Good rules for all...

My friend Kelly has this hand-made sampler hanging outside the children's playroom. Even though they are very young, they follow these rules to perfection. I guess you might say they are learning by example from their wonderful parents.

GOOD RULES FOR ALL
1. Be nice to one another.
2. Think good thoughts.
3. Try to do better.
4. Say please and thank you.
5. Smile.
6. Be happy with what you have.
7. Listen to others.
8. Be helpful.
9. Speak kindness.
10. Never give up.

Thanks, Kelly and Rich.

Click photo to enlarge.

Another colorful maple leaf...

I actually stopped my riding mower yesterday and got off to pick up this beautiful maple leaf. It survived in my big workshirt pocket very nicely until the photography session. I chose a black polar fleece blanket for the background and I am very pleased with the results.

Flowers and a seed packet pattern...

I have tons on cleome or spider plants on my property. They reseed themselves every year.

The seed pods explode and scatter everywhere...or you can gather them and plant them where you really want them. You can mix the seeds or isolate them according to flower color.

Click on the image below and get a full-size image with  two (2) seed packets per sheet. No need to use card stock ~ inkjet paper is fine. I love to gather and save seeds. These seed packages make nice stocking stuffers and Christmas card inserts for your gardening friends. Nice way to start a friendship garden. Enjoy and share!

You might want to see all of my other seed packet designs.

Flower of the Wood Anemone...

This is one of my favorite fall flowers. The photo was taken last year. No blooms so far but lots of foliage. The illustration is from botanical.com and they say it flowers in the spring. Maybe mine is a different variety because it only comes alive in the fall. I can't wait.

Thanks for stopping by!

View from my friend's home in Massachusetts...

After the Rain. (after)

My friend Lynn is my guest blogger today only she doesn't know it yet. One of her homes is in the Berkshires on the top of a hill with this beautiful view. She took this photo one morning last year after a rain. I can take only a little credit. If you look at the original below you will see a little bit of her deck railing in the lower right corner. I fixed it by extending the road with the clone tool in Photoshop Elements 6. I adjusted the exposure with auto smart fix and then added a thin black border. You can always click on any of my photos to enlarge.

I would walk around with my camera around my neck and another in my pocket at all times if my home overlooked this breathtaking vista. The gardens are beautiful too. Thanks Lynn!

After the Rain. (before)

My sides are splitting over this funny video...

Look what happens when you don't recycle or are inconsiderate of others in the corporate workplace.



See more at The Daily Green.

Hedgehog in my garden...2008 Olympics...

This hedgehog cement garden ornament was purchased new over 30 years ago and it finally looks old.

Don't fail to bookmark The official website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 8-24, 2008 so you can keep up with what is happening over there.

2008 Olympics Opening Ceremony...

All eyes will be on the opening ceremony for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China tonight. I copied the pictogram above from their homepage.

For a real treat with 24 very large amazing photographs, please don't miss THE BIG PICTURE.

Bluebird house on my property...

This might be considered a repeat photo. I used another version of this bluebird box in my very first post. I like this version better because it doesn't have anything intruding in the upper left corner. I love the blurred background.

Orchid portrait...

I photographed this orchid at a friend's house. I have never owned one of these plants and I probably never will. They are lovely as long as there is a flower...but when the flower goes I lose interest completely. So I shall just be happy with OPO (other people's orchids).

Beautiful maple leaf with fall colors...

This is the main reason for wanting to get all of my grass nice and short. Then most of the leaves that are already starting to fall will blow away and I won't have to rake so much. This system has always worked well for me. I love this colorful maple leaf I found while walking Webster. I photographed it on an old storm shutter with the most wonderful blue over green paint.

More moonlight mowing...

I have not kept up with my mowing lately. Now I have to work extra hard to get my lower property looking like this again. I mowed after dinner for 2 hours so I am on my way! This photo was taken one foggy morning. See you on the internet tomorrow.

MR. SHARPTOOTH, 1903 illustrated children's book...

Mister Sharptooth by Joe Kerr Illustrations by Robert H. Porteous G. W. Dillingham Co., Publishers New York ~ 1903

The book is in poor condition but the chromolithographed illustrations are wonderful. Enjoy this rare book with a happy ending and a moral too.

Cottage love . . .

I have always loved the watercolor of this wonderful stone and brick vine-covered cottage with a tile roof. It is on the cover of one of my ancient address books. I hope this is a real home somewhere ~ preferably in England. I wouldn't change a thing. It is absolutely perfect with a chimney on each gable end, a shaped hedge, wooden gate, brick walls for the garden, simple board and batten front door, and windows with brick surrounds. I think it would be low maintenance too. I am quite sure the interior is filled with 18th century antiques!

I don't have petunias this year. This photo was taken in my garden last summer.

Huge snakeskin with eye sockets intact...

I found this snakeskin at the base of a tree located outside my bedroom window. I tried picking it up in one piece but it was too fragile. I hung it in the tree in two pieces. I know this snake. I often see him sunning himself in this blue spruce and he is a very large, very fat, very long black snake. I searched the internet for poisonous snakes in New Jersey and decided he was not a rattlesnake because he has no markings...just solid black. So I am not afraid of him and I just leave him alone. I hope he eats his weight in field mice!

Upon closer examination, I discovered that he just crawled out of his skin and left the old eye sockets behind. Lenses and all! Isn't that amazing?

Here is a closer view of his old face. Looks a little bit like Gumby with scales! Well, that is my adventure for the day.

Bark 'n dog...

I love texture. This is an interesting bark pattern on a very old white pine.

This photo of my assistant gives new meaning to the term watch dog. He sits reclines at the center window of my third floor studio and watches for trespassing critters all day long. He knows our survey by heart and will chase the deer, fox, bunny, squirrel or what have you just to the edge of the property line and then turn around and head home. Webster is the smartest, sweetest, most loyal dog I have ever owned.

Tomato smiley face . . .

I thought I should create a photographic record of this tomato smiley face before it becomes a BLT.

Butterflies and wildflowers...

First butterfly photo of the season! I told you the thistle flower would bring them!

This is a tiny blue wildflower that looks huge in this macrIt's an Asian / Asiatic Dayflower, Commelina communis.o shot! I wish I knew the name. For now let's just call it beautiful blue flower.

Mystery solved--an anonymous reader identified this as an Asian / Asiatic Dayflower, Commelina communis. Thank you so much!