Extinct = Gone Forever

A Gallery of Species Lost and On the Brink with a 10-photo slideshow

You will see a few of the tens of thousands of species that scientists say have gone extinct or become critically endangered over the past 30 years. Please try to read the accompanying article by Richard Conniff in The New York Times entitled Specimens: Lost and Gone Forever. The discovery that species could become extinct shook the 19th century view of the world, and it should continue to trouble us today.

A "must read" for any lover of natural history.

Dare To Be Different | Coco Chanel Quote

This is a great illustrated quote worth repeating from Coco Chanel. via Etsy

Super Bowl Sunday at The Cottage

This isn't his regular bowl. Webster normally uses a huge stainless steel wash pan but it was in the sink with some other dirty dishes. The wonder dog dined on a cup of kibble, one grated carrot, some leftover sweet potato slices and a few mixed vegetables. I always add a little warm water and stir it all up before he chows down. He loved his Super Bowl Sunday dinner. Enjoy the game.

Alpaca Cable Knit Mittens

Alpaca Clepsydra Snow "This person re-knit her Clepsydra pattern in neutral Berroco Ultra Alpaca yarns - Steal Cut Oats and Winter White plus she made a matching hat." Pattern coming soon.

I have no idea what all of that means but I love this mitten and hat set. You'll have to keep checking her Flickr page for the pattern.

Can You Guess Who This Is?

Always the multi-tasker, it's Martha Stewart back in the 1960s when she was a new mother, working on Wall Street and modeling as well. Click here for a description of all the outfits and more. I think she still has some of those clothes. She never has to get rid of anything thanks to all the storage capabilities in her numerous homes. 

Martha, what big hair you have in photo #2. 

Tulips on Sunday

Here's a nice image without a source to brighten your day. What a great idea--pulling the old galvanized watering can from the potting shed or garage and stuffing it with pink tulips. I always have snowdrops by this time of year but 2011's crop probably won't surface at my house until April. I keep seeing them on blogs from the UK. I wonder if they aren't old photos from past years since everybody has been experiencing harsh weather.

My movie was good last night. Colin Firth is the best at portraying sensitivity, isn't he? And wouldn't you know it, the very minute I turned off the light from somewhere in the house came a beep, beep, chirp, chirp. Since there was no possibility of a whole night of that I made myself get up and put a new battery in the smoke alarm. Then off to slumber land I went and didn't wake up until after 9:00 this morning. The coffee's good, the sun is out, and the ice is melting. Looks like a nice day ahead; I'll see you later.

Goodnight ~ It's Almost Movie Time

It's time for me to wrap up my day and watch a movie. I was going to cancel Showtime yesterday but completely forgot all about doing it. It is the only premium channel I subscribe to on FiOS. I'm so glad I still have it because there is a movie tonight with Colin Firth ~ A Single Man. I like him in all his movies and really enjoyed The King's Speech. I actually saw that one on the big screen. Tonight's movie will be viewed in bed. Goodnight, see you tomorrow.

Antique Leeds Pottery Jug Advertising The Otley Market

I'd love to have this great pitcher in my pantry. I'd also like to be in Leeds England to attend the Otley Market. Documented history for the market begins in 1222 when King Henry III granted the first Royal Charter. The town had two cattle markets; market days are Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, and there is a Farmers' Market on the last Sunday of every month.

I'd prefer to have this jug filled with beer rather than milk since that would go better with The Best Beef. I wonder if a butcher commissioned this fabulous decoration? I'd love to see the front and other side too, wouldn't you? 

Cottage at Road's End

This is the perfect image from the gray day at my cottage. via Green Wellies

I Love Sarcasm

HaHaHa ~ So funny. I've always enjoyed a sarcastic remark.

Scenic Yorkshire England

This morning I decided to wake up in Yorkshire. I'll be back a little later after Webster and I walk around the beautiful countryside. I hope someone offers us one of those fabulous English breakfasts with the thick bacon, tomatoes and beans. I'll have my eggs over easy please. 

