Icicle Star by Andy Goldsworthy

Ice, leaves, twigs, even dust--these are some of the things Andy Goldsworthy uses in his artworks. Real icicles are the material of Icicle Star. Goldsworthy created this piece on a rock near where he found the icicles. He thinks of his sculptures as temporary--they are called ephemeral art. Since Goldsworthy knows his artworks won’t last long, he always takes photographs of them.

Penguin: Leap of Faith

I love this image. Found here.

A Painted Bunting was seen in Maryland

I saw a news clip about this rare bird siting in Maryland on the CBS News this morning. It was rare to see a painted bunting so far North but the news clip said they were rather common farther down South. All the bird watchers (birders) are flocking to Maryland hoping to get a glimpse of this bird for their life bird count. 

I couldn't find anything to watch last night in bed on Acorn TV so I started a search. I was searching by name of some of my favorite actors and I put in Martin Clunes and guess what popped up? Doc Martin, Season 9 was released in September 2019 but I never knew it. I started watching and it's delightful. I am SO HAPPY! I think it's on Amazon Prime Video too.

I have been working upstairs in my attic home office doing endless organizing and shredding. I went to paper recycling today with 3 tall garbage cans of shredded paper, junk mail, and flattened cardboard boxes. I wasn't the only one either. The lady in front of me had a car full and I thought she would never get finished unloading her SUV. Mine was all organized and went quickly.

I have an older, small flatscreen TV on the third floor with a Chromecast attached to the back and I have been streaming non-stop episodes of ANTIQUES ROADSHOW UK from PLUTO TV Channel 621. It's so much better than the American version. It's on 24/7 and I don't often see repeats because it has been on the air for so long. I am such a happy cord cutter and haven't looked back since I got rid of cable TV and my landline phone. All I have now is high speed WiFi and my cell phone. In my living room I still get Air TV from an inexpensive antenna. Now I watch what I want, when I want. I can stream the Sunday shows on PBS starting on Monday from The PBS Video App.

xo

Delightful Bedroom with Bookshelves

I love a bedroom with bookshelves and I have them in mine too. This room has a lot of personality, doesn't it? I love the bedside tables, matching lamps twin windows, the wallpaper, the bed and linens, actually all of it!!! via

Beautiful Landscape Photograph

Gorgeous photograph of a Montana landscape. via

Edinburgh's Hogmanay (New Year) with Drones

Due to Covid-19, 150 individual drones took the place of fireworks this year in Edinburgh Scotland's New Year's Celebration called Hogmanay. I have never heard of this term mentioned on Instagram and I'm glad I decided see what it was all about. I am posting the celebration in 3 videos below:

Fare Well Part 1 - Edinburgh Hogmanay 2020

Fare Well Part 2 - Edinburgh Hogmanay 2020

Fare Well Part 3 - Edinburgh Hogmanay 2020

History of Hogmanay

I took a photo of the one-pound bag of frozen Chopped Collard Greens I use. I have seen them at Walmart too under their private label. I searched Google Images if you want to look for brands in your area. I had a replay of my New Year's Day supper today with the addition of a slow, oven-baked sweet potato and it was delicious. I had a very productive day moving bits around and putting them back where they belong. I am on one of my organizing frenzies and it feels good. Enjoy the rest of your long weekend. xo

My New Year's Day Traditional Supper

I thoroughly enjoyed my traditional southern home cooking for New Year's Day. I like my black-eyed peas rather "soupy" so I can dunk my cornbread in the "pot liquor" as we always called it in my family. The collard greens were good too. I will have my peas in a soup bowl tomorrow and crumble cornbread in it. Yum. I love leftovers and I have plenty. I've done a lot of research on greens and collard greens are off the charts when it comes to nutrition compared to kale, spinach, and all the other greens. They are good for your eyes too. Don't forget to eat your greens! xo

SMOOTH SAILING IN 2021

H A P P Y   N E W   Y E A R

Soaking My Black-eyed Peas for New Year's Day

I am soaking my black-eyed peas for a traditional New Year's Day meal with collard greens and cornbread. It looks like it will be enough for an army, doesn't it? This is a pyrex 8-cup measure and just one bag of beans. Looks like plenty will go in the freezer and that's a good thing. Enjoy your New Year's Eve. xo

Gathering Wood and Walking a Pig on New Year's Eve

"MAY YE NIVER WANT AUGHT

NOR A FRIEND TO SHARE

IT WI YE"

This is an original artwork on a card in my collection that I framed and love. This is my sentiment to you for midnight tonight and beyond in the New Year and forever. xo

Woodcut Engraving with Heart and Bird

A Song in my Heart

Numbered, signed, and dated.

I love it.

Image found on Tumblr.

Wonderful Cat Video

Wonder how this photographer got this shot of his cat? He was under a glass top table, and he had spread something delicious on the top for the cat to lick.

