Hello and welcome to Weekend Coffee Share #20! I’m glad you’re here. Please come on in, help yourself to a cup of coffee, or tea, or hot chocolate at my coffee station and let’s chat.
This past week the weather was glorious, lots of sunshine and blue skies with daytime high reached 27C (81F), felt like 30C (86F) yesterday. Since I’ve been cycling, walking, exploring and having fun with photography most days, I have a backlog of things to write up.
Today’s post is about my walk at the Spadina Quay Wetlands and my Spring fun list update.
Spadina Quay Wetlands
Spadina Quay Wetlands is a gem located in Toronto’s waterfront area. It’s a thriving ecosystem full of plants, birds, butterflies, ducks, and fish. It’s complete with flowering heath plants, poplar trees, flagstone paths and a creek. Aside from nature, there is also art.
1. Birdhouse Sculpture
Artist Anne Roberts designed the Birdhouse sculpture on stilts that was installed in the wetland garden. This sculpture recalls the human activities of the Toronto lakeshore at the turn of the 20th century, with warehouses of the Toronto Electric Company, the corner bank, the Sunnyside Bathing Pavilion and clusters of ice cream parlours and boathouses attracting Toronto residents to the lure of the water.
When the water level in Toronto Harbour is high, water fills up the small creek where the Birdhouse sculpture is located and it’s not accessible to foot traffic. This spring, since the creek has been dry, I was able to visit the sculpture up close.
2. Bright Birdhouses
While walking around the wetland garden, I found these bright birdhouses. They made me smile.
1. Simple 
2. Lovely Porch
3. Sidesplit 
4. Nice Entrance
Which birdhouse would you choose?
3. Gosling sightings
Remember I mentioned Lucy the nesting goose and my previous check-in? Her nest was close to the Spadina Quay Wetlands. She delivered five cute goslings.
Goose family 
Gosling
It was a delightful walk at the Spadina Quay Wetlands. As an urban dweller, I appreciate this green space and enjoy seeing wildlife in their natural habitat.
Spring Fun List – May Update
Back in March, I wrote a Spring Fun List of things to do while in COVID-19 lockdown. Most of my activities are outdoors or online and follow public health protocols so I’ve been checking off a few items in April.
I’ve recently completed two more items (#3 and #7). Here’s my update and contribution to Leslie’s Spring link-up.
- Cycle to explore parks, the lake shore, and the city centre: Yes, most days.
- Take walks to enjoy nature in Spring and free outdoor public art: Yes, most days.
- View Toronto’s Cherry Blossoms and the annual Canadian Tulip Festival: Yes, I saw gorgeous cherry blossoms and tulips in Toronto. I viewed the Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa virtually due to the province-wide lockdown.
Cherry blossoms 
Tulips
- Meet my family and friends outside: Pending. Starting May 22, outdoor gatherings for up to 5 people are allowed.
- Play 9-hole disc golf in a public park: Yes, here’s my intro to how to play disc golf.
- Paddle around Toronto Islands: Pending.
- Plant a small herb garden: Yes, it was warm enough to plant. A small bed, soil, assorted herbs, sunlight, water, and voilà, a herb garden that is manageable and useful for the next several months.
Herb garden 
Sweet basil
- Read 1 book per week and add to my Books in 2021: Yes, average 1.8 books per week.
- Take photos and share my explorations on my blog: Yes, every post so far.
- Try a new restaurant take-out: Yes, from Salad King.
So eight done, two to go. I hope to complete the remaining two items in June.
Linked with #LifeThisWeek.
How did your week go? What do you do for fun this weekend? I’d love to hear your comments.
Copyright © 2023 natalietheexplorer.home.blog – All rights reserved.
Natalie the Explorer 
How amazing and lovely is that sculpture. I loved seeing it and yes, I saw the bird. Our 3 eldest grandkids have the surname “Gosling” ….and how cute you got to see the family. Oh I do hope you can continue to meet up in small numbers. I know how hard it can be when people are alone too…we all crave and need that human connection. Loved the spring flowers..tulips are awesome. My first Woman of Courage post is linked up today. Dr Tanya Selak. Hope her story is of interest to you and your readers Natalie. Denyse
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Denyse, I’m glad you liked the Birdhouse sculpture. The goslings are very cute. It was wonderful to watch them follow their mother and stay together as a group. I look forward to meeting my family and friends in person as the pandemic restrictions lessen. Thank you for linking up with #WeekendCoffeeShare. Have a great week!
