Another Rainy Day

The whole month of May has been behaving like April was supposed to but did not. I shall complain no more about not having rain. Has it been this way at your house too? via

From the Pen of: Kurt Vonnegut

So true. via

Tudor Herbal, 1520

Back when unicorns roamed the earth. via

Maurice Sendak | RIP

Maurice Sendak June 10,1928 - May 8,2012 via

Outbuilding with Chickens

I want to go inside and so do the chickens. via

A Really Nice Farmhouse Kitchen

 

Designed By: John R. Schroeder. Click here for slideshow and further description of this charming farmhouse in Connecticut.

Standing in My Own Cottage Bathroom

 

Here I am -- standing in my own bathroom with my iPhone. I tried looking at the mirror and smiling but my image looked too posed. This is the real me this afternoon before I went out to take my mother to the dentist. One of these days I'll try to show you more. It's a small room but it's wonderful!

See what I mean?

20 Things To Start Doing | Great List

When shall we start? I'm moving #16 to #1 and I'm adding hula hoop to #4. via

Are you a sitter or a stander?

I have always been a stander but I think I could learn to be a sitter in this lovely bath. I love the slipcovered chair, don't you? via

DIY Great Healthy Snack | Chocolate Dipped Nuts

 

What a great simple idea for the perfect snack to satisfy your sweet tooth while providing a good dose of protein and energy without all the unhealthy sugars. These easy to prepare nuts would make great gifts too. via goodlifeeats

My Ladies Mantle after a rainy night

I have always loved how the serrated edges of the ladies mantle leaves capture the tiny raindrops and the centers cup the big ones. Mine are thriving this year even though they looked awful at the end of last year's summer heat. They missed the cool nights most long-lived perennials prefer. I missed them too!

Meet Cactus Jack

Before. They say his tail never stopped wagging.

After.
Adopted also!

Read this heartwarming puppy rescue story here.

Mystery Flower at My Cottage

 

 

These were taken today on an overcast morning with my iPad. What are those stunning magenta flowers and how did they get there? They are very large and have popped up in an area that never gets mowed and is allowed to grow wild behind the tall grasses in the second photo and near the buttercups that grow in huge patches near my metal gate. Click to enlarge. Isn't it fun to get surprise flowers planted by birds and magic? 

I have to say my favorite photo app of late is PhotoToasterJr. I almost never use anything else. It's free too. I blogged about it recently (last Saturday 4/28) so look for the post to download.

Vertical Pear Salad | Genius and Beautiful

 

V E R T I C A L - P E A R - S A L A D

ingredients:

4 smooth skinned pears

2-3 cups watercress

1/2 cup toasted pecans

1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese

vinaigrette dressing

honey for drizzling

lemon juice

directions:

Cut pears horizontally into 3 or 4 slices depending on the size of your pears. Use a paring knife to cut out the cores. The pieces should look like O's. Leave the stem on the pop piece. Brush slices of pear with lemon juice to keep it from browning.

Toss watercress, pecans, and blue cheese with dressing until coated.

Reassemble the pear, vertically, with the watercress salad in between each slice. Once assembled, drizzle with honey, and serve!

Doesn't this look delicious? via The Novice Chef

Lovely Manor House with Topiaries

Have a great weekend looking for something beautiful to inspire you! via

This week's bird sightings | Yellow and Blue

 

 

  

Which bird do you prefer? The Goldfinch or the Bluebird?

 

UPDATE: This red-tailed hawk just flew by and wanted to be included!

Chevron Wainscoting Tutorial

It's lovely, isn't it? Tutorial here. Found here. What a clever way to install beadboard!!!!

Cone with A Curl on Top

One of my favorite things about summer! I wonder if the Magic Fountain is open yet? via

The Scream brings $119.9 Million

It took 12 nail-biting minutes and five eager bidders for Edvard Munch’s famed 1895 pastel of “The Scream” to sell for $119.9 million, becoming the world’s most expensive work of art ever to sell at Sotheby's auction house in NYC yesterday. Read more in The New York Times...

Munch's subject matter is symbolist in content, depicting a state of mind rather than an external reality. Munch maintained that the impressionist idiom did not suit his art. Interested in portraying not a random slice of reality, but situations brimming with emotional content and expressive energy, Munch carefully calculated his compositions to create a tense atmosphere. via

Can you believe that was the highest price ever paid for a work of art? via

I am my own hired hand

I took this photo of my feet last night when I had to quit weed whacking at 7:30 pm -- not because I wanted to or was finished -- but because I ran out of day-glo green string. I was almost finished with one section too. Drats. I can't get the spool off by myself. Instead I have to bother Greg at the gas station and he gives it one easy twirl and it comes right off. I don't have the knack with anything that has a motor.

The top of me looked good after my new afternoon haircut. It's just not in the cards for me to be fancy in any way shape or form until I conquer the weeds in my driveway. 

I keep thinking about my grandmother's sage advice and wishing I had followed it.

Goodnight All

G o o d n i g h t

Elizabeth Adela Stanhope Forbes

Canadian, 1859-1912 

I love this painting and the artist's monogram signature. I'm off to bed soon myself after another busy day working outside. via

Both Dogs Can Be First Out The Door This Way :)

Meet Buddy and Luke. This happens every time the door is opened. Luke is the one that's airborne. I love this photo. via

DIY Cement Planters from Food Containers

Aren't these planters lovely? They are molded from used food packaging containers. Instead of throwing away your ice cream cartons and yogurt containers you can make a few troughs for your succulents. You will need:

• Cement (it's the glue that binds the other ingredients)
• Vermiculite (you can use sand instead, but the planters become very heavy)
• Peat moss, pearlite, gravel or rock (add for fun!)
  
  
  
  Full tutorial with step-by-step photo illustrations HERE.
  
  

Martha Stewart has a great hypertufa pot tutorial too. Be sure to watch the video.

Webster Admiring his Yard from Attic Window

While I paid bills upstairs at the desktop computer today Webster looked out on the newly mown back property. I only mowed the left half. You can't see much of the uncut right half. I didn't mow way back either. It doesn't really need it yet. I have sections that I do---front, back, middle, and way back. I almost never cut it all at once. We had rain overnight and this morning. It's starting to shape up and we are having fun doing it. We just got back from our last walk of the day and now it's time to watch a little TV in bed. Goodnight. See you tomorrow.