Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Guess What Landed on Our Awning!? (It's Pretty Funny.) And Other Snapshots of a Wonderful Weekend

Hiya How Bourgeois friends!

I hope that everybody has had a wonderful past week, and an even nicer weekend! I'm just popping in to post some pictures, and to say "hello!" The funniest thing happened on Sunday too. Read below to find out what that was. :)

For those of you interested, I'll have another post on gray hair in the near future. This one might be slightly controversial, where I talk about the "should you" or "shouldn't" you go gray if you don't have to. I came across an interesting article that strongly takes one side of this argument. I wanted to share, and see what you thought too! I have my opinion, it's something that I've thought about A LOT! 

Also, a big THANK YOU to one of my dear readers, (you know who you are!) for asking about the status of the next "YEAR OF YOU" post. Thank you so much! I promise to get right on that. The fourth installment is all about simple ways to go about injecting some peaceful rhythm and routine into your life. If you find yourself generally zapped of energy these days, or your weeks are very hectic, starting a new, gentle rhythm to your time can INSTANTLY work WONDERS! It's one of those things that is so simple, yet so effective. That's a fun post with real suggestions, coming up soon!

I feel like I posted a version of this photo last week, but I just wanted to start off by illustrating that suddenly, SPRING HAS SPRUNG over here!!! Everything is blooming.


One of the best parts of living in our little downtown, is having the city tend to a beautiful mini-garden, right outside our windows. We call this "Tulip Island." It's GORGEOUS. I need to take some more pictures. Each year these tulips bloom, and each year they amaze me. Throughout the seasons, different plants and flower come up or are planted. It's always fun to see what's next, but the tulips are my favorite.


Something that I've been waiting and waiting for, was for the cold weather to leave, so we could just get on with it and plant some flowers! Finally last weekend, we decided it was ok. This beautiful potted arrangement is called "Candy Land." That's what it said on the tag, and now she happily sits on a stand on my front porch. I love her colors.


As you can see, we're really new to gardening. We don't know a ton, but are learning as we go. I'll have to take a more close-up photo soon, but Jon and I chose several different types of colorful annuals that will hopeful begin to grow and fill in. This pictures doesn't do justice for all of the different colors!


Avert your eyes! Except for the two flower pots below! This area needs some work, but I just wanted to note the beautiful flowers that Jon selected and planted into these golden pots. I loved how it all turned out.


On Saturday night, after a long day of planting in the front yard, and then spreading bag after bag of mulch, we decided to treat ourselves to a dinner out. It was high time that Noah had his fist official Ethiopian meal. (Well, he might have had some in San Francisco, but he was too young to really experience the food.)  I've been a fan of Ethiopian food for a long time. It's one of my favorites! We visited The Blue Nile restaurant in Ferndale.

It was such a nice night. We walked around the funky, creative, small but bustling town and then ate A LOT of food. I don't know why Noah looks so forlorn here. He was actually really excited!


I ordered the "Vegetarian Feast." Here it is on our platter. This is before our waiter brought Noah and Jon's "Meat Feast" out and put it in the middle. Noah's favorite, the spicy chicken. Mine has always been the yellow cabbage and the buttery potatoes and carrots! Oh, and the injera bread....yum!


We had so much to accomplish this weekend, that I specifically asked for a low-key Mother's Day. It ended up being the perfect day, getting all of our planting done and having such nice weather. In the morning, Noah gave me what Jon coined: "The Best Mother's Day Gift" and he was right! It was that Noah woke up and started playing with toys instead of asking to play Minecraft. I was THRILLED!
The boys gave me nice cards and a gift card to Michael's Arts & Crafts. Isn't that nice? :)


On Sunday evening I went out for my usual walk on the hill. When I was about halfway down the hill on the first trip, and passing the small pond, I noticed a strange rock alongside the water. From across the street I wondered what the rock was doing there. And then, I thought: "Wow! Is that a big turtle?" As I walked closer, I was surprised to find that it was a bird, hunched over the pond, with his back to me, "fishing!"

What in the world kind of bird was this!? I was SO INCREDIBLY excited. A new species for me!!!!!


It turns out that this guy is a GREEN HERON ! (That's All About Bird's picture below by the way, not mine.)


It seems to be that he's here for the summer breading season. I'm not too surprised though, because we live just above a big watershed area, and I know that at least one Great Blue Heron lives down there. Isn't that cool!? 

Speaking of birds..... Guess what landed on the back awning!!!?? Can you tell........?


It's a DUCK!
He looked a little confused.


But finally, the duck figured out how to fly up to the roof where his wife was.
From underneath though, it was just hysterical. You saw the shadow of the little webbed feet walking, and you heard: "quack-quack-quack!" :)


Poor Willow. She REALLY wanted to go out and see what all the commotion was.


And that my friends, is the scoop!
Until next time, 
xoxoxooxoxoxoxoox,
Lauren :)

8 comments:

Valerie said...

Hi Lauren, =) Your flowers are beautiful. I love that potted candy land flower, the colors are gorgeous.

So happy you had a beautiful Mother's Day. That would be a real gift, if my Espen took a break from Minecraft. He adores that game too. Although, he does love his Legos.

I love your bird pictures. What a beautiful place you live in. =) I've never seen a green Heron before. Those duck pictures are too funny. My Sophie would LOVE that, at age two she is just saying all the animal sounds, and Quack-Quacks are her favorite.

Looking forward to your new Year of You post! Always enjoy reading those. =)

Have a super week!
Blessings and Sunshine, Valerie

P.S. I think Willow is so adorable! xxoo

Lauren said...

