{Cotoneaster Lacteus | Colorful Berries for the Birds in Winter}

• Wintertime is the hardest period for birds to find food enough to feed on. 
• We have lots of provisions for the many bird varieties that live on our property. 
• After all, it is not for nothing that in August of 1997, we did receive Our Backyard Wildlife HABITAT Certificate; see link of post below. 
• That's why we also planted a huge shrub of Cotoneaster Lacteus or Pyracantha.

• Colorful Berries for the Birds

• Plenty of Cotoneaster Lacteus Berries to feast on for the birds... Shrub is also called 'Fire Thorn'...
• By the way, these berries are poisonous for humans!

• This is still only part of the entire shrub; it is huge. 
• Pine needles are hanging everywhere as there is a tall pine tree nearby.

• As printed in Southern Living magazine, listing several birds that feast on the Cotoneaster or Pyracantha. Here it are mainly the robins and the cedar waxwings that strip them in almost a day. See more links below with further info. 

• Do you have special berry producing shrubs for your birds in winter?

Related links:

{Birdie Berries in our Wood Garden} previous post by me
{Our Backyard Wildlife HABITAT Certificate from August 1997} previous post by me
Winter Ruby Red Berries from Southern Living Magazine with the above section: Do it for the Birds...
What a Bee Wants – Cotoneaster showing how early in the year the blossoms benefit the Bees.
Robins eating Cotoneaster berries in a day Youtube video showing Robins eat Cotoneaster berries in SC
Robins eating berries photo showing the Robins eating Cotoneaster berries
Cedar Waxwings eating berries feasting on the Pyracantha (fire thorn) in Dutch 'vuur doorn'... click previous & next image also for spectacular photos!
Northern Mockingbird pair - sharing Pyracantha berries Youtube video

{My Hand Knitted Leg Warmers Then and Now}

Let me show you some incredibly STRONG Hand Knitted Leg Warmers Then and Now... No kidding, there is a lapse of almost 28 years between getting them off my knitting needles and wearing them NOW. Are you ready?

Yes, this is ME wearing my hand knitted leg warmers; hot off the needles in March of 1985...

What do you think? Pretty close or not...

Now, let's move!

Same legs, same leg warmers but almost 28 years later!

Victoria from the blog Slightly Shabby asked: "I would love if you could do more posts on your diet and exercise, you have such a great figure! I was always very slim but now, in my mid 40's, I find myself struggling."

♥

Okay, I will show you some of my exercise... my diet I will address later.

I did it then...

And now...

By the way, I need another hair cut!

Oh, wait... we will get going, I will show you next!

Just a bit more than only turning around...

Twenty eight years in-between; that's not bad for 60+ or?

Ready...?

All the way to the floor... Keep your legs stretched!

Yes, I can still do that...!

Hurts like hell but never mind.

That's right; swing those legs (both of them!) all the way, past your ears to the floor and hold for 20 minutes.

I'm kidding; you cannot breathe that way...

Oh Lordy... I will probably never get straightened up again!

Yeah, big deal then; when I was 28 years younger and a LOT more flexible.

Hope you enjoyed this Then and Now series.

Now be careful, don't imitate me immediately; you might have to check with your doctor first!

Related link:

{Our Rose Suite's Little Room} previous post by me where Victoria asked the above quoted question in the comments... 

{Our Camellia Sinensis | Tea Plant}

At the moment our Camellia Sinensis | Tea Plant is blooming so pretty so I have to show you some pictures. When the sun is out in the morning those white flowers with their long orange colored stamens look so pretty. Camellias are evergreen shrubs so they have nice glossy green leaves all year. That's what we aimed for mainly when we designed our garden. Extending the 'green' season as much as we could. Making up for not living in the tropics anymore. Indeed, one gets spoiled easily and it is very hard to live through winter each year, even though our winters are very mild here in the southeast of the USA.

Lovely flower this Camellia Sinensis, or Tea  Plant!

Most of the black teas are being harvested from this very Tea Plant!

This is the entire shrub and it is on the fence with our neighbors. We can view it from our kitchen bay window area.

There are still buds to open later... It keeps on pouring out tea roses!

One more with beautiful orange stamens and some budding siblings nearby.

Do you have such a Tea Plant?

Related links:

{Our Camellia Sinensis Tea Plant and Japanese Magnolia} previous post by me
{Camellia Debutante & Chocolate} previous post by me
{Our Camellia Nuccio's Gem & Christmas Angel Gift} previous post by me