August Flew By!

The summer months have flown by. It’s my MOST favorite season and we’ve managed to have pretty decent weather this year. Just enough rain to keep things nice and green (hot and humid!).

I wanted to take photos from my posts for an ‘end of the month review’.

 

What fun I’ve had making doll clothes for the sewing challenge. Thanks JoAnn! I’ve read some good books and spent a few Sundays at the Park enjoying nature. We’ve driven out to the Gulf Coast a couple of times, too.

It’s been a fantastic summer to be in Florida!

I’m joining Beautiful Sunday and

Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday

Have you had a good summer?

Florida’s Wood Stork

We were so happy to get to interact with a couple of Wood Storks at Tuscawilla Park last weekend.

According to Audubon, “The Wood Stork is one of Florida's signature wading birds, a long-legged, awkward-looking bird on land that soars like a raptor in the air. Like many Florida birds associated with wetlands, the Wood Stork has suffered from the destruction and degradation of our state's wetlands. Today, the Wood Stork is classed "Endangered" by the State of Florida and the federal government.”

We forgot our ‘day old bread’ from home so we stopped at Publix and bought a loaf of bread on sale to feed the birds. We were so glad we did!

The birds followed us around while we walked at the Park.

It was amazing!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

Enjoy your weekend.

We’re tuned in to the Weather Channel!

Fun Packages in the mail!

I’m always so happy to get something fun from a blog buddy.

I won these cute cute tea towels from Sunflower House Art and they are perfect in my black and white kitchen. I love them! Thanks Debbie!!!

And my blog buddy, Carol from Buttercup Counts her Blessings (don’t you LOVE the name of her blog!) sent me these brand new books, all by Colleen Coble.

I know I will enjoy them. Thanks so much for being such a sweet friend, Carol.

Don’t you love ‘happy mail’?

On the way to the Mall!

We are still going over to the mall every week to check on the Muscovy Ducks on the nest. There are 2 nests and we can still see eggs under the Mamas. We always take bread so they are getting used to us coming now. Wish those babies would come soon!

We pass this beautiful farm on the way and were happy to see sandhill cranes and Canada geese.

Sandhill photo cropped.

Of course there are always the beautiful horses, too.

We’ve had some nice rain showers and even though it’s been hot, everything is so pretty and green.

I’m joining Tex for the

Good Fences party

Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

*PEACE*

We’re continuing the sewing challenge for Wednesday Wee Ones with these fun fabrics!

Opal is modeling her very ruffly skirt this week and matching it up with a bright white top (that I didn’t make, it was for a bear so I pinned it to fit! lol). And I had some ric rac from the thrift store to use.

I had such fun with these cute fabrics and thought she would like to walk with her Scottie dog in Paris.

But she was happy to be in Florida this summer.

Later on when it gets cool, she may need some leggings.

So I took a fairly new pair of socks right out of hubby’s sock drawer and used a lavender pair of tights to copy and made her some black tights from the ribbed tops. (hubby had lots of black socks in his drawer that he never wears…he’ll never miss them if YOU don’t TELL! teehee)

JoAnn and I both sewed this week and made something using the peace and meow fabrics. Her blog is HERE.

And visit Shelia at Note Songs. She is making doll clothes this summer too!

Sandra made the most beautiful dress for her American Girl doll HERE! Her stitching is amazing!

Thanks for joining us for Wednesday Wee Ones!

I’m joining Roses of Inspiration

and Cooking and Crafting with J & J

and Ivy and Elephants!

Don’t forget to take time to

PLAY and SING!

Crepe Myrtles in bloom at Tuscawilla Park

We spent Sunday morning at this beautiful park and was surprised to see the Crepe Myrtles in full bloom.

I took lots of bird photos that I will share later, Eileen! I know you love this park, too.

I’m joining Beautiful Sunday and

Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday

and Amaze me Monday.

Did you have a good weekend, too?

Reading ebooks!

I’ve read just as many ebooks this summer as printed books. It’s just so easy to pick up my IPAD and READ!!!

I checked out The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh as an ebook from my library and it is very good. I’m about halfway through it and look forward to finding out if there is a happy ending for this story. It’s about a young woman who has had a terrible life and clings to her study and understanding of the language of flowers. A quote, “I had been loyal to nothing except the language of flowers. If I started lying about it, there would be nothing left in my life that was beautiful or true.”

There’s a great deal on the whole set of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple ebooks at Amazon, $5.99!!!

I had just finished reading one of them when Judy from Cranberry Morning told me about the sale. These books are easy to read and I love Miss Marple! (wish they had more of the movies with the actress, Margaret Rutherford. She’s our favorite!)

I’m joining Ricki Jill for Literary Friday.

Happy Reading!!!

Grocery Shopping ‘Fences’

Near our favorite grocery store is a development with a nice walking/riding path around it.

How neat to see this recumbent bike one day.

 

I’ve never cared about grocery shopping but I must say that Publix can change your mind about that.

They have such a beautiful store, great products and good sales.

I’m joining Tex for the

Good Fences party.

Have you bought groceries this week? Do you carry these reusable bags?

‘Art Lessons’

Holly is painting this week and needed a new art smock.

I made the smock with pockets for her brushes and sewed a pretty scarf to keep her hair out of her eyes.

She’s so talented, she’ll probably be teaching art classes soon.

JoAnn and I are continuing our summer sewing challenge. She sent me this fabric and we both made something with it this week. Her blog is HERE.

And visit Shelia at Note Songs. She is making doll clothes this summer too!

Thanks for joining us for Wednesday Wee Ones!

I’m joining Roses of Inspiration

and Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

Don’t forget to take time to

PLAY and SING!

*Dreaming of the Sea*

The summer months are not really the best time to visit the beach here in Florida. It’s hot and we have rain showers that can pop up quickly, usually with thunder and lightening. So we haven’t been to the ocean lately and I’m dreaming of the sea.

I splurged this week and bought a new book, Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. I find so many books at the library and book sales that I don’t often order a book. But this is one I’ve read and enjoyed and know I will read over and over again, so I wanted a copy.

I put it on the coffee table with the old printer’s tray filled with seashells, some of my favorite finds.

I’m joining Beautiful Sunday and

Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday

and Amaze me Monday.

Our weather forecast for the coming week:

90 for the highs, 72 for lows with a chance of afternoon showers each day.

Maybe we’ll wait another week before we head to the beach! But I can still dream!

How’s your weather this week?

Courtyard Critters

We see a lot of strange critters in our courtyard.

I’m starting with the Great Egret on top of the house next door!

Lizards run around everywhere here but we had to look closely at what was in the corner.

It looked a little like a green leaf at first but it was tiny tree frog.

Here’s a frog that’s not quite as ‘pretty’, seen in the courtyard at night.

Hubby took the flashlight outside to get the photo.

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!