Gorgeous Owl

Forgive me for being so tardy with my morning post. I'm still running around in circles here at the cottage but it's good to be busy. I hope you are having a great last weekend in June. Can you believe the year is half over? Where did it go? This owl certainly has good taste in perching places, doesn't he? I love the wrought iron fence or gate. via

Fun Hotel in Uruguay

Casa Zinc -- the Hippest Hotel in Uruguay. I really enjoyed the photo tour of this unique place to stay. Everything is reclaimed and recycled and fabulous. Maybe you will get some ideas for your own interior design, especially if you like vintage industrial and architectural elements. Click here to read a great article and see more photos.

Isn't this room charming? The arched windows were salvaged from a train station.

Beautiful Oakleaf Hydrangea

I took this photo yesterday at my friend Kelly's house. Her oakleaf hydrangeas have really taken off this year and they are beautiful. I learned through some internet research that this variety and the Annabelle are the only two varieties that are native to the US. I love planting shrubs that are natives, don't you? I want to plant several of each and the Annabelle will be in honor of my mother Anna.

Google Reader is Going Away on Monday, July 1st.

Google Reader is shutting down on Monday. I have no idea why. I have almost 2300 people who follow me via RSS feeds and they will all be out in the cold next week unless they transfer their subscription to my blog to another reader. 

Bloglovin' is a great site that will transfer them automatically but you must hurry while Google Reader is still active. I found a site that shows you how with pictures and text written by a 2nd Grade Teacher. I told you it was going to be easy, didn't I?

Here is the tutorial

I am also putting each of my daily posts on Pinterest so you can always find me there.

http://pinterest.com/contentcottage/

Bloglovin'

http://www.bloglovin.com/

Feedly

http://www.feedly.com

Here is a tutorial on how to transfer your feeds to FEEDLY, another great site.

The Old Reader

http://theoldreader.com/

This is another site that resembles the Original Google Reader that readers are liking.

Good luck. 

xo, Rosemary

Westport Island House Kitchen and More

WOW. Wouldn't you like to be going here to spend the July 4th week? I love the ceilings and everything else too. Designed by Shelter Interiors via Houzz.

God Made a Dog -- Wonderful Video

Great video.

Get out your hankies. Click here if you can't see the video above.

The Kitty and The Ducklings

I wanted to post all 10 photos but decided on only 3. To see the rest of this adorable bunch, you'll have to go here. Best photo shoot ever!

A Shady Place to Sit

This is where I sit and watch Webster while he goes through all of his rituals when we take a walk. He checks out the fox holes, chases rabbits, hunts for snakes, and rolls in the grass. My friend Stacey and her husband Henry gave me the lightweight chairs that are easy to move when I mow or want to get out of the hot sun. I leave them outside all year long. 

Magic Bathroom Ring Remover

What is this, you ask? It's a touchy subject and I'm not really anxious to discuss toilets or anything else about housecleaning on my blog but when I find a household hint that everyone can use, I feel I must share. I read about this magic sheet of drywall sandpaper and its ability to remove that ring around your toilet bowl when nothing else will. As you know, I've been cleaning the lower level of my cottage and there are two bathrooms down there. Since my mother's passing, I have only been going down to do laundry and neither bowl has been flushed regularly. Everything came sparking clean with little effort except for one ring around the water level and nothing would remove it.  I have very hard well water and no water conditioner. I looked around in my store room where all the construction leftovers were stored from my renovation and I found one sheet of this drywall sandpaper. I cut off a piece and followed these instructions and the rest is history. Both rings are GONE! The sandpaper did not scratch the white porcelain either. I am thrilled. This is great to know if you have a vacation home that isn't used on a daily basis. Sometimes the drudgery of housework has a bright spot to make you want to keep going. I can see light at the end of the tunnel and I'm feeling good! 

Newly Hatched Hummingbirds

I have hummingbirds here at the cottage but I've never been lucky enough to see a nest. How wonderful!!! via Good night, see you in the morning.

Lacecap Hydrangea

My lacecap hydrangea is blooming! So happy. my iPhone photo

Gentoo Penguin Chicks from Antarctica

Click photo to enlarge.

Aren't we cute?

Gentoo Penguin Chicks, Antarctica - Photograph by Richard Sidey. Two newly hatched gentoo penguin chicks get their first glimpse at the Antarctic wilderness. via National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest I could spend the whole day looking at all of the wonderful photos people have submitted. The contest is still open in case you want to enter.

Summer in Scotland

High summer in the Quiraing, Isle of Skye, Scotland via

The Milkweed is Blooming

My milkweed is blooming and it's so pretty. I adore the pink stems. I'll keep you updated on the progress of the pods when they begin to form. my iPhone photo

Summertime at My Cottage

Here is a photo from a recent walk with the wonder dog. He got way ahead, choosing shade over sun just like me.

Then Webster enjoyed a good roll in the tall grass and clover. I see a good mowing in my future sometime soon. We are enjoying air conditioning again for only the second time this year and the house is very comfortable. Stay cool and I'll see you later. 

Perfectly Captioned Dog Photo

No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does. ~Christopher Morley~ 
via Love, love, love this. Just look at that dog's captivated expression!

Two Cool Moon Photos Last Night

This photo of the moon was on auto-focus and then posterized.

This one was focused manually and then posterized. It really is a supermoon. It's the largest and brightest full moon of 2013 and it will be an official full moon tonight. This celestial event started last night at sunset and that's when I took my photos. my Nikon photos

The Potting Room

If I had this wonderful space devoted to plants and gardening, I wonder if I would still end up at the kitchen sink the way I do now? The stainless steel farm sink is pretty wonderful, isn't it? Did you see the moon last night? It was big and beautiful but tonight is going to be THE night to look up in the sky for the "super moon". Another Sunday morning has come and gone without my being able to sleep in thanks to a certain cat. She is determined to make me into a morning person. Yawn. See you later. via

Perfect Summer Porch

Teleport me there right now. I love this! The wooden ceiling with a nice fan, the Chippendale railing, the plank floor, the columns, the hanging lanterns, the siding paint color, the white rockers and trim. It's perfect. via

Lake House Kitchen Under The Stairs

The kitchen, tucked under raw, open stairs where a closet once lived, is both out of the way and easily accessible. In lieu of cabinets, there are open shelves, which are stacked with simple plates and glasses for an “honest and pure” look. Heavy door knockers are used as hardware on the cabinetry. You will love the rest of the house tour of this delightful woodsy lake-front cabin in upstate New York.

The exterior with dock. It's pretty wonderful, isn't it? image