Tabitha misses her grass.

Eating grass every morning is a big part of Tabitha's routine and there's not a blade to be seen anywhere. However the sun is out and that's a big plus in spite of the reading on the thermometer. When we first got up this morning around 7am it was -2°. Now it's a balmy 5° and rising. Tomorrow it's supposed to get up to 39° so there will be melting! Maybe she will be able to graze again soon. Stay warm. We are all very cozy in the cottage. xo

What a difference a day makes.

I took this photo of my picket fence yesterday. Don't ask me why but I'm glad I did.

This is what it looked like from my bedroom window when I first woke up this morning. I shoveled my walk, dug out my car, and moved it so I'm all set for the deep freeze. It's 10° right now and it's supposed to get down to -6° overnight. Webster and I just got back from his after dinner walk and it didn't seem that cold to me. We went on our regular long walk with no shortcuts too. Tabitha was waiting at the door to get back in the house when we got back. I'm always glad when the animals have been fed, watered, and walked so I can relax for the rest of the evening. Hope you can too.

Snow Day

I put this photo on instagram this morning. Photographed when I first got up from my bedroom window. Not too bad at all here. The animals went out, have been fed, and are back in bed. My driveway has been plowed but my car is another story. I'll deal with it and my front walk later. My road has been plowed and salted - I'm so lucky to live on a county road!

I watch the premier of the 8-part miniseries "THE ASSETS" last night and it was very intriguing. I must watch it again on my iPad so I can see the typing on the screen. The flatscreen TV in my bedroom isn't very big and I can never read stuff on it from my bed. Here's a review of the show....I'm sure it will be repeated on ABC so look for it or watch it online or on demand. One of the stars of the show played the mother on Broadchurch and she's wonderful. The show reminds me a little of The Bletchley Circle too. It's a spy thriller based on the Cold War. Here is the NYTimes review. Aren't you glad you have me to tell you what to watch? 

I'm off to eat my oatmeal now. xo

Keep Calm and Drink Tea

Watch the weather and drink tea, isn't that what you're doing? It started snowing a little over an hour ago and it's too dark to see it coming down without the spotlights on. So I'll just have a cup of tea, go to bed and cover my head, and hope for the best in the morning. via

Countdown to Downton Abbey

Only 3 more days.

Anna fishes for a toy duck as little Sybbie and daddy Tom Branson look on. I have already set my DVR for Sunday's 2-hour premier of Season 4. Can't wait! I just looked at the countdown clock and it's 3 days, 7 hours, 47 minutes exactly. moving image found here

Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II | Page 57

I'm glad I started these Instruction Book pages up again, especially in the morning when I'm still half asleep. The winter storm watch is on in my area. Today isn't supposed to be too bad but the hours between sundown and sunup are supposed to be pretty bad. I hope my snow plow man won't come until it's all finished in the daylight hours. Be safe wherever you are today and tomorrow.

A Vintage New Year's Greeting

The sentiment on this vintage card still works. Wishing you all good things.

 via

January 1, 2014

Happy New Year everyone from my cottage to yours. Mine is off to a good start with everything neat and tidy hoping to be able to maintain this all year long. It seems to take every fiber of my being to "keep house" as it is not my strong suit. It's really not that hard if you put things away as you use them but I have a tendency towards messiness. They say it takes 28 days to start a habit so we'll see how January goes. I already have one new habit that is a healthy one. I started eating a raw green salad everyday back in November and have successfully carried it through December. Sometimes I wilt the greens and eat them hot. I am also eating grated raw beets and loving them. After all, your health is your wealth. Those are my New Year's resolutions -- be neater and eat healthy. Good luck with yours. I liked the two vintage postcards shown above found on Google Images. xo