I went down to my lake for an hour yesterday.
And I sat on my favorite yellow bench.
It was VERY hot. Hot. Hot. Hot. And it was beautiful. I enjoyed spending time with my feathered friends. And yes, I even enjoyed the little bit of sweat trickling down my very flushed face.
Mr. and Mrs. Swan were there. And the ducks and a gorgeous crow who kept a very careful eye on me. He was truly as sweet as can be.
Now I know it won't be hard for you to guess which one of these cuties won my heart ....
You go girl! ;-)
Oh and meet Mr. Handsome ... do we not LOVE his beak?
And this is my very wise friend ... I believe I've introduced him to you before...
He knows all of my secrets. ;-)
Look at these babies ... are they not adorable?
Yes, a beautiful hour. Indeed.
I hope you have a BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND!!!
xo,
Kim
Am I first??? :-)
I love that lake, Kim. When I was a newly-wed and lived nearby, I used to spend a lot of time down on the lake, dreaming. I love the fact that generations of these beautiful birds live there and that one of the orginal pairs came from the Queen herself.
Thank you for capturing this beautiful scene and these lovely feathered friends for us. It was such a treat!
XO,
Sheila :-)
Posted by: Sheila | July 31, 2010 at 12:57 AM
I just love you Kim...you see things the way I do...I love the yellow bench, so thoughtful of someone to paint it just for you! ;D And I love the handsome guy with the red beak...with so many ladies loving red, he must be very popular! Mr. Wise one...I would tell him my secrets too! :D
Posted by: Julie Harward | July 31, 2010 at 01:05 AM
I will have a beautiful weekend! My parents are visiting from Texas. Tomorrow we will go to the antique show at the old downtown auditorium. I hope we find some vintage goodies!
Posted by: D'Ann | July 31, 2010 at 01:24 AM
what a wonderful outing you had - nature at its best - thanks for sharing - i must take the time to enjoy it all -
i will have a great weekend because, you said so - thanks kim, enjoy yours as well. love ya - maria cottage feel-
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Posted by: maria | July 31, 2010 at 02:21 AM
Our morning walk involves a detour to say hello to a mallard who successfully raised all NINE of her ducklings to maturity. What a mom! Happy weekend :)
Posted by: pogonip @ meadowsweet cottage | July 31, 2010 at 03:21 AM
What a lovely post from such a lovely friend. Thanks, Kim, for sharing your love with us.....and all your other friends!
Posted by: Patti VZ | July 31, 2010 at 06:28 AM
You are smart to go even when it is blistering hot. We miss so much when we plan to avoid sweating! Beautiful post!
Posted by: Pom Pom | July 31, 2010 at 08:11 AM
Wonderful, peaceful pictures Kim! The swan is so majestic. Have a great weekend, Nan
Posted by: Nan | July 31, 2010 at 08:17 AM
What a nice visit to the lake. I have a river close to my house and I visit it regularly, water is so wonderful, especially in the heat.
Thank you again for the recipe yesterday. I made it for mine and my hubby's dinner and it was delicious! Probably the best salad recipe I have ever made. I had all of the ingredients on hand, too, but then I forgot the onions. Next time!
Have a wonderful weekend, dear friend.
Hugs, Cindy S
Posted by: Cindy S | July 31, 2010 at 08:31 AM
Good Grief, you have real looking ducks??!!! I have ducks that look like chickens ;) That's OK, we live in Paradise, I'll take it. I love the area you are in, it does get too hot, you have a hot wind that blows from the gulf. I have a great sea breeze and that helps. Yep, it does. Have a great weekend. Today daddy is 94. Blessings, Janet
Posted by: Jan | July 31, 2010 at 08:51 AM
It looks so peaceful there Kim! I love swans...so graceful on the water. When in France this past spring, I took a wonderful picture of a pair of swans. Your picture brought back memories.
