I Heard A Bird Sing

I love this little poem.
The words are just as true in January as December.

I heard a bird sing

In the dark of December.

A magical thing

And sweet to remember.

"We are nearer to Spring

Than we were in September,"

I heard a bird sing

In the dark of December.

–Oliver Herford (1863–1935)

The robins, cardinals, jays, doves and sparrows have been busy singing.
Thanking me for putting extra food out for them on these cold days.

I thought the cold winter days could use a little cheer.
Cassie helping me with this little still life,
Yellow is such a happy color!

Meanwhile, my tree is still up.
It's hard to take it down.
It's so pretty and twinkly -- everyone needs more twinkly!

The snowmen will have a place of honor throughout the month of January.
It is winter -- even on the Gulf Coast.

Wishing YOU well and much joy in this new year!

Make It Pretty Monday

Keep In Touch

Share Your Cup Thursday

Willy Nilly Friday

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A Whole Lot of Something

It is too hot and humid here.

Not fit for man or beast or the garden.

So, when the latest email from Pier One arrived,

I thought it might help cool me down.

Christmas in July! 

Pier One Email

So far, the cooling down hasn't worked!


2. Last week I was opening my first box from My Texas Market.
This week the kitties are opening their Kit Nip Box.

No surprise that Mina was the first to check it out.
She went directly for the cat-nip elephant.





It didn't take long for Cassie and Teddy to join in the fun.


3. A whole of something has been going on in the water garden.




I wonder if the fish will eat the eggs???


4. In the atrium, an anole was knocking at the door.

"It's hot out here! Let me in!"


5. I finished another lovie. 
This time a panda.




His eyes are a little wonky and his grin is lopsided,
but not bad for the first try. 

So far, I've made three owls -- all delivered far and wide.
Have another owl to make and then I think I might try a puppy.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Willy Nilly Friday

Five on Friday

Saturday Critters

Just Keep Going

Cassie has been busy supervising the afghan I've been working on.
Here she is, being sure there is no more yarn in my bag.

This is what she was supervising:

The Happy Hearts Afghan, a free pattern from Red Heart.

I started this afghan last February.

Finally, it is finished!

I have plenty of yarn left and have started another one just like it.

Cassie is still taking her supervising seriously and

I figure once I get started, I should just keep going!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

I'm also joining Hooking On Hump Day!

Spotted Photo Theme: Animal Love

I'm joining Hanna for her Spotted Photo Theme.

Each month she will have a theme for photos taken in the past.
It's a way to show off your photos.

She chose Animal Love for the month of August. 

Here are a few blasts from the past.

I had to start with the three kitties that I live with.

Mina

Cassie

Teddy

This is Mtembei.

He really believed that yellow flower was going to be a tasty treat.

If only he could reach it!

Belle and Willow

Black Bear Cubs

This is 6 day old baby Duncan with his mom Shanti.

Cougars Shasta and Haley

There's something about a wart hog that makes me smile! 

Ring-tailed Lemur

Wild dog

That was fun.

Be sure to visit with Hanna.

The theme for September is your favorite color.

May you be filled with loving-kindness.

May you be well.

May you be peaceful and at ease.

May you be happy.

Good Morning!

Cassie (who is never still) and I wish YOU well and much joy!

This and That

It is a day full of sunshine after several days of light rain.

We are still in drought conditions.

I'll take the rain.

Time for a little This and That.

A big thank you to Nancy for hosting. 

*

I cleaned out bird baths and fountains this morning.

After several days of light rain they really needed it. 

Fed the birds and noted that I need more bird food.

Have to keep the morning buffet going!

**

I spent some time with my BGD (beautiful god-daughter)

and her Knight in Shining Armor at my sista's new home.

It was lovely.

Precious time with people I love.

Sitting by the pool and watching the golfers go by.

***

The big neighborhood news this last week was the Grand Opening of

The Fresh Market.

They bill themselves as a selection of European type markets under one roof.

The atmosphere was lovely, classical music in the background, soft lighting.

The first thing that struck me was the amazing produce.

(I came home with heirloom tomatoes and Texas peaches.)

There is an Old World Butcher Shop, European Deli, Fresh Seafood, Imported Cheeses,

Gourmet Coffee (also a nice selection of Tea).

The Bakery -- Oh My! I came home with pineapple-coconut bread -- YUM.

Beer and Wine. 

If you need kitty litter or cleaning supplies this is not the place for you. 

You can order online and pick-up at the store or have your items delivered. 

