Tra La! It's May!

It's the magical month of May.

I couldn't resist a lovely May Day bouquet.

I have several pots of Lantana blooming in
Musashi's Garden.
I hope the butterflies like them as much as I do!

The crocosmia blooming came as a surprise.
I didn't see the plant at all last year.
Yippee!

Another amaryllis is blooming, too.

May also means that I start preparing
for my six month summer hibernation!
I have plenty of yarn for projects.
Never too early to start holiday gifts!

It's already hot and humid.
Smoothies are definitely in order.

It's also time to think about hurricane supplies.
I've started loading up on water
and will think about what canned goods I might like.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Little Things Thursday 


Willy Nilly Friday


Amaze Me Monday


Mosaic Monday


Keep In Touch

Pancakes and Pollinators

Family night at the zoo was filled with
fun and education with
Pancakes and Pollinators.

Long tables were set up showing the importance of
pollinators.

Two of my favorites: Lantana and Lavender.

Kids had fun having their face painted and playing games.
Two beautiful tiger sisters and one handsome brother snake.

Some of the Animal Ambassadors were out and about.
This is an Eastern Screech Owl.
He looks like a tiny tree!
Great camouflage.

Most of the Animal Ambassadors 
have been injured in some way
and can not be released into the wild.
The zoo gives these animals a home and uses them for 
educational purposes.

Golden Eagle

In some ways, this gentleman is an Animal Ambassador, too.
He is one of the official photographers at the zoo.
We were laughing taking pictures of each other, taking pictures of each other! 

Can't leave out a mention of the menu.
Fruit, yogurt, scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, potatoes,
chicken nuggets and
shrimp and grits.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Little Things Thursday

Willy Nilly Friday

Mosaic Monday

Keep In Touch

Little Things

It's The Little Things like this:

That make things like this ... bearable!

It really hasn't been too bad.
They don't work on the weekend.
Closing off one lane of traffic has made crossing the street easier.
(Always look on the bright side.)
Rebuilding the street will take awhile. 

*

I have my pond cleaned once a year.
I try to schedule the cleaning before it gets too hot and humid.
Cody does a fine job.

This year, in addition to my six gold fish,
Cody found eight crawfish.
We have no idea where they came from.
We blame everything "abnormal" on the waters of Hurricane Harvey.

The waterlily isn't the only bloom in the garden.

I save the amaryllis I get at Christmas and put them in the garden.
With a little luck,
a year later,
they bloom again.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Little Things Thursday
Willy Nilly Friday
Mosaic Monday
Keep in Touch

Adorable Beetles

While the weather was bad --

I tried to stay busy by reading, knitting and drinking tea.
In other words, I was entertaining myself!

This is a pattern I found on a Caron Cake label.
Caron calls it a "scarf/shawl" and made with one cake.
I made one earlier in autumn colors and thought this color way
looked more like winter.

I can depend on my kitties to supervise.
Mina is reminding me that I have ends to weave in
and Oliver thinks he should play with those ends first. 

I saw the cutest crochet project on FB and wanted to share it with you.
When I looked for the post, I couldn't find it!
I had to wait until the pattern book arrived from Amazon so I could share.

Isn't this fun?!
All these adorable beetles, bugs and butterflies.
Did you ever think the word adorable and beetle would go together?!

Fun patterns written using US terms.
One of the things I like the most,
it is a great kids book, too.
It follows the insects as they grow up and transform from tiny bugs
to beautiful butterflies, ladybugs and beetles.
You can crochet a complete life cycle of a butterfly or a snail.

I think this will be a great stash buster, too!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Amaze Me Monday

Mosaic Monday

Keep In Touch

Little Things Thursday

Share Your Cup Thursday

SaveSave

You Are Never Too Old to Blow Bubbles

I've been a little grumpy.


First, Trader Joe's discontinued their Wasabi Mayo.
I love TJs Wasabi Mayo.
Apparently, I may have been the only one who did.
But if that is the case, why did they carry it for the last four years?
Thankfully, I have an unopened jar in the pantry.

The weather hasn't helped.

UGHUST has arrived in all her hot and humid glory.

In addition to sunscreen, one needs something to keep themselves cool.

Fruit bars help.

The creamy coconut is delicious.

Hurricane Harvey doesn't help.

Since it is too hot to be outside,

I took the opportunity to finish a shawl.

This was a Marley Bird KAL.

The pattern called for chunky Red Heart yarn.

I don't "do" chunky ... I'm too short.

