Happy Valentine's Day

Amazing Starling Murmurations: Daniel Biber Photography

The first time I saw these images I thought they were photoshopped but they are not. A German photographer, Daniel Biber, captured these starling murmurations over four days of trying. He did not even know he had succeeded until he downloaded his images from the camera. The starlings in flight have the ability to form images to scare off predators. Truth is stranger than fiction, isn't it? Read this interesting article and see more images here. I think this is thrilling, don't you? xo

UPDATE: I found an interview with Daniel Bieber, the photographer, here.

UPDATE 2: I found the video of the two girls in a canoe that Linda and Anita commented about here.

Lytes Cary Manor UK

The arts and crafts-style gardens at this National Trust House in Somerset must be spectacular if these topiaries are examples. Lytes Cary Manor website. Have a great weekend. Mine is off to a lazy start but I am doing things mentally and hope to accomplish something productive later today.

Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset

Abbotsbury Swannery This is unique not to be seen anywhere else in the world; 600 mute swans on the site of an 11th-century monastery. Isn't this breathtakingly beautiful? Perfect for my good night post. xo

Sparrows and More Birds

Sparrows for tammy j

Click photo to enlarge. Several sparrows on the railing and one perched atop the suet. They are surrounded by Juncos, a bird in flight and finches at the feeder. A typical day at Rosemary's Bird Station. xo

My Overnight Snow

If and when I go outside, I will have to stoop to avoid running into these icicles hanging from the gutters over my front door.

This accumulation is doable. The seat of the chair was cleaned off down to the bare wood yesterday so it illustrates the light overnight dusting of snow. We are into a weather pattern, aren't we?❄️ xo

First Winter Sighting: A Little Wren

Little Jenny Wren

I went out to Ace Hardware yesterday and picked up two suet cakes and they created no bird activity whatsoever. My feathered friends didn't seem at all interested in this rare treat. Installing it was no easy task either. But today I spotted one of my favorite summer birds pecking away. The little house wren found the suet and knew just what to do. Then a Downy Woodpecker followed suit and was able to latch on as well. I honestly thought there would be a flurry of activity but I was wrong. I didn't realize the wrens were year-round residents but I guess they are hardy little birds. I hope Jenny returns soon. Click my photo to enlarge. xo

Sundown at My Cottage

My cottage hasn't changed much but there's a little bit of color over my red barn indicating the golden hour. I've been researching snow on roofs around me and on all houses when I drive around (seldom lately). Snow on the roof is a sign of good insulation. Mine takes forever to melt front and back so I don't have much heat loss in my attic. I don't have many icicles either. The ones I do have are coming off my half-round copper gutters when they get a bit of sun. My house is far from cozy because I have large windows, my radiators aren't big enough, and I keep the thermostat pretty low. I dress for warmth inside my house and have actually gotten used to a cooler house. I turn my thermostat down to 60° at night and I love sleeping in a cold room. My eiderdown comforter keeps me very warm. That's about it for today. xo

Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Website for Bird Lovers All Over the World

So Many Bird Feeders

Snow Update

UP WITH THE BIRDS

I was actually up before the birds this morning. We got another foot of snow yesterday and I started my shoveling at 3:00 in the afternoon when it started to diminish. My car was already melting and that cleanup was relatively easy. The undisturbed snow was like powdered sugar and not at all heavy except at the road where the snowplows dumped the ugly wet stuff. I was almost up to that point when an angel appeared! My newest neighbor across the street walked from his driveway to mine with his snowblower and cleared the stuff I was dreading in a flash including digging out my mailbox. You can't imagine how much time this saved me. I was back in my cottage at 5:00; without his help it probably would have taken me another hour or or two to dig myself out. I am going to ask him to help me pick out a snowblower for myself for next year. I went to bed extra early and woke up refreshed just in time to attend to my feathered friends with my outside thermometer reading single digits. xo

Red-Winged Blackbird Portrait

Bye, Bye, Blackbird!