Dear Valerie,

What a beautiful comment. Thank you so much. I feel lucky to have a friend who reads along and takes things in as you do. I need to be up and out of the house super early today, so this is just a quick comment, but thank you for makin me smile this morning! :)

Lots of love to you. I hope you also have a sunny, happy week!
xoxoxox,
Lauren

Unknown said...

Good Morning Lauren,

Sounds as if you had the perfect Mother's Day - just the right blend of family togetherness and and doing things with them that make you happy. It doesn't get better than that, does it?

I have been wanting to thank you Lauren for introducing me to the song "Happy" by Pharrell Williams by inserting the You Tube clip in one of your blogs. What a kick! Initially, I played and sang it multiple times a day. My mini-obsession with the song has tapered off over the past couple of weeks, much to my family's delight, but it's still my favourite of the moment.

My youngest child Olivia (17) asks me what my favourite song of the moment is every Mother's Day, Birthday and Christmas. She then re-writes the lyrics to that song to personalize them and best of all, Olivia who was blessed with a phenomenal voice, then performs the new version for me.

Without having to ask this Mother's Day, she whipped up a new rendition of "Happy", recruited her two older siblings to sing back-up vocals and add throw in some choreography and then after dinner on Sunday night my kids put on a really big show.

What fun and as always these beautiful and well-thought-out intentions from my kids bring tears of joy to my eyes. So now, of course, I'm singing a brand new version of "Happy". I think Pharrell would like it. Maybe you will too. Just as you share with us, I too am happy to share Olivia's lyrics to "Happy" with you and all your readers. Put an instrumental track to the song on in the background and sing along if you like.

Happy – Livi Style
Verse:
It might seem crazy but it’s Mother’s Day
I’ll do the work, you can take a break
And you when you smile at me that way
I can’t help but smile too and mama by the way

Chorus:
You make me happy
Clap along if you love me as much as I love you
You make me happy
Clap along if you feel like you need me too
You make me happy
Clap along if you know that no one else would do
You make me happy
Clap along if you feel like one plus one is two

Verse:
And don’t listen to when people talk smack
‘Cause you are the best, no one could argue that
I should probably warn you that I’ll miss you
Next year, three hours, how will I get through?
It’s true

Chorus:
You make me happy
Clap along if you love me as much as I love you
You make me happy
Clap along if you feel like you need me too
You make me happy
Clap along if you know that no one else would do
You make me happy
Clap along if you feel like one plus one is two

Hey, come on

Bridge:
(happy)
When you say you love me
Can’t no one touch me now
My love is too high
When you say you love me
Can’t no one touch me now
I said (let me tell you now)
When you say you love me
Can’t no one touch me now
I said
Chorus (2x):
You make me happy
Clap along if you love me as much as I love you
You make me happy
Clap along if you feel like you need me too
You make me happy
Clap along if you know that no one else would do
You make me happy
Clap along if you feel like one plus one is two

Hey, come on

(happy)
When you say you love me…can’t no one
Touch me now…my love is too high
When you say you love me…can’t no one
Touch me now…I said (let me tell you now)

Chorus (2x):
You make me happy
Clap along if you love me as much as I love you
You make me happy
Clap along if you feel like you need me too
You make me happy
Clap along if you know that no one else would do
You make me happy
Clap along if you feel like one plus one is two

You see what a positive impact you have on people Lauren? Have an inspiring day everyone and don't let the turkeys get you down!


Ms. Christine in Oakydoakyville



Lauren said...

Oh Christine!!!!!
CAN YOU SEE MY TEARS OF JOY!!!?? \(^-^)/ *****
I'm so HAPPY that you shared Olivia's AMAZING, WONDERFUL and my gosh, incredibly SWEET talent and gift with us!!!

This is just the most beautiful Mother's Day gift I have ever heard of. Oh Christine, that is just so so special. (I was playing the background music in my head!)

I'm glad that I was able to point your in the direction of the song, but I'm sure you would have come across it at some point. It's GREAT, isn't it!? Always makes people smile. But.....OLVIA'S VERSION, oh man! Now that is a reason to smile. A kiddo that so clearly loves and appreciates her Mom. :) I imagine that the two "back-up" dancers were equally as fab. ;)

Thank you so much for sharing Christine. I got such a kick out of this. You have an amazing family. And as always, thank you for being one the most positive, encouraging How Bourgeois friends out there!

Much love to you!
xoxoxoxo,
Lauren

Unknown said...

I loved this post! Your sense of color and texture is so inspiring. I wanted to share with you the beautiful bird species we have seen so far this spring in rural Montana:

Pheasant
Canadian Geese
Mallard Duck
Barn Owl
Wild Turkey
Golden Eagle
Bald Eagle - check this link out for a neat live eagle cam near us. Has the cutest eaglets. http://53431558b81c6.click2stream.com/
Hawk
Peacock (our neighbor's pet!
Something red breasted, maybe a sparrow?

Lauren said...

Hi Denise!!!!

Oh WOW! You have an AMAZING list of local birds. Wow, wow! :)
Thanks for sharing. I'd LOVE to see a barn owl, that's so cool! And your neighbor's pet peacock? SWEET!
Ok, I am going to check out your near by eaglet cam, that's great.
Thank you for writing. Aren't birds great! :)
xoxoxooxox,
Lauren

Patty said...

Lauren - now you have me watching birds! You were right...we did have two Indigo Buntings feasting at the cottage. They were incredibly beautiful.
xoxoxoxo

Lauren said...

Hi Mom,

Thanks for the comment!
I'm so glad that you're bird watching now! I wish I could have seen the Indigo Buntings too!

I think birdwatching is nice because it connects you with nature, it's very relaxing and "zen" and it's fun. Just to name a few reasons.

xoxoxo