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!

It's Here! It's Here!

What an odd day.  Got to watch one of my favorite mini-series from the BBC again (well, most of it . . . at least the parts that are swoon worthy), get some snoozin' and snugglin' in with the beasties,  AND get some um, unusual pics.  Most importantly though, this is my "official" 100th blog post.  In honor of that milestone, I'd like to have a raffle for my wonderful readers!


The raffle is a Rafflecopter giveaway and there are just a few things you'll need to do to earn your entries.  Yes, you can get more than one entry per person.  The raffle will be open until Saturday night, and I will announce the winner on Sunday.  You can leave a couple of comments on today's blog (What kind of photo should I feature on my 200th post? and/or Of the blog posts you've read, which is your favorite?) and become a follower of my blog (there are TWO entries for that option!).
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Yes, I know some of you are anxious to know what I'm raffling off . . . and one of the things near and dear to my heart would be Duck Tape duct tape!  The winner will receive not one, but TWO rolls of patterned Duck Tape, pictured below.

Now for some fun and unusual pics from a fun and unusual day!

It's such hard work to get in a good nap when Mom's always taking pictures of Bandit.  Pinkerton at least usually hides when he's napping.

Tried to get a pic of the verbena the other night, but it just didn't work out.  Tonight it did!

I'm having a hard time finding the right angle to show what I've been trying to create with the trumpet vine behind the bench . . .  If you can see the blue rope, that's what needs to be replaced with a trellis.

Butterfly bushes, above and below; the other one I have hasn't started blooming yet!

I found a very large pot of mother hen and chicks one day at Meijer's.  There are a bunch of them in the pot, and they are loving this hot weather we've been having!  I'm glad THEY are.

This looks VERY different from the sunflower pics I posted previously!  This is the stage it's now in, and I'm hoping to beat the squirrels to some of the seeds.

I caught one of the hummingbirds tonight (on camera)!  I think this is an immature male, but I KNOW I saw a mature male at the feeder earlier.  I'm pretty sure these are different birds from last year because they're very shy around me.  They were pretty good tonight (this one), but the female flew off right away; last year it was the female that stuck around.

Nice shot of the hummingbird feeder!  The little green blob was NOT cooperating while near the feeders.  He was gone in a flash . . .

That's it for the 100th post!  Hope you leave a comment or two and become a follower for your chances to win some of my favorite Duck Tape!!  There are a LOT of uses for it (some fun, and there is always the possibility for nefarious use).