What you do if you're iced in...

Well, you hang around your kitchen window

 looking at all the critters and birdies who are looking for a snack...

Critter feeding is pretty messy business.

This is the frosty view outside my kitchen window above the sink.

It seems a certain little somebody was trapped when the icy rain started coming down in buckets. She had to take cover under the wagon. Looks pretty chilly...and uncomfortable.

can you see her?

As soon as it let up the bluebirds were back. I've lived here 10 years and only seen bluebirds a handful of times, but a little Bluebird "couple" have taken a liking to the feeder up here, so now they're regulars.

Now, look who's back...

She didn't like all the ice pellets in her food pan.

It was a battle all afternoon, 

birds vs. squirrel.

I don't have a zoom telephoto lens, so I just had to use my regular lens. These aren't the best photos, but if you look closely you'll see the variety I had on the feeder. Purple finch and Sparrow on the feeder, a goldfinch on top of the faux evergreen and a little wren waiting turns.

...got some fluff going on here.

My little female bluebird on the feeder again.

The bluebird is the Missouri State Bird

 and speaking of "state birds" we couldn't leave out the Cardinals...

And yes, I had a little help from the "Official" Bird Watcher.

We never lost our power, but it did cut out off and on for awhile.

This has been a long week of feeling lousy, 

but I'm better now.

I think I slept about 16 hours a day most of the week.

and that's with having a flu shot.

I guess if you are going to be sick it's best

when it's snowy and icy,

...a good time to be snuggled up at home.

I hope the rest of you are making it through the snowstorm.

Stay warm.

Spring will be here soon...

I think.

p.s. EpicLinen is still having a discount 

on all orders until March 3.

Head over and look around.

xoxo,

On the Porch

I'm going to admit that I've been dragging my feet about posting any photos of the outside of the house, because I just haven't been able to get good ones. The front is heavily shaded and if it's overcast out, then just forget it. blah, boring, washed out. So we had some sunshine the other day, and I managed to get a few shots, but I'm warning you they are sort of lackluster. I did my best to dress them up a little for you. This little half park bench that I keep out here is my favorite pic.

I did bring out one of my Fall Pendleton wool throws to bring in a little color, and then added  some of that "worth it's weight in gold" bittersweet vine to the mix. I'm going to have to include bittersweet in every blog post I do this Fall, just to get my money's worth out of it!

I always have a hard time decorating the porch, so this year I invested in some vintage concrete urns that are painted white, for the mums. They are heavy little boogers, so hubby had to deal with them. But they do class it up a little, which always seems to be the issue.

Thank you PicMonkey for all your help!

I guess I just need about $200 worth 

of extra pumpkins sitting around out here.

 Maybe that would help.

That, or a personal visit from Martha Stewart.

Wonder how much she charges for house calls?

We're in for a freeze tonight so this will all have to be covered. I can usually keep my Boston ferns until the first of November, but it might not happen this year. I hate throwing them away until it's just too cold for them.

I'm really loving this plump one here in front.

white, with some green and orange veining.

And I think this one is called a Peanut Pumpkin,

see, what did I tell you about the photos?

OK, gotta round up those old sheets and blankets

so I can tuck these babies in for the night!

(click here for last year's porch pics)

Deck photos coming right up...

joining in for 

Seasonal Sundays at the Tablescaper

Sunday Showcase at Under the Table and Dreaming

Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Make it Pretty Monday at the Dedicated House

Cowgirl Up at Cedarhill Ranch

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Knick of Time

Primp

WOW at Savvy Southern Style

Welcome Home Wednesday at Vintage On A Dime

The Inspired Room

xoxo,

Mr. Squirrel says "we have 2 winners!"

"It's time to have some fun out here on the sunporch with a new old muffin tin and some pumpkin tealights. I have to be able to see all those acorns that this crazy lady picked up for me last Fall. The problem is that all the little caps have glue on them which doesn't really taste so good... they look cute, just taste like phooey."

ahhh...I smell something fabulous...

 Yum...pumpkin spice

I hate to tell her this

 but she should actually be baking

 something pumpkin spice

in that teensy muffin tin...

(looks a little rusty-crusty to me)

 Oh yeah, she wants me to announce 
the Give Away winners...

And the 2 Give Away winners of the 

are....

Nita from Mod Vintage Life

and

Marianne from Vintage Gal

Congrats gals, 

just email this nutty lady your mailing addresses

 and She'll get your names to the Candle Co!

she says to be sure and send hugs and kisses!

xoxo

Collections Show and Tell

I have a lot of "collections", but one of my favorites

I keep all together on my studio shelf.

And now that I think of it, my chipmunk and squirrel collection

probably has been around the longest of anything that I collect.

Today I'm joining Suzanne over at Privet and Holly

for her Collections Show and Tell Party this week.

These little cuties usually spend their time here on the shelf,

but come Fall, they scamper around the house

hiding in many of my Fall vignettes.

It's about time to start dusting them off and watching them find

a temporary new spot.

This is one of my favorites, a new paper mache box,

that my daughter bought for me several years ago.

Some of the stuffed variety...

A birthday card from a few years ago,

Salt and pepper shakers,

creeping (not creepy) chipmunk planter from Japan,

Most of the figurines are vintage Lefton.

love the detail...

a Japanese Majolica planter,

These two on my front porch started it all.

A very old chalkware bank,

and a silver art deco/modern piece from my older daughter.

Hey!... what's this?

Sorry it's blurry, I grabbed this photo quick.

We have an abundance of both squirrels and chipmunks.

I feed the birds so they enjoy the leftovers.

The kitties would love to "enjoy" them.

Hope you'll join Suzanne for the linky party starting Tuesday July 26.

see ya there!

and Marty for Table Top Tuesday

and Kristin for Tuesday Treasures

links on sidebar buttons

 

love,