Sunday, July 18, 2021

July Joys


Summer days are full of joy if I just take the time to acknowledge all the beauty that surrounds me.  Complaining about the hot humid weather is useless.  Grayden and I are committed to taking our 3 mile walk every day.  Considering how sticky it gets quickly, we choose to rise at 5 am and have a bite to eat before starting our walk.  As I was waiting for my sweetie to get ready I gazed out the window and was astonished to see the Red-Shouldered Hawk perched in the maple tree out back!


I quickly picked up my camera that was on the hearth.  I'm a window gazer and usually find when something interesting is outside, my camera is in the other room.  This day I was lucky to find it nearby.  This big boy was eyeing the bird feeder below, but we have stopped filling it due to the advice of the Audubon Society.  There is something that is killing songbirds and they feel it could be spread by way of bird feeders.  I personally have not had any dead birds on our property, but want to do my part in protecting birds.  They suggest taking down our feeder and cleaning it with a weak bleach solution.  Hopefully this issue will be resolved soon and we can once again feed our fine feathered friends.  In our garden there are columbine and astilbe that has gone to seed that they seem to enjoy along with naturally occurring insects.


The daylilies are peaking and soon will be but a memory.



This year will find me dividing these dayliles.  If you have them, you know every few years this must be done or they will not bloom as well. 

The America Climbing rose allowed us to have a nice bouquet over July the Fourth.  This climber is in its fourth year on the trellis and is really taking off now.  It really takes a while for climbers to establish themselves in your garden, so patience will usually pay off.


Taking a little vacation to the beach brings joy like none other.  The ocean has always called me.  It probably began as a little girl when my family spent many happy days there.


The power and glory of the vastness of the ocean makes me humble and thankful for her richness.


Grayden took this photo one morning as the sun was rising above the Atlantic.

 At dusk one evening we looked to the south to reveal a most joyous sight that took our breath away!


July joys are all around.  I hope you look for them!





 



31 comments:

  1. What a beautiful sight the sunset and the amazing rainbow. You are so right, there is so much beauty that surrounds us if only we open our eyes and look.

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  2. You must have found the beach a welcome respite from the heat further inland. The sea is so restorative to those who answer her call. Beautiful photos, as always, but Grayden's rainbow is super special. xoxo

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    1. The beach was a wonderful respite, Deb. We are so fortunate that the ocean is close by to enjoy! xoxo

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  3. Oh I had not heard that the songbirds are in difficulty. I have noticed that there are fewer birds in my backyard...probably because my neighbors are not feeding the birds right now.

    Your climbing rose is gorgeous.

    Glad that you have been able to get away to the beach. Wonderful views!

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    1. Vee, a getaway is just what we needed and certainly loved! Thank you for your kind comments, friend.

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  4. I had not heard that news about bird feeders! I must clean our feeder! We seem to be feeding an entire colony of cowbirds! We have three red-shouldered hawks that like our property! They were all at the birdbath one day!

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    1. Nellie, the news of this awful disease has my heart sick for the birds. I, like you, love seeing the different variety that visits. That's so neat you have three red-shouldered hawks that visit in the birdbath! As menacing as they are, I feel they are so majestic!

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  5. Oh my goodness, you got a great photo of this beauty Martha Ellen :) I have heard of this awful disease that is attacking East coast birds, another reason I am not filling the bird feeders and also bird baths. I do hope it will pass soon. Your day lilies are gorgeous, as are the roses in the pretty vase, and a peak at the delightful teapot is it? Great shots also of the clouds, sun and rainbow. These must bring back lovely memories of special time with your family at the beach. July joys! I like that, they certainly are. Enjoy the rest of your week :)

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    1. Thank you for your kind comments, Denise! Yesterday we turned over our birdbaths as well. We usually have to do this to keep the mosquitos at bay.You are right you did see a little teapot near the roses. It's a little Sadler called, Wisteria Cottage. I hope you have a lovely week as well!

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    2. Thank you for letting me know about the teapot Martha Ellen, so very pretty. Good idea to turn the bird baths over, I will do that to mine also. For some reason I never thought of it filling up when it rains. Thank you for the reminder :)

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    3. Thanks so much for visiting and leaving all the lovely comments Martha Ellen :) I hope you have had a splendid weekend. We are going to get several days of rain and thunderstorms here. I'm sure the gardens with enjoy the rain :) Have a great week!

