Meet The Cardinals!

We had a little break in between two major snow storms and even most of the snow melted during that in-between time.

We had 2 gorgeous bright cloudless blue sky days and so sunny!

I was standing at my kitchen sink and noticed a gorgeous male cardinal in his bright red glory having a bit of a feeding frenzy....in the time I put away all the clean dishes, cleaned out the microwave and made a pot of coffee that hungry cardinal was STILL there.

So I decided I probably had time to go into our home office and grab my camera.  I never in a zillion years thought he'd have been there so long or I would have grabbed it long before I even started cleaning.

Isn't he a handsome boy?  Cardinals are the official State Bird of Ohio.

Didn't set up a tripod (hardly never do, I am way too lazy, sorry) and this was taken through my kitchen window - and I was a bit shaky because I was leaning into the sink - but took this snap of him.....and perhaps it was my my movement then - or he finally just got his fill of seed - because as SOON as I took this ONE pic of him away he went to a nearby branch as the lovely-but-less-colorful female cardinal swooped in and started eating.

Cardinal in the Snow

source

A white blanket covers the yard. 

Snowflakes fly swiftly threw the air. 

There sits a Cardinal on the frozen bush. 

Feathers puffed and bold. 

Singing a winter tune. 

the wet snowflakes melt on his head. 

Hearing the creak of a gate, and with one swift movement he lifts into a gentle soar. 

Off he goes into the white sky.

A Cardinal In Winter

By G. Sweeney

A sunny cardinal in the tall, snowy evergreen tree

Wore a shining coat the shade of red berries so joyfully.

While I looked dreamily outdoors towards

The small, white, wintry woods

I wished for summer days where pine boughs

 had donned cottony hoods.

Suddenly then the brilliant cardinal all at once took flight

With feathered wings opened up

 and a flying path, very bright.

A quiet wonderland for all lasted in powdery white.

The world beckoned with shimmery hands

 and its silvery might. 

*******************************************************************

As always, thank you for stopping by!

♥

~Michele

Pink Valentine Collage

Hello, my lovelies! 

Well, I haven't posted in what seems like forever

so I thought I would share a some past posts' pretty pink

Valentine-themed

pics for you today...and to simply say hello!  

♥

I'm joining Beverly and all the pretty pinks at

 How Sweet The Sound for

PINK SATURDAY!

Be sure to pop on over there

 to see just how lovely pink can be!

Stay warm and safe - enjoy your weekend!

♥♥♥ Hugs ♥♥♥

~Michele

LOVE ♥ Valentines - Finch Rest Emporium

It's been a while since I joined

 The Marketplace and Blog Shop linky parties.

Today I am sharing a few things

 that would be great for your St. Valentine's Day!

There are 6 of these little tart bakers available - they come in sets of two.

Wouldn't a chicken pot pie, quiche, fruit pie, cake, etc., be CUTE in these?

There are 4 of these  Pfaltzgraff heart-shaped

stoneware trivits available.

It's perfect for your tea pot or as a hostess gift?

It has holes in the back, too-

 so it may be hung on a wall or inside a wreath.

There are 3 of these gorgeous rose-embossed plates available. 

It's the perfect salad sized plate -

 or fill with petite fours or decorated heart-shaped cookies

 and give as party favors for your small Valentine's Day tea party!

As always, thanks for stopping in for a visit!

♥

~Michele

Linking:

The Marketplace   *   Blog Shop

Snowstorm - Ya Gotta See This!

For all  you in the warmth of wherever,

 I thought some of you would enjoy seeing

 my video short of the snowstorm we're having.

We took it through a back door window.
(Sorry about viewing the screen too.)

It's been at it like this ALL day yesterday and now today!

 I didn't speed it up or make any enhancements of any kind....

it's really amazing how fast it is coming down, isn't it?

I really DO love winter's beautiful splendor!

Columbus, Ohio - Jan. 26, 2014.

Linking:

Seasonal Sunday  *  Amaze Me Monday  

Front Door Transom Window - Before and After

Here is my new leaded glass transom window

 that my DH put in during his Christmas holiday vacation.

We had this window custom made a while back

to blend nicely with the front door's side windows,

as well as the office windows.

We wanted everything to be as cohesive as possible.

I had a heckuva time trying to get a decent shot

of this part of the foyer area but with all the back lighting, along with the shaded areas - let's just say I tried.

(The important thing here was to share.)

BTW, this chandy is clean, but it is made of bubble glass -

 so with all the reflections and the bubbles it looks dusty!

 But it isn't...least not as much as it looks!

(:-p 

I took this shot standing on the stairs to get as close as possible.
The chandelier getting in the way was unavoidable. Sorry.

At least you get to see that too. 
It's a real day of sharing, isn't it?
Haha.

Here is an old bleh before shot looking in from outside.

(It's the only one I could find in the arsenal to show a before.)

This plain  window kept whispering to me:

"Please, please, please
turn me into one of those AFTER beauties!"

(And you know how we aim to please!)

All  our windows in this foyer area now have 

smooth bevelled, bubbled, and/or water-glass pieces.

It's not a huge change, but does it ever make a difference
in the morning with this East-facing window-
especially when walking down the stairs.

I think we came through for her.

She may now think of herself
 as an "AFTER beauty" don't you?

As always, thanks for your visit!

♥

~Michele

Linking:

Home Sweet Home  *  Saturday Show Off  *  Metamophasis Monday

Tweak it Tuesday

Happy Birthday, Tea Time Tuesday!

Well, perhaps a little belated

 comes my well wishes to Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage

on her hosting a beloved linky party

 called Tea Time Tuesday!

I had all sorts of grand ideas on how I was going to present

 my glad tidings to her...

 and that's just where it stayed: in my head.

It never become a reality. 

Life..... it happens.

But I thought I'd show my love to her and to

all the wonderful tea time ladies in blogland (and beyond)

by sharing my Johnson Bros. teapot, Sandi's favorite pattern, and a few past rose pics to join in the fun.

Be sure to check her blog out to see her china collection-

it will dazzle you to be sure!

I wish her a lovely rose-scented, tea sipping & wonderful day!

♥

As always, thank you for stopping by!

Hugs!

~Michele

A Beautiful Winter's Day

Sometimes winter makes me awestruck.

 It can be so beautiful.

Today is no exception.

 It's perfect. It's sunny. It is blue. It is white. It is amazing.

I love all the shadow play

 as the sun begins to make its way,

 winding around our house like a timepiece.

 I just had to share this splendor!

I love winter and I love the snow!

All pics taken from inside the house - the backyard from the backdoor

and the side yard (with bird feeders) from inside a closed window.

If you look carefully

 you can see a dangling hanging bird feeder to the left -

 and see all the funny snow-scratch marks underneath

where the fallen seed lands and gets eaten from the ground.

I think this is so funny for some reason. 

Wide, sparkling fields snow-vestured lie

Beneath a blue, unshadowed sky"

A glistening splendor crowns the woods

And bosky, whistling solitudes:

In hemlock glen and reedy mere

the tang of frost is sharp and clear;

Life has a jollity and zest.

A poignancy made manifest:

Laughter and courage have their way

At noontide of a winter's day.

                                                                                                               

                                                                                  ~Taken from "A Winter's Day" - L.M. Montgomery

As always, thank you for your visit!

♥

~Michele

Linking:

Shadow Shot Sunday