My Male Goldfinches Have Turned Yellow💛

This is an iPhone photo from my window.

The male Goldfinches are wearing their bright yellow feathers for the mating season.

Read more about my breeding male goldfinches, the state bird of New Jersey, Iowa, and Washington HERE.  The photo of this breeding male above is from this link. The females don't wear these lovely yellow spring feathers but they get to choose the handsomest mate wearing them.

Missy is coming this morning to spend the night and it's a lovely Good Friday. See you later. xo

My Portrait of A Robin

Date: April 11, 2011

Robin Redbreast

Nikon Photo

I have been trying to clean up my old MacBookAir dated late 2010. For some reason, I cannot transfer the photos to the newer laptop I got two years ago. This is my favorite bird photo of all time and I'm so glad I have it again. I had to email it from my old computer to my new one. I have flocks of robins that live on and around my cottage. The same Mother Robin aways builds a nest under my balcony floor and raises at least two families. I do hope she returns again this year. I had to clean out all the old nests when I had my balcony floor power washed underneath last year before my house was painted. I had two workers power wash the upper balcony floor, my house, the picket fence, front walk, and the barn/garage too. My workers were fabulous and my Trex deck flooring looks new again after 20 years. I still marvel at how nice my house looks after wood repairs, two new coats of white paint, and changing the shutters and front door color to black.

I can vividly remember taking this photo while holding my breath and getting as close as I possibly could before snapping the shutter. I like to think this handsome bird was posing for me. xo

Scenes around the Cottage 6PM Walk

Base of my faux bois birdbath with mini daffs.

Late afternoon shadows.

Path down to the way back is turning green.

Bed of daffodils I can see from my kitchen window.

It got up to 71° today and really felt like Spring.

xo

Tiny Bubbles

This is not carbonated water but just plain tap water that has been sitting in this glass overnight. Every night, I have a glass of water at my bedside in case I wake up thirsty which doesn't often very often. I always marvel at the tiny bubbles that form overnight. I jiggled the stainless steel straw to get an action shot. Have a great Sunday. Mine is full of bright sun and a lovely blue sky. xo

HELLO, APRIL

APRIL --- The trees are budding forth, the grass is springing green, and April, young and fair appears upon the scene. Pale golden is her hair, her eyes are misty blue, and even when she smiles her tears fall like the dew. Clad all in tender green, she comes with timid feet; A basket with her bringing, filled full with blossoms sweet.The primrose pale & fair, T

the yellow daffodil, the wind flower, wild hyacinth, and other flowers still. All these she casts around to show that Spring is here, with first a smile so sweet, but dropping next a tear.

THe verse by Beatrice Crane -- Design by Walter Crane -- 1889

It feels like an April Fool's Day trick but it isn't! Today is really the first day of April full of April showers this morning at my cottage. I'm glad I did my grocery shopping yesterday! Be safe if you are experiencing severe weather. Some of that is in my forecast for later, probably in the night. xo

Bathroom Decor at My Cottage

It took a while to get all the perfect things for this wall in my bathroom and I love each and every item. I'm pretty sure I have shown this before but this is a brand new photo. The small oil painting below the shelf is the most recent purchase and that space was blank.

It's a local scene (oil on canvas) after the rolling hills have been cut and the round hay bales have been scattered about. All land owners who have farm assessments must mow their fields prior to August 1st every year and it's lovely. I purchased the painting at a local estate sale last year and I think it's perfect on my gallery wall in my bathroom, don't you? xo

Chicken & Rice with Carrots

I made chicken & rice with peas yesterday and added sliced organic carrots for tonight's dinner. I love having leftovers that I can improve with added ingredients the second time around. The stoneware dish with handle has a "chimney" top and I have three of them. They are the best for microwave cooking or heating leftovers. I cooked the carrots alone for a minute or two before adding the chicken/rice to reheat on top. So good. The brown and white transferware plate is one of my favorites. I don't often photograph my food but I'm glad I decided to snap this one. xo

UPDATE: If you ever see one of these in a charity or thrift shop, RUN and grab it. As I mentioned, I have three of these and use them every day in my microwave. They were originally "As Seen on TV" as the Stone Wave Microwave Cooker at $10.00 each. Now I see them on eBay for $39.00. The handle is hollow and they are honestly just wonderful for heating up leftovers or cooking some things (like carrots) quickly. I found the original link selling them for $7.94 each HERE. I'm tempted to order more but will resist. Three is the perfect number for me. They clean like a breeze too. Let me know if you get one or more. I have never had good luck backing a potato in one. They are perfect for my chicken & rice dish. xo

FABLE: THE BABBOON'S UMBRELLA

HAPPY MONDAY

It's Laundry Day here at the cottage.

Weather is nice enough to hang things outside.

Rain coming at 5:00 this afternoon.

Have a good week.

xo

 

My Miniature Daffodils

These miniature daffodils in my front garden are in full bloom and they make me very happy just to look at them. The deep yellow color is glorious.

I divide them each year and I have 6 clumps about this size. They were presented as hostess gifts to realtors who attended a broker open house several years ago. Each year, I email a photo to that realtor and thank her once again for them.

xo

Houses and Gardens I like

Southern Living has a great article with many more charming photos HERE. These are a few of my favorites. Enjoy. xo