HAVE A FUN WEEKEND

Do yourself a favor and run away from the ice, snow, sleet, rain, and awful weather as fast as you can and have a fun weekend. It would be guaranteed if you were lucky enough to drive around in this flowered convertible. 

Wonderful Inscribed White Enamel Mug

The Seaside Mug ~ White enamel mug hand-inscribed with the wonderful lyrics from this song:

'Stars shinning bright above you.
Night breezes seem to whisper I love you.
Birds singing in the sycamore tree.
Dream a little dream of me.'

Blodwen - Product Detail

Wake Me When It's Spring

Webster did this to himself. He went back to bed this morning thoroughly disgusted with the weather. Our walk is a solid sheet of ice and he didn't get to go to the post office and the church rummage sale with me this morning. Neither did my mother. They are both pining away for spring. I put the blue plaid blanket over the Wonder Dog in a normal fashion when he first nestled in his bed but this is how he decided to "fix" himself for a long winter's nap.

Cutest Kitten Ever ~ Really!

This little kitten's name is Sinatra. That sounds like a boy cat's name but I'm declaring her to be a girl. What do you think of her? Isn't she adorable? Photograph by Dreek Leeds via Flickr. Happy Friday!

Valentines to Print for School + Friends

For cutest results: print on 8 1/2″ x 11″ cream colored cardstock

Printer settings: highest quality

Envelope size: A2 envelope (4 3/8″ x 5 3/4″)

Click here to download the full-size image (PDF)
Thanks to OneCharmingParty 

HEAVEN'S GATE

Hmmm...I could do something like this...and maybe I will. Then I could let everything on the other side grow wild with only a couple of mowings a year. 

Kitchen Fabulous

This kitchen is super nice, isn't it? I've been too busy to take any photos of my own since I finally got to visit the outside world today. I did it all ~ post office, bank, real estate walk-thru, grocery store, vet, gas station, town hall visit to pay my real estate taxes. I still need to go to the library to return two videos but I think I'll save that for tomorrow. Whew. I'm bushed!

Antiques So Wonderfully Displayed

A place for everything and everything in its place. How nice. I'd love to see more of the wall of shelves decorated with antique baskets and miniature furniture. 

Baby Duckling - So cute!

Must be dinner time or play time or swim time and this little guy is running to catch up. Such a nice image to end my day. See you tomorrow!

DIY Boot Scraper

Here's a great winter project to get ready for the mud season that will be here before you know it. Check out The Project of the Week from MaryJanesFarm and make yourself one of these Boot Scrapers. 

Ice Everywhere at My Cottage

I don't have a doorbell and I sincerely hope nobody is coming anywhere near my front door today since the walkway is a solid sheet of ice and the iron bell is frozen too. I must deal with the outside pretty soon and scatter some seeds for the poor birds if I do nothing else.

Swimming Pond

I grew up swimming in ponds like this but I'm pretty sure I've lost my nerve. It always bothered me back then when I thought I felt a fish nibble at my toes. I recently saw a snapping turtle when I was showing a house with a pond and it was fierce looking. Now I wouldn't even dangle my feet off this beautiful rustic dock, would you?

I just had to post something showing Mother Nature at her best since she's showing her ugliest face at my house. My car is covered in about 3" of solid ice. I'm not sure I could open the door if I wanted to. I'll be fine until Thursday when I have to take the dog to the vet for a checkup. I think the sun'l be out tomorrow. Stay warm or cool depending on where you are. 

Photo full size here.

Google Takes Street View Into Art Museums

Google Takes Street View Into Art Museums - NYTimes.com
"Now that Google has conquered a majority of the earth’s major streets with its Google Street View project, the company is starting to move inside. It’s creating the Google Art Project, a virtual equivalent of 17 major art museums, including the the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Britain and the National Gallery in London, and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, among many others."

Dog Study in Concentration and Self-Control

Isn't this the best photo of a Weimaraner named Bella balancing a rawhide treat on the bridge of her nose? If I had some of these rolled chewy things around I'd try this with Webster. He is ever so much better and his skin infection is all but cured. He has medicine for today and tomorrow and an appointment with the vet on Thursday. He is acting like his old self and I'm so happy for him and for me too.