Skywatch Friday, A Gift and Awards

Although I am posting a photo (click to enlarge), I am not submitting it to Skywatch Friday. I don't know if I will be able to visit any of the fantastic blogs that participate, therefore, it doesn't seem right for me to post my url. If you have the time, drop by Skywatch Friday and click on some links. This is amazing group of skywatchers -- great photos!

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I am so sorry it has taken me so long to post this wonderful gift and awards. I'm afraid that I may have lost an award. Please know that I do treasure each one as I treasure each one of you - all my blogging buddies. This is a great community!



I am honored to receive this gift from Mary at Mary's Writing Nook. Mary wrote:

Over the course of the year, I have made some very special blogging friends. These are people who not only visit my blog but those who I communicate with on a regular basis. The award above is for those special friends and is a gift. It is not meant to be passed on.

We first met about nine years ago when we were writing for another website. Although we have never met in person, Mary is an important person in my life. She is a true friend and a dear friend. Thank you, for this gift, Mary. I love you, my friend. :-)




Mike, thank you for this great award! You are an "awesome blogging buddy," too! You have a big heart and you are so thoughtful, especially of fellow bloggers who are going through tough times.




Patti and Storyteller bestowed this beautiful award on me. I'm honored. This award reflects how I feel about the blogging community we are in. Storyteller translated it:

Translating the gift from Portuguese to English, it means: "This blog invests and believe the proximity' (meaning that blogging makes us 'close' -- being close through proxy) ... a LOVELY sentiment!

I agree - this is a lovely sentiment. This quote certainly describes Patti and Storyteller. They are talented and creative women. I am honored that they have passed it on to me. Thank you, both. :-)

I would like to pass this on to all my blogging buddies because this describes you, too. You make this a great community! Thank you. :-)


Isn't this a cute graphic? It makes me smile. This is from Jo of Moodscapes. She said:

I tried to choose 4 or 5 of my favorite blogs to gift this award to, but couldn't make a choice. Since I can't make a decision, if you are reading this please accept this award for your wonderful blog. I think all of you are just plain wonderful.

Jo, I think you are just plain wonderful, too. Thank you! :-)



Here are links to Mary's, Mikes, Patti's, Storyteller's, and Jo's wonderful blogs. If you get a chance, drop by and say "hello". You'll be glad you did!

Mary's Treasures to Me
Mary at Mary's Writing Nook.
Mike's MJG's Rambling Thoughts
Mike's Rambling Stuff
Patti's Nonna's News
Patti's Pantry
Storyteller's Sacred Ruminations
Storyteller Small Reflections
Jo's Moodscapes

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Jo has written about a terrible tragedy that has befallen the family of Janice of Wildflower Cabin Her beautiful little thirteen-month-old grandaughter, Poppy, was killed in a car accident a week ago. She is asking the blogging community to keep Janice and her family in our thoughts and prayers.

Surprises of Rainy Days

We had a lot of rain in July and August, not enough to cause destruction, but just too keep the grass too wet to mow. Two dry days in a row had my husband eager to get on the riding mower and mow down our crabgrass. I decided to take a stroll around the yard before he mowed.

First, I wanted to give my grandson a break and fill the front birdfeeder. Much to my surprise, there were beautiful tiny flowers growing around the feeder. I'm guessing that the birds dropped the seeds. I don't know what either of these flowers is called.

Each of these small white flowers is smaller than the diameter of a dime!


Each of these blooms is about the diameter of a nickel. I couldn't see the "veins" until I downloaded the photo to my computer.

As I walked past the birdfeeder towards the front of our lawn where it slopes down to the road, I was amazed. The first photo in this post above represents a small section of the masses of wildflowers that greeted me. I couldn't believe my eyes. The entire area, which measures about 40 feet across and runs about 15 feet down the slope, was covered in wildflowers. The scene wouldn't fit into a single shot.


Off towards the side was a mass of brown-eyed Susans. I captured a small section here.

Then I stood and stared at the mass of flowers. There were many flowers I didn't recognize among the lavender clover, white clover, and Queen Ann's Lace. At first, I thought I was looking at a lot of lavender clover, but closer inspection revealed that most of the lavender blooms were small lavender and white flowers I did not recognize.

Friends told me they thought this flower is crown vetch. I googled it and sure enough the photos that turned up look just like this.


The name of these small yellow flowers is a mystery to me. I love their unusual shape. Very pretty!



These grow in other parts of the yard, too. But they make a beautiful part of the wildflower mass. I don't know what they are called. I call them "daisylets" since they look like miniature daisies to me.

There were a few other flowers that I didn't do a very good job of photographing. Maybe next year. Dave and I have decided the slope won't be mowed. I hope you enjoyed my little tour of the wildflowers.

One thing I find very interesting is that we do have an area in the back yard that we have let grow wild for the last three years because it provides a nice space for the the birds to forage and get out of the elements. Most of the plants and wildflowers that grow there are different from those on the slope.

Here is a photo of the weedpatch taken from the deck.

Here is what the rainy weather this summer has taught us:
"Don't Mow, Let the Wildflowers Grow!" :-)

Hummingbird

One of the six hummingbirds visiting the feeders this summer. They are such a joy to watch! (Click the photo to enlarge.) :-)

Skywatch Friday

This caught my eye because it looked to me like a cloud volcano erupting! Please click photo to enlarge.

Don't miss out on beautiful sky shots from all around the world. Visit Skywatch Friday Thank you for taking the time to look at my sky photo. I appreciate it. :-)

Skywatch Friday

Last week these ominous clouds rolled in quite suddenly and brought a real humdinger of a thunderstorm with them! Please click the photo to enlarge.

Don't miss out on beautiful sky shots from all around the world. Visit Skywatch Friday. Thank you for taking the time to look at my photo. I appreciate it. :-)

Skywatch Friday

Please click photo to enlarge. The tiny bugs the dragonflies are after will come into view.

Last year I wondered where all the dragonflies had gone. I'm pleased to report that they are back. A couple of nights ago, I was amazed to see the dragonflies swarming in the front yard, apparently feeding on tiny bugs that seemed to be rising from the soil. I wasn't able to get a photo that reflected the great numbers of dragonflies in the yard. They zoomed past so quickly, I felt lucky to get a few in one shot. And luckier still when they rose high enough in the air that I could photograph them against the sky!

Don't miss out on beautiful sky shots from all around the world. Visit Skywatch Friday. Thank you for taking the time to look at my photo. I appreciate it. :-)

An Award from Jo!

Today, I was very pleasantly surprised by receiving this award from Jo at Moodscapes. Her kind and sweet words touched me deeply and certainly made my day. Please drop by her blog. She writes about life's daily ups and downs in a way that leaves you feeling inspired and hopeful. Jo is definitely "good people"! :-)