This is just a sampling of what I found on Google as I was looking for inspiration to decorate for Valentine's Day.
I've seen so many pretty things on so many blogs, that I decided to get busy, decorate for Valentine's, and invite guests in for dinner.
So what's on the menu?
Black sunflower seed, an assortment of other seed, suet, and cranberries. This is Cranberry Morning, after all.
So what's on the menu?
Black sunflower seed, an assortment of other seed, suet, and cranberries. This is Cranberry Morning, after all.
If I already told you this story, stop me. But when our five year old grandson was staying with us, we were looking through the bird book, looking first at woodpeckers and blue jays. Then we came to the cardinal.
Me: Do you know what this bird is?
Him: It's a Red Jay
Me: Hmm. Well actually, it's a cardinal.
Him: No, it's actually a Red Jay. It's just called a cardinal.
How can you argue with that?? :-)
It was SO much fun to have a five year old with us for the week. I love the five year old mind. It's a chuckle a minute.
Mr. Red-bellied Woodpecker and Chickadee
Not to be confused with Red Jay.
Crab Apple Tree Feeder
Mrs. Hairy Woodpecker
Have you decorated for Valentine's?
Are you inviting guests for dinner? Let me warn you: Mine had terrible table manners and there was even some bickering, but I'll have to admit that they were all dressed beautifully for the occasion.
I'm going to go work on my Valentines. I hope you all have a wonderful day.
Oh wait! Before I sign off, I hear that some of you missed Downton Abbey last night. Here are a couple photos from the most recent episode:
Oh wait! Before I sign off, I hear that some of you missed Downton Abbey last night. Here are a couple photos from the most recent episode:
If those girls of his would ease up on the wardrobe,
Lord Grantham's finances might not be such an issue.
Mary's and Edith's costuming has been fantastic this season.
photos Telegraph.co.uk
I think she's only got a couple more episodes to decide to marry Tom.
This is not looking good, is it.
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Your photos are absolutely splendid, this is a wonderful idea for Valentine's. =)
ReplyDeleteHello Judy, I like your decorations for Valentine's and for the birds. Your grandson is cute!
ReplyDeleteNice variety of yard birds, I always love the Cardinals and the woodies. But, then I love them all. Happy Monday, have a great new week ahead!
I'm glad the birds appreciate your heart shaped Valentine's buffet! And that cardinal is even a match in color :)
ReplyDeleteClever post and your dinner guests had quite a treat! Good five year old story to begin the day! Your snow is pretty but when I saw the valentine stuff I knew it couldn't be your house. Oh my. Yes I didn't see much of DA but during a commercial (tho those were often the best part of the game) I heard Lord G. say something about jealous Tom??? Hopefully there will be some pleasant surprises to end the series!
ReplyDeleteI really really LOVED your party and the decorative table and especially the guests. i smiled all the way through and giggled out loud at the red jay.. to funny and he might be right because looking at the shapes of the blue and red jay they are very much alike except for the color... i love google images...
ReplyDeleteWhat a darling play on Valentine's dinner! Gorgeous photos Judy...and yes...Downton's fashions have been glorious this season! Bravo!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful:) Love seeing the pretty birds! Have a blessed day dear friend, HUGS!
ReplyDeleteHa ha! you got me, Judy. I was expecting red velvet cake. :) Loved this post and it is so nice to see your resident birds enjoying their feast. I will be feeding mine soon but alas...no cranberries. Loved the bird in flight shot. I always try for those. Yours is beautiful. Out of the mouths of babes, eh. So cute.
ReplyDeleteI think the chick a dee was landing. It takes a lot to spook them. Even a loud mouth 'red jay' ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying Edith's romance and think she and her beau may be the ones that bring it all together for Downton.
fantastic pictures
ReplyDeleteLOVED LOVED LOVED THIS! I much prefer THIS decor for the day :)
ReplyDeleteI have a few Valentine Decorations up but just a few. I am considering going directly from Valentine's Day to Easter!! Loved the pictures of the birdies! So beauitufl against the snow. And I totally agree with you about Mary and Edith...part of the pleasure I glean from DA is looking at the clothes. And how much longer before Mrs Carson beams Mr Carson with a rolling pin??? Can you make coffee indeed!
ReplyDeleteJudy, What game?? Oh stop, you cracked me up. I absolutely love your bird shots. I love birds. The heart of seeds is so special. Blessings, xoxo,Susie
ReplyDeleteYour pics are fantastic - thanks for staying out in the cold so you could capture such amazing bird life and share with us!
ReplyDeleteI love your "heart of seed" idea - too cute!
Your grandson sounds brilliant to me! :- )
Yes, their clothes on DA are amazing - they're all so beautiful.
Nope, never thought Mary would pick Tom. She'd treat him so poorly and we all love him much too much for that. But his teasing her and being a matchmaker has been adorable. He's a fav for sure - but would have loved him hooking up with Edith. BUT I suuuuurrrreee like Edith's new beau! He's attractive and sensible and young and sweet and adores her, and she deserves that after her sad heartbreaks of the past. It is time for Lady E to smile finally!
Didn't the Dowager act fantastically last night? She did anger very well, holy smokes!
Well, have a wonderful week of love! ♥♥♥
Your dinner guests are very entertaining. I'm glad you invited them for a special Valentine's dinner.
ReplyDeleteI love the pictures of your dinner guests, what a nice idea!
ReplyDeleteYour grandson is a thinker! He knows what that bird is, for Heaven's sake! (It's good to be a thinker.) (And cute.) :D
ReplyDeleteYour Valentine's dinner is so sweet...great idea, and great photos!
Judy, we have the episode recorded to watch this evening, as we were tied up with the Super Bowl. But I don't think Mary and Tom will get together. We'll see!
