Monday, March 16, 2009

Flowers, a Pelican and a Frog

Thank you to everyone that took the time to comment on my last post - the response that I received was better than I would ever have anticipated. I started feelin a bit twitchy about having it still at the top, so thought I would share some new photos.

This tree is in my neighbors yard ... it's just now beginning to bloom, but before you know it it'll be completely covered in these wild blooms:




This one below is from the desert rose in our yard (at least that's what folks around here call them - they have a crazy gnarly trunk similar to a fig tree, but some amazing tropical looking blooms). It bloomed last year when Don first planted it, but not as much as it's going to this year - there are still about a dozen or more blossoms just waiting for their moment to bloom:



Two years ago Sadie and Don planted a bunch of marigolds up against the backside of the house. That first year they did really well, last year not a single one came up and suddenly this year they have decided to come back ... here's a loner from the bunch that sprouted (pictured much larger than actual size - gotta love macro):



And here is one strange visitor - we're a few miles in from the peace river and about the same from the gulf, so NEVER see pelicans in the neighborhood ... until yesterday:



This guy (am assuming here) has decided to visit our yard - even let me get fairly darn close to take pictures, too ... so odd. Today he was hanging out across the street at the neighbors and when Sadie and I got home from errands, Don said he had a heck of a time shooing the pelican out of our garage! Maybe this guy is tired of the beach ... OR maybe I'm wrong and it's a girl looking for a safe place to build a nest! (guessing here - don't know the habits of pelican's). Personally, I find it kind of cool that the pelican decided to come around.

Finally, as some of you may know, sewing is so NOT my forte. I would love to say this is an attempt at modesty, but honestly, I am not a good seamstress ... in an effort to change this (and because I really like funny little plushies) I have been trying to sew more and more ... I went to a baby shower yesterday and made a pink and brown frog for the new baby ... I'm not sure how well it was received ... seems to me the mom-to-be wasn't very impressed. Ah well. Can't always bat a thousand. Because of this (and because I have lots of pink and brown fleece left over) I decided to make another one ... this one is about half the size of the first (measures 7"x4.5") and instead of stuffing it full of fiberfill (since I am nearly out), I decided to stuff it full of lentils (uncooked, of course!) ... it has no features and not a single embellishment (like its predecessor), but I think I love it! Here's the pink side:



and the brown:



hehe ... didn't take forever and a year to do and the little critter makes me giggle. This is from a simple pattern I found somewhere on line (sorry, I can't seem to find the link anymore, but if anyone recognizes it, please let me know and I'll be happy to add the link) ... I think I need to make more pink and brown froggies.

Wishing you all things that make you grin! ~M~

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow a Pelican!
Where do you live? It looks so beautiful!
I love FROGS.....
Pat

Sue said...

The flowers are so pretty and nice to see (way up here north of you, it will be awhile yet for any blooms). My fav is the pelican! That is SO cool! You must let us know if you find out if any nest building is going on. I wonder what little baby pelicans look like?

Your froggie is cute - did you take pics of the bigger one that you embellished?

Chris said...

I LOVE this froggie! Great idea, and I'm glad you went ahead and did it, because it looks great! Very neat and well-made.

The Studio at Crow Haven Farm, LLC said...

Sweetheart...first of all...you of all people can do anything you set your mind on...sew...yes YOU CAN... LOok at those frogs... You can teach me how to sew them! LOL I so loved your Pelican and those flowers...we won't see anything like that here in PA for about 3 months! LOL As for your previous post...let's just say it's all in the name baby...YOU ARE my MUSE and so love you for that! MY SOUL Sister...Yes...Nature, Searching, Growing, Loving Life...this is you..however, I feel hesitation...could it be...not enough time? hmmmmmm I wonder if that would go away...if we fly off to Europe when we hit that lottery...Yes...I think so! YOU ARE PERFECT and DON'T you ever forget it!
Love ya
Cheers!

Cathie said...

I want to kiss him!

Anonymous said...

pelicans are

big!

so here has to be food somewhere for him/her. Anyone lost the contents of their pond lately?

Sue said...

I've just presented you with "The Sisterhood" award for your wonderful blog. Please stop by my blog to pick it up.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Glassgrrl Studios said...

What a delightful little frog; you know, I believe Edward Gorey had (amongst his other quirky habits) a thing for sewing beanbag frogs. I must have read it somewhere, because yours made me think of him right away.
The flowers are so rich and lush! Our in-the-middle gardens are just now getting underway. Maybe I'll blog them in a week or two.
And as for that pelican, I wonder if any of your neighbors have suddenly got empty goldfish ponds?.... ;)

Janet said...

OMG I LOVE pelicans!!! I never see them here in MA ... how lucky you are!

bindu said...

