Daily Pics 2020 #80.

Good morning on this rather chilly Friday!  It really feels like winter again, with that temp down to the -25C (-13F) range.  But it’s not going to last, hopefully and next week, starting Monday, it’s supposed to warm up and start melting this snow again.  And maybe it will keep melting now until the snow is gone and the grass begins turning green once more.  Such a nice thought.  Spring.  Green.  Flowers.  Birds singing.  Actually, the birds have really been singing a lot lately. 

They know the weather is about to change and they are getting excited so they have begun to sing loudly each morning.  And in the afternoon too.  It is so nice to listen to them, and really, they do sound excited.  Last evening as the sun was setting there was still some birds outside at the feeders, very busily getting their last seeds for the day before heading off to their roosting spots for the night.  As the sun is setting it bathes the area with a more golden glow than during the day.  A darker gold color that changes the color of everything just a bit.  It’s really a very nice time standing there watching the birds until the last of them leaves for the night.

And now for some summer sunshine with more flower pics…

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And we will start with a close up look at some “deptford pinks” and they really are a beautiful, bright pink color that can be seen from quite a distance.IMG_5417

And here we have a closer shot of a “spotted touch-me-not”.  With the sun shining on it, it really looks like there is a light at the top of the flower.  They are not a large flower, but like the pinks, are very bright and the plants can get quite large and be full of dozens of these flowers.

Thank you for coming by and taking a look this morning.  Happy Friday to you all and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

© 2020 Steve McLeod.

Coffee With Steve #6.

Hello everyone and welcome back to another coffee time with Muffin and I!  I don’t put Muffin’s name in the title since she doesn’t really like coffee, but she does like all the visitors that come here to enjoy a nice hot cup of coffee.  I hope today finds you all well.  I am looking forward to meeting with all of you again.  The coffee pot is on, there is freshly baked cookies available and I know some of you will also bring some goodies for us to enjoy.  It’s a bit cool and windy outside but inside it’s warm and cozy.  Hi Tiffany, nice to see you today.  Hi Nina, good to see you again.  And here’s Hilary, how are you today?  And Sally too, nice to see you.

Here comes Simon, haven’t seen you for a while at our coffee time, good to see you again.  Hi Manuel, it is very nice to have you join us today.  Hi Dee, and Suni too, nice to see you both today.  Let’s get that coffee going for everyone.  Hi Sheree, come in and grab a chair while I get your coffee.  Hi Renee, I’ll get your coffee right away.  Well, it looks like Muffin has picked Hilary today, hope you don’t mind.  She will probably move around a bit and say “hi” to everyone.  Hi Eugenia, a fresh pot of coffee is ready, we never run out of coffee around here, that’s for sure.Steve's Country 3621

Thought I would show my small collection of baskets and a couple other things today.  The top right and bottom left are both picnic baskets from the 1940s.  The top left could be used as that also, but just more of a general carry basket, from either the 1930s or 40s. the bottom right is just a smaller carry basket from the 1940s also.Steve's Country 362-001

The top left basket is a storage basket with a nice lid, from the 1920s or 30s.  The top right is a gathering basket likely from the 1920s or perhaps a little older.  The bottom wood buckets are not too old either, the one on the right I’m not really too sure, possibly 1940s. On the left the smaller one is from the 1920s and I’m not sure at all about the other one, possibly the same age.

Does anyone need coffee refills yet?  Or tea, I have several different teas available.  I see Simon is waving, must want more tea.  Oh, look, Muffin is helping to keep your feet warm.  Oh, I see, her claws are stuck in your foot, there, that should be better.  Now I see she’s curled up on Suni’s lap.  Hi Lydia, hi Sharon, nice to have you both join us.  No, you’re not too late, never too late around here for coffee.IMG_2755

And here we have my oldest basket.  This one was a shopping basket used at stores, just like the plastic ones we have today.  It is a very solid and quite heavy basket which makes sense.  Mainly it would have been used for fruits or veggies and then was set on a scale to weigh it, providing it was all the same type.

It is so nice that in our modern age we can meet together like this from all over the world.  And don’t worry if I didn’t mention your name, everyone is welcome to stop in for coffee for these coffee times.  Hopefully, once the weather is nice again, we can start to have our coffee chats outside.  It does get a little full in here at times, but Muffin and I don’t mind at all.  Thank you all for coming today, it has been a fantastic time once again!  I do hope you all have a wonderful day and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

© 2020 Steve McLeod.