What a Difference from A Week Ago

Webster and I are so glad we can walk down to the way back with no snow. I keep hearing about another storm that's coming next week but we have our fingers and paws crossed that it won't happen. The following photos are from a several days to a week ago. 

Enjoy the rest of the weekend. xo

Great Quote in A Paris Bookstore

Be Not Inhospitable to Strangers

Lest They Be Angels in Disguise

Shakespeare and Co. Bookstore, Paris

For some reason Google is having a hard time pulling up the store's wonderful website so I put a supstitute link above. Keep trying to find their website www.shakespeareandcompany.com/ which is very interactive and you will love it.

Perfect Entrance Hall

I adore everything in this welcoming entrance hall, especially the Dutch door. The paneling is beautiful and I love the landing on the stairs with a bench behind. There's a front porch too and I wish I could see this entrance from the outside. The season for opening the windows and throwing open the doors is approaching, and I can't wait. Have a great weekend. xo via

UPDATE: A blog reader named Jan found a link showing more photos of this summer house in the Hamptons. I'll take the guest cottage, please. Thanks, Jan. 

Some Photos for You

These photos have been on my blog before but I thought you'd like to see them again.

Webster has a new supply of dog biscuits. He's thrilled.

A beautiful lily.

Black pansies.

I've always loved this photo.

Primroses, violets and a robin.

Good Night, everyone. Sleep tight when you tuck in.

Jump into Spring

Leaping Cottontail ~ 1924

Artist: Paul Bransom, 1885 - 1979
MEDIUM: Gouache and Charcoal
DIMENSIONS: 20 x 16 1/4 inches

I have always loved this charming artwork. The pussy willow catkins are perfect for the first full day of spring, aren't they? I have had a busy morning dealing with contractors for a customer. See you later. xo

First Day of Spring at My Cottage

It's still chilly but most of my snow has melted. I took this photo after lunch when it was officially SPRING. We had big puffy clouds too. I've been working on my taxes and have almost finished. Webster has been helping by sitting beside me as I sort through piles of papers. Tomorrow I will shred some old ones. I love doing that. Have a nice evening and I'll see you tomorrow. xo

Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II | Pages 72 and 73

A few more suggestions, observations, and reminders on how to live a happy and rewarding life.

I like all four of these tips, especially 755, the one about the bookmark. Great advice from a father to a son that went viral and became two books. I like all the helpful hints on this page. The book was published in 1993. 

Good one!

Happy First Day of Spring. I can really feel it in the air and I have snowdrops coming up in a sunny spot where all the snow has melted. Yay!

Addicted to this Organic Lemon Juice

Okay, you asked for more of my healthy habit tips. Last year around Thanksgiving I happened upon a bottle of this organic lemon juice from Italy in a big glass bottle. I can't tell you how many lemons I end up throwing away because they have dried out in the fridge. Sometimes you just need a little juice and you end up wasting a whole one. Solution found. I got mine at a small green grocer and when I went back last week for another bottle they didn't have it. I almost hyperventilated and my search began. The internet said Costco had it but they did not and neither did Trader Joe's. I finally found it at Bed and Bath of all places in their International Foods section. 

Here is the link with all the good information about this juice. Click on the "Where to Buy" tab at the top. I had to increase my store finder search to 25 miles and my store ended up being only 6 or 7 miles away. It's available online too. There is an expiration date on the cap. The bottle I just bought has a date of July 7, 2014. With summer on the way, I'm sure I will use it up by then with lemonade and popsicles on my recipe list. For now, I use it in my tea and in my hummus. I also add it to my drinking water. The flavor is more like Meyer Lemons and is very delicious. I love that it's organic with no preservatives and the glass bottle is a huge plus. Have fun finding it. Maybe you can go in with a friend should you have to use the on-line ordering system. It retails for under $8.00 per bottle and has about 40 hand-picked lemons in every bottle.  Try it and let me know how you like it. xo