Hoping for Hummers

Last year, despite having a hummingbird feeder on a wrought iron shepherd's hook, in front my the apartment, very few hummers visited.

The sugar water was replaced frequently but to no avail.

By summer's end, the humming bird feeder got a thorough washing and was put away.

My thought was to just give the hummingbird feeder to my daughter. 

However, a very dear friend gave that feeder to me so I wanted to keep it.

Plus, hummingbirds, with theincredible rapid beating of their wings, seem magical to me.

They are sooooo tiny but  totally adorable.

Now it's spring again and hope springs eternal.

After seeing darling hummers at my daughter and son-in-law's house recently,  the decision has been made to give the hummers another shot.

So two cups of water to a half cup of sugar are going into the hummingbird feeder today. 

There will be some hoping for hummers around here once again!

DOES ANYONE KNOW SOME FACTS ABOUT HUMMINGBIRDS?

Windows That Tell a Story

Stained glass windows are truly exquisite and quite unique.

It must take an immense amount of time to put such a window together.

It's so awesome to sit and look at stained glass windows and see the people, the scenes, and all they represent.

It'd be impossible to simply glance at a window. It takes time to see what is happening in each one.

The windows in today's post are from  churches in western Massachusetts. The colorful windows are quite gorgeous.

There are so many churches in this area of the country and most of them have stained glass windows.

It is hoped the windows are not a dying art since many churches have closed completely the last few years and have even been made into housing.

May stained glass windows go forward into the future for many generations, telling their stories and shining rainbow colored reflections over everything in their path.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT STAINED GLASS WINDOWS?

In the Quiet

Life changes as the years tick by.

People we think are going to be part of our lives forever are not.

Situations that we used to tolerate, we no longer do.

We lose spouses and see our children grow up and have kids of their own.

While we love them all dearly, they all have their own lives to live. 

So we adjust to change.

Some evenings are now quieter but quite beautiful.

There are rituals to follow in newly found freedom. 

Everyone's ritual is different and there are no right or wrong ways to do things.

A large plant that now stands in an Indonesian basket has been strung with white lights.

It brings peace each evening as the sun goes down.

Candles, too, flicker on table tops as well as on a buffet.

A large Mother's Day floral bouquet has now been moved to smaller vases and the flowers submerged are the ones that still live.

There's a soft heart-shaped pillow that makes sitting in a lounge chair very comfy.

On chilly evenings, which seem to be stretching throughout May, a heated lap blanket is immensely welcome.

When we let go of expectations, and feel deep gratitude for every good thing we have including people we love, then life is, indeed, very good, even if it has changed.

Here's wishing you a really blessed and peaceful weekend. 

DO YOU HAVE ANY RITUALS YOU FOLLOW FREQUENTLY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

What Makes One Happy?

 

Throughout many years of thrift store shopping, one finds all kinds of signs about everything from living and loving life, where home is, the meaning of friendship and love, and on and on.

The sign shown in this post, however, is one of my absolute favorites.

The concept of doing more of what makes one happy is brilliant.  

When one does that, life is better. 

It's more meaningful and fulfilling.

For starters, I love baking,  blogging, collecting cranberry glass and dollhouse miniatures, dolls, flowers, interacting with precious grandchildren, playing my guitar and banjo, music,  reading, thrift store shopping, photography, taking excursions with friends,  writing, and interior decorating.

All of those make me happy.

So when I see the sign, it reminds me to do more of all the above. 

What a concept that is!  It makes life even more worth living, one treasured moment at a time.

PLEASE, COULD YOU SHARE ONE OR TWO THINGS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY?

Celebrate!

It's important to celebrate the joy of spring, not just on special holidays, but every single day!

Here are a few things I love about spring:

*  Sunshine

*  Gentle rain

*  Flowers of every fragrance, size, and color

*  Birdies and their beautiful songs

*  Screens on windows to let the fresh air in

*  Trips to a farm store where they make ice cream from

     nearby Jersey cows

*   Barbecues with hamburgers and hotdogs sizzing on the grill,

     potato salad, fresh tomato slices, and corn-on-the-cob

*   White tablecloths and white bedspread on the couch to lighten

      up the living room

*   Farmers' markets

*   Fresh fruits, especially peaches, and vegetables

*   Taking excursions out of town to see new places, especially thrift

     stores

*   Sitting outside at my daughters, surrounded by gorgeous flowers

     hanging from hooks and dazzling the atmosphere from planters

Okay, there are a dozen of things I love about spring!

CAN YOU ADD A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT YOU LOVE ABOUT SPRING?