Tour de Duck

~ A Bus ~ A Boat ~

A Big Pink Duck

In search of cooler temps, we flew off to the eastern shore . . .

And spent a few days in Boston before heading north to Maine.

Come along as the pedicab winds

its way through the streets of Boston . . .

To our destination at the

corner of Beacon and St. Charles . . .

and a favorite spot,

The Boston Public Garden.

The first public botanical garden in America, The Boston Public Garden was designed for meandering with paths through grassy lawns, beautiful blooming beds, and a charming lagoon where one can still ride the Swan Boats.

Created over 100 years ago specifically for The Lagoon, the Swan Boats are still operated by their originators, the Paget family.

The grassy banks along The Lagoon are

the perfect spot to linger on a warm summer day.

The Lagoon is home to many live ducks . . .

And graceful swans.

And the Public Garden is home to

the famous Mallard family of

MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS.

The bronze sculpture by Nancy Schon was created for the Garden in 1987 as a tribute to Robert Mc Closkey and the book that introduced Boston Public Garden to children around the globe.

Robert Mc Closkey published his now famous children's classic in 1941. It was awarded the 1942 Caldecott Medal for Mc Closkey's exceptional charcoal drawings.

Mrs. Mallard proudly leads her

caravan of eight ducklings along the Boston cobblestone.

Jack

Kack

Lack

Mack

Nack

Ouack

Pack

Quack

One of my favorites, MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS, is a classic that I think belongs in every child's library. It offers children a "duck's eye" view of Boston and child-like behaviors to which children easily relate. Click here to read about another famous city park with a wonderful statue in tribute to ALICE IN WONDERLAND.

You can find MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS, here on Amazon.

Robert Mc Closkey published eight books for children.

His work often reflected his island life in Maine.

Three More Favorites:

BLUEBERRIES FOR SAL

ONE MORNING IN MAINE

TIME OF WONDER

Come back soon for a peek at our trip to coastal Maine.

Click the links below to join:

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound

Seasonal Sunday @ The Tablescaper

Blue Monday @ Smiling Sally

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer

Bunny Hop @ Bunny Jean's Decor & More

Wayfaring Wednesday @ Decor to Adore

"Minou, Minou, Minou"

"Minou, Minou, Minou"

Calling all French kitties

and other felines of Blogland.

To celebrate this big boy!

Baby Kitty

@ Confessions of a Plate Addict

is 8 years old today.

Those of us who follow along at Confessions of a Plate Addict know of Debbie's famous staff and her love of all things French. The days of actual pets living here at HFTS were long ago, but we do love a party and wanted to join in the fun.

The Plate Addict Staff is here and ready to party!

So put on your party hat and join the fun.

Our purrrr-fectly paired aristocats are here.

Lilike, the sweet Hungarian mama cat

and her little Duci are eager to join in the fun.

Our hostess today is mademoiselle Gabrielle, le chat.

She is the essence of French country style.

You can read more about Gabrielle and her French friends here.

Gabrielle has brewed cat nip tea

and filled the party bowls with crunchy treats.

This handsome Frenchy is Monsieur Alexandre.

Mademoiselle Angelique, le chat du jardin,

has a fresh bouquet for Baby Kitty.

Bijou has filled her baskets

with Baby Kitty's favorite crunchy, kitty treats.

Sadly this dearest of kitties arrivied en détresse.

In a rush to join the group

~ catastrophe! ~

Her pretty little head crashed to the floor.

How's that for a "blogging blooper", Susan?

Her wobbly head was an accident waiting to happen!

I think she looks like a piece of MacKenzie-Childs,

but actually she's just a copycat

and was a thrifty Goodwill find.

Not that her pedigree makes us

any less sad about this unfortunate accident.

Angelique and Alexandre quickly rushed to her

aide and put the pieces back together again.

Just like Humpty Dumpty!

So the paw-ty could go on as planned!

Tuna cake for the Birthday Boy.

Solid Light Tuna

Only the best for you, Baby Kitty!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY,

BABY KITTY!

It's time for a Kitty Cat Linky Party!

Click here to join

Confessions of a Plate Addict

for the big party.

Also joining

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound

Mad Hatter Tea Party ~ Reprise

Oh my! The date is here, and I'm remiss.

It's time for the Mad Tea @ A Fanciful Twist.

The 2011 Mad Party that I've been planning in my mind's eye is, well, still right there. Life seems to have taken over recently, and there is no new Mad Tea Party to post. The best I can do is a reprise of the Mad Tea Party here @ HFTS last summer. I do hope that's acceptable.

Thank you to our amazingly creative hostess,

Vanessa @ A Fanciful Twist

and a warm welcome to all,

both new party guests and those who attended last year!

Hurry please. 

 We can't be late.

Ah, there it is.

In the clearing near that odd little house,

its roof thatched with fur.

Yes, yes, 

this must be the right place.

The time, the time! 

 We must not be late!

There he is!

It's the Mad Hatter himself,

our infamous host for this curious afternoon tea.

~ The Mad Tea Party!~

Let the fun begin.

Oh, my. It is a rather curious tea party, indeed!

Alice is here.

See there she is

sitting in her big comfy arm-chair.

No doubt she is very tired after

swimming through her pool of tears.

Please do sit down. 

 How about this chair here?

Yes, dear, the one near Tweedledee.

Or is it Tweedledum?

Oh, no matter.

Quick, find yourself a cup.

Better be quick!

I hear the rattle of the tea cups 

of this never ending meal.

Wonderful choice!

Let me pour 

you a cup of tea.

And cake . . .

you must have a slice of this!

It's a delicious cake of curious talking flowers.

A cherry or two 

with a mushroom cap?

Yes, it truly is 

a splendid afternoon!

What's that?

Do you see a grin looking 

down upon the festivities?

Is it? Could it be?

Yes, it must be the Duchess' Cheshire-Cat!

No doubt he'll be disappearing and

popping up all about the party.

I do think he's after 

another one of the mushroom caps.

Oh, the happy days of summer!

"Take some more tea . . . "

There's plenty for everyone.

Do take another 

mushroom cap or two.

What a delightfully 

curious afternoon tea!

"So she sat on, with closed eyes, and

half believed herself in Wonderland . . ."

Time flies!

"Would you tell me, please,

which way I ought to go from here?"

Most certainly you will want to go

~HERE ~

for more Mad Tea Parties

~HERE~

for Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound

~HERE~

for Tea in the Garden @ Bernideen's Tea Time

~HERE~

for Sunday Favorites @ Happy to Design

~HERE~

for Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

~HERE~

for Tuesday Tea for Two @ The Plumed Pen

~HERE~

for Tea Time Tuesday @ Rose Chintz Cottage

If you missed my post on

Alice in Wonderland in Central Park

~ Click here~

Alice, Cheshire-Cat, Mad Hatter, White Rabbit

Needlepoint figures from Petei Designs, stitched in the 1980s

http://www.petei.com/line_list/line_alice.htm

Miniature Tea Set - Paul Cardew Designs