Works Every Time

The sky this weekend was a little gray...but last

Thursday morning's sky was blue with clouds that

looked like pieces of fluffy pink cotton.

It was about 7:00am...sun not quite up...but

you could tell we were in for a sunny day.

.

Within minutes the sun was sending warm rays...

down through the branches of the bare trees...

creating ribbons of light in the field.

.

The nest box in the field was made
by our grandson Grant...
We've been keeping our distance...
hoping the Bluebirds would call it home...
...success.....it now holds 5 Bluebird eggs.




For now...here's a photo of the male Bluebird sitting
on the fence.....

-most photos enlarge-


Speaking of eggs...these plastic ones had to come down...
with help from Alivia...but before they did...




a Chickadee helped himself to some fibers from the
yarn...then flew over to a bird house a few feet away...
to line his nest.




Alivia always finds something to do...if only smelling the flowers...




but I have to be on my toes and think of things to do...
because not everything she thinks up is good
...for Gramma!
Here she wanted to lock me in the dog pen...I cooperated
a few minutes...but quickly suggested we bake a cake!




"Works every time!"

This is a 'Coffee Cup Cake' I found on Jennifer's Blog.

I thought Alivia might enjoy fixing it!

Alivia stirring an egg...


...adding some milk and oil...

...stirring in the flour, sugar, and cocoa...

...pouring it into 'coffee cups' !!!




After baking in the microwave...

Alivia poured melted icing over the top...




Alivia had already set up her tea party table...

it's a routine....she does it all..."works every time."




Afterwards...it's usually back outside...

Here she thinks she may possibly catch a bird

at the feeder.

.

Here I captured a Red-bellied Woodpecker...

with my camera...



Then I noticed he had a visitor...can you see?...
Make it easier.....enlarge the photo by clicking on it!



Then I caught three with the camera...in just the next moment!




Sometimes I just sit on my front porch with a camera...

...ready and waiting...for things to appear...

"Works every time!"

First there were two...

...and then...

there were three!

I went out to get closer photos...

on the way back I saw this sparrow with a moth...

the moth actually got away and flew off!

While in the area I took photos of the "Spring Beauties"

They are small wild flowers...

that attract bees...

-enlarge-

and are very very very plentiful!

I'll leave you with "Beauty and the Beast"...

Beauty = Double Daffodil !

...and...


The Beast = ???

Some type of fungus...I have yet to look up!!!

If you know what it is.....let me know!!!
~

After doing some research....it's a Brown Cup Mushroom!

I've Been Tagged!

Robyn and Jacki both tagged me with this 8 things meme...
so I guess I have to do it...but it counts for both of you!!!

**8 Things I'm Looking Forward To**

1. Lunch Saturday with friends from grade school days.
2. Warm days to sit in the swing and read.
3. My flower garden blooming.
4. More walks in the woods.
5. Grandchildren popping in all summer.
6. Hearing the Wood Thrush when it returns.
7. Eating lunch on the front porch.
8. Every sunrise!

**8 Things I Did Yesterday**

1. Transplanted butterfly bushes.
2. Took all the deorative Easter eggs off the tree.
3. Photographed Bluebirds.
4. Watched the movie "Doubt" starring Meryl Streep.
5. Listened to g/daughter Katie brag about getting her driver's license.
6. Gift wrapped two birthday gifts for friends.
7. Put a birdfeeder on the back porch.
8. Found a favorite bracelet I missplaced.

**8 Things I Wish I Could Do**

1. Play the piano like my g/daughter Amanda.
2. Keep the deer out of the garden this year.
3. Have all groceries delivered to my front door.
4. Have hummingbirds or chickadees eat out of my hand.
5. Grow a few inches taller.
6. Live to be at least 100.
7. Grant 3 wishes to everyone.
8. Have my mother here again.

**8 Shows I Watch on TV**

1. Grey's Anatomy (always)
2. Brothers and Sisters
3. Oprah
4. Ugly Betty (sometimes)

That's really all I watch with any regularity.

Any of my Friends can consider themselves tagged if they want!...

That would be you maybe...Bernie, Teresa, Barb, Annette, Amy, Anne, Amber, Avril, Cate, Joan, Jennifer, Jacquelyn, Sue, Tracey, Diana, Rowan, Lizzie, Leslie, Debra, Nikki, Claudia, Today's Writer, Silence Speaks, As, or Nups...

{ Or anyone else that ventures here }

On Any Given Day

On Tuesday morning...

we were surrounded by this misty vapor after

a night of rain...

...it had slowly floated out of the valleys beside our home.

It was a warm moist air and I wanted photos...

...the next thing I knew...I was headed for the field...

where I followed the fence line into the woods.

For me...it's my form of exercise.

Along the way I took photos of wet

Dutchman's Breeches among the Ramps...

an unopened May Apple dripping with water ...
which children use for umbrellas...



more Anemones...




and a hillside covered with Ramps...wild leeks.

Just behind me is a rather large Tulip Tree...
with a trunk about 4 ft. across...




which parts about 12 ft. up and looks like two
separate trees...the limb going off to the right...is about
30 ft. high and is where...

-photos enlarge-

Herhusband hung a swing for the grandchildren
several years ago...
which I and my Mother both enjoyed too.




Remember a few photos back of the hillside with the ramps...

well...this swing would take you up and out over that hillside...

Just a little scary...but it was fun...I say was because...


the rope broke...it needs repaired...and it's wet.



Now we will go back through the field

to the opposite hillside over behind the house.


~

Here we are...back behind the house...

looking at the tree swing on the far hill across the valley.


Over here I found some "tree art" done by...
Mother Nature and a Woodpecker most likely...


and this tall stump looks like someone may live in it...
can't reach to see inside...


and this short stump that must have things inside...
that a woodpecker wants.


still...more Anemones...



also found...was moss covered trees...



...both big and small...




There was a moss covered exposed root...
that reminded me of a turtle...



of which I found a shell.



We do have the area posted with signs...but foxes and raccoons
don't read and we always find evidence of their hunting.

This sign made 10 years ago...use to say Deer Path...

it too needs repaired...
.

that is the name of this path made by deer...

it's the "easy" way over to Andrew and Dylan's home...
.

~

I took this path yesterday in the sunshine..

~

On the way.....there's another tree with a hole...

I've heard them tell stories of animals jumping out!

Their dad built a deck over on their hillside.

From their deck...they come down this hill...

cross over the creek...

go over this easy path...

and then they go.....straight up this hill!

...they take the "hard" way...

I did too...but that's the last time!

At the top of the hill...

is home...

where "on any given day" you might see this...

a Northern Cardinal and Goldfinches

or this...

a Red Shouldered Hawk!