The Freedom Library

If you've visited me over the years, you KNOW that I love public libraries! I was fortunate to have a best friend, Jeannie Carol who lived across the street and also loved to read. She was just a couple of years older so I was able to tag along with her and walk to the library, especially during the summer months. We would spread a quilt under the Silver Maples in her front yard and read to our heart's content! She helped me with any words I didn't know and we even played 'school'. I went back to school in the Fall knowing a little more than my other classmates as a result! Aahhhh! Such good memories!

 Wendy can read!

 Of course you probably knew that already! hahaha 

(I've sure had fun with her lately! Thanks for playing along!)

So what did I bring home from the library this week? I'll start by saying that I check out books online and read them on my IPAD now using a program called Overdrive. FREE from the library!

But this week was the Book Sale! 

 I'll make some mosaics to share my 'finds'! 

 $7 bought everything you see here!

 No wonder it's so hard to pay $5 for a Golden Book. We bought them for 39 cents back in the 'olden days'!

And I picked up some new bookmarks,

 And got some good movies to watch, 

And the latest Ocala magazines were in the lobby!

What a haul! And in case you wonder! I don't 'hoard' all of my children's books. I donate a lot of them to the family room at the Legacy Hospice house where I volunteer doing patient visits every week.

Have you used your library card lately?

I’m joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE 

and Amaze me Monday HERE. 

Something so CUTE!

But guess what? For some reason my post is not coming up properly. So would you please look at the post below this one to comment? I'll close the comments on this post to give you a chance to jump down the page to visit!

Thank you! Happy Saturday!

The Common Ground-Dove

Well, it was new to us! We looked out into our courtyard and saw a little dove. 

At first we thought is was a baby dove...an orphan!

We have Mourning Doves come into our courtyard and usually eat under the feeders.

 (Mourning Dove seen on a hike for comparison)

But this dove didn't eat in OR under the feeders. He just 'hung' out for awhile.

Later we saw 3 of these doves under the Camellia bush. Time to get the ID book out!

They are Common Ground-Doves. According to All about Birds HERE, it is a tiny dove with a small head and short tail, often with a pink or red color at the base of the bill. YAY! Something new for us!

April has brought so many birds into our area. Florida is a birders paradise. I drove over to the big store that starts with a W yesterday and saw a sea gull, boat tailed grackle, 2 little blue herons, an ibis, 3 crows chasing a hawk...along with all the usual birds. No pics of these. I was on a mission to SHOP! lol

But here are some of the photos of a large flock of Cedar Waxwings that flew into the tree next door this month!

Anything unusual at your bird feeders this week?

Hey wait! At least let me comb my hair before you put me on the internet!!!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE 

 

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

 

 

"Wednesday Wee Ones" Wendy to the Rescue!

Let's see....where do I begin with this story! 

Wendy is special. She was given to me years ago by a friend and has traveled with me and done a lot of fun things over the years! So when my husband walked out the door carrying Wendy, it didn't totally surprise me. Well, it surprised me a little. But he was going over to our friends' house so I just figured they had asked to see her. It was really all about a surprise for ME! My husband asked our friends, Terry and Sandy to make a cute little vest for Wendy....just for the fun of it!

(Service Doll, do not pet)

Wendy of course has taken her role seriously! 

And when Toby jumped up on the back of a chair, she was right there to coax him down.

It wasn't easy but she persevered! 

 Dolls that persevere? Now you've heard everything!

Or have you?

Wendy thinks I've been taking credit for some of her art!

And I think my husband has been walking around the house with Wendy. 

Don't judge us....we're retired! Allow us a 'little' fun!

Wendy's friend Kelsey is showing off her 'groovy' dress today! Visit Homespun Hannah's HERE for her 'wee one'!

I'm happy to be sharing a "Wednesday Wee Ones" today 

and I’m joining Thankful Thursdays .

Blue Run Highlights Hike #59

We always love to look at our photos when we get home from a hike and pick out the highlights.

One of our highlights was walking up to the bank of the Rainbow River and seeing a Great Blue Heron right in front of us. We saw him before he saw us which was neat!

 We had to be fast to get any photos once he saw us.

Wood Ducks are always fun to see.

They are so colorful and beautiful!

 A Gulf Fritillary

Lots of pretty flowers and butterflies in the Spring.

And how about this dusty blue Dragonfly on my hubby's size 12 hiking shoe? He was color coordinated! I called my hubby the Dragonfly whisperer!

A perfect day to walk at Blue Run Park in Dunnellon! (and yes we saw alligators too but they were in the water, viewed from the bridge!)

Was your weather nice for the holiday weekend?

I’m joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE 

and Amaze me Monday HERE. 

The Beauty of Birds

We've seen some of the most beautiful birds at the Pruitt Trailhead of the Florida Trails this week. 

Eastern Kingbird

I'll begin with one of the 'mysteries' of the day! I think I know what this bird is but I'm not positive! What do you think? Thanks Eileen for helping with the ID! We are so happy to see this Eastern Kingbird and ID it for the first time!

Hubby took this one and it is 'straight out of the camera'! The most colorful Eastern Bluebird we've ever seen!

 A cropped photo but no color added!!! 

And I even went back a second time to look for something!

What do you think this is? I'll answer it at the end of the post!

Eastern Bluebird

Great Crested Flycatcher

Swallowtail Kite

And the mystery item I found on the trail!

It's teeny tiny! It's perfectly formed! 

It's a hummingbird nest of all things!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE  

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

"Grandma Gatewood's Walk"

I'll begin with a quote from Grandma Gatewood's Walk, " I want to see what's on the other side of the hill and then what's beyond that."  

Grandma Gatewood's Walk by Ben Montgomery is a fantastic book to read whether you are a 'hikeaholic' like me or not! Just to read about a woman that at the age of 67 took off on an adventure is exciting from start to finish.  I keep my book list in my journal (and another one on Goodreads) and I save the highest rating for the best books I've read. This one gets the very highest. I've read a lot of good books this year but so far only 2 have received ALL the stars! (the other one is The Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny)

In 1955 this amazing woman hiked the Appalachian Trail....at age 67! She kept a diary and the author was able to share a lot of what happened to her along the way. She went on to hike it again...and again...3 times total, along with other famous trails. It is a story of strength and courage and one I think anyone would be inspired by.

I'm very thankful for good books and public libraries.

Have you read a good book lately? Do you think I would like it?

I'm still practicing my 'art' too! I sketched and then painted this little bunny with watercolors. Have a blessed week!

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays .

Home Improvements!

I've put together a lot of pretty mosaics in the years we've shared Mosaic Mondays!

But this is not one of them! lol

 Let's see if I can at least find a pretty flower to start.

Home Improvements...aaaahhhh...it brings a smile to my face!

It was a LOT of WORK for the plumbing crew that came from Mike Scott Plumbing but they 'got it done'! They arrived at 9 am sharp and left at 7:30 pm and it was all complete! 

Are those toilets on my driveway? OH MY! What will the neighbors think! 

 And once you start, you don't know when to quit!

 We bought a small bookcase for the corner of the kitchen and I filled it with old timey jars and baskets. Lots of old cookbooks and cookie cutters.

 I told Happyone that I had these old glass jars from my Grandmother and here they are! The top of one has Old Judge Coffee on it! I love these old jars!

I'll be 'tweaking' this for awhile but at least I've got it close to the way I want it. Not sure about the tea towels and cloth napkins though! I may 'move' them!

So what's new at your house this week? Or old? I love old things! Just not 'old' plumbing! hahaha!

I’m joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE 

and Amaze me Monday HERE.