Seen in the gardens:
Heavens, it’s a gorgeous day out there! Actually, I should say ‘here’ as I’m sitting on the glider writing this post. Today is the first day I’ve noticed less birdsong. Cicadas, yes. Mourning dove, yes. An occasional bird. But not like it was and that always makes me a little sad.
It’s a little too quiet out here. I can hear the sound of the river across the street. And traffic, of course. Bird song does a good job of blocking out the sound of traffic.
We mowed the largest side of the front lawn yesterday and then, after Don left to run some errands, I mowed the corral and the little area next to the shed. There’s still more to go, but we’ll wait a day or two. It just felt so good to be out there after being housebound with the heat and rain and some back problems. I had an endorphin high going. I love mowing because the results are so immediate. Too-long grass instantly transformed. Everything looks neater. That’s especially needed when you live in the country and your lawn is a big mix of all kinds of grasses and weeds. No manicured lawns out here!
I also pulled some weeds and weed whacked the funky patio. There’s more to weed whack but one can only do so much in a day.
We watched a Shirley Temple movie – Bright Eyes – on TCM last night. No one was more surprised than me when Don indicated that he wanted to watch the whole thing! He kept saying how talented little Shirley was and we were both happy to see one of our favorite actors, James Dunn, in the movie. It turns out Dunn did four movies with Shirley. Our favorite James Dunn role, and one he won the Academy Award for, was as Francie’s father in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. He absolutely breaks your heart in that role, a role he was made to play. Don noted while watching Bright Eyes that, despite his joviality, Dunn has an underlying sadness. You see that sadness in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
There are two movies that are guaranteed to make me cry, no matter how many times I’ve seen them: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and To Kill a Mockingbird. Actually, I’m sure there’s even more but those are the two that immediately come to mind.
Oh, just heard a beautiful bird call! Gorgeous.
I may buy some replacement flowers for some of the pots. The lobelia is looking rather tired.
I’m having one of those “I love my porch and my garden” days.
Happy Thursday.
wowee; what beautiful photos … depth of field, colors, details …! thanks for sharing.
why might there be less birdsong this time of year (not being close to winter)? hope you hear more of it soon!
glad you have so much yard work done and can rest and enjoy being outside (thanks to that cooler weather). hope you are having another good day!
dreaming here, i know … my ideal weather would include lots of rain (with no flooding), some sunny days and an occasional snowfall and temperatures between 40 and 70 degrees. that’s when i function and feel best. :)
kathy in iowa
One of the reasons is that they’ve generally stopped trying to find a mate at this point.
oh! i thought birds sang for other reasons besides courtship.
thanks for the answer, claudia!
kathy in iowa
They do sing for other reasons, and I still hear them here and there. But not with the volume and variety that I hear when they’re nesting.
Kathy, your ideal weather is more or less describing my part of the world (Lancashire in Northwest England) !😀 I’ve only known flooding bad enough to sadly affect some unfortunate home owners once in forty years xx
hi, dee dee!
hope your weather is to your liking! it sounds quite lovely to me … except, obviously, the part about some people having to deal with flooding. thankfully your area doesn’t seem to get flood-level precipitation very often.
hope all’s well for you and you have a nice day!
kathy in iowa
Yes, when they finish nesting, the birds get oh-so-quiet again. In the spring they begin each day by 4AM. Now it is mostly quiet.
Have you tried trimming the lobelia? Mine responds quite happily to getting a haircut! Just a thought.
Oh, and James Dunn in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn!! He IS exactly who I pictured in that role when I read the book. (Not that I knew who James Dunn was back then, but he fits the role and is just as I imagined!!) That is one of the best books turned into a movie that truly works. They both are powerfully wonderful.
Enjoy your day! Another pretty one here, but getting a bit warmer and more humid. But the sunshine is glorious.
This is a trailing lobelia and I don’t know if it responds to trimming. I did clean it up a little yesterday.
Love James Dunn in that role!
Your home sounds wonderful and in such an idyllic setting. It’s currently 86F , early evening with all sorts of temperature records being broken. Fortunately there’s a light breeze too. Apparently this heatwave is being blown across Europe from North Africa. Thunderstorms to follow later.
