Target Birds on Holiday!

We’re joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for a fun little adventure called Target Birds on Holiday! Here’s our story that began in Norwalk, California a suburb of Los Angeles.

 

Well I found out just because the plane has Alaska written on it doesn’t mean all these big aluminum birds fly to Alaska. Our plane took us to Seattle, Washington.

Sheesh, she finally took us out of the box and here we are at the doorstep of our new home. Ellen b. advised us we would not be returning with her to California on Sunday but that we would be staying here with her two kids Dan and Katie and keeping an eye on the house while they are off hither and yon…

She took us on a little tour of the grounds of our new home. Yikes, I just realized she hasn’t named me yet! She named my friend here next to me Jack Sparrow. Such a strong name with adventurous possibilities. Oh I hope she doesn’t intend to name me Salty! How lame would that be! Well she says she’s still considering what to name me…

 

Hmmm…nice digs but that apple tree can sure use some pruning! Hard to land on branches growing straight up to heaven!

Now here’s a pretty bush to have a rest in. Hey lady! I still don’t have a name!!

We’re inside now looking out. She sure has some nice big windows and big trees around here. She informs me that we will have many more high perch possibilities here than at the condo in California. The only trees around that place are the palm variety…

So she says since we are on holiday we should get a little reading in. Reading is an activity humans enjoy when they are trying to relax and escape the everyday mundane world. I wasn’t too excited about sitting and listening to her read outloud but this story is so exciting! This Redwall book by Brian Jacques is all about animals and they talk and they hunt and they cook and travel and “save the day”! I love this book and the best thing about it is that there are Sparrows in it and she finally found the name she’s giving me!! In this book the sparrows are called Sparra and she thinks that the best name for me is Sparra Queen Warbeak! Can you believe how strong and cool that name is? Queen Warbeak…I just want to keep saying it out loud!  She says that Jack Sparrow and I will have the responsibility of protecting her home while she’s away. We will keep those pesky crows from moving in and thinking this is their territory. We’ll report to her any strange things that might be happening around the house while she’s in Cali. Even though she’s old, this is one cool lady that saved us from that Target shelf!

Boy I just hope the rest of our Target bird friends are having a good adventure and have found a good home. Hope they ended up with some good names, too. Oh and I must apologize for Jack Sparrow and his lack of words. He just likes to leave all the talking to me, Queen Warbeak!

Thank you Susan human lady over at Between Naps on the Porch for thinking of this great idea to liberate us birds from the Target shelf! I bet if you click on her name later this evening or tomorrow you’ll see more of our friends on Holiday!

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Ruby Tuesday

These are the Fruit Skewers we made for my nephew’s wedding rehearsal dinner this last Friday. I thought they qualify for a Ruby Tuesday post.

Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage. They have blacked out all those photos on my blog posts. OH BOTHER! I’m slowly cleaning up my posts.

 

For more Ruby Tuesday posts vist Maryt at The Work of the Poet

Ruby Tuesday

 

These photos are from a couple of my walks in search of red. Not exactly sure why I put the snail in the middle. When Willow and I walk she steps on these garden nibblers and there’s a disturbing crunch!

For more Ruby Tuesday posts or to join in visit Maryt at Work of the Poet.

Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage. They have blacked out all those photos on my blog posts. OH BOTHER! I’m slowly cleaning up my posts.

ABC Wednesday ~ U is for

U is for Underwood Family Farms, U-pick Blueberries, Uitility Poles, and the U.S. Post Office

I sure wish there was someone with me when I was taking this shot so I could have a face to go with one of these animals.

The Underwood Farms sell fresh fruit, produce and flowers at this roadside stand. They are also known for their U-pick Blueberries.

 

While at the Underwood Stand I looked down the road and noticed all these Utility Poles.

On the way home I passed this U.S. Post Office. All they seem to want to send me these days is lots of USELESS mail and very few meaningful pieces of mail.

For more ABC’s head over to Mrs. Nesbitt.

Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage. They have blacked out all those photos on my blog posts. OH BOTHER! I’m slowly cleaning up my posts.

Project Blue ~ Take One

 

This was taken on a walk in California in late May. This weekend I’m at my home in the Seattle area and am overwhelmed at the amount of weeds in the lawn and planters. I need this sign here with lots of takers!! And for the record, adult children living in and taking care of your home for you well let’s just say, it’s interesting, and leave it at that. Looking forward to getting around to some “Blue” projects after I pull some weeds!!

