Mother Nature Knows Her Stuff

I thought I'd share some of the action in Musashi's Garden.
A little peace and quiet.

I'm thankful that Mother Nature really knows her stuff.

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

Mosaic Monday

Metamorphosis Monday

Keep In Touch

Little Things Thursdays

Thankful Thursday 

This and That

A little This And That from last week --

One of my sisters by choice and I celebrated National Margarita Day 
with a Margarita at one of our favorite local spots 
 along with some chips and dip.

Are you following the Great American Read at PBS?
There is a list of 100 favorite books there and THE MARTIAN
is one of them. 
I hadn't read any Sci-Fi in awhile and since it was on the PBS list,
I decided to try it and I'm very glad I did.
There was just enough science to not overwhelm
and humor to break the tension.
Take your vitamins before reading -- it's a ride! 
No, I haven't seen the movie.

The peaches are very good at the local grocery store.
I was surprised they've been this good for this long.
I normally buy peaches at the farmer's market.
This year, I've bought more at the grocery 
and that meant more peach smoothies!

My beautiful Summer Mug designed by Susan Branch.
They are expensive, but so pretty and a great size.

The blue jay on the bird bath had just completed his bath.
The jay on the left was begging to be fed.
A parent's work is never done!
(Wonder where I put the tiny towels?)

A butterfly visit to Musashi's Garden and the lantana.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Mosaic Monday

Keep In Touch

Share Your Cup Thursday

Little Things Thursday

If We Would Enjoy Ourselves

From the Farmer's Almanac

"If we would enjoy ourselves, we must take the world as it is; 
mix it up and a thousand spots of sunshine, a cloud here and there,
 a bright sky, a storm today, calm tomorrow, the chill-piercing winds of autumn, and the bland, reviving air of summer.
–The 1854 Old Farmer's Almanac"

I love the Old Farmer's Almanac, their daily emails and words of wisdom.



The Sun is Shining.
Our brief glimpse of Autumn has ended.
Heat and humidity are back.



Musashi's Garden has been busy.
This little Painted Lady made a visit.
After remodeling the garden a couple of years ago,
one of the best things I did was put in lantanas.
It takes awhile, but the butterflies and bees find the lovely blooms.

I love peaches.
Peach season comes to an early end here.
I rarely buy peaches this late in the summer.
The grocery peaches are hard and have no taste.
But, I was craving a peach smoothie.
So, I bought California peaches from Trader Joes.
I've been patient, letting them ripen slowly.
This morning I had smoothie number one!
Looking forward to smoothie number two!

The hat is a must now that summer is back.

The new Michael's ad had Caron Cakes on sale.
They were calling my name.
I love the fall colors and there is a nice shawl pattern on the label.
It will be my next project.
Getting into the fall spirit!



Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Willy Nilly Friday

Amaze Me Monday

Make It Pretty Monday

Home Sweet Home

Mosaic Monday

         

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

I'm joining Scavenger Hunt Sunday

at Ramblings and Photos by Ashley Sisk.

1. Birds

Flamingos at the Houston Zoo.
It is baby time and this little grey fluff is the first one of the season.
He was determined to keep his "back side" as his good side! 




2. Beach

This was the closest I could come to one of my favorite places ... the beach! 
I'll just have to dream on.....


3. Bridge

Bridge in the Japanese Garden in Hermann Park, Houston
I love the reflections.



4. Bottom

This is Mina when she first came to live with me (and Teddy and Cassie).
I think her little "bottom" is cute -- with her manx tail!




5. Butterfly

This is from 2009.
Cosmos in Musashi's Garden.
It was a good year for the Monarch butterfly.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Butterflies and Flowers

The butterfly counts not months but moments,
and has time enough.
~Rabindranath Tagore

Butterflies are self propelled flowers.

~R.H. Heinlein

If nothing ever changed,
there'd be no butterflies.
~Author Unknown

"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly,
"one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower."
~Hans Christian Andersen



Today I'm joining the lovely Judith for Mosaic Monday.

