Bird Bath Bummer

I found a bird bath at the hardware store. I didn't think this bird bath buying through. I had never pondered bird baths. Well, I put it together and placed it near the roses and the lilies, filled it up, and waited for birds to swoop down and dance around for me. It leaks. Drat. Jeff and I used silicone to stop the leaks and now it is drying. Elizabeth from France said that birds love her bird bath and I can't wait to watch the robins bathe in mine, but it won't be this morning. Sigh. I do like the little perch and the green bird, but I will look forward to real bird arrival soon.

Pie for lunch. Delicious.

Yesterday the walk on the trail was PERFECT. Look at these fellow travelers. Aren't they handsome? Turns out they are show dogs. Their owner was intent on posing them, but I simply wanted photos of those happy faces. I like corgis because the queen does. I like corgis because Tasha Tudor did.

Ronda was paying attention and spotted this tiny turtle on the path. She was the size of a nickel. She was so far away from the pond, too. How did she get there? Did a bird pick her up and then drop her?

The sky was so blue!

Can you see our Rocky Mountains in the distance?

Skipping around a bit here (surprised?) I want to show you what came in the mail yesterday. I read about this book over at my friend MM's blog. Because the illustrations appealed to me, I had to have it. I am not one bit sorry! What a darling book! I am going to try to copy the illustrator's work in my journal. I love sticky looking, colorful people.

Another illustrator that caught my eye recently is an award winner. Her name is Freya Blackbird and Jannelle over at Heartfelt posted about her last week. I ordered this little book. The paintings by the Impressionists are of course stunning, but Freya's tiny illustrations are pure and rich, too. I found a few of her prints online.

Look at this one! Wouldn't it be fun to make up a good story about this print?

Yesterday, I received a pretty Cath Kidston thank you note from Gumbo Lily. She won The Shell Seekers. It made me so happy. She likes Cath Kidston, too! We don't have Cath Kidston stores here in Denver, Colorado, but I see her cute stuff on my favorite UK friends' blogs. Here's a little dose of her designs.

Feeling all rosy and cozy? Well, let's pop in this cottage and see our friend . . .

Oh hi, Beatrix! How are you? You are certainly looking all tweeded up and country comfortable standing there waiting for us. What? You want to show us a page from your journal?

Oh, that dolly on the roof.

I've been reading a Beatrix biography. There are a lot of descriptions of rare fungi and I'm trying to be polite and read through the tediousness of this, because I so adore her art.

Time for a cup of tea, a piece of toast, and a deep sniff of the summertime air. It's cloudy and the birds are chirping. The grass smells green and the house is humming. Later, I'm going to the library. I like to hang around all the books. Thank you for visiting. I hope a few exhilarating sensations come your way today. You know, like the pleasure of speaking to a loved one or a belly laugh or two.