Wild violets in my grass . . .

I have lots of wild violets in my lawn now. I can't bear the thought of mowing over them. What should I do? I don't want to commit a violet murder.

Enjoy your Sunday. I have been so busy trying to get a jump on summer. It was very hot here yesterday and they are predicting record heat for today. We'll see how it goes. I guess I will have to get out the fans. Webster has requested one pointed right at him. Full blast, straight on, with no oscillating. Perfect for a hot dog.

Spruce Up Your House for Spring . . .

In addition to saving pictures ripped out of magazines, I can't resist saving photos of cottages like the ones below to my pc. Once I blog about them, I can erase the images and let Google save them in cyberspace. Two tasks are accomplished and I've shared something with you too!

Before.

After.

I was really impressed with this relatively simple cottage makeover. The overhang was extended and widened with the pitch built to complement the roofline. The old iron supports and railing were replaced with wooden posts and pickets. Shutters were added to three replaced windows and the trim was painted on the double windows to pull everything together. I am assuming that the windows were replaced but maybe they weren't. They look bigger but that could just be an illusion. I like the addition of the mullions.

Doesn't the home look bigger? I think the end result stunning. This project probably wasn't terribly expensive but it added great value to this delightful cottage. Love the hydrangeas too.

We are supposed to have record high temperatures today and tomorrow. I have been busy trying to beat the heat so I can sit outside and simply enjoy it. My goldfinches are back and those yellow wild canaries are making me happy. The chirping outside is unbelieveable and it's so nice to have all the windows open.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great weekend. ♥Rosemary

Life's Little Instruction Book, pages 74 + 75 . . .

...To be continued...

Earth Day 2009 . . .

"Take care of the earth
and she will take care of you."
Author Unknown

"Don't blow it - good planets are hard to find."
Quoted in Time Magazine

Soup Kitchens for Pets . . .

Pet soup kitchens are becoming more popular, as more people -- and welfare organizations -- seek to establish a cheap, community-based means of supporting pet owners in need.

To learn more about pet food pantries, please watch video story here.

Pets are people too. My own dog endorses all projects that provide for animals.

Thanks for stopping by the cottage today. ♥Rosemary and Webster

Photo Courtesy of Best Friends Animal Society

GREY GARDENS before and after with slide show + video + footage from the original documentary film

Many of you are watching GREY GARDENS on HBO. I wonder how many of you saw the original documentary film that was made 34 years ago by Albert Maysles and his brother. I found it at my local library years ago and found it very difficult to watch.

Thirty-four years after a documentary film introduced the world to Grey Gardens and its eccentric occupants, a new movie on HBO is again casting light on the legend of this East Hampton property. In 1979, when the last photo was taken, Sally Quinn, the writer and Washington hostess, and her husband Benjamin Bradlee, former editor of The Washington Post, purchased the property, which had fallen into complete disarray, and set out to restore it to its earlier splendor.

View the slide show with 12 photos via The New York Times.

Albert Maysles visited Grey Gardens to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his film several years ago after the house and gardens were restored. This 10-minute film from YouTube shows Maysles' reaction with footage from the original documentary. This will give you a glimpse into the "real Grey Gardens" and the two Edies. Don't say I didn't warn you about how shocking it was while the two eccentrics were in residence.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today for a visit. I hope you found this post to be informative and entertaining. I don't have HBO, do you? Should I get it? Are you enjoying Grey Gardens? Let me know. ♥Rosemary

Life's Little Instruction Book, pages 72 + 73 . . .

...To be continued...

Insomnia (If You Are Sleepless) . . .

This seemed like a pleasant thing to post at the end of this lovely day. Hopefully you will sleep like a log and not need these instructions. Pleasant dreams when you tuck in.

"The best cure for insomnia is Monday morning."

Hallmark Hall of Fame ~ "must-see" TV tonight . . .

More still photos and full article about the program.

I am looking forward to seeing Anna Paquin on Hallmark Hall of Fame tonight at 9pm on CBS. “The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler” is based upon the true story a Polish Catholic social worker in the early 1940s who is credited with saving the lives of 2,500 Jewish children during World War II.

Check the local listings for your area. This is on the CBS network, not the Hallmark Channel.

You've got to AC-CENT-CHU-ATE THE POSITIVE (Bing Crosby) + Video . . .

You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between
Song lyrics here.

Bing Crosby

This YouTube video is from The Singing Detective with Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters singing in the background. I am going to see if this old BBC series is available at my local library. It looks great. There was a 2003 (American) movie too but the English TV series looks way better.

I hope this brightens your Sunday morning and inspires you to accentuate the positive all day long!

Life's Little Instruction Book, pages 70 + 71 . . .

...To be continued...

"The bluebird carries the sky on his back." Henry David Thoreau quote . . .

I have bluebirds on my property and it never fails to thrill me each time I see one.

Happy Friday everyone! The weatherman has promised me a 70 degree day. I think I should try to organize my gardening tools and get ready to play outside later.

Enjoy your upcoming weekend. ♥Rosemary

Mahatma Gandhi Objects Top $2 Million at auction . . .

Mahatma Gandhi's circa 1920 pocket watch, Gandhi's sandals, bowl, plate, glasses, and images of Gandhi with letters of authenticity realized $2,096,000 in New York City at Antiquorum Auctioneers' sale of important collectors' wristwatches, pocket watches and clocks on March 4 and 5, 2009.

The auction room was unusually overflowing with collectors, enthusiasts of horology and members of the press — curious to see the outcome of the bidding on Mahatma Gandhi's pocket watch and personal belongings.

Even if you sing poorly, sing. . .

Susan Boyle from Britain's Got Talent is my hero . . .

Susan Boyle. Not pretty, not slim, not young (48 years old), unmarried, never had a date, never been kissed, unemployed, an object of small-town ridicule (Scotland), and dressed like a frump. The entire audience was ready to boo her off the stage in a British talent search before she even started.
She lives with her cat Pebbles and is the youngest of 9 children in a musical family. Her mom died 2 years ago. What a pity...she would have been so proud!

Britain’s Got Talent rising star Susan Boyle has revealed to The Mirror that she hated how she looked on Saturday night’s show. Susan, 48 told the newspaper: “They say that television makes you look fat and it certainly did. “I looked like a garage. It was mortifying to see and a bit of a shock. I didn’t realise I could reduce people to tears and I hope it wasn’t because of that.” (She's funny too!)

Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent

The amazing Susan Boyle was such a huge hit on Saturday night’s Britain’s Got Talent show that she is said to have offers of work pouring in already.

Susan shocked the nation when she ambled onto stage and belted out ‘I Dream A Dream’ from Les Miserables. The video of her performance has racked up more than seven million views on YouTube and The Sun reports that Simon Cowell will now offer her a record deal whether she wins the show or not.

Piers Morgan told the newspaper: “As I watched Susan’s performance back, I texted Simon in Hollywood: ‘My god, she was even better than I remembered — she’s unbelievable’.

WAY TO GO, SUSAN! Everybody loves an underdog and we certainly love you!