Moving to New Blog Address

While clicking and clicking this morning, I managed to get this page back.  Still no custom domain.com. That is gone forever, I am afraid.  I’m now posting on blogspot.com, for the purpose of relaying the address for Back Porch Musings’ new home.

I hope you all will visit me at:

http://backporchmusings.typepad.com

Thanks so much!

Pat

Tidbits

Bradford Pear Blossom

Monday morning, we made a quick trip to Wentzville MO, were J was having a blood draw at Quest Diagnostics.  Nothing to worry about, we are making progress with the pesky Pro Time.

As I waited in the car, listening to the radio and reading, I glanced out the window and thought I was seeing things.

The parking lot, at Quest, is lined with Bradford Pear trees. 

Normally, in our neck of the woods, Bradford Pear blooms in early Spring.  This one appears to be confused.

 

I attracted attention, as I was getting a closer look and capturing a photo or two.  The expressions on various faces didn’t deter me from my mission.

I wonder if folks were focused on the quirky little old white haired lady, with the camera, and missed the phenomena of a September blooming Bradford Pear; I hope not.

This fellow, not believing his eyes, moved in for a closer look at the tree and the photographer.

My camera is with me at all times.  Not for possible blog opportunities, but rather the passion I have for photography.  I had an interest in photography long before I began Back Porch Musings, in 2007.  Because of Back Porch Musings, my interest grew.  I hope the passion continues, when Back Porch Musings is a distant memory.

A carousel ride…

A few days ago I visited my cousin’s Facebook page and was absolutely delighted with a photo, I saw.

Sad to say, many times senior citizens are dismissed as confused and a tad quirky, if not downright loopy.  I’m sure similar thoughts were going through the mind of at least one of the people watching me “dance” around the “confused” pear tree, clicking away with my trusty Canon.

My cousin’s 70th birthday is in December.  I smiled when I saw the Facebook photo, taken while she rode a carousel.  The photo’s title, 7 or 70. 

I’m not sure, with my short chubby legs, I could climb upon a carousel horse.  I might give it a try, for my 70th birthday in three years….or maybe sooner.  Until then, I’ll enjoy the Camaro…another kind of carousel ride.

 

Blog Confusion….perhaps….

I continue to enjoy blogging and am amazed at the number on the Follow list.  It was two years ago next month, when that list began to grow, not long after I added the Follow widget.  I’ve never asked anyone to follow, the list just grew. 

I think, at times, we are taken in by numbers and confused by the competitive nature that sometimes happens in the land of blog. 

The advice of this little old white haired lady is to blog because you love it.

I completely understand having an interest in numbers if your business is connected with your blog.  But if you are blogging as a hobby, forget about the numbers and competition.  Someone somewhere is reading your blog and benefitting from your efforts, whether they stop by and tell you or not.  You touch the lives of others, without being aware of doing so.

Relax, enjoy the process.  I’ve always said, when the Back Porch becomes work, I’ll stop blogging.  I’ve slowed down a time or two, when it began to feel like a job rather than a hobby.  I’ve begun to do a few more posts, lately.  It just happens.  I don’t plan it.  If a project, day trip or meal looks like it will work for the Back Porch, I’ll take some photos and put together a draft. 

I believe a laid back approach to blogging works for me.  Otherwise, blogging just might take over my life and I would miss out on confused pear trees and carousel rides.

Thanks to all who read Back Porch Musings.  I truly appreciate your visits.

Thank you, also, for indulging this senior with her rambling little story of the confused tree and other things.

~Winter Visitors~

This photo of a Cardinal waiting for his turn at a feeder, on our patio, was taken January 14, 2007. Notice the Woodpecker on the feeder. We soon broke the ice for the Cardinal.
***********************************************
The five photos, below, show a rascally Squirrel at the feeder. These photos are from January 22, 2007.

I enjoy watching the animals and birds on our patio. The squirrel's antics were very enjoyable! My desk sits beside the french doors. When we lived at the farm, my desk sat beside the french doors. There is always something going on in the world, just outside our door.

A Natural Tag

Sandi at the Whistlestop has challenged me to a tag of creatively writing blog friends' names. The use of natural wonders was the suggestion. While not among the 7 Natural Wonders of the World...the Ozarks, to me, is definitely a natural wonder. My first challenge is to Andrea of Southern Heart. You see her name written in the clouds over the Ozarks.

The Lake of the Ozarks may be man made, but the hills are naturally God made and a wonder in their own right. Donna's name is written over the hills around Lake of the Ozarks.

This photo and the next four are scenes around our old farm. We were there, the other day. That was my first return visit in almost four years. The farm no longer looks like these photos, so I don't believe I will be making another visit.

I've written Mary's name along the lane that led to our home in the back pasture.

This is a view of the lane looking toward the front of the farm and away from the back pasture. We were 3/4 of a mile from the highway and our mailbox. Joyce's name is written here.

Sue's name is written in a Trumpet Vine, that grew on one of the farm sheds.

This is the lane in winter, going toward our home. Just around the curve, was the back pasture. Chris' name is written in the field beside the fence.

The lane at just the beginning of Autumn. This is the scene I painted for J's lodge room. You can see Deb's name here.

In all the years we lived on the farm, we were snowed in only one time and that was for 4 days, in 1999. This is the lane going away from the back pasture, with Jen's name written at the side.

**********************************************

My challenge to creatively write 8 blog friends' names, using natural wonders, goes to these very talented and creative bloggers. After creating your designs be sure to challenge those blogging friends.

Andrea: http://truesouthernheart.blogspot.com/

Donna: http://thedecoratedhouse.blogspot.com/

Mary: http://devondesigns-mary.blogspot.com/

Joyce: http://brooksidecottage.blogspot.com/

Sue: http://countrypleasures.blogspot.com/

Chris: http://notesfromasomersetgarden.blogspot.com/

Deb: http://posted-from-home.blogspot.com/

Jen: http://www.thecottagenest.blogspot.com/

BUTTERFLY HOUSE

The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House
********************************************

Yesterday, we took advantage of a perfect spring day, by visiting Faust Park and the Butterfly House.

A wedding was scheduled for later in the day. You can see tents in the background of the photo to the right. We saw a few guests, but left before the arrival of the bride.

As we walked through the house, what appeared to be thousands of butterflies flew around us. Lighting here and there on the beautiful plants. One lit on my hair for a moment. We always enjoy our visits to the Butterfly House. It's somewhat like walking through the Rainforest, very warm and humid. The beautiful surroundings and gorgeous butterflies hold all of our attention.

The mission of the Butterfly House, a division of the Missouri Botanical Garden, is to foster increased awareness and better understanding of our natural world.

Faust Park:

http://www.co.st-louis.mo.us/parks/Faust_home.html