SECOND SIGHTING OF A MIGRATING BIRD AT MY BIRD BATH

Today, my second sighting of a migrating bird in my yard.  I'm pretty sure the post below and this bird are baltimore orioles at various stages of maturity.  I always start seeing the baltimore orioles in my yard from mid August to mid September.

MY FIRST SIGHTING! MIGRATING BIRDS ARE ON THEIR WAY SOUTH!!

My first sighting of the migrating birds that pass through my yard every fall.  This is the time of year that I start watching for them.  I'm never quite sure what kind they are, but am thrilled, anyway, that they come to my yard on their way to wherever they're going.

This one looks like some kind of oriole to me.  It's kind of big and was not afraid of the sparrows that were trying to chase it off.

I think water is the most important thing you can offer them.  They'll find bugs and seeds, but water is hard to find.

I am happy, happy, happy!!

TUES:Sidewalkshoes,WED:ASouthernDaydreamer,FRI:FloralFriday,

I'M STILL HERE!!

(I just posted this to my decorative artisan blog, but wanted to share with you, too.  I really miss working on my blog and will be posting again, soon.)

Hi there,
     Anyone who might be wondering where I've been, I've been on back to back jobs and believe me, I'm WORN OUT!!  This is the time of year that my clients start creating and planning how they want their homes to look for the holidays. It is a bit stressful, finishing with one job so I can move on to the next client who is waiting.  I love my work and love the transformation and am so glad they choose me to work with them.

In these photos, I'm working on Christa's kitchen island.  I finished her kitchen a few days ago.  She was looking for knobs and handles and wanted something special and unique.  She did her research and hunting and I wanted to wait for photos until those were installed.  They are just beautiful in her kithcen.

I really enjoy working on my blog and am looking forward to getting back to posting, soon. 

HELP ME IDENTIFY THIS BEAUTIFUL PINK FLOWERING VINE

Do you know the name of this flowering vine?

Years ago, I was driving through an older neighborhood and saw this vine growing on a fence.  It was sooo beautiful and in full bloom.  I knocked on the homeowner's door and asked about the vine.  She didn't know the name.  She said a friend gave her some seeds a long time ago and she's always let it grow on that fence.  I asked if she would share some seeds with me.  

Months later, she called and had a large sack of seeds for me.

It is similar to a wisteria, but the leaves are very different.  It is a legume.  The large seed pods look almost like a large okra and have several beans inside.

All of these little green flower buds look like a stalk of bananas and will turn into the large pink flowers.  Then, as the flowers drop off, a seed pod will start growing.

I love vines and really love this one.  I've planted it in several places because I never want to lose it.  It's very hardy and comes back year after year, no matter how bad the past summer or winter happened to be.

Can you help me identify this vine??

MAMA MOCKINGBIRD PROTECTING HER NEST

MAMA MOCKINGBIRD PROTECTING HER NEST

This mama mockingbird is a different one from a few weeks ago.  She's different because she keeps dive bombing Punkin.  She still makes those warning chirps, but it's like she has a death wish.  I've watched her come so close to Punkin and peck her and I'm so afraid Punkin is going to grab her.  Then, what will happen to her babies.

Her nest is in this crepe myrtle tree next door.  It's a perfect place for a nest.  The limbs are very sturdy and cradle the nest.  And, mockingbirds make such good, pretty, sturdy nests.

I know she's just trying to distract Punkin from her babies and I really hope she survives.

I'll be watching and hoping for the best!

BEAUTIFUL GREEN & BEIGE MOTH & MY QUEENS CROWN VINE

Look at this beautiful green and beige moth.  Those are my favorite shades of green.

I was gettng leaves out of my fish pond and this moth was in the leaves and ended up in my net.

Look at his caterpillar body.

(if you click on the moth photo, you'll see the colors better)

Queens Crown is one of my very favorite vines.  I've had this one for about 20 years and each spring it blooms as soon as it comes up until it freezes in late fall.  Many of them don't bloom until fall.  This one climbs into my trees, the neighbor trees and up the telephone pole and wires.  I love vines, so this one makes me really happy.  I, even, love the word VINE.  And, the color of the flowers is so pretty.

You can't see them in these photos, but there are honey bees swarming all around the flowers.  I'm always happy to see that.

FRI:TootsieTime,FloralFriday,FreshEggsDaily,MON:BoogieboardCottage,,MosaicMondayJembellish,TheHeartOffYourHome,HomemakerOnADime,TheDedicatedHouse,TUES:AStrollThruLife,CedarHillRanch,OurHomeAwayFromHome,KatheWithAnE,SidewalkShoes,WED:ASouthernDaydreamer,

PAINTED BUNTING & MIGRATING BIRD TIME

Yesterday, I heard a "different" sound in my really high montezuma cypress tree.

It reminded me that one of my most favorite times of  the year is almost here.

Starting around the end of July, the most beautiful, colorful migrating birds pass through my yard and I get to see lots of them.

For many years, I've tried to create a bird sanctuary in my yard.  By now, I do believe I'm on the migrating path of many of them.

On my facebook, if you click on photos and then albums, you can see photos of many of the birds that pass through.  Album:  "Birds Visiting My Yard"

This is a male painted bunting and the bright colors are just amazing.  The female is a beautiful emerald and avocado green.  Spring and fall, I get to see these passing through.

Hoping I'm home enough that I get to see lots of the other birds passing through this year, too.  Most of them will hang out for a day or two and come to the bird bath early morning and late afternoon.  Sometimes, the baltimore orioles hang out for a week to a month and I really, really love seeing them.

I'll be watching!!

ASouthernDaydreamer,