art Museums

Google Takes Street View Into Art Museums - NYTimes.com
"Now that Google has conquered a majority of the earth’s major streets with its Google Street View project, the company is starting to move inside. It’s creating the Google Art Project, a virtual equivalent of 17 major art museums, including the the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Britain and the National Gallery in London, and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, among many others."

Dog Study in Concentration and Self-Control

Isn't this the best photo of a Weimaraner named Bella balancing a rawhide treat on the bridge of her nose? If I had some of these rolled chewy things around I'd try this with Webster. He is ever so much better and his skin infection is all but cured. He has medicine for today and tomorrow and an appointment with the vet on Thursday. He is acting like his old self and I'm so happy for him and for me too.

Decorated Valentine Cookies

Aren't these cookies beautiful? I love them. Have you started making your valentines yet?

Gardiner's Opera House in Paris | View from the Rooftop

An amazing view of the Eiffel Tower from the roof of Gardiner's Opera photographed by Antoine Lepetit

Gardiner's Opera House in Paris, the social cathedral. The genius of Charles Garnier was his determination to make this palace a huge theater where everyone becomes an actor. At the entrance, great mirrors allow the audience to readjust their clothing before entering an enchanted universe.

Backlit Poppies

I love the way these red poppies are so beautifully backlit by the sun. Another storm is coming and I refuse to think about more snow. We'll see what tomorrow brings as we dream of spring. *

Diamond Floors at Versailles

Robert Polidori - Versailles, Questel Staircase. This is absolutely stunning, isn't it? I love black and white diamonds on floors.

English Gardening Proverb

I am repeating this illustrated quote about gardening that I made ages ago. I'm so glad I remembered to put all of my watering cans in the garage for the winter. I learned the hard way not to leave them outside and let the water that collects freeze and expand to cause leaks. The nice old ones are getting harder and harder to find.

A Little Help Please? Dog in Deep Snow

A Little Help Please? This isn't Webster but it could be. Our snow wasn't quite this deep but it is still much too deep to even take a walk where it hasn't been shoveled. Poor dog.