Beautiful flowers, and I LOVE the pelican! I feel a little blessed when an animal/bird comes into my yard and feels at home there, like I'm special in some way. :) So if you like that thought, you can use it too! The frog is too cute.

SpiritMama said...

I like your little frog plushie, and don't worry about the mom-to-be's reaction (or lack of) she may have had indigestion! I know,too, because I just had a baby a few months ago. Hmmm I wonder what kind of reactions I had at my shower. Sometimes a frown just means I got kicked in the rib and I'm hungry... give me some more cake! lol!

lynne h said...

oh, these flowers are so nice michelle... the colors on the desert rose are exquisite, and the humble marigold always surprises me with its beauty when you really examine them closely. of course i love them from a distance too, and that smell... i love the marigold smell.

i don't see how you can say you're not a seamstress from the looks of this frog -- he seems so perfect! and huggable!!!

happy week to you sweet woman. xo

Marilyn said...

What beautiful photos! I'm longing for spring!
And, oh my gosh, that pelican--amazing! I think it would be really cool if a nest appeared:)
Love your plushie frog--I'm thinking your sewing skills shine when you're making plushies! Remember that cute kitty you made?

Nikki Lee Anne Ghilain said...

Awesome pics......spring has sprung! The pelican is amazing..

AwtemNymf said...

what a sweet pelican to visit you! Neat! Gorgeous flowers! Luck you :O)
And- i love your froggy! Can't wait to see how you embellish it! You go gurl!!
Hugs & Faerie Dust!

CEDAR JUNCTION said...

What an interesting visitor you had. We had some egrets stop by one day. Very enjoyable. - Teresa

Marva Plummer-Bruno said...

How cool!!! Where do you live? Looks gorgeous and warm! Marva

somepinkflowers said...

oh dear

i think your pelican is lost
as
they mostly travel
in bunches
like those tour buses of people
in rome.

:-)

i am thinking
he is pinnnnnning for a lost love
or
something...

{{ what is that first tree?
i have no idea. }}

Gail Lackey said...

Thanks for stopping by and the well wishes!
Your photos are beautiful! There are such awesome colors in nature. Plus ..a Pelican to top it off! Way cool!
happy hauntings, gail

Unknown said...

Pelicans in your yard!
wow...

marigolds, my absolute fav

and,
the shape of that frog is wonderful, pink and brown, very nice.

Nancy Dorsner said...

the frogs are adorable! thanks for your nice comments on The Boy's artwork, too.

dot

Misty's Creations said...

Michelle,
I have wanted to do a couple things like that (adding my etsy store) but I don't know how to add things to the side bar...I even have a couple of nice awards I could post but I don't know how.
Misty

Unknown said...

I love the third picture! beautiful colors in that flower! Melinda

Margaret Ann said...

Delightful photos!!!!! Unbelieveable pelican...LUCKY you!!! :)

Misty's Creations said...

Michelle,
Did I Thank you for helping me, it's been a crazy two days, both of my daughters are lacking cars this weekend...I am the Taxi! I showed the link to my daughter and she said, "That's cool Mom, but it's not working." I didn't know what I did wrong. Now that you said that I'll give it another try, practice makes perfect! Thank you so much, this is good to learn. Also I didn't do the sketch of the dragon, the people that commissioned the work sent me that to copy. My sculpture is in the (as I like call it) the S--t stage, right now. Being artists...every one knows what that is, and hopefully it will end up like the vision in my head! (fingers crossed) Love the flowers, they are beautiful, the pelican and the frogs. We had a pelican blow into Tucson during a bad storm once, crazy huh?...boy was he ever confussed! I don't know what I could ever help you with, but please don't hesitate to ask... (time to eat pizza) hugs, Misty

Cat said...

Wonderful flowers,
Odd looking bird,
and adorable frog!

I bet the froggie gift ends up to be the babys favorite...

Anonymous said...

Hey Michelle - I thought I'd already posted a comment here, but, apparently not. So sorry!

I like the picture of your pelican - makes me pine for Florida and the beach. He looks like he's made himself at home. is he roosting in your wheelbarrow?

Have a great week,

Kate

Lorraine said...

this frog takes me right back in time as I used to play with a similair frog at my Grans only it was made with patternd fabric..I think lentils are better than fibrefill as it moves!! Thanks for all your great comments on my blog

ArtPropelled said...

Wow, that is one big pelican ...and in your garden ...what a privelege. I think it heard that there were pink and brown frogs around!

Anonymous said...

How cool - a pelican in your garage!! =)

I love the frog - we are BIG frog lovers in this house! I think you did a great job on it! =)

Donna P.

Unknown said...

I think your frog is cute!

Some people are weird about handmade gifts for their babies (safety). But these days I would say that a toy made at home is probably a thousand times safer than the things you buy! At least you know what's in it.