Tabitha Finds A Flower

She has been spending quite a lot of time in this spot watching the cleome volunteer get bigger. I just looked at the local weather report and we are supposed to have thunder showers for the next five days. It's much cooler and the A/C is off and all the windows are open. Everyone is happy to be able to hear the sounds of outside instead of being sealed in a refrigerator. Enjoy your Sunday and I'll see you later.

2 Deer with Antlers Visit My Cottage

Luckily my big Nikon with the telephoto lens was on the coffee table when I spotted these two deer near my cottage at dusk. I sneaked outside and they froze and posed very nicely for me. They are beauties, aren't they? The buck to the rear has a bigger rack. Now, back to the Olympics. See you tomorrow.

my photo

Have a Happy Weekend

via

It's Not Easy Being Green - Chirp

via

Portrait of the Racehorse Sedbury with a Groom

Painted by James Seymour (1702-1752) All eyes are on the sporting events in London for the next couple of weeks. Will you be watching? History of this wonderful painting here.

Big Round Bales of Hay

I stopped my car not far from my cottage to photograph these giant round hay bales in a big open field.

I was glad there was such a dramatic sky for the long shot. The field is protected open space. People use it to fly kites, operate model airplanes, and it's fun when they bring a few sheep and a herd dog to train.

my iPhone photos

Presenting Mr. Webster

Here is a photo of Webster hot off the press taken downstairs as he worriedly waited for me to fix his breakfast. My mom always keeps the red sofa made up as a bed for him in case he gets too hot upstairs if I don't have the A/C running. It's always cooler on her walk-out lower level. Plus someone might open the back door so he can scoot out and eat all the cat food. Happy Friday everyone.

Wonderful London Summer Olympics Poster

17 Days of Summer by Jordan Chueng. This poster is a masterpiece of graphic design.

Country Basketball Hoop

Remember when this type of basketball hoop was nailed over every garage or barn door? I think it looks so much better than the big plastic free-standing units that are everywhere now. Some things can't be improved upon, can they? I took this photo in the spring at an open house.

Beatrix Potter Stamps | Royal Mail

Hands down, the Royal Mail has the BEST stamps. I love these from The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. I pay almost all of my bills online but these stamps would make me want to mail something by snail mail. 

My Rainy Day

Here it is by popular demand -- a photo of today's rainy day. It has slacked up quite a bit but it's still coming down very softly. I must tell you that the only plants on the property that have actually thrived through my neglect during the long hot spell are the geraniums. They can withstand almost anything except extreme cold. They don't mind drought and heat at all. They might lose leaves and look to be on the brink of death but one drink of water brings them right back. I think they are the only plants I will even consider next year. They overwinter in the house very nicely too. Hooray for geraniums! The hummingbirds love the red ones.

my iPhone photo

Cottage with a Great Garden

Isn't this a great courtyard surrounded by thriving plantings? I wish I could see the inside of the cottage. I'm sure it's charming too.
It is just a little after 9:00am at my cottage and it's dark as pitch and pouring rain. I hope I don't have to go outside at all today. I need a rainy day. See you later.

Starfish on Rocky Beach

Starfish on a rocky beach under a beautiful sky. via I have a hard time believing starfish are real too. These beautiful rocks look as if they were all arranged by hand, don't they?

Mirror Twin Pups

Australian Cattle Dog pups by Warren Wills. They are mirror twins! They look very sweet, don't they? via

A symmetrical garden designed a Canadian landscape architecture firm, Janet Rosenberg + Associates. via I love this garden of green.

Amazing Sky

These clouds made me go outside and capture them just a few minutes ago. They were only up in the sky over my cottage for a fleeting moment at sunset. Goodnight. See you tomorrow.

Giant Fuzzy Moth

This was resting on the front door of my office this morning. I saw it but thought it was an early fall leaf. Someone told me it was a giant moth and it was. Doesn't it have great camouflage? This photo was snapped with my trusty iPhone. I love always having a camera in my pocket.

Seahorse Silhouette

I always have a hard time believing seahorses are real. In my mind they are in the same category as mermaids and unicorns. This one is beautiful, isn't it? via

If only

this were awaiting me at the end of this busy, busy day. Sigh. I could use a little Zen about now. via

Fabulous Living Room

I say YES to every single thing I see in this amazing room. It is perfect. via

8 Secrets to a Happy Kitchen

I didn't have to get any farther than the first photo in this interesting article. This dining area is perfect, isn't it?

Some Day

He was right.

Bee Quilt

It has been over a month since the beginning of the bee quilt. Hand printed bees on hand dyed fabric. Wonder how it's coming along? I love it so far! via

Restored Welsh Farm Without Electricity

This farmhouse bedroom in Wales looks charming doesn't it until you learn that this delightful renovation has no electricity...yet. It's off the grid.

Built in 1805, abandoned in 1948, and vacant for 40 years aside from providing shelter for sheep. The farmhouse and outbuildings were restored and the roof was recovered in thick local Welsh slate. Read full article and view lots more photographs here. Hackett Holland Ltd. Architect