Good Laughs at Downton Abbey

Here's a little peek at what goes on before the camera is turned on at Downton. They seem to be enjoying a good behind the scenes laugh and that makes me giggle too. But I'm sad I'll have to wait so long before I see them again. via

How Cold is It?

Well, it's not as cold as it is in this Greenland photo. Right now it's 7° here at my cottage but it feels like -2° even though there's no wind and bright sun. It's cozy inside and both animals are sleeping in the sun after their early morning outing and breakfast. Webster loves it when I feed him before I have my first sip of coffee. See you later. xo

Dictionary Page and Old Books

Sorry I'm so late posting today. I had an early meeting that lasted way too long. This is an old photo saved to my computer with no source. I've always loved this dictionary page printed with an image of a stack of old books.

After and Before from Country Living

I thought I'd shake things up and show you the after project first. From Country Living Magazine.

This is what the house looked like three years before the above photo was taken. That's how long the restoration took. I can't find a link to show you what it looked like inside. These photos were on Instagram today. You can't beat good bones, can you. Like the before, love the after.

The snow I had this morning quit by noon and didn't amount to much, thank goodness!

Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II | Page 69

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

745. This is a good one and not that easy to do for some people.

Oh No, SNOW

It just started and it's coming down hard. Big flakes too. They say it will quit in a few hours and I hope they are right. Will keep you posted. This is a view looking North into the woods outside the guest room Tabitha's window. xo

Red Barn Complex with Windmill

I took this photo yesterday with my iPhone without my feet touching the ground. Yes, I was in my car! This delightful farm is near my cottage and I never tire of driving past. I had been taking a few pictures at The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and had to drive by this pastoral setting coming and going. It was on the driver side on my way home. It has everything, doesn't it? A partially frozen pond with an aerating fountain in the center that is actively working in spite of the cold weather. Look closely and you will see the spray. I especially love the windmill and the long barn complex is fabulous. Swoon. I put this on Instagram too but the top and bottom were cropped because of the square format used there. 

We had a gray day up until just recently. I was sure it was going to snow but it never did. It's still being forecast for tomorrow morning but just a dusting. I've got my TV evening all set up. It's PBS all night -- Pie in The Sky, Father Brown, Scott and Bailey. I'm looking forward to all three English programs. Can't wait! xo

Great Swamp Stream Yesterday

I took this photo yesterday in the Great Swamp Wildlife Refuge not far from my house. It was one of the best winter days ever! Today is gray and overcast as we await more snow. Say it isn't so. I don't think it will be a significant snowfall, fingers crossed. I don't think I have much more shoveling in me. See you later. xo

Old Narragansett Church

This is one of the oldest churches in America, located in Wickford, Rhode Island. The church congregation was founded in 1706 as St. Paul's Church and was established by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. The church building was constructed in 1707. The church contains box pews, a balcony, and an organ built in 1680 by Bernard Smith, which is among the oldest organs still used in services in the United States. The portraitist, Gilbert Stuart, was baptized in Old Narragansett Church in 1756. Howie Guja photo

Winslow Homer - Happy Birthday

Flower Garden and Bungalow, Bermuda 1899

Winslow Homer (American 1836-1910). He was considered to be one of the greatest painters of the 19th century. Photo Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Great Sky at My Cottage Recently

The cloud machine was working last week. I got this shot just before the sun went down. How did you like Downton Abbey last night? What a great ending. I won't spoil it for those of you who didn't or haven't watched yet. They really featured every character, didn't they? xo

Snow People Are Gone

I still have a lot of snow on my roof and my front gutters are frozen but they are a lot better than a few days ago. My back gutters have melted because they get the morning sun. Each time I look at the weather, something has changed. Now I see we will have rain changing to snow tonight. I simply can't worry about it any more! Whatever will be, will be. The snow people were disgusted too so they left. 

