A Mullauer 4th of July

The Mullauer family tradition for the 4th is spending the weekend at the cottage with family and friends.  This has been the tradition for many generations and for many more to come.  Above is Caleb with his girlfriend Christian.  She spent the week with us and it was great getting to know her.  She is a lovely person!  

My niece Lauren... what a cutie!

Caleb and Christian enjoying the waverunner. 

Dana and Roger (Craig's sister and Dad)

Jordan and my niece Bailey playing with a baby turtle

Jordan and Craig

The Peter's family (Craig's sister)

Craig and Kay (his Mother)

Craig's brother Brian

My nephew Dustin

Beautiful Jordan

The neighbors new puppy

Holding her own

Momma Bluebird seems to be holding her own.  Still no sign of Daddy.  

Yesterday I ran out of mealworms and didn't get a chance to go to the wild bird store and buy some more so instead I ran to the bait store right here in town and bought some wax worms.  I was afraid they would be too big but she isn't picky at all and feeds them to the babies as fast as she can.  

Gotta go.... Those baby bluebirds are hungry again!  

The Widow Bluebird

I'm very sad.  My Daddy Bluebird has disappeared.  He has been gone for 2 days now.  I know that if he was alive he would be here taking care of his wife and babies.  So I can only assume the worst.  I'm thinking a cat or a hawk got him.  

I first noticed him missing yesterday evening.  I didn't see him when I fed them, only Momma was there.  I was busy so I didn't give it much thought.  Then this morning, the same thing, only Momma was around again.  That's when I started to get worried.  As soon as I got home from work today I scoured the yard and there is no sign of him, not even a feather. 

I feel bad enough that he is no longer here for me to enjoy but I feel even worse for Momma Bluebird.  She is a devoted Momma and is trying her best to feed those 5 babies on her own.  It just breaks my heart watching her.  Do you think birds can feel abandoned and alone?  She sure looks lonely to me.  Maybe my imagination is getting carried away.    

The only thing I can think of to do is put out more mealworms than usual.  When I put out the worms Momma crams as many as she can at once in her beak and takes them into the house to the babies.  I can hear the babies chirping away.  She does this over and over until the worms are gone.  Then she sits on the feeder and stares in my direction as if she asking and waiting for me to bring her more worms. 

I hope her and the babies do OK.  If it was a hawk that got Daddy Bluebird then I guess that is the cycle of life but if I find out that a cat got my Bluebird then I'm going to be on the war path.   

Yes, we are still alive

It's been nearly two weeks since my last blog post.  In the 3 years that I've had my blog I don't think I've ever gone that long without a posting.  We've just been busy with the usual summer activities and loving it all.  This past weekend we went camping at Bear Cave in Buchanan again, you might remember that we were there 3 weeks ago.  This time Craig's sister and her family went with us.  Above is a photo of Craig cooking his hobo pie over the campfire.  

I like this photo of Craig... My hubby always has to be busy doing something, wether it's working on the latest project in the garage, working in the yard, or just plain fixing something.  It's not very often that I can get him to just kick back.  

Here is our campsite.  You might notice that the sites were on cement slabs and had little cement patios on them.  I liked that!

My brother in law Jon taught us how to make hobo pies.  I made a blueberry one.  It was better than blueberry pancakes.  Now I am convinced that we have to buy some of those pie makers.  

This was the view of the river from our campsite.  Early Friday when I was walking Zoe I spotted a pileated woodpecker on the tree.  I ran for my camera but by the time I got back he was gone.  

We took Zoe with us.  This is mostly what she did.  She is so laid back that it's easy to take her camping.  Seadra spent the weekend with my parents.  Seadra thinks she at the 5 star hotel when she gets to stay with them so I don't feel bad about leaving her.  

As I mentioned before, Craig's sister and her family joined us for the weekend.  They go camping often and the girls were a lot of fun.   

Bailey at the pool.

Jordan and Lauren

Hence the name "Bear Cave" campground there is a cave that you can explore at the campground.  Last time we were there we opted not to go in because of reports that is was really wet in there... and the fact that I was chicken.  

This time everyone wanted to go in including a 5 and 9 year old so I had to be brave.  It really was pretty neat.  I liked it except when the bat came flying towards us!!!!  

This cave was used by Indians and slaves were hidden here by the underground railroad movement.  

It was a nice weekend!  It will be several weeks before we can go camping again.  We are hoping to go a little farther next time... like Silver Lake or even farther north.  

And I'll try not to neglect my blog for so long next time.  Hope you all are enjoying your summer!  

I am obsessed

1. I feed them mealworms 4 times a day (can bluebirds get fat?)

2. I got upset yesterday because Caleb mowed too close to their pole.

3. The ICHTHUS tents had to be put up to dry out this morning and I had the kids set the tents up AWAY from the bluebird area.

