We've been home for a week and are settling back into normal life again. As soon as Tim filled the bird feeder, there's been a lot of activity with nuthatches, house finches, chickadees, and sparrows vying for space. I love the agile nuthatches who seem to like to feed upsidedown. What sharp and pointed beaks they have.
The house finches fly from the hedge to the feeder to the fig tree. Figs came ripe while we were away and it appears that the birds got them (there weren't that many) because no one else has owned up! I was hoping one of our children would get them.
I was surprised to see a hawk on our gazebo, just outside the kitchen window. He moved to the lemon tree shelter where I took this photo. There wasn't a small bird to be found anywhere when this predator appeared. He hung around for awhile then took off in a flurry of wings.
The first couple of days we were back we attended to the garden. Huge piles of clippings and weeds were taken to the yard waste dump. I trimmed the lavender, deadheaded roses, cut back the hydrangeas, and more.
I've been intending to paint our living and dining rooms for more than a year, but the time was never convenient. Deciding it was now or never, I bought the paint (Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore), and prepared the walls. Tim took down the curtain rods and moved furniture. The china cabinet needed to be pulled out and for that to happen I emptied it, piling everything onto the dining room table. I wanted to protect the teacups, so I placed them into a tray. I liked the look so much that they are now sitting on the hutch as you see them. Those teacups spark a lot of memories.
Painting went well. My daughter came and was a huge help (Tim was at work). We have not yet hung the pictures on the walls as I've rearranged things and need to think about where I want things to go.
The dahlias, roses, and zinnias are providing me with lots of flowers. How luxurious it is to go out and clip away in the garden.
This week I'm entertaining two grands. When both parents work, childcare in the summer requires lots of planning. I'm happy to help out.
Next week I'm back at school for a prep week before classes begin after Labour Day. The summer has zoomed by so quickly. I'm not quite ready for it to end. Are you?
We have nuthatches, and they look so quaint as they walk upside down down a tree trunk!
ReplyDeleteNo, I am not ready to let summer go. I am glad that school does not go back into session until after Labor Day for you. That’s how it should be imho.
ReplyDeleteThat hawk must have made the birds scurry. Smart birds. I hope he isn’t hanging around the feeder for easy pickings.
Oh I do love what you did with your tea cups and am wondering how I can copy you... 😉
It is a fresh way of displaying tea cups that are so beautiful and should be seen.
Your walls look lovely. It is good to take your time with the decisions of hanging art work and photographs. You will know exactly what you want as you take your time. Sometimes it takes me years! It won’t take you that long. 😊
For me the summer has flied away. I have enjoyed though. Handsome hawk visiting you! A goshhawk has visited me a few times and then some smaller hawk. Your arrangement of dahlias look so fresh & pretty. Glad you have got the painting done! It's certainly a joy to decorate the living room cosy for the autumn!
ReplyDeleteLovely time to refresh your living spaces...that hawk probably sent those birds fying for their lives! We have them here too and they are swift to capture the small birds...nature can be cruel but it is all sbout survival of the fittest. I like the owls as they catch rodents which seem to be quite plentiful in our area.
ReplyDeleteI’m sure your dining room is going to look lovely. It’s good to have a change round. The cups look very special in their basket.
ReplyDeleteLots of different birds to ours, amazing to have a hawk visit, not surprised all the other birds disappeared. Enjoy your grands and the last few days of your holidays. B x
The nuthatches look so funny but they sure are sweet! Love your tea cups. What a beautiful collection! We'll enjoy summer awhile longer this far South! Enjoy your week!
ReplyDeleteLovely teacups, birds and flowers! Nuthatches are so interesting! And I love dahlias -- such an intricate design.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Paint!
ReplyDeleteNot ready for end of summer
Love the look of the teacups in the tray.
ReplyDeleteI'm also trying to savour the last days of summer...I must remember that the summer season is technically until Sept 23...
Is that the pale pale pink color? It's beautiful with your pink flowers, that's for sure; just white enough.
ReplyDeleteWhat new life a fresh coat of paint breathes into a space, and summer is a good time to freshen up! Your tray of teacups is so artful!
ReplyDeleteI love your bird photography. They're putting on a show at your feeder!
Hi! Beautiful flowers are in your house. Your daughter is very warm hearted and devoted to you.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of the birds. Glad you got your room painted...
ReplyDeleteBirds are very entertaining, aren't they? I could watch them for hours but that is not very practical given the fact there is so much to do around here. It's nice they're still there when I look out again. Painting this time of year would be such a chore because it's so hot. No way would I be able to talk Hubby into it so I'll try in the Fall. He's not too enthusiastic about the idea of me wanting to paint the kitchen a different colour. :-) Originally we painted the walls a cream colour a few years ago because we were planning to sell, but we have decided to stay a while longer. Love your sweet teacups in the basket! Lovely post, Lorrie!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely not ready for summer to end, but the grands are back in school so I guess that it's over for most in this area anyway. Your bird photos are wonderful. And the color of your bird feeder just enhances the photo. Prague is one place I wish we could visit--I've been to Budapest several times and think of it as a romantic city but I hear Prague is more so. Your trip sounds wonderful and glad you could get your paint project squeezed in before school.
ReplyDeleteWhat great photographs of the birds, lovely to see.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as if you are busy, busy, busy …. but I'm sure you were pleased to get your room painted.
Enjoy these last few weeks of summer, Autumn really is just around the corner.
All the best Jan
Glad your painting went well. One of these days I really have to do the living room. Your teacups look great in that tray. I hope the start of your school season goes well. :) Kit
ReplyDeleteLorrie, I love the look of the teacups in the tray. Love the photos--I have never seen birds perfectly vertical like in your first shot.
ReplyDeleteLovely to catch a glimpse of your world these days. I like the teacups in the tray ... a lovely way to display and admire them. Love the triplet of vases with flowers from your garden. Such a pretty corner. Your paint sounds exquisite, Chantilly Lace.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos, Lorrie, I like the way you have displayed the tea cups, I am so looking forward to a change in season, we have had a very long, hot summer! Enjoy making memories with those grands.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Sue
No no I am not ready Lorrie , for summer to end. It just started in Wisconsin! Those tea cups are beautiful!!!!!! Lovely to display them
ReplyDeleteI love your tray of teacups, Lorrie. What a beautiful collection. As for summer I'm in two minds, I never like to see time rush by but it's been so hot and humid the past few days that I could do with a bit of autumn... no, I've had a think, a bit more summer will be very welcome.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
You really got right in there after your big trip (which I’m looking forward to catching up on, being behind times as usual). I don’t often think about how seriously old we are, but it is exhausting just thinking about gardening and painting (even with good help). Especially after an amazing Trip! Recovery time is longer at almost 80! Your birds are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteLorrie - I recently downloaded an app from Audubon for my phone, and now I get email from them, of course. This week it said we can expect new birds to start arriving at our feeders as a result of fall migration - I am excited about that! We had a sparrow hawk over the summer, and you knew when he was in the area because all the birds would suddenly scatter! Love your fresh flowers - perfect enough to enter in the county fair!
ReplyDeleteA fresh coat of paint and a rearrange always is so heart lifting. Good luck as you prepare to return to the classroom. What beautiful teacups. I love seeing them nestled together in the basket.
ReplyDeleteI came by to catch up, Lorrie! Your teacups look so pretty in the tray. How nice to get the painting finished. My late beloved and I did that together. I have the hardest time choosing paint colors.
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