Family Rules for All

What a great sign with a wonderful message and instructions for family life. via

Easter Cupcakes

These are very sweet, aren't they? via

Gorgeous Kitchen

It really is gorgeous, isn't it? I think it's a serious cook's kitchen for sure. I love the cabinet fronts, the hardware, the subway tile, the light, the bar to hold shelves and utensils, the open shelving. The stove, the island, the hood. I think I love it all! I've never understood pot fillers so I left that out. via

Anything you can do, I can do better.

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via

First Bluebird Spotting at My Cottage

I was afraid I would scare my first spring bluebird away if I opened the door to go out on the balcony to photograph him. Instead I had to do it through the window and the screen from my bathroom. These birds never fail to thrill me!

What?

Is this the ugly ducking of the owl world? I'm sure he looks a lot better when his feathers are dry. Is this a newborn? Not sure but I loved the photo and hope you do too. via Pixdaus

Grape Hyacinths

 

Grape Hyacinth, otherwise known as Muscari, are actually not Hyacinths at all. They are members of the Lily family, and are native to the Mediterranean area and Asia Minor. These are growing against my brick wall here at the cottage.

The wild violets are coming up all over the front lawn and are another sure sign that spring has sprung. 

The Wonder Dog After the Big Birthday Dinner

 

Webster had a perfect day for his 10th birthday. He had all of his favorite foods and we just got in from an after-dinner walk where I took these iPhone photos. We barely got home before it started raining. He's on his bed behind the sofa in a food coma now. 

French Cats Playing Pattycake

At first I thought this was one cat playing on a mirror. It's great, isn't it? Especially considering these two cats understand French. Click here if you can't see this wonderful video.

[Almost] Ready to Fly

The one on the right is looking at his sibling and thinking...you must be nuts. via Pixdaus

Today is Webster's Birthday -- He's 10 Years Old

If you calculate his age in people years (10x7) he is 70 years old today. This is a recent photo taken outside on one of those nice days when he was watching helping me work. I cooked him a huge sweet potato in the oven last night along with the ones we had for supper and that will be one of his special treats today. They are one of his favorite foods along with cornbread. I think I'll make a big iron skillet of that later today as well. It sort of breaks my heart to look back on older photos of him and see how he has aged. But he still acts like a pup and is very healthy and I can't complain -- especially since we are the same age this year [smile]. If only that were an April Fool joke :(

http://contentinacottage.blogspot.com/2009/04/birthday-boy-hes-no-april-fool.html

http://contentinacottage.blogspot.com/2010/04/websters-birthday-8-x-7-56-in-people.html

http://contentinacottage.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-dog-is-worried.html

Paperwhites and Lilies of the Valley

The paperwhites I started forcing just before Christmas have their own internal clocks. These just came into bloom this week. I thought they looked nice photographed with my iPad against the guest room draperies with a Lily of the Valley motif.

Pink Columbine

Here is another lovely photo of a pink columbine flower that I discovered on my third floor computer. With this nice soft rain can the wildflowers be far behind? via Pixdaus

April Showers are One Day Early

Don't you just love this beautiful photo? I wish I could claim it as mine. I woke up to a rainy morning on the last day of March here at the cottage. I am not upset in the least. I have lots of indoor chores and projects to keep me occupied. Have a wonderful weekend. via

Perfect Pond

I've had this photo saved on my attic computer for ages. I love this naturalized swimming pond but I would be fearful for my toes in case of snapping turtles. I love the mass planting of tall grass and purple iris. So very lovely!

A Decoupage Plate distorted with my iPad

I pointed my iPad's terrific camera set on the fun built-in PhoneBooth/kaleidoscope again this morning and focused on a John Derian decoupaged plate. It's pretty interesting, isn't it?

Aren't you just itching to do something like this? Dig up a big patch of earth, plant some seeds, and wait for them to grow. I love this painting by the Bucks County New Hope School artist Daniel Garber (1880-1958) entitled 'In the Springtime' via

Birdbath turned Planter

Vintage terracotta birdbath turned planter is unusual and spectacular. via

Taupe, Putty, Gray, Grey, What?

I love the color of the walls in this room. It is very warm and soothing to the eye. Does this cross between a tan and a gray paint color have a name other than tannish gray? via
ladyhawthorne thinks it's 'Mushroom' and I think she might be right.

A peek into a Vermont Cabin

Isn't this a great room?  Burlington, VT cabin. Susan Teare Photography. I want to see what's at the top of the circular staircase, don't you? via

Wow! My coffee table with Kaleidoscope Effect

I was playing around with PhotoBooth on my iPad and doesn't my coffee table look like a work of art? It's actually a big mess with a wadded up pink damask napkin and piles of books but doesn't it look cool using the kaleidoscope? So fun! Picasso would have loved playing with this.

Sun Rays + Koi Pool This Afternoon

I went to the most amazing open house today with amazing Zen gardens. I was the only one who even bothered to go outside. I was in heaven wandering around soaking up the beauty. I got some good sun rays beaming down on a faux bois bench. 

The reflecting pool full of colorful koi was lovely too. I'll share more photos later. I had such a nice day and a productive one too. I think that cool crisp air gave me a jolt of energy and the gardens were good for my spirit. 

Sighting of Foxes at My Cottage

 

 

 

 

The one that was lying down in the first photo stayed behind and let me get pretty close with my Nikon and its telephoto lens. Luckily Webster didn't know what I was up to since he was on the bed taking a nap. He can't stand for them to set one foot on 'his' property. He's very territorial.

Blue Stamps in A Frame

I thought Sweet Paul had a good idea when he picked out all of the blue stamps from a Brimfield score and framed them. Old stamps are miniature works of art themselves and almost everyone has a stash of them stuck in a drawer somewhere in the house. Let's get them out and display them.