Our Cup Runneth Over

 Now that we have returned to Murphy and are resuming our life here, let us catch up a bit on all sorts of exciting things. Friends, we thought we had some baby bluebirds and then we were not sure so while Bruce was mowing the lawn a week ago Saturday, his curiosity got the best of him and he opened the box and found this: 

As you can well imagine, he quickly closed it and kept his distance. What could this mean? Is this a remainder, or a beginning? We were most definitely puzzled.

So about a week later, I was outside with Bruce who was doing something wonderful for us and that was building a potting work bench!!

First he had to square off the top for a shelf because although you might not see it in the photo, the ground slopes downward towards the steps. Which, by the way, one day I walked out back and what should I see but a groundhog sitting on the top step, staring at me when I appeared! Obviously, much preferred than a bear, which while they are not in town, folks we know have seen them outside of town. No thank you! He ran into our neighbors yard where I suspect he intended to crawl into the pipe that runs underneath the street.

Back to the bench, here is the top with a cut-out for a cake pan that will be used for any wet work.

And here is the finished product.

He turned a little empty spot into something wonderfully functional, but that is Bruce for you. Sitting down and studying the space, he made a drawing, bought the lumber, and here we are less than a week later. I used it this morning to change out some potted violas that had seen better days. Once the new flowers are established I will show them off because they are fun.

Fun is also to be had, or at least our idea of fun, most mornings when the rabbits are in the back yard helping with weed control. 

That said, it is going to take more than a rabbit family to eradicate the amount of weeds we have! Slow and steady though, as we take small steps to return the landscape to what we hope will be special. 

The components are already here with all the biggies well established. We were so fortunate to have so many beautiful plants already here, including the gorgeous color azalea that mostly bloomed when we were in Florida.

The intense color of the rhododendron is beautiful in person as well. It too, finished most of it's annual blooming while we were away.

Perhaps you notice the rain on the flowers and that is because until this week, it rained for probably every day last week, keeping the temperatures under 70 degrees during the day and in the high 50's overnight. Quite the change from 95 degrees in Orlando, and a welcome one. 

Unfortunately, with all that rain causing the rivers to overflow, mosquitos are out in full force. Our yard was sprayed during our tine away but I don't think it was enough, although we did have folks over last evening and sat out back for some hours, so maybe it is working? 

Over the years I have taken a lot of photographs, in the hundreds of thousands is a good estimate. They are all my babies, but every now and again, a very special photographic moment happens and I am there to capture it. Last week, a magical moment happened in our back yard and I happened to be there to turn it into a photo. Frankly, I can't believe I have waited this long to include it in the post because when it happened, and I saw it on my computer screen, I must have sent it to five people I was so excited.

Now, I am sending it out to you my dear readers. 

The pictured egg above is the best place to start. Is that egg viable, or did it not hatch?  So hard to know what to think. Bruce was pretty sure he heard some chicks in there a few weeks ago, so maybe it is new? Well....

I was standing near the potting bench when this happened:

Obviously I began snapping like a madwoman, but my camera was giving me a fit. In the process of changing settings, I just said to myself what the heck, and then this happened.

Mind you this was all in a matter of moments, so where did the second juvenile come from, and is momma bluebird preparing for another brood, including the egg we saw? I think if I was still actively selling I would call this one, "Past, Present and Future".  Needless to say I was thrilled.

Now that we know what they look like, we can't help but notice them. I guess they are a few weeks old? Maybe they hatched during our absence? Questions, always more questions! 

Anyway, to the best of my recollection, I have never had a full family of birds in one shot so now you know why I was giving thanks for being in the right place at the right time!

Hydrangeas for the win! Probably fifty or more blooms on that plant!

For the last photo in our nature section, I took this in Orlando at the garden plots in the front of the property. Apparently they are invasive and you can see the damage being done to that plant.

People! Time for some folks, one of whom is Barbara Tifton and her daughter Doona as well. Before we left we were at the wine bar and chatting with folks when this adorable little lady happened to be seated at the next table to my left. In typical Gail and Bruce fashion, I began chatting with her and found out that she is a native, well over 80 years old, and absolutely cute as a button. So cute in fact that I asked if I might take her picture. She seemed to be quite pleased to be asked, giving me a big smile.

Well I forgot about it until we returned and I emptied my camera cards and found her sweet face amongst the photos. Wishing I would see her again so I might share it, my wish came true, or sort of, on Sunday when her daughter sat near me in church! I'd never noticed her before Sunday, so maybe she usually sits elsewhere? In any case, I showed her the photo and she quickly gave me her number so that I could send it to her in order for Barbara to see it for herself. The whole thing made us all happy! 

Years and years ago I went to an assisted living facility and offered to take portraits of the folks there because, as I have since learned first hand, older folks are somewhat invisible to the general public. I know that is a generalization, but in my experience, generalizations always contain a grain of truth. Anyway, here to old folks!!

And to young folks!! Before we left I did the preschool photos again and it was so much fun.

Should you be wondering the posture the front row is taking is now called, "criss-cross applesauce". All news to me. Beginning Sunday night VBS starts and I will, once again, have the pleasure of photographing the happenings.  

The day after we returned we went to a cookout for Memorial Day at the Liber's.

The forest was in it's best finery and the mountain laurel was blooming like mad.

The close up shows how intricate it is but the bigger view gives you a notion about how wonderful it is, especially considering it is completely wild.

They are such a welcoming couple it is a joy to visit them. About nine years ago, this area held a mobile home that they lived in for years when they would come up from Atlanta. Well, it is a showpiece these days!

The chicken coop is very active with five chickens, seen here pecking on some watermelon from lunch.

Checking the egg box, well apparently it fills every day at this time of year.

For dessert she made a trifle for the first time and was so pleased with it. Delicious!

Please note Bruce wearing a jacket!! This week the weather has been mild and some nights we leave the upstairs windows open while we sleep, however, there is one little problem with that and it is the Robins are SO LOUD that they wake us up before sunrise! 

Before we leave the Libers, another pretty view.

The following Monday she went on her first trip to Europe and is still there. We are looking forward to her return.

I skipped my afternoon walk today because I was meant to finish this post yesterday afternoon, however, Bruce was taking Grayson out to lunch and G wanted me to accompany them, and so I did. Then with company coming....

At any rate, the water is still very high as it has been for weeks now. Taking this one before we left,  you can see how high the water was then, and it is even higher now.

My next post will be filled with the ever burgeoning Canadian geese flock and their offspring, of which there are many.  Lots of squirrels too.

Between VBS and several community events we have got a jam-packed week ahead, and who knew it would be this way? Certainly neither of us would ever have thought when I saw the photo of Charlotte's cottage online , that two years later we would be living in a small town in Western North Carolina and loving every minute of it?

Could I possible have luck a second time with the new batch of bluebirds? Stay tuned!

your friend,

Gail

p.s. We finally made it to the NT and are in Luke.