My kind of Monday

If I could order a Monday, this would be it. It's sunny and a cool 75 degrees with a light breeze. It's heavenly outside. And I have the day off today which makes it all that much more wonderful! I went to the laundry mat this morning and washed all our sleeping bags in preparation of our planned camping trip to Silver Lake in two weeks. It is the perfect day to hang them out to dry.
Have any of you ever heard of Candy Corn Vine? It's also known as Firecracker Vine. You can click here to read more about it. I discovered this plant a few years ago at a local nursery and bought it for my Mom. It quickly became one of our favorite summer annuals. It's such a fun and beautiful plant. It grows quickly and will climb up any pole or trellis. It looks full and healthy all summer long. If you haven't tried this plant before and you are fortunate enough to find it give it a try. You'll love it. My Day Lilies are in full bloom. Someone told me that if you cut off the old bloom stalks that they sometimes do a second blooming. I'm going to try that when they are done blooming.

This silly tree face has been in the garage for several years. I finally stuck it up on a pine tree in the front yard. I didn't tell anyone that I put it up. We'll see how long it takes for anyone to notice it.

Hope you are enjoying your Monday as much as I am!

I have nothing to wear...

Saturday morning I announced "I'm going to go into town to go clothes shopping". You might not think that is such an unusual announcement for a woman but it is for me. I am not the majority because I simply hate to clothes shop. What is wrong with me??

I guess there are a number of reasons.... Like the typical Mom that I am, I am always spending money on the kids and putting myself last. I find it easier to indulge the kids than myself. But the main reason is that I can never find anything that fits comfortably, looks nice, or is in my price range. I am my own worst critic when it comes to clothes.

I might be naked if it wasn't for my Mom. She takes pity on me and will occasionally go out and buy me a new outfit and it isn't unusual for her to stop by with a new shirt she's picked up for me.

Anyway, Jordan heard my announcement and jumped at the opportunity to go into town to clothes shop. Unlike me, Jordan is a clothes horse. So off we went.

We went to TJ Maxx, one of our favorite stores. They have nice quality clothes at discount prices but you have to really dig around to find stuff. Jordan quickly found 2 swim suits that she liked. I must have tried on 50 pieces of clothing but in the end I did come out with one new summer outfit (shorts and top). That's pretty good for me. But a miracle happened. I found a bathing suit too. It actually fit and I actually liked it. I have not bought a new swim suit in 6 or 8 years!! As much as I dislike clothes shopping, I despise shopping for a swim suit.

My goal is to buy myself one new outfit for the next few weeks to try and freshen my wardrobe. We'll see how I manage to keep up that goal.

Rainbow at the cottage

A rainstorm blew through last night at the cottage followed by this beautiful rainbow.
I don't think these fishermen even knew it was there.

Good Bye Baby Robins & HELP!!!!!

OK, this is the 4th time I've had to re-do this post... Breath in, breath out..... Computers, aghhhh!Craig woke me up at 7:00 this morning to tell me that the Baby Robins were flying the coop and if I wanted to say good bye to them I had better get up. Jordan took this photo yesterday of Momma feeding the babies.
When I opened the back door one of the two remaining flew off the nest into the driveway. He was hopping around and the Momma was frantically trying to lead him to safety. I decided to retreat so I didn't add more trauma to the situation. I sure hope these babies are OK the next few critical days. I read somewhere that 80% of baby birds do not live to their first year. I was shocked to read that, I would have thought that it was 50%.
This was the remaining lone baby bird. He soon flew the coop too.

When I was busy watching the birds Seadra found something on the side of the garage and was barking frantically. Had she found one of the babies? Then I remembered that Craig set the live trap. She was probably barking at one of the neighbors wild cats or a raccoon. I was wrong......
HELP!!!!! HELP!!!!!

I called my Dad. I told him to hurry over that we had a real emergency. All he did was laugh at me.

Backyard Friends

These are my Tufted Titmouse friends. I don't see them very often. I think they are here everyday but they are so small and inconspicuous that I don't notice them unless I sit down and really look for them.
They are so sweet.

And this guy is enjoying a peanut. I try to feed them to the birds but I think the squirrels get more than the birds do.
And here's my baby Red-Bellied Woodpecker. I posted about him before. I still see his parents around with him occasionally but mostly he is making more and more appearances by himself. He is in love with oranges!! When I am outside early in the morning "doing the birds" he is usually on a tree waiting for his orange. I have named him "Puppy"... I don't know why. Maybe because he's just as adorable as any puppy I've ever seen.

Choosing to accept

I worked at the Niles hospital this morning. It's quite a drive for me; takes me about 45 minutes to get there. I can complain about the drive and make myself miserable or I can choose to enjoy those precious minutes as a gift. Today I chose to accept the gift. I was only into my drive about 10 minutes when I got behind a school bus. The bus driver turned on his flashing lights so I had to stop. At first I didn't see any children around.

Way up on a hill was a farm house with a long drive. Running as fast as he could down the drive was a little boy. And right on his heals was his dog. It was a small brown and white dog. It was like a scene out of a movie but this was real life. The little dog stayed right with him until he was about 20 feet from the bus. Then the dog stopped in the middle of the drive and sat down. He watched that little boy get on the bus and didn't move until the bus was well on it's way. Then the dog meandered back toward the house. I could also see his mother standing up by the house watching to make sure he got on the bus OK. I wondered if she was enjoying the scene as much as I was. Probably more so since she was his mother.

From that point on I noticed what a beautiful blue the sky was and I knew Who to thank.

