Green and Speckled

Have you ever seen something that calls to mind a nursery rhyme or childhood song? It's fun when it happens out of the blue - you see or hear something, and suddenly the song or poem pops into your head!

One warm sunny afternoon I spotted this big fountain at a shopping center. In the glare of the day, the water looked so cool and inviting spilling over the brim. And then I spotted them ! 

Two green and speckled frogs
Sat on a speckled log,
Eating some most delicious bugs.
Yum, Yum!
One jumped into the pool
Where it was nice and cool,
Then there was one green speckled frog.
Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit!

You know, I just had to say the little froggie poem aloud to myself while taking this photograph!

Don't miss out on my give-away posted HERE  
The deadline in March 4 :)

CCVII, which is 207

 
You know I'm nuts, right? Well, I am! I'm fascinated by the craziest things. For example, I like calligraphy - a fancy name for fancy writing. I also like Roman numerals.

 Do you remember learning Roman numerals in school? I think they look sophisticated and elegant, and like them on my watch and clock faces. See our big clock on the living room wall? It actually has Roman and Arabic numerals.

Whenever I see Roman numerals stamped on a coin or inscribed on a certificate I play a game with myself by seeing how quickly I can decipher the date!

 

 Roman numerals are used today in a variety of applications:

• in outlines for a story or report
• on clocks and watches such as IIII for the number 4
• in books to number prefaces, forwards and book chapters
• on films and big events such as Rocky II and Super Bowl XLVI
• for monarchs such as Elizabeth II and Henry VIII
• for Popes

	Which brings me to CCVII, which equals two hundred and seven. That is how many followers my blog has now. I'm so tickled! What fun it is to read your comments and visit your blogs, my friends. So, I am having a 'happies' give-away. If you are one of my sweet followers and leave a comment on this post, I'll include your name in the drawing. The 'happies' will include a box of Yorkshire Tea, a pocket-sized natural hand lotion (no mineral oil),  cupcake wrappers and picks, Ghirardelli chocolate, stickers, and a few other surprises.     I will toss all names in my spiffy Mad Hatter hat on March 4th, so leave your comment before next Monday! sharing with Win It - Katherine's Corner

The First Narcissus

all posters.co.uk

 

Now in the oak the sap of life is welling,
Tho' to the bough the rusty leafage clings;
Now on the elm the misty buds are swelling,
See how the pine-wood grows alive with wings;

Rosemary abuzz with bees

Blue-jays fluttering, yodeling and crying,
Meadow-larks sailing low above the faded grass,
Red-birds whistling clear, silent robins flying,--
Who has waked the birds up? What has come to pass?

 

Hydrangea covered in buds

   

Now on the plum the snowy bloom is sifted,
Now on the peach the glory of the rose,
Over the hills a tender haze is drifted,
Full to the brim the yellow river flows.
Dark cypress boughs with vivid jewels glisten,
Greener than emeralds shining in the sun.
Who has wrought the magic? Listen, sweetheart, listen!
The mocking-bird is singing Spring has begun.

Henry Van Dyke

The first Narcissus in the garden!

Such joy to see the beginnings of Spring - sweet reminders of the continuity of life.

Any signs of Spring where you are? It won't be long! Time change is just a couple of weeks away. 

Joining~

 Gratitude Sundays at A La Carte
Mosaic Monday 
Make it Pretty 
Clever Chicks Blog Hop 

To Love Side By Side In~

Pink roses in a basket for Pink Saturday. I spotted this charming arrangement while walking around historic Old Town Orange, California. Many of the homes here are approaching, or are over, one hundred years old. They usually have unattached garages on the back of the property which is reached by a long, narrow driveway on one side of the house. I am enchanted by these homes!! My grandparents lived in a similar style house and I find them charming, romantic and welcoming. A sense of nostalgia always fills me when I walk past these well-used homes with their covered porches and wooden steps. It takes me right back  to being five years old and seeing the Helms Bakery truck coming up the street. Here are a few of the lovely homes I recently saw as I took a walk around the neighborhood~

stone bunnies waiting to welcome you

brick fireplace and black trim

patriotic colors

mint colored two-story

white picket fence

not unusual to see these signs in yards

black and yellow catch your eye?

can you imagine having tea and scones on the porch?

                       

potted Geraniums on the step

 I'm discontented with homes that are rented so I have invented my own.
Darling this place is a lover's oasis where life's weary chase is unknown.
Far from the cry of the city, where flowers pretty caress the streams,
Cozy to hide in, to love side-by-side in. Don't let it abide in my dreams.

