{For Mom & Dad's Visit in 1996 We Tamed a Mockingbird}

Yes, for Mom & Dad's visit in 1996 we indeed did tame a Mockingbird!

Feeding it walnuts from a ramekin and luring it inside our veranda.

Step by step, literally up the steps, past the threshold (that was the scariest moment!) and into the veranda onto the tiles.

This was the sight from our bay window area in the kitchen on Thursday morning, March 21 in 1996!
Poor quality photo, but it still shows enough about the special bond.
Not only did a Mockingbird come inside, but also a Brown thrasher, a Carolina wren and a Squirrel!

Dad told us the first morning that he did not believe his eyes, he wanted to pinch himself for making sure he was not dreaming...

We were quite successful pulling this off with only a bit of practice for a couple of weeks.

Once we sat the door open and called them, they would come in.

Pieces of nut flying in all directions.

Since we have cats, of course we no longer could continue doing this!

For those in Europe that don't know a Mockingbird.
It is often also called the American Nightingale, as it has quite a repertoire, singing and mocking other song birds!
We love them, they're such happy singers.
Also love the Brown Thrashers, they're like gardeners and you can see specks of soil etc. literally flying when they search for worms and insects.

Hope you enjoyed this photo about one of our tamed Garden Critters!

Related link:

Carolina Wren on Pieter's Arm | to show you how tame they were!

{IT CAN BE DONE}

Former President Ronald Reagan's famous plaque 'IT CAN BE DONE' which he kept at his oval office desk...

I had kept The 1994 Neiman Marcus Christmas Book for quite some years and did actually scan this photo below:

Made in Italy, this Leather Office Plaque is so very special!

This gold lettering on cordovan leather plaque is still available at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute at their store, under office (click hyperlink in pink and than on shop by category...).

President Ronald Reagan meant a lot to me!

For 53 years we shared a birthday together and he died on my late husband's birthday in 2004.

When we came to this great country in 1983, it was Ronald Reagan who was President, till 1989.

We left for work in Italy soon after his 2nd term was over...

Love to share some of Ronald Reagan's quotes:

I know in my heart that man is good.

That what is right will always eventually triumph.

And there's purpose and worth to each and every life.

~  

You and I have a rendezvous with destiny.

We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to taketh first step into a thousand years of darkness. 

If we fail, at least let our children and our children's children say of us we justified our brief moment here.

We did all that could be done.

Thanks for your visit!

{Our Bletilla Striata Alba Orchids now Happily in Pots}

Our Bletilla Striata Alba Orchids have been struggling from February 1996 on, in our wood garden.

Pieter managed to find them in the fall and dig them up, for transplanting them into pots.

They are quite happy!

This photo was taken by husband Pieter on March 20.
Inside the greenhouse, but looking quite happy and healthy!

The foliage is so much stronger looking too.
These beautiful orchids are native to Japan and China

Guess in our wood garden, the competition of all the roots from trees is too much.
So we're happy for having rescued them.

Thanks for your visit!

Related link:
{Our Bletilla Striata Alba Orchid native to Japan and China} | previous post by me