It happened on Wednesday.   The weather forecasters finally got it right. 

My Week In Review

I'm typing this at my desk half covered in Selsun Blue.  For much of my life, I've battled on and off with a common skin fungus called Tinea Versicolor.  The treatment is covering it up with Selsun Blue for 30 minutes and then washing it off.  You need to do that for about 10 days.  So from my waist to my neck, I look like a Smurf right now.  

Not that long ago, I wondered if the birds would ever find my new feeder.  I'm pretty sure they are going to eat me out of house and home now.  I am having to fill it up several times per week.  

Like the commercial says, life comes as you fast.  I'm having to look at my phone to see what has happened since my last post.

My nephew, Daniel, is in the Cub Scouts.  Here he is last weekend, showing me his new tent.

He and his dad (my brother) went camping with the Boy Scouts this weekend.  I can't wait to hear how it went.

Mom and Dad sat outside with Daniel while he played in his new tent.  My brother said the tent cost him $30 at Wal-Mart.

Laura was outside as well. 

And, of course....

I came home and sat on the front porch with Blossom.

Balto prefers to stay inside

Daniel got a new rocket....

..which broke soon after I took that picture.  I do have to say, it was a really cool slingshot until it broke.

I asked Balto if he wanted to go for a walk. This is how he reacted...

We made him go anyway.

Yesterday, we enjoyed the nice weather outside....until a bee kept bothering us so we went back in.

Today I have been planting my winter flowers.

According to my phone, that was my week.  On Wednesdays I teach the Special Needs Awana class at church.  On Sunday mornings, I teach the 4 & 5 year old Sunday School class and during the worship hour, I teach the Special Needs class. 

Today one of my 4 year olds asked me what I was going to dress up as for Halloween.  I told her I was not dressing up this year.  She said, "You have to. You're a kid."  If only she knew!!!  I guess that explains why the class doesn't seem to "fear" me.  They tried to lock me in the bathroom once.  We have a lot of fun in there but, I think it might drive me to drinking soon.  

Dad went out to eat 3 nights in a row this week.  On the one hand, I'm so excited that he felt good enough to go!  On the other hand, it isn't good for his salt restricted diet.  We don't want him to start retaining fluid and have to head back to the hospital again.  He actually drove a car this week for the first time in several months.  Each day is a gift and I'm learning to take it one day at a time and live in gratitude.  

Wordless Monday

Well, not exactly wordless, I just have so many random thoughts going around in my head.  I hope I don't forget to go to the dentist in the morning.  I hope I don't forget to go to my hair appointment after work.  I hope that my poison ivy wash is working because I've been spending a lot of time with Sophie lately.  I can't wait until my cousin's wedding this weekend. I'm supposed to make a dessert for church Sunday.  I can't wait until a weekend where I don't have any plans.  What kind of dog should I get?  So many people I love are going through very difficult times right now. How can I help them?  Is it ever going to stop raining?  Oh my! Father's Day is Sunday and I haven't bought the best dad in the world a present yet.  I need to clean my house.  Did I wash the clothes I want to wear tomorrow?   

Psalm 46:10
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

BE STILL 

BE SPEECHLESS

 

It's On

Let me start this post by saying that I don't have anything against squirrels.  I happen to think that they are really cute.  However, I am in the midst of a small scale war against some of the resident squirrels at my house.  Last year, they broke my favorite bird feeder.  My brother and his family gave me that feeder as a birthday present several years ago.  So, when Scott asked me what I wanted for my birthday last year, I told him a squirrel proof feeder.  Cue the Squirrel Buster II.

This bird feeder turned out to be the perfect solution  until several weeks ago when the squirrels figured out that they could shimmy up the shepherd's crook that it is hanging from and break off the cardinal ring at the bottom.  Thankfully, the makers of the Squirrel Buster II will replace this ring for free.  After receiving my ring in the mail, free of charge, within 2 days of inquiring (awesome!) my feeder was up and running again.  Then, they did it AGAIN.  I went to the closest Wild Birds Unlimited store and told them my plight.  Enter the Squirrel Baffler....

The Baffler is a little "umbrella" that hooks to your shepherd's crook and keeps the squirrels from climbing up the pole.  You have to hook it at least 4' from the ground or they'll just use it to hop on.  Here are a couple more pictures of birds.  If you want to see them closer, just click on the image to make it larger.

This particular feeder is very busy, ESPECIALLY in the morning!  I will post very soon about my next favorite gadget, the Trap It on my hummingbird feeder.  Awesome!

I have been winning the squirrel war for 4 days.  I'll keep you posted.

Blackie, the Suicidal Rufous Sided Towhee?

My dear friend Barbara pointed out to me that Blackie - previously known as "Blackie, the Sucidal Robin"- is really Blackie, the suicidal Rufous Sided Towhee.  I think she is right.  My friends Lorraine & Liz have also agreed that they don't think Blackie is a robin either.

Here's a picture of a Rufous Sided Towhee:

Props to Mr. Dave Dube on Photonet for this beautiful photo.  I'm used to seeing a face like this either peeking in or beating his head into my windows.

Here's a picture of a robin (there are many types):

And here's a picture of a Bernese Mountain Dog:

OK....I added the Berner not only because they are the exact same colors but because they are awesome! 

Sort of Wordless Wednesday - Peeping Tom

Meet Blackie, the suicidal Robin.  He has been attacking my windows for several weeks.  All of the white marks...Blackie did it.  (If you click on the photos...you can see Blackie even better.)

PS.  Blackie is driving Greta crazy!  :-)

Sunday

I know, I'm on a roll with the lazy titles.  Today hasn't been an "easy" day.  Nothing major...just one of "those" days.... 

I thought that I was going to be able to give a good news update on Baby Jay but all of that changed last night.  Jay's parents were able to bring him home from the hospital on Thursday but due to rapid breathing and an accelerated heart beat, he was taken to the emergency room at 11:30 pm and admitted to the Children's Hospital once again.  Please pray for guidance and wisdom for the doctors as they try to diagnose little Jay's problem.  And...please be in prayer for his parents and sisters that they might have peace and comfort during this time.  I'll keep you updated.

Thursday night I was sitting on my back porch watching my birds enjoying their bird feeders when I realized that a deer family was slowly making their way towards my yard.  I ran to get my camera and when I returned I saw the smallest deer I have ever seen in my life!  This fawn could not have been any larger than my brother's dog, Sophie.  Oh....it was just the cutest thing you've ever seen.  I only saw what I assume is "momma" and the little baby.  I tried to get pictures but it heard my camera and ran.

Same story Saturday morning.  I was watching the birds while eating breakfast