Sunflower Buffet

These Goldfinches had sunflower buffets in our backyard for weeks!  There wasn't much competition, just an occasional bee.  They looked directly at me a few times, I think they were saying thank you. :)  

This is what we started with..

Let the buffet begin..lol

Beautiful Clouds

It's finally cooled off here and we've only been in the 80's during the day and it's felt like fall in the evenings...so nice for August.
Son has been dealing with a bad sore throat for a few days. He started off with a fever and we knocked it out and he hasn't had one since.  We took him to the doctor and he doesn't have strep or an infection thank goodness!  He's never had a sore throat to last so long without an infection.  He seems to catch so much yucky stuff working in a restaurant.  Classes start back next week so he has to be in tip top shape!

I'm still looking at new laptops.  It's all so confusing!  I can't stand being stuck at this desktop, I'm use to multi-tasking. :)
Hope you're having good weather and a happy summer!  

Life is Busy!

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer!  We've been keeping extra busy, but I'm not complaining. :)  Mom and dad came for a visit.  They had to be here for their grandson's 19th birthday!  Yes, my baby boy is 19 yrs young, hard to believe!  Besides this big celebration we celebrated Father's Day, Mother's Day and my Mother's birthday!!!  It was a vacation for us all!
After all the celebrations and vacation hubby had returned to work.  On his second day back to work I got a call that he was being taken to the ER by ambulance, I was freaking out!!  Kyle and I met the ambulance there!  It turned out to be kidney stones.  We're grateful it wasn't something worse.  He's back to his good health and now has an idea of what labor is like for a woman. ha ha!:)
Talking about health issues and hospital visits make me think of Ginny and Phil at Let Your Light Shine.  Most of you that visit me probably visit sweet Ginny.  Phil, Ginny's husband, has been diagnosed with Melanoma.  I lost my granddaddy to this cancer and I'm at high risk for melanoma because I have dysplastic nevus syndrome.  Even if you don't know Ginny and Phil please say a prayer for them.  

I'll be making my way around blog land playing catch up.  I've missed everyone's stories and photos!  :)

Our baby boy, Kyle!
Love you, son!

Roxanne-Love with her boy, Kyle!

My Mom & Dad.
Love you both so much!

Downtown Raleigh

More photos from our visit to downtown Raleigh.  There are lots of beautiful Oaks,that's why Raleigh is referred to as the City of Oaks...remember the large acorn!  
Next time I would like to photograph the Governor's mansion, which is located downtown.  All my pics are always editing free, so bare with me, there is some glare, etc..

Today's highs are 101 degrees in Raleigh and 100 here in Cary!  What temps are you experiencing??

The Cree Shimmer Wall (pictured above): A reflective LED tree mural displayed on the side of the Raleigh Convention Center. The wall depicts an image of an oak tree and has become a symbol for Raleigh, the City of Oaks. The piece is made up of 79,464 light and dark aluminum squares that change shape and disappear as the squares flap in the wind. When the Barenaked Ladies played the Red Hat Amphitheater, they did a rap about the nearby Shimmer Wall.

beautiful tree lined streets

whilendriving past a kids museum and this window caught my attention.
can you see the stairs insice?  pretty cool!
this would be a fun place to visit when my cousin brings his twin four yr old boys to see us. :)

I can't resist a puppy dog!
UPS seems to be everywhere!  I've had them in other pics. lol

same pup, different window.. 

apartments over businesses which seems to be quite popular.
this was very popular in Orlando.
I don't think I would like living downtown.

Cecilia aka Madi & Mom remembers shopping here when she was a young girl. :)

I had seem the owner of the business on the news and so when I saw her store
I had to take a picture.  I like the name,

pretty plants, I would like to have some of them.

Sunflowers Make Me Smile

All flowers are pretty to me, but the sunflower has that extra something.  Maybe because it's bright yellow like the sun, it can perk up any yard, any room or a person's day. :)  
Hope my sunflower will give you a smile. :)  

The Hummers Are Back

Hummingbirds are always a delight, but so difficult to photograph!  Hubby and I captured these beauties. :)

Hubby captured this juvenile female Ruby-throated Hummimgbird.

Their wings beat up to 80 times per second!

I caught this young male at the feeder.
The spots on the throat make me think he's a juvenile Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

I followed him up to this branch .

It was exciting to watch him relax in the tree!

He's no bigger than three inches!