A Few Minutes Between Photos

Webster was enjoying an after-breakfast survey of his domain on the balcony checking out the flocks of blackbirds that were flying around everywhere. As you can see, I mowed yesterday afternoon and did a double duty job of cutting grass and crunching/blowing the leaves. My driveway is still covered though and will require hand raking.

Moments after we came inside, it started to rain. I've always found wet leaves are much easier to rake than dry ones so tomorrow I shall do the driveway. Today is a good day for never-ending inside chores and maybe a movie. I have several TV shows to catch up on too. I searched around the internet and have successfully watched season one of Sherlock and enjoyed it very much. I hope I can find season two as well (free) because I just learned that the series starring Benedict Cumberbatch will be following Downton Abbey in January. 

Perhaps the World's Largest Cabbage

It's so perfect and beautiful, isn't it? 

A little boy is dwarfed by a supersized cabbage in Matanuska Valley, Alaska, July 1959. Photo by THOMAS J. ABERCROMBIE for NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC. Click here to see the full-sized photo for maximum impact!

Lovely Woodland Fabrics

I love this fabric with original designs from nature. See more examples in Golly Bard's photostream on Flickr. I would love to have some draperies using any and all of these designs, wouldn't you?

Nice Family Entrance

I can't see the door but it's probably solid so I like the full side light. There is probably another one on the other side for symmetry, right? I forgot to tell you I took Webster to an open house I was hosting on Sunday and he was absolutely miserable. The house had no place for him to sit and look outside. Here at the cottage, he has 2 French doors and 2 very low windows in the living room. One of the windows is over his bed. In the attic he has a bed in front of one of the eyebrow windows that is almost at floor level. When he goes downstairs with me to do laundry, he can  sit in front of a sliding glass door so he is covered on all levels. He couldn't understand how anyone could live otherwise. When he finally got home he ran to his bed and just collapsed. He usually loves going to other people's houses with me but the one on Sunday did NOT get his seal of approval. via

A Long Blade of Grass in Bright Sun

How boring, you say? I was pretty excited that my new iPhone was able to capture this back-lit reed of tall grass in the wetlands. I'm so glad I got the space gray one with the black screen on front and black around the camera lens to prevent light leaks just as I hoped it would. My old white one had that problem. It's pretty chilly outside today as I discovered when I went out on my balcony to check on a blanket I washed late yesterday. I threw it over the railing to dry and this morning it was frozen as stiff as a board. I must look for my mittens before I take my walk after breakfast.

Some of my Favorite Things

A brass trivet with a Tudor Rose in the center, antique scissors in a brass art nouveau case, a Union Jack note pad (Christmas Gift from Victoria) and a mechanical pencil for notes.

They live atop a couple of nesting mid-century modern tables in front of my sofa. Notice Webster's leg sticking out near the tabletop dog. This is my command center. My Macbook is on another table on my right, along side the TV remote and the remote for my Bose radio. I should have rearranged the items in the second photo. I squished them close together for the first picture.

A Peek into a Wonderful Room

The trim color in the hall looks very much like my Bennington Grey here at the cottage. I love this peek into a wonderful living room. I really want a pair of leather tuxedo love seats like this one but haven't been able to find them yet. So many of my friends who live in old houses have gotten weary of repairing the peeling plaster on their ceilings and have covered them with wooden planks like the ceiling in this room. It's the perfect solution, isn't it? Happy Monday. via

Keep Telling Yourself This

As we adjust to the new time and darkness descends so much earlier than we would like, try to remember this quote. It's only a little after five o'clock and it's already nearly dark. I must hurry and feed the wonder dog so we can walk without turning on the spot lights out back. via