Close, but no cigar

I love funky signs and this is one that my sister spotted as we strolled down South Street in Philadelphia today.

The phrase, 'close, but no cigar' and 'nice try, but no cigar', originated in the US around the mid 1900's when fairground stalls gave out cigars as prizes. I mean, just in case you were wondering.

A gift from a friend

Our art teacher at school made one of these for everyone in the office while she was demonstrating stamping techniques to students in her class.
I love this gift and wanted to show you how beautiful it is!
I'm taking a break from this blog for a short little while. Could be a couple days. Could be more like a week. I've just got a lot going on and want to relax with friends and try to stay away from too much technology. My husband doesn't think I can do it, however. So we'll just see about that.

Wild women don't have the blues

So I'm walking quietly in the woods on a trail at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, when I came to a pond with this bench sitting at the edge of it. I sat down on the bench, enjoying the silence as my husband pointed out hawks flying above. When I got up, I noticed the dedication plaque you see here. It just took me by surprise, is all I'm sayin'.

Cheerful

A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.

~ Chinese Proverb

The breakfast nook in this home is perfect for viewing bird life. Our plan is to put up all our feeders so we can watch them from the window. On the wall leading to the kitchen area was a clock that elicits a bird call on the hour. Our friends removed it for us when they moved us in, probably thinking that we wouldn't like it. But we found it and are using it. My husband likes this clock and I think it cheers him to hear the little calls. And on the hour, every hour, we get to see George's response to the sounds of the clock which is always fun!