Friday Smiles 374: In my garden and my first ICADs

I still have a ton of photos from the Eisenhower Museum (like over 350), but I wanted to share these images from my yard instead this week.  I'm finding it hard to smile in the wake of what is happening in our world right now, so I hope you will enjoy these photos of my yard and garden.  After all, it is Friday, which means it's time to join Annie (at A Stitch in Time) and the wonderful ladies at Friday Smiles. 

After the first time I mowed, I didn't have the mulcher part hooked up right.  I think it made these robins quite happy, though.

They practiced social distancing.

Once again, I forgot to bring my chiminea to the patio.

I cleaned up the back area where I keep my recycling containers and my excess wood.  I see my bird feeder needs food, too.

A lady bug was enjoying spending time on a piece of green wheat.

Fast forward three days, when my blisters weren't quite as raw, I mowed again, this time making certain the mulcher was hooked up.  This is when I saw this bird.

From checking the internet, this looks like an adult male Common Grackle.  The female has less blue on it. 

I had thrown some old bread out on the back lawn and the grackle had already grabbed a big hunk.  Per the internet, it makes sense, because they supposedly eat anything, including garbage.

Here, a young robin

decided to get in on the fun, but it wouldn't hold still for me to get a good photo of it.

Ahh, better.

I'll let you take my photo!

That was until this guy showed up and scared the robin away.

He had obviously called his friends because there were five of them in the yard, but all I managed to get in the shot were two.

It wasn't long until this bread was almost gone.

One final photo of the back yard before I put the mower away and went inside to shower.  Note how large my Roma tomato plant has gotten.

Imagine my surprise the next morning when I went out to check my mail and found the first rose of summer.

Believe it or not, it's called Queen Elizabeth and that's why I bought it many years ago.

Several people couldn't understand why I have such displeasure of that fence.  It cuts off my view of the neighborhood.  My neighborhood doesn't have high wooden fences in the front yard like this one.

About the only thing I can see is this lovely flower in my front flower bed

when I sit on my front porch.

Now I want to share my ICADs (Index Card A Day). This was a short week, so I will show my first one again, along with my next four.

And so it begins

Can I have your word on that?

Many travelers stop

The same but not equal

Today is sponsored by the letter R.

Tammy's 10th annual ICAD badge.

Please let me know if you like any of these.  Thanks so much for joining Bleubeard and me this Friday.  If you know someone who is a blogger and is sharing their ICADs, please let me know and I will visit them.  I have no way of seeing them on other social media sites. 

Let's also head over to Annie's because she knows how to put a smile on faces.  And whatever you do, please don't forget to start your weekend off right with a few Friday Smiles of your own.  And remember, if you would like to play along, Annie will welcome you just as she did me many years ago.