Missy's Back

I moved her dishes to another location by the radiator.

This was taken Thursday evening.

Friday morning, thawing out after a walk.

She likes this new cushion I bought at the Firehouse Flea Market in September. I have her until Tuesday morning. 

Thawed and back to the living room for a nap. I liked the head shadow made by the sun coming in through one of the French doors that open to my balcony. The other one is still closed because of the sun glare.

We'll see you later. 

PS: I will be adding photos to this post. 

I love popovers and have a special pan made for them. I have avoided making any for way too long because most recipes call for SO MUCH melted butter. This one calls for only one tablespoon. It's worth a try. If you don't have a popover pan you can use a muffin tin.

Click here for full recipe and the backstory.

xo

The Starlings Have Landed

The starlings ate all of the black oil sunflower seeds I spread out on the tree stump today in minutes. The small birds make them last all day. I uploaded a video of these greedy birds to my Instagram Story and saved it as a Highlight. Watch the video HERE. At this rate my 50 pounds of seeds won't last a month. I liked the shadow of the bird on the brick wall in this still photo. Starlings are not native to America. Read the history about how they arrived HERE. xo

For anyone who is bothered by mice and other rodents coming into the house because of the bird seed, please see this article written by a farmer who made up a recipe that works and does not harm any other wildlife. It has only two ingredients: packaged cornbread mix and baking soda. 

Click HERE for the article & recipe.

Pies with Fancy Top Crust

King Arthur Flour has a great article about fancy Pie Crusts:

Decorative pie crust tips Pastry lattice, braids, and more. 

It's that time of year with Thanksgiving a week away.

Maybe you will get an idea or two and try one!

xo

First Day for Wearing Mittens

These red berries really pop on an overcast day with no shadows.

Thawing ice in the birdbath. Love the bubbles!

A gathering of river rocks with water, leaves, and ice.

Handle and knot hole on my bunker door.

The dahlia tubers are inside overwintering.

A favorite brown & white transfer plate in the Aesthetic Movement style. I love the animals in the border, especially the dog. I'm getting Missy for a few days late Thursday afternoon. 

Today was the first day that felt like winter. I wore my mittens when I went to the grocery store. I took these photos when I got back around 3:30. I should have gone out early when I got up to take frost photos but I didn't. There will be other opportunities for those on another day.

Last night I finished the last episode of HOPE STREET on BritBox. Luckily Season 2 premiers in a few days because it Season 1 ended with a real cliff hanger. Then I watched Miss Scarlet and the Duke on PBS Video.

That's all for Tuesday with rain on the way. xo

Monday Evening Pics

Close-up of the tip of a Blue Spruce showing tiny cones.

A recent golden hour in the back woods.

This is how I found a suspended stray feather last week.

That's all. Short and sweet. Had a very busy day and now I'm headed to my bedroom to stream the Sunday night Masterpiece shows from PBS. Miss Scarlett and The Duke will be first. Then Magpie Murders and Annica if I can stay awake. xo

Sunday afternoon

I have been going in and out my back door too many times to count today wearing just a sweater. When I went out on my balcony at 3:30 to take this photo because I liked the light I was shocked at how cold it was. Guess the weather people weren't kidding when they said it was going down into the 30s tonight and next week as low as 22°. Brrr🥶 but I'm ready. All the outside faucets are drained and turned off. 

This photo is right out of my phone with no editing at all. The trees out back are completely bare now as you can see.

Late Sunday afternoon in my living room. I like the reflection of a lamp next to my sofa on my flat screen tv. Enjoy your Sunday evening.

xo

Today's Photos Around & In My Cottage

After 2 days of rain I get a lovely Saturday like this.

These are the logs from the tree stump with the weathervane.

The puffball is decaying and a spotted lanternfly is eating it.

More leaves (yawn).

One of the miniature portraits on my nook wall.

Here's another one.

I took this photo minutes before this post.

I am still playing around with camera settings.

I never tire of trying to get things just right.

I never get discouraged either.

Now for a story. I went into my favorite charity shop to benefit my local hospital on Thursday and tried on a necklace marked $25.00. It was pretty and I really didn't need something to wear once a year at the office Christmas party but I noticed a really insignificant maker's mark on the back. I could make out a Script Letter E. I was standing next to the volunteers' room and asked one of the ladies if she could decipher the hallmark and she invited me in. Another lady heard me say "E" and she said she hoped it wasn't Elizabeth Locke because it would be grossly underpriced. The other lady took a photo of it and uploaded it to Google Images and it came up as a genuine piece of Elizabeth Locke designer costume jewelry priced at $575.00. This designer makes gold jewelry too but this was in her costume line. I immediately told the ladies they could reprice it and I would relinquish it so the hospital could get some serious money from someone who would appreciate it. They were thrilled and I was happy I made a discovery for them. If I hadn't asked and purchased it for myself I never would have known. It would have just lived in the drawer with all the other jewelry I don't wear. 

Isn't this a great story?

xo

The Shambles Bookshop in York UK

A great photo of a wonderful bookshop found on Instagram posted by @dustyatticrarebooks here. I read some of the comments and it seems the shop DOES have a name, The Shambles located in York, England UK. This Instagram feed is perfect for the armchair traveler. It's full of old bookshops photographed from the street and their interiors full of old books. What could be better? Enjoy.

xo

Veterans Day and Memorial Day Similarities and Differences

🇺🇸 For all who served. 🇺🇸

Read the article HERE

The Three Elevens

Today's date is easy to remember because it’s celebrated every year on November 11th. This date was chosen to honor the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, which signaled the end of the Great War. General George Patton, the well-known World War 2 general, was also born on November 11.

🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

Organized Two Kitchen Drawers + New Purse and a Selfie

I got a new $3 everyday silverware organizer while thrifting yesterday and put it to use as soon as I got home. Then I decided to tackle my junk drawer too.

It might look like a jumble to you but it is greatly improved to me. Why do I keep saving those square bread wrapper thingies and twist ties when I already have a lifetime supply? I don't even know what some of the things are in this drawer but I'm saving them again, just in case. 

What else did I buy? The most wonderful dark brown leather cross body (purse) that is small and rectangular and has a separate outside compartment that fits my new phone perfectly. The purse section just fits my wallet,  my keys, and little else. There is also a compartment under front flap closure for non bulky things -- like my business cards. It's vintage and in perfect condition. I am thrilled and I found the company online (JACK GEORGES) https://www.jackgeorges.com/ and it was VERY expensive when it was new and my lucky $3 purchase. They no longer make this small size crossbody but they should. Also got a $2 bagel cutter like one I already have for my downstairs kitchen and a small 50¢ spatula for jars. Finally, a $2 navy fleece hat with a sun visor and pull down ear flaps for winter snow shoveling. I'm so pleased with everything!

Have a great Thursday.

Decided to post a photo of my crossbody.

It looks much better in person. I want to condition it with leather balm because I want it to last forever. It's my dream purse. I couldn't have designed it better.

Here is a selfie showing the crossbody.

xo

The Moon Last Night with My Cottage Lights On

GOODNIGHT MOON

The moon was still low behind the bare trees in the woods when I went outside Monday night to try once again to capture it. I was shocked to see my red barn lit up and then I remembered I had just put the basement to bed and I must have turned on my outside light by mistake. Anyway, I like it! 

I turned on all of my inside lights before going outside. The inside light on the far right is my pantry that has two windows, one looking out on the front and one looking outside to the back. Next time, I will turn off the lamp at the back window. I had no luck with my camera phone on night mode. Then I turned on LIVE PHOTO and discovered this is the way to go for moon shots. I deleted all but the best shot because they take up so much photo storage. There doesn't seem to be a way to delete the 2 views that were not used. In the old days you could click to keep best photo and automatically delete the others. I have looked and looked and you can't do that now. BUT I found a work around. You can go to Snapseed and save a copy (will be saved as one still photo) or you can email the live photo to yourself and save it to your photos. These copies will be one still photo. Then you can delete the three-in-one live photo. If you are nervous, don't be. Deleted photos are saved for 30 days and you can put it back if you want. There was no reason to save this as a live photo because there was no movement. If you were photographing something cute like a baby talking on a play phone, you might want to save it as a live photo with action. I mention this because a friend send me such a photo of her baby granddaughter having a wonderful conversation on her toy cell phone😂 and most of her words were pure baby talk.

Have a great Tuesday. I hope this isn't too much information you don't understand about iPhones. A live photo magically takes three photos; one before you clicked the shutter, one exactly when you clicked the shutter, and one after you clicked, each one second apart. Then the phone decides which is the best photo. SO an iPhone can time travel and go back in time! This is the only way I can describe what I was talking about above. Hope this helps. xo

A few favorite things on Election Day

Brown transferware miniature plate and a shell.

Everything in my kitchen nook.

Staffordshire jockey lamp. One of a pair.

Second jockey. I love the handmade silk shades too.

Sugar bowl with architectural etchings.

Some of my antiquarian books with leather bindings.

One photo from yesterday that I liked.

I voted today and we had new voting machines at the firehouse. It's close enough to walk but I drove since we don't have sidewalks or shoulders on my two lane road. I woke up at 4:30 this morning and went outside to see the progress of the eclipse of the moon. It was at about 50% so I looked and went back to bed.

xo

Fall Photos First Day of Daylight Savings Time

I went out about an hour before the new 5:30 sundown and went deeper into the woods for this vine photo.

Overnight raindrops on lambs ears never disappoint.

There is still quite a lot of fall color still hanging on.

Don't forget to look up.

The beauty of green against a drab background.

The long view to my house never changes but the sky does.

Walk over. Wonder what today will bring?

We are having an unusually warm November going up to 75° today but dropping to a high of 56° for Tuesday. 

Don't forget to vote!

xo

Crunch Time: A video of walking thru the dry leaves

I made a video when I was walking thru the dry crunchy leaves of my sycamore and catalpa trees. They both have huge leaves and the crunching is very loud. The video ended somewhere around this photo. See it by clicking one of the links below.

Click HERE to go to my YouTube channel.

I haven't posted any videos there in 11 years.

https://youtube.com/shorts/ZOr0RR1J5aA?

I love the loud sound of the dry leaves.

I'll try to get better at videos.

xo

Ssturday Clouds and More

I am still getting good color in fallen leaves.

These were backlit by the sun and were glowing.

The big white fluffy clouds against the dark blue sky were a thrilling sight.

Another interesting leaf with stunning colors.

A wide angle shot while standing with my red barn to my right.

This pin oak tree is still holding on on to its leaves among all the other completely bare trees. This portion of the woods is outside my bedroom wing and the white picket fence.

UPDATE: I went out on my balcony to see if the moon was out and it was. This was taken at 6:00 Saturday evening. I was never able to get the moon with my old phone or even with my Nikon. I'm pretty excited about the pink cloud too.

I'm enjoying a rather lazy start to the weekend but I never feel guilty. Some days I work really hard and the next day I rest. Don't forget to set the clocks back before you to to bed tonight.

xo