Kwanzan Cherry Trees

On April 22nd on our way to pick up my prescriptions,
we drove past these Kwanzan Cherry Trees that happen to be in full bloom.

To say they were gorgeous is such an understatement.

It was 60 degrees, the sky was a deep blue, and there was barely a cloud in the sky.

This is the parking lot for a Church/School, there was not a car or person in sight.

I got out of the car and stood under the tree and I was in heaven.

I made meatloaf for dinner that night, 
really in the afternoon, we always eat early, between 3 and 4 o'clock.
The meatloaf was amazing!

This was a meal kit from Home Chef, the glaze they provided for the meatloaf was

Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce and that ended up being delicious.

There was bacon bits and cheese for on top of the mashed potatoes,

the hubs opted in for that, I opted out.

These signs are displayed on our neighbors lawns, it is awesome to see these,
I would like to get one!
They are going to open our state parks on May 2nd, 
I will be the first one on the Allaire State Park bike path.

Another beautiful day in the books, what are you doing to stay busy?

Yarn Along

I started this new crochet project...

Another Farm Girl Cowl
This yarn was from my "stash" and it did not have a tag/card in the center,
so I have no idea what this yarn is!
The one thing I do not like about it, you can not see the subtle pattern as you crochet.

I have also been working a little bit on my...


Irish Hiking Scarf
This is knit with Cascade Yarn

50% Superfine Alpaca and 50% Peruvian Highland Wool.

This yarn is great to work with and I really love the neutral color, it will go with everything.

All of the tulips pictured are from my garden.

I made a big bowl of pasta salad,

with fresh dill,
we grilled hot dogs and it felt like summer.


We love this pasta salad,
I follow this recipe exactly except I do not add the chicken.

Yesterday morning, 
I was able to release the butterfly, and he flew off like a champion.
I was so happy!


The tulips are starting to fade and soon they will all be gone.
* sad face *

Another day in the books and it was a really beautiful one!

Being Inspired

Just when you think you have nothing else to write about,

a miracle emerges! 

One of my Black Swallowtail Butterflies emerged from it's chrysalis. 

It's really too early to see them,

they usually emerge around the second week of May.

The netted cages are in the garage, the suggested spot to over winter them.

I have to leave the cages in the garage, if I bring them indoors,

all of the butterflies will emerge in the warmth of the house,

and it is too cold outside to release them.

I am never quite sure how to tell my Butterfly story...

if you follow my blog, you already know the story, if not,
here is the readers digest version! 

I raise butterflies.

I plant a lot of dill in my outdoor garden.

Black Swallowtail Butterflies lay their eggs on dill.

Once I find the eggs, I bring them indoors, into my netted butterfly cages.

I care for them, feed them, clean their cage and nurture them until they go into chrysalis.

Last summer, at seasons end, I found a second "crop" of caterpillars on my dill.

I brought them indoors and 52 went into chrysalis, and have been that way all winter.

If you are interested,

this is a great article about raising Black Swallowtail Butterflies indoors.

If you are interested, 

a few of my butterfly stories and pictures can be found here, here, and here.

This is one of my favorite pictures from a past season...

this one...

and this one too!!

The hubs went and bought an orange for the butterfly, 

I am feeding it to the butterfly until I can release it tomorrow.

Talk about excitement, there are 51 more coming!!

Are you guys finding things to be excited about?

Another day in the books, this one was very exciting for me.

Inspiration

Karen, 

reads my blog frequently from what I can tell,

she does not have a blog and comments only occasionally.

She left me a comment on Friday that gave me great inspiration...

"I don't care what you write about, 

it's all interesting, that's why I have been reading your blog for years".

That really struck a cord, and has inspirited me to make more of an effort to write 

and to try to make my words and pictures interesting and fun!

My friend Connie also reminded me of a few things to write about.

I am going to make a list of the things I enjoy, fun things I can write about and pictures I can share.
We rode the bikes on Saturday, it was a gorgeous day and we stayed in our neighborhood.
I was not able to get back home, but I made it most of the way.
Same story there, the hubs went for the car and he came and got me.
I made it much further than the last time.

