I Like Thursdays #114

It's been a while since I posted last (AGAIN!) but my daughter came into town the Wednesday before last. She and her two kitties. Besides being here for Mother's Day, Sarah also came in for a work-related conference right here in St. Louis. Actually, she has been at the conference since Monday and I'm expecting her return sometime today. She'll leave for her VA home on Saturday. Boo! Hoo! But we've had fun and that certainly counts for an I Like Thurs post!

Last Friday I thought it would be fun to go to the St. Louis Botanical Garden. We've lived here almost 20 years now and I've never been. PLUS they were having a collection of Chihuly Art scattered throughout the gardens. (You can read about Dale Chihuly HERE. ) About 12 years ago we had tried to see some of his work in Nashville at a Hoover Family Reunion and got rained out. I thought it would be nice to try again. Oh my! So much beauty! I will say that the gardens will probably look a little better as it is very early in the growing season around here still. But we were certainly not disappointed! Here are some of the pictures we took:

And now for a few select pictures. By the prairie gardens, there was a wagon that Sarah climbed right up in.

Fred & I jumped into this "vehicle".

Here's a bit of trivia for you that -- George Washington Carver was born in Missouri! My group was stunned since we associated him with peanuts and therefore with Georgia. Turns out he died in AL but GA is closer to AL than MO! Anyway, the Botanical Garden had a fountain with George Washington Carver's bronze statue and some of his sayings leading the way into the tribute area. I took a picture of the two sayings that I found especially meaningful.

"No individual has any right to come into this world and go out of it without leaving behind him

distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it."

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young,

compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong.

Because someday in your life you will have been all of these."

While Sarah has been here she spied Mrs. Mallard passing through our yard with two little ducklings in tow. Mr. Mallard was close behind securing the rear. I like seeing the wildlife in the yard and also on the trail.

Mrs. Robin had her nest under our deck once again this year. Here are the babies on May 7. So sweet!

Glad I snapped a picture because on May 9th, the nest looked like this.

Tuesday I had the chance to sit and play at my sewing machine for a little bit. Penny (one of Sarah's kitties) was doing her best to help me keep a straight 1/4" sewing line.

Gracie has been having a great time keeping up with all the unusual activity in and around our home lately.

I hope today your smile is as wide as Gracie's and you have  a wonderful week! I'm linking up with everyone else on LeeAnna's blog -- Not Afraid of Color -- this week.