Sweet Success

Although it doesn't appear that ANYONE is interested in my little raffle (I get to keep the Duck Tape!!  I win!!!!), today has been pretty much filled with sweet success!

I had a phone call this morning that started the day off nicely - scheduling a job interview for tomorrow afternoon!  I had interviewed at the company before, but they decided on another applicant; they told me they'd keep my resume' on file, yadda yadda.  I must have made a good impression on the HR person because she's the one who called me now that they have another opening.  Yeah!!!!

After visiting Mom and working on a jigsaw puzzle with her for almost an hour (it's been a while since I've seen her interested in that), I had just enough time to type up minutes from a class reunion planning meeting and get them sent out before meeting friends for dinner at Milano's.

When I got home, I had time to sit out back with the camera watching for the hummingbirds to visit.  That turned into having time to stand out back because they didn't like where I was sitting (any slight movement and they would fly off).  But, I finally got to see some of the goldfinches (and caught them digitally) and listen to them serenade me as well.

I did see several goldfinches (both male and female), just about the time I was beginning to think I wasn't going to see many this year!  This has been a sparse viewing year on the goldfinches, so I was thrilled to be seeing them.

I'm still trying to get a good angle to show what I'm trying to do with the trumpet vine behind this bench (above).  It's a little hard to see the clothes line, but it gives a better idea of how far back the trumpet vine is from the clothesline.  I'm starting to look for a trellis so I can get rid of that blue rope (but it's working for now).

The shots above and below give a better idea of just how far the vines have to grow to reach the clothesline.  BUT, now that they've made it that far, I'm thinking the trellis will be sturdier, and hopefully add a little visual interest.

Still a work in progress . . . I'm hoping that next year the butterfly bushes will really take off as well as the trumpet vine creating the "bower" at the clothesline.  It would be nice if another volunteer trumpet vine would appear at the other clothesline post, but I may have to relocate one if it doesn't.  I really like the look of the one vining around the post.

I was DETERMINED to catch a shot or two of a hummingbird tonight.  I have seen several different times throughout the day when I've been at the kitchen sink, but those would have been crappy pictures, and if I'd grabbed the camera and run outside, it would have scared them away.  So, keeping an eye on the time and trying to remember some of the times I'd seen one at the feeders, I was ready to be outside for an hour to catch a shot.

I was thrilled when I was able to catch these shots, especially since I only had to wait about 25-30 minutes.

One of my favorite songs from teenage years is by Seals and Crofts:

Hummingbird don't fly away, fly away.  Hummingbird don't fly away, fly away.
In you I've found a fragrance.  I'll love you 'til I die.
I just love you, love you, love you.  I don't even know the reason why.
Hummingbird don't fly away, fly away.  Hummingbird don't fly away, fly away.
The sweetness of your nectar has drawn me like a fly.
I just love you, love you, love you.  I don't even know the reason why.  Now,
Hummingbird don't fly away, fly away. Hummingbird don't fly away fly away.

I love to watch the hummingbirds, and feel honored to have them coming to the feeders regularly.

What a great way to start the week.  So much sweet success (and on a Monday, no less).  It's gonna be a FABULOUS August!

Spring Freeze

Knew it had been too good to last.  All of this unseasonably warm weather would have to suddenly turn on us.  Yup!  Tonight we have a freeze advisory until tomorrow morning at 9 (right now it's in the low 60s).  So glad I haven't started planting anything yet.

But, talk of potential freezing temps tonight reminds me of the previous two February snow/ice storms we were "blessed" with.  I didn't mind them too much because I didn't have to go anywhere either time, but those who did sure had some fun cleaning off their cars and negotiating the slippery roads.  I did get to go out to take pictures (I know, that's not a surprise) . . . it was, of course, freezing, but another opportunity to try something new - snow/ice pics.

These are from the snow storm in February 2010.  It was a great day to be living on the 3rd floor (which is how I was able to get pics of the upper branches coated w/ snow) and cuddling w/ the beastie boys.  It's funny that they are such a good indicator of how cold it is by how close they want to be to each other and to me . . .

These ice pictures were from February 2011, and I was in the midst of packing and moving.  It was a great excuse to take time to do anything else.  I think I took about 30 pictures in 10 or 15 minutes 'cause it was definitely COLD.  I also defrosted the car windows, which took about 20-30 minutes.  I couldn't even begin to touch the ice before defrosting; I considered myself lucky to be able to get into the car w/out much effort.

Yes, I'm aware that we are highly unlikely to have similar weather conditions tonight.  But, the "threat" of freezing weather reminded me of these pictures.  There are so many times we're all faced with sudden changes (weather, health, employment, etc.) and feel as if we can't cope.  But, how many of us, when faced w/ a sudden snow or ice storm, but MUST get to work, find a way to deal with it and get to work?  We may not have a plan, but we work at shoveling the snow or scraping the ice until we can move the car or see out the windows.  Did we use the best or easiest method?  Maybe; maybe not.  Does that really matter?  We did what we had to do under the conditions faced at the time.  There will be time later to reflect on whether we either could or should have done things differently.  Let's celebrate the success for what it is - success!!  We succeed at many things every day; let's not spend those days beating ourselves up for what we didn't accomplish or succeed at.