Birds at the Feeders

Oh!  I love my feeders.  We also got a bird bath (finally!) this Spring and I love that too.

Guess who showed up today?

Image from allaboutbirds.org, copyright Bryan Hix

AND...

Image from allaboutbirds.org, copyright Jim Ellis

We've been waiting for these particular customers.

A few weeks ago, we had this guy for the third year in a row:

Image from allaboutbirds.org, copyright Ed Schneider

Yesterday's guest included:

Image from allaboutbirds.org, copyright Guy Lichter

And today, he brought some of his friends and a female too.

I believe we've said good-bye until next Winter to this lovely friend:

Image from allaboutbirds.org, copyright Darin Zeigler

I'm still waiting for these two:

Image from allaboutbirds.org, copyright Ed Schneider

AND...

Image from allaboutbirds.org, copyright Michael Hogan

Brigham has decided to have a "Birding" Birthday party at the local Nature Center.  I can hardly wait!

Sentimental

Right before Christmas this year, we decided it was time for our family to move to a larger house. The time line on that move has extended recently, so rather than getting the house ready to sell right now, I'm just trying to organize to give us more space.

It has had me thinking though, about the things I will miss. Mostly in my yard. It's funny, because a couple of years ago, I was questioning if I really did like to garden. I'm guessing by my response to leaving this yard, that I do.

I love it that my yard is fenced, but that behind that fence is forest. I love it that we are on a corner lot which provides us with a big backyard. I love it that I have spent years working on my flower beds. There are perennials that come up each year, but still lots of space to plant my annual seeds. I love it that Joseph built me a structure in the back yard for viney plants. One of my goals for this coming summer is to nurture that area so it is full of lush growth. I can see it from my kitchen window. I imagine it could bring me a lot of joy each day! I love it that our neighborhood is established with large trees and that they haven't replaced the vintage looking street lights. I love it that Sariah and Elijah planted their very own pine trees in the back yard and can't wait until summer to water them. I love it that even though our success has been limited, we planted our own fruit trees. I love it that Nathan is old enough to play behind the fence and that he runs to tell me that I have to come back there because it's so beautiful. I love it that my kids speed up and down the sidewalk on their bikes and scooters (I gotta make a goal to get them wearing helmets this year). I'm glad I have one more summer in this house. I will make the most of it!

Moon Flowers

These are my favorite flowers of all time. They are vines that grow up to 15 feet long and have these ginormous (Not sure how that is spelled, it's a word of Sariah's. No, I don't know which DVD that came from!) blooms that are 5-6 inches across. They open at night and shine brightly in the moonlight and thus, I believe, the name moon flower. I planted all my seeds late this year and was unsure if I'd actually see the wonderful flowers before the freeze. They are easy to grow and you can buy a package of seeds for about $1.89. Try them out next year!

Yard work

Today we all headed outside to the yard and WORKED!! It was the best we have all gotten along for a few weeks. Go figure. Everyone was pretty much nice to everyone else.

Joseph planted the garden. He takes care of the vegetables and I take care of the flowers.

I have been trying to answer once and for all the question, "Am I a gardener?" Last week as I was digging in my front flower bed, my visiting teachers came by (They both live right in my neighborhood. Yeah!), and one of them said, "That does not look fun at all." I just laughed at the comment. As I kept on thinking about it though, I was thinking to myself that I DO like to shovel dirt. Crazy as it may sound. So, then, under that definition, maybe I am a gardener. I spent 2 more hours today doing just that, shoveling dirt.

I've got plans for all that dirt, too. The two pictures show my available dirt. If you have a favorite flower, speak now or forever hold your peace! I dug out my old seeds. Hopefully, they'll still grow (2003). It's nice to have dirt with no weeds, no plants, because then I get to be creative.

Eight years ago was the prettiest and probably always will be. I didn't plant until the end of June and in Sept and Oct the yard was plum FULL of blooms. I'll see what I can make of it this year!

Oh, I know, I'm a gardener, unless it's HOT!

My Payment

Yesterday morning, Joseph asked if I could cut his hair. Feeling full of energy, I agreed to do it before the Mayor's River Walk. This used to be called the Mayor's Family River Walk, but apparently our current mayor...I digress, ahem.

Anyway, I gave Joseph a pretty nice haircut. Still have a hard time blending lines between cut hair and clipped hair, but I give it my best shot. Sorry, I don't have a picture. Anyway, I usually hint that I'd like some chocolate for a payment for the haircut. He usually tries to get away with just thanking me profusely (jk). But I'm on this crazy diet. The first real "diet" of my life because I've never called it that before, but this plan actually has the word diet in it's name so I can't get away from it. Another tangent. All this to say that I can't have chocolate at the moment, perhaps never again :/ BOO HOO!! So, Joseph, thoughtful as he is, still felt like he should do something for me. Since it couldn't be food stuffs, he brought me home some manure! What a nice guy!

Happy Sunday!

P.S. Composted manure for my flower beds.

Summer Vacation is Coming!! YEAH!! YIKES!!

As usual as summer vacation approaches I feel inadequate to deal with a house full of five 24/7. I found that I do like to stay home in the mornings and afternoons rather than driving this week as our van was being fixed. (It turned out to be advantageous to fix it because the cost was less than the trade-in value). It's nice to just get going on my morning routine rather than breaking it up by driving. I usually come back and I'm distracted by things other than chores and it takes me longer to get through them.

Yesterday I went out and dug up half of one of our front flower garden. We are going to plant some seeds soon. I'm thinking about clearing a small plot for sunflowers. Today I'm going to dig up the flower garden on the right side of the house because most of it is overgrown with things I didn't want there. This is my first year back to gardening in about four years. I either haven't been motivated or have been otherwise incapacitated (babies!!). I'm kind-of excited. I never figured out if I was a gardener before, meaning I'm not sure if it's a hobby for me. It definitely is for my mom and that's why I tried it out. I still have things in my yard that came to me all the way from Utah the first year we lived in our house. Thanks Mom for donating them and thanks Dad for driving them across the country!

So, about the kids. I'm going to get some workbooks today. I'm getting the hard ones this year. Nathan had this type last year that was a bridge from third to fourth grade and it was challenging. I think all the kids will have them this year. I have them signed up for some camps which they are all excited about. Nathan and May and I are also going to practice singing. I've ordered a keyboard. Nathan has to reaudition for choir because he couldn't reach the high notes (G above C2). We're not sure if it was allergies or the beginnings of voice change. I may try to teach the kids a little piano. With the keyboard I also ordered an introductory book that teaches the basics for learning to play hymns. Finally, I have to get their job charts set up. We had a decent system last year. Hopefully, we'll all keep sane this summer. Our wonderful vacation starts August 18.

I'm working on my spirituality lately. I'm praying more often and reading from the scriptures in the hopes of inspiration. I need it!! I do feel very blessed. Just little things, like how beautifully my flowers came up this year without much tending in recent years. Brigham is a gem. He keeps us laughing and smiling. If I could just relax my type A-ness (lol) even more than I have already done and ENJOY life that would be wonderful. Any prayers would be a welcome addition.

Shelley, how do you make a Google homepage? I'd like to do that too. Sounds cool.

Take care everyone,

Cindi