Not a Tablescape

A springy little vignette I put together for you using my hand-me-down violets and a few treasures I've collected.

Click to enlarge.

Happy Spring from Amongst The Oaks.

Outdoor Wednesday - Wisteria

Lovely Susan is hosting Outdoor Wednesday again. Please visit our host and the other participants at A Southern Daydreamer.

My post for Outdoor Wednesday is my wisteria that is starting to bloom. I blogged about this ad nauseum last year, and I promise not to do that again this year, but I just had to show you the first flower. It opened Sunday and I stuck my nose in it as soon as I noticed so I could drink in the heady scent. And it. was. wonderful. I wish we had smellavision YouTube so I could share it.


Happy Outdoor Wednesday from here Amongst The Oaks.

And as usual, Mr Linky and I are mortal enemies; he hides all the other participants from me and won't even let me see his face. Coward. So if you want to show me your Outdoor Wednesday, you'll have to leave a comment here. Thanks.

Three or More Tuesday - Royal Plates

My friend Tam at The Gypsy's Corner is hosting her 18th Three or More Tuesday. I'm joining in with my collection of Royal plates and mugs.

I don't know why I picked up the first plate, but it was the one on the upper right. I bought it at an antique shop here in town. It celebrates Queen Elizabeth's coronation in 1953. Probably some one's ancestor's unwanted souvenir. I liked it for the Queen's picture and also for the pretty floral border.


For years it sat alone and then...

my MIL gave me this tankard. I think she bought it in England when they visited in 1977. This tankard celebrates the Queen's Silver Jubilee. One side has her coat of arms and the other side has her initials and crown.

This mug and the little plate below are things I bought when I visited London in June of 2003.

I also got this plate on that trip. You may wonder why some dates say 2002, and some dates say 2003. I guess it's because she became Queen when her father died in January of 1952, but she wasn't officially crowned until June of 1953.

So that's my collection of Royal plates. Please join Tam and all the other participants of Three or More Tuesday. And Happy St. Patrick's Day from Amongst The Oaks.

Edited late to add:

I am so sorry that I cannot visit all the other Three or More Tuesday participants, but Mr Linky hates me and won't let me see the links, so I'll only be able to visit you if you comment here. Thanks, Laura

Bird Whisperer

Black Phoebe gathereing mud for its nest

We had quite a busy weekend here Amongst The Oaks, birdwise. It started Saturday morning with the Lord of the Manor calling me into the cottage to help get a bird out. It was a Black Phoebe, like the ones I showed you before. How it got into the cottage is a mystery, but it was perched on a widow frame confused by the magic of glass. LOM approached it to open the window and it flew to another window. Then it flew towards me and another window, so when it perched there I carefully caught it in my hands! Holding a tiny terrified wild bird in your bare hands is humbling. Just a few steps and we were outside where I slowly opened my hands and off it went. I was sending it love the whole time even though they are building their nest on my front porch again and slinging mud everywhere.

Anna's hummingbird on its nest

Sunday morning I went for my usual walk. I've showed you that route, haven't I? My timing apparently was perfect, because I saw lots of birds. The first bird that caught my attention was a hummingbird. It was acting protective, so I stopped and stood still whilst it calmed down. Then it finally zoomed to its tiny nest and settled down. Two years ago we had a hummingbird nesting in a shrub in our backyard and we were able to get some really good photos. But back to my walk. In that same tree I also found two Bushtit nests, but I couldn't get a photo of the birds. They are so nervous and quick. Their nest is like a sock hanging from the branches with a hole at the top for access. This nest has lots of moss in it giving it a pretty green color.

Bushtit nest in pine tree

Oak Titmouse

Yesterday afternoon I was out in the back garden enjoying the sunshine when an Oak Titmouse fluttered to the grass. It seemed to be in distress; absolutely still, on the ground, beak open almost panting. So I crept over to it and got some great photos, all the while doing my bird whisperer thing, you know, talking soothingly and sending it love. It let me get within two feet! After about five minutes it gathered its wits and flew to a chair, then to the cottage roof, and finally back to the oak tree. I wonder what happened but I'm glad I was there to share the moment.

So that was my weekend birdwise. You tell me; am I a Bird Whisperer or just a birdbrain?

Corner of My Kitchen Upgrade

I showed you this corner of my kitchen back in December of 2007. We did an upgrade yesterday and I'm so excited about it. Can you see what has changed?

No, it's not the new crock or the new lamp although they are pretty cool. Try again.

There it is. Right there. See it? It's the new SWITCH that operates the disposal! Isn't this exciting? Let me tell you how we did it.

INSTALLING A DISPOSAL

First we went to Home Depot. I used to hate going there, but since the change in the economy, things are different there. Now I feel like I've walked into the Twilight Zone; the store is clean and organized, soft music is playing, and the employees are helpful. Anyway, we bought a disposal and cord, a new electrical box, a combination plug/switch thing, and some plumbers putty. Then I came home and crawled in the cabinet. When the Lord of the Manor built this corner cabinet he left an access hole for the plumbing, so reaching the work area was easy. We just took everything out of the cabinet and removed the drawer above for more headroom.

