Random 5

Yipee - it's Friday and time for a little randomness.

Hey! Whatchu  lookin' at?!

1) A few weeks ago I bought my very first bird feeder.

Oh yeah, now we're the birdy party house!

2) I'm adding a bird bath this weekend
because - you know - I kind of want to be the hostess with the mostest.
More on that little adventure another time...

3) I'd really like to add a peanut feeder, but I should probably wait until the fall when the bears go into hibernation.
I really don't want to be the bear party house.

4) And moving on,
I've been testing both Feedly and Bloglovin. So far Feedly is winning, but they're both pretty buggy on an iPad.

 - or -

 maybe it's just me...

5) Next week is the 4th of July - can you believe it?

I am so looking forward to seeing some very special people!

For more randomness, head over to Nancy's for

Random 5 Friday

I am wishing you a wonderful weekend!

rurality - catamount prowl

Last weekend while running errands, we decided to drive through downtown Bennington, Vermont rather than taking the more direct highway route.

I'm so glad we did.

i

While riding down Main Street,
I noticed some very colorful cats prowling the street.

I caught these two while stopped at a traffic light.

And I'm thinking that this one would have a difficult time sneaking up on prey with its bright neon face.
These decoratively painted cougars are part of a large collection that make up this year's Catamount Prowl.

Don't you love it when you stumble on something unexpected?

52 Photos, Rurality Blog Hop

vermont farmhouse gardens

It's been a crazy few weeks, with only one week left to close out our fiscal year.

I think I'm seeing some light at the end of the tunnel -

and I'm pretty sure it's not a big ole freight train headed my way

Yeah, pretty sure...

Anyway, it's that time of year in Vermont where the farmhouse flower gardens are coming into bloom.

I can't even count the number of times I've driven by this pretty farm and never even noticed it.

What a difference a season makes!

Have a wonderful week!

Barn Charm, Our World Tuesday

farmer's market saturday

Do you ever have one of those mornings where you wake up and know it's going to be a good day -

for no particular reason?

Saturday morning, I woke to sunshine pouring in my bedroom skylight and birds singing -

and I had that feeling.

Greg decided to go for a bike ride that involved several miles of steep uphill grades.

Yeah... I took a pass on that one

 - and decided to head to the local farmer's market instead.

One leisurely stroll by all the market stalls, and I settled on a cup of coffee and a sticky bun to keep me company as I sat and enjoyed the beautiful morning.

This musician played some foot-stomping music that had the children twirling in circles as the adults swayed to the rhythm as they strolled around the market.

So - while Greg was enjoying great views from atop Stratton mountain,

I was enjoying views of the morning market

-oh yeah, and a sticky bun

(Pretty sure Greg didn't have a sticky bun)

Tuesday Muse, Our World Tuesday, Rurality Blog Hop

random friday

Wow - this week went by fast and I'm so happy it's Friday.
I'd like to say I'll catch my breath this weekend,
but doesn't it seem that weekends pass by in double time?

Anyway - it's Friday, and time for 5 random things.

1) I found these pretty blossoms hanging over my driveway, and they have a beautiful sweet fragrance. I have no clue what they are, but they're welcome to hang out at my house anytime.

2) Today is Chicago-daughter's birthday. If anyone had told me 28 years ago that my little baby girl was going to be a first-grade teacher in Chicago, I would have thought - 

wait.....what?
(I guess it's hard to imagine them flying so far from the nest)

3) I am pondering - what happened to summer?

4) My next door neighbors have two bichon frise puppies - and while I'm more of a labrador retriever in a pickup sort of gal, I have to admit - those two little puff balls are pretty darned cute!

5) I stayed home last weekend because Greg was away on a business trip - and I missed
the Strolling of the Heifers. Yep, for real!
No way I'm missing it again next year -
I am gonna go see me some strolling cows!

That's it for me this week.
Have a great weekend!!  :-)
 - yeah, I know, I like enthusiastic punctuation...

Random 5 Friday

mountain biking and blogging

Yes - it's Friday!

Time for 5 random or not-so-random things...

1) Mountain biking - two thumbs up!

I'd give it three if I had them

but - well - I don't (that would be odd)

2) I am really, really terrible at Google+

I apologize to anyone following along that way.

Seriously - I can't even remember to add my posts. let alone do some well deserved +1's.

 I promise to try harder...

3) I'm confused by the news that google reader is going away.

I know, this is old news, but then - I'm a procrastinator.

I follow all blogs - even non-blogger ones with GFC, and that's the way I like it.

Do I need to change?

4) I am making a conscious effort to stop using so many exclamation points in my comments!! Whenever I go back and re-read one, I'm shocked by all my shouting! Is there another way to express enthusiastic praise?!?

(okay - starting now)

5) The next comment I write on your blog that lacks exclamation points - 

please do not read in a bored monotone.

I'm not bored  - and I don't speak in a monotone.

That's it for me - work has been crazy and probably will remain so for the next few weeks. I'll try to keep up, but please forgive me if I can't.

I'm wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

(no exclamation point, but I mean it enthusiastically)

rural country markets

In rural towns and villages all through Vermont

the country store still serves an important purpose in the community.

These little markets carry just about everything you can think of -

and do it with charm.

After stocking up on weekend necessities
steak tips and wine and cheese and ice cream - yes - necessities 

these pretty crimson flower boxes caught my eye - 

all decked out to welcome Spring.

Have a colorful day!

52 Photos Project, Rurality Bog Hop

tuesday muse - cow fascination

I admit it - I'm fascinated with cows
and I just couldn't resist stopping to see this cutie standing right next to the fence.

Our weekend guest, who was beginning to notice this fascination,
 asked - "Karen, has anyone ever told you that you have cow brain?"

Me - "uhhhhhh, nope... - ummm thanks?"

My friend - she's probably right.

Yeah - she was only kidding... I think...

vermont springtime barn

I'm honestly not sure where this barn is

- somewhere around Newfane, Vermont -

When I mentioned to Greg where I'd like to go for the afternoon,

his response was

"Okay, but I get to choose the route"

Hmmmm - new route, new barns, new scenery...

Gee, tough choice.... 

(wink)

Well....  okay....

It always seems that the barns I stop to photograph are hiding,

but I do really love the springtime blooms in this pretty state.

Have a nice day!

Barn Charm, Tuesday Around the World, Our World Tuesday