Whose Winning the Population Battle??

I am not sure who is winning the population battle in my backyard between the robins and the sparrows. The sparrows are like little piggies at the bird-feeder and the robins love splashing in the bird baths which in turn drives me to continually fill the feeder with birdseed and add the water for bathing.  There was a time when I didn't feed the birds in the summertime, I felt that there was plenty of rations in nature that it wasn't necessary. I still believe that, but now I do it for purely selfish reasons, I enjoy watching the birds.  If it wasn't for the feeders my porch sitting entertainment would totally diminish. Between the regular feeder, the finch sock, and the hummingbird feeder I have continuous delight throughout the day.

Today was B&N day and we had quite a group, counting from memory (which varies from time to time) I think we had nine today. I love it when so many come to visit. The only down-side is that when there are that many, there will be different conversations at different ends of the table. I want to hear it all, but it's just not possible. It's our connection time which now that Bailey is gone, I really need.

After B&N, I decided to grab a bite to eat and take a stroll down by the Riverwalk, with camera in hand.

I honestly don't know if this is a grass of some sort or a weed, but I love the feather like branching.

The orange day-lilies were in bloom.  I do love day-lilies, they have hyberdized them so that you can plant just about any color you want from the traditional orange, to yellows, to pinks, purples, reds and whites. I planted a new one this year, right now it is full of buds. I am anxiously awaiting that first one to pop to actually see the true color.

And these sweet little daisy-like flowers that I honestly think are some type of weedy wildflower. No matter weed or wildflower, it's a charmer.

The front gate arbor is covered with this lovely Etoile Violette clemantis. I planted this many years ago when the trees were just saplings. Now they are covered in shade for most of the day, but they still manage to bloom their little hearts out for a short while.

It's been hot, but we had a good rain yesterday and last night so the grass and garden are happy, which makes me happy.  Toby, on the other hand, was not happy. He does NOT like rain, nor thunder, nor lightening. I guess Mother Nature can't please everyone.

Tomorrow I will share a sweet surprise!

"Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one."  ~  Dr. Seuss

Until next time......

Pleasant Places

Trying to return to normal, what's normal anyway???, by participating in Kim's Texture Tuesday. There was a time I wouldn't miss this fun meme, but you know how life sometimes gets in the way of the fun things in your life.

This past week my sweetie's brother and sisters have come visiting, which I do so love seeing them. While they were here we took walks in our lovely downtown and strolled along our Riverwalk.  I love showing off our great little city...we have much to be proud of.  Our city planners have accomplished great places to wander and enjoy....mixing the old and the new.  Having lived here for over 35 years, I proudly call this my home (eventho I occasionally throw in the fact I was raised in the great state of Texas, calling Dallas my home for many years).

Our Riverwalk is a beauty....

Even our flowers & little butterflies/moths are delightful along the Riverwalk....

The architecture in our downtown reflects the age of our fair city....

Showing off my town....Naperville, IL is one of life's simple joys.  What brings you joy...hopefully you have pleasant places to walk and enjoy near your home.

Thoughts come clearly while one walks.  ~ Thomas Mann

Until next time.....

A Sunny Day At The Riverwalk

Yesterday we had another glorious Spring day.  When we have days like this, I forget about all the dreadful weather we experienced earlier, right now it is just sun and warmth.  But I think a little of the cool and rain is returning for the weekend.  Boo Hoo...my granddaughter's college graduation is Saturday and Sunday is Mom's Day....a get ready, get set, plant, date.  That is the date I usually decide that it's OK to plant flowers, no more frosts, saying with finger's crossed.  But honestly I am not ready...I have hired a landscaper to install a flagstone patio under the tree in the front yard, since NOTHING will grow underneath the tree and he won't be completed with that until next week.  And....sob, I had the crab-apple tree removed this afternoon.  It took years to grow that tree and a matter of minutes to cut it down.  So, changes are a coming to my yard and flowers are not at the top of the list, yet.  

On my way home from our last Bible Study class I decided to visit the Riverwalk.  I haven't been there since our flood a few weeks ago and by the looks of it, there is absolutely no evidence of any damage.  

Come walk with me....

The trees are bursting with new growth.

The Carillon where we enjoy the summer concerts....

The water fowl (ok, ducks) are happy...some are single,

Some have a mate

And some have families...

The flowers are in bloom....orange & purple, pretty dazzling!!

A bush with these pretty yellow blossoms...not a clue as to what it is.

Tulips in front of a bed of forget-me-nots...makes a great background!!

A spent magnolia flower, magnificent even as it wanes....

Our piece of art...a Picasso (I think)

It is just a delightful place to walk and enjoy an afternoon....

The City Swimming Pool is right along the Riverwalk.  They are beginning to fill it with water, wonder how many tons it takes to fill this up....it is huge.  At one time this was the site of an old rock quarry, quite a unique place.  

I even saw Mother's with their little ones enjoying a picnic lunch.  Just an all-around beautiful day for being outside enjoying the gifts of Nature.

"Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day."  ~ 
W. Earl Hall



Until next time.....

The Healing Field of Honor

 I read in the newspaper yesterday that Rotary Hill part of Naperville's Riverwalk was transformed into a field of 2,012 American flags that are paying tribute to the service men and women from Thursday, Nov 8 - Tuesday, Nov 13.  This hill, which is being called "The Healing Field of Honor is a way for visitors to express patriotism and gratitude for our troops, as well as to raise funds to research medical issues that affect many veterans.

