At the Feeders and in the Trees - Week 30

I am thankful that the temperatures have been a bit cooler in our area making it enjoyable to be outside. Watering has been a must in my gardens.

The Red-bellied Woodpecker visits our suet feeders most days of the week. I have photographed him many times but I love this particular pic.

What I love about this pic is the distinctness of his face and eye.

The Carolina Chickadee is always so fun to watch at our feeders.

I had a few sunflowers come up in a flower pot close to the feeders and have been waiting to capture the Goldfinches eating the seeds. 

The Tufted Titmouse is a year-round visit in our area. He is a slate gray bird with a white chest and belly but you have to notice his pointed crest. 

Have a great day - Judy.

Linking to:

Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Mosaic Monday @ Normandy Life
Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings
Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

The Scoop @ Stone Gable Blog

The Scoop @ Confessions of a Plate Addict

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson on Wednesday evening
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Share Your Style Link Party @ 21 Rosemary Lane on Wednesday evening

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life on Wednesday evening

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Thankful Thursday @ It's a Small Town Life

Little Things Thursday @ Random-osity

Grace at Home @ The Charm of Home

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage on Thursday evening

Friday Photo Journal @ Serendipity is Sweet

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound on Friday

Saturday Sparkles @ Pieced Pastimes on Friday

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound on Friday

Create, Bake, Grow & Gather @ Shabby Art Boutique on Friday


Saturday's Critters @ Viewing Nature with Eileen on Saturdays
Camera Critters on Saturday
I'd Rather Be Birdin' on Saturday at noon

Sundays at Home @ My Soulful Home on Saturday

Table It Link Party @ Life and Linda
Inspiration Monday @ Our Southern Home
Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic & Refined on Sundays

Our Crepes Are Blooming

I just love when our crepe myrtles burst out in their glorious color.

Waiting all year to see these stunning blooms, is just so rewarding. 

Watching out for Japanese beetles is a must in our area. They devour the buds and eat the leaves on the new growth. In had to spray several times in June to combat them.

Last year, we added four new crepes in the front on the West side of our yard. The blooms are coming, they are just a little slower. I am thankful to see them growing and for the tiny buds I see on them.

Thanks for stopping by to see our crepe myrtles in bloom - Judy.

Linking to:

Garden Party

Gardens Galore link up party on August 6

Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Mosaic Monday @ Normandy Life
Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings
Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

The Scoop @ Stone Gable Blog

The Scoop @ Confessions of a Plate Addict

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson on Wednesday evening
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Share Your Style Link Party @ 21 Rosemary Lane on Wednesday evening

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life on Wednesday evening

Thankful Thursday @ It's a Small Town Life

Little Things Thursday @ Random-osity

Grace at Home @ The Charm of Home

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage on Thursday evening

Friday Photo Journal @ Serendipity is Sweet

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound on Friday

Saturday Sparkles @ Pieced Pastimes on Friday

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound on Friday

Create, Bake, Grow & Gather @ Shabby Art Boutique on Friday


Sundays at Home @ My Soulful Home on Saturday

Table It Link Party @ Life and Linda
Inspiration Monday @ Our Southern Home
Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic & Refined on Sundays

Summer Blooms on the Table

I just love fresh flowers for the table.  These summer blooms are in four delicate vases placed together on a cake plate to form the centerpiece.

The table is not overly fussy but has a soft touch with the pinks in the flowers, placemats and runner.

The china, crystal, napkin rings, and candles add elegance to the tablescape. 

Zinnias snipped from my garden are placed in coffee cups filled with water to tie the centerpiece to each setting.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you can leave a message - Judy.

Linking to:


Table It Link Party @ Life and Linda
Inspiration Monday @ Our Southern Home
Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic & Refined on Sundays

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings – The Heart of Your Home
Celebrate Your Story @ Celebrate & Decorate

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

The Scoop @ Stone Gable Blog

The Scoop @ Confessions of a Plate Addict

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson on Wednesday evening

Share Your Style Link Party @ 21 Rosemary Lane on Wednesday evening

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life on Wednesday evening

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Thankful Thursday @ It's a Small Town Life

Grace at Home @ The Charm of Home

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage on Thursday evening

Sundays at Home @ My Soulful Home on Saturday

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound

Butterflies in the Garden

We have so many beautiful blooms in our gardens.   I am seeing butterflies going from flower to flower and I'm enjoying photographing them. 

