Pictorial

Today is our anniversary.... 22 years. For a little getaway Craig and both took the day off work yesterday and drove up to Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids. It was a beautiful day!! 75 and Sunny!! Most of the gardens are not much to look at this early in the season but there is plenty of other things to do there. They have 125 acres of nature trails, wetlands, wildlife preserves... And they had a butterfly exhibit going on this month too. Here are my favorite photos from the day. Enjoy......

Weird Object Friday

I grew up walking past this fellow multiple times a day. This is an antique cast iron wiener dog boot scraper. It was on our front porch for years. I don't think anyone actually scraped their boots on it. He was just there to greet us.
I apologize for how dusty and covered in cobwebs he is. I found him hidden in the corner of my parents garage. I think he needs to a bath and brought back to his glory.

On another note.... did anyone feel the earthquake this morning? It was 5:37 this morning. I sat up in bed and Craig says "What's wrong?". I told him that I thought I felt the bed shaking. But I just dismissed it as waking up and being dizzy or lightheaded. I didn't think it was an earthquake. It was centered in southern Illinois. This is only the second time in my life that I have ever felt one. Maybe it isn't too big of news but it sure is for Michigan.

Wanted

To my family and friends that live close to me.... Does anyone have a small mouth quart glass mason jar that they would be willing to give me or sell to me? It can be clear or colored. I bought one at a flea market for a bird feeder that I am making but unfortunately it broke when we tried to drill a hole in it. When I get another one I've made arrangements for a glass company to drill it for me. Thanks, Jessica

My Daddy's Bluebirds

Since I haven't been successful in attracting any Bluebirds to my yard (yet), I have to go and enjoy my Dad's Bluebirds. If you visit my Through the Viewfinder Blog you may remember that Mr. Bluebird showed up within 24 hours of my Dad putting out his Bluebird house. As envious as I was I am thrilled for my Dad. And I can go over there and enjoy his Bluebirds whenever I want.

I went over there tonight thinking that I might get a few shots of them on their house but I came home with even more than I hoped. I got a few really cute shots. The male is pretty tolerant to a point. He lets me get close enough to photograph him. The female is much more cautious. Not too far from the nest box Dad has placed a feeder that he puts meal worms in. Yesterday he saw the male feeding the female a meal worm. His next plan is to place a bird bath near them.
Here's one of the few shots I got of the female. I just love em!!!

New bird for me....Eastern Towhee

I was so excited to see this new guy in my yard today. I apologize for the poor quality photos but I just had to post them anyway. I was inside and caught a glimpse of something that looked like a Robin eating under one of the back yard feeders. I grabbed the binoculars for a better look. I have never seen this bird before. I ran to get my bird book. Granted, maybe Eastern Towhee's are not uncommon for the seasoned birder but being I am new to this hobby I was thrilled to see him.
He was still there by the time I got my camera and ran outside. He didn't let me get very close before he scurried off.
This is what a really good photo of one looks like. I stole this one off the Internet.

Bird Bath

I set up the birdbath about a week ago and the birds are loving me for it. I love watching the little finches take their delicate drinks. This Robin had just finished taking a bath.
Id like to set up some type of fountain or running water. Supposedly that will attract even more birds.

Good Morning!

Mornings are my favorite time of day. I was up before the birds this morning. When I let the dogs out I could hear them singing from the trees but I saw no activity yet. Everyone is still in bed, the television is off, the dogs are quietly snuggled in the chair next to me, and I am relishing in the peace and quiet. I would like to go and sit on the front porch swing but it is only 30 degrees outside. But.... it has stopped raining. I am sitting here watching the hamsters eat breakfast. And blogging of course. Last night we had our annual end of the year snowmobile club banquet at a local restaurant. About 45 club members were there. That's were we celebrate our successful and safe year of snowmobiling, our hard work on the trails and awards are given out. I actually got an award.... "Rookie of the year". It was noted that I, being an inexperienced rider, hung in there and did a full year of riding with the club and that they appreciated my efforts and participation. Wow, they noticed!! If you can't beat em, join em. One of the nice things about our club is that we continue to have club activities all year long, not just when snow is on the ground. In the summer we have club bonfires and cookouts, hayrides, etc. It's a great group of people, very family oriented.

