Two interesting books...

Some of her ideas:

Gazebo

Might paint a couple chairs green, and a strawberry pot with moss rose or portulica is a good idea!

But I don't so much like the other benches...

Front porch had these accents.

Dried flowers instead of a botanical print in a frame

This recipe....

Very easy and festive!

This interior reminded me of Rosemary's.

                                                                -------------------------

This is another good book with Christian based ideas for celebrating holidays through the year.

Here is one of her activities:

What do you think? Maybe as Catholics we could never use "Jesus' body" and "marshmallow" in the same sentence.  What are your your thoughts?

Miscellany

Sister's feast day inspired me to look up pictures of Sister on Famlog Happenings.  This one begins illustrate her sense of fun and spontaneity:

But I'd love to see the big smile on her face!

                                                                -------------------------

There was a big smile on fly's face as he bolted

...fast as his short little legs could carry his spherical body away from the front yard.

You realize, of course, this is the heroin fix of Fly's existence, and he is always looking for the next high.

So today a 300yard range shock collar arrived in the mail....the playing field is level--I'm back in the game!

                                                                -------------------------

Sewing the little mouse pattern that Mary found on the Internet  has been fun!

Numbers 4 and 5 above.

                                                                -------------------------

Jeanne, pictured above, sweet soul that she is, brought home a cluster of frog eggs for dad's lotus garden.  She and John went collecting at signal hill park, and brought home delightful treasures!

They are likely wood frog eggs because the wood frog lays black and white eggs...she brought home the stick they were deposited on, too. 

Also in the pots are bellamya japonica snails:

They are were imported from Japan in 1890's, but seem by all accounts to be benign invaders.  Nurseries even give them away with a pond purchase because they are excellent at keeping the water filtered.

Our other guests include a salamander, mosquito fish, bullfrog tadpoles, dragonfly nymphs and a craw dad.

But I am a broody hen over those frog eggs!  It's been such a fun project. Highly recommended!

Thank you John and Jeanne!  May God bless your nature loving souls!

                                                                -------------------------

For your enjoyment though the picture does not do it justice...

There are now dozens and dozens of cheerful naturalized grape hyacinth in front of the outdoor shrine at Seton ----- planted by Betty's life skills girls several years ago --- and now multiplied many times over.  Pure joy!

God bless your Seton apostolate, Betty!   May it multiply and bear great fruit! 🌻💐🌺🌷🌹💐

this letter, written by Evelyn Waugh to his wife during WW2, is in the book "Letters of Note, Volume 2"

Talking a blue streak

Blue bird

Blue eyed girl

Blue gak

Out of the blue

Blue collar

Little boy blue

Blueberries

Blue ribbon

Black and blue

True blue

Spotted at Seton

Sister Mary Joseph, with The former Grace VdV on the left

And here is the former Amanda S.

You Banana

Charlotte had a kids day out with Lucy, Mormie's and I.

First we had a lovely unphotographed visit to Mormie's during which Lucy played hostess for Charlotte in the basement full of toys.

Mormor and I enjoyed a brief visit with Becky and then it was time to leave for noon Mass.

...followed by lighting a candle...followed by chick fila 

We played 2 games as a foursome, and Charlotte enjoyed a game of her own making

Which involved popping under the table and giving small tokens to mormor.

Continuing in form, cc put her coat on herself...

Coming or going?

Then we saw Peter briefly

And headed to Merrifield

Here we are posing together on our outing!

And a lollipop at the end---plus she asked for another for Danny.

What a fun time!

Oh and we practiced talking like a gorilla:

You banana, me banana, you me give!

Falcons visit

At Falcons Landing yesterday: no falcons, however several littles landed!   Here are some of the pictures:

Kia's first taste of Nonie's tapioca!

She loved it!

And waving goodbye....such a blessing!