It’s years since I saw either of those films but A tree grows in Brooklyn is one of the books I own and haven’t read for a long time but intend to do so. West Side Story always makes me cry at the end, I’m looking forward to seeing how the remake turns out.
Happy Thursday
I know it’s even harder for all of you, since most people there don’t have air conditioning. Sounds like today – Friday – is better!
So glad you’re enjoying a nice day!
Thank you, Vicki!
I also always enjoy Shirley’s movies and that one was particularly good.
then I watched ‘Laura’ which came on after it. I LOVE that movie. never seem to tire of it.
the music especially… and really just everything about it.
your pictures as always are stunning. xo
We just saw Laura a few weeks back. Wonderful movie! Thanks, Tammy.
I am so glad that the heat wave is over. I love hearing the birds sing not the cicadas. My favorite Shirley Temple movies are “The Blue Bird”, The Little Princess and Heidi”.
We saw a movie recently on DVD called “Coming Home” (original title Gui lai) by Zhang Yimou. About a devoted couple forced to separate when Lu is arrested and sent to a labor camp as political prisoner during the Cultural Revolution. He returns home to find his wife does not recognize him.
The movie speaks volume of the love Lu has for his wife.
The movie came out in 2014. There are other movies that has the same english title.
Yes, like the one with Jon Voight and Jane Fonda.
Sounds like a good movie, Trina!
I haven’t watched a Shirley Temple movie in so long but I loved them when I was growing up. Now it’s on my list to watch. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn is one I’ve only seen once a long time ago so I need to watch it again also. It’s cooler here today. Yay! Scout is coming for a day with Grandma tomorrow and we are going to have our Mermaid Date. Watching the movie, playing, toys and more fun. Can’t wait!
Have fun on your Mermaid Date!
I didn’t realize it until you mentioned it, that there is less birdsong! Dang it. But yes, the coo of mourning doves and buzzing of cicadas.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is one of my all-time favorite books. I remember first reading it as a child and was mesmerized. I have not seen the movie!
My lobelia is looking rather raggy, too. So is another flower that I planted this year for the first time…can’t remember the name of it. Has small yellow flowers. Now it’s mostly straggly thin stems. Might dig it out and replace it with something else.
You should see the movie, Melanie. It’s one of those rare films that perfectly capture the novel.
We just recently watched “A Tree Grows In Brooklyn” on our DVD. It is such a moving story. Growing up in a nearby neighborhood in Brooklyn I can relate to the story. As far as Shirley Temple is concerned, we love her movies. She was such a multi talented actress. I read a quote once from Bill “Bojangles” Robinson who said ” When Shirley Temple was born they threw away the mold. There will never be another Shirley Temple”.
Marilyn
He was right, Marilyn!
I have “Bright Eyes” and “Captain January” on DVD. “Bright Eyes” is the one with “Good Ship Lollipop” in it, isn’t it? Love them both. Shirley’s movies were often played on TV very early Saturday mornings when I was a little kid – and to me, she was a link to the 30s when my parents were little. When I watched her, it felt like I was able to see what my parents’ childhoods were like. For some reason, that made a connection for me. Now when I watch them, they’re a flashback to my own childhood. And a just plain pleasure to watch. She truly was one of a kind. Now I might have to watch one tonight – LOL. Have a great evening! 🍉⛱🌿
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Yes, we watched them every weekend in the Detroit area, as well. My mom had a Shirley Temple doll, which I now have, and the fact that she had blonde curls, was born within a few months of Shirley Temple, and that her name was also Shirley – well, all of that made me a huge fan!
Seems you touched many with your Shirley Temple and James Dunn recollections. I love both a Tree Grows in Brooklyn and I Remember Mama, remarkable performances in each movie and beautifully filmed. Shirley Temple could dance with anyone from the time she was a peanut and it was wonderful and still is. I can see why she was such a bright spot during the Depression. I so love that you have the porch and other outdoor spots around your home to connect with nature. Especially as the summer begins to fade, each day that is mild and lovely feels so special. I’m already seeing a few leaves falling here, which is not unusual but always surprises me. The day Lillies have been having a field day in our area, just brilliant and prolific this year. I hope we’ll have them for a couple of weeks more at least.
She was a rarity and we’ll never see her like again. This particular movie had Jane Withers as the bratty child (she was so good at that) and I loved seeing them together!