As The Year Winds Down

Lily is spellbound by a gazing ball that a good friend gave me one Christmas. She became quite enchanted with it and would spend some time looking into it and the mysterious images it projected back at her. Then, in the way of all cats, she became bored with it and I placed it in my garden to reflect the light and beauty of the outdoors. It has been a beautiful summer; I had lots of beautiful flowers and butterflies to enjoy. I always find Autumn so hard to accept, as everything seems to be dying, but I know that Spring will follow just as sure as our beautiful planet continues in its orbit around the Sun. I did plant some tulip bulbs as my way of coping with the change of seasons, a little beacon of something beautiful yet to come. I am ever more appreciative of my dear family and friends as the years pass. This year saw the sad loss of one of those treasured friends, Lora Armstrong in June. One of my astronomy buddies and a truly lovely person and very much missed. Seasons change, life changes and may we all be ever hopeful of the beauty that is yet to come, in this life, and the next. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

August Musings

August has been mostly HOT, but today was wonderful, cloudy and cool. Sat outside most of the afternoon and watched the birds and butterflies, while kitties napped indoors. Three hummingbirds have come to the feeder and the flowering bushes. Several Monarchs have drifted through the yard. I found 3 more Monarch caterpillars on wild milkweed growing against the front of the house - what fun!

Summer Reflections

Summertime means that the front door is open and kitties can sprawl on the rug and enjoy the views. Bird activity at the front birdbath, squirrels and rabbits exploring the front step are all part of the fun. The backyard is full of birds who are now bringing their young - robins, finches, wrens, cardinals, Brown Thrashers, Mockingbirds have all successfully raised another generation of songsters. I love the fullness of life of summertime - sounds, color, movement - from dawn to dusk there is always something wonderful to experience!

Visions in Violet

Actually got sunshine today! Took this picture of the flowers blooming around my favorite gazing globe. They are salvia and Dutch Iris. I haven't been able to add to my blog due to my Mom's illness, so it is good to go out and enjoy my flowers and share them with you.

Images of Spring

It has been weeks since my last post; there has been a lot going on in my life as my Mom has been ill and has surgery scheduled for Monday, April 19 to fix a hernia. She should be OK, but always a bit of worry as she is 86. I just wanted to let you know and to show you some of the pictures that I have taken at the beginning of Spring, with more to come. Mother Nature has just burst forth with color and blossoms! Enjoy!

Robin Song

At last the temperatures have risen and with them, a rise in birdsong. The cardinals toss their melodies to the warm breeze to welcome the coming Springtime. Flocks of robins return to the yards. Windows are once more opened to fill the house with fresh, rain-washed air and the sweet sound of the robins singing their evening songs. I looked out the front window and was amazed to see that daffodils are beginning to bud!

The Comfort Zone

There are days when it is best to quietly hide under a pillow. Lily has found a safe place. Just relax and ride the earth as it orbits around the Sun, heading to that Springtime place, coming soon!

February Ice Berries

Ice pellets pinging against my windows announced yet another winter storm; this one on early Sunday morning. The birds and squirrels have harvested most of the crabapple berries; these are all that are left in Nature's larder. It's time for Spring to hurry up and get here!

Acorn Season 2009

The bitter winds have returned and the worn-out brown garden is again draped with frosty snow. I watched a frantic squirrel digging deeply into the snow and burrowing under leaves looking for the last of the acorn crop. Now I know why the pin oak trees were so heavily ladden with a bumper crop of acorns last autumn. The winter of 2007-2008 followed a devastating spring freeze and the trees had no yield - there were no acorns, no berries for the wildlife that winter. I had birds at my feeder that I had not seen before. Fall of 2008 also yielded few nuts; the trees had not yet recovered. But, in 2009, Mother Nature went wild with her bounty and no wonder - she seemed to know that THIS winter would be very cold and cruel to her children, so the trees and bushes were filled with food to tide the wildlife through. I do my part, too - feeders full, water in heated birdbath and plans for more fruit-bearing plants to come in the Spring.

The Visitor

The early morning evidence is there.....the visitor has made his rounds. Only when the snow falls is his secret path revealed. Up the driveway, onto the front sidewalk, past the window where the lady cats watch. Or, do the indoor princesses even notice the cat-about-town that so freely walks on THEIR sidewalk? Is there envy on both sides of the window glass? He, for a bit of the dependable daily dose of meaty cat food..... they, for the freedom to at last chase those pesky squirrels and birds that challenge them from the outside? He walks on.... they....wake mom for breakfast.

Bright Days Are Coming

Yet another cloudy, cold day....... However, here's a little reminder of the future days ahead. As our planet revolves around the Sun, it is heading for that first Spring time day in March and color will return to our landscape once again. Keep the warm thoughts and have a Blessed Day!

What Cats Do

A friend chided me for not updating my posts more regularly and wanted to see cute kitty pictures (are there any other kind!?). Anyway, here are some Cricket and Lily pictures. The kitties are sisters that I adopted six years ago this summer after Pumpkin died. I collect bears and bought a tan bear I named Pumpkin in her memory. The kittens discovered it on my bed and began to "nurse" on it. Cricket has since stopped, but Lily, as you can see, still has to "nuck" on her bear. Believe me, she is in happy land, but wants me to sit beside her. Cricket loves to look out the front door. Sadly, it is too cold for me to have the door open in winter, but here is a summer picture of her sleeping with her paw hooked on the frame. Cats definitely know how to relax.......! Lily is fond of cherrios so I have to guard my breakfast! After I'm done, Cricket likes to finish off the bit of milk that I leave for her.

Everybody's Hungry

The severe weather and lots of snow brought numerous visitors to the feeding area. Here are several cardinals, sparrows and a hungry bunny!

On such a bitterly cold day - even with sunshine, the windchill is well below zero - I decided a summer picture was in order. The Monarchs are now safely tucked away in their winter sanctuaries in Mexico, but it's always a pleasure to think of the wonderous return of their offspring in a few months. And, to start planning on new gardens to welcome them!

Cardinals & Other Delights

Snow in sunshine - diamonds fluttering from the light blue sky. Cold, cold, but oh so beautiful! Flocks of geese honking overhead in their shifting "V" formations. Glittering snow all around and hungry birds. Look for the five male Cardinals and two Blue Jays in the picture. The Carolina Wren is tucked inside the bush. Spring, Summer and Fall are my favorite seasons, but Winter does have its lovely moments.