Anything you can do, I can do better.

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First Bluebird Spotting at My Cottage

I was afraid I would scare my first spring bluebird away if I opened the door to go out on the balcony to photograph him. Instead I had to do it through the window and the screen from my bathroom. These birds never fail to thrill me!

What?

Is this the ugly ducking of the owl world? I'm sure he looks a lot better when his feathers are dry. Is this a newborn? Not sure but I loved the photo and hope you do too. via Pixdaus

Grape Hyacinths

 

Grape Hyacinth, otherwise known as Muscari, are actually not Hyacinths at all. They are members of the Lily family, and are native to the Mediterranean area and Asia Minor. These are growing against my brick wall here at the cottage.

The wild violets are coming up all over the front lawn and are another sure sign that spring has sprung. 

The Wonder Dog After the Big Birthday Dinner

 

Webster had a perfect day for his 10th birthday. He had all of his favorite foods and we just got in from an after-dinner walk where I took these iPhone photos. We barely got home before it started raining. He's on his bed behind the sofa in a food coma now. 

French Cats Playing Pattycake

At first I thought this was one cat playing on a mirror. It's great, isn't it? Especially considering these two cats understand French. Click here if you can't see this wonderful video.

[Almost] Ready to Fly

The one on the right is looking at his sibling and thinking...you must be nuts. via Pixdaus

Today is Webster's Birthday -- He's 10 Years Old

If you calculate his age in people years (10x7) he is 70 years old today. This is a recent photo taken outside on one of those nice days when he was watching helping me work. I cooked him a huge sweet potato in the oven last night along with the ones we had for supper and that will be one of his special treats today. They are one of his favorite foods along with cornbread. I think I'll make a big iron skillet of that later today as well. It sort of breaks my heart to look back on older photos of him and see how he has aged. But he still acts like a pup and is very healthy and I can't complain -- especially since we are the same age this year [smile]. If only that were an April Fool joke :(

http://contentinacottage.blogspot.com/2009/04/birthday-boy-hes-no-april-fool.html

http://contentinacottage.blogspot.com/2010/04/websters-birthday-8-x-7-56-in-people.html

http://contentinacottage.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-dog-is-worried.html

Paperwhites and Lilies of the Valley

The paperwhites I started forcing just before Christmas have their own internal clocks. These just came into bloom this week. I thought they looked nice photographed with my iPad against the guest room draperies with a Lily of the Valley motif.

Pink Columbine

Here is another lovely photo of a pink columbine flower that I discovered on my third floor computer. With this nice soft rain can the wildflowers be far behind? via Pixdaus

April Showers are One Day Early

Don't you just love this beautiful photo? I wish I could claim it as mine. I woke up to a rainy morning on the last day of March here at the cottage. I am not upset in the least. I have lots of indoor chores and projects to keep me occupied. Have a wonderful weekend. via

Perfect Pond

I've had this photo saved on my attic computer for ages. I love this naturalized swimming pond but I would be fearful for my toes in case of snapping turtles. I love the mass planting of tall grass and purple iris. So very lovely!

A Decoupage Plate distorted with my iPad

I pointed my iPad's terrific camera set on the fun built-in PhoneBooth/kaleidoscope again this morning and focused on a John Derian decoupaged plate. It's pretty interesting, isn't it?

Aren't you just itching to do something like this? Dig up a big patch of earth, plant some seeds, and wait for them to grow. I love this painting by the Bucks County New Hope School artist Daniel Garber (1880-1958) entitled 'In the Springtime' via

Birdbath turned Planter

Vintage terracotta birdbath turned planter is unusual and spectacular. via

Taupe, Putty, Gray, Grey, What?

I love the color of the walls in this room. It is very warm and soothing to the eye. Does this cross between a tan and a gray paint color have a name other than tannish gray? via
ladyhawthorne thinks it's 'Mushroom' and I think she might be right.

A peek into a Vermont Cabin

Isn't this a great room?  Burlington, VT cabin. Susan Teare Photography. I want to see what's at the top of the circular staircase, don't you? via

Wow! My coffee table with Kaleidoscope Effect

I was playing around with PhotoBooth on my iPad and doesn't my coffee table look like a work of art? It's actually a big mess with a wadded up pink damask napkin and piles of books but doesn't it look cool using the kaleidoscope? So fun! Picasso would have loved playing with this.

Sun Rays + Koi Pool This Afternoon

I went to the most amazing open house today with amazing Zen gardens. I was the only one who even bothered to go outside. I was in heaven wandering around soaking up the beauty. I got some good sun rays beaming down on a faux bois bench. 

The reflecting pool full of colorful koi was lovely too. I'll share more photos later. I had such a nice day and a productive one too. I think that cool crisp air gave me a jolt of energy and the gardens were good for my spirit. 

