Hotter Than A Pepper Sprout

As with most of the country, we are enduring a late spring heatwave. 98 degrees hot, and hotter as the weekend approaches. No rain in sight.

It makes for dangerous conditions if you suffer from breathing problems or have to work outside for prolonged periods of time.

It also shortens tempers.

 

The birds are hiding out beneath the canopy of trees. Every once in awhile they appear at the birdbaths to quench their thirst, all have their beaks gaped wide open in an effort to cool down.

Birds do not have sweat glands, so they can only lose heat through breathing.
Even dipping your toes in the birdbath seems to help.

 

 

 

Stay safe dear friends.

Let The Merriment Begin

The Platinum Jubilee Celebrations have begun!

Throughout Great Britain and many other countries, there are thousands of street parties, parades, and much merriment afoot, in the celebrating  of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's seventieth year on the throne.

I will be joining in the celebrations albeit from afar, my Union Jack flying, the teapot readied.

Seventy years on the throne, and a lifetime of genteelness, grace and dedication. 

Three cheers:  Hip, Hip, Hooray, Hip, Hip, Hooray, Hip Hip Hooray !

God Save The Queen

Snoozing

Cats sleep, anywhere,

Any table, any chair

Top of piano, window-ledge,

In the middle, on the edge,

Open drawer, empty shoe,

Anybody's lap will do,

Fitted in a cardboard box,

In the cupboard, with your frocks-

Anywhere! They don't care!

       Cats sleep anywhere.     

                    

~ Eleanor Farjeon (1881)

                                                                      

For The Birds

The Perennials have been slower to return this
year, mostly because we've had more than our fair share of frosts and freezes these early Spring days.

Better late than never.

 

The Goldfinches will soon be devouring the seeds of this Tickseed.

It makes happy little birds

 

“Sometimes goldfinches one by one will drop
From low hung branches; little space they stop;
But sip, and twitter, and their feathers sleek;
Then off at once, as in a wanton freak:
Or perhaps, to show their black, and golden wings,
Pausing upon their yellow flutterings.
Were I in such a place, I sure should pray
That nought less sweet, might call my thoughts away.”

 

John Keats

  

May Days

Our days have warmed up nicely, and all those April showers have surely graced us with an abundance of May flowers.

Grass seems to be greener, and blossoms seem to be brighter this Spring, it could be my imagination or a longing desire to see Mother Nature returning in all of her Glory.

 

Springtime

Incredible blue skies and sunshine today. Lots of the stuff, it surely feels like we are slap in the midst of summer with this 86 degree heat.
Flowers are bursting out in full bloom, a virtual rainbow of colors, each day, a new surprise.
The wild turkeys are parading their new poults, the flock continues to grow.

Pop-up storms make their way through each evening, a welcomed gesture to cool the night air.

We'll take whatever help we can get.

 

  

View Through My Window

I've enjoyed this view of the flowering Cherry Tree for well over a month now.

Each year it graces us with it's beauty, and is always the first in bloom before all others.

The recent frost has taken it's toll, but I'm certain it will return next year, emerging from her own winter of storms, freeze, winds, and drought, still standing, still surviving, still blooming, still giving.

 

Floating Along

Another day of rain.
Six inches of the stuff, the ground is soaked.

It seems as though an entire Spring's rainfall has fell in one week.
Even Freddie the frog has taken to higher ground.

Cold, wet leaves
Floating on moss-colored water
And the croaking of frogs -
Cracked bell-notes in the twilight.
 

~ The Pond, Amy Lowell

 

Spring Forward

This coming Sunday at 2 am our annual clock fiddling takes place once again.
An hour forward to Daylight Savings Time, payback for that extra hour of sleep, we enjoyed so much back in November.
Spring is not far behind,  just seven short days,  what a lovely thought...…

 

                                                      🐇🐇

Timeless Treasures

I have a fondness for English Staffordshire Ware.

One look at those pastoral village scenes, and I'm transported back to my grandmother's kitchen, where her cupboard displayed shelf upon shelf of these timeless treasures.

I can see the kitchen table covered in a freshly-starched embroidered tablecloth, the milk-jug sitting atop, awaiting the first of many pots of tea served throughout the day.

Treasured memories of gentler times........

 

 

 

One of my favorite collections are from the Alfred Meakin "Tintern" series.

I'm drawn to their bucolic scenes from years gone by.

 

 

"Come along inside ~ We'll see if tea and buns will make the world a better place."

~ Wind in the Willows