Primitive Cabin in The Snow

Let's go inside and light a big fire. I love the big windows. Have a nice evening and I'll see you tomorrow. Sleep tight when you turn out the light. via

Cape Cod Remodel - Before and After

Before. An unimpressive cape cod home in a great location.

After. It pays to hire a great architect.

This house is near me on one of my favorite streets. I can hardly believe my eyes when I look at this transformation. Isn't it wonderful? Arturo Palumbo Architecture

Claude Monet Snow Scene

So very lovely.

Claude Monet - The Magpie - 1869

via

Dr. Webster is so smart.

The wisdom of my dog is absolutely amazing. Webster was limping a little this morning on his left paw and he knew exactly what to do.

He arranged his blue blanket and his stuffed zebra just right in a pile.

How did he know to elevate it? Anyway, ever since he fixed himself, he's been sleeping peacefully. Before that he would whimper almost inaudibly every once in a while.

Polar Vortex Dog

Wake me when it's spring.

Webster has been a real trooper during this deep freeze but he's missing his long walks. Tabitha has been a little champ too. How are your animals holding up?

Perfect Photo Arrangement

I'm impressed. This couldn't have been easy! I wonder if they made a template first? via

Best Reading Nook Ever!

I would put a custom cushion on the window seat.

I would like to go inside and check out this reading nook, wouldn't you? I love the pediment over the doorway. via

Fresh Beets Daily for Me!

A bunch of fresh beets on my farm table.

Well, I could be telling you about how cold it is here but instead I'll blog about beets. I picked up a fresh bunch at the market yesterday and I'll be eating them raw. This has been part of my daily routine since mid-November. I should have taken the photo yesterday before the greens started to wilt in my refrigerator. These are nice big ones and I'm thrilled. Webster is too because I'll cook the greens for him. I already have plenty of fresh greens for myself. I decided in November that I should do everything within my power to keep healthy and decided to improve my eating habits. Maybe this article will convince you to add beets to your diet too. I peel mine with a potato peeler and cut into cubes which I shred in my food processor. I have perfected the method so it's not as messy as when I first started. One of my favorite dishes is hot wilted greens, topped with hot black-eyed peas, topped with cold grated raw beets. It's delicious! That's what I'm having for dinner tonight. Stay snug and warm and I'll be back later. xo

Dress Warmly

Another cold snap is coming so dress warmly and bundle your pets up too. via

Hilarious Animated Gif

No matter what you do to me, I'm not leaving. via

Goodnight. Only 1/2 Hour until Downton.

I'm all set for bed and I know I can stay awake until 11pm. Enjoy...see you tomorrow.

Webster wants to get in the act.

I was minding my own business having fun with my iPhone camera this morning. I have a pair of bronze dogs picked up at Brimfield years ago that I love. Keep an eye on the upper left hand corner of the table and you'll see a little brown fur in the third picture and then the photo bomber will appear.

Whatcha doin' up there?

Don't mind me.

I'll just wait here until it's time for our walk.

His wish was granted.

Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II | Page 58

A few more suggestions, observations, and reminders on how to live a happy and rewarding life.

I'm not sure I can comply with #712 on the very day all of my favorite TV shows are coming back! I like #713 though. I've been a bargain hunter all my life and I don't have a history of ever paying too much for anything. It's just part of my chemical makeup and I like being this way. 

221B Baker Street

Two weeks from tomorrow is the premier of Sherlock, Season 3 on PBS. I'm really looking forward to another season. I can't believe all of my favorite shows are on the same night. Sunday = Downton Abbey, Sherlock, The Good Wife and Revenge. And those are just the network shows. Thank goodness for full episodes online! via

I found this blog that posts about Sherlock every day! I'm almost afraid to look at it for fear there will be spoiler alerts. It's from Engand and they got the new series on January 1st from BBC.

My Cottage Fireplace

I have a fire ready to go later. All I have to do is strike the match. Tonight I will sit by the open fire and watch a movie on my my iPad. This is an experiment. I uploaded this photo of my fireplace here at the cottage from my iPhone. I want to see how and if Mobile Blogger works!

An earlier fire on a cold winter's night.

I saved the photo and the text above as a draft. I did a little more editing from my laptop. Mobile Blogger does work to a point and this is good to know if I want to blog something without coming home. I think it would be best for something short and sweet, on the fly. 

Tabitha misses her grass.

Eating grass every morning is a big part of Tabitha's routine and there's not a blade to be seen anywhere. However the sun is out and that's a big plus in spite of the reading on the thermometer. When we first got up this morning around 7am it was -2°. Now it's a balmy 5° and rising. Tomorrow it's supposed to get up to 39° so there will be melting! Maybe she will be able to graze again soon. Stay warm. We are all very cozy in the cottage. xo

What a difference a day makes.

I took this photo of my picket fence yesterday. Don't ask me why but I'm glad I did.

This is what it looked like from my bedroom window when I first woke up this morning. I shoveled my walk, dug out my car, and moved it so I'm all set for the deep freeze. It's 10° right now and it's supposed to get down to -6° overnight. Webster and I just got back from his after dinner walk and it didn't seem that cold to me. We went on our regular long walk with no shortcuts too. Tabitha was waiting at the door to get back in the house when we got back. I'm always glad when the animals have been fed, watered, and walked so I can relax for the rest of the evening. Hope you can too.

Snow Day

I put this photo on instagram this morning. Photographed when I first got up from my bedroom window. Not too bad at all here. The animals went out, have been fed, and are back in bed. My driveway has been plowed but my car is another story. I'll deal with it and my front walk later. My road has been plowed and salted - I'm so lucky to live on a county road!

I watch the premier of the 8-part miniseries "THE ASSETS" last night and it was very intriguing. I must watch it again on my iPad so I can see the typing on the screen. The flatscreen TV in my bedroom isn't very big and I can never read stuff on it from my bed. Here's a review of the show....I'm sure it will be repeated on ABC so look for it or watch it online or on demand. One of the stars of the show played the mother on Broadchurch and she's wonderful. The show reminds me a little of The Bletchley Circle too. It's a spy thriller based on the Cold War. Here is the NYTimes review. Aren't you glad you have me to tell you what to watch? 

I'm off to eat my oatmeal now. xo

Keep Calm and Drink Tea

Watch the weather and drink tea, isn't that what you're doing? It started snowing a little over an hour ago and it's too dark to see it coming down without the spotlights on. So I'll just have a cup of tea, go to bed and cover my head, and hope for the best in the morning. via