Portrait of the Racehorse Sedbury with a Groom

Painted by James Seymour (1702-1752) All eyes are on the sporting events in London for the next couple of weeks. Will you be watching? History of this wonderful painting here.

Big Round Bales of Hay

I stopped my car not far from my cottage to photograph these giant round hay bales in a big open field.

I was glad there was such a dramatic sky for the long shot. The field is protected open space. People use it to fly kites, operate model airplanes, and it's fun when they bring a few sheep and a herd dog to train.

my iPhone photos

Presenting Mr. Webster

Here is a photo of Webster hot off the press taken downstairs as he worriedly waited for me to fix his breakfast. My mom always keeps the red sofa made up as a bed for him in case he gets too hot upstairs if I don't have the A/C running. It's always cooler on her walk-out lower level. Plus someone might open the back door so he can scoot out and eat all the cat food. Happy Friday everyone.

Wonderful London Summer Olympics Poster

17 Days of Summer by Jordan Chueng. This poster is a masterpiece of graphic design.

Country Basketball Hoop

Remember when this type of basketball hoop was nailed over every garage or barn door? I think it looks so much better than the big plastic free-standing units that are everywhere now. Some things can't be improved upon, can they? I took this photo in the spring at an open house.

Beatrix Potter Stamps | Royal Mail

Hands down, the Royal Mail has the BEST stamps. I love these from The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. I pay almost all of my bills online but these stamps would make me want to mail something by snail mail. 

My Rainy Day

Here it is by popular demand -- a photo of today's rainy day. It has slacked up quite a bit but it's still coming down very softly. I must tell you that the only plants on the property that have actually thrived through my neglect during the long hot spell are the geraniums. They can withstand almost anything except extreme cold. They don't mind drought and heat at all. They might lose leaves and look to be on the brink of death but one drink of water brings them right back. I think they are the only plants I will even consider next year. They overwinter in the house very nicely too. Hooray for geraniums! The hummingbirds love the red ones.

my iPhone photo

Cottage with a Great Garden

Isn't this a great courtyard surrounded by thriving plantings? I wish I could see the inside of the cottage. I'm sure it's charming too.
It is just a little after 9:00am at my cottage and it's dark as pitch and pouring rain. I hope I don't have to go outside at all today. I need a rainy day. See you later.

Starfish on Rocky Beach

Starfish on a rocky beach under a beautiful sky. via I have a hard time believing starfish are real too. These beautiful rocks look as if they were all arranged by hand, don't they?

Mirror Twin Pups

Australian Cattle Dog pups by Warren Wills. They are mirror twins! They look very sweet, don't they? via

A symmetrical garden designed a Canadian landscape architecture firm, Janet Rosenberg + Associates. via I love this garden of green.

Amazing Sky

These clouds made me go outside and capture them just a few minutes ago. They were only up in the sky over my cottage for a fleeting moment at sunset. Goodnight. See you tomorrow.

Giant Fuzzy Moth

This was resting on the front door of my office this morning. I saw it but thought it was an early fall leaf. Someone told me it was a giant moth and it was. Doesn't it have great camouflage? This photo was snapped with my trusty iPhone. I love always having a camera in my pocket.

Seahorse Silhouette

I always have a hard time believing seahorses are real. In my mind they are in the same category as mermaids and unicorns. This one is beautiful, isn't it? via

If only

this were awaiting me at the end of this busy, busy day. Sigh. I could use a little Zen about now. via

Fabulous Living Room

I say YES to every single thing I see in this amazing room. It is perfect. via

8 Secrets to a Happy Kitchen

I didn't have to get any farther than the first photo in this interesting article. This dining area is perfect, isn't it?

Some Day

He was right.

Bee Quilt

It has been over a month since the beginning of the bee quilt. Hand printed bees on hand dyed fabric. Wonder how it's coming along? I love it so far! via

Restored Welsh Farm Without Electricity

This farmhouse bedroom in Wales looks charming doesn't it until you learn that this delightful renovation has no electricity...yet. It's off the grid.

