Country Basketball Hoop

Remember when this type of basketball hoop was nailed over every garage or barn door? I think it looks so much better than the big plastic free-standing units that are everywhere now. Some things can't be improved upon, can they? I took this photo in the spring at an open house.

Beatrix Potter Stamps | Royal Mail

Hands down, the Royal Mail has the BEST stamps. I love these from The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. I pay almost all of my bills online but these stamps would make me want to mail something by snail mail. 

My Rainy Day

Here it is by popular demand -- a photo of today's rainy day. It has slacked up quite a bit but it's still coming down very softly. I must tell you that the only plants on the property that have actually thrived through my neglect during the long hot spell are the geraniums. They can withstand almost anything except extreme cold. They don't mind drought and heat at all. They might lose leaves and look to be on the brink of death but one drink of water brings them right back. I think they are the only plants I will even consider next year. They overwinter in the house very nicely too. Hooray for geraniums! The hummingbirds love the red ones.

my iPhone photo

Cottage with a Great Garden

Isn't this a great courtyard surrounded by thriving plantings? I wish I could see the inside of the cottage. I'm sure it's charming too.
It is just a little after 9:00am at my cottage and it's dark as pitch and pouring rain. I hope I don't have to go outside at all today. I need a rainy day. See you later.

Starfish on Rocky Beach

Starfish on a rocky beach under a beautiful sky. via I have a hard time believing starfish are real too. These beautiful rocks look as if they were all arranged by hand, don't they?

Mirror Twin Pups

Australian Cattle Dog pups by Warren Wills. They are mirror twins! They look very sweet, don't they? via

A symmetrical garden designed a Canadian landscape architecture firm, Janet Rosenberg + Associates. via I love this garden of green.

Amazing Sky

These clouds made me go outside and capture them just a few minutes ago. They were only up in the sky over my cottage for a fleeting moment at sunset. Goodnight. See you tomorrow.

Giant Fuzzy Moth

This was resting on the front door of my office this morning. I saw it but thought it was an early fall leaf. Someone told me it was a giant moth and it was. Doesn't it have great camouflage? This photo was snapped with my trusty iPhone. I love always having a camera in my pocket.

Seahorse Silhouette

I always have a hard time believing seahorses are real. In my mind they are in the same category as mermaids and unicorns. This one is beautiful, isn't it? via

If only

this were awaiting me at the end of this busy, busy day. Sigh. I could use a little Zen about now. via

Fabulous Living Room

I say YES to every single thing I see in this amazing room. It is perfect. via

8 Secrets to a Happy Kitchen

I didn't have to get any farther than the first photo in this interesting article. This dining area is perfect, isn't it?

Some Day

He was right.

Bee Quilt

It has been over a month since the beginning of the bee quilt. Hand printed bees on hand dyed fabric. Wonder how it's coming along? I love it so far! via

Restored Welsh Farm Without Electricity

This farmhouse bedroom in Wales looks charming doesn't it until you learn that this delightful renovation has no electricity...yet. It's off the grid.

Built in 1805, abandoned in 1948, and vacant for 40 years aside from providing shelter for sheep. The farmhouse and outbuildings were restored and the roof was recovered in thick local Welsh slate. Read full article and view lots more photographs here. Hackett Holland Ltd. Architect

Oak Leaves are Falling

I saw lots of oak leaves on the ground yesterday when I took Webster for his after-dinner walk. Most had teeny tiny acorns buds attached. This one landed on a sycamore leaf. The heavy rain we had all day on Friday is helping to re-green the lawn but unfortunately the only variety that has been reconstituted is the crabby kind. Crabgrass is my least favorite thing about the second half of summer.

Sweet Dreams

I'm quite sure Webster has this same dream every night and if it ever came true he would try to eat all of his biscuits at one sitting. Sweet dreams my friends. See you tomorrow. via

Have a Fun Weekend

Doing something like splashing your feet in the water would be a good start. via

I'm organizing EVERYTHING today

and this is what is going to happen to anything that gets in my way. Tabitha is hiding in her cat carrier (really) and Webster has a worried look on his face. How are you spending your Saturday? via