Time to start waking people up and get ready for church. Have a great Sunday.

Track Meet and Bird Feeders

Jordan had a track meet today at Watervliet. It was an all day invitational from 8 to 4 (she is still there). Don't let this photo fool you. I wish this is what the weather was like today. It's a photo from last year. Instead it is 39 degrees, windy and raining steadily all day. Needless to say I didn't even bother taking the camera with me today. Jordan's events were at 1:00 and 2:00. I was bundled up in many layers, coats, hat, gloves, a blanket wrapped around me, towels for the bleacher seats, umbrella and still I was miserable. Craig and I braved the first event but then we left before her second event. I was quite disappointed that they didn't cancel the meet. I really don't think those kids needed to be out in this all day and there were hardly any spectators. What fun is that for them. There is another invitational at Hartford next Saturday. The weather has got to be better. We didn't even stay long enough to see where Jordan placed.

On a better note.... I've been on a mission the last few days. When Jordan and I were in South Haven last week one of the gift shops had the most unique beautiful bird feeder. It was hand made of mostly glass. I stood there drooling over it for a few minutes knowing that I couldn't buy it with the $75 price tag that was on it. Then I thought "I bet I could make that myself, with Craig's help of course". Craig just loves it when I come up with these crazy ideas (don't you honey). Anyway, I tried to get a really good mental image of it (I didn't think the store owner would appreciate me taking a photo of it). "No problem" I told myself, "We can do it".

So for the last few days I've been hitting the antique shops and flea markets in search of the pieces that I need. I now have all the pieces and I am pretty proud of myself for being resourceful and finding things at a good bargain. Now there is only one step left before it can be assembled but it's the hardest step. We need to drill holes into the glass pieces. Craig isn't thrilled about drilling in glass for fear that he will break it. But he did pick up a glass cutting drill bit at the hardware store today. We will test it on some old glass to see if it will work. If not I may have to take the pieces to a glass and mirror shop for the holes to be drilled.

Hopefully early next week I will be able to show you my masterpiece that I am proud to say only cost me about $15 instead of $75!!

But here's something I can show you. My newest woodpecker feeder. This was so easy. I went out the wood pile and picked out a log and Craig drilled 6 holes in it that I stuffed with suet. I know the woodpeckers will love it. I am pleasantly surprised at all the woodpeckers I see on a daily basis in my trees and on my feeders. Mostly I have Downy Woodpeckers but Red Bellies also visit. I'll be out hanging this up as soon as the rain stops.

Weird Object Friday

Happy Friday!!! Check out this broom. It's made from a real branch/log. It's got this really neat knot in the middle of it.
And some artist carved this old man face in it. Of course it's never been used to sweep the floor. It hangs on the wall in my parents house.

Have a great day everyone. I'll be checking out your W.O.F.'s later.

Jordan's baby bird

Being I have turned into such a bird nut lately I thought I would share this story with you. These photos and this event was 7 years ago in July of 2001. The house we lived in at the time had a little covered front porch on it. Next to the front door was a wall lamp. It was not uncommon for us to have a bird build a nest every year on top of the lamp. Back in those days I am ashamed to admit that it was more of a nuisance than a welcome but we went along with it and allowed the birds to raise their families there. The kids were much more thrilled with it than I was. I wish I could remember more of the details but for some reason one year all the babies and the mother disappeared leaving this one baby all alone. And somehow it adopted Jordan as it's substitute mother. She really did raise this baby bird!! And the bird just loved Jordan. It would just cling to her and hop all over her. Jordan fed this bird and watched it grow big and healthy.
Jordan even taught it to fly. She would take it out to the yard and gently toss it in the air, each time it would go a little farther and get a little stronger. Eventually it would fly half way down the street but it kept coming back to Jordan. It wasn't long until it flew completely away and never came back. Jordan was in tears when it didn't return but the whole experience was really rewarding for her. I'm not even sure what type of bird it was, maybe a finch or a sparrow?

