Hello, Friend! I hope you are well wherever you are when this post finds you.
I’m currently sitting on the back patio watching the birds on a gorgeous May afternoon. I can hear cardinals, house finches, titmice, and blue jays calling, singing, squeaking, and buzzing from the canopy overhead and behind us. Though it’s a warm, sunny day, there’s a lovely light breeze in the shade keeping me cool and bringing the last scent of quickly fading lilac across the yard to me. It is a springtime feast for the senses!
Yesterday and today have been absolutely joyful days as my typically excessive MS fatigue has lessened and allowed me to be up and about more than usual. So, naturally, I rode my scooter over to the lake in our neighborhood yesterday and soaked in some Vitamin D and the beauty of God’s creation around me.
American Bullfrog Baby starlings waiting for Mom to come back with a meal.This looks so peaceful, but…… this is the reality. I walked down to the water’s edge and, of course, MS gal lost her balance and stepped in the water 😜.Weeds can be beautiful too!Ladybug 🐞!
After I rode back home from the lake, I decided to sit under the birches in the backyard.
Isn’t this a delicious view through the treetops?One of my favorite corners of the garden.My Mother-in-law came for a visit last weekend and was watching the birds at the feeders when she suddenly exclaimed, “Turkey!”. My Hubby caught this pic with his phone before it flew away. I’ve seen several turkeys in the woods around our neighborhood, but this is the first one who’s ever flown over the fence for a visit. It was quite exciting 🦃!Blue JayMy tripod broke last week and as I was waiting for the new one to be delivered, some of my favorite springtime visitors dropped by for a snack. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks only stay in the Ozarks for a small window of time as they migrate north each year. If I would have had a tripod the picture would have been sharper. There’s always next year.Cute, but greedy varmint.Laudy’s turn to help me with my Bible study 😻I think I had three PDF patterns that needed to be put together. It took several days last week to get the job done, but Pip and I persevered. My sister asked me to make a dress for her from a pattern company I had never used before. Experience has taught me to try out a pattern before using precious fabric. I traced off my size onto butcher paper and am in the middle of making the dress for myself from fabric in my stash to check the fit. So far so good. I used some of my energy yesterday to clean the kitchen sink with Soft Scrub. Aren’t the patterns pretty?My Mom gave me this Chicago Metallic meatloaf pan several years ago. The raised insert allows the fat to drip through the holes, keeping the meat from getting soggy.Hubby loves ketchup drizzled over meatloaf before it’s baked. Dinner is served! Meatloaf, scalloped potatoes, salad, and homemade Rice Krispie Treat. Laudy says, “That’s all, folks.”So does Pip.
Thanks for stopping by. May God be with you! ❤️, Amy
Watching the water flow at the lake in our neighborhood park.MS gal and her scooter Beauty in death and a promise of what will be again.Even the sun’s rays were windy 💨My favorite benchPretty corner in our backyard I decided to clean out the empty bird boxes for the season…… and found the partial remains of a Carolina Wren egg 🧡.
Hubby and I celebrated 17 years of wedded bliss last week 💞. First thing he did that morning? Cleaned the windows so I had a better view of the birds. Love and happiness – just look at that smile – are found in the doing of little things.
May you find your greatest joy in Christ this year and always. God be with you! ❤️, Amy
Thank you for the encouragement to keep Amy’s Axons going. I received numerous texts, messages, emails, and FB posts saying this little blog is meaningful to my friends and family. The most important voice was my Hubby’s, he said it was “worthwhile” and “meaningful”. So, I will continue to share snippets of my life with you and hope you continue to enjoy the content.
Although most of the leaves have succumbed to the great gusts of wind in the Ozarks the last couple of days, I was able to photograph a few places close to our house in mid-October. Looking through these makes me hungry for pumpkin bread, such are the fall vibes.
The day before the first frost of the season (a couple of weeks ago) I caught these butterflies on our butterfly bushes.
This chickadee was so obliging that he posed in the most photogenic spot in the backyard and allowed me to capture his loveliness.
I somehow managed to squeeze the trigger at just the right moment as the twigs were parted by the wind and caught an unobscured pic of this handsome house finch.
My Mom is always in my heart but especially today. I cherish my memories of her and the love she always gave me.
Purple flowers (her favorite color) and a good cleaning of her headstone. Happy birthday, Mom!
Sunny with a high of 78* F and a gentle breeze. I rode my scooter to the neighborhood lake and spent a couple hours besotted by God’s creation.
