Postcards From the Lake: A Few Birds

It seems to be feast or famine for spotting birds here this summer. Most of the songbirds are high in the trees and the water birds, while my favorites to view and rarely tire of, do get redundant!

My Buddy Harry the Heron (And Bunny 17)

I couldn't resist sharing a few photos from my most recent Ditch walk. I couldn't have been more lucky.

Postcards from the Lake: Art Camp -- a Little Bit of Nature

A quick look back at some of the nature we saw during Art Camp. The time brought both walks and time to enjoy the lake. Like this guy!

(I'm not big on the geese the second they step on the beach but in the water, rather lovely!)

We also saw some Mergansers. The mom is the one wearing the cute "feathered hat."

All the babies looked like ducklings.

Although I don't have a photo of the bald eagle, I'm pretty sure he had his eye on some of them. Hope not...I loved how the seemed to skip along on the water, then dive in and swim under.

(We also saw our "regular ducks" and a heron, too!

Taking to the woods, we enjoyed some walks. Kate got up super early and walked more but the time together was fun.

I was on bunny count. So far, I've seen 24 this year.

And we saw some woodpeckers, too. This one was pretty far off but so bright, I had to shoot, despite the fuzziness.

This one was closer -- pecking on a tree in the yard.

Most of the wildflowers have faded, but I loved the Queen Anne's Lace.

The fungi are earlier than ever before. Is fall coming?

Doesn't feel like it yet -- but it always does.

Home again.

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An Announcement Soon!

The heat has broken, at least for now! After two weeks of oppressive heat it has cooled off to a respectable 80-something and sometimes a little cooler! And life in the hood continues!

I think I've said before that there are ten days in a year when I wish Rick or I had air. I think I've been through eight or nine of them over the past two weeks. Poor Lizzie can hardly move, except for food -- and sometimes even that isn't enough to get her to change positions.

The garden is looking great. My sweet peas have definitely morphed into Audrey Two of "Little Shop of Horror" fame and spreading out across the front of the house. Fortunately they require little maintenance.

Neither does the hosta garden. And it's like a jungle out there.

The bunnies are loving it. Some have settled into the woodpile (courtesy of the tree-cutters last spring -- all pine and not burnable).

I haven't seen any babies, but Wrennie keeps stuffing things into the Bed and Breakfast. I even caught this photo of her -- a tad blurry as I shot it through the screen.

The hydrangeas are rocking it, too. I love them white but even more when they turn that wonderful shade of chartreuse in the fall and dry so well!

I don't know if this is last year's nest or if all have flown (no signs of egg shells) but it was a nice find in the bushes.

And of course guess who figured out where the bird seed is. I don't mind him nearly so much as the squirrels.

I've been harvesting loads of oregano, dill and thyme and had a good batch of pesto from the basil. The tomatoes are blooming (no fruit yet) and soon there will be blooms on the black eyed Susans and the cone flowers.

In an attempt to get a bit of cool, Rick and I went to "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" -- the Mister Rogers movie. Heartily recommended. It should be required for every parent or anyone who is ever around a small child but it wouldn't hurt every adult in America to see it as well. David Brooks had a wonderful take on it in his recent New York Times  piece HERE.

It reminded me again of meeting Fred Rogers at a PBS meeting in the long-ago. The line went the length of the ballroom, following his lunchtime speech and there were sessions after. I feel for those who were in those sessions -- the attendance was probably dismal.

He greeted every person in that line (which isn't that big a deal). But what was is that he took time with every person in that line. Direct eye-to-eye communication. He asked us about the kinds of things we did, not just at the station but in our real lives. I remember telling him about the work I did for Ele's Place, a children's grief center where I worked as a facilitator for ten years as a volunteer. It was a conversation. And it was like that with anyone in the line, at least those I saw.  I will never forget it.

As I write this, we are still waiting for our Baby Grand Two to make his appearance. He was due July 1. By the time it posts, perhaps we'll have our little guy and once his mom and dad make his presence known, I'll be eager to share with you.

