Stunning Flower Photography

There are no words for the beauty of this yellow poppy. via

The Most Beautiful Secret Garden

Oh my goodness, such beauty should not be hidden. If you lived here, wouldn't you want to look out the windows of this charming cottage to see these gardens? Or would you prefer to have it as a hidden garden, behind the hedge? via

Cats and Books

I found this new cat poster on Instagram yesterday and thought the cat looked familiar.

Look closely. It's the same cat. I posted this one on my blog back in May 2017 snd it has been reposted on Pinterest again and again. This expressive artwork by an unknown artist is perfect for so many quotes, isn't it? xo

William Morris Floral Wallpaper

William Morris and Co. via

Red Gazania Unfurling Sunday Morning

In case you are tired of Peonies, I will share another African Daisy that was showing off in my front garden this morning. I love watching the petals as they unfurl. They are such fun flowers! Have a great Sunday. xo

Peony Love at My Cottage

This white single peony is always the first to bloom. Photographed yesterday with an insect as a bonus. When these whites bloom, they are always faintly pink in the opening stage.

The pink mop head peonies will be opening soon.

The red ones are singles too and are about ready to pop.

I don't know if you remember this mystery plant from last year that planted itself in my garden. I have no idea how it got there and I am on the fence about liking it but don't have the heart to dig it up. It has already spread quite a bit. It's called Spider Wort and the leaves are an electric yellow and bright green. The purple flowers grow in clustered pods and bloom once before another pod opens up with a new flower. 

I found this photo on Instagram @eyesasbigasplates and couldn't resist making a screenshot to show you the largest giant red rhubarb I have ever seen. What is it about Norway that makes it grow so large? One stalk would be enough for a pie. I hope these girls were able to share this crop with friends.

It has been raining for the past several days and I have been catching up with paperwork in my attic office. See you later. xo

First Grocery Store Run in Months

I ventured into the real world today at 10:00 this morning and went to the grocery store. The timing was perfect as was the experience. I found everything I needed and the store wasn't crowded. I have been shopping with curbside pickups at local small markets but they don't have coffee, avocado oil, and things like that. My local Shoprite had it all including Gold Medal Flour. My wire holder is full of fresh fruit and my pantry is well stocked once again.

I mentioned Tubi.TV, a FREE streaming service, in the comments recently and I am loving it. The movies are great, the commercials are short and the TV shows are amazing. I am watching Midsomer Murders in the TV section and they offer all 19 seasons. I suggest jumping in with season 14 with the new DCI (Detective Chief Inspector) Barnaby. He is a cousin of the old Barnaby who retired. He and his dog Sykes are alone in the first few episodes like two bachelors before his wife joins him. In short time she gets rid of all the boxes and decorates their charming cottage in Oxfordshire. She has great taste; I could move right in and not change a thing! The village is full of quirky characters and each episode has a crime that is solved. Set in the Cotswolds, the fictional town called Causton is actually filmed in the market town of Wallingford in Oxfordshire.

Let me know how you like Tubi. Download the app for your phone or iPad from the Apple App Store or Google Play for android devices. Watch on a computer too with my link. Enjoy. xo

Flower Petals Unfurling

This is an iPhone I photo I took on Sunday morning. The petals of one of my African daisies was starting to unfurl and looked like a pinwheel. I am enjoying these flowers so much in my containers. They do require constant deadheading to keep the new blooms coming and so far I am keeping up. I think they are waiting for some really hot weather and they'll get their wish on Wednesday when it's going to be in the high 80s and I will be wilting. I posted this photo on Instagram so it's not new to some of you. Happy first day of June. xo

Great Cat Poster

I saw this poster advertised on Instagram and thought it was a great sign of the times. Enjoy your Sunday, the last day of May. xo

Cat + Bookshops = Perfect Together

This is the best! Saving the shelf empty so the cat cat can come and go at will. There's something about cats in bookshops that is so comforting. via

My Peonies in the Bud Stage

I was standing outside my brick wall to take this photo to show the true height of these giant peony plants. My peonies are tall and healthy this year and the three varieties have probably spread so much they are too close together. In the fall, I plan to try dividing them. 

The buds get larger every day but I don't think they are going to be opening quite yet. They get more sun in the afternoon than they do in the morning but that's fine with me. Once they start blooming they don't last nearly long enough, do they? 

North Side Photo of My Yard

I mowed day before yesterday and took this photo from the North side of my cottage. The white clapboard you see on the far left is the side of my cottage with no windows. The headboard of my bed is pushed against this wall. The two windows in this room overlook the front and the back. The sky was overcast in the back but the sun was shining in the front as you can see from the shadows. I was determined to beat the rain.

I mowed the front late in the afternoon yesterday and it rained overnight, as predicted. So far I am keeping up with lawn maintenance and still enjoying the exercise. 

I downloaded TUBI from the App Store on my phone and iPad. It is also available on a computer here: https://tubitv.com/ Tubi is a free streaming service with movies and tv shows. There are commercials but they are only 15 seconds in length and do not interfere with the shows or movies at all. I have been watching Season 19 of Midsomer Murders, the last PBS season with the original DCI Barnaby. Season 20 with his replacement isn't available yet. I have watch several good movies too but I honestly cannot remember the names. I watch a movie every day and can recommend ENCHANTED APRIL and MRS. PALFREY AT THE CLAREMONT. Quite accidentally, both of these movies had Joan Plowright. and now I must look for more of her movies. Her body of work is incredible. Those were offered on HOOPLA through my public library. 