ReplyDeleteHow clever you are to have put our the birdseed in a heart and how wonderful to have the Cardinal accept your invitation!! Well done! Have wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteHow many wonderful ideas for decorating home for Valentine's Day, even your birds have to take part to this festive day, don't they ?!?
ReplyDeleteI love to see how different they're from ours, we do live in Northern Italy and together with us live other species of birds.
Thank you for sharing always so much enthusiasm and love, blessed be !
Enjoy the new week
xox
Dany
The seedy heart is beautiful in every way! Keep watching Downton!! Just wait and see!! xx
ReplyDeleteI love your valentine's bird seed heart, Judy! I would feed the birds here but then we have problems with very aggressive squirrels eating all the seed first. I've given up! My only Valentine's decoration is a hear wreath I found last year for half price --I'm glad I remembered where I put it to hang it this year...lol! I half watched DA last evening. I wasn't feeling too well with a virus so my eyes were closing--I'll have to re-watch online. Mary always looks so stunning, no matter what she wears!
ReplyDeleteThought that your Valentine's heart is much more artistic than Google's! Have a great artsy week:)
ReplyDeleteNow THAT'S my kind of Valentine's Day decorating, Judy! Love. This. I don't decorate much for V-Day but I know your feathered friends must surely enjoy this! You are right about those costumes the girls are wearing...and their mother as well! The green and gold that Mary had on was totally stunning! Actually, it could be worn today on the red carpet, I feel. Every time Robert winced when he had a tinge of pain while sitting there in his bed, I couldn't help but imagine him having another graphic "episode" of some kind...BUT he seems to be on the mend.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post, Judy! Your bird photos are outstanding! A five year mind is a wonderful thing---he's going places! By the way, your birdseed heart is prettier than anything off the internet! Have a great day, dear one! xo ♥
ReplyDeleteI love the Valentine's Day decorations for the birds!
ReplyDeleteDonna@GardensEyeView
and LivingFromHappiness
The red jay was a neat translation for a five year old. I have all the birds that you have but mine seem to be eating at other people's stations. My cardinal shot today was a long distant one and not clear like your beautiful shot. Fun post today to view and read.
ReplyDeleteYour Valentine decorations are the best! And, that was a really cute story about your grandson. Made me smile.
ReplyDeleteI love your dinner company! And By golly, your grandson is absolutely right -- it is a red jay -- named cardinal. Good for him for noticing the likeness; smart kid!
ReplyDeleteLove the Valentine decorations and no, I am not going to decorate because you know I live in a tiny home with not a lot of storage space. And because I am old and lazy. And would rather go outside and play. But I will probably cook or bake something fun on the day.
What a great post, Judy! It made my day. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI think the best Valentine decorating you did was the pretty heart with red cranberries for the birds. My VD tree is still at home but I brought a few things to Florida with me which could be thought of as a reminder for my hubby. lol
ReplyDeleteI love the 5-year old mind...I don't mind if you tell it again later cause this 60 yr old mind might forget it. LOL
ReplyDeleteLove your valentines....
How fun to have that little 5 year old with you for a whole week! We don't have cardinals here and I just think they are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLove your gift to the birds.
What a beautiful and fun post, Judy! Your photos are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteIt must be lovely to have such colourful birds visiting you, blue jays, red jays... :-)
Oh what a lovely post and I just love the colour theme too ...
ReplyDeleteGreat images you've shared, thank you.
All the best Jan
Oh wow, these pictures are amazing....never commented before but just had to today...love the heart sunflower seeds and cardinals.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing!
I am sure that your bickering guests appreciated the buffet! Very creative to lay out such a spread. Your grandson is a very observant five-year-old. He's very good with comparing and contrasting.
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures of the birds, I like the little conversation with your grandson, I like the way they think, too cute!
ReplyDeleteHi Judy,
ReplyDeleteI love the photos today. You did great hiding behind the wheelbarrow. :-)
Have a blessed week!!
Carla
What a pretty heart and birds!
ReplyDeleteTFS this at Cooking & Crafting with J&J!
This is a really lovely post! I love all amazing photos! I love hearts and birds and your decoration is simply perfect!
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentin!
Hugs and love from Portugal,
Ana Love Craft
www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com
I love your guests..They are the same ones that came to my party..Cute post....I guess they are party hoppers/crashers..
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! I love that you made it special for the birds... If I decorate outside, I'd have to lock up the dogs
ReplyDeleteso they wouldn't eat the decorations!
☺
I love the Red Jay too! Such a clever grandchild you have. They tell it like it is.
Enjoy your week!
Amy
You really have outdone everyone else that is decorating for Valentines' day. You have a nice variety of birds visiting you too. I noticed the beautiful dresses even more this week too. Enjoy your week! I'll be on the look out for one of those Red Jays here in Florida. I'll let you know if I see one! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI love your Valentine party guests . . .
ReplyDeleteand by the way . . . you decorate beautifully . . .
Your adorable grandson and his "Red Jay" brings me a smile . . .
Happy Days for your guests . . .
Now this is my idea of decorating, love your birdseed heart. I do enjoy spending time with kids in that age range. They can be a hoot! I think that might be Mrs. Red-bellied, the red cap doesn't appear to extend solidly from front to back. Send her on down, I have a male. :D Great in-flight capture of the woodpecker, revealing all those pretty patterns. Isn't it amazing how God painted each feather just so?
ReplyDeleteA Red Jay...how adorable, my friend :) Your Valentine's guests are just precious and I must say it was very clever to put the seed out in the shape of a heart.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing with Roses of Inspriation. Have a lovely Valentine's Day! Hugs to you
I'm loving this final season of Downton. I'm going to miss it. What a sweet and cute idea for the birds.
ReplyDeleteEverything is so pretty! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!