Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread - Proverbs 30:8

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Fun in My Backyard


taking a moment to find joy in the little things

{pretty}
August is by far my favorite month for my garden. The sunflowers and zinnias are blooming and everything is so beautiful and full. I'm especially pleased with my honeysuckle this year. I love all the hummingbirds it attracts.








We were pleasantly surprised to find this guy on one of our plants this week. 







{happy}

Our patio is full of chalk art and I love it. Both girls enjoy creating scenes and pictures. My younger daughter draws rainbows and flowers while my older daughter draws dragons!







Over the weekend there was a chalk art contest in our town and each girl entered. I enjoy watching my oldest draw so much. She is quite talented. She did this quick dragon drawing in about 5 minutes and ended up winning "mayor's choice" - a plaque and a $50 gift card to a local store!



{funny}
One of our silly family traditions is to have the "August fairy"....my birthday is in August and the girls (mostly my younger one) leaves me notes and chocolate and makes my bed. Here are the notes I've gotten so far.



And sometimes when I'm sitting at the computer I think I catch glimpses of a fairy (or two) fluttering about the room). I grabbed my camera the other day and here's what I got....






This particular fairy looks suspiciously like my youngest daughter....

{real}
Although I had seen the holes these guys dig, I hadn't actually seen a skunk in my yard until this week. I've seen him several times now, and it's always still light out. I can go outside and make noise and walk around and it doesn't even phase him. It's a tad bit disconcerting and discourages me from hanging out in my yard in the evenings. 




Also...my zucchini plants are sick. They were doing so well, but it's been a week now since I got any zucchini from them. There are a few growing and I hope they continue because I haven't had my fill of zucchini yet.  



Posted by at
Labels: , ,

36 comments:

  1. Pieni LintuAugust 20, 2014 at 8:31 AM

    Lovely shots! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hall Around TexasAugust 20, 2014 at 9:08 AM

    Great pictures! Love the hummingbird shots!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jill FoleyAugust 20, 2014 at 10:14 PM

      Thank you...I've been trying to capture the hummingbirds all summer and finally got some decent shots this week.

      Delete
  3. Mary @ Better Than EdenAugust 20, 2014 at 9:40 AM

    Haha! "10 more days til the big one!" made me smile! Congrats to S and wow, K looks so tall!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jill FoleyAugust 20, 2014 at 10:14 PM

      So K asked me, "how many days until your birthday?"...then 10 minutes later I find that note! : )
      She is getting tall... I can't believe how big they are getting.

      Delete
  4. Courtney [Sweet Turtle Soup]August 20, 2014 at 11:48 AM

    Love honeysuckle and hummingbirds! Wow that is awesome that she won a little something for her chalk art, how fun. Good for her! haha, the August fairy - that is a fun tradition.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jill FoleyAugust 20, 2014 at 10:15 PM

      I love the August fairy! : ) It's even more fun for me to be the October fairy to give back to my little giver.

      Delete
  5. you-wee becauseAugust 20, 2014 at 12:28 PM

    I never took a photo of a hummingbird - maybe because we don't have hummingbirds here in Germany??? ;-)
    Regards, Uwe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jill FoleyAugust 20, 2014 at 10:16 PM

      no hummingbirds in Germany? They are tricky to photograph because they just move so quickly.

      Delete
  6. Tamar SBAugust 20, 2014 at 12:51 PM

    Your garden is so lovely! Love the chalk art, how fun and so much talent! That's one cute fairy you've got there too (-:

    ReplyDelete
  7. Maureen @ Josephina BallerinaAugust 20, 2014 at 1:56 PM

    I do believe the August Fairy is in cahoots with Little Pink Riding Hood!
    And re: skunks. Woke up early one morning a couple of weeks ago to Oinking under the bedroom window! Ray and I both "sprang from our bed to see what was the matter!" Nothing to see, but when Ray took Josephine out a little while later, he said there was a distinctly "skunky" aroma wafting about.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jill FoleyAugust 20, 2014 at 10:17 PM

      I just really dislike skunks...especially in my yard. But they live right in the "natural area" next to our yard. I've seen them leave our yard and go into the holes near the "swamp".

      Delete
  8. abriannaAugust 20, 2014 at 4:45 PM

    My favorites are the fifth one of the hummingbird and of your youngest daughter with the rainbow shawl. Congrats to your oldest daughter on winning her plaque and gift card!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jill FoleyAugust 20, 2014 at 10:18 PM

      That's my favorite of the hummingbird shots, too. I was out trying to get ready to get some pics and the hummingbird came closer to the zinnias which were right in front of me. I quickly got that one shot and it's the best of all of them.

      Delete
  9. Inspired By JuneAugust 20, 2014 at 7:39 PM

    Those hummingbird shots are amazing! Enjoyed all that you shared - I hope you can find a fix for your zucchini. Have a blessed week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jill FoleyAugust 20, 2014 at 10:18 PM

      I went and peeked at the zucchini today and I have one ready to pick and 3 more that will be ready in a day or two. I don't think production is affected by the white spots so that's good!

      Delete
  10. elizabethAugust 20, 2014 at 8:32 PM

    Really beautiful photos! Your skills are amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Grandma Dee DeeAugust 20, 2014 at 8:51 PM

    I Love your posts!!!!
    Such amazing girls and pictures and YOU!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Simply BethAugust 21, 2014 at 6:05 AM

    Filled with goodness (except for that skunk). I absolutely love hummingbirds and your daughter is very talented!! Always enjoy your photos, Jill, and I leave smiling after coming here. Blessings.

    ReplyDelete
  13. KimAugust 21, 2014 at 8:44 AM

    Your girls are great little chalk artists! Impressive. Equally impressive would be the fuzzy caterpillar and the skunk! You find the best bits of nature!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jill FoleyAugust 23, 2014 at 10:20 AM

      Thanks...we have lots of fun here in our backyard!

      Delete
  14. AnonymousAugust 21, 2014 at 10:23 AM

    I'm in love with your sweet girls... the August Fairy, how sweet. Agreed with Beth... such goodness here, but the skunk must go.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jill FoleyAugust 23, 2014 at 10:20 AM

      I love my little August fairy... today my husband even joined in on the action and cleaned the whole house while I was out running!!! I'm feeling loved.

      Delete
  15. AdrienneAugust 21, 2014 at 11:10 AM

    IN LOVE with the hummingbird shots!! And that last yellow vine/flower perched on the fence is fantastic!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jill FoleyAugust 23, 2014 at 10:21 AM

      Thank you! Hummingbirds are so tricky to capture.

      Delete
  16. Mitzi August 21, 2014 at 1:08 PM

    I absolutely LOVE the humming bird shots. I haven't been to lucky with them this year. I have to admit, I'm surprised about the skunk...it isn't often that we get to experience them so close up. Great captures!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jill FoleyAugust 23, 2014 at 10:22 AM

      This has happened every year with the skunks...this year it's a little later than past years. But it seems there is a week or so where the babies come out during daylight and learn how to hunt for food.

      Delete
  17. SnapAugust 21, 2014 at 3:35 PM

    Pretty flowers. Love the hummingbirds! But, I think I like the dragon the best! ;) We will ignore the skunk!

    ReplyDelete
  18. lisaAugust 22, 2014 at 6:45 AM

    I so enjoyed your post today! Love the idea of an August fairy….and that you caught one on camera! :-) That hummer shot suspended in mid-air is fabulous!

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)