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is so beautiful. 

This one is enjoying the nectar on the orange butterfly weed in my garden.

The Black Swallowtail is another beauty visiting our gardens.

The Buckeye butterfly below is mostly brown but has some orange cell bars. 

You can see the eyespots on Buckeye. 

If you look closely in the picture below, you can see a butterfly on the highest Blazing Star Liatris blooming in purple on the right.

The butterfly is a Silver-Spotted Skipper.

It is said to be the most recognized skipper in North America.

I read the Silver-spotted Skipper almost never visits yellow flowers but likes blue, red, pink, purple, and sometimes white and cream-colored ones.  It likes milkweed, red clover, buttonbush, blazing star, and thistles. source

Here is a three for one in the next pic. There is a butterfly, a flying bee, and a wasp in the picture. 

He's not a butterfly but this little toad might be hoping to catch an insect soon. 

Thanks for stopping in to see the butterflies in our gardens. I'll continue taking pics of butterflies and enjoying every second of it  - Judy.

Linking to:

Gardens Galore link up party on July 16

Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Mosaic Monday @ Normandy Life
Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings
Make It Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

The Scoop @ Stone Gable Blog

The Scoop @ Confessions of a Plate Addict

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson on Wednesday evening
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Share Your Style Link Party @ 21 Rosemary Lane on Wednesday evening

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life on Wednesday evening

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Thankful Thursday @ It's a Small Town Life

Little Things Thursday @ Random-osity

Grace at Home @ The Charm of Home

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage on Thursday evening

Friday Photo Journal @ Serendipity is Sweet

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound on Friday

Saturday Sparkles @ Pieced Pastimes on Friday

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound on Friday

Create, Bake, Grow & Gather @ Shabby Art Boutique on Friday


Saturday's Critters @ Viewing Nature with Eileen on Saturdays
Camera Critters on Saturday
I'd Rather Be Birdin' on Saturday at noon

Sundays at Home @ My Soulful Home on Saturday

Table It Link Party @ Life and Linda
Inspiration Monday @ Our Southern Home
Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic & Refined on Sundays

Setting Our Patriotic Tablescape

The 4th of July is just a few days away. Our patriotic table is set and we are letting freedom ring with our red, white, and blue!

I put together a centerpiece for the table with red and white geraniums plus rockets ready to take to the sky. 

The first commemorative Independence Day fireworks were set off on July 4, 1777. We all love fireworks on the 4th.

source

Glitz was added to the centerpiece with the sparkly rockets and glittery pics.

The tablescape began with a patriot table runner that I finished a couple weeks ago. The block were completed and sewn together for the runner.

The runner was topped with a patriotic centerpiece.

Patriotic placemats plus red, white, and blue layers of dishes were added. Red silverware pops on the dark blue placemats. The bowls have an element of surprise with a star in the bottom.

Blue stem glassware (from the Dollar tree years ago) continue the theme. 

With a snap, the patriotic table was complete. You can do it too. Set your patriotic table and have fun!

Happy 4th of July to each of you.

Thanks for stopping by - Judy.

Linking to:

Table It Link Party @ Life and Linda
Inspiration Monday @ Our Southern Home
Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic & Refined on Sundays

Patriotic Party @ The Fellow Brick Home

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings – The Heart of Your Home

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

The Scoop @ Stone Gable Blog

The Scoop @ Confessions of a Plate Addict

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson on Wednesday evening

Share Your Style Link Party @ 21 Rosemary Lane on Wednesday evening

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life on Wednesday evening

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Thankful Thursday @ It's a Small Town Life

Grace at Home @ The Charm of Home

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage on Thursday evening

Sundays at Home @ My Soulful Home on Saturday

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound