Sunday, February 19, 2012

To sit in the sun on a fine day

Note: This post was written yesterday afternoon and I thought I had published it.

It’s Saturday afternoon and I am loving this weekend so far. It’s not as if anything super exciting is happening, but rather several small factors that are making it quite pleasant.

For one, my husband seems to be in a decent mood. For another, it’s a bright, sunny day and although it’s way too warm for February, I realize I can’t do anything about the weather so am just going to enjoy it. Also, my house smells divine because I have a chicken and some vegetables roasting in the oven. The upstairs smells wonderful too because I cleaned the bathroom late this morning and I love the smell.

I use a product from Melaleuca that I swear by and frankly, it’s one of the few reasons I have an account with the company. It’s a cleanser called Solumel in the lemon scent. It’s not for everyone, I’m sure. But it cleans wonderfully, and I love the scent it leaves afterward. End of story.

 

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My day began early, awaking around 6 am in order to leave by 7 for an appointment at the Honda dealer to get the car serviced. I drive an hour to the best Honda service place around, and it’s worth it. I’ve said before that I have one that’s 20 minutes away, but I don’t like them, I don’t trust them, and after two chances at having me as a customer, they had an epic fail and I was done with them.

So I drive an hour to a place I trust. End of story.

I have no idea what’s with this end of story stuff. It’s just how I’m rolling today.

 

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I did the grocery shopping, then made guacamole for lunch and had it outside in the sunshine with some gluten-free rice tortilla chips. Have I told you lately how much I love cilantro? I sniffed it in the grocery store and stood there and smiled because the scent of it makes me so darn happy.

I know that people either love cilantro or they hate it, and I’m glad to say I’m in the love club.

Ha. The love club.

 

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I sat outside this afternoon and read for awhile, listening to some of my favorite sounds. I love the sound of chirping birds, a train whistle in the distance, and the trees creaking in the gentle breeze. A dog barks in the nearby development, children are laughing, and far away, someone’s chainsaw is at work. These are the sounds that say home and normal to me.

I am still reading your wonderful fill-in-the-blank answers from my previous post. I’ve written many of you telling you how much I enjoy this small peek into your lives. And I thank you for that.

Tonight I’m going to watch a movie on Netflix that arrived in the mail yesterday. And Monday, you are not going to believe this, but I’m taking another short trip. I seem to be doing this a lot lately but I guess I’m making up for not being able to do much of anything last fall.

For those who are interested, the birds in the photos above are (from top to bottom):  Mourning Dove, Red-Bellied Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse. If you visit the links which will take you to Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology, you can listen to the sounds that they make. I actually heard the mourning dove fly over before I saw it, although I didn’t know what it was at the time.

I hope you are enjoying your weekend as well . . .

123 Signature[5]

To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.  ~Jane Austen

36 comments:

Kerri Farley said...

Ahhhhhhh - Very close to heaven in my book! LOVE these!!

Safe travels on your trip Monday :)
I did have my morning of photography yesterday - so I am a happy camper. It was in the 60s and just gorgeous. Today we have a Winter Storm warning - I can't believe how much things can change in 24 hours.
(sorry to ramble)

Hilary said...

I love cilantro.......can I be in your club???
and I also have a soft spot for mourning doves........I remember when I thought they were morning doves, and then realized I was wrong. With that lovely 'mournful' sound, how could they be anything else??
Glad you had a good day. They are so special, aren't they??? My daughters are coming to clean for me today.....just because I have been having a tough time with this headache. Aren't they the sweetest???

eileeninmd said...

Happy Weekend, I love your birds. The photos are wonderful.

Gail said...

I wish I had known your love for cilantro. We had a bumper crop! It's pure joy to have tied bundles of fresh herbs right at your finger tips.

Enjoy...the photos are wonderful.

Deb said...

Yes, we are basking in the sun here, too. Deb=^..^=x4 Ontario, Canada

Dawning Inspiration said...

I'm back on the making of guacomole. End of story!! ;o) Plus your images are beautiful! Happy travels!

mrs mediocrity said...

I have been having a lot of those "I thought I did that" moments lately. I think it's the, er, um, hormones...

love your bird photos, always. we have lots of mourning doves here, I love the sounds they make.

are you excited for Downton Abbey tonight?

Anonymous said...

I like cilantro too... in my salsa, but Hubby on the other hand won't go near it and can smell it a mile away.

As for driving an hour to the Honda fix it shop, I totally understand.. our auto mechanic that we like is five minutes from our home, but I drive an hour to a dentist that uses 'no pain' methods... Sometimes in life an hour drive is just worth it. :-)

The Weaver of Grass said...

I think you really deserved that lovely day - hope you feel suitably rested today too.

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

do you know why people either love or hate cilantro? I found out not too long ago...

because for some reason, genetically...some people taste cilantro as you do, a pleasant experience. And to others it taste like eating soap. I am one of those.. the smell and the taste are exactly as if I was trying to eat a bar of Ivory. No kidding. Actually.. more like Lye.. Ivory smells good.

Weird, isn't it?