As I parked near the top of Rotary Hill, I was overwhelmed with the beauty of the flags blowing in the breeze, hundreds of them waving their red, white & blue.  Rotary Hill is dominated by the presence of The Millennium Carillon that stands tall overlooking the entire field.

Walking around the park, taking pictures from every possible angle, ofcourse I had to capture this little cutie as her Mother had dressed her in red, white & blue just for this event.

We are encouraged to buy a flag in honor of a veteran either living or dead in order to raise money to help fund the traumatic brain injury research by Dr. Jim Kelly of Washington, D.C.  Many of our troops are surviving injuries they would not have in the past, but traumatic brain injuries are causing long-term problems.

Naperville hosted a Healing Field in 2009 which raised over $100,000. for the Fisher House of Hines V.A. Hospital in Chicago.

As I walked thru this field of American Flags a feeling of pride filled my soul.  Sometimes we have to be reminded of just how blessed we are to live in a country where our flag flies freely with no fear or shame, how fortunate we are to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave.  God bless all those who have served and continue to serve to keep our freedom safe and our flag flying proudly.

Sharing with Kim & Xanthe's "5 on Friday" .  I think I bent the rules a bit the first time out on this newer theme....

"You can't separate peace from freedom, because no one can have peace without freedom."  ~  Malcom X

Until next time....

Smash & Grab Day

Today was "smash and grab" day....you know what that is ladies, mammograms.  The "technician" no matter how gentle she is there is still that smash, pinch, oww feeling.  However, I will gladly suffer a little smash each year after the two scares I went through, the last being in 2006.  Fortunately, neither
"scare" resulted in no more than a few days of hang wringing and palpitations, thank God.  And because of those 2 scares I go through the Smash and Grab once a year.  I just automatically after completing my appointment, make one for next year.  And I encourage all of you out there to follow suit.

After completion of "smash and grab" I feel it is definitely necessary to give myself a treat.  I headed in what I thought was the direction of one of my favorite flower garden centers which is located on a beautiful piece of land.  However, I never stumbled across it.  I even tried putting the name in my GPS, to no avail...so I found my way back home, stopped and grabbed a sandwich and walked over to the Riverwalk which is located in my downtown.  This is what I saw as I sat and ate lunch....ahh how sweet it is.

After I finished eating, I decided to walk a little down by the river and see what delights I might find.  Today over at Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday she encouraged us to take a picture with a "Look Down" theme.  So here is my interpretation of look down....looking down the river using her  texture, "dreamit" and linking to Texture Tuesday....

As I made my way back to the car, two girls were paddling down the river having a fun time, hopefully with not a care in the world.

We should all paddle down the river sometimes, leaving all our cares and woes on the banks and hope they will all float away before we return.

"As you grow older, you'll find that the only things you regret are the things you didn't do.  ~  Zachary Scott

Until next time.....

Colorful Days

Getting ready to watch "Last Man Standing" the new Tim Allen TV show, I watched it a couple of weeks ago and I laughed out-loud the entire 1/2 hour.  We need things to make us laugh, because sometimes life just gets to be not fun.  And watching a funny TV show is about the easiest and least expensive way to bring a little laughter into your life.  Sometimes ya just need some mindless entertainment. 

Speaking of entertainment, not the mindless kind, this morning I went down to our local book store to listen to the twice a year Carol's Book Talk.  Carol, one of the ladies that works at the book store, gathers quite a few books in several genre's; fiction, non-fiction, memoirs all in paperback to give us book club lovers some ideas for future reads.  Since I got my Kindle I still miss that feel & look of a book.  An e-reader on your bed-side table doesn't quite have the same aesthetics as a real book.  But, the e-reader is very convenient, easy to hold, easy to read, and so EASY to buy a new book, sometimes too easy.  But with all the book-stores that seem to be going belly-up ie BORDERS, having an e-reader seems to be the way of the future.   To spice things up, Carol always gives away some great books by answering a few questions, usually about "book clubs".  One of the questions today was "where is the most unusual place that your club has met?"  One lady speaks up and says "an airplane"....needless to say, that answer won that round.  As she came up to claim her prize she revealed that their book club travels extensively, and went to Paris when they read "The Paris Wife".  Our traveling from one end of our town to the other does not exactly measure up to her kind of traveling. 

After Carol's Book Talk I decided to take a stroll along the riverwalk.  The colors are in that absolutely gorgeous stage right now.  The oranges, the yellows, the reds are jaw-dropping spectacular.  And to think they will all be gone quicker than a squirrel can bury enough nuts for the season. 

So here are some of the pics from my walk from yesterday around the neighborhood and today from a short walk at the Riverwalk, it started raining so my walk was shorter than anticipated

The marigolds still look great in my neighbor's yard.

A pretty little feather caught in the dried weeds....

Love these black berries against that pretty blue sky....

We have a ton of geese gathering at the pond across the street....

Isn't this an interesting bud on the sumac bush?? 

The riverwalk....

Oh those colored leaves make my heart go pitter-patter....

Another view of the riverwalk with an added texture from Kim Klassen.

Such lovely oranges ...

Leaves on one branch so many different colors.....

Well, these are just a few of the many photos I took the last 2 days.  I just can't help myself when nature is so majestic with fall glory. 

"Life is a succession of moments.  To live each one is to succeed."  ~  Corita Kent

Until next time......