Picture you upon my knee, just tea for two and two for tea,
Just me for you and you for me, alone!

Youmans and Caesar

 Which one is your favorite and why? Hope your Saturday is rosy!

sharing this post with:

 Pink Saturday
Saturday Show Off  

Life With Father

 

 

One of my favorite movies is Life With Father starring Irene Dunne and William Powell. A Wikipedia search gave me this description:

 The story portrays a rambunctious, overburdened Wall Street broker who demands that everything from his family should be just so. The more he rails against his staff, his cook, his wife, his horse, salesmen, holidays, his children and the inability of the world to live up to his impossible standards, the more comical and lovable he becomes to his own family who love him despite it all. It is the story of New York upper-middle-class family life in the 1890s.

 

This hilarious movie depicts what happens when the wife discovers that her husband has never been baptized.

 

 

Meanwhile, the oldest son has a crush on young Elizabeth Taylor, the two youngest sons make pocket money by selling a product door-to-door, and relatives keep arriving on the doorstep for extended stays.

 

In a moment of uncharacteristic household calm, Clare proclaims his love for his wife Vinnie, and that's when she is able to talk him into getting baptized - but Clare won't agree to it until Vinnie returns a ceramic dog she bought to the department store. When I saw this dog at T.J.Maxx I had to giggle and take a photo!! I could just hear Clare's voice thundering, " What's that monstrosity?"

 

This movie will make you laugh all the way to the end!

 

 

California's Gold~

 

 California here I come, right back where I started from, 
where bowers of flowers bloom in the sun.

Each morning at dawning, birdies sing an' everything.
 A sun kissed miss said, "Don't be late," 

that's why I can hardly wait, 

Open up that Golden Gate, 

 California here I come!

         I took these photos at Shell Beach, California.  

CALIFORNIA HERE I COME
Al Jolson, Bud De Sylva, Joseph Meyer

sharing with -
Note Card Party at A Haven For Vee

I, Myself and Me

I had a little tea party
This afternoon at three.
'Twas very small-
Three guest in all-
Just I, myself and me.

Myself ate all the sandwiches,
While I drank up the tea;
'Twas also I who ate the pie
And passed the cake to me.

Jessica North

Some people will tell you there is a great deal of poetry and fine sentiment in a chest of tea.

Ralph W. Emerson 

I shouldn't think even millionaires could eat anything nicer than new bread and real butter and honey for tea.

Dodie Smith 

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Artful Affirmations 

Marthas Favorites 

Antiques and Teacups 

Moments

Moments are all we have~ 

I saw this video and thought, "Yes! Someone put into words what my heart has felt since College Girl was born!" I have not read One Thousand Gifts yet, but based on this video I'm downloading it onto my Nook.

Just thought I'd share this touching film clip with you as you prepare for the week ahead.

sharing this with Spiritual Sundays

 

Flights of Fancy

I love seeing birds in our backyard. Big, small, colorful, plain, chirpers, cooers or squawkers!  No matter what the calendar says, we can always count on darling Hummingbirds.

 This fellow had a stunning pink hood~

 

These little aerial acrobats whiz within inches of us!

 

 This one enjoyed his meal so much he forgot to use a napkin! See the nectar droplets on his beak?

 It's so tasty and he must hurry before Pink Hood returns, so we must forgive his manners~

 As the days lengthen and buds appear, I look forward to being surprised by seasonal visitors. Last year a nesting pair of bright yellow Orioles made a home nearby and used the birdbath daily as they stopped in for a drink of nectar and a nibble of fresh fruit.

 You may remember that just last week a Black Headed Grosbeak treated us to a quick visit to sample sunflower seeds. Once a week or so a regal hawk stops by, to the chagrin of the little birds. He is on the prowl for field mice or rabbits. 

One of my favorite photos of our backyard guests is this one - the sweet yellow bird looking up from the birdbath.

I've managed to get some pictures of mamas and fledglings, too. Here is one of my lucky shots - 

 

 I am grateful for the beauty of nature right outside our window, and the grace freely bestowed upon my daily life.

sharing this post: Gratitude Sundays with A La Carte
Sunny Simple Sunday 
Spiritual Sundays 
Let's Get Social Sunday 

 

Tickled Pink with My Ears~

Happy Pink Saturday! I thought I'd share something that makes me tickled pink and happy all over.

My Mickey ears have pink buttons on the front~

How do you like my ears? Yep, I wore these all over Disneyland. You should see the variety of ears available at the park!

sharing this post with:

Pink Saturday