Webster Helps with The Yardwork

 

Webster thinks as long as he's outside with me, he's helping. It does make a beautiful lawn ornament, doesn't he? I got out the electric weed whacker that I never mastered yesterday and I finally learned how to use it. My front lawn was way out of control with uneven tufts of tall grass all over the place. Now I'm almost ready for my first mowing. Little trees have started sprouting everywhere too. The only way to have a lawn or a meadow is to keep mowing over them. My poor arms had the shakes after I finished. Now I have to do the back. I'm somewhat encouraged about having to take care of the great outdoors for another season. How about you?

Nice Cupboard in a [New] Classic Bathroom

This free-standing cupboard is very nice in this vintage inspired bathroom, isn't it? via

Moonrise Kingdom looks like my kind of movie!

“Moonrise Kingdom” is the new movie directed by two-time Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Wes Anderson (“The Royal Tenenbaums,” “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” “Rushmore”). Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, “Moonrise Kingdom” tells the story of two 12-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore – and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in every which way. Bruce Willis plays the local sheriff, Captain Sharp. Edward Norton is a Khaki Scout troop leader, Scout Master Ward. Bill Murray and Frances McDormand portray the young girl’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bishop. The cast also includes Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, and Bob Balaban; and introduces Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward as the boy and girl.

Click here if you can't see this official movie preview.

Handmade Gardening Tiles

 

I photographed these delightful handmade gardening tiles at the home of a real hands-on gardener.

Hydrangeas on a Weathered Fence

It won't belong before we'll be seeing the hydrangeas! via

Where's Webster?

He's an expert at putting his head inside any snack bag to get the crumbs out of the corners.

A beautiful landscape

Photographed with my iPhone recently. Don't you love the effect of lace the dogwood trees provide when they first start to flower? This border is called torn canvas using that free app I told you about this morning.

Have an outdoorsy weekend if you can. That is a personal request from the Wonder Dog for today and tomorrow.

A Daffodil + Another Free App

I found another great free app for selective color called Color Blast. You convert a photo to black and white and then put some color back. So much fun! Download it here.

Wonderful Potting Shed and A Free App

I photographed this delightful potting shed several weeks ago on a beautiful day. I edited the photo just a tiny bit and added a torn paper border with a free app I just found called PhotoToaster Jr. I think it's going to be a favorite!!! Download here. 

I am such a child aren't I, getting so excited about an app? Believe me you should get it because if I like it, it's great. And I am very hard to please (smile). Enjoy the weekend.

Have a Love-ly Weekend

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Beautiful

Garden Photography by Clive Nichols ~ La Louve, the private garden of Nicole de Vésian in Bonnieux, Provence, France.

Have a great weekend!

A Late-Morning Nap

Webster had a busy morning supervising the off-loading of the riding mower from the delivery truck. He remembered just how to do it since he studied the process very carefully several weeks ago when it was picked up for its yearly checkup. He got back in bed afterwards and is still down for a long nap.

Then and Now.

 

Still crazy [about each other] after all these years! See HIGHLIGHTS FROM QUEEN ELIZABETH II'S WEDDING November 20, 1947 image via

FARM SINKS IN BATHROOM

 

Isn't this the greatest idea? I love a farm table almost anywhere but never thought about using one in the bathroom. via

Wisteria at My Cottage Yesterday

 

My wisteria is in full bloom and this area smells like a perfume factory. I always prune very severely in the fall and I've almost turned them into standards. 

I like this 'Keep Calm' Hand-Made Art Poster

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Fritillaria Watercolor: Charles Rennie Mackintosh

"Fritillaria" 1915 watercolour and pencil
Charles Rennie Mackintosh; (Scottish; 1868-1928)

The drawings of wild flowers which Mackintosh produced in 1915 are probably the most elegant and delicate of all. Fritillaria is a flower with such obvious appeal for Mackintosh that it seems odd he had not drawn it before. The chequer-work on its petals is much like many of his decorative stencils, and he acknowledges his debt by repeating the dicing in the signature box. In Southern Britain, as an indigenous plant, Fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris) is a rarity of ancient damp pasture. However, it is commonly grown in gardens. source

New Vintage Bathroom

There is a matching sink in the corner on the other side of the window. All of the bathrooms in this house I recently toured were new vintage twenties-style that have and will remain timeless. How smart. Classic is always in fashion.  

Today's Animal Encounters

I had another pre-closing inspection today at the house I sold. I visited with the neighbors who have a donkey and a goat. I slipped behind the fence to photograph them up close. We will be fast friends before long. The goat is somewhat shy. The owner was pulling all of the flower stems from her rhubarb as they are inedible. She has a wonderful garden and grows everything she and her husband eat in the summer. I want to be their neighbor too.

Two Spring Lambs and An Idea

Romantic English Country Renaissance Garden

It's absolute perfection, isn't it? via house to home

A Royal Family Picnic

"September 8, 1960 - Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK - Baby Prince Andrew perches on Prince Philip's lap during a picnic on the grounds of Balmoral Castle. Also pictured are Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, and Princess Anne." Image by ©Bettmann/CORBIS
Where's the picnic basket? Why is there no mention of the dog? I can't believe this picture is over half a century old and it seems like yesterday, doesn't it? 

Kitchen Entrance

Do you have anything growing in pots outside? I have moved the geraniums that I've wintered over to decorate either side of my front door and they look so nice. I have pansies too. In past years, I've put them outside on the balcony in the back. I like my new arrangement better. I took this photo at an open house recently.

An Otter Giving Thanks

You know I love otters and I thought this would be a great photo for starting the week.

©Carter News Agency

Cranberry Bread Fresh Out of The Oven

I baked Cranberry Bread today using fresh cranberries. It was a chilly rainy day and I wanted to bake something using the ingredients I had on hand. I didn't have an egg so I searched online for a substitute and ended up using 2 Tablespoons flaxseed meal, 1/8 teaspoon baking powder and 3 Tablespoons of water. It worked. I didn't have any orange juice so I used soy milk and a little crushed pineapple and a hit of lemon flavoring. I didn't have any nuts so I left them out. I used coconut oil as the shortening and to grease the pan. It was still very good even though I improvised quite a bit. 

I have such admiration for food bloggers who take detailed photos of the cooking/baking process. I am a very messy cook and for one little loaf I filled up one whole side of my double kitchen sink. 

Fritillary Meadow ~ Cricklade, Wiltshire UK

Teleport me there ~ NOW! I have been advised that these are not tulips at all but snake head fritillaries. The dark ones actually have checkered skirts. via

Snake Head Fritillary photo ©Macs Cream of the Crop

Have a Happy Earth Day

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