Rain is On the Way

Since I took this photo, the sky is completely overcast. The rain is supposed to start after midnight and continue most of the day tomorrow. We really need it as you can see from my straw colored grass.

Mother Raccoon's Exercise in Patience

One of the YouTube viewers leaving a comment said, "Never give up on your kids." Click here to see this amazing video if it isn't showing above.

Another Not Too Big House

Don't you love the architectural detailing? via

Two Cooks and A Cabbage 1941 video

Wartime Film teaching girls to cook. Click here if you can's see the video above. Delightful!

Early Blossoms, Limelight Hydrangea

Here's an early Sunday morning photo of the whole bush that was only sticks less than 12 inches tall when I planted it in early May this year. The pot I purchased at a local nursery turned out to be two bushes so I divided them, one for the front and one for the back. The one in the back shown here got less deer damage and that surprises me. The one in the front is close to the road and I have never seen deer in that area. Who knows what happens when you are sleeping, right? 

A friend sent me a photo of hers at her vacation home in Stockbridge, MA. It's at least 10 years old and it's huge.

Her photo makes me reconsider the placement of my shrub. If they like where they are planted they can reach for the sky. Of course, you can control the size by pruning in late fall or early spring.

First Blooms: My Limelight Hydrangea

I'm so excited about this bush I planted in early May. It blooms on new growth in late summer and it's right on schedule in spite of the fact the deer ate a few branches. This is a lesson learned. Next year I will spray with deer repellent. They really did a number on the bush I plant in the front but there are still some blossoms that haven't opened yet. We are having a really dry spell and that's not helping either. It's supposed to rain Monday into Tuesday, fingers crossed. I caught up on all my mowing and trimming the last three days while everything was bone dry. Instead of using the weed whacker today, I used my small gas-powered walk behind mulching mower. It gets really close to obstacles like brick walls and large rocks and I finished with my hand clipper/trimmer. That was easier than struggling with the electric trimmer and long power cords. It went quickly too.  It will all look fabulous after next week's rain. xo

Wild Grape Vine

The wild grape vines are proving to be more powerful than the wild roses or multiflora on my property. Perhaps that's Mother Nature's way of taming the beast. I have always thought the shape of the leaves and the vein patterns were quite lovely. My Photo.

Have a lovely weekend. It's beautiful here at the cottage. I'm going to make an effort to do something meaningful in addition to attacking weeds, but I haven't decided what that task will be yet. xo

Living Room Corner in My Cottage

I haven't posted any photos of inside the cottage lately. Here's a corner in my living room near one of the French doors leading out to the balcony. It has been cool and breezy for the past couple of days and I have done some quality mowing. Tomorrow I shall deal with the weeds in places too tight for the mower. Weed whacking is something I enjoy once I get set up with all of my long electric cords. I put it off as long as I possibly can because it's a pain. Have a great weekend. xo