PHOTOS FROM MEADOWLARK GARDENS - SATURDAY 2-10-24

What's this?

"It's a Knight, not a horsey!" or so the quote goes.  This gave me another smile.  I always, before I was aware of the significance of each chess piece when at a very young age, liked horsey the best.

We saw the Chess Set last year in a different area of the garden, in between the Visitor Center and the Atrium. There was always a lot of activity around it, so we usually continued our walk down the hill. 

On this visit we found it had been moved to the back of the greenhouse building.  

We were on our own and had fun walking around it and taking photos.

It had been raining but fortunately not when we were there.  

I am typing this on 2-13-24 and we have been out for a good part of the day. We awoke to 28 degrees F. The high was 46. We also had a dusting of snow this morning, but by the time we got back home it had gone. More expected on Saturday apparently, but I don't think it will be much. Here is our forecast through to Thursday the 22nd. You can click on it for a more detailed view.

(Graphics are from my favorite go-to, Pixabay.com)

GREEN SPRING GARDENS - PART 1 - 1/12/24 - A SHORT VIDEO OF US

I found these sweet, bedraggled birds at pixabay.com, a familiar name as it is my go-to place when I want to find a particular picture or graphic.

The last time we were at Green Spring Gardens was on October 1st, 2023. We were still wearing light clothing with short sleeves. It was a very different story last Friday. Our video will give you an idea of what the weather was like. It was cold! 50 degrees Fahrenheit which we would have thought would be good walking weather, but there was a biting wind that made it seem much colder. 

So far this year we have had good days but also heavy rain with flood watches, wind and yesterday our first snow. We didn’t leave the house.  The high was 30 degrees Fahrenheit, and the low tonight will be 27.  Below it shows you what we are expecting for the next eight days.  I just had a pop-up on my iPad. We are now under a winter advisory until 10.a.m. tomorrow.  However, on Wednesday it is going to be sunny.  We were told before that was going to be a snow day. Weather will always be unpredictable.

We like to take a short video on our outings.  It’s fun to look at them years later.  Next time I will share a few flowers and plants. Some were still blooming, though looking a bit worn out. A nice splash of color though considering the time of year.

I hope you are staying warm in your part of the world, 

or if it is very hot, staying cool.

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - HERE'S THE BIRD FEEDER - IT'S A TABLE...

but first, the plants in the two pots are hanging in there. I thought their hiatus at the side of the house would have done them in by now. We kept forgetting to water them, but thankfully there was enough rain to keep them going.

I found the buffet-style table online. It's made out of the same material as most of the deck. It came in a flat, oblong box. My dear other half got his toolkit out and put it together.  As mentioned before, not being able to hang anything on the rail or sprinkle the seed on the top (too rounded and narrow), and not wanting to drill any holes for hangers in the new framework (it is made of Trex not wood) this is what we came up with.  If nothing else it will make a very nice utility table, the first piece of outdoor furniture we have bought in years. 

I watched a squirrel climb down the trellis the first day. He worked his way down from the top with the flatter beam along the edge, but was not able to climb down to the table.  We have large tree branches that are his highway to the deck. Gregg bought a book for me when we were out and about the other day.  I had to smile as we long ago welcomed the squirrels as well as the birds to our feeders, and I don’t really want to outwit them.  Shocking I know and I appreciated the book.  I don't know yet if it's supposed to be humorous or whether it is literally sharing squirrel deterrents.  I am sure it will be a fun read.  

So, here we are with the squirrel and bird buffet table. Will they come? My early morning alarm this morning were the crows squawking in the early hours. When I came down there were none to be found. Were they warning all feathered friends to stay away? Am I projecting again? Probably! We will have to wait and see.

Below, this dish is actually advertised as a birdbath, and will be returned to this use before too long.  It has 'steps' that go down the inside of the dish, which will make it easier for the birds than one deep well - hoping!  

Okay, so it is built, now will they come?

We'll see!

Thanks for looking everyone.  

Have a great week!

DOG IN THE WINDOW

When our son came over a few days ago, he stopped at our local shopping center to pick up a coffee for his mum.  When he parked and got out of his car, he saw someone staring at him first, and then that someone looked towards the coffee shop.  I think his human was already getting their coffee and sweet dog was wondering how long they would be.  He was very calm and didn't get agitated when son said hello and took his photo. Maybe he recognized someone who loved dogs as much as we do.

I would say to his humans...

"You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."

~Author Unknown~

I'm sure his human knows that already, he looks well-loved.

What a sweetie-pie!  Thanks for taking those photos son!  I found a few frames for him.

"Properly trained, a man can be a dog's best friend."

~Corey Ford~

And a funny for you.

“Because of the dog's joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honor as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born. What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? What would this world be like without dogs?”

~Mary Oliver~

Dog Songs: Poems

My sunshine doesn't come from the skies,

It comes from the love in my dog's eyes.

~Author unknown~

"Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong."

~W. R. Purche~