Look Who Dropped In

Excitement in the neighborhood 

this week with visitors from nature. 

While I was watering the flowers this week in my back yard, I discovered a Lunar Moth in a cedar tree. Although they are rarely seen, they are common. The adult life lasts only one week. They do not have a mouth. There only function is to mate. They are known as a giant silk worm moth.

The lunar moth has a wingspan of four and a half inches.

 

While I was excited by discovering the moth, right next door my neighbors had a visit from a juvenile peregrine falcon. 

The falcon watched my neighbor all day.

They gave him a bowl of water.

The falcon had steak for dinner.

The neighbors ended up calling the Bird Whisperer. She is from Aviary of Paris Landing State Park that is 30 miles south of here on Kentucky Lake.

 

She said that the falcon is so imprinted by humans that they will probably use this bird as a teaching bird.

Thanks for stopping in.

I am linking to :

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Mosaic Monday @ Lavender Cottage last Monday of the month

Nature Notes @ Rambling Woods on Monday

Our World @ Our World Tuesday Meme

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

The Scoop @ StoneGable Blog

You're Gonna Love It Tuesday @ Kathe With an E

Wednesday Around the World @ Photographing New Zealand

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer

Wild Bird Wednesday @ Paying Ready Attention Gallery

Nature Notes @ Rambling Woods

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern

ABC Wednesday

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life

Simple & Sweet Fridays @ Rooted in Thyme 

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson

Foodie Friday & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm on Thursday evening

Photo Friday @ Pierced Wonderings

Skywatch Friday @ Skyley

Saturday's Critters @ Viewing Nature with Eileen on Saturday

Camera Critters on Saturday

I'd Rather Be Birdin' on Saturday at noon

Tom's Barn Collective @ The Backroad Traveler on Sunday

Seasons @ St. Germain's Blog on Sunday

July

Happy Fourth of July! 

Our chosen day to celebrate our independence should always serve as a reminder that Freedom is far from being Free.
Now it seems more than ever that we need to recognize the sacrifices made by so many people.

With the beginning of July, I want to celebrate by adding some patriotic decor.

I found a cute little flower arrangement at Pier One that fit nicely under my bell jar.

I used it as the centerpiece for my dining room table. I used red, white, and blue fiesta ware and added some patriotic salad plates.

I located some placemats, napkins, and table runners at Kohl's.

I topped it off by adding some candles, and firecrackers from Everything for a Dollar store.

The breakfast table was decorated with blue and red fiesta ware and a vintage milk glass plate

We were happy to have some old friends over for visit. Our lunch consisted of, Italian roast beef sandwiches, guacamole dip, and a banana split dessert.   

No surpise. Hotdogs were served later on that day.

A Forth of July favorite of mine is the tasty watermelon.

Baked a lemon pound cake for breakfast coffee.

Displaying red in my kitchen this month.

Kirkland's had this cute centerpiece that I just had to purchase to decorate the breakfast table.

 Uncle Sam is standing watch on the stove mantle.

Hope you have a great 4th.
Thanks for stopping in.

I am linking to:

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings
Make It Monday @Katherine’s Corner
Metamorphosis Monday@ Between Naps on the Porch
Mosaic Monday @ Lavender Cottage

Show and Share @ Coastal Charm                                                                    

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday
The Scoop at Stonegable Blog
You’re Gonna Love It Tuesday at Kathe With an E
Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Swing Into Spring at DIY By Design

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Share Your Style Link Party @ 21 Rosemary Lane for (Wednesday evenings) 
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olsen
From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday

Tablescape Thursday@ Between Naps on the Porch
Favorite Things Thursday at Katherine’s Corner
Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life
Inspiration Thursday @ In the New House
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home on Thursday
Simple & Sweet Fridays @ Rooted In Thyme


Skywatch FridayFriday’s Hunt @ Eden Hills
Feathered Nest Friday @ the French Country Cottage
Simple and Sweet Fridays @ Rooted in Thyme
Foodie Friday & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm

The Bouquet of Talent Party @ Life on Lakeshore Drive - Saturday

 Sunny Simple Sunday at Sunny Simple Life
Dishing and Digging @ Rustic & Refined

Cherry Jam and Sock Monkey Quilt

Two years ago, I sent my husband to buy two Yoshino cherry trees. They are widely used as an ornamental tree. They are the type you see in cities' cherry blossom festivals, such as Washington D.C. and Macon, GA.  But as you see I got two Emperor Francis Sweet Cherry trees instead. We happily planted them in the back yard and this year we had a few cherries. 

My Grandmother used to make cherry jellies and jams for me when I as a young child. I decided with these new cherries that I would give it a try.

I picked and washed the cherries and now wish that I had pitted them before cooking.