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun
And find your shoulder to light on,
To bring you luck, happiness and riches
Today, tomorrow and beyond.
~Irish Blessing

Sunday

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."

~Albert Einstein

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

Party Time!

It's time for Vee's Note Card Party!
On the third Wednesday of each month we meet at
A Haven For Vee for party time.

We select four photographs that we think would make a nice set of note cards
and we share them.


Here are my four:

It's A Good Thing

Earth Day

Earth Day

Meet Julia

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Thank you, Vee!

Meet Julia

I met Julia Longwing last week at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Dryas iulia commonly called the Julia Butterfly, Julia Heliconian, The Flame, or Flambeau, is a species of brush-footed butterfly. The sole representative of its genus Dryas, it is native from Brazil to southern Texas and Florida, and in summer can sometimes be found as far north as eastern Nebraska. Over 15 subspecies have been described.

Its wingspan ranges from 82 to 92 mm, and it is colored orange (brighter in male specimens) with black markings; this species is somewhat unpalatable to birds.

This butterfly is a fast flier and frequents clearings, paths, and margins of forests and woodlands. It feeds on the nectar of flowers, such as lantanas (Lantana) and Shepherd's-needle (Scandix pecten-veneris). Its caterpillar feeds on leaves of passion vines including Passiflora affinis and Yellow Passionflower (P. lutea) in Texas.

The species is popular in butterfly houses because it is long-lived and active throughout the day.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Thank you to Eileen for Saturday Critters.

Thanks, Misty!

A Beautiful Treat

It's critter day!

This is the Rice Paper Butterfly from Malaysia.

I found them flying around in the Rain Forest Conservatory at the 

Houston Museum of Natural Science. 

What a beautiful treat!

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

Thanks to Eileen at Saturday Critters.

Thanks, Misty!

This and That

It's Friday.

Time for a look back at the week with a few

Random Things.

Thanks, Nancy!

*

Let's get this over quickly.

It's HOT and HUMID and I don't want to talk about the electric bill.

**

Last year I was so excited about the butterflies that were visiting Musashi's Garden.

I haven't seen many this year.

Perhaps it was the change in weather -- first cool and then HOT??

This is the only shot I've been able to get of a butterfly stopping by to visit.

This swallowtail was in the midst of fluttering wings as he took a quick taste of the duranta.

***

I'm using Bloglovin now to read all of your blogs.

So far so good, but it sure seems easy to get behind.

I promise I'll catch up! 

****

Last Saturday I made it to the Urban Harvest Farmer's Market.

What fun!

You can have breakfast there -- lots of good food available -- drinks.

Entertainment

I wanted fresh, home grown tomatoes.

There is just nothing like the taste of a home grown tomato.

Yum Yum Yum

Got my tomatoes and stopped by the Blue Heron Farm booth

and picked up their special of the day:

Garlic-Peppercorn Chevre.

Oh, my - Sinfully delicious!

Can't wait to hear what the special will be for tomorrow.

Splurged on an orchid.

Last, a bar of luxury shea butter soap from The Herbal Goat --

HOT FLASH (!!!) Lavender and Peppermint.

Boy, do I smell good!

On my list for this Saturday: peaches and blueberries. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

Sunlit Sunday: Surprise!

I'm sharing with Sunlit Sunday

 a surprise or two that I found in my garden yesterday.

What a surprise to find daffodils!

I first planted daffodils in Musashi's Garden in 1998 when we first moved in.

It was December and I planted them in a pot.

There were no flower beds, but I was determined to have some Spring color!

Over time the pots were emptied into the garden beds and I forgot all about the bulbs.

That brings us to this year and my surprise.

Mother Nature -- WOW!

**

I was looking out the back door when I saw this little guy flying by.

I grabbed my camera hoping he would stop someplace close.

He did.

I believe this is a little yellow Sulphur butterfly.

He didn't stay long -- zipped right off after I took the shot.

Good thing the glass was sort of clean!

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a very happy St. Patrick's Day!

Wishing you always-

Walls for the wind,

And a roof for the rain,

And tea beside the fire-

Laughter to cheer you,

And those you love near you,

And all that your heart 

might desire!