Summer Finches

House Finch sounds so dull.

But our finches here in Florida have been colorful all summer.

I finally figured out a spot I can take photos of our courtyard through glass and get a decent shot. At least it’s not through the screen of the window!

I’m joining Beautiful Sunday,

Seasonal Sundays,

Sundays in my City,

Mosaic Monday,

and Amaze me Monday!

Do you have house finches and purples at your house, too?

Would you like to enter my Giveaway?

Click on the link HERE to enter!

Enjoy your day!

Summer Reading GIVEAWAY!!!

Have you had a good summer, with long hot days and extra time to read?

I love rereading the classics and getting stacks of ‘new’ books at the library.

Children’s books are great to read no matter what your age.

And these are a few I’ve just finished. They were ALL really good! I’ve left reviews in Goodreads HERE !

And one I keep by my chair in the lanai!

Just to add to the fun,

I want to have a quick GIVEAWAY!

I made a book bag…simple and easy but sturdy enough for a stack of books, and a copy of one of my favorite books, Milk Glass Moon by Adriana Trigiani…one of my favorite authors!

To enter the GIVEAWAY for a book bag and book,

Please be a follower

and leave a comment!

(if you want to tell me a book you’ve enjoyed lately, that would be great, too!)

I’m reading a mystery right now,

The Garment of Shadows by Laurie King.

It’s GOOD!!! 

I’ll announce the winner next Wednesday, August 14th!

Happy Reading!!!

A Personal Photo Challenge - Water

We need a challenge for sunshine here in the ‘Sunshine State’. Photographing anything is a challenge with the bright sun and water is especially tricky.

I’m going to start with the first photo I took…

then watch the turtle move…

then finally get him out of the glare for….

wait for it…

the PERFECT photo, cropped!

I use a small Canon point and shoot and never really know what I have until I get home. I load my photos onto my netbook (any laptop would work) and then use a cable to hook up to our 60 inch TV to view our photos. It’s just the best way to enjoy the photos you’ve taken on a trip. And when you zoom in…you can really see everything!

These were all taken at Rainbow Springs State Park, 20 minutes from my house here in Florida!

I’m taking part in Donna’s photo challenge

and Weekend Reflections.

I SAIL !!!

Well…not ME exactly! I made a sailor mouse!

Have you ever seen the incredibly dumb hilarious movie, ‘What About Bob’? Bob has lots of summer vacation experiences and one of them is learning to sail! We always laugh at Bob tied to the mast of the sailboat, shouting,

“I SAIL…I’m a sailor!!!”

I’ve been in the sewing room creating MICE so everything sounds a little funnier to me now!

I wanted to try some different patterns and styles and so far I’ve used 4 different patterns.

Here’s the link for the pink and blue ones above.

They were easy and FUN!!!

And my most favorite of all?

This little sailor boy of course!

Click on the link HERE for the pattern and instructions! They were easy to follow!

OH MY! My hubby started playing!

He made my mouse a sailor hat!

I’m joining Thrifty Things Friday!

(I didn’t buy anything, I used things in my ‘stash’!)

Also Katherine’s Corner,

the Lavender Garden Cottage,

Ivy and Elephants

and Jann for Share Your Cup !

Do you like mice, sailing or ‘What about Bob’?

Maybe we could form a club! hahaha!

How about a Read-a-thon AND a Giveaway!

This summer has been all about BOOKS for us!

We finally bought bookcases and started unpacking boxes of books that have been stored in the corner…for longer than I care to remember! We even have 3 more bookcases on order!

 

I’ve been to the library and several community book sales this summer, too. I finally joined Goodreads and the book club Brenda at Cozy Little House started. Are you on Goodreads? (email me and we can be friends on Goodreads!)

I’m excited for the End of Summer Read-a-thon!

Join us HERE for all the FUN!!

I’ll get another post ready for this weekend

and have a little giveaway!

So come back soon to enter!

What is this FOR?

I bought this because I ‘needed’ it!

But what is it’s original purpose, do you think?

Every tray or container I buy….

I wonder how many seashells it will hold!

I’m joining Coastal Charm for

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday,

Brenda at the Cozy Little House

for Tweak it Tuesday.

Do YOU know what it is?

Parlez-vous français ?

Believe me…you do not want to hear me try to speak French! Most people have trouble understanding my Serious Southern Drawl…in English! heehee! But it’s funny that I do remember my colors, numbers and some of the songs I learned in high school French!

 

So it was fun to find this old book, published in 1898 at the Thrift Store this week.

And then I remembered some children’s books that I bought a couple of years ago.

Aren’t they charming?

Fables of the Fountain has beautiful stories and illustrations.

I love this illustration best.

I’m joining Beautiful Sunday,

Seasonal Sundays,

Sundays in my City,

Mosaic Monday,

and Amaze me Monday!

Do you speak another language?

Maybe you could write one sentence in the comment for me to translate!

(something nice! heehee)

Postcards from Rainbow Springs

I love making my own postcards with photos I’ve taken.

 

I have the most fun putting borders and text on them.

Maybe I should print them out…..

one of these days!

I’m joining Sundays in my City

and Seasonal Sundays

with these Florida postcards!

Our first day of August was about 80 degrees for a high. It was rainy and pleasant. I know the rest of the month will be hot though!

Are you still in summer mode?

Tea Cups and Good Friends

Over the years, I’ve bought odd tea cups and saucers at thrift stores.

Now I have a pretty little collection and a nice place to display them.

I found this beautiful curio cabinet at the thrift store and loaded it up with one shelf of Kim Andersen figurines and a shelf of old tea cups.

I love the little cabinet and I’m sure I’ll change it up from time to time.

This week, I received a surprise gift from my girlfriend Becky (HERE) and it seemed just perfect! Thanks Becky!

I’m joining Thrifty Things Friday!

Also Katherine’s Corner,

Ivy and Elephants

and Jann for Share Your Cup !

That’s the great thing about friends…

they know just what we love!

Would you like tea or coffee?