July Note Card Party at Vee’s!!!

I don’t really have a theme for my note cards this month.

 

I looked back through the photos I’ve posted in the past month and chose some favorites.

And for all of my faithful followers, I included the Black Swan.

I’ve gotten some of the sweetest comments on this set of photos HERE. I was surprised at how many had never seen a black swan. Thanks for your compliments and for always being so sweet!

I’m joining Vee at a Haven for Vee

for the Notecard party!

Which one is your favorite?

My Back to the Wall!

I never really notice this wall. We sit in these leather recliners to watch TV in the living room. We added a small bookcase behind the chairs for some overflow whatnots and movies. (I’m constantly changing those shelves out.) But it’s been a long time since I changed what was on top.

I found this before photo, taken in the Spring with some ducks added. Most of the time it was just a tall vase and some candles.

I walked into the room a few days ago and it looked all wrong. lol

So I took a wire basket and filled it with most of the greenery and added some starfish. WHEW! Much better!

Next I would like to add some more art to this wall. Maybe one tall painting on one side and 2 smaller on the other. We’ll see what I can come up with.

Some days I think I just move stuff around from one spot to another….one room to another! Round and round I go! Do you think it’s hormones gone awry? hahaha!

I’m joining Coastal Charm for

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday,

Brenda at the Cozy Little House

for Tweak it Tuesday.

Enjoy your day!

Happy decorating!

Florida “Wildlife”

Well, this big guy doesn’t seem all that ‘wild’ but he’s a fun siting here in our part of the state.

We saw this one at Payne’s Prairie and hubby got out and followed him around to get some good pics.

Here in Florida the Gopher Tortoise is listed as threatened so we are careful when driving through the parks to give him a wide berth.

And don’t be afraid…

but we even have alligator clouds!!

(this one’s for YOU, Vee!!!)

I’m joining Beautiful Sunday,

Seasonal Sundays,

Sundays in my City,

Mosaic Monday,

and Amaze me Monday!

Enjoy these lazy crazy hazy days of summer!

Nat King Cole Video

HERE !

A Personal Photo Challenge “Birds”

Or in my case…One VERY pretty bird!

We’ve been to Homosassa Wildlife Park a few times now and I’ve had the opportunity to take photos of a magnificent bird! A black swan! So what’s the problem? I have a little Canon S 100 that I point and shoot. I admit I get excited when I see amazing sights and I am always either wearing darkly tinted Maui Jim sunglasses or Ray Bans. (I have light blue eyes!)

So when I got home with my photos of the black swan, the water had reflected like crazy and the swan was washed out as well.

I took my 2 best photos to PicMonkey and worked a little magic. This one, I used the Space effect.

And next time I see the black swan, I’ll try to remember to use a better setting to take the photos. Do you think he’ll pose long enough for me to figure my camera out? haha!

(the original)

I’m taking part in Donna’s photo challenge 

and Weekend Reflections.

 

Vintage Lace…To cut or NOT to cut!

I found some vintage lace that’s too beautiful to cut!

When I made the pillow on my bed with some wide vintage lace, it was already cut by someone else. (it still had some silky fabric attached to it, that I trimmed off)

So when I saw these at the thrift store, I thought of all of the wonderful lace.

But there’s no way I would cut any of these.

Well, except for this one. I love the color of this one but it is ‘worn’ so I will put it in my vintage lace stash.

This is my favorite one. It has a matching gown, too!

I actually found these at 2 different thrift stores last week. Hospice Thrift had $1 day so I thought that was a great deal. (a couple were even less)

I’m joining Thrifty Things Friday!

Also Katherine’s Corner,

Ivy and Elephants

and Jann for Share Your Cup !

Would you cut them?

I feel the same way about old quilts.

I just can’t do it!

Let’s Learn to Read!

I love children’s books and have quite a few.

(dolls and books…I love them!)

I’m trying to make sense of some of my collections and decided to dedicate the small bookcase to some of my children’s books. Most of them are in my doll room but I’ve gathered some of my favs for these shelves.

I love old readers from the ‘50s and ‘60s, when I was a girl.

And don’t you love this little child reading? It’s heavy plaster, I’ve used it for a book end on other shelves.

A glimpse of the bottom shelf!

Yesterday I took a load to the old thrift store. I ‘shopped’ a little of course and found a few more Golden books for my collection.

Have you ever seen this Flower book?

 

Pretty illustrations…

and then someone found an ink pen and had fun on a few pages! lol

I’m joining Coastal Charm for

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday,

Brenda at the Cozy Little House

for Tweak it Tuesday.

Did you love learning to read and taking

part in summer reading programs?

Florida…The Livin’s Easy!

Unless of course you try to cross the road!

I took a Saturday morning trip over to our community library and saw this Ibis crossing

or was it merging?

And to tempt you to the beach….

a few postcards I’ve made of my favorite beach!

I’m joining Beautiful Sunday,

Seasonal Sundays,

Sundays in my City,

Mosaic Monday,

and Amaze me Monday!

So come on down!

It’s hot and humid and wonderful!

It’s Florida!!!

*Friendship Gifts*

It’s such a blessing to have wonderful blog buddies and I received two gifts this past week that touch my heart.

Linda from Sew What made me a heart, handmade just for me using one of her Grandmother’s doilies. It makes me feel so special to receive such a thoughtful gift. I will treasure it always. She also made a pretty heart garland that I already have hanging over the top of one of my bookcases in my bedroom. The sachet she included smells wonderful and their was a sweet note, too.

Thank you so very much, Linda!

I used PicMonkey’s new effect, Space for this photo.

And even though Donna at Cottage Days and Journeys is going through a really tough time right now, she had a sweet giveaway and I won some of her beautiful notecards featuring her very own photography. I send a lot of cards but I will keep these for awhile to enjoy.

Thank you, Donna. I’m keeping you and your hubby in my prayers.

My blog friendships mean the world to me. I like having lots of girlfriends, don’t you?

Enjoy your afternoon!

Look UP!!!

The skies are spectacular here in Florida each day. We start some days with a clear sky but then the summer clouds build.

I decided to show you these photos without tweaking them at all.

These are straight out of my camera…

just amazing!

And when you look up, you may see a kite flying overhead.

They are such graceful birds and spend the summer months here in Florida.

It’s nice to look around (or UP) and find the beauty that surrounds you, don’t you think?

Happy Fourth of July!!!

Have a safe and happy day everyone!