Visit Anna Carson Photography to see more of Project Blue.

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!

ABC Wednesday ~ R is for…

R is for Rocks

We’ve had three interesting and different walks on the same stretch of beach in the last 2 weeks. We had low enough tide on these days that we were able to walk among the rocks.

 

We start early (6:00 AM) so everything is pretty gray when we begin our walk.

 

 

The pools around the rocks are fun to explore.

 

A look back away from the water line.

 

Looking back a week before at a different spot. This week all the green was gone.

Here’s my friend Rocky. Can you see his eyes and nose?

 

Hubby walking among the rocks.

 

The sun is beginning to rise above the hills and shine on the water.

 

You can see the color change in my shots as the sun rises higher.

 

Now I’m off to see what others chose to share for R.

For more posts on the letter R take a trip to Mrs. Nesbitt’s.

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!

Fun Monday ~ Beatrix Potter Collection

Mariposa is hosting Fun Monday this week and her assignment is to post about a collection we have. I have lots of collections but I’m choosing my Beatrix Potter Figurines to show. The photos are not great quality but you’ll get the idea…

These were mostly collected in the 1970’s. I got a fair number of them while travelling to Great Britain in 1973 and 1974. They are all F. Warne & Co.Ltd. Beswick, England.

 

Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, Mopsy Flopsy and Cottontail, Mrs. Rabbit

 

Mr. Benjamin Rabbit, Mrs. Flopsy Bunny, Mrs. Tiggywinkle, Sally Henny Penny

Goody Tiptoes, Timmy Tiptoes, Tailor of Gloucester, Johnny Townmouse

 

Lady Mouse, Samuel Whiskers, Hunca Munca, The Old Woman who lived in a Shoe

 

Aunt Pettitoes, Little Pig Robinson, Pigling Bland, Amiable Guinea Pig

 

Jeremy Fisher, Mr. Alderman Ptolemy, Sir Isaac Newt, John Joiner

 

Ribby, Tom Kitten, Jemima Puddleduck, Mrs. Tiggywinkle

27 figurines in all. I posted Mrs. Tiggywinkle twice to fill in the collage and because she’s my favorite. I was having a “senior moment” on a couple of the figurines and couldn’t remember their names…

For more Fun Monday Collections visit Mariposa’s

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!

Photo Hunters ~ Candy

The theme this week is Candy. I decided to make a trip to my favorite candy shop in Southern California, See’s.

 

Look how sweet the See’s saleslady was. When I told her I was taking photos of candy for Photo Hunters she asked if I’d like her to take some out of the case to photograph. What a good sport..

 

I’m just going to post all the photos from the store because I don’t ever get tired of looking at chocolate.

 

 

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!

I think I showed a lot of restraint and only came away with 5 pieces.

For more Photo Hunters click over to Tnchick’s!

Sky Watch ~ May Gray

 

We usually have what the weather people call “June Gloom” around Southern California but this year they had to come up with a new one “May Gray”. As you can see from the photo above on a beach walk hubby and I had last Saturday morning, the skies are gray. The last couple days we have been back to sunny and slightly blue. We are suppose to reach temperatures in the upper 90’s by Friday here and the 100’s in the valleys. Yuck, that’s hot for Spring!! Have a wonderful weekend all you Sky Watchers!

For more Sky Watch photos head over to Wiggers World.

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!

Recipe Round Up ~ Russian Recipes

May’s Recipe Round Up

will be at Whatever Things…

Recipes Around The World

This month’s recipe category will be recipes unique either to the part of the world or country you live or where you’re from originally. It’s a bit like “The Great British Menu,” but with a worldwide focus.

The recipe can be for Snacks, Starters, Main Courses, Desserts, Cakes, Biscuits or even a Hot or Cold drink recipe.

My heritage is Russian (100%). I have several Russian Recipes featured on my blog already so I’ll inclule the links to click on and you’ll be able to see some step by step recipes and photos.

We’ll start with Borsch

 

Then how about some Golubtzi? (Stuffed Cabbage)

 

And lastly although I have a few more recipes is this simple version of Lopsha.

 

For more recipes with an International flare or to join in the fun click over to Whatever Things.

Photobucket is holding all my photos from 2007-2015 hostage and they have blacked them all out. I’m slowly working at restoring my posts without their help. Such a tiresome bother!