I look swamped by "chunky"!

I made the shawl in Red Heart Soft and repeated a couple of sections.

Perfect! 

Dreaming about cooler weather!

It was hard to be grumpy when the kitties Kit Nip Box arrived.

They always enjoy new toys -- at least for a couple of days!

My Texas Market Box arrived at about the same time.

I really enjoy this box.

Each box includes the best small-batch,

artisan goods from farmers' markets and local Texas businesses.

The Texas Market folks make monetary donations to the Houston Food Bank.

Double win!

There is a theme for each month and this one was Gulf Coast Summer.

Garlicky Greengo Sauce, Gulf Coast Fish Fry, Sea Salt Soap Bar,

Island Seasoned Sea Salt and Organic Watermelon Lime Tea.

Nothing can chase the grumps away faster than a new mug and tea!

The Watermelon Lime Organic Green Tea came in the box.

I'm going to try it next -- iced. 

The mug is from Susan Branch.

The Blue Bird is one of her new designs.

Do you have the grumps?

Remember...

You are never too old to blow bubbles!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Little Things Thursday

Share Your Cup Thursday 

Home Sweet Home

Amaze Me Monday

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Potpourri

Some of my favorite things from the week:

- Fresh onion bagels

- New addition to the neighborhood

- Sunflowers in my favorite hand-thrown jug

- Pretty pink kalanchoe in the atrium

- Toad singing by the pond

It really is all about the Little Things.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Little Things Thursday

Five On Friday

Willy Nilly Friday

SaveSave

Count Down to the Big Day

Part of my count down to the big day is sitting down
and sending out Christmas greetings.


It's so nice to settle down
with a holiday mug filled with tea
carols playing in the background
on an especially cold and wintry day (for the tropics)
and pick out just the right card for the folks on my list.
Some have been sharing greetings of the season for years.
It's a wonderful time for memories and smiles.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!


Home Sweet Home
Little Things Thursday

I Will Have Had Enough

I'm sure you've noticed.

Pumpkin Spice is everywhere.

I'm sure by the end of October I will have had enough,
but for right now, Pumpkin Spice is a little thing that I'm enjoying!

Thomas Limited Edition Pumpkin Spice English Muffin
topped with Pumpkin Butter from Trader Joes.
(I'll be eagerly awaiting their cranberry muffin.)
Pumpkin Spice iced latte with Pumpkin cream on top.

Wishing YOU well and much joy this pumpkin season!

Little Things Thursday  

Kale and Kohlrabi

When Lisa of Blue Heron Farms 

announced she was bringing baby goats

to the Farmers Market at Rice,

I knew I had to go, and early, before the line admiring cuteness was too long!



I'd like to introduce you to Kale.

Kale

Kale is a little buck.
His Mom had triplets.
And this is his brother, Kohlrabi.

Kohlrabi

They left their baby sister at home.
Probably just as well.
One can only take so much cuteness!
Meanwhile, the Rice Farmers Market was setting up for their Mardi Gras celebration.
The zydeco band was warming up.





The cupcakes sure looked good.





I was too early for the beer.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Snowmen take over!

I celebrate the Christmas holidays through Epiphany.
I did take down the snowman and Santa Claus from the balcony.

I left the lights and garland around the balcony door.

Talking with my next door neighbor, we decided things will look very dull and drab when all the lights are down. 

Perhaps we should leave them up a little longer.

After all, it is winter! 

It's cloudy, rainy and cold (for here).

Some sparkly lights will make us feel better.

Right?

***

My Christmas cactus started blooming before Christmas.

Almost waited too long to take a photo.

Snowmen will take over the indoor decorations for the month of January.

***

I really like English Muffins.

THOMAS bakeries makes a special edition English Muffin for the holidays -- Cranberry.

I bought extra packages this year and froze them.

You never know when I might need a special edition treat! 

Hope your New Year (sweet 16) is off to a good start.

I'm joining Kim at

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

On The Sixth Day of Christmas

On the sixth day of Christmas,

I'm sharing with you ....

Two Wise Guys!

The owls flew in from Wisconsin for the whole holiday season.
A gift from my pen pal.
It's the Little Things! 

Wishing YOU well and much joy in 2016! 

Like Where You Are Planted

My new tree in Musashi's Garden is blooming.

It is a Hong Kong Orchid Tree.

It's timing is a bit off.

Winter is just a few days away,

but with temps in the 80s

anything would be confused!

I hope this means my new tree likes where it is planted.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!