Built in 1805, abandoned in 1948, and vacant for 40 years aside from providing shelter for sheep. The farmhouse and outbuildings were restored and the roof was recovered in thick local Welsh slate. Read full article and view lots more photographs here. Hackett Holland Ltd. Architect

Oak Leaves are Falling

I saw lots of oak leaves on the ground yesterday when I took Webster for his after-dinner walk. Most had teeny tiny acorns buds attached. This one landed on a sycamore leaf. The heavy rain we had all day on Friday is helping to re-green the lawn but unfortunately the only variety that has been reconstituted is the crabby kind. Crabgrass is my least favorite thing about the second half of summer.

Sweet Dreams

I'm quite sure Webster has this same dream every night and if it ever came true he would try to eat all of his biscuits at one sitting. Sweet dreams my friends. See you tomorrow. via

Have a Fun Weekend

Doing something like splashing your feet in the water would be a good start. via

I'm organizing EVERYTHING today

and this is what is going to happen to anything that gets in my way. Tabitha is hiding in her cat carrier (really) and Webster has a worried look on his face. How are you spending your Saturday? via

Giraffe Love

This wonderful photo by Mario Merino is appropriately entitled TENDERNESS. I never tire of mother and child animal photos, do you?

Baby Elephant + Little Girl

I want to know more about this darling photo, don't you? So charming! I hope she will remember this lovely time when she's older. The elephant will never forget. via

Beautiful Landacape with Reflections

Dreamer © Juliana Nan

It's hard to believe this is a photograph. It looks almost like a painting, doesn't it? This photographer has quite an eye. Love this image! Art photography at its best.

Astrolabe - The First Computer

The astrolabe is a very ancient astronomical computer for solving problems relating to time and the position of the Sun and stars in the sky. Astrolabes are used to show how the sky looks at a specific place at a given time. This is done by drawing the sky on the face of the astrolabe and marking it so positions in the sky are easy to find. Read more about astrolabes here. http://www.astrolabes.org/
This is the most beautiful scientific instrument I have ever seen and I want one! via

Zebra Blue Primrose

Isn't this the most amazing flower you have ever seen? This Zebra Blue Primrose is right up there with the checkered Fritillaria for being unusual, right? These images are not photo enhanced in any way. This is just the way they grow. I want some seeds, don't you? Second image via

Clover Blossom

Here is a captured clover blossom I photographed and processed with MarbleCam. That was before all of my clover dried up from the heat. We are having some rain and I'm hoping everything will spring back so the birds and the bees can get some nectar. Luckily my area escaped all of the fierce storms and all of our rain has been soft and soaking - just what the earth is crying out for. Happy Friday. See you later.

Yellow Cottage with Dandelion Lawn

Goodness.Gracious. Have you ever heard of the book Dandelion Cottage? If this isn't it, I don't know what is!! via

Exhausted French Bulldog

This breed does not know how to pace itself. Frenchies run and play to the point of exhaustion and this is what happens. This little one is named Allen and he's so tired. via

White Kitchen with Gray Island

Do you like islands that differ from the rest of the kitchen? I think I would prefer this one to match the white cabinets with white marble countertops. It still looks nice though. What would you have done? via

Serene Living Room

Don't you want a living room like this for its cool summer look? I love every single thing about it. It's cooler this morning at my cottage after the late afternoon storm yesterday. It was fierce in some areas but we just got the tail end of it and were thankful for the rain. See you later. via

Antique Delft Tile with Cow

This is an 18th century hand painted Delft Tile from my collection that was converted to a 'dot' image with an app called SnapDot. I'm having fun playing with it. I took the photo with my iPhone and worked on it with my iPad.

The tile is damaged but I love this $2.50 tag sale purchase just the same.

Fields of Gold in The Cotswolds UK

Field of golden rapeseed flowers in the Cotswolds. Will be harvested for rapeseed oil. via

Poppies

I have always loved these flowers that look so much like crepe paper. I like the buds, the blooms, and the seed pods. Poppies are so ethereal. via

The Art of the Cat Nap

Nothing can ruin this kitten's nap. So adorable. Click here if you can's see this wonderful YouTube video.

25 Things An Empty Nester Learned From Opening a Used Bookstore

25 Things An Empty Nester Learned After Opening a Used Bookstore

Please promise me you will click on the link above and read this interesting list and a little bio of the author. You will love it if you've ever dreamed about opening a bookstore! image from here.

Climbing Roses

The roses are such a nice touch over the carriage house doors. via