Hugs,
Penny
Posted by: Penny @ The Comforts of Home & Lavender Hill Studio | July 31, 2010 at 09:39 AM
What great pictures. I love birds of any kind. As a child I always got a baby duck for Easter. I loved them. And now I have a precious yellow canary named Sunny. He is singing to me right now as I type. I'm glad you had a wonderful hour visiting your sweet friends at the lake. Enjoy your weekend my dear blog friend. Love & blessings from NC!
Posted by: Melinda | July 31, 2010 at 10:02 AM
What a lovely post. Looks rejuvenating.
I agree, never conform!
Posted by: Shannon Olson | July 31, 2010 at 10:14 AM
May I say how perfect "Stranger on the Shore" is with those pictures. Makes you just relax and enjoy the peace and quiet of it all - although in reality, I'm betting it wasn't that quiet. STILL, the song and the photos totally put you in a real relaxation mode. Perfect with my morning coffee. Hey - and my headache is gone. Thanks! Give Maggie a kiss for me. I'm a fellow doxie owner of 5, but I have two b&t smooth and 3 red smooth. I shall have a long haired doxie one day. Maggie has totally inspired me. Have a good weekend.
Posted by: Elizabeth Compton | July 31, 2010 at 10:31 AM
Thanks for sharing Kim.
What a lovely place to go amd relax and forget about the hussle & bussle of the world for a while. I bet when you left there even though sweety you took home with you a calm, peaceful feeling.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend
Fay Marie
Posted by: Fay Marie Torzsok | July 31, 2010 at 11:26 AM
A beautiful, breezy weekend here. Had a great time at the beach and it wasn't unbearably hot.
Posted by: Loree | July 31, 2010 at 12:12 PM
Oh, Kim! I just loved our little visit at your lake. Can we, please, do that again sometime?
Posted by: Hattie | July 31, 2010 at 12:53 PM
Kim, thanks for taking us with you on such a lovely little outing! Seeing all the beautiful ducks, swans, the pretty blue water, and cheery Mr. Crow - was refreshing! Like a breath of fresh air this morning! So relaxing - wishing you a peaceful weekend, too!
Posted by: Pauline | July 31, 2010 at 01:06 PM
I use to take my Girls to a Lake to feed the ducks when they were lil, your post brings back sweet memories.Thanks for sharing.~Cheers Kim
Posted by: Kim | July 31, 2010 at 01:14 PM
I want to come sit on that yellow bench with you and enjoy the beauty. The first thing I noticed was the EP carved on the bench. Those are the initials of my precious son, whom now lives in heaven. Life is amazing, and so is your blog.You have a gret weekend my friend.
Posted by: Dena Palmer | July 31, 2010 at 01:34 PM
oh the sheer delights of Florida ....
hugs, Kim
Posted by: cityfarmer | July 31, 2010 at 02:50 PM
Beautiful pictures! Love peaceful times like these! Thanks for sharing! Cindy Okla
Posted by: Cindy | July 31, 2010 at 03:45 PM
I would love to do exactly what you did. A great suggestion, as it is beautiful here and there are many places to go to enjoy peace and the beauty of nature. Beautiful photos. You write so well and so simple and it is always a pleasure to visit your blog and this time, sit with you for a while on your yellow bench, enjoying. Thank you for todays post.
Posted by: Darlene | July 31, 2010 at 04:12 PM
Oh that image of the "independent" bird, I love it!!! It belongs on a greeting card. It reminds me to not go with the flow, but be a standout and go out on my own, it's a career decision I have been contemplating for months. Thank you for reminding me to look outside of my own little world for the answers, you are an amazing woman :).
Posted by: Debra | July 31, 2010 at 05:48 PM
My outdoor thermometer reads 108 outside right now. Whew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you say hot? But as soon as the sun goes down I am going outside by my pond ( some people call what I call a pond a lake). I would call yours a lake. Anyways........can't do too much here outside. So I'm catching up on my blog reading. (As if I don't have other things that really need doing) Oh! Oh! My son just called inviting me and Mr. Companion to Mellow Mushroom for supper with them and my gorgeous grandson (8) and granddaughter (4). Yepeeeeeeeeeeeee! Happy weekend and be careful in this dangerous heat.