I just finished watching all three seasons of "detectorists" on Acorn TV. It is also available on Amazon Prime. It is full of charming characters and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this award winning BBC production and hope you will too.

A Beautiful Winter Landscape

There is beauty in the natural winter landscape if you don't cut everything back. This one is especially lovely. via

2020 Almost Gone

"Good riddance!" I say. How about you? via

A Really Spectacular Bathroom

This custom bathroom is definitely not a cookie cutter example. Every inch is custom including the tiled ceiling. The marble sinks with the brass surrounds are quite spectacular, aren't they? I would love to see the rest of the room to see where the owners store their "stuff". I can't see a place for even a tube of toothpaste unless those mirrors open up to medicine cabinets. Photo found here.

Interesting Antique Calligraphy

Superimposed Letters Spelling the Names of Illustrious Women of Ancient Rome: Faustina, Lucretia, Virginia, Vittoria, Giulia, Flaminia from Mira Calligraphiae Monumenta or The Model Book of Calligraphy (1561–1596) by Georg Bocskay and Joris Hoefnagel. 

Original from The Getty.

Hawk on My Balcony Railing

This hawk actually posed for me, turning his head in all directions while I clicked away with my camera. He is either a Coopers Hawk or a Sharp-shinned Hawk. I sent this photo to Cornell Lab to help me identify him correctly. Have a great lazy weekend. xo

Vintage Christmas Postcard

Vintage Christmas Postcard by Zdenek Guth. Original from The New York Public Library. I love this illustration with the angels celebrating Christmas in the snowy woods. Tonight I am going to watch Call The Midwife 2020 Christmas Special on PBS.

xo

Gorgeous Holiday Wreath

This is absolutely one of the most gorgeous Holiday wreaths I have ever seen. I would leave it on my door until spring. via Denise mentioned a DIY video on YouTube for a similar wreath. Thanks, Denise!

Merry Christmas to All

My snow melted overnight thanks to the hard rain, fierce winds, and unusual warmth for this time of year. It seems that 2020 is continuing to be a year for the record books in every respect! This photo was taken on Christmas Eve morning and I added the greeting to wish you all a happy Christmas Day that is merry in every way. xo

Extinct Ivory Billed Woodpecker

Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) from The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands (1754) by Mark Catesby (1683-1749). Original from The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library via

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone. I am up in the middle of the night because the howling wind woke me up and I'm wide awake. The power is still on and that's a good thing for the people around me with no generators. I'll see you later. xo

Happy Christmas Eve

My weather sounds pretty ominous for later in the day or early evening for rain and strong winds. I posted these hares on my blog back in 2013. See more of my Christmas Eve Posts Here. Be safe and blessed tonight. xo

Window Box with Christmas Decor

So pretty! Found on Instagram.

Bookplate with Borrowing Instructions

Neither blemish this book nor the leaves double down

Nor lend it to each idle friend in the town:

Return it when read -- or if lost, please supply

Another, as good to the mind and the eye.

With right and with reason you need but be friends

And each book in my study your pleasure attends.

I think these instructions from James Moore are very generous and polite, don't you? I found this photo on my computer, saved from long ago. I added the text below. It has always been my experience when I lent a book that I might as well have kissed it goodbye because I rarely got it back without asking for it. xo

N O E L

Old calligraphy alphabets are so beautiful and this one is no exception. This would make a beautiful Christmas Card. via

THE GOLDFINCH

Carel Pietersz Fabritius, the most promising student of Rembrandt, famous for his painting “The Goldfinch,” died young at just 32 in 1654. He was killed in an explosion. (Not what you were expecting, right?) The city of Delft’s gunpowder magazine unexpectedly exploded, destroying about one-fourth of the city and killing Fabritius. Dying young does not mean the end of a painter’s career – just look at Van Gogh. But unfortunately for Fabritius, most of his paintings were also destroyed in the explosion. Only about a dozen of his paintings survive today. (Source: Wikipedia) photo source

Winter Solstice 2020

Tonight is the longest night of the year. Starting tomorrow, the days will be getting longer so I decided to feature the sun rather than the moon.

This sun is an image copied from an 18th Century calligraphy manual. The December solstice happens at the same instant for everyone, everywhere on Earth – and this year the winter solstice occurred on Monday December 21, at 10:02 GMT in the Northern Hemisphere. As such, Monday December 21 will be the shortest day and longest night of the year.

Moon Snow by  Lucy Grossmith

This delightful image was found on Google Images.

Tonight will be perfect for animals like these.

Stunning Flower Photograph

Hagoromo Chrysanthemum by Magda Indigo

Who knew mums could be so lovely?