I have been cooking a lot and I have made some pretty awesome meals!!
Still using Home Chef, here are a few of our favorites...


Pulled Pork Gyros with Dill Crema and Feta - 2 each.
I added the crispy fried potatoes with onions.


Classic Chicken Piccata
with penne pasta and lemon caper butter sauce


Chicken Breast and Caramelized Shallot Demi
with spinach and potato gratin


Caesar Chicken with Parmesan Green Beans
I put the caesar dressing on the side, and added the potatoes, they were not part of the meal package.
The hubs purchased a 10 pound bag of Yukon Gold Potatoes at Costco,
I never dreamed we would eat them all, but this is the last of them!
They were really good potatoes, with lots of flavor.


I made this fun memory, I think when this is all over, I will roll it up
and place it in my beautiful moments jar.


Here's my handsome gardner, he keeps the yard looking mighty beautiful!


This Song Sparrow has been hanging around a lot.
It is in this area year round but I don't usually see them at my feeders during the winter.
They have very distinct markings and a fairly long tail.
Most notably, they have a very sweet song!

Another day in the books, I have not had any trouble keeping busy!!
How about you guys, what are you doing to keep busy?

Wise Words On Sunday

Saturday Critters ~ 332 ~

I wrote about the "Keeper of the House" on March 30th here.
Mr. House Sparrow is still here and nothing has changed since I wrote that story.
He sits a top "the" bird house and chirps all day long.
I think the Mrs. is in the house, on the nest, hopefully protecting some eggs!
I am sharing some new pictures, 
they probably look just like the ones from March 30th, but these are new.








A wink for the photographer!




Constant chirping, he never stops, I can hear him all day!









Check out those cute little pink feet!




The same bird on the azalea bush by the birdhouse. 
The bird house I keep talking about and showing here is right by the front door.


These pretty Cherry Blossoms are doing well, indoors, in water.

Sharing today's images with Eileen at Viewing Nature With Eileen

New Needed Things

I am not a big shopper or buyer for items for the house these days.

As we are getting older, I am trying to pair down.

But some things you really need and throw rugs for my entry way was one of them.

The rugs I had must have been 30 years old, 

they were well cared for but the backs of the rugs had turned to dust!

To say it was time for new ones is in understatement.

I don't shop in stores, I do fine shopping on-line.

One on-line store I really like is Wayfair.com,

all of these items came from there.

I have a lot of blue accents in this area, 

blue stained glass and it is open to the living room which has a blue couch.

It all comes together nicely.

When the sun hits them they are light like this,

but in real time, without the sun they are a bit darker.

A total of 5 rugs, $ 228.00, I am super happy with the quality and the look.

I needed a table, with drawers, for next to my bed.

I found this one for $ 88.00, the size is perfect, and the quality is excellent!

A set of lamps for the bedroom, set me back $ 69.00,

and I really needed new lamps.

I needed something for this kitchen wall.

Either 2, 8 x 10's or something large like this as the wallpaper is faded.

I adore this, but I think maybe I was a bit over reaching when it comes to it's size.

Do you think it is too big for this wall?

Please be honest, I have other places I could put it!

Another day in the books, 
I don't mind being home but I am running out of things to write about!

The Very Special Birdhouse

I have been talking a lot about this special birdhouse,
that the hubs bought me for my birthday, many years ago.
It was created by a Swedish artist Rolf Eric Holmquist
 crafted with all recycled materials...


It came with this card, describing the artist.
The card is numbered 38 of 250, the birdhouse is named 
"Rent for a Song"



This information is printed on the back of the card.


You can visit his website and read more about the artist here.


Most of the rest of the yellow tulips opened up
and on Tuesday, before the storm, they were drenched in sunshine.


This tree belongs to the neighbor to our left.


They have 2 of these and they are stunning,
I think these are Kwanza Ornamental Cherry Trees, the flowers look like carnations!

Another day, in the books, where does the time go?
- hehehehe -