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Thank you for joining in Life This Week Link Up.
I’ve just added another 10 optional prompts taking us to October!
It’s always good to see a blog post from you and I value your presence here. Denyse.
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Thank you, Denyse. See you at the link-up.
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As a lover of all birds, I’m loving the birdhouse sculptures and bright houses. They are wonderful! My week flew by in a blur. I’m having a difficult time believing the end of May is approaching. Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos, Natalie! Have a great weekend.
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Jill, I’m glad you liked the Birdhouse sculpture and birdhouses. I hope your writing is going well and you have time for breaks. Thank you for stopping by. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Nice work on your Spring Fun List, Natalie. I hope you are able to have an outdoor get-together with your family soon. With infection rates dropping, and being now fully vaccinated, I am getting out more and seeing more people, and it feels so good. I love the bird houses, so colorful. Happy spring!
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Thank you, Christie, for your comment. Glad to hear you’re getting out more and seeing more people. I look forward to meeting my family and friends outdoors soon. It’s been a long social isolation for us. Happy spring to you!
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😎 cool. My birdies prefer a house that has aired 3 yrs after painting 😉
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Washe, I guess they’re sensitive to paint. Thank you for stopping by. Happy weekend!
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I’ve been putting off planting some herbs, happy to hear you all are going to ease up on some restrictions tomorrow
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Last week it was finally warm enough here to plant some herbs. I look forward to meeting my family and friends in person. Thank you, Alice, for stopping by. Have a great weekend!
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I love those bird houses! You pictures are so pretty.
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Dan, I’m glad I’m not the only person who loves those cheerful birdhouses 🙂
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You are doing so well on your lists, Natalie. I truly admire your dedication and priorities. Making a fun list is a good idea, as I (and maybe most people) just seem to make work or shopping to-do lists. I love all the bird houses! They’d bring a smile to my face as well. Your weather this last week sounds glorious. Here in Massachusetts, the temperatures have finally improved as well. Our “fun” times are usually the walks with Maya or Skype calls with my best friend and parents. Last but not least, you taught me a new word: goslings. I had no idea that this is how baby geese are called. 🙂
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Liesbet, I’m motivated to have fun and enjoy life 🙂 We’ve had a stretch of good weather. It’s actually hot and humid today through to Sunday. Glad to teach you the word goslings. I’m watching a nesting swan and guess what baby swans are called? Cygnets.
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Haha! That is a really weird name. At least gosling as the first two letters of goose in it!
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What a cool birdhouse sculpture. So pretty. I’m working on my Spring update list right now. Those goslings are so cute!!
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I was glad to see the cute goslings because they’re wildlife and the geese move all the time.
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I love the colourful birdhouses and also the sculpture 🙂 I hope you enjoy meeting up with family and friends once permitted after tomorrow!
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Thank you, Sarah. I look forward to meeting my family and friends outdoors soon. It’s been a long social isolation for us. Have a wonderful weekend!
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These are wonderful bird houses, Natalie. Thanks for sharing these lovely pictures.
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Roberta, I’m glad you like these birdhouses. I thought they looked cheerful. Have a great weekend!
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Loved the old building bird house idea. Someone put in a lot of time to build them I bet. Thanks Natalie.
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Yes, I thought all these birdhouses were well done. Thanks, Gary, for stopping by.
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Great job on your goals! Those birdhouses are so pretty.
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Thank you, Joanne. I’m motivated to have fun 🙂 Glad you liked the birdhouses.
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Lovely, lovely post, Natalie! Enjoying it very much! Thank you!
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You’re welcome, Lizl. Have a great weekend!
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Best wishes for your weekend, also!
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The birdhouses are really interesting. I wonder if any birds nest in some of them. It is great to have nature close by, especially in urban areas. We are starting to get together with small groups of vaccinated people here. Hope you get to do that soon as well.
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I saw bird nests on the trees at the wetlands. The birds are very active there.
Good to hear you’re getting together with small groups of vaccinated people. We’re getting to that stage soon. Most of my family and friends have received their first dose of vaccine, some are fully vaccinated.
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It’s nice to get together. Still feels new though but in a positive way. Thanks for stopping by, Natalie.
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Hi Natalie another great week for you and love the birdhouses. I particularly like the coloured ones and also the more intricate one. I would love a herb garden but apartment living by the ocean isn’t conducive I don’t think – I could try though. The tulips and cherry blossoms are beautiful too. Thanks for hosting #WeekendCoffeeShare and I can’t believe we are up to #20 already! Have a great week. xx
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Hi Sue, Yes, hard to believe we’re already at week 20 of 2021. I’m glad you liked the birdhouses and the flowers. Spring has been beautiful here. You can try to grow herbs in a small planter, just a few of what you use often. Your climate is temperate most of the time so I think the herbs will thrive. Have a wonderful week!
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That is an amazing birdhouse sculpture!
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I agree. I was glad to see it up close.
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What great birdhouse sculpture!
And you’re fun list is terrific. Glad you’re enjoying the spring.
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Thank you, Susan. Spring has been beautiful here and it’s easy to enjoy the beauty of the season.
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I look forward to your posts to accompany my Saturday morning breakfast! You really bring Toronto alive, and those bird boxes are just gorgeous.
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I’m pleased to hear my posts accompany your Saturday morning breakfast! Those birdhouses are cheerful. Happy weekend!
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I love the pictures of the tulips and cherry blossoms. I like the color of the bird houses. I love porches, so the birdhouse with the porch would be my favorite. Glad you are able to work on your fun list. I find it so challenging to read books during any given work week, as my reading is all directed towards Sunday. That is one of many reasons I do audio books when I am driving. I know that you do not have a television, I am not that mature yet, lol. Some television shows are part of my relaxation and entertainment. But I decided to do something different this year, that you have at least indirectly inspired. Most of my favorite shows are doing for the season so rather than watch other things, I am going to turn my television hours into a “Summer Reading Program” I will be interested to see how I can make that work and what I can actually read. Thanks for hosting and posting such great enticements to visit. Michele
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Hi Michele, The cherry blossoms and tulips were stunning IRL. The birdhouse with the front porch is an excellent and beautiful choice. I smiled when I saw its design. Audio books are also books. I used to watch TV to relax and be entertained, too. Doing something different is good for our mind. I hope you enjoy the change. If it doesn’t work for you, you can change again 🙂
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Thank you for those encouraging words! We lived in three different parsonages during my 22 years of full time ministry and none of them had porches. But my first home ever had a wrap around porch as did the old hotel my parents owned in the 60’s. I was so thrilled that our retirement home has a small porch and we have a small patio in the back yard. Every day when I pray and say thank you God for our retirement home, I always mention the porch and the patio:)
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Congrats, Michele, on having a porch and a patio! They’re wonderful spaces to relax or socialize.
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As always, great photos! I did find the bird!! And I would choose the split level, yellow birdhouse. Thanks for the coffee!
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Great eyesight to see the bird, and excellent choice of birdhouse. I think that split design is special and yellow is a cheerful colour. Thank you for stopping by. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Wow! At 1.8 books/week, you are doing great, Natalie. Thanks for sharing the birdhouse photos. they are so pretty! I would love to visit the wetlands sometime. Maybe when the Covid restrictions are lifted between the US and Canada.
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I’m fine with 1.8 books/ week because I’ve been outside more while the weather is good. Our vaccination rate is increasing and case numbers are decreasing so hopefully we’ll have less restrictions this summer.
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Oh what a wonderful birdhouse sculpture. I’m so inspired that you’re still managing to get in a lot of fun activities. I have got to get out more. I must say you are one of the few people of my acquaintance who reads more than I do, good job! 🙂
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Thank you for your comment. I’m motivated to have fun and enjoy life, including reading 🙂 Spring has been beautiful here so I’m eager to go outside and explore.
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Oh I love those birdhouses Natalie – they’re so sweet! Thanks for another great link party.
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Leanne, I’m glad you liked those birdhouses. Their bright colours and styles drew me in.
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Natalie, I love the birdhouses. Do you know Lisa Coleman of Our Eyes Open who hosts the Bird Weekly Challenge? Her husband builds birdhouses. She would love to see these, I’d bet. Great post. Congrats on reading and exercising. Awesome habits. 🙂
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Marsha, Thank you for mentioning Lisa. How cool that her husband builds birdhouses. I’ll visit her blog soon. I do what I can to stay healthy. After doing the physical exercises and moving during the day, it feels good to relax and read 🙂
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It does. We took pickle ball lessons three days this week, then practiced with one of the other couples on Thursday. Today and yesterday afternoon it has been super windy which keeps PB at bay. So we super cleaned house instead. I’ve read A Ghost and his Gold by Robbie Cheadle, a blogging friend from Africa. You would love this book. It’s historical history about a time and place I knew very little about. She did a great job. I’m reading Colleen Chesebro’s Poetry Guidebook on my Kindle right now. 🙂 Have a great week. See you next week. Blessings and stay safe.
