The Little Aqua House

Well, actually, only the trim is aqua. This house is just a few blocks away. All of the trim is aqua. The shutters, door, window box, and even the light post.

But today what drew my attention was the beautiful Clematis growing up their light post.

Hugging & Puffing

 This post is about the very first vacuum, called "The Puffing Billy".

In 1901 British engineer Hubert Cecil Booth created a machine that sucked dirt. The “Puffing Billy” was painted red and gold like a fire engine and drawn by a horse. To clean a building, 82 foot long hoses were snaked through windows and doors by men in white suits. A cleaning cost the same as the annual wages of a domestic maid!

All my photos are from the web, of course.

 

"Don't vacuum and listen to loud music on your headphones in the same time. I finished three rooms until I realized the vacuum wasn't even on."

 Anonymous - 

 

Bluebells

 The Virginia Bluebells have been in bloom. So tiny and perfect, these were about a block away from us.

They were growing among some other pretty flowers as well.

“In Celtic folklore, bluebells were believed to ring out and attract fairies to their gatherings. It was said that anyone who heard the tinkling of the bluebell bells would soon encounter the fairies themselves.”

"In the Bluebell woods the fairies dwell."

Sunday Sunset

 

Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty.

John Ruskin

Wal-Mart Art

 This Wal-Mart is in the city of Staunton, where we drive to shop there once in awhile. And I was SO surprised to see this huge mural on the wall of their foyer! It took up the entire side wall, and is a tribute to the city they are in. The painting features elements of the city. I wonder if they will be doing this to all the Wal-Marts?

 “Trying to look casual while buying three boxes of donuts at midnight is harder than you think.”

Don't Let The Bedbugs Bite

 Meet the Belgian Malinois Shepherd, also known as the Belgian Sheepdog. This breed is being trained to sniff out bedbugs! Yes! Their handlers take them to hotel rooms, apartments, and other places.

They sniff all over the room, and don't miss a spot! It takes nine months to train a dog to do this.

                            When they find a bug, they stop, sit still, and look up at their handler.

              Just continues to prove that dogs have some amazing talents that humans do not have.

                                            "The average dog is nicer than the average person."

                                                                            Andy Rooney

* I snapped all these photos from the T.V. news

Around Town

 A short drive around town showed some interesting things after Easter.

Live bunny meets fake turtle.

Bird nests built on large tree limbs!

A bicycle planter

A lovely scene, looking like for a garden tea party.

This plant stand stays on the porch all year. It has eggs for Easter, pumpkins in the fall, and nutcrackers at Christmas.

“Help us to be ever faithful gardeners of the spirit, who know that without darkness nothing comes to birth, and without light nothing flowers.”

—May Sarton

Weeping

 The Weeping Cherry Trees are just about done for now, but they sure were pretty. Their delicate branches lean almost to the ground so gracefully.

“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

Psalm 30:5

Afternoon Fun

 The family came over for Easter today. The girls really loved getting their Easter baskets.

These tiny Squishmallows were a big hit.

Anne Marie wearing the new shoes we gave her for her birthday.

Father & son.

"Easter is the only time of the year when it's safe to put all your eggs in one basket."