A Visit from the House Finch

I've been keeping by feeders filled with lots of black-oil sunflower seeds, saffron seeds, and suet cakes for the birds. With the weather turning colder, they are in need of food.

The House Finch is often mistaken for a Purple Finch but if you look at the pic below, you can see more of a brownish color on top of his head. This is an indicator this is a House Finch and not a Purple Finch. 

The House Finches have been flocking to the feeders and I am thankful to have food for them.

These birds aren't migratory birds so they visit my feeders year round here in Western Kentucky. It is a fairly new bird to Kentucky and was first reported in the early 1970s. 

Happy Thanksgiving - Judy.

Linking to:

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

Wild Bird Wednesday @ Paying Ready attention

Thankful Thursday @ It's a Small Town Life

Little Things Thursday @ Random-osity

Friday Photo Journal @ Serendipity is Sweet

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound on Friday

Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

So Thankful - Our Thanksgiving Table

Welcome to our Thanksgiving Table. Join us as we are reminded of all that we have to be thankful. 

Whether it is something small or something huge, our hearts are full as we sat down to our Thanksgiving table. 

My table inspiration came from the fabric I used to make the napkins. I was so surprised when I found the fabric and it had touches of aqua. Yay, that meant I could use fall colors plus my aqua dishes. 

My table began with a wooden tray filled with pumpkins, pine cones, gourds, leaves and berries. 

These surround a glowing candle.

The tray is grounded by a table runner that I finished quilting over the weekend. 

Thanksgiving is such a special time for family and friends to get together, enjoy the day, share current stories and those from the past. 

For me, I am reminded of my Dad going quail hunting on Thanksgiving morning while my Mom, my sister, and I prepared our meal. One of my tasks as a young girl was to toast the bread for the dressing. I thought that was so important and then cracking the eggs for the dressing too.

I am sure you must have memories of Thanksgiving that bring a smile to your face.

Two patterns of stemware are used on the table. 

I am thankful for my family and the many wonderful memories and blessings we have shared over the years. 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have time to tell me something from Thanksgiving that is important to you - Judy.

Linking to:

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style on Tuesday at 6 pm

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

Thursday Favorite Things @ Follow the Yellow Brick Home

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

The Scoop @ Stone Gable Blog

The Scoop @ Confessions of a Plate Addict

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 Normandy American Cemetery, Memorial and Beaches

We recently visited the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France near Normandy. This World War II cemetery honors American troops who died in Europe during the war. 

The cemetery has 9386 soldiers from WWII and 1 from WWI buried. 

The temporary American St. Laurent Cemetery was established by the U.S. First Army on June 8, 1944, as the first American cemetery on European soil in World War II. The present day cemetery is located just a short distance to the east of the original site.

The Memorial was dedicated in 2007. I have pics of it on my other camera that aren't downloaded so had to borrow a pic cited below. 

this pic from here

The cemetery is located on the bluff overlooking Omaha Beach. Omaha Beach was one of the landing beaches of the Normandy Invasion. You can see Omaha Beach in the background of the picture. 

Omaha beach was the bloodiest beach of the D-Day Beaches with approximately 2,500 American solders loosing their lives. 

  

Invasions were made along the Normandy coast which was divided into five sections: Utah, Omaha, Gold, June, and Sword. Here are a few pics from three of the beaches.

My husband on the beaches.

Such a moving experience to visit this National Cemetery and walk on the Normandy Beaches - Judy.

Note: Stop back by for more of our visit to Paris, Amsterdam and cruising on the Rhine River.

Swans on the Rhine

Linking to:

Inspiration Monday @ Our Southern Home

Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic & Refined on Sundays

Mosaic Monday @ Letting Go of the Bay Leaf

Met Monday @ BNOTP

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

Swans on our Rhine River Cruise

We just arrived home from a trip on the Rhine River. I'll have additional posts about our trip but today, I'm sharing the beautiful swans we saw on our journey. We boarded our Viking Boat in Amsterdam and the next morning visited Kinderdijk. 

Kinderdijk is a village in the providence of South Holland, Netherlands. 

Photo by our friend, Larry Busch

We experienced the dutch landscape, walked along the canals, and toured one of the 18th century windmills.

There were Mute Swans meandering in the canal waters. They are so beautiful and have such graceful movements. 

Photo by our friend, Larry Busch

Near the end of our trip on the Rhine,  we saw Mute Swans again along the shore line as we approached our port at Strasbourg, Germany.

They quickly swam out to greet us. They seemed very comfortable in approaching us. I wondered if this is what they always do when a tour boat arrives. They were stunning to watch as they came right up to our boat. I read that Mute Swans have tremendous appetites. 

Such incredible creatures. 

Such elegance and beauty. 

The swans on the Rhine trip were so special and such a privilege to watch. 

Join me another day for more about our trip to Paris, the Beaches of Normandy, and the Rhine River cruise - Judy.

The Normandy American Cemetery and Beaches

Linking to:

Saturday's Critters @ Viewing Nature with Eileen on Saturdays

Camera Critters on Saturday
I'd Rather Be Birdin' on Saturday at noon

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound on Friday

Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic & Refined on Sundays

Mosaic Monday @ Letting Go of the Bay Leaf

Met Monday @ BNOTP

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

Wild Bird Wednesday @ Paying Ready attention

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

Thankful Thursday @ It's a Small Town Life

Little Things Thursday @ Random-osity
Thursday Favorite Things @ Follow the Yellow Brick Home

Friday Photo Journal @ Serendipity is Sweet

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound on Friday

Saturday Sparkles @ Pieced Pastimes on Friday

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

Before the Color is Gone and a Friendly Warning

Here it is the beginning of October and I still have some color in my gardens to share with you. 

We worked in the yard over the weekend and I am thankful that we still have blooms, and butterflies. 

I know the blooms are starting to fade and soon the beautiful colors of summer will be gone. 

On Wednesday, the temps are going to drop and the rains will be coming in.  I'm loving these butterflies for just a bit longer.

The hardy ferns are just gorgeous right now. This is the third year for these.

The weather was cooler Saturday making it much more enjoyable to be outside working in the yard.

Take a look at this cute little guy.

Take note: Don't pick him up! He is a Hickory Tussock Moth Caterpillar and can cause a reaction on your skin. You can see his black-tipped bristles in my picture above. These bristles contain an irritating substance that can cause an itch or allergic reaction. We have hickory trees on our property and saw several of these little guys over the weekend. 

Hope you enjoyed the last of the color in my gardens - 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

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

Wild Bird Wednesday @ Paying Ready Attention Photo Gallery
Nature Notes @ Rambling Woods

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

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

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