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Marsha, Thank you for the book suggestion. I’m enjoying The Survivors, fiction by Jane Harper. Have a wonderful weekend!
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You too, Natalie.
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The birdhouses and sculpture are amazing, Natalie! Intricate, fun and colourful. Goslings are cute and delicate. Yay about the pending outside gatherings. Still increased restrictions until after our Long Weekend. I don’t know what is happening after that. My daughter and I are part of a local Naturalist challenge this weekend. Thank you for sharing a fun and interesting post, as always, Natalie. Enjoy the weekend!
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Erica/ Erika, I was happy to see the goslings. Nature being nature, there is no guarantee I’d see them. I was listening to a radio interview with David Suzuki. He talked about his stay on Quadra Island during the pandemic and the opportunity to observe life unfolds in nature. It’s true. In so many years living in Toronto, this spring was the first time I saw the nesting goose, the broken egg shells and the goslings. The Naturalist challenge sounds very interesting. It’s awesome that you and your daughter are doing it together. I hope you have a lot of fun and a wonderful long weekend!
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This is very poignant, Natalie. Many of us have paid attention in the past, yet the pandemic has truly made us stop even more. The Naturalist challenge was highlighted in the news today. It is part of iNaturalist.ca and then a local challenge for the weekend. You can check on the website and see whether anything local in Toronto area. For us it is under the “CRD Biodiversity Challenge project” My daughter takes beautiful and unusual nature photographs. One of the prizes is a macro lens for her phone, something she is interested in. We signed up separately. xo
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Thank you, Erica/ Erika, for the iNaturalist web site. I started reading their blog. I hope your daughter wins the macro lens prize and you enjoy notable discoveries.
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HI, Natalie – I love the birdhouse sculpture and the bright birdhouses.
Congratulations on your awesome success with your Spring Fun list. You remain very inspirational!
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Thank you, Donna, for your kind words. I’m motivated to have fun and enjoy life so doing things on my fun list is easy.
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What a lovely little herb garden. That’s my next project. I’ll probably make an herb garden bed when Lana gets a little older and we can do it together. What herbs did you plant?
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Growing a small herb garden would be a perfect project to do with Lana. Children at pre-school age love to take care of things and by doing the tasks, they develop many essential skills, plus you two will have so much fun together. I planted sweet basil, chives, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage and thyme.
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Hi Natalie, I love the colourful bird houses. I don’t see anything like that here in Australia. We are yet to plant our winter garden, we’ve been too busy. I still have mint parsley and chillies growing from our summer garden
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Hi Christina, It’s great that your summer garden lasts into your late fall/ early winter. Gardening takes time and efforts. I hope you have time for rest and relaxation. Have a wonderful week!
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The herb garden looks promising, Natalie. And I envy your reading speed. Keep it up😊
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Thank you, Moumita, for your encouragement. The small herb garden and reading give me joy so I’m sure I’ll maintain both. Have a great week!
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It was warm here too, which does make one want to get out and about, doesn’t it? Sounds like you had a great week. Love the industrial birdhouse, as well as the more colorful ones. I hope you are having a great weekend!
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It’s been a good stretch of warm weather here. I think we need some rain now before the grass turns brown. Have a wonderful weekend, Trent!
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I love those birdhouses!!
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I’m glad you love them. Happy weekend!
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I love the birdhouses. How unique and beautiful they are.
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I’m glad you love them. Have a great weekend!
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Those wetlands and birdhouses are so super cool. I would so love to visit there. Very nice. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
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I’m glad you liked the wetlands and birdhouses. Thank you for linking with #weekendcoffeeshare. Have a great week!
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Love the bird houses! Thank you for the tour.
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Thank you, Antoinette, for stopping by. Have a nice weekend!
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I’m so glad the weather has been so beautiful! Send some of that sunshine my way please! I’m also happy you have been enjoying walking and cycling.