Those eyes! Blue DasherThe touch of amber on the wings is stunning 😍 Yellow on black good for JackThese wings shimmered like diamonds in the sun. Amberwings are my personal favorite. I love 💚 dragonflies! Eyes in the mossCan you see that tail?Though I’m pretty sure this is the equivalent of a weed in the water, the colors are striking. Daylily Brown Thrasher with a snack 🐛I sat on the patio for a while after I got back from the lake and caught this pair of House Finches at the feeders. I love to hear them sing 🎶
Thanks for stopping by. May God be with you. ❤, Amy
Sunday was a beautiful day in the Ozarks so Hubby took me for a drive after church.First thing Monday morning one of our cats puked her breakfast all over the blanket on our bed. So, laundry.I listened to some classic rock while sewing up a tote bag on Monday.One of Hubby’s work friends has been sharing with us some of the surplus eggs her hens have been laying. She loves the St. Louis Blues, so I found some themed fabric and made this up for her.I don’t care about hockey, but I love the yellow and blue together.Tuesday afternoon I rode my scooter to the little lake in our neighborhood and took a few photos.Wednesday was a rest day. Pip and I watched the birds together 🥰.After work on Thursday, Hubby and I went to my Dad’s for dinner. Hubby then helped Dad clean out the gutters and……weed eat.Dad worked hard too.I sewed up a couple more totes on Friday. I think I’ve now made 13 bags from this pattern over the last year.The cupcakes look yummy 😋!I love the pockets, they make the bag very versatile.Friday was a tough MS day with very limited energy. I was pretty proud that I was able to get the kitchen cleaned.Today, Saturday, has been another MS dominant day. I sat on the patio this afternoon and enjoyed watching the birds and this little fella.I think squirrels are funny and cute, though I know they can be pests.
I hope you are doing well. God be with you! ❤️, Amy
I always look forward to a visit from the migrating red-breasted grosbeaks each spring. I noticed this sweet lady this morning but haven’t seen a male yet. Grosbeaks are in the same family, Cardinalidae, as cardinals. Can you see the family resemblance?This robin hit the jackpot by our neighborhood lake.Evidence that spring is all around us.Several frogs were sunning themselves in our neighborhood lake earlier in the week when the weather was nice. There were only a few pink petals floating in the water but this little fella found one.I’m not sure who was watching who. Those eyes 👀!!I love how you can really see this frog’s tympanic membrane 👂.The eating must be good at the lake 🦟I have no idea what this is but it was pretty cool with all the bubbles inside it’s top. If it was an inkblot, I’d say it looks like a person walking down the street with an invisibility cloak over the top half of their body.
I hope you are enjoying your week. See you next time! ❤️, Amy
It’s been a very good couple of weeks 😊. My MS has loosened the reins a bit some days and not ruled my life as such a tyrant every moment. I’ve seen a lot of family, especially this past week, and they have boosted my spirits immensely.
These little friends came to visit too 🐦🪶!
Downy woodpecker, male, wearing his bowtie.American robin catching some rays.American goldfinch sporting his full 💛 coat.House finches on a lunch date.Tufted titmouse – you can see it’s thoughts written across it’s face.Female downy woodpecker – gorgeous!This little chickadee posed so patiently as I walked around under the tree snapping away at it and it’s snack 😋. The chickadees seem to be really getting used to me.My sister came up from Texas over the weekend (❤️) and we hung out at the lake in our neighborhood one afternoon. This turtle was out for a swim.Eastern redbud petals were scattered around the edges of the lake making a beautiful contrast of color to the mossy water.Little minnows 🐟 and their shadows.I think a starling has moved into the box at the lake 🙄Blue violets fluttering by the lake.Glorious spring!
My Hubby makes the best thin mint concretes – such a treat!
I hope you are enjoying your little slice of time in whichever corner of the world you call home. God be with you! ❤️, Amy
It’s here! Sure signs of Spring are breaking out all over the Ozarks.
Red-winged Blackbirds all in a row by our neighborhood lake.I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they Out-did the sparkling waves in glee: A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company: I gazed—and gazed—but little thought What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils.
– William Wordsworth Ornamental pear tree, I think.The first bee I’ve seen this year.Just look at that face covered in pollen 🐝.Stork’s bill, or at least that’s what Google came up with.I love to see what grows around the lake.That little dot of magenta made me so happy!Though it took all of last week, I managed to finish a dress by doing a little each day. It has become a habit for Pip to climb into his little pouch and take a snooze when I’m at my machine. I’m not sure which slows me down more, MS or Pip 😉.
I hope you have a wonderful week and take the time to look at the world around you.
This beauty came right up beside me and let me take his picture. I think he knew he was a looker.Although she was a bit more cautious than her male companion, she flashed several poses.This little guy kept telling his Mom, “I’m playing with the ducks!”. I’m not sure the ducks saw it that way 😉.It was a windy day and this cutie pie held her bangs back so she could watch her brother “play” with the ducks.As I sat by the lake, I noticed this butterfly land on the side of my leg. It had a couple of injuries to it’s wings and seemed unafraid of me. Over the span of the next hour it made it’s way onto my fingers and then into the palm of my hand. It was incredible to watch it taste my skin with it’s long, bendy tongue. It had some visible pollen on it’s wings so I knew it had been out foraging. It seemed as if it needed a rest and I felt honored it chose me as a safe harbor. It’s been a little over a week since my encounter with this tiny creature, nevertheless, its memory has flitted across my mind numerous times. The sun through the just changing autumnal leaves was glorious.Sun on a single strand of a spider’s web.I can’t get over how big a fiery skipper’s eyes are compared to it’s head. I could almost feel it watching me as it crawled over the flowers of our butterfly bush.Joy of joys, the monarchs have found our butterfly bushes! We’ve had as many as eight at a time 🦋❤️!! The way the sun shines through their wings reminds me of stained glass.AND, I think this is a spicebush swallowtail. What a neat little fella!
I hope you are doing well. God be with you. ❤️, Amy
Amy's Axons 