Till then, we are biding our time. And waiting with baited breath!

Happy Easter

This will be a quiet Easter for us, partly by choice. The kids are elsewhere, no scalloped potatoes. A quiet day, I think. A sunny one, I hope. Flowers? Oh, there must be flowers.

In my kitchen window are three of the cutest glass jars from the Michael's Dollar section. Pale pink, blue and lavender. We must have flowers.

Lots of flowers!

We must have bunnies.

And birds.

And baby chicks.

(Did I mention the bunnies?)

We must have nests...

... and eggs.

And signs of spring...

...even if raindrops fall.

We must color!

and whimsy.

Faith...

And joy.

And most of all, we must have love.

Whether you are celebrating Easter or Passover or simply the glory of spring after a long winter, may you celebrations be full of love and joy.

Sharing with Pink Saturday.

A Little Easter in the House!

Christmas decorations remind me of home and past and I love revisiting those old friends. But Easter and spring just makes me smile! Bunnies and chicks, eggs and nests. It's spring!

This year I started with my hutch. Laura from Decor to Adore described hers as a "cabinet of curiosities" and I like that idea. Mine is, as well, changed up for the season.

In fact, I'd like to keep the doors open all season -- but I'd probably bump my head on the corner too many times!

It's a time to revisit tiny bunnies and some of my china collecting favorites, like this Fiesta jug. (The plate behind it was a gift from a friend who found it in Normandy and I love the colors!).

The little pink peat pot is one of several that were part of a peat-pot-making-spree several years ago.

The other side of the top shelf finds two bunnies in front of a favorite photo by Cheryl Rice, who is also one of our Cork Poppers.

Years ago when Cheryl was doing art fairs, I got this one and it's moved from room to room! Perfect for spring. (Aren't those shiny eggs cute? Target bargain section, $3 for two. They're place card holders!)

Down below you'll find my favorite Hall Crocus pattern jug. Those dishes always make a spring appearance, too. (And you'll see -- even in the kitchen!)

And of course, a little crystal to pick up the light. I'm very fond of these metal bunnies.

Atop the china cabinet you will find a few things near and dear to my heart!

This sweet wooden bunny has such personality, I can't resist him. I've had that egg in front of him for longer than I can remember. It's a favorite! The photo behind him is by my friend Jane Rosemont. Sort of perfect for Easter, don't you think?

The hydrangeas and baskets came from Southern Exposure. I love the lift that the bright green gives!

And of course you will note the sweet little baby-in-a-nest next to it. That's our boy!

Across the room on another cabinet is the wreath I did at Southern Exposure several years ago. It remains one of my favorites! (Southern Exposure workshops start again next month and I can't wait!)

I added in a few touches, a sweet velvet bird, among others. Couldn't resist.

In the corner, a little village.

This egg tree (and the one you'll see in another post) are golden oldies.

And I just love these!

The Pendelfin bunnies (along with Hummels) were my first collections, started as an Easter gift from my mom. I don't see them often now and it's fun to make friends with them again!

And of course, you have to have something on the coffee table. (Well, OK, usually there is a lot on the coffee table and little falls into the category of home decor!)

I found this small aqua box at Target in the almost-a-dollar section. ($3) The bunny was an "old friend" and I added the daffodils, eggs, moss and these cute Target lights (same spot, $3 per strand.) They had them in pink and natural too, and I need to go back for more!

Another table holds a large basket of eggs.

My second "cabinet of curiosities) didn't get much of a change-up inside.

But it was fun to add a floral swag, bunnies and an Easter banner at the top!

There is even a sprig of lily of the valley for the Greeting Angel.

And some cheerful flowers and fairy lights to brighten it all up!

Then, of course, there is the family room... but we'll save that for later!


Delighted to join in this week with Share Your Style, Share Your Cup, Simple Saturdays and Pink Saturday as links become available!