Two new tires on old car. Check.
Inspection on newer car to be done today. Almost check.
Dollhouse photos submitted to British magazine. Check.
Two nights in a row of too little sleep. Check.
But it’s sunny and beautiful outside and the flowers are still blooming. I miss seeing birds in the birdbath. Every year about mid-August, I notice the lack of activity out there and it makes me sad. I get such pleasure from watching them frolic in the water. I feel like a mom whose kids have left the nest. Come back, little birds! (It should be the title of a play.)
The Lady Elsie May roses are doing well. I cut them back severely this spring. There were so many dead canes that the whole bush needed a haircut. Now, I have to decide what to do about its neighbor – the Julia Child rose. It had leaves this year, but no rosebuds. Do I get rid of it? Or do I give it one last chance with a haircut?
I’ve been the lucky recipient of a couple of gifts lately. Tammy, one of my longtime blogging friends who lives in Kuwait, sent me this beautiful journal that she made, along with a crocheted heart. Isn’t it lovely?
Thank you, Tammy!
And Barbara sent some goodies for the Top Secret Project. DON: Stop here!
Some teeny-tiny baseball cards from L. Delaney.
And a mini record album, complete with record – Abbey Road, of course. Barbara must have read my mind. I’m going to have a turntable in the studio, along with a record album collection. This Beatles album is the perfect start. As you know, Don is a huge Beatles fan.
The album is also by L. Delaney. I’ve ordered from her before and she has a wonderful Etsy shop.
Thank you, Barbara!
By the way, the article about the dollhouse will most likely be in the January issue. I’ll let you know more about it in a few months.
Happy Wednesday.
It is amazing how small and detailed the cards and album are. They will look great in the studio. Doris
They will! The cards are unbelievably tiny, Doris!
My Julia Child didn’t bloom either, but 10 miles up the road my sister’s is beautiful! Total mystery of why some do well one year while others flounder.
Absolutely! Who knows why? I do know that this bush needs to be pruned for sure!
Please let us know where we can get an issue. I love your doll house. I am in the beginning stages of restoring an old house. I have most of the furnishings but so excited to put it together. You know I love yours.
Life has pilled up here for the time being. I am afraid my readings a few and far between.
I am guessing a surprise in a man cave for Don in miniature, hah.
Hugs
I hope everything is okay, Debby! Take care.
I’m so ready for Fall weather but not for Winter. Don’t quite know anything I can do about that. LOL
Judy
I’m never ready for winter – and it just keeps on comin’.
I have several bird feeders in my garden, and the birds queue up to use them, but I’ve never, ever seen a bird using my bird bath. what am I doing wrong? Is it the lack of luxury shampoos and body lotion that’s putting them off? By the way, Don is going to be thrilled with your new project. I said to my DH today,’ We don’t have any hobbies in common’ and he said, ‘Well I’m not doing embroidery, so I suggest you take up smoking’ Men!
I don’t know what to tell you about the bird bath. Ours was out for at least two, maybe three summers, before birds started using it. Now, in the peak of summer, it’s like a neighborhood swimming pool!
Wonderful gifts…especially that album. How cute is that? I would give your non-blooming rose a good haircut come spring…rather than pull it. I’m always one for second chances…whether it be people, or plants! ;)
I think I’ll give it another chance!
What a sweet gift from Tammy. She is one of the most generous souls I’ve been blessed to meet in this blogging world. I love reading of her adventures. Those gifts for Don’s studio look perfect to me. How thoughtful. I have the same decision to make regarding one of my rose bushes. I’m leaning towards giving it a severe haircut and seeing what the results are in the spring.
Blessings,
Betsy
I may give it a haircut in the spring, Betsy.
The birds are extremely busy at the feeders right now, but few takers for the bird bath. Through the summer I was filling it a few times a day. Now I am doing once a day, and really could let it go two. Wonder why they don’t use it at this time of year. I also miss their singing, chirping and trilling. I guess all the romance is over and now it is down to getting ready for the fall & winter.
I vote to give the rose a 2nd chance. A good haircut does lots of us a world of good.
Those teenies are amazing. Are they smaller than the size of a quarter or a nickel? They just astound me when I see what people can do to miniaturize such things.
It is a fantastic day here. All sun ~ no humidity ~ and a high of 77*. A diamond of a day for sure!!!!!!
The baseball cards are smaller that my little finger nail, about half again as small.
It’s very humid and very hot here today – 93. Tomorrow, we’re supposed to get thunderstorms and the temps are supposed to drop. Thunderstorms also in NYC where I have to be tomorrow.
Oh my gosh..that album is so perfect for Don…He is going to love his project for sure!
I hope so, Nancy!
That Beatles album miniature is the bomb!
103 (f) degrees here yesterday; supposed to be hotter today and we’re SO humid due to a hurricane off our SoCalif coast. I’ve tried to get chores done EARLY; the news folks are telling people to stay indoors (try to stay cool) and I’m just hoping we don’t lose electrical power with an overload on the grid. In my small town, which consists of a lot of bungalows from the 1920-1940 era with little new housing…especially the long-time homes of our elderly residents…there’s surprisingly (maybe not so surprisingly) a great many homes which do not have air conditioning and we’re known to get a sea breeze in evenings although we’re inland somewhat; however, the weather people said on the TV last night that the breeze is non-existent for several days yet and, truly, I definitely KNOW our weather used to be, as a rule, cooler but, after all, we’re in unprecedented drought on top of everything else going on. I do worry about the older people, though; it’s hard on them. We’re not like bigger cities where you can go to those cooler shelters they open up for people temporarily.
So, meddling-me – – what’s under the blue tarp in the photo? Is that a basement door you have to cover for rain? I can’t remember if you have a cellar or basement.
I know that when I was living in San Diego, lots and lots of people didn’t have air conditioning. It’s considerably warmer nowadays than it was when I was living there, and I bet a lot more people have A/C.
The tarp covers the outside door to the cellar. The door is old and made of wood, so we cover it to keep out any excess moisture.
We also have a blue tarp on our chimney…because we can’t afford to get it repaired at the moment!
Blue tarps all around.
I have so many birds in my birdbath I have to fill it up 2 or 3 times a day from them splashing around. I put a little concrete turtle in it and there is always one that stands on the turtles head. Looks like he is the lifeguard and he is saying ok everybody in the pool! It is so funny to watch them all.
hugs
My birdbath was just like that this summer. I had to keep refilling it. I read an article that said a lot of the birds here in the northeast are preparing to fly elsewhere and that’s why there’s not so much, if any, activity now in the birdbath.
Claudia, I read this post on my phone yesterday while babysitting and attempted a comment…but somehow it didn’t get sent (hmmmm baby in arms might have had something to do with it) anyway just wanted to say I love the mini’s and I miss having a bird bath and watching the sweet birds play in the water.
hugs,
Linda
I managed to scare the only birds that have been near the birdbath off by mistake. Once by opening the blinds in the living room and today when I drove up the driveway!