The Rubies are here...

The Rubies are here!  And, just like always, they are hungry.  Feeding these babies is a true passion of mine.  Not only do I have lots of feeders hanging around the place, I try to provide them with natural food by selecting plants for the gardens that attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees.

When I was visiting a local nursery recently, a hummingbird flew through the open door and into the greenhouse where I was.  I stood very still and watched.  Obviously, he had been dining there before for he seemed to know exactly where he was going and what he wanted ~ Dwarf Hummingbird Mint,  Autumn Sage in both violet and hot pink, and Cuphea Honeybells.  When I left the greenhouse, my purchases that day included some of these tried and true hummingbird favorites.

And, here the plants are filling an old wooden box that once served as a minerals and salt feeder for the cattle.  How about that green color that Mother Nature put on that old piece.

Some other proven favorites....

Carolina Buckeye.  We can always expect the hummingbirds to arrive when the buckeye blooms. 

Look at that tongue.

Another Cuphea which these little birds go crazy over.  

Why can't we have pretty ribbons in our hair?

Was it my imagination, or did I actually hear one of the girls ask, "Why can't we have pretty ribbons in our hair?"  Well, they have had those old muslin rags tied round their heads for such a  long time, it seems, so a pretty colored ribbon probably would be something these tired and weary girls would long for.

These two have been quite happy to have made it safely through the claying process and are anxious to get on with the next stage, which is getting a cloth covering over the clay.  One of the girls met with a bit of bad luck and had to have some major reconstruction, so she fell behind the others.  She is now almost caught up, though.

It is the hair that they should be most concerned with, I think, for I am.  Why, I am having so much trouble with my own hair that I wonder what I will be able to do with hair for these five young ladies.  With all of the beauty salons around here closed,  I have had to cut my own hair.  Talk about bad hair days!  

There are just so many lovely things going on outside at this time of year.  It's terribly hard to stay inside and chance missing out on something.  Why, just take a look at the little persimmon tree that lives on a little peninsula at the pond.  It is getting all decked out now in its new, but nothing-fancy, leaves.  (No doubt, she's the most photographed tree on the place. Why, I could do a complete album with nothing but pictures of her in every season and weather.  And, maybe I will one day."

There are colorful surprises to be discovered almost everywhere one wants to look...along the trails we walk,

and in yard and garden's every nook and cranny.

Until next time...  Take care.

Mary

Reflecting Back on a Thousand Days....

It is a big day here at Hill Top for Millie and me.  It really is... even though there was no big fanfare with flags waving and children cheering, as I had thought there might be. A Thousand Walks in A Thousand Days!   The children and grandchildren had planned to be here, but..... "The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray,"  as all of you so very well know.

It was not always an easy thing to go out in all kinds of weather, but I loved it all...(Well, except for the time we were caught in a thunder storm.)  It's my favorite place to be here on Hill Top where I can watch the seasons come and go.  I have seen the miracles of nature thousands of times in my lifetime, and as I always say, these miracles are best seen on foot...one step at a time...right in the midst of them all!

"The year's at the spring

And day's at the morn;

Morning's at seven;

The hill-side's dew-pearled;

The lark's on the wing;

The snail's on the thorn..."

~Robert Browning

The dogwoods are dotting the hillsides white now.   In celebration of our special day, Millie and I walked down to the old place awhile ago to see the bleeding hearts and to step along a petal-strewn old rock pathway.  Yes, the year is definitely at her spring, and how beautiful she is...

Now, reflecting back over the thousand days, there are so many memories.  I went through some of my photo files and pulled out a few of my favorites, but only a few for there are so many.  I learned right away that it is a good idea to always have my camera at hand for one never knows what surprise picture is waiting just around the bend.  I have included a few of those surprises here.

I had thought I might take a day off tomorrow, but no! We will go!   The calendar entry will read, 1001.  I know one day I will have to give all of this up and leave the trails behind for those who will follow.  In the years to come, if they should see a ghost walking these trails, they can be sure it is me.

Happy Trails to you!  Take care!

Mary