Cate Blanchette on Cover of December American Vogue

Cate Blanchette is a good reason to go out and buy the December issue of American Vogue. Don't you agree? She's one of my very favorite actors. I have to admit I prefer calling her an actress or is that politically incorrect these days? ~Rosemary
photo credit

Delightful Catskill Farmhouse

Don't you love this renovated Catskill farmhouse that a painter has filled with vignettes, created by pairing objects old and new, high with low. View more photos by Tony Cenicola via The New York Times slideshow. Enjoy!

My weekend was wonderful. How was yours? I took Webster and Tabitha to the free rabies clinic and they were so good. Can't say the same for some of the other animals though. Now they are set for another three years. I am so glad I remembered the date. I went to a house contents sale just up the road and everyone was talking about a rabid raccoon that was staggering around in broad daylight. The authorities had been called but hadn't arrived. Thankfully, I didn't see the sick animal. ~Rosemary

Albert Einstein Favored The Simple Life

As I continue to clean and purge, organize and rethink, recycle and donate, downsize and resisist the urge to buy more, I am so very inspired by the clear thinking of Albert Einstein. ~Rosemary

New Jersey's Natirar Farm Launched by Sir Richard Branson

PEAPACK-GLADSTONE, NJ -- Take the international influence of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin trademark, a 100-year-old estate in central New Jersey, two young organic farmers from Vermont, and a culinary school -- and you get the beginnings of a farm-to-fork enterprise -- The Farm at Natirar. Sounds like something Alice Waters would embrace.

The World-Class Resort & Spa + Cooking & Wine Schools debut at the restored 1912 estate formerly owned by the King of Morocco who never spent one night there. Read full press release here.

We locals refer to this estate as the Kate Macy Ladd Convalescent Home. Natirar is Raritan spelled backwards after the Raritan River which runs through the property. Malcolm Forbes was instrumental in the sale of this landmark to the King of Morocco. A large portion of the undeveloped land is now Somerset County parkland. It's wonderful that this beautiful landscape is preserved open space with walking trails that are open to the public.

This is quite something for this beautiful part of the NJ countryside where Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis had a country home and rode with the hunt on these very grounds. I used to ride my bike past Natirar in the early 1970s when I lived nearby. I am sure everyone involved is very worried about the economic conditions and the timing of this opening which is long overdue. Time will tell. Have a great weekend. 

Royal Mail Stamps Will Feature Classic British Record Album Covers

Next year the Royal Mail will launch its stamp programme (oh how I love British spelling) with a set of ten 1st class stamps designed by Studio Dempsey that celebrate classic British album covers. Read more.
I think these stamps are cool, don't you? ♥Rosemary

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Ralph Waldo Emerson

Have a great Saturday. The ground is completely covered with a thick frost that is sparkling as the sun hits it. I think Mother Nature is finally bringing on the colder weather. Enjoy your day. ♥Rosemary

LONNY :: Great new online magazine just like Domino . . .

Have you heard about LONNY? It's a wonderful new magazine that is only available online. I know, I know, you prefer to read your magazines in person but in this case it's simply not possible. Trust me, you'll love it! It is almost identical to the beloved Domino which just bit the dust. It loads very quickly (especially with the Google Chrome browser) and you can choose different views - full screen is great. Enjoy! Let me know how you like it. ♥Rosemary

Historic Barn with a great holiday look . . .

I drove past this great barn in Mendham, NJ today on my way to the dentist. I stopped my car on the way home to snap a couple of pictures. I wish I had seen this before Halloween last week. I hope these people leave the witch on her broom on display for a long time. Isn't it great? ♥Rosemary

Web Browsers explained [Video]

I wish somebody had explained web browsers to me years ago! I've always used Internet Explorer and was afraid to try anything else because I really didn't understand how simple and easy it would be to have more than one. I've been very unhappy with Explorer lately because it's soooo sloooow. I tried everything. I deleted old photos and old files in my documents, ran several programs to clean up the hard drive, defragmented, etc. and it was still slow. I decided to be brave and download Google Chrome and Foxfire. I am absolutely thrilled with Chrome because it's shockingly fast. Watch this short video and maybe you will get up enough nerve to download one too. It's good to have more than one browser; you can have several open at once and switch back and forth. Let me know which one is your favorite. Good luck!

"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thanks for stopping by the cottage for a computer lesson, fall artwork, and a quote. ♥Rosemary

Random Ramblings from the Cottage + London Cat who Rides the Bus . . .

Have you heard about this cat in London who rides the bus regularly by himself? The cat was nicknamed Macavity after the mystery cat in T.S. Eliot's poem. He gets on the bus in front of a row of 1950s semi-detached houses and jumps off at a row of shops down the road which include a fish and chips shop. Since January, when the cat first caught the bus he has done it two or three times a week and always gets on and off at the same stops. Read more.

Sounds like a very happy family, doesn't it. I wonder if this is really written on the wall? My guess is its typed via Photoshop.

A lovely quote by Anne Frank who never fails to inspire me.

I had a very productive Tuesday. I did everything I said I would plus more. My reward was the beautiful full moon shining on my leafless lawn witnessed on Webster's last walk before bedtime. We were both tuckered out. Thanks for stopping by the cottage. ♥Rosemary

Leaves munched and crunched . . .

eaves didn't have a chance yesterday when I mowed over them with my riding mower. The grass is still growing because it has been so warm lately. I mowed over the leaves and cut the grass at the same time. That's what I call multi-tasking.
Don't you love the letter L that I copied from the coolest blog? She publishes a decorative capital letter every day, and you know how I love fonts.
I don't like this new time one bit. It was pitch black outside at a little after 5PM. Webster doesn't like it either. I know it is supposed to be good for the school children waiting for the bus but isn't it dark when they get home if they have after-school activities? I like it in the morning ... just not in the evening or should I say afternoon?
I had high hopes of doing outside errands but got so busy I never left the house on Monday. Oh well, today is another day. I have to go to do-it-yourself recycling and then I must vote. Both things will force me to deal with the outside world. Then I hope to finish my mowing.
Thanks for stopping by the cottage. ♥Rosemary