Friday's feathered friends...

It's hot today and the Gray Catbird is a frequent bath visitor.









This guy loves a bath but only when I go back inside the house - a shy but beautiful bird.

Blossoms...

I've been busy trying to stay ahead of the weeds but thought I would show you the current blossoms. I wish the iris lasted longer they are gorgeous right now.

warblers...

I'm continuing to enjoy the migrating warblers visiting the garden. In yesterday's heat, a Wilson's Warbler came to the rock for a refreshing bath.


All clean and fluffed up!
I also managed to get a couple of shots of the elusive common yellowthroat - he is such a shy bird.

Have a great day!

steeple Sunday...

Another steeple I shot on a rainy, gray day...I was intrigued by this one because of the little round circles at the top. It looks like a perfect pigeon house or another type of birdhouse if you use enough imagination and I don't mean to be disrespectful, it is just the first thing I thought of.
The circle motif was carried on to the front facade as well as the large stained glass window front and center of the building.
The Church of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca, MN. The cornerstone states it was built in 1899.
It was a very large church, there is a another huge addition added on to the right of these photos but I chose to focus on the original part of the church.

raindrops and Friday's feathered friends...

It's time for Friday's feathered friends but I couldn't resist showing you the photos of the iris with raindrops I took this morning :)

This week brought several migrators besides the Cape May warbler I posted earlier in the week - this one I believe is a Tennesse warbler.
The bright blue of the indigo bunting is always a welcome sight in spring!
Female rose breasted grosbeak, I have yet to see the beautiful male.
These two are not migrators but it was fun to watch the goldfinch and baltimore oriole co-bathe.
I've spotted yellow warblers and the common yellowthroats as well but they are too fast for my camera.

Have a great weekend!

morning garden walk...what's blooming

I really enjoy taking my cup of coffee and going for a early morning garden walk to see what's blooming these days. Today, there are still many daffodils and tulips blooming.The old fashioned lilac hedge and the little pink Tinkerbelle lilacs are blooming.
I love spots of blue in the garden including this clump of flax.
The columbines are starting to put on a show...
and the first iris are opening up. I have lots of buds so I can't wait to see the other colors bloom.
Lily of the valley, allium, bleeding heart, viola and my ruffled Christmas poinsettia.
A miniature rose in the fairy garden, fern peony and perennial bachelor button.
Today's walk also showed me all the work that still needs to be done - time to get back into the work mode :)

a new visitor to the rock...

I was so excited to see this bird in the garden yesterday and had to get out the trusty bird book to identify him, a Cape May Warbler.
I kept the camera by the window and glanced outside throughout the day and was able to capture a few shots through the glass.






Isn't he a handsome fellow? I am happy to host him and hope he stays around long enough that I am able to get photos from outside.

Mosaic Monday - the dancing A's...

I have two little nieces that start with "A" and this weekend I was lucky enough to watch their dance recital.

Alexis dancing to Boomps a Daisy...
and Ashley dancing to Mississippi Mud and Let me be your Wings.Alexis tapping to the Merry Go Round Broke Down...
and Ashley taps to Lazy Bones.
Don't they just make you smile?

steeple Sunday...

This steeple will not receive the beautiful blue skies background that lots of the previous ones have. Instead these photos reflect the gray skies early May has brought to Minnesota.
We spotted St. Lucas Lutheran Church, a church in rural Yellow Medicine county while driving down Hwy 59.
This is one I don't know any history on as there was no info on their signage.

sunshine...

The sun is out for the first time in a week - it's a good day!