He just stopped by for a short visit and I'm glad I had my camera handy. I have always admired the colorful epaulets on the wings of red-winged blackbirds. That color disappears when the wings are tightly closed but I managed a good photo today because he had loosened his wings ❤

Sunday Snow with Birds

My snow just started (Sunday 8:30am) and it is scheduled to quit around 3:00 this afternoon. I filled the birds' feeding tube so I'm all set to stay inside and enjoy cottage life. Stay cozy and watch the Super Bowl if you are a football fan. xo

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

"Let Sleeping Dogs Lie"

Does this one count as an illustrated quote? I have four of these books with various dogs on them and a lamp as well and I always wondered how anyone could part with them. Have a great rest of the weekend and prepare for some snow if its coming your way. xo

LAW & ORDER | UK on Acorn TV

I am currently watching this new series on Acorn TV and I highly recommend it. I never watched Law & Order for some reason and I know it was a popular show here. I adore British Legal dramas, especially the court scenes with the barristers wearing robes and wigs. The acting is superb and I really like all six of the actors shown above. It is a new series that just started on February 1, 2021. Put it on your "must watch" list and you won't be sorry. xo 

UPDATE: I just did some research and found this series is also on Amazon Prime, Britbox, and AMC+

Nice Winter Sky at My Cottage

NICE WINTER SKY

This snow scene from my balcony could also be called The Calm Before The Storm! I don't think it will dump more than 7 inches and I can handle that easily. Anyway, it's nice to see a blue sky with white clouds today. xo

Evergreen Decorated by Mother Nature

Snow on the pine's long needles is so lovely. The out of focus red barn in the background just makes this photo, doesn't it? via

My Bootprints in the Snow

The snow that was predicted for today turned out to be very light and not at all problematic. Thankfully. xo

An Architect's Bathroom with Antiques

How much do I love this? Architect Jim Joseph’s Hudson Valley home, NY. Architectural Digest. via

My Cottage after Plowing

AFTER THE PLOWING

My entrance looks like a super market parking lot. I wonder how long it will take that snow mountain to melt? My driveway that goes down to my red barn/garage was plowed too for the first time ever and now my car is parked up front in anticipation of more snow on Friday, my phone says a 90% chance.😱

My Hero: Captain Sir Tom Moore

Captain Sir Tom Moore RIP Sir Captain Tom Moore. British World War II veteran Captain Tom Moore who raised 39 million pounds for health service workers on the frontline of the battle against COVID-19. Sleep with the angels Thank you. via

Click the photo to enlarge the portrait of this beautiful 100 year old man💋

Snow Scenes Around My Cottage

Late afternoon looking toward the way back.

These Adirondack chairs are under my balcony. See all the bird tracks? 

The first two snow pyramids were formed over round planters. The third one with the melted top is over a light fixture.

Snow mounds over various planters and snow piled high on my brick wall.

Just outside my vestibule door this morning after I shoveled a path one shovel wide.

A Blue Jay Portrait

I have been trying to get a good photograph of a blue jay ever since I started feeding the birds last fall. Today was the day he stopped right outside my door to the balcony and I got a great shot. A good friend nearby sent me the name of a plow person and I have hired him for tomorrow. Today I will work on digging out my car and my generator. We might get another three inches of snow today so tomorrow is the perfect day. xo

Snowed In

I took this photo this morning late and it's still snowing at 7:30 pm. We have over 2 feet of snow it is not going to quit until Tuesday evening. The roads are plowed but I am not and don't know when I will be dug out since I always do it myself and don't have a regular plow person. Oh well, I should be out by spring. I did dig a path to the bird feeder to fill it up so the birds will have a full tube in the morning.

Scalamandré’s Leaping Zebra Wallpaper

Zebras was originally designed for Gino of Capri, a New York City restaurant that opened in 1945. Read more about the history of this iconic wallpaper design in Architectural Digest.

DIY: Cat Window Perch by Martha Stewart

This is the greatest cat window perch I've ever seen. It's not surprising that Martha Stewart designed it and provided DIY instructions here, is it? Let me know if you decide to make one. It actually looks pretty simple after you get the wood sized to fit your cat's favorite window.  You could also start your flower and vegetable seeds on a "greenhouse" shelf like this! xo