Birds Simply Need a Good Birdbath

Those of you who have been with me for a while should remember the damage we suffered last fall from Hurricane Irene. We lost a massive limb from our Sugar Maple. As we watched in horror, the limb fell in slow motion, crashing to the ground only about 5 feet from the house. One of the casualties was my birdbath. The bowl of the birdbath was broken in two. The base somehow survived. I took the two halves and decided to use them in the garden as garden art.

That left the base standing by its lonesome throughout the fall, the winter and early spring. I found a replacement bowl at Lowe's the other day and it fit perfectly.

I couldn't stand the thought of my bird friends not having access to a nice bath or drink of water. It didn't take long for them to discover it.

When the catbird appears, the robin is right behind him. They take turns. I've seen the robin take a bath and catbirds always take baths. They love birdbaths.

How can you not smile watching a bird take a bath? It sure must feel great on a hot day - and the last few days here have been incredibly hot and humid for this time of year. Like much of the country, we are suffering from way too much heat, way too early. Hopefully, in a day or two things will be back to normal.

I'd like my own version of a birdbath.

Happy Tuesday.

Poppies for Remembrance

The Poppy represents Remembrance Day in Europe and Canada. Memorial Day is, like Remembrance Day, a day to honor those who have died while serving in the Armed Forces. There is a famous poem, In Flanders Fields, written by John McRae in 1915:

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

between the crosses, row on row....

Memorial Day has become a day for picnics and family get-togethers, a sign that summer is about to begin. Stores use it as a merchandising opportunity, a chance to display all sorts of summery things in the hopes that you'll spend your money there. For most of us, myself included, the real meaning of the day has become somewhat lost. So many, too many to comprehend, have lost their lives serving our country. Though I know that sometimes wars need to be fought, far too many of them never needed to be. And the loss is devastating. 

It doesn't seem right to say "Happy Memorial Day." If we were really honoring what this day is all about, I should think the day would be rather solemn and reflective. I'm wondering: Has the meaning behind Memorial Day changed to just another Monday holiday? 

Those are my thoughts today. What are yours?

Under the Hosta

Adorableness. I love chipmunks. This little guy has been spotted several times lately in the garden. Having a chipmunk around the garden makes me happy. Right before I took this picture, he was darting around, sometimes on a rock, sometimes over by the patio. I grabbed my camera and shot this through the living room window.

A shelter under the hosta leaf...very Beatrix Potter, don't you think? Perhaps he has a little home under that canopy, with a little bed and a fireplace and a cozy chair or two.

I'll be careful not to disturb those leaves.

Happy Sunday.

Peonies, Pink Saturday & PicMonkey's Collage

Hello, gorgeous flower! Hello little green bug. I'm so glad you're finally here.

And you...you look awfully pretty in my little McCoy vase.

Dear readers, I wish that you could lean right into this photo and smell these beauties.

On this Saturday, I have good news for all of you collage makers. PicMonkey's collage feature is up. I happened to go to PicMonkey to edit these photos and boom! There it was! It's very easy, very user-friendly.

I made two collages:

There's lots of different grids and patterns. I've only played with it very briefly, but it looks neat. Go check it out!

Happy Saturday. And Happy 4th Birthday for Beverly's Pink Saturday!