Posted by: Jenny in Alabama | July 31, 2010 at 06:02 PM
Bless your heart (as they say in the South)! I enjoyed your beautiful lake. Have a great weekend and try to stay cool! Hubby and I are going to the movies and out to eat then home to just "chill" in the peace and quiet. We have had grandchildren for a week!
Posted by: Debbie in Texas | July 31, 2010 at 07:02 PM
Your lake is lovely Kim. How strong you are to brave the heat.
I went to bed with it raining and woke to rain. I live in a desert but it feels like the tropics. Only got to 90 degrees today though.
I used Murphy Oil Soap to wash a new old chest today. Then I used a good lemon oil treatment. It looks great. You inspire me girl.
Nancy M.
Posted by: Nancy Maisenbach | July 31, 2010 at 08:40 PM
Happy weekend, Kim! La
Posted by: La | July 31, 2010 at 10:32 PM
That's just the sweetest thing!
Lots of love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo
Posted by: Susan Freeman | July 31, 2010 at 11:31 PM
Did you know these pictures show us how beautiful YOU are? A beautiful soul sees beauty like this around them. Thank you for the beautiful pictures and the post.
Blessings,
Charmaine
Posted by: charmaine deadman | August 01, 2010 at 12:08 AM
Loved seeing the water fowl! Yes that one was very handsome. :) We'll remember these hot days next February when it's below zero and blizzarding out! LOL You have a great weekend, too!
Posted by: Rhonda | August 01, 2010 at 12:21 AM
What a peaceful post. I can see why the bench is your favorite....The feathered friends are wonderful too...I bet they are fun to watch....Isn't nature wonderful?
Posted by: Amy Ressa | August 01, 2010 at 01:05 AM
I agree with Charmaine. I'm so happy you got to go to YOUR lake! ;)
Posted by: Mrs.B@salaknlemonlade.blogspot.com/ | August 01, 2010 at 01:34 AM
Lovely pictures Kim. Thank you for taking us with you for that feathered hour. Mr. handsome is amazing with his red beak and I would certainly share all of my secrets with Mr. Wise one. The ducks are darling.
Have a great weekend.
Posted by: Marianne | August 01, 2010 at 07:33 AM
What a beautiful and peaceful place! We lucked out here on Long Island yesterday with the most gorgeous last-day-of-July weather. This morning I'm out on my deck, blogging, having a bagel and coffee and feeding my bird and squirrel friends. I have a little squirrelly girly who will come up to my back door and watch for me to come out with peanuts! She even does a 'trick' where she will wait on a tree branch while I put a peanut on the end, then she'll come and get it. And all the while the cats just sit and watch.
I love my furry and feathered friends!
Posted by: mom2fur | August 01, 2010 at 09:03 AM
Time by the lake with the tranquil water and all who live there is as restorative as taking time to smell the flowers. You're wise to do both! Thanks for taking us along!
Hugs!
Posted by: Barbara Anne | August 01, 2010 at 12:54 PM
Kim, thank you so much for sharing your beautiful hour with us. There is nothing better than getting out and seeing the creation and admiring it. Nature is truly a thing of beautiful, and the little animals are so precious. Blessings.
Posted by: Kimberly | August 01, 2010 at 02:15 PM
I'm so glad I found your blog, Kim. It's posts like this that remind me that I am not alone in appreciating the little things in life. I'm a live for the day gal who married a 5 years out life planner. After 30 years he finally sees that my way is the best way (and the healthiest).
Posted by: Ann | August 01, 2010 at 06:05 PM
What wonderful pictures... Love them!! What a great day you must have had! be blessed, bobbi
Posted by: Bobbi | August 01, 2010 at 10:45 PM