Thrift Store Finds

One of my favorite things to do is shop thrift stores. Some of my recent finds:

A leather laptop case that fits my mac perfect for $2.99 and in perfect condition!

Valance curtains for the camper. They only needed to be altered slightly and I covered all the windows for $5.00.

3 cute summer purses that look new for between $2 and $3 each.

After years of being washed in the dishwasher all my drinking glasses where looking terrible. I found a 16 piece set at goodwill last week for 12 cents each. Now I have beautiful crystal clear glasses again.

A Columbia wide brim gardening hat for $2. I'd been looking at the same hat at Bass Pro for $25!

A vintage hand embroidered table cloth for $6. Looks like it was custom made for my kitchen table. Similar ones sell for 30 to 50 dollars at the antique stores.

I found this great website for people who enjoy thrift store shopping. It has a thrift store finder and also rates the stores. Happy Thrifting!!

http://www.thethriftshopper.com/

Mushrooms in the lawn

As I was leaving in my car for work this morning I glanced back at the yard. I thought someone had littered the yard with trash. I figured I'd take care of it when I got home.

When I got home this afternoon it had grown. It wasn't trash at all but mushrooms!

This isn't an unusual sight in the spring but it is for the middle of July.

I know a lot of people are complaining about the cool wet summer we are having but I am in heaven! If I could order the weather this would be my summer. I can count on one hand how many days we have run the air conditioner. The windows are opened all day and night and the fresh air is wonderful.

I took my camera outside and laid down in the grass trying to be artistic.

This was my favorite mushroom.

Top view.

And here's the same mushroom to give you an idea how big it was.

45 years ago today.....

...... my parents said "I Do"

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Oh My... In 5 more years you will have been married 50 years!

What I've been up to and some sad news

First the sad news.... All 5 of my baby bluebirds did not make it. I feel terrible. As you may know I have tried for 3 years to attract bluebirds and my first time having them was a complete failure. I wonder if I'll ever have another one. You might remember that the Daddy bluebird disappeared a few days after the babies hatched (I assumed a cat or a hawk got him). Poor Momma bluebird was trying her best to feed all 5 of them on her own and I was trying to help her by giving extra worms. At first I thought things were going pretty good. But as the weeks went on I started to get concerned that they should have fledged and hadn't. But I could still hear the babies (I never peeked in after Daddy disappeared). We were out of town last week and when we left on Thursday I assumed they would be gone when we got home. It had been close to 5 weeks since they hatched and I was wondering why they were still in the nesting box. When we got home Sunday I could still hear one faintly chirping. At this point I figured something was wrong. I waited overnight and the next day I decided to look in the nesting box. All 5 were dead by this point. It was so pathetic! All had died at different stages and the surviving ones had lived on top of the dead and rotting babies until they all died. The only conclusion that I can come up with was that the Momma just couldn't feed all 5 on her own for them to have the proper nourishment they needed. Poor babies must have starved to death. I feel bad for not intervening when Daddy disappeared. Several people told us that we should take the babies out of the box and raise them ourselves but I wanted to give the Momma a chance and besides I didn't know if it was legal to do that. Oh well, I guess that is just nature but I wish it didn't have to be my bluebirds.

On a happier note Craig is making good progress on the Jeep. The engine is completely done and now he's on to the body work. This was the tricky part because Craig is not a body man, engines are his thing. Anyway, he's very happy with how it's turning out. The seats went back in last night. Hopefully in a few weeks it will be ready for the road and the dunes. This has been going on since last winter. I am really missing my Jeep rides this summer.

And even though the Jeep is not done yet we went to Silver Lake last week camping. We took the truck and the dune buggy out in the dunes.

Ty went with us. It was his first trip to Silver Lake and he throughly enjoyed it.

Jordan went too.

My brother from Florida was here visiting last week. It was a really nice visit and we all enjoyed being together.

Seems like yesterday we were teenagers. We are definitely not teenagers anymore.

And lastly my Mother's yard and gardens were in our local garden tour last weekend. Mom and Dad both worked very hard for weeks getting everything ready. It couldn't have been any more beautiful.

I wish you could all take a walk through my Mother's gardens. She is truly an artist. Yesterday was my Mom's birthday.... Happy Birthday to the greatest Mom ever! We spent the day together going out to breakfast and then hitting the antique and thrift stores all day. It was a wonderful day.

I hope all my blogger friends are doing well and hopefully I can make the rounds to all your blogs soon. Summer is keeping me busy.... life is good!

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.