I boiled them and added sugar and sure-jell. This was more labor intensive than I remembered. Removing the pits and straining them was the worst part. The the sugar and sure-jell cost more than buying a jar of jam. I ended up with two jars of jam that my husband enjoys.

I won't be trying this again until next year.

I thought that since this post was so short that I could show you sock monkey quilt that I just completed.

This is an Anita Goodesign. These designs are an embroidery and applique.

This is my favorite block, I call it "monkey love."

There are nineteen different designs in this collection.

I am planning to put some on tee-shirts and on hooded towels for babies.

I originally bought this design thinking that my Granddaughter enjoyed this design. She liked this at the beginning of junior high but now she no longer likes it.

I was able to find sock monkey fabric which I have enjoyed working with.

Thank you for stopping in and I hope you enjoy your weekend.

Linking to: 

Blue Monday @ Backyard Neighbor

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Metamorphosis Monday@ Between Naps on the Porch

Mosaic Monday @ Lavender Cottage

Show and Share @ Coastal Charm

                                                                          

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday

Sew Cute Tuesday @ Blossom Heart Quilts

The Scoop at Stonegable Blog

You’re Gonna Love It Tuesday at Kathe With an E

Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House

Swing into Spring at DIY By Design

Let's Bee Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts on Wednesdays

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Share Your Style Link Party @ 21 Rosemary Lane for (Wednesday evening) 

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olsen (Wednesday evening)

Simple & Sweet Fridays @ Rooted In Thyme (Wednesday evening)

From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday

Tablescape Thursday@ Between Naps on the Porch

Favorite Things Thursday at Katherine’s Corner

Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life

Foodie Friday & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm

Inspiration Thursday @ In the New House

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home on Thursday

Fabric Frenzy Friday @ Forth Worth Fabric Studio on Friday

Whoot Whoot Friday @ Confessions of A Fabric Addict

Whoomp There It Is @ A Quilted Passion on Friday

Skywatch Friday

Show Off Saturday @ Sew Can She

The Bouquet of Talent Party @ Life on Lakeshore Drive - Saturday

ScrapHappy Saturday @ So Scrappy on Saturday

Oh Scrap @ Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework on Sunday

Dishing and Digging @ Rustic & Refined on Sunday

A Fiesta Celebration

I am feeling so blessed.  A good friend that lived several hours away in Kansas City recently moved less than two miles down the road from me. We had taught together for many years and had even attended classes together while obtaining our Master's degrees. Although we never lost contact with each other, it is amazingly fun to be together. Retirement is so much more fun. We are both new to the area and we both moved here to be close to our children. I just want to share a luncheon we shared to celebrate our friendship.

She has a beautiful bog: jbiggslittlepeices.blogspot.com

The big dish is one that my son brought back from Mexico for me. I thought it would dress up my Fiesta Ware.

The menu consisted of a BLT Layered Salad ( this new recipe came from delish.com), The Italian Roast Beef, fresh fruit and sweet tea. All of which were enjoyable to our taste buds. 

Bread Pudding was filling the room with a pleasing aroma. This turned out to be a delicious dessert.

Thank you for stopping by - JoAnn.

Linking to:

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings
Make It Monday @Katherine’s Corner
Metamorphosis Monday@ Between Naps on the Porch
Mosaic Monday @ Lavender Cottage

Show and Share @ Coastal Charm
                                                                          

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday
The Scoop at Stonegable Blog
You’re Gonna Love It Tuesday at Kathe With an E
Tweak It Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Swing Into Spring at DIY By Design
Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story

Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation on Wednesday

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Share Your Style Link Party @ 21 Rosemary Lane for (Wednesday evenings) 
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olsen
From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday

ScrapHappy Saturday @ So Scrappy on Saturday
Oh Scrap @ Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework on Sunday

Tablescape Thursday@ Between Naps on the Porch
Favorite Things Thursday at Katherine’s Corner
Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life
Inspiration Thursday @ In the New House
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home on Thursday
Simple & Sweet Fridays @ Rooted In Thyme

Fabric Frenzy Friday @ Forth Worth Fabric Studio on Friday

Whoot Whoot Friday @ Confessions of A Fabric Addict

Whoomp There It Is @ A Quilted Passion on Friday

Skywatch FridayFriday’s Hunt @ Eden Hills
Feathered Nest Friday @ the French Country Cottage
Simple and Sweet Fridays @ Rooted in Thyme
Foodie Friday & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm
ScrapHappy Saturday @ So Scrappy on Saturday

The Bouquet of Talent Party @ Life on Lakeshore Drive - Saturday

Oh Scrap @ Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework on Sunday

Sunny Simple Sunday at Sunny Simple Life
Dishing and Digging @ Rustic & Refined