Father Son Outing

I was in the kitchen cleaning up from dinner and I just happened to look out the window. It isn't unusual that I would see a Red-Bellied eating on the oranges that I put out. But look who he brought with him tonight!! Isn't he adorable. He's such a good Daddy. I wish the photos would have turned out better. Hopefully I'll have other chances to photograph them.

Update on Robins

I took this photo a few days ago. I think they have doubled in size since then.
This is Daddy Robin keeping an eye on me while I am spying on his babies. The Momma Robin does the incubating but both the Momma and Daddy share in the feeding. They are great parents. I've loved watching them tend to the helpless creatures.

Asking for prayers

On Friday I got some very tragic news. One of the doctors that I work for has a 34 year old nephew from Kentucky (Cpt. Eric Terhune) that was killed in Afghanistan last Thursday. He was serving with the Marines. You can click here to see a news clip. The family is interviewed during the news clip including Dr. Terhune. It is heartbreaking. Please pray for this family!

W.O.F.

I've shown these weird (adorable) figurines on Seadra and Zoe's blog before, of which I have been totally neglecting lately. I'm sure all my dogs with blogs friends think I have deserted them. I bought them at a little gift shop a few years ago when we were vacationing at Myrtle Beach. I couldn't resist them.
This photo explains why I couldn't resist them.
They are little boxes. The heads come off to reveal a little surprise inside.

Baby Robins

Margaret posted a photo of her baby Robins which made me want to get a shot of mine. Momma built the nest so close to the ceiling of the porch that we cannot get a look inside the nest.
But we do catch a glimpse of this once in a while.

Dinner Time Photo Shoot

"There is no such thing as eating in peace around here."

"That darn camera always clicking away!" "That's the price we have to pay for being so beautiful."

"I don't mind. It's free jelly!!"
"Momma... Who's that lady with the camera?""Is she the lady that spoils us?"

My Project & Wren Nest

I'm not always the most organized person but I thought I'd show you my project from yesterday. Finally Craig and the kids got my shelf assembled for the shed and I put together all my bird seed and feeding items in an organized manner. It's so nice to open the shed and have my seed off the floor. I buy my seed in bulk, usually #40 bags. And I got the idea from one of my bird magazines to store the seed in one gallon milk jugs. The seed stays fresh, and the gallon jugs are great for filling up the feeders without making a mess. Also storing it in the jugs keeps the critters out (mice and such).
And here I think I've been fooled. I put a bluebird nest up in the back yard some months ago. No bluebirds but wrens have built a nest in it. OK, maybe they aren't bluebirds but I decided to be the nice host and let them take up residence there. The nest has been there for over a month now and not one egg had shown up yet. I check it about every 5 days or so. And it isn't like the wrens have abandoned it. They are still there everyday going in and out all day long. I read somewhere that a wren will build a "dummy" nest as a decoy from the real one. Do you think I've been "dummied"?

Orioles are my favorite

One of my biggest pleasures this spring/summer has been my Orioles. I was so excited to see my first ever Oriole early this spring. I had never seen one before when one day he landed on my hummingbird feeder. I ran out and bought every thing I could think up that would entice him to stay.... an Oriole feeder, oranges and grape jelly. Much to my excitement he stayed and soon brought his wife. Just in the last few days I have seen the Oriole fledglings at the feeders too. They are all here everyday. If I am out in the yard I am guaranteed to see them within 5 minutes.
They LOVE the grape jelly. It is by far their favorite. I keep having to increase how much I put out. First it was a few tablespoons a day now they are hogging up a 1/2 cup each day. I have also seen the Rose Breasted Grosbeaks and the House Finches eating the jelly.
Now I am just hoping that they come back again next year. Please come back. I promise I will keep spoiling you with whatever your heart desires. (click photos to enlarge and check out the jelly on his beak!)

A walk to the river

Jordan and I went to Sarett Nature Center this morning to take a walk. We took the long "river trail".
Raccoon prints on the river edge.

It was a beautiful day. A cool 65 and a light breeze.

There were a lot of little side trails into the swamps and ponds.

My plan was to go "birding" but we saw more critters than birds. But it was still peaceful and relaxing.

W.O.F.

I decided to walk around the yard to see what I could find for W.O.F. I thought you might think this was kind of weird; not the flowers but where I plant them. A few years ago Craig was laying in the hammock in the back yard and was looking at this tree. He suggested that I plant some flowers in the hole. I thought it was a great idea and I've done it every year since. I have to get up on a ladder to plant the flowers but it's worth it. It is quite the conversation piece when people notice it.

It's still early but in a few weeks it will be bursting with colorful flowers.
And here is my weird collection of garden frogs. This one is for you Margaret.
And last here is my snail planter. He's not weird he's adorable.

ICHTHUS Bound

I saw the kids off at 8:00 this morning. They are now ICHTHUS bound. For those of you that do not know what ICHTHUS is it is an annual Christan music festival in Wilmore Kentucky that has been going on for 38 years. It is one of the highlights of the year for Caleb, Jordan, cousin Allen, and the rest of the group. Eight youth and 4 wonderful chaperons are in route today.

It is sort of like a Christan "Woodstock". The festival is held on the grounds of a 100 acre farm where the groups camp out (no electric, no water) for 5 days. Some of the best Christan bands preform at ICHTHUS each year. This years big names include Toby Mac, Casting Crowns, Skillet, Jeremy Camp and David Crowder just to name a few. Over the whole festival there are 100 performances and speakers.
Have fun, be safe, we'll see you when you get home Sunday!