Seriously, do you think that this is what my Mother had in mind when she filled her bird feeders yesterday?

It happens everyday at our home.  This morning I just happened to capture it.

Not just one feeder, but every feeder that she filled.  It is a daily annoyance to her, but she keeps on feeding her "birds".

And  the overflow goes to another type of furry creature.

Enough excitement from our corner of the world:)  Wishing you some exciting joys in your corner today.

Things come in twos...

...everywhere I look in my house lately.  Two cribs, two high chairs, two little folding chairs, and the list goes on.  It seems to work the best that way, because...

...these two little guys come to visit and sometimes they are here overnight.  I am learning so much from observing them together.  It seems to me that it might be a good idea if everyone had a twin.  Even at their young age, they seem to support each other, if one gets hurt, the other one comforts him, and bottom line is, they always have each other, and most of the time they operate as a team.

On their most recent visit, they spent most of their play time stepping from the family room down one step onto the porch, and then back up the step into the family room.  A fun, creative way for two little guys to pass time together.   If only we all could be happy with such simple ways to spend our time.

I am sure that many words and honors were given to mothers throughout the world today.  Flowers, perhaps gifts, maybe meals were served, or visits made, all to properly express the love that was felt.  For me though, the honor was most unusual in that my grandson was excited to introduce to me, one of his chickens named ..."MawMaw". I had often heard him and his sister talking about their chicken named "MawMaw", but today was my first time to meet her.   On this Mother's Day, I find this to be a real compliment.

 Having learned to write some of the letters of their own names, made the cards more special than ever.

 The tiny blue Forget-Me-Nots blooming in her garden, added to the beauty of  special Mother's Day memories.

Hi Hon, will you please stop at the farm on your way home from work, and get me two small boxes of strawberries?  The biggest, sweetest, red strawberries, grown in the hot houses on their farm. 

The ingredients needed to make a birthday cake for a dear lady, we are visiting this evening.

The recipe is so easy, quick, moist, and delicious.  You may want to try it yourself.  Unlimited amount of choices to use in putting this cake together.  I used the white cake mix, strawberry ice cream, and 3 eggs.  The recipe is from "chowhound.chow.com/topics"

For my icing choice, I mixed dry some dry strawberry jello with a container of Cool Whip.

One recipe made these cupcakes and ...

...this cake for my friend.  It is a fun shaped cake pan that I have had for a few years.  I added a glass bowl of the strawberries on the plate with the cake.

The few strawberries that were left over, were put in a bowl for my husband.  He said they tasted better than candy.  The cake and cupcakes will be stored in the refrigerator, until ready to be served.  What a fun, quick way to put dessert together.

Lilies-of-the-Valley always remind me of my wonderful Mother.  Everywhere she lives, she plants a garden of these flowers.  I cut some for my powder room.  They smell so good, and remind me of how blessed I am to have my mother in my life.  I think of so many of you in blogland, that do not have that privilege this weekend.  I hurt for my friend today, who just lost her Mother a few weeks ago.  How painful this weekend must be for her.

For all of you friends who visit my blog, I want to extend a wish for you to have a Happy Mother's Day! 

I close with this quote from a lady I will always admire, Ruth Bell Graham;  "As a mother, my job is to take care of the possible, and trust God with the impossible." 

Our sunny, warm Saturday afternoon on the porch...

...seemed only appropriate that Papaw would share a little of his harmonious harmonica "talent"  for the little one visiting.

Her reaction did nothing to build up his self esteem:).

Simple joys from me to you on this rainy, cool Wednesday morning.

 Wedding pictures were skillfully captured by my sister and thankfully shared with me, so that I could share them with you.  It seems like she just knows how to capture important moments.

This weekend we were privileged to attend my cousin's wedding.  Interestingly enough she was getting married to another cousin's son.  Now before you send me all kinds of comments, please let me explain.  The bride and groom were from two different sides of my family, which made it an extra special event.  The wedding took place at 4:00pm on a historic farm in the country, making it a perfect wedding location.

My Uncle (the accomplished photographer) walking his beautiful daughter down the grassy isle.

The handsome groom's parents are my dear cousin and her husband.

The adorable little flowergirls dressed in pretty white ruffles, stole the show.
The ceremony was truly unique and inspiring, and certainly one we will not soon forget. 

The bride and her mother (my dear friend who became my Aunt, many years ago).

The good looking couple.  For some reason I could not enlarge this picture after trying numerous times.

The flowers added so much to the beauty of the day.  They were done by my long time friend, along with the help of the bridesmaids.  The colors coordinated perfectly with the turquoise colored dresses.

Chocolate dipped pretzel sticks drizzed with turquoise and white, were the delicous favors at each place.  I can't imagine how the bride and her mother had time to create all of these, but I was happy they did.

A very talented lady, restaurant manager, and good friend of the family baked and decorated the amazing wedding cake.  Now I must say, there are not many times in my life that I eat dessert at a wedding, but knowing the reputation that preceeded the dear lady that baked this one, I was not going to turn down my opportunity.  I can tell you, without hesitation, that it was one of the best wedding cakes with ice cream, that I had ever tasted!  What can one do to a yellow or chocolate cake, to make it taste so delicious?  Oh, how I wish you all could have tasted it.  Beautifully decorated and good taste do not often go together, but on this night it did.

The arrangements on the tables, along with many candles created the perfect ambience.  I think it is a real blessing to see family and friends pulling together, sharing their skills and talents, to create one speical wedding evening.

As darkness set in, the lights of the tent added a soft lit, romantic atmosphere to the evening festivities.  At this point of the evening, the dance floor was the fun attraction.

After a long distance relationship of 10 years, we can finally wish this couple our heartfelt wedding congratulations.  We pray that God gives them many happy years together.

  What a honor to be included in their truly memorable day.  Here her bridesmaids offer their congratulations to the bride.

Tiny little shoes waiting to be put on precious little feet...

Vibrant colored Gerbera daises, purchased at the grocery store, are waiting to be planted...

More fragrant lilacs are waiting to be shared with friends who also enjoy their beauty...

But, a surprise visit from this precious little one makes me want to do nothing else than spend time with her...

The flower beds are multiplying daily with growth.  The weeds and edging are waiting to be done.

It can feel a bit overwhelming.  But, a few moments of  reflecting on  the devastating images flashing over the television screens, and suddenly everything is put in proper perspective.  My heart is heavy for the thousands of people who would be thrilled to be able to locate their dear loved ones, their houses, porches and flower gardens this evening.   My husband and I were scrubbing our porch and pulling items out of their winter storage locations,  getting our porch ready for warm weather, the thought occured to me, that many would be thrilled to have my chore list rather than theirs.  How does one ever begin to pick up the pieces of their lives after such utter destruction?  In just a matter of seconds, it is all gone.  No more flower beds to weed, porches to scrub, lilacs to cut, or Cosmos to plant.  I heard one gentleman being interviewed and he said it all disappeared in a matter of 60 seconds.   It is indescribeable.  So, I will continue on with my endless list and I will thank God for it all, without a single complaint.