One of my favorite places to visit in the summer is a place called "Castle in the Clouds". The 16-room castle was built on 5,294 acres by Thomas Gustave Plant for his second wife. The millionaire shoe manufacturer (1859-1941) also included a stable/garage, a greenhouse, gatehouses, farm buildings, and a golf course. Although he lost his money in a series of bad investments and was forced to sell, the castle was bought and sold several times until it was bought by a private non-profit organization that now features the castle, the carriage house, a gift shop, an art gallery, and cafe open to the public.

Despite the extreme heat temperatures we are currently having, so many of my flowers still continue to bloom. They do need a daily water dosing; I was a bit lax in this area a week or so ago but I am now doing my best to keep all of our outdoor flowers watered, the ones on my back deck as well as the ones planted at the front of our house. I did neglect the ones out front and I can see a huge difference in the number of buds on, for example, the Lilies compared to the number I had last year. And many of the leaves have dried up which is another sign that they need more water.

I love sitting on our deck, watching the birds, feeding the chipmunks, and enjoying the beautiful day. I was sitting out the other day when I suddenly heard all this chattering and crying and squawking! Not sure if it was a couple of chipmunks fighting over the seeds I supply them with, even though it didn't sound like chipmunks, I walked to the railing, looking at the ground for who could be making all that noise. 

There is so much to be said for summertime. Although it isn't my favorite season, I do love seeing all the birds arrive and in a short time there are babies flying around and peeping everywhere, especially in all the nests and nest boxes on our property. I also love the sound of the frogs and peepers.

I heard the call, a single, clear note. And I knew the Orioles had arrived. I got a clementine, which I always have on hand because my Cockatoo loves them, found my orange hanger, and cutting a clementine in half, put it out for the Oriole.