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  6. Hello there. How wonderful to spy that hawk! Beautiful images from the beach. 5am would be a good time for a walk. Happy July to you!

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    1. Ellen, marveling at the greatness of our universe never fails to bring joy to me! I hope you are doing well.

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  7. That sunset rainbow is especially remarkable -- I've NEVER seen anything even close to that. Love the bird and your blooms are lovely.It looks like a good summer.

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    1. Jeanie, the rainbow was like none we had ever seen before. I guess for me the end of the rainbow lies in the ocean!

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  8. Martha Ellen, how wonderful you saw the Hawk right in your back yard. It's such a grand bird, and BIG! Sorry you have to take down your feeder for awhile, I know how much to love to see the birds come around. Your roses are so pretty sitting in the glass vase. Your Lilies are coming along nicely too. I used to have yellow ones in the front of my old house, and it was interesting to see the petals blossom mid-day. What a beautiful photo Grayden took of the sunrise. And the rainbow is so special to see, and a blessing. I love this picture of you as a little girl, Marta Ellen. That is definitely a treasured photo.

    It's good that you notice the July joys, even in this heat, dear friend.

    ~Sheri

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    1. Sheri, your comments always make me smile. The photo of me and my parents is one of the few I have with them alone. I do have photos of course of me and my siblings with them. My parents adored the beach and will always remember them whenever I put my feet on the sand. I see you have had many joyous days this month!

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  9. Your photos are always stunning, my friend.
    What a great photo you captured of that majestic visitor!
    I hope your summer is cozy and restful.
    I am enjoying it, as I dream of fall!

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    1. Thank you, Billie Jo. I too am dreaming of glorious fall! Have a great week.

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  10. We have had some hot days recently but today it has been a little cooler so Eddie and I enjoyed a visit to a local lake ... it was so peaceful there.

    You have shared some lovely photographs, your day lilies are so colourful.

    Enjoy these July days, August will soon be here!

    All the best Jan

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    1. Jan, I'm so glad you and Eddie could have a nice outing to the lake. I can't believe we are going into the last week of July! Thank you for your comments and have a lovely weekend.

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  11. Oh my goodness . . . so much beauty! That last photo is a stunner. I can hardly imagine it in person!

    I so admire your resolve to walk faithfully every day. I'm afraid I'm one of those who complains about the heat and humidity too often. I need to take a lesson from your book!

    I see you in your mother's face in the beach photo! Was the beach her happy place, as it is yours?

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    1. Cheryl, my Mama and Daddy dearly loved the beach! Our summer vacations were always spent there. They definitely passed that love to me.
      Our resolve to walk daily is especially difficult in the summer, my friend. This morning was one of those days, but we encourage each other and head out. I'm really not a morning person--well not a 5 am person!

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  12. Rising early, having breakfast and then out for a walk is something my husband and I must start doing. He walks in the evening when not at the Y swimming but the air is a bit heavy for me. Mornings are so much nicer and cleaner air I feel. Beautiful capture out of your window as is with those pretty flowers you have. The rose you have pictured, does it have many pests that attack it? I have one rose but the beetles are eating it up I constantly have to pull them off or spray with neem oil. I like the petty color. Happy Sunday, Betsy

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    1. Betsy, walking is our preferred form of exercise. If we don't walk in the early morning hours before it gets so hot it won't happen as I can't tolerate the heat. The America climbing rose was quite pretty up to July this year, but now is looking tired and has had beetles invade as well. I pick them off and put them in a tub of water. Thank you for stopping by. Have a great week ahead.

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  13. That's great that you can walk every day. We try to walk every other day when the weather is good. But right now we don't get out as often because of the heat. The Hawk was a neat sighting! Enjoy your day!

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    1. It's difficult to walk any later than 8 am here during these heat waves. I really am not an early riser, but do so to be able to get our walk in. I hope you enjoy your day as well.

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  14. Love that gorgeous sunset rainbow. How extraordinary!

    Fabulous photos!

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  15. Martha Ellen, thank you for your prayers for the fires in California. It really scares me, cause one of them is about an hour from me, so I appreciate your prayers so much. These happen every year cause it's so dry, and we haven't had rain, but there are many that are going on at the same time in different areas. One of them is being said the second largest in California history. CAL FIRE is really trying hard to contain them all. They are incredible workers.

    Have a restful weekend, Martha Ellen, and thank you for coming by and giving me comfort right now.

    ~Sheri

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