Laura~peach~ said...

hummm i must check out cilantro... i want to grow an herb garden this year... love fresh rosemary and thyme... especially thyme!

barbara l. hale said...

Wonderful bird pics! I am in the love cilantro corner, too. Makes me happy. And years ago, I would have driven a hundred miles out of my way to avoid the VW dealer where I bought my Bug. So I understand that completely.

Jeanette said...

Sounds like right now all is right in your world! I have to jump on the non-liking cilantro train unfortunately! End of story! Hope you have a nice trip!

beth said...

OH MY LORD....that wood pecker is beyond what i consider perfect. end of story :)
xxooxo

Country Gal said...

Awesome photos ! I love sitting in the sun on a mild winter day as well my mum, dad and I also did that on the farm ! I love the sounds that you do and the smell of a fireplace or a bond fire to go with all that wonderful stuff ! Lovely post . Have a great day !

sharon said...

today is our nice day, yesterday was cold and gloomy. love the bird pics.

Robyn said...

Glad to hear you had a wonderful Saturday, Country Girl. My day was great too!

I am a cilantro lover. The Hubby thinks a little goes a long way. Can't make homemade salsa without it.

Have a great trip on Monday. Beautiful bird shots.

JaneK said...

if more people would take the trouble to not put up with crappy service, then things might be a smidge better; so I'd drive an hour too.

do tell what movie :)

and may I just add that you know how to glean enjoyment out of life that we all need to learn from.... thanks for sharing.
end of story....

Kay said...

I see someone in Ontario, Canada said they are basking the sun too. My cousin wrote from there that it is full of snow, big time...Hmmmm.
Here on the south coast of Oregon, we are having a perfect weekend, weather is stunning....Enjoy your outing tomorrow........ So enjoy those birds that you photograph...Awesome. I sure wish we had some pretty birds here.

Lili said...

I grow cilantro and in the summer I brought a bunch of it in just to smell that glorious scent. Your bird pictures are just so darn beautiful Kate. They should be on the cover of the mag 'Birds and Blooms' or the cover of something! I'm wondering where oh where you're off to now...you lucky gal. Have fun! xoxo ~Lili

Marcie said...

What absolutely beautiful birds. Lovely!

Mary said...

Oh Kate, those pictures are gorgeous! It was such a beautiful weekend, wasn't it? I'm so thankful for the warm weather. :) xoxo

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

Can I be the Vice President of the Love Club?

Between the scent of the lemon cleaner, the taste of the cilantro, the sounds of the birds, and the visual of the pictures I believe you've captured most of the senses.

Thank you.

Reena said...

I love cilantro as well! Love your description of the afternoon sounds. I can hear them all the way here. Have fun in your travels tomorrow. Looking forward to hearing of them.

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

I love red bellied woodpeckers! I have them here on my suet feeders and tufted tit mice are so darn adorable.

I had to laugh at END OF STORY because I said the same exact thing to my kiddos today. I am just DONE with backtalk and 10 more "but..."s after I have given an answer or an instruction. End of story. ;)

RIZALENIO said...

This is the inspiration today that I've been looking for. Rainy day here in Manila and it's Monday. Thanks for sharing this story.

I can feel your words and I love the photos.

"End of story" made me smile.

Have a great week ahead.

Jo said...

The mourning dove is the cutest little bird I have ever seen. Now I am going to click on the link and hear what it sounds like, because I have never seen -- or heard -- one before.

Enjoy your short trip. :-)

Anonymous said...

Now...if you can just pop over to clean my bathroom...!!

Have a great week xxx

Hilary said...

I'm surprised to read how rare mourning doves are to so many. They're very common around here... dumb as posts but beautiful.

I've never had the pleasure of seeing the other two birds in your images. Such beauties, they are.

Cilantro.. just saying it makes me gag. I'd heard what Karen said about it before, and to me, soap would be an improvement. I find it tastes as if someone melted a plastic pot handle on the burner.. and it got into my food. It's a vile smell/taste to me.

Cait O'Connor said...

I did enjoy this, wish I could smell your cleaning stuff.....

Cait O'Connor said...

Outside my window __is late afternoon cloud, cold, stillness, a February day. ____________________________________ .
I am thinking ___there is so much I want to do but not enough time, what should I do first? I am also enjoying reading blogs and dipping into others’lives._________________________________________ .
I am thankful ___that all is well and I feel well._________________________________________ .
I am hearing __a television is purring downstairs but I try to ignore it, other than that I hear only my keyboard tappings. _________________________________________ .
One of my favorite things ___is silence and solitude – there’s two I know but they can come conjoined. _______________________________ .

(GBS) NewsFromTheHill said...

Sounds like a busy day, but I'm glad you got to sit and enjoy the birds for a bit.
Now about that cilantro.... I can handle the taste, don't love it, but it has its place. But the smell!! Oh no! I dislike it so that I actually had to pull a few plants from the herb garden because I couldn't abide brushing up against them!

Daryl said...

whatcha reading?

Mental P Mama said...

Where'd ya go?

The JR said...

We got 8 inches of rain on Saturday.

Deb said...

I love cilantra too...