Are you looking forward to Downton Abbey tonight? It really is the season finale and I can't imagine how they are going to wrap things up. It will be exciting, for sure.

Here's an enhanced version of my happy cottage using Snapseed. I posted this photo for you several days ago. The icicles have all melted and so has the snow around the outside light fixture that is forming the nose and mouth of the cottage happy face. 

My New Sleeping Porch

See how nice it is today? I'm sooooo happy I shoveled all the snow off the balcony yesterday so Webster and Tabitha could take a sun bath together. They are thrilled. This is about as close to each other as they ever get. Hope your Sunday is going well too. xo

Webster is Fading Fast

His eyes are at half mast and he's slowly entering doggie slumber land.

I waited as long as I could before I finished shoveling the balcony deck today. The sun did a fine job but then it moved to the front of the house and I finished the job. It looks so nice without snow and it's the first time it has been that way in months. Now I can walk out there to photograph a sunrise or a sunset without hanging out of a window, as I've been doing. Webster and I are both tuckered out. It was nice being outside though without a jacket. I was wearing a fleece and a scarf and that was fine. See you tomorrow. Have a great Saturday night. xo

Sunny Saturday

I honestly couldn't ask for a better day to boost my spirit and melt my snow and ice. Hope you can say the same. Have a great weekend. xo

A Rainbow and A Robin

There was a rainbow at the end of the day today. My reward for ice chipping and snow shoveling. The slow melt is continuing and the gutters are running more freely even though they are still full of ice. But somehow they seem to be handling the snow melting off the roof. If we had a really hard rain, I don't think I would be so lucky. 

A few days ago, a big fat robin landed on my balcony railing. I was so excited! 

I didn't need that trench I dug through the snow for the flood waters I was expecting, thank goodness. Webster loves it though and he explored that part of the property with new eyes since he hadn't seen the back in weeks. Tabitha likes it too. They are both already asleep after eating their supper and having a short walk.

Great Recessed Entrance

Isn't this the nicest recessed entrance ever? I copied the photo from Instagram. I follow this little dog's owner who is a farmer across the pond. Benjamin Hole documents the ebb and flow of farming life on the Isle of Purbeck, England. This new pup's name is Ochre. Watch her in this little video (click on white arrow). Don't forget to look at My Instagram too.

Waiting for The Rain

This was my biggest project of the day. I had to dig through this snow bank in case the big rains come as predicted. Now the water coming down the driveway will have someplace to go other than in my house. Webster is thrilled. Water usually seeks the lowest point and this is lower than my front walk. The highest point in the snow bank was up to my neck.

These storm clouds started rolling in about 4:30 this afternoon. The weather app on my phone says there is a 50% to 60% chance of rain tonight and there will be thunderstorms tomorrow. It's going to be warm tonight too with a low of only 36° so the roof and gutter melting will continue. I honestly hope it waits until tomorrow to rain so I can pace up and down and run in and out to check on things. See you tomorrow. xo

A Lost Goose

Webster and I were sitting in the living room, minding our own business, when we heard honking outside.

When we looked out the window we saw Canada geese walking down the road and on the bank across from us.

They were trying to stay together on foot, without using their wings.

The honking continued because one of the flock was missing. This one was behind my house trying to find the rest of the family. I don't think I have ever had webbed footprints here at the cottage but the snow out back is full of them. They would have puzzled me if I hadn't seen this lost goose. He/she even went up to the sliding glass door downstairs trying to find the others out front.

Tracks leaving the back entrance photographed from my balcony.

Together at last and then they were gone. This was our excitement yesterday.

Porch with Icicles

I photographed this open porch on Monday at a real estate showing. It's really a hard time for showing properties to customers with all of this snow on the ground. It's twice as hard on the sellers. A nice slow thaw helped my icicle situation quite a bit today. I can hear the water trickling down the downspouts in spite of the frozen gutters. Tomorrow is going to be mild so the slow melt can continue here at the cottage and all over!