South Haven

Jordan and I drove up to South Haven this afternoon. It was cool and cloudy but not too bad of a day. They have the cutest little gift shops that we love to look around in. We walked along the river that runs into Lake Michigan. Not many boats are in the harbor yet. This was the only purchase that we made. Chocolate covered strawberries!!!
They were so good we decided that we are going to make them ourselves when strawberries are in season.

Into the Wild

I snapped these photos at my parents house yesterday. I love pussy willows. Mom sent home a bouquet with me.
I had the day off work today. It was wonderful. Since we played outside all weekend I took advantage of having the day off and caught up on all the stuff I neglected over the weekend. Now I feel prepared to start the work week tomorrow.

I just put in a movie..."Into the Wild". I read this book a few years ago and loved it. I found out that they made it into a movie so I went and rented it. The movies are never as good as the books but we'll see. I love wilderness adventure books, especially about Alaska. "Into the Wild" is a little different as it is more about a disturbed young man who for unknown reasons throws it all away and walks into the wilderness of Alaska totally unprepared and ultimately causes his own death.

I'd love to go on an Alaskan adventure but I want an airplane to drop me off at a cosy little log cabin already stocked with food and firewood and then I want them to come back and pick me up before anything bad happens to me.....

Surprise

Head on over to my Viewfinder blog if you want to see the pleasant surprise that I had when I visited my parents today. Click here.

Mommy and the Girls

It's been a gorgeous weekend! We have spent two solid days outdoors doing yard work and loving every minute of it.
Now all we need is rain to green everything up.

I think Seadra and Zoe are the happiest to be outside.

Zoe's pout. She's soooo cute.

My girls.

Seadra's happy roll.

Weird Object Friday

Update: Well, I think Ben was the closest. It does have animals in it and it does float. It's Noah's Ark.
I love the ark. Can you see the worm lines and insect tracts in the wood? Many grand kids have played with this through the years.

OK, let the guessing begin. What is it? I will give you a few clues.
It is handmade. The bottom is solid wood and the top is a hollow log. My parents bought it at an art show. I'll update later this afternoon with the answer...... My hubby just walked into the room and immediately guessed what it was... maybe it's easier than I thought.

My mother's green thumb

I ran over to my parents this evening to take photos of some W.O.F. items (weird object Friday). I was having trouble finding items around my own house and Mom and Dad have some incredible things that I can't wait to show you. I took pictures of stuff for about the next 6 Friday's. Anyway while I was there I noticed Mom's amaryllis. Isn't it beautiful?!! My mother can grow anything. You'll be seeing a lot of her gardens on my blog this summer. Her and Dad both work hard on their gardens and love every minute of it. I love to garden too but my gardens pale in comparison. One of my favorite things to do in the spring and summer is to take Seadra and Zoe over to my parents in the evening and sit and enjoy the gardens. They share it all too. I always come home with fresh cut flowers and all the fresh veggies I want from the gardens. I don't have a veggie garden (I hope to someday) but last year I found some okra plants at the nursery. I bought them and gave them to Mom and Dad who planted them and grew okra for me. It just doesn't get any better, they are so good to me!!

Here's a close up of the amaryllis. Tune in tomorrow for W.O.F. I'm going to play a guessing game with mine.

The sun is shinning

I don't have to be to work until noon today. I wish it could be that way everyday. I ran some errands, took Jordan to an appointment, put dinner in the crock pot, did some laundry, fed my birds and snapped a few photos.
The sun is shinning and it's suppose to get up to 49 today... I'll take it. Have a great Wednesday!

April 1st 2007 or 2008

I would like to say that this photo was taken of Zoe and myself today but it was taken exactly one year ago today, April 1st 2007. I remember it well. It was a beautiful day, the lawn was already a lush green, buds were sprouting on the trees, flowers were getting ready to bloom.... What a difference from this year. We are so behind compared to last year. The lawn hardly even has a green blade in it. And it is still so cold and drab outside. Where is spring??? And the 7 day forecast isn't anything to brag about. I guess I'm getting impatient. Remind me of this when it's August and I'm complaining of the 10 straight days of 90 degrees.

I hope your lawn is a lush green and that your flowers are blooming!