My treat (besides the pineapple-coconut bread) was

tuna seaweed salad!

I love seaweed and only eat it when I go for dim sum every 4 or 5 years!

I bought the smallest amount I could just to see if I liked it 

and I thought it was delicious.

The next time I see it available, I'll get more. 

****

I'm still busy with the Index Card A Day challenge.

*****

The kitties continue to enjoy their nap on the new kitchen chairs.

Here's Cassie.

She is sitting on a receiving blanket.

When she was a kitten, I bought a set of receiving blankets and would wrap her up,

 sit her on my shoulder, and carry her around as she napped!

Little wonder that she's a Mummy's girl. 

She still finds comfort with her blankets and many days I'll find her

carrying one around the house with her.

I'm off to watch the Tour de France.

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

Good Morning!

Camera Critters: The Girls

Thanks to Misty for hosting Camera Critters.

This is the Princess Mina, a lilac point Siamese with a bobbed tail.

She came to live at Twisty Lane on July 5.

Mina was adopted from a no kill shelter and was the mother of 5!

She's had a few medical problems -- ear mites, intestinal bacteria infection

and to add insult to injury -- tape worms.

She's doing great now. Finished with all her medications.

She loves to eat and needs to lose a little weight.

She loves to play and would love to play with her adopted sister, Cassie.

Cassie isn't sure.

I'm not sure what Mina was looking at -- perhaps the ceiling fans!

She is a cute little thing.

This is Cassie -- the little star.

She is giving me the "Mummy, why did you bring her here?" look.

It's okay, Cassie.

You'll always be my baby girl!

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a fun filled weekend!

Stay cool!

Tea For One

A dear friend and I had a late breakfast at The Avalon Diner.

Next door to the diner is a fun shop called The Frog At Home.

We couldn't pass up checking it out!

Look what I found.

Isn't it fun?

It made me smile -- instantly -- and I kept smiling all the way home 

-- my new little Tea For One in hand.

I had to have the salt and pepper shakers, too!

Such wonderful, bright, cheery colors.

Each piece has a mark that reads:♥Babs

I was getting ready to pour tea and have a raspberry white chocolate scone when the lovely Miss Cassie decided to join me.

A big thank you to our tea party hosts:
Tea Time Tuesday
Friends Sharing Tea
Tea Party Tuesday
Teacup Tuesday
A Return to Loveliness

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Wishing YOU well, much joy, a wonderful cup of tea and many smiles today!

Dawn Chorus

Isn't this a sweet teacup?

I found it at Ross.

 The delicate birds, butterflies and flowers in vivid pink and blue on the cup and saucer.

Then I turned the cup over and discovered this on the bottom:

Dawn Chorus

Portmeirion

Perfect name for this teacup from one of my favorite companies.

Cassie really does like tea day.

She's such a big help,

 supervising every move I make!

A big thank you to our tea party hosts:
Tea Time Tuesday
Friends Sharing Tea
Tea Party Tuesday
Teacup Tuesday
A Return to Loveliness

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Wishing YOU WELL and much JOY!

Hippity Hoppity!

It's looking more and more like Spring and Easter.

The bunnies are here!

It's time to use my Emma Bridgewater spring time tea mugs.

I've had the Tulip mug for sometime, but the Bunny Rabbit mug is new this year.

I do think tea tastes better in these mugs! 

Yes.

There she is.

Miss Cassie helping with Tuesday Tea!

A big thank you to our tea party hosts:
Tea Time Tuesday
Friends Sharing Tea
Tea Party Tuesday
Teacup Tuesday
A Return to Loveliness

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Wishing you WELL, much JOY and a wonderful cup of tea!

Cassie and Tea

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and I wanted to share this beautiful pink teacup with you.

I love the big white and pink flowers.

You can see the ripples on the cup and saucer.

On my last visit to World Market, I bought the heart shaped ginger snaps.

I LOVE ginger snaps.

Apparently, Cassie likes ginger snaps, too.

With green tea!!!

Cassie has never shown any interest in my tea time photography set ups.

There is a first time for everything and it was fun to include the little lady

and NO, she didn't get my ginger snaps!

See the little pink rose (peony?) in the cup?

Lovely!

A big thank you to our tea party hosts:
Tea Time Tuesday
Friends Sharing Tea
Tea Party Tuesday
Teacup Tuesday
A Return to Loveliness

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Wishing YOU well and a wonderful cup of tea!

Wordless Wednesday