Photo post by @SCVincent.
Source: Everywhere #midnighthaiku
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Blossoms in the spring |
By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell
Happy Earth Day, Earth!
What a wonderful world we live in – beautiful, fascinating, safe, peaceful, dangerous, harsh, mysterious, vast, surprising, and awe-inspiring.
I’m glad I live here.
In honor of Earth Day, I think it appropriate to give a gift.
So I will do something good for the Earth today. Maybe several somethings.
My gifts shall be:
– picking up any trash I see
– making sure I water only what needs water, not the sidewalk, gutter, or driveway
– turning off electrical devices I am not actually using
– planting something pretty (or tasty)
– giving thanks to God for such an amazing place to live
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Tulips opened to catch the sun |
Earth Day Haiku
Earth home, designed gift
fashioned by God’s mighty hand
habitat for us
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Fruit trees in bloom |
What will your gift be?
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Monet in the garden |
by Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell
National Haiku Poetry Day was on Sunday. I love wrangling words to create a 17 syllable story poem.
Cat in the garden
Ladybug is mine, Mine. MINE.
I can’t have it? Fine. I’m gone.
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Fine. You won’t let me have it, I’m outta here. |
Cat, photos, and Haiku are mine. Happy Haiku Holiday.
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Baby pictures – Monet and Mabel |
By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell
Today is National Pet Day.
Here are our two highly energetic and trouble-seeking felines, Mabel and Monet.
The sisters are camera shy and any attempt to take photos results in instant movement, waltzing away from the scene, aloof attitudes, or disdainful staring away from the camera. Loving eye shots are not allowed. No. Not at all.
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Mabel of the gorgeous eyes |
Our cats love to:
– climb the walls (literally)
– chase, capture, and bring in wildlife (birds, worms, mice, rats)
– pretend they live at the home of neighbors (your choice; we see them regularly lazing in the yards or coming home from 5 different yards – none of which are ours)
– leave hair everywhere
– recline on the kitchen table
– claim any unfurred piece of furniture until it is redecorated in white, gray, and tan fur
– play catch the lazer (or string, or cord, or feathers, or toes…)
– steal rubberbands
– eat daddy-long-legs
– try and potty in the garden beds
– tease the neighborhood bully cat with friendship, and then turn about squawling as if ripped limb from limb (this also results in the male boy spraying regularly on several key locations, house included)
– race loudly and wildly through the house
– be wherever we are
– sleep on fuzzy blankets
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Monet with the striped tail |
Oh, there is more. They are cats. You get the idea. We are not allowed cat fur free clothing, bird feeders, or litter free carpets.
But we love them. Entertainment, affection, company, lap warmers, snugglers. I guess we’ll keep them.
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Monet depositing hair and cat litter |
Do you need some great ideas of things to do on National Pet Day? I found a Web site that shared several suggestions. Just click this link. National Pet Day
What kind of pets do you have? I’d love to see and hear about them.
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Mabel claiming the center of the bed |
Happy National Pet Day!
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You have no idea how happy I am to see this many blooms on the blueberry bush! The weight of winter snow broke off at least half of the plant. |
By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell
Next week is National Garden Week –
the 2nd week of April.
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Fading beauty. I’m so sad to see my tulip season conclude. |
I am so onboard for this celebration. It’s time to plant my garden!
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The strawberries are looking future-tasty. |
Actually, I cheated. I’ve already started to plant seeds, since we are expecting highs in the mid to upper 80’s today, it may be past time for new sprouts. But I think that is a freak of too-hot-too-early weather and it should drop back to the 60-70’s.
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Half planted beds. Waiting for seeds. |
Here are some National Garden Week photos from my yard.
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Garlic, parsley, and sage – all repeat visitors from last year. Plus a cat tail of one who wanted to be featured. |
Oh, each new bud, flower, and sprout is so exciting.
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We even planted a tree trunk for the cats to scratch and climb. It won’t grow…but it is part of our garden. |
I’m already dreaming about tasty blueberries, sweet-tart strawberries, exquisite raspberries, and savory herbs and vegetables.
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Dabbling to pretty-up a very hot corner of the yard. |
Join me. Let’s celebrate our gardens.
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The dogwood is just beginning to burst into bloom. |
I would love to see photos of your garden.
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Happy tulips hanging out in an old beat up red wagon. |
By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell
Normally, this floral objet d’art would not occur in my yard. Once the bulbs are nestled in, that’s where they stay.
But due to the removal of giant, old, space and light-hogging arborvitae, the tulips had to be moved to save their pretty little lives.
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Zoomin’ in on brilliant color. |
Aha! (Insert light bulb hanging over my head.) I will put them in a wagon, just until after they bloom. And then we shall find a new bed for them.
Success! Even with my careful removal, accidents happened. But those sturdy beauties just hung in there and are now blooming like crazy!
I love spring. Tulip season is my favorite season in the yard.
I think I will plant kale next in the wagon. Do you think the aphids will find it there? At least the slugs/snails will have to work harder.
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No bumping up and down in my little red wagon for these pretty spring tulips. |
What kind of container gardens do you have in your yard?
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Photo by Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell |
Pink puffs perfectly poised to produce
pretty pearls of poetry.
warmed by sun’s long days
life-giving nectar drawn up
to the sky; beauty
By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell
Pink’s all the rage. What’s on stage in your area? Let’s have a picture show celebration!
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Monet expressing her cat-ness yes, I am Gray Queen royal bed and rest doth call stop bothering me |
by Angie Quantrell
The Curious Nature Guide, Explore the Natural Wonders All Around You
Written and illustrated by Clare Walker Leslie
(Storey Publishing, 2015)
I first noticed the cover of this book while on vacation with some girlfriends in Coupeville, Washington. Hidden amidst a crowded display of books, toys, and souvenirs, the cover popped out and caught my attention. I wanted that book. But I resisted.
Fast forward to post-Christmas gift card shopping. As I perused my local Indie bookstore, Inklings, guess which book again popped out and grabbed my attention? Yes. The same book. And it was on a display of favs and book suggestions by staff.
I did not resist.
The Curious Nature Guide is a beautifully illustrated guide book written for children, teens, families, and others who love exploring the outdoors. I fell in love with this colorful edition.
I enjoyed this book so much, I used it as a reward. At the end of the day I would carefully read each page and inhale every photo, drawing, and illustration. Reading this book was almost as good as being outside.
While vocabulary will be difficult for young readers, they will love hearing it read aloud. The Curious Nature Guide contains nature information, suggestions of things to look for and do, maps, charts, plant labels, and more.
NO. It is not overwhelmingly encyclopedic.
The Curious Nature Guide is a nature journal filled with inspiration of both the exploring type and the creative sort. I want to go out and investigate the outdoors AND sit down with my art supplies and recreate what I find AND grab the camera to capture my nature.
Two thumbs up for The Curious Nature Guide, Explore the Nature Wonders All Around You.
Happy exploring!
I’d love to hear what nature exploring you like to do.
GIGANTOR
if there is a chair
find it and recline therein
size does not matter
CREAK. GROAN. WOBBLE.
What is your favorite chair?
Share a photo in the comment section.
Does it fit you well, or are you like Gigantor and size is not an issue,
just comfort?
Love, Laughter, and Life 