Little Things



After lots of rain, we finally had some sunshine.
 I LOVE SUNSHINE!

So, Romeo and I went out for a walk. 

 The ground was soggy, but the air got muggy!

I enjoy watching the many Orioles who visit my feeding station. I've recently added grape jam in a dish for them, and they eat it like crazy! I'm so glad my friend suggested it to me.

Joanna didn't mind at all posing next to the daisies I planted. They're now on display in my front flowerbed.
She's such a good girl!

I think this Cardinal was trying to tell me he wanted to have a turn at driving our John Deere! :)

Every day there's activity and adventure going on all around me. 

~ ♥ ~

 
Isn't it wonderful to enjoy life from your own happy little world?

Lovely Days

What a pretty sunrise it was
as Charlie and I headed out bright and early 
~ 5:45 a.m to be exact ~ 
to get him to his job at a local farm stand. 

Today they were picking strawberries. These are some from the quart he brought home for me.
It will be strawberry season for the next two weeks. I can imagine we're going to be having the most delicious tasting strawberry shortcake with strawberries as fresh picked as these!!

 ~ ♥ ~

Almost a year ago (already!) when we moved in, our house looked like this.

Now, after lots of work such as painting, mulching, weeding and planting (the list goes on and on), it's coming along nicely, and it looks like this:

Even after that picture was taken, I've been busy doing more....

We've mulched around the front trees - this one being my bird feeder station.

Before


After

I've painted two benches that were left here, and in much need of attention.



Now I have lovely planters setting on them in the front flowerbed areas.


And I've placed a bit of this and that in my flowerbeds as well:


(The cute 2 tiered fountain has birds sitting on it)


 Lastly, I hung an adorable lighthouse birdhouse in our peach tree (it has lots of peaches coming!)


 About a week later I spotted nesting material in the house!


 Much to my delight, we have a cute little House Wren pair that moved in! I spotted one of them who was busily tending to the nest. :)


 I am awakened every morning to the beautiful song it sings, and continues all throughout the day!

~ ♥ ~ 

Life is good. If you look around and take notice,
 there's something beautiful to be found in every day we live! Wouldn't you agree?
 ☺

Making Blogging Practical

Hello, friends! How are you on this lovely Spring day? 

I've been happily out and about, wandering through my yard, and observing the little flower blooms that have stretched out from under their blanket of soil. I've dug out my planters and pots, bird baths, more bird feeders and patio furniture. I've even dug out my grill, cleaned it thoroughly, set it up, and have begun grilling. I just can't wait to enjoy our beautiful, finally warming up Spring, which will turn into the even more delightful season of Summer! Can you tell I'm excited that winter is now officially over (despite how hard and long it tried to hold on)?!

One thing I've also been doing a lot of lately is taking pictures. And more pictures. And more pictures....And.....well, you get the idea! Many are of the birds at my feeders, squirrels performing silly antics, getting into their usual squirrel mischief, bordering on being a nuisance! Then others are of nature - flowers blooming, leaves budding, the sun rising and setting. Everything is beautiful to me ~ SIGH.... And every day I discover how relaxing and enjoyable it is to view life around me through the lens of my camera. I love how rewarding and exciting it can be!

Really, when you think about it, the story of one's life can be told through pictures. Sharing what is seen, sharing what inspires and what that person deems unique, interesting, or even ordinary, yet still picture-worthy. That item, that creature, that person, that moment, forever frozen in time, able to be viewed over and over again. Not a day goes by when I haven't taken a picture of something, somewhere! Even in a store ~ lol! I guess I just love everyday life photography.....

And that recent realization has made me rethink just how I'd like to post here on Simply Me ~ Kimberly Marie. Often I wait for that right moment of carved out time to sit, and think, and form into some semblance of order words that would describe and convey what has gone through my mind, what's gone on in my life, places I've been and special moments I've enjoyed. Waiting for that "right time" has often left me missing in action here on the blog; a place I truly love to be! I miss sharing and visiting with you. I miss the quiet "me time" doing something that brings me happiness and satisfaction. And often, pictures I had wanted to share along with my post, have now become so outdated and "old news" that I no longer feel they're worth sharing for the post idea I'd had.

Then it came to me. Photo journaling.  And every day can still be a fresh new beginning, with new thoughts to ponder, new beauty to see, new ideas to try, and new things to share! 

So, without further adieu, here's my post for today:

A Visit With My Sister ~
(She's A Country Girl For Sure!) 

She owns Alpacas. Her girls make yarn from their fleece, which is SO SOFT!
 


 ~ ~ ~ 

 My sister also recently got goats. She wants to use their milk for soaps and cheese making. I'm not sure if her children would like it for drinking, but we'll see!
 
The goat on the left is pregnant, and due to deliver any day now! My sister is nervous, but excited.
~ ~ ~

 You can't live in the country without chickens! There are plenty of fresh eggs every day.


Ummm, I think the ground was a little saturated that day!

 ~ ~ ~

Of course, there always has to be a cat, too! They're great for keeping those country mice away!



 ~ ~ ~

Back here at my home.....

See what I mean about those silly squirrels?! Talk about hanging on by your toenails.... Good grief. This one's got that mastered!!

This squirrel believes in that old saying, "Where there's a will, there's a way"!
~ ~ ~

What a treat to see this Pileated Woodpecker on the suet cake just the other side of the glass! Charlie spotted him first and called me in to see this awesome sight!
 


 ~ ~ ~

Watching the beautiful morning sunrise....



 ~ ~ ~

Loving the beauty of Spring popping up all over.
These delicate little flowers are growing in the backyard.


And Hyacinths out front.....Can't you just SMELL their deeply scented perfume?!
While sitting on my front porch, I can smell their loveliness in the air.


~ ~ ~

Just too cute not to post! 

This was Checkers, yesterday, on his birthday. All the birthday hoopla must've wore him right out. NOT! 

But he did just turn 11, so I guess he has an excuse! 
☺





 
 What a tough life! Maybe I should take a few pointers from him......An afternoon siesta makes everything all better! I'll definitely have to try it sometime. *WINK*

~ ~ ~

Well, that's it for this journal post, friends!

I hope you'll find my new approach as enjoyable of a visit as always. I look forward to sharing a part of our day together with each new entry I post!☺