Mother Nature's Color Wheel.....

I absolutely LOVE Blue Jays! I have managed to keep them at my bird feeder since back in October. Their wings look like a work of art....stained glass or mosaic almost.....

Welcome April....

Happy April Everyone... Hope you are having a wonderful day...

Welcome Spring!!!! So happy to be back at my blog.... Hope everyone is having a wonderfully charming spring day!!!

Farmer's Market in the Midwest.....

This morning it was raining but in Kankakee, Illinois the farmers were all out at the local farmer's market selling their produce despite the rain..... Lots of gorgeous local produce to be found. Thank you Farmers for all your hard work....our dinner table will be amazing tonight!!!

Simple Spice of Life.......

Ahhh....my first cutting of the season....my organic oregano is finally dried and ready to be stored. The whole kitchen is just bathed in the earthy smell of homegrown goodness....

In with the OLD, Out with the Old.....

While I was dropping off my son and his friend at the library today I actually found an unexpected treat waiting inside for me, yes a treat for MOM! I happened to glance at the usually bare magazine exchange rack and there they were..... a whole bunch of older issues of Romantic Homes Magazine. I LOVE that magazine and have most of all of the last few years worth but what a fun find to see some older ones to bring home and curl up on the couch and go thru on this chilly day! It made me think about how someone probably was going thru and passing along some of the older magazines to "clear out some room" to make way for the upcoming years issues.... I am happy to be able to go thru them and then I will take them back and put them back on that rack to be recycled thru again to another happy MOM who may come along like I did today and find a treat! So....if you happen to have some old magazines that are taking up room I just want to suggest that your local library may have a magazine exchange like ours and that they can be a welcome and appreciated find for someone this chilly winter month!

Happy 2013!

I just love the "fresh start" feeling that comes along with a new year! I have been planning on really building up my blog come this new year and really sharing all the wonderful and simple things I come across during the year. That said, this being my first post for 2013 I wanted to keep it simple today. New Year's day here in our house has always been a kick back kinda day, the lazy day, the do nothing but cuddle up on the couch with a soft afghan, a cuddly dog and watch movies. That is exactly how it went yet again! It is nice to take at least one day a year and allow yourself to do NOTHING....and I highly recommend it! :) SO for today I wish for each of you a peaceful day filled with nothingness! Enjoy!

Time for Me to Fly......

I had been wondering where my little hummingbirds had gone, thier feeder had been so quiet yesterday and I did notice.... They have been such a source of entertainment during our family dinners this summer as we are able to see them right outside of the patio doors... Today I read a post from a friend that it is hummingbird migration time again...and then I realized where they had gone.....but this morning, very early I had the patio door open with just the screen in and as I walked past the door, there it was the hummingbird suspending itself in mid-air just hovering, looking right in my home, staring right at me as if to say thank you for the summer riches and goodbye until spring.....and then it flew away heading south....it was then that I realized just how amazing mother nature really is........ Have a safe flight my little friend... :)

BARN THERE....Done That!

Just Had to post another "Country Drive" picture of a fading American treasure....a barn.....hope you enjoy the view.....

Take a Moment ...........

Take a moment out of your busy day to enjoy the simple things around you! Recently on a country ride (on which I finally remembered to bring my camera) I found some real treasures....a disappearing breed....the American Barn/Corn Crib..... So I simply say take a moment to look at the wonderful things that exist today that might not be here tomorrow... Remember to take a moment...... ENJOY!

Do you see what I see?

On a recent trip to our the state park that is right near out home we spotted a forest friend in trouble and attempted to help..... Do you see it? It just headed back in the water.....the poor thing was stuck on land with green plastic mesh (like they use to keep areas that have been reseeded from eroding..... Although I am not too keen on running into this certain reptile I couldn't help but feel bad for it and do appreciate it for its true beauty in the forest.... Did you see it, look closely it is a snake..... :)

May!

Happy May 1st!!! Here are some strawberries that I made that are listed in my Etsy shop....

Happy Spring!!!

A gorgeous collection of blooms that my daughter collected from one of our trees in bloom and placed them in a cute dish. It smelled soooo pretty! Happy Spring!

Sunrise....Sunset....

Autumn really has some gorgeous sunrise and sunsets...here are a couple I have seen this week! Enjoy!

Fall Flowers

For the first day of September I was greeted by these wonderful flowers this morning! Enjoy!

This Chipmunk is TAUNTING me!!!

Every year we have some guest critters in our yard, expected living in a rural area, however this year they are getting bolder!! LOL This year our featured guest is a fat chipmunk! This one is not shy about eating whatever it wants either! So much for pretty flowers on the porch and patio this year....gone.....ho hum......

Helmet Bird!

Ever since we started putting food out for the birds regularly we have gotten some wonderfully sweet species visiting! We call these "Helmet Birds" but really they are striped sparrows! Fun to watch!

Easter Lamb....

This was our much anticapated dessert at Easter this year...and this cake was delicious! My daughter made it by herself, except for the help of me putting in 3 wooden dowls to help the little guy hold his head up high! She made all the colorful chocolates to decorate around him and it was just so cute I had to share!

Spring can be so SHABBY!

I wanted to share a new spring item I made for my Etsy shop. It is a little birds nest with some very pretty shabby pink eggs inside! I hope it makes you smile! Have a "Shabby" spring!

Spring Pastel Sunset

I just had to share this beautiful sunset with you. The lovely spring pastel colors just look so pretty and are very appropriate for this time of the year. Enjoy!