Signs of Autumn

 Summer is rapidly winding down...only 8 days left until Autumn begins.

It's one of my favorite seasons and last week I took a walk and discovered a few early signs of Autumn.

A few of the leaves changing on this tree already.

On the way to the store I spotted this tree and had to get some pictures of it.

Those bright red leaves really stand out.

Around the block from us I spotted a trio of pumpkins growing in a neighbors yard.

Also on the same walk...some berries from a Dogwood tree.  I just looked this up, It's called a Chinese Dogwood and apparently the fruit is edible.  I may have to walk back around the block and eat one. -Edited to add:  Well I walked around the block again and found a couple of the fruits still on the tree.  Picked them, washed them, cut them open and ate a small amount of the flesh.  - Opinion, taste a bit sweet but texture is mushy, too many seeds which you aren't supposed to eat and well just not worth it in my opinion.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by.  - I hope you have enjoyed your visit.

Birthday Celebration #3

Hello  - Remember me? - Yes I seem to have a hard time finding time to post here even though I have a bunch of stuff I could post about.

 

So today we are doing a post to celebrate (Red's) aka JoJo or Joelle's 3rd birthday.

 

                          The birthday girl and her balloons.

 

 

                          Telling everyone how old she is.

 

 They gave her a birthday crown at Day Care so she had to wear it.

                                                                                                              
 

  Posing next to her presents.  She likes to say, "Cheese" before a   picture gets taken.

 

                         Opening up one of her presents.
 

                  Blowing out the candles on her cake.

 

                  Enjoying that cake and her birthday.

 

Funniest thing that happened...On her very last present she opened it was wrapped in a box.  After she tore the paper off she held it up and very excitedly said,   "I got a box!" -  Everyone laughed and then we told her she had to open the box to see what was inside.  Pulls out a pair of pants,  say, "Pants" tosses them on the ground and then pulls out a sweatshirt with a Butterfly on it and gets all excited again,  "I got a butterfly!".  Kids are so funny.
 

Feline Friday and Friendly Fill-Ins - August 11, 2023

 Joining in today on Feline Friday - Hosted over on Messymimi's Meanderings  and Friendly Fill-Ins hosted at:

Fifteen and Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs

 

First up my photos for Feline Friday.  Today I'm featuring a couple of pictures of our new kitten,  Maky (aka Wacky Maky).  She has really settled into life here and is such an adorably sweet kitten.

 Next up the Friendly Fill In's:

The statements are:

1. Sometimes I like ____________________ and sometimes I don’t.

2. If I had a nickel for every time _____________________  ,  I would be rich.

3. _________ is already _________, but I’m not complaining

4. I haven’t yet decided _________.

 These are my answers:

1.  Sometimes I like my kitties and sometimes I don't. - I know shocking news!  I like them most of the time but I don't like them when I'm trying to read, or e-mail or just sit and relax and they insist on getting in my face.

2.  If I had a nickel for every time those kitties got in my face,  I would be rich.

3.  Fall is already around the corner but I'm not complaining because that means the hot weather will soon end.

4. I haven't yet decided what kind of cards I'm going to make for Christmas.  I always wait till the last minute it seems.

You can always visit my card blog if you want here:  Faith Artistry if you feel so inclined.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to stop in at the blogs hosting these fun things.

Flowers in the Rain

We had our first real rain of the summer yesterday.  It was so refreshing.  - I decided to go out and shoot a few of the flowers after or rather during the rain.

 

 Which is your favorite? 

 

Thanks for stopping by. - Have a great day. 

Awww Mondays - August 7, 2023 (Strawberry Girl)

 

Joining today for Awww Mondays.

First off - It's raining here!!! First real rain we've had all summer long.

 

One thing that I love about summer here is that we get the most delicious strawberries ever here.  A family named, Klicker has been growing them for many, many years and I wait patiently (sometimes not so patient) each summer to enjoy them.  

Our little Granddaughter, Joelle (affectionately known as, JoJo) has become a lover of them too.  All summer long she would ask Grandma for strawberries.  These shots are the last ones of the berries that I bought this summer.  Oh how she enjoyed them.

 

So long sweet strawberries, we'll be waiting for next summer!

Awww Mondays - July 31, 2023

 

Happy Monday - Today I'm joining Awww Mondays.

 

We have some fun and exciting news to share.  Our family has grown!

 

It gives me great pleasure to introduce you to our newest edition....

 

 Last Friday I spotted this little cutie on the Humane Society's website.  I called hubby and asked if we could adopt another cat.  He said, send pictures so I did. - Shortly after they opened we went down to see her.  The name they had given her was, Marion.  My late mother's first name was, Marian (with an "a") so we decided to change the spelling and give her the middle name of Alethe, since that was Mike's mothers first name.  She just passed away on July 8th.  We both thought of this individually and then told each other about it. (Kismet, or it was meant to be).

We decided to call her, Maky (pronounced, Mack-E) the MAK is for our moms and we added the "y" for the (e sound) as cats tend to come better when you call them if there is an e sound in their name.

She is fitting in quite well and surprisingly the other cats are adjusting to her without hardly any fuss at all.

Just look at that sweet little face.  We couldn't resist her.  So yes now we have, 8 cats again but the joy they bring us is worth it!

 

One last bit of cuteness and it's off to work on Monday chores for me.

Thanks for stopping by.
 

 

Feline Friday - July 21, 2023

Well I haven't joined in on Feline Friday for awhile so I thought today I would share our feline's with you all.

This is our oldest cat,  Harley J - He turned 15 in May of this year.

Next up is our cat, Bandit - He turned 8 in May of this year.

Next in line is my sweet, Caramel who will be 7 in September.

Continuing on with Speedy G - Who will be 6 in October.

Next up is Gidget who turned 4 in February of this year.

Followed next by,  Rowdy who turns 2 in September.

Bringing up the rear (last but not least) is, Rascal (not to be confused with Bandit) - He turned 1 in April of this year.

That rounds out the furry kitty family here.  They do keep us busy!

Feel free to participate in the hop.

Ducky Derby 2023

 Welcome.

 

Another May event:  The annual Ducky Derby.  This was held Mother's Day weekend as well.  In fact that weekend 4 different events were held here.  You could attend all of them or pick and choose which you want to attend as they were all at different places and times throughout the weekend.

 

This year I don't have as many photos of different things from the Ducky Derby as it was way to HOT outside for me so I spent most of my time sitting in the shade.  Coleen/Jupiter took her little sister, Joelle (aka JoJo) around to do all the fun kids stuff.

 

                   The two sisters in front of the Big Duck

Izzy the Camel - JoJo did reach out to pet him.  Just didn't get a good picture as there were too many people in the way.

JoJo got a duck painted on her cheek.  She looks like she's about to cry here but she wasn't. - Her cheeks were already getting pretty rosy from the sun.

                           Waiting for the ducks to be released.

                                            And they are off!

The official photographer for the paper taking pictures of the ducks.

                A sea of ducks racing toward the finish line.

                Up and down they go on their merry way.

                                  Ducks and more Ducks

I always like to find one lone duck in a shot with a bunch of others ahead of it.  That's this years shot.

 

Normally I would have pictures of the ducks at the finish line but by then I was so hot I needed to just go home where it was much cooler so we didn't even stay to see the end of the race. 

 

 Once again none of my 5 ducks won but I'll try again next year.