Waiting for Spring

Some of you may remember from my blogs last year (here and here) that I'm an avid gardener. So, you won't be surprised to hear how much I'm looking forward to spring when I can put my 'green paws' back to work. In fact, some of my early work is already coming to fruition...

For example, my narcissi are starting to sprout...

...and my crocuses are showing some colour.

As for my snowdrops, well, they're already in full bloom.

But, I'm still not content. I somehow need to 'spice-up' my garden a little this year.

I know, why don't I invite some of my feathered friends to come and visit me?

I set to work on 'hatching-up' a plan...

First, I needed to order some 'supplies' from the RSPB (The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds).

Here they all are unpacked. Man, I'd ordered enough to feed a flock of ostriches!

What a spread!

I had sunflower mix, birdcake, coconut treats, suet balls and plenty of different types of feeders to put them all in.

Before assembling it all, time for a snooze!

I eventually woke up and, after a few hours of assembling the stuff...

...voila! My bird feeding station was all set-up and ready to go!

Now, where the heck are all those birds? I waited patiently (for at least 20 seconds), then I had an idea...

...I decided to take matters into my own paws (or mouth).

"Here tweety-tweety-tweety. Come and get it!"

And, it worked!

First, a blue tit arrived...

...it was soon devouring my 'coconut treat'...

... and my suet balls.

Next, a great tit came along.

Then a robin 'on the wing'.

Here's the robin posing nicely.

Pretty soon, there were birds coming from everywhere to sample my delicious bird-buffet.

I was so proud of myself! I think I'm going to enjoy this spring.

Ciao for now - got to go bird-watching.

Second time in Florence

In my last two blogs, I told you all about my trip to Rome with Missus and Dad. Well, on the way back home to Lodi, we stopped-off to spend a few nights in Dad's favourite city - Florence. 

This was my second trip to Florence and we decided to stay in the same hotel as last time. To my pleasant surprise, some of the hotel staff still remembered me from my previous visit! I was given a very warm welcome at the Reception. They treated me like a VIP (Very Important Pooch)!

Here I am with Barbara, a booti-ful lady working at the Reception who definitely remembered me from last time. (I think she was quite smitten by me!). Barbara also has a golden retriever - her name is Roubaix!

Our hotel room overlooked the Arno river. Dad found a great place across the river to let me run off leash during our morning walks. Can you see us?

Let's take a look around the city...

Me and Missus with a view down the Arno.

This time, the bridge in the background is the world-famous 'Ponte Vecchio'. We decided to take a closer look...

...and here we are on the bridge itself.

Me and Dad.

Next, we checked out the area around the Duomo.

The buildings in the background (from left to right) are the Baptistry, the Duomo and the Camponile.

Here we are in front if the 'Pitti Palazzo'.

I occasionally stopped to make some new friends. (I'm the golden at the top of the photo).

Back to the sights...

...We finally made our way into the Piazza della Signoria. Behind us are the huge marble statues of Neptune, David and Hercules.

Just in time to look for a pleasant cafe in the Piazza...

...and to stop for a nice refreshing cuppa!

Enough of the still photos. Let me (and Dad) take you on a walking tour around Florence...

Roma (Without Homer)

Remember in my last post I told you about my recent visit to Rome? Well, Missus took a number of photographs in which Yours Truly wasn't in the picture. Here's a few of them...

The facade of the Pantheon.

Next, some shots from inside the Vatican Museum...

This is the 'Sphere within Sphere' by Arnaldo Pomodoro.

And here's a close-up.

The head from a statue of Caesar Augustus.

Looking up into one of the cupolas within the museum.

An extravagantly painted ceiling.

This elaborate ceiling stretches along the corridor of the Gallery of Maps.

Look at the magnificent detail!

The famous painting: 'School of Athens' by Raphael. Missus loves this work.

A little 'perspective'!

Next, St. Peter's Square...

This is the Square at twilight.

The cloisters surrounding the Square...

... and a view of St. Peter's Basilica from the Square.

On the way to the Basilica is the Bronze Door with one of the Swiss Guards on duty.

Inside St. Peter's Basilica.

The cathedral was massive and very booti-ful.

Next stop...

...the Colosseum by night.

This picture has Capitoline Hill in the distance.

And finally, Piazza Navona.

That's all from Rome, but we stopped-off in another city afterwards. I'll tell you all about my time there later.

For now, Happy Valentine's Day.