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Good weather on its way to you, Astrid. Have a great week!
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Hi Natalie, I typed up a comment and posted but I can’t see it so I’ll try again. If you get two from me feel free to delete one! Now what did I say before? I think I commented how lovely the bird houses are and that I would probably choose No. 2 with the porch because I love to sit in the outdoors and look out on nature and a porch offers that but with some protection from the elements. Lovely to get an update on the goose and see her sweet five little goslings! I must admit I gasped to see two of my favourite flowers in your post – the Cherry Blossom and Tulips – love them both! Hope you have a wonderful week. xo
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Hi Min, Thank you for trying to comment again. I don’t know why but your first comment went to my spam folder. The birdhouse with the porch is so well-designed, isn’t it? The cherry blossoms and tulips were stunning IRL. I felt fortunate to see the goslings with their mother because I happened to be at the right place at the right time. Nature doesn’t wait for us. Thank you for linking with #weekendcoffeeshare. Have a wonderful week!
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You’re doing very well on your spring list Natalie – particularly as a couple of those things are out of your control.
The birdhouse sculpture is stunning – so much attention to detail there.
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Thank you, Deb, for your encouraging comment. I was glad to see and take photos of the Birdhouse sculpture up close because the creek was dry.
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Ooh, I just Love the beautiful, colorful birdhouses! And your photos are so wonderful! Thank you for the coffee, and the FUN!!
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Diana, The painted birdhouses made me smile when I saw them. I hope they brought you a smile, too. Thank you for joining #weekendcoffeeshare.
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That ornate birdhouse is just lovely! I think I forgot weekend coffeeshare again. Will try to do better this weekend #lifethisweek
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I was glad to see and take photos of the Birdhouse sculpture up close when the creek was dry. You’re welcome to join Weekend Coffee Share any and every week.
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Those bright birdhouses are super cute Natalie, and how ornate is the one on stilts?? Your list is going very well!
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Hi Debbie, Those birdhouses made me smile when I saw them. I’ve been enjoying this spring and ticking off things on my fun list in spite of the lockdown. Have a great week!
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I love the birdhouses, and I love the tulips, and I love that you find the time to read as many books as you do. It’s refreshing to read and see what you’ve been up to. Carry on!
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Thank you, Ally, for your encouragement. I’m motivated to have fun and enjoy life so what I have on my fun list is what makes me jump out of bed, get ready and go. No bribery required 🙂
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Salad King sounds right up my alley. We enjoyed a few minutes at a manmade lake with the granddaughters this past weekend. There were tiny ducks and geese and we were all delighted watching them.
Have never been a big bird fan – a big fan of birds, that is. I like Big Bird just fine. But last year, during the pandemic, we had the cutest bright green (my fave color) birds show up. They didn’t return this year so I really think they were sent to brighten our gloomy Covid quarantine and to inspire us to keep going. Now I want a bird house and feeder. What glorious examples of both you photographed and shared.
Good job on the reading. I am stuck reading a book I am enjoying but can’t seem to make headway on.
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How wonderful that you were able to watch the ducks and geese with your granddaughters. If you have a bird feeder, I’m sure you’ll get birds to visit your yard. I’m looking up new books for easy summer reading. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.
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How cute are those birdhouses?! Loving the colours and the creativity. Also love those tulips! Hope you are enjoying the warm weather Natalie! Have a great week ahead
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Thank you, Sanch, for stopping by. Spring has been beautiful and colourful here. Have a great week!
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Hey Natalie! Was just revisiting your post this morning – and realised I probably didn’t leave the comment I meant to last week …. such is the state of my memory these days! (In case this is a duplicate, please forgive!)
Wanted to say that I am so taken by the Anne Roberts sculpture – it is so intricate and sits so beautifully in the surroundings! Did you see any birds enter the house while you were visiting, I wonder.
The other birdhouses are so attractive as well – the birds must really enjoy them!
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Thank you for your comment, Ju-Lyn. There was a bird flying above the Birdhouse sculpture. It’s in the 2nd photo, above the two towers on the left.
The small birds prefer to nest on the trees and plants. I think they feel safer there as they blend in. The bigger birds like to park themselves on the top of the tall poplar trees to get a good view from up high. There are many birds in this wetland area.
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It must be such a lovely reserve for bird spotting!
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Yes, it’s a nice green space close to the lakefront and a good place to spot wildlife, especially birds.
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