It is a dreary day today with rain on and off, perfect for watching 2 movies. xo

Yesterday Morning's Photos

I never tire of photographing lady's mantle in the early morning with the dew collecting on all the fringed leaves.

A portrait mode photo of the African Daisies that aren't awake yet.

The brilliance of this scarlet geranium that is next to my front door is amazing. I have overwintered this plant for years and years and years. It was a rescue plant from a friend who was going to throw it out. Free plants are my favorite.

A seldom seen wall in my living room.

My antique bookcase with sliding glass doors in the living room is filled with my collection of antiquarian books with fine leather bindings. It is impossible to show the bottom two shelves going all the way down to the floor as the space is too tight without moving heavy furniture. The top is lined with my Georgian glass decanters and other suitable items for drinking if the decanters were ever filled. It's a pain to dust and when I do, I have to refer to a photo in order to get everything back in the proper place. Enjoy the last full week of May. xo

Favorite Vintage Watering Can

The marks on my favorite vintage watering can shown in next photo. It was made in Germany, marked Schneiderkanne. I found a similar one online with the same maker’s mark, only in a larger size, that sold for $160. I found mine at an estate sale along with a lot of other gardening items for not much money. If I had paid a lot, I would have remembered. 

Watering can mentioned above. The urn is filled with lovely African daisies now. 

I can see this urn filled with Gazanias or African Daisies. I can see this particular urn from the window in this photo. The desk in my pantry fits perfectly under this window and is my favorite looking-out spot.

Memorial Day Remembrance

The poppy is the recognized symbol of remembrance for war dead in Canada, the countries of the British Commonwealth, and the United States. The flower owes its significance to the poem In Flanders Fields, written by Major (later Lieutenant-Colonel) John McCrae, a field surgeon in the Canadian artillery, in the midst of the Second Battle of Ypres, in Belgium, in May 1915.

The poppy references in the first and last stanzas of the most widely read and oft-quoted poem of the war contributed to the flower's status as an emblem of remembrance and a symbol of new growth amidst the devastation of war. via

IN FLANDERS' FIELDS by John McCrea

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders Fields.

The key points of his biography. He was a truly remarkable and inspiring man.

Baby Chef on Instagram

I know how I am spending Memorial Day! Watching @kobe_yn cook on Instagram.

Click HERE to watch the video for the 3rd photo

Click HERE to watch him make S'mores in 1st photo

Click HERE to watch him make his daily smoothie in center photo.

You will have to go to Instagram to watch all of his delightful posts. The photo above is just a screenshot. This adorable one-year-old can't even talk but he's quite good in the kitchen. He even cooks on the stove with his mom helping without being seen. My face is hurting from smiling so much. Kobe is great fun to watch. Enjoy! You're welcome.

Home Office designed by Katie Holmes

via

I love this room, especially the centered window flanked by bookcases and closed cabinets. The only fault I can find is with the lamp with cord photoshopped out. There really is no place to plug it in, is there? I really doubt it's cordless but if it were, the photo would be perfect.

I have been self isolating since a client tested positive for Covid-19 after a real estate showing. I am fine and all precautions were in place. I will be free to go out in a few more days. Take care and stay home as much as possible. There is so much to do in the spring, there is no time for boredom. Have a great long Memorial Day weekend too. xo

Container Gardening at My Cottage

I bought some plants on Sunday at the local farm market that sells farm fresh food items too. I pick up groceries there every week. I grabbed these African Daisies thinking they were Gerbera Daisies. After I planted them in three containers (only two shown here) I read the tag and learned they are called GAZANIA, Strawberry Shortcake Mix. They are perennials down south in zones 9-11 but I will enjoy and love them as annuals.

Here, I am looking down on the third container. So far, the blooms are closing up late in the day. I don't know if this will continue when the weather gets really hot. They are supposed to spread and bloom continually from spring until frost. Doesn't that sound wonderful? They are supposed to be great in rock gardens and border fronts and make a great ground cover. I probably shouldn't have planted them in containers but I can thin them as they get crowed and replant elsewhere. I guess it pays to read before planting. Anyway, I love them up high where I can see them from inside the house.

My potted geraniums survived the winter indoors and look nice flanking my front door.

The third white concrete urn near the rooster is planted with basil, curly parsley, and broad leaf parsley. It is close to the front door and near the kitchen for clipping while cooking. There is another large basket-weave terra cotta planter to the left filled with the same herb plants.

My peonies are tall and filled with buds that get larger every day. They are swaying to and fro in the fierce winds we are having today. That's about it for today. See you another day. xo

Sunday Morning Cottage Photos

My favorite Watering Can.

First wisteria blossoms after many others were killed TWICE in May when overnight temperatures dipped below freezing. I spent the day yesterday hacking down a huge clump of my weeds by hand and will finish today with no motor sounds to intrude on Sunday silence. Enjoy your Sunday whatever you do. xo