Eleventy-Billion Plus One

Even during a rain storm, the sunsets are amazing...

Sunset, Edition Eleventy-Billion

A Good Day

Today was lovely: I had coffee with a friend...

 Went to the nursery to buy some flowers for my front pot (I love violas--so sweet, like little flower butterflies)...

And I baked pumpkin bread. (I also had a massage but no photos of THAT!).

A good day!

Pass the Books

Our new neighborhood library--many years in the making--had a grand opening on Saturday. They had a "Book Brigade"--1,800 people passing the "last" 200 books (they were clearly selected for the purpose: paperback classics). The last book to be passed was The Hobbit.

I went to the library today--while it is very, very nice (much bigger, with more seating, study rooms, community rooms, a Friends of the Library shop, etc.), I will miss the old and small midcentury (1961) building.

Good Morning, Sunshine

Mockingbird Sing-Off

 I heard a mockingbird sing (I know, that sounds like the title of a novel), so I stepped outside and saw, way up in the paperbark tree behind our house, this bird--it was definitely singing (I have photos of it with its beak open). Turns out, this is a female mockingbird.

Then I noticed this male mockingbird high up in the next-door neighbors' tree--he was REALLY singing. I thought only the males did the incredible repertoire of calls, but Miss Thing was also vocalizing up a storm. Perhaps some sort of mating ritual--it IS that time of year...

I know many people find them annoying, but I love them!

Kawaii Kandle

And it smells good, too!

Sherbet Skies

Moony

Too hazy to see the "blood moon" clearly, but it was impressive nonetheless. By the time the eclipse started, it was VERY cloudy...we could still see it, but through the clouds. Cool nonetheless!

The View from Here (Dusk)

The View from Here (in the Mushroom Forest)

 More funky fungi have sprouted...look at the last photo: it's a veritable forest of them. They aren't particularly attractive, are they?

The View from Here (a few days ago)

 Our feline friend Ria...I never know where I might spot her in our yard. I have never before seen her balancing on the fountain.

 And drinking from the fountain.

We have an agreement: NO catching birds or lizards in the yard!

The View from Here

Still rainy and wet...but a nice fire cures many ills!

The View from Here

Cold and rainy day--perfect for staying in bed to nurse my wretched cold with a warm comforter and hot water bottles.

Bird

That is all...

Sunny

 One perfect sunny Gerbera daisy...

Judgy

 I suddenly realized that, in addition to looking demented (that's why I love them), some of my Christmas ornaments look a bit judgmental...

 Hmmm...

Wow

 No caption needed.

Ornaments

Christmas may be over, but Mother Nature's ornaments are still on the trees...

Mop Top

Check out this little sad-face mop-top...so cute!

Before and After

 Amazing...and gorgeous!