2008 Olympics Opening Ceremony...

All eyes will be on the opening ceremony for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China tonight. I copied the pictogram above from their homepage.

For a real treat with 24 very large amazing photographs, please don't miss THE BIG PICTURE.

Bluebird house on my property...

This might be considered a repeat photo. I used another version of this bluebird box in my very first post. I like this version better because it doesn't have anything intruding in the upper left corner. I love the blurred background.

Orchid portrait...

I photographed this orchid at a friend's house. I have never owned one of these plants and I probably never will. They are lovely as long as there is a flower...but when the flower goes I lose interest completely. So I shall just be happy with OPO (other people's orchids).

Beautiful maple leaf with fall colors...

This is the main reason for wanting to get all of my grass nice and short. Then most of the leaves that are already starting to fall will blow away and I won't have to rake so much. This system has always worked well for me. I love this colorful maple leaf I found while walking Webster. I photographed it on an old storm shutter with the most wonderful blue over green paint.

More moonlight mowing...

I have not kept up with my mowing lately. Now I have to work extra hard to get my lower property looking like this again. I mowed after dinner for 2 hours so I am on my way! This photo was taken one foggy morning. See you on the internet tomorrow.

MR. SHARPTOOTH, 1903 illustrated children's book...

Mister Sharptooth by Joe Kerr Illustrations by Robert H. Porteous G. W. Dillingham Co., Publishers New York ~ 1903

The book is in poor condition but the chromolithographed illustrations are wonderful. Enjoy this rare book with a happy ending and a moral too.

Cottage love . . .

I have always loved the watercolor of this wonderful stone and brick vine-covered cottage with a tile roof. It is on the cover of one of my ancient address books. I hope this is a real home somewhere ~ preferably in England. I wouldn't change a thing. It is absolutely perfect with a chimney on each gable end, a shaped hedge, wooden gate, brick walls for the garden, simple board and batten front door, and windows with brick surrounds. I think it would be low maintenance too. I am quite sure the interior is filled with 18th century antiques!

I don't have petunias this year. This photo was taken in my garden last summer.

Huge snakeskin with eye sockets intact...

I found this snakeskin at the base of a tree located outside my bedroom window. I tried picking it up in one piece but it was too fragile. I hung it in the tree in two pieces. I know this snake. I often see him sunning himself in this blue spruce and he is a very large, very fat, very long black snake. I searched the internet for poisonous snakes in New Jersey and decided he was not a rattlesnake because he has no markings...just solid black. So I am not afraid of him and I just leave him alone. I hope he eats his weight in field mice!

Upon closer examination, I discovered that he just crawled out of his skin and left the old eye sockets behind. Lenses and all! Isn't that amazing?

Here is a closer view of his old face. Looks a little bit like Gumby with scales! Well, that is my adventure for the day.