Sighting of Foxes at My Cottage

 

 

 

 

The one that was lying down in the first photo stayed behind and let me get pretty close with my Nikon and its telephoto lens. Luckily Webster didn't know what I was up to since he was on the bed taking a nap. He can't stand for them to set one foot on 'his' property. He's very territorial.

Blue Stamps in A Frame

I thought Sweet Paul had a good idea when he picked out all of the blue stamps from a Brimfield score and framed them. Old stamps are miniature works of art themselves and almost everyone has a stash of them stuck in a drawer somewhere in the house. Let's get them out and display them.

Cold Again

Webster and I just got back from our last walk and I had to run back and grab my ski hat and mittens to go with my down jacket and scarf. The wind is howling and it's very cold. All the fruit growers are worried about the blossoms on their trees. It's supposed to get down into the 20s and it feels like winter again. This is a porcelain cold water faucet handle from my box of vintage hardware. How's the weather at your house?

Window Seat Flanked by Two Great Cupboards -- Creative DIY Project

 

You can create a custom built-in look by connecting two pre-fabricated hutches on two sides of the room, and then connecting them with a custom window seat and with the same trim. What a great idea! via

A Scene in An English Garden

I found this saved photo and don't know the source. My notes tell me it was a garden scene in Wiltshire, England. It's lovely, isn't it? Have a great week.

Barn Turned Greenhouse

I would say this is pretty wonderful, wouldn't you? I dearly love the awning windows. via

A Fallen Flicker

 

This Northern Flicker just fell dead from the sky yesterday and landed right in the middle of the place where I sit in my  Adirondack chairs in the way back. I don't usually do post-mortem photography but I decided to take photos of this beautiful bird before moving him to a more out of the way spot. I turned him over to reveal the yellow flight feathers on these birds here in the east. Out west they are red. Click on the link to learn more about this woodpecker and listen to his call. I'd still like to know what happened to this poor Flicker.

Wonderful Bird Bath

Someone is all set for spring and Easter. I love this old cast cement bird bath, don't you? It looks like one that will never spring a leak and can stay outside all year long. via

Taxes are Boring

We've been at this for 3 days straight.

When we could be outside doing fun stuff.

Wake me when the taxes are finished.

Guess what?!! I'm We are finished. Webster will be so happy tomorrow. He's sick of all the filing, calculating, shuffling through papers, pencil sharpening, highlighting, and especially the shredding. The only fun part for him will be the ride in the car to the post office on Monday. Whew. I'm glad that's over for another year.

Red Barn with Garden

I took this photo several years ago in Basking Ridge, NJ. It wasn't that far away from a great old farmhouse so the homeowner could run outside and tend the garden easily. Don't you just love barns that become garages, potting sheds, and great dry storage lofts?
I can see the light at the end of the tax tunnel.

Just before spring.

Some of the trees in my area have buds and some don't. My grass is greener than this barnyard and I already feel as if I'm behind in my yard work. My riding mower is being picked up on Tuesday for a spring tuneup. I'm in solitary confinement on the third floor this weekend until I finish my taxes. I was hoping for a rainy day but it's gorgeous. Webster has been offering moral support and keeping me company up there with his head on the windowsill looking longingly outside wanting me to finish too. I'm pretty organized [finally] and I'm on the homestretch.

North Fork winter scene, by Howie Guja

MAD MEN : How many ways can you say WHAT?

Click here if you can't see the video. The new season starts on Sunday at 9PM with a 2-hour premier after an absence of 17 months...way too long. Are you a fan of MAD MEN? More videos here on the AMC 'Mad Men' website.

Eleanor Roosevelt and her fabulous sense of humor:

“I had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalog: ‘No good in a bed, but fine against a wall.’” -Eleanor Roosevelt

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Life's Little Instruction Book, Volume II, Pages 50 and 51

 

 

It's been a long time since I posted any of these great pages from one of my favorite books. Aren't you glad I remembered?

More Daffodil Twins

The daffodils I photographed yesterday wanted you to see their profiles.

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Papercutting to The Max -- Video -- Elaine Penwell

ElainePenwell
Don't fail to visit her website. She.is.amazing!

Great Sun Porch

I love the fireplace in this room. It's time to start thinking about moving outside again with the nice early spring weather we've been having. I think the lawn mowing season is just around the corner and way too early if you ask me! via

The Daffodil Twins

Every year the daffodils of spring delight me in the woods and naturalized areas around my cottage. I photographed these twins with my iPhone this afternoon under overcast skies with no shadows.

"When I bought my farm, I did not know what a bargain I had in the bluebirds, daffodils and thrushes; as little did I know what sublime mornings and sunsets I was buying." 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Andy Warhol's Art

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Albino Peacock Showing Off

The white peacock (or white peafowl) is a color variety of the Indian Blue Peacock. photo by Silvain de Munck