4. I've stopped putting bird seed in my platform feeder for fear of attracting house sparrows and starlings (they can harm bluebirds)

5. The bluebirds have now reached my #1 favorite bird spot taken from the orioles.  

6. I get sad thinking about the babies fledging and the family moving along.  

TGIF

It's been a stressful week and was I ever happy to see Friday!  Craig and the kids are in Kentucky at ICHTHUS (a Christian music festival) so as soon as I got home from work Seadra, Zoe and I went my parents.  Visiting over there is the best stress releiver!  Tonight was picking strawberries and making strawberry shortcake.  It doesn't get any better.

Yummy Yummy!

Mom and Dad enjoying the fruits of their labors..... literally.  

Lu-Lu and Bageera resting.  

Zoe enjoying Pa-Pa's kiddy pool that he keeps full just for the grand-dogs.

Seadra and Zoe absolutely LOVE the golf cart.  

Pa-Pa even lets Seadra drive. 

My Dad's chickens. 

And here is the bluebird photo of the day.  It's amazing how close they are letting me get to them.  They know I am the mealworm lady and they love me for it. 

Loving My Bluebirds

Above anything else this summer it was my greatest hope to have a pair of bluebirds take up residence in my back yard.  I'm happy to report that my wonderful bluebird are well and active and what joy they are bringing me!  They wake me up each morning singing and chatting to each other.  They are getting quite used to me and are loving the meal worms I provide them with about 4 times a day.  I peeked in the nest a few days ago and was thrilled to see one egg.  Today I peeked again and there were 5 eggs!  I read that they lay 3 to 5 eggs so I'm guessing they are at their limit.  They will be busy busy parents trying to feed that many mouths.  

Daddy seems to be a little less afraid of me.  Momma is a little more cautious.  I watched Daddy fly down from a branch and grab a mealworm and fly back up to feed Momma who was patiently waiting.  They are the sweetest things to watch.    

I'm taking every step I can think of to protect and keep danger away from my precious bluebirds.  I've even stopped putting bird seed in the platform feeder to keep the starlings and house sparrows away.  It seems to be working.  I'm sure you'll see more about my bluebirds as time goes by.  

And just so you don't think my life is totally consumed with bluebirds.... Here's a photo of my Mom and her neighbor.  They were selling some of Mom's plants at the farmers market last weekend.  I drove up to South Haven to see them Saturday morning.  Mom enjoyed the day and loved talking to everyone.  And I'll take any excuse to go to the farmers market.   

Bluebird Update

Well, it's official!  I now have my very own bluebirds!  Can you tell how happy I am?  I've been waiting for 2 years.  I woke up to the most beautiful music in the back yard.  The male was singing his heart out.  By the time I left for work I caught a glimpse of the female too.  When I got home this afternoon I didn't see them anywhere.  The suspense was killing me so I peeked in the house.  A big grass nest was already being built.  Soon after both Momma and Daddy bluebird were back and taking nesting material into the house.  

On my way home from work I stopped at the wild bird store and bought some meal worms for them.  By this evening they had already found the worms and were loving em.  My Dad has his bluebirds trained to know when mealworms are being served by ringing a bell when he feeds them.  Maybe I can do the same thing.  They are going to be so spoiled living in my yard and I'm going to love spoiling them!   

My very own bluebird

This is not the quality bird photo that I usually post on my blog and even though it is suboptimal I am posting it anyway.  This is a genuine for REAL bluebird that has been in my back yard for the last 2 days!!!  I first saw him yesterday hanging around and scoping out the back yard.  He flew over to the bluebird house but at that time I didn't notice him going in it.  After about an hour he disappeared.  Tonight about 9PM I went outside and there he was again on top of the bluebird house.  This time he was going in and out several times.  And he kept singing his little heart out... I'm hoping he was calling his wife to come check out the new house he found for them.  This was the only photo I got of him yesterday but I'm hoping to get many more... if he stays.  Wow... I've been trying to get bluebirds to come around for over 2 years!  Let's hope they take up residence!  

The last 3 bluebird photos are my Dad's bluebirds from last year.  Wait till Dad hears my good news!  

P.S.  This is the next morning and the bluebirds woke me up just singing and singing and singing in the back yard.  My heart is happy!  

Camping

We took our camper trailer for a trial run this past weekend.  We learned the camper inside and out and couldn't be happier with it.  It's just the perfect little camper for us.  We are looking forward to our little travels and camping this summer.  I've spent the last 2 weeks stocking the camper so when we decide to go somewhere all we basically have to do is grab our clothes and throw some food in the camper.  What a difference from tent camping!  

We stayed at a place in Buchanan Michigan called Bear Cave Resort.  I snapped this photo of a waterfall for you Betsy.  Of course I thought of you when I saw it.  It was only about 20 feet tall but still very beautiful.  

The resort/campground is right on the St. Joe River.  Some of the sites are right on the river bank.  

This goose family was enjoying the river too. 

And last night was another beautiful dance recital for Jordan.  I can't believe that next year will be her last year already.