A Tale of Two Whippets

I want to thank all of you for your constant thoughts about my dogless condition. I recently stumbled on a blog that will break your heart (in a good way). It's about a very talented florist in England who lost her shop dog.

You should probably get out your tissues before reading this saddest of sad blog posts.

Can you guess the happy news in this adorable photo?

Miss Pickering hasn't added any new posts to her blog in a long time but you can find her on Instagram. She is very busy and Instagram is fast and easy. Look for her there. Her pup has grown quite a bit and I wish she would post more photos of her shop helper. Hopefully she will read this and blog more about her new love. The new pup has his own Instagram account. @valentinewhippet

My limelight hydrangea has set its buds for midsummer blooms.

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My limelight hydrangea has set its buds for midsummer blooms. Love them. They bloom on this year's growth. I prune mine in February. They are very hardy and reliable bloomers. 🌿 

#limelighthydrangea #perennial #latebloomer #paniculata #deciduous #hardy #hydrangea #ig

Fabulous Soaking Tub

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Fabulous soaking tub photographed at a broker open house today. The basketweave tile under the tub is so beautiful.  🔹 🔹 🔹 

#luxuryrealestate #soakingtub #masterbath #openhouse #luxurybathroom #interiordetails #ig

My wild raspberries are ripe.

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My wild raspberries are ripe but I almost never get there first. ♦️

#wildfruit #raspberries #njwoods #freefood #sodelicious #ig

Cat's eye.

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Cat's eye. Tin cutout with marble eyes -- detail.

#marble #catseye #refraction #refracted #iphone6splus #viewfrommyfrontdoor #happymonday #ig

A Green Glass Flycatcher

I have never used this to catch flying insects because I don't have too many in the house and I prefer to swat them when I do. But I love having this little item hanging in my kitchen anyway. Stay cool, it's going to be a scorcher here today and I'm prepared for it. They say the humidity will make it feel like 100° so I'm going to the library and the post office this morning and will enjoy my central air when I return. Enjoy your Monday. xo

I saved this photo to my phone

I can't wait to use this photo when someone sends me a text with a request I must put off for a while.

Heart shaped swarm of ants

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Heart shaped swarm of ants on my front walk trying to make me love them. 

#epicfail #foundheart #ants #mycottageinstincts #saturdaythings #ig #iphoneonly

Another beautiful sunset sky with a tiny moon.🔹

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Another beautiful sunset sky with a tiny moon.

Really LOVE This Bathroom

I have never seen a copper farm sink used in a powder room. I love this mirror with a luggage rack on top too. It's perfect for towels. Maybe it's a nautical item. I love the window and the pocket door too. Tour this seaside cottage on the Rivera designed as a houseboat here.

Gardens behind High Hedges

How gorgeous is this? I love that there are only three colors. Green, white and blue. The hedges are beyond fabulous and quite impossible but fun to see. Have a great Friday, the gateway to the weekend. via

It's a good day for having a good day.🔹

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It's a good day for having a good day. Photographed at a realtor open house yesterday. 

#summerpleasures #rattanchair #lawnfurniture #classicstyle #easyliving #socomfortable #luxuryrealestate #ig

Blurred lines. Yesterday evening at 7:30 🔹

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Blurred lines. Yesterday evening at 7:30🔹 I have the best sky!!!

#lookupmoments #clouds #altocumulus #bigskycountry #everchanging #njwoods #ig

Vintage toile wallpaper in a 1920s estate cottage bathroom. Photographed today at a broker open house. #luxuryrealestate #toile #wallpaper #classicdesign #openhouse #interiordetails

via Instagram http://ift.tt/29UloVB Vintage toile wallpaper in a 1920s estate cottage bathroom. Photographed today at a broker open house. #luxuryrealestate #toile #wallpaper #classicdesign #openhouse #ig #interiordetails

Sun and Shade

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Soon the sun will cast the shadow of the house on the balcony and there will be shade. I don't like sitting in the sun for any length of time. 

#sunandshade #mybalcony #niceclouds #ig

💛 D A I S Y 💛

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💛 D A I S Y 💛

Mushroom as big as a dinner plate.

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Mushroom as big as a dinner plate. I put three small wildflowers on top for scale. The purple one is a clover blossom. Photographed on my evening walk tonight. xo

#mushroom #fungus #wildnature #wildnewjersey #goodnight #watchingPBStonight #tv #ig

The Sunday morning line up. 🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹

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The Sunday morning line up. 🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹 I picked up these deck chairs a few doors down when the owners put them out at the curb for trash pickup. A new coat of stain and they are as good as new. So happy.

#mybalcony #happysunday #deckchairs #summer #morning #shadows #ig

Raindrops resting on a finely woven spiderweb.

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Raindrops resting on a finely woven spiderweb on my boxwood this rainy Saturday. I can hardly believe my weather went from air conditioning yesterday to 66° this morning. It feels fabulous and we need the rain!

Cloudz.

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Cloudz. One of my favorite things to photograph. They can change the same location so very dramatically as in the last three pics from my balcony. 

#clouds #sky #njisbeautiful #mycottage #ig

Deer Sighting Out Back

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I got pretty close with my iPhone on my walk out back. He posed for me.

Weeds can be beautiful too.

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Weeds can be beautiful too. 🔶🔶🔶  These look like little orchids.

#weeds #wildflowers #yellow #orchids #inmylawn #ig

Enjoying The Hammock

Jessie Willcox Smith is one of my favorite illustrator. Isn't this adorable? I don't recall ever having seen this one before. via

We are having a hot week in New Jersey but it cools off at night enough to turn off the central air and open bedroom windows. I can tolerate air conditioning during the day but dislike being sealed at night. I miss the sounds of outside too much. This arrangement works for me and I love waking up to birdsong in the morning. Stay cool. xo

Portrait of a fern in my woods🔹🔹🔹

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Portrait of a fern in my woods, on my walk.🔹🔹🔹
#fern #native #njwoods #nofilter #nature_nj #shadeplants #ig

I need to do another short mowing.

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I need to do another short mowing like this soon. But will wait until after the heat wave. My cottage looks so big from the back. It is 1-1/2 stories high from the front and a full 3 stories from the back because it's a bank house, built into a slope.

#mowing #mycottage #longview #ig

Vintage mid-century pool.

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Vintage mid-century pool with an endless view. Photographed at a recent broker open house on a cloudless day.

#luxuryrealestate #infinity #view #pool #preservedfarmland #openspace #openhouse #ig

Cloud cover this morning.

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Cloud cover this morning. Rained all night. "Enough blue to patch a sailor's pants."
#clouds #sky #viewfrommybalcony #quote #ig