Learning To Fly

Song - Come Away With Me by Norah Jones

So I have these two friends who happen to be sisters and I have known them for 40 plus years.

And we have a little problem.....we like to go to Paris together.

Jackie & Sydney came over to my house last weekend and we were supposed to plan a long weekend away this Spring.  We talked about many places to visit but then Jackie said "Oh heck, let's just check out airfare to Paris" and we all got to giggling hysterically and oops.....

we are heading to Paris in just a few weeks!

We have reserved our favorite room at the cozy little hotel we like in the 6th Arr.

There is a little balcony off of the bedroom that we have breakfast on while planning our day while looking out over the various rooftops in the neighborhood.

   

Then off we go to the various places that speak to our hearts. 

Some times we all go together and other times each one of us is off on her own journey.

In the next few weeks I hope to share these special spots with you!

"Paris est toujours une bonne idée"

--Audrey Hepburn

"Paris is always a good idea" - from the movie Sabrina

Wandering

Song - Fallen Through Time by Bear McCreary

Today I was playing music from our Scotland-England trip while painting these darling kids running home from school in Bath, England.  The playlist was for a CD that I made of our trip and included the above song.

Can you imagine the joy?

And that's exactly how I looked today when I got a new Mother Board put into my dead computer. 

 Yes.  I know.  

Right after my last blog post about the lovely rain, we had several power outages and my computer would not restart.  

After finding out that my brilliant computer guy was sick with the flu and that he wasn't even joking when he texted me "Oh Jeanette....I am so sorry but your computer really is dead"!  

 So I put on my big girl boots and called Dell.

Two hours later after a very patient man walked me though opening up the side of my computer and unplugging stuff and plugging in other stuff and turning it on and off and beeps and timing flashing lights and there may have been a few tears.....

...it was determined that I needed a new Mother Board.

Huh?

I texted my sick computer guy and he said that he was VERY proud of me!

I'll have you know that I went through withdrawals being without my computer.

Photos

Resources

Recipes

Blogging

Genealogy

Finances

Music

Information 

Art

well, you know....

So I now can take a deep breath and appreciate all that my trusty little computer gives me.

While painting, I looked out of our back door to the little bird house that Mr. B bought for our yard and I saw some activity in there. (You can read about Mr. B's purchase HERE)

An Oak Titmouse was checking it out for a nest.  Later in the day she brought her hubby along to show him the real estate she had found.  He must of given her the green light because the two of them were busy building that nest all day long. 

Mama bird would fly in and out with soft bits of fuzz in her beak while the proud dad would sing from the Maple tree above with joy.

And off she goes to find more nesting stuff.

I can't tell you how much joy this brings to my heart.

“If you will stay close to nature, 

to its simplicity, to the small things hardly noticeable, 

those things can unexpectedly become great and immeasurable.”

 --Rainer Maria Rilke

Pitter Patter

Song- Relaxing Forest Rain Sounds

During the night and early Thursday morning a storm blew in.  The clouds were flying across the sky.

And YES California finally has some rain.....

...and more importantly we are getting some snow as well!

Woke up on Thursday morning to eight little California Goldfinch birds on one feeder.

They were singing so beautifully from the trees.

I'm thinking that they are happy with the rain too!

This sweet Dark-eyed Junco feeds on the ground like the Mourning Doves.  They pick up the seed that other birds (or squirrels) have dropped.

And the rain just keeps up it's delightful pitter-patter all around me....loving the sound.

Rain is grace; 

rain is the sky condescending to the earth; 

without rain,

 there would be no life.

--John Updike

Sanctuary

Song - Wish You Were Here by Sierra Eagleson (Pink Floyd Cover)


 So I went out in the garden this morning to feed the birds......

and to check on what needs tending in the yard.......lots! 

And then I spotted a red headed woodpecker on the suet feeder so I ran inside to grab my camera.  But by the time I got back the woodpecker was gone but this little Black Capped Chickadee was there.  So I sat down and watched the animals come and go.

Two ducks appeared in the creek and the female started a wild bathing routine while the male duck looked on. Finally she settled down and swam over to a little island where the male was waiting.

I picked some lemons.....some Grape Hyacinth......and some Camellia's.......

I picked a big bouquet of Daffodils.....both yellow and white.

 

The Quince bushes are blooming.

 And the white Primrose's are popping up from last year......

The Star Magnolia is sweet and frilly.

Here in California we have not had much rain and even worse - NO SNOW!

I worry that my beloved garden may not have any water this summer and then where will the songbirds play?

"A garden is a grand teacher.  

It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; 

it teaches industry and thrift; 

above all it teaches entire trust."  

--Gertrude Jeckyll

My Funny Valentine's Birthday

Song - Happy Birthday Swing by the Lucky Seven

It's Mr. B's birthday today and I couldn't have picked a sweeter Valentine!

He's funny....

He loves his family.....

Loves to travel.....

 

 

Lake Como

 

Cinque Terre

 

Bourdeilles

London

And he makes friends where ever he goes.....

Mr. B is the one on the right...

He's a hard worker and goes into the office regularly!

He is also very humble and rarely knows more than anyone else!

He likes to sing....

....dance.....

.....play guitar......

...talk.....

 ....flyfish.....

...take me to concerts....

...and throw parties!

So glad he wandered into my life...

 

Happy Birthday Funny Valentine!!

 

"Your birthday reminds me of the old Chinese Scholar:

Yung No Mo"

 --unknown