First I cut a hole for the new electrical box. As you can see I missed the stud a bit. Then LOM removed the plug right above the sink and poked a bit of wire down towards the hole. Luckily there was no blocking and the wire slid right towards me, so I made the connections and put the new plug into the box.

Then I put the box in the hole, tightened it up, and patched my boo-boo with some tape and drywall compound. Whilst I was doing that LOM was making the connections above. Now the switch controls this plug below the sink, so after we plug the new disposal into it, turning the switch will turn the disposal on.

Next we removed the old basket strainer assembly, cleaned off all the old plumber's putty, and fit the new attachement ring onto the sink. This attachement ring comes with the disposal and makes fitting the disposal a snap.

The last step is to connect the drain pipe. The old drain didn't fit, so LOM made another trip to Home Depot and got that new white adaptor. Teen2 said it's like a bendy straw and she's right. It will fit almost any situation.

So only about three hours after we started (and that included two trips to Home Depot and lunch at In-N-Out) we had this baby installed. And we love it! So now we are wondering why we didn't do it sooner. Have you ever done something like this and wondered what took you so long?

Weeping Cherry

I have driven past this tree for about thirty five springs and always admired its delicate pink blossoms. It is a weeping cherry tree and for many years the homeowner also planted daffodils and primroses beneath it. But things change and flower lovers move away and now the tree (not so well maintained) sings the song of Spring alone but still beautiful against the bright blue sky.

Glorious Purple

Edited to add: These are in a cream pitcher and each flower is about 1" across.
Every spring when the violets bloom I collect a bouquet like this. There are over 100 stems in there, and it takes a while, but I love their glorious shade of purple, their delicate scent, and the memories they hold.

These violets were given to me by my dear neighbor Lois one house and many years ago. I've nurtured them through the years, moving them when we moved, and protecting them through the big remodel. And every year they repay me by sending up thousands of these long stemmed beauties. And they always remind me of my sweet neighbor who was so generous with her plant cuttings and her friendship.

Here is another purple flower that is starting to bloom here Amongst The Oaks. I posted frequent photos last year. You can look here or click on "Spring" in my catagories to see more. It is wistaria according that brilliant Lurcher in Cornwall, or wisteria here in the colonies. However you spell it, it is a wonderful plant. We pruned it rather heavily this winter and it is rewarding us with fat blossoms that are just beginning to color. I'll post a photo of it at its best in about a week.

And look at what else is starting to bloom; lilac! I really love lilac and wish I had lots more of it. I have two dependable plants and one not so reliable. But I always have enough to make a bouquet for us and one to share with SisterP at work because she loves spring and lilacs too.

Thanks everyone for all the nice comments yesterday. I think I have Mr. Linky figured out now and I plan to participate in Outdoor Wednesday again.

Outdoor Wednesday

This is my first ever Outdoor Wednesday. Please visit A Southern Daydreamer and all the other Outdoor Wednesday participants.

These beautiful pink blossoms are blooming in my neighbor's garden across the street. I'm certainly enjoying them, and so are the bees. I hope you do too.

Potpourri Jar

Mary showed a bowl yesterday and the style of it reminded me of this potpourri jar that I have. The little figures are so intriguing. What do you suppose they are doing? My MIL gave me this jar years ago and I have no idea when or where it was made. There are no marks on the bottom and it is about 7" tall. Perhaps one of you know something about it?



These men appear to be rolling out a scroll.

It is made of thin porcelain and I like how the sun shines through it.


I think these ladies are flirting with those men.

So what do you think; valuable antique or Victorian era reproduction?

Backyard Bird Count

We had a lovely weekend Amongst The Oaks; the weather was warm and clear with lots of bird sightings. I guess you could say we had an unofficial Backyard Bird Count here. Click on photos to enlarge.

I've talked about these Red Shouldered Hawks before, but over the weekend I walked to their nest and took these photos. They were collecting sticks and strips of palm frond and adding them to it. This nest isn't exactly in my backyard, but it's less than a block away.

I don't really know what this is. I use Cornell's site but I just can't figure this one out.

This is a mocking bird near a nest in a deciduous magnolia tree. I love their joyful song.

I was lucky to notice a hummingbird building a nest in a redwood tree. We also saw one taking a bath at our fountain. It hovered splashing in the stream of water several times while we all watched and laughed.

Here is a cedar waxwing. Sometimes a group will sleep in our magnolia tree. In the morning they all take off together, gather into larger groups and feed at fruit trees all day long.

Here is a Western Bluebird I saw at the golf course on my Saturday walk.

And here is a European Starling I saw near the Bluebird.

We also saw Scrub Jays, Robins, Varied Thrush, Woodpeckers, and Flickers in our yard. If we walk to the school/park/golf course, we see Seagulls, Geese, Mallards, and Coots. Over in the Target parking lot we see Pigeons and Blackbirds. I think next year I'm actually going to participate in the Great American Backyard Bird Count.