Cardinal Couple

(picture by Mike)

I was so happy to find that a Cardinal pair are nesting in an Arbor Vita in my backyard. The female was busy building the nest while the male sang his praises from the cable wire. The male (a beautiful red) was going from tree to wire singing in his clear loud song....maybe bragging to other Cardinals like "Looks at me I have the little lady building a nest for me and my family" Well, he may have been just protecting his territory but I thought what an easy job as the female made trip after trip with sticks and straw bits with no help from him. Nature is funny and often imitates life.

Tea

 Tea at Cotswold Cottage

Little sandwiches (including cucumber and sour cream) and a plate of delicious cakes.... a scone with jam and cream, chocolate tart, jam sponge, and strawberries. I really savored every minute and envisioned myself in one of Barbara Pym's books (which I happened to be reading now) where life revolved around tea.

Old Glory

(click to enlarge)

Hollyhocks

From my house to yours

Happy July 4th!

Gone but not forgotten.

I wish that we had local train service that we could use to take a day trip. I know that we have Amtrak to go to Toronto, Chicago and so on but I would love to take the train to Battle Creek or Grand Rapids or even to Cleveland. In fact I would love to go to Niagara Falls.  When I go to the village, I am just like a kid and take the train and just go round and round...lol.

Letting off steam...

Farmer waving as the train goes by....

World Famous Hot Dogs..

well, I don't know about that but we used to always eat there whenever I visited my daughter in South Carolina and I always liked the food. Located in Garden City on the corner and right across the street from the ocean, we would stop there and the arcade next door after a walk on the beach. Somehow, we moved up to fancier and more expensive places like Chick Fil A  and Sonic...ha! There is something to be said for an establishment that has been there for years and years.