Bookish Christmas Card

I adore this custom Christmas Card designed for The London Library 2020. It's easy to see why it's sold out. Isn't it a perfect card for a library, librarian, or book lover? Perfect to send to your Book Club members too.

Cute Christmas Pancakes

I found this image somewhere this morning when I was browsing and fell in love with this idea for decorating pancakes this time of year. Please share with your loved ones! I added the text below the image.

xo

Vintage Christmas Card I Made Years Ago

I just discovered this Christmas Card I made long ago. I lost all the images I created when my desktop computer running Windows XP crashed and took away all my saved photos, photo editing software, Microsoft Word, and so much more. This was around 5 years ago I think. I just found this image on an old phone and I still love it. I scanned the image from one of my books, enlarged it and printed it in black and white on heavy card stock. I still adore everything about the image and the sentiment and this is my wish for you. I picture myself as the woman walking up to her cottage because her driveway hasn't been plowed and she had to leave her car at the bottom of the hill. Such is my life. xo

Beautiful Bedroom Wallpaper

I love the way this wallpaper looks in this bedroom with the plain fabrics, lampshade, and carpet. The room is simple and simply gorgeous. via

Hoar Frost Surrounding An English Country House

I subscribe to a BBC Newsletter and this opening photo knocked me off my feet! The article appears to be interesting too, though I've only skimmed it. The title is 'Cottagecore' and the rise of the modern rural fantasy. Even if you don't read it, open the link so you can see a full-page photo of this English Country House. 

Cottagecore is all about the outdoors and slow living – think Anne of Green Gables meets The Secret Garden – Lucy Blackall

After I have my coffee, I have to suit up and dig out my generator. I completely forgot to do that yesterday and it's something you have to do in case you need it. The sky is clearing and there should be sunshine to help melt my driveway. See you later. xo

PS: Want to get the newsletter too? Subscribe here. You're welcome!!!

Be Worthy of Your Dog's Devotion

I added this text to a picture of a French Bull Dog long ago and I just found it again in my photos. It's so true too. I hope you don't mind seeing it again. I worked outside dealing with snow for much of the day and will probably sleep like a log tonight. xo

A Snowy Mourning Dove Portrait

Mr. Morning Dove aka Mr. Mourning Dove. Are you tired of bird portraits yet? He was so close to my window this morning and he let me take his picture without moving a feather. The storm is over and it wasn't so bad in my neck of the woods. I haven't been outside yet to shovel but will get out of my pajamas soon and start digging out. I have someone coming later with a snowblower to help me deal with the driveway. See you later. Hope you are all safe and sound. xo

A Beautiful Cardinal on My Balcony

This is a better photo of a cardinal than the last one I posted. There was a real frenzy at my feeder all day because the birds were trying to power up for the coming storm with wind and snow. It's her at the time of this posting (8pm) and so far it's not too bad. I hope I will be pleasantly surprised when I wake up tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed. xo

Snow Covered Steps in Montréal

Montréal, Quebec, Canada by Akhil Verma

Now I don't feel so bad about the snow that's coming my way. Be safe and be careful. xo

via

Bunny in The Snow

I can't get away from people on TV or the radio talking about the Nor'easter that's coming my way tomorrow afternoon. The snowy scene above is just about all I can take mentally but I'll deal with it on Thursday morning for sure. Be safe if you are in the path too. xo 

Christmas Tree Ornaments

I wonder how many glass birds are on this Christmas tree? They are so beautiful!

Pinecones are always a good idea. This is definitely a DIY project using ribbon and twine or string. via

Shelter Island Kitchen Renovation

Painted floors in kitchens are one of my favorite things. I love the free-standing refrigerator too. The simple understated farmhouse style is wonderful. Read all about it here with numerous photographs to love.

Kitchen Table Next To The Window

This is perfect placement for the kitchen table, isn't it? I love the little tabletop Christmas tree too. via

Manor House Dusted with Snow

Snow is such beautiful decoration for the plantings around this English Country House. A dusting is the perfect amount too requiring no shoveling. via

Great English Bookshop

If you walked past this bookshop in Dorset, wouldn't you just have to go in? I know I would. via

Saturday Quotes

I have never heard this Jane Austen quote about nature and it's so true.

Nature is the best teacher! Both quotes found here.

Evergreen Garland

This looks simple enough to make. There should be a tutorial womewhere. I'll look for it tomorrow. Good night all. DIY instructions here. Have fun making them this weekend. Easy.

Here is the YouTube tutorial Jean Ellen sent in the comments for trees that look like the ones above. Thanks so much.

xo

A Real Cook's Kitchen

This is a real cook's kitchen for sure. The stove is the most important thing and then the pots and pans, mostly copper. I think the worktable to the left of the range is fabulous and love that it's an antique and not a custom built-in cabinet. There is an old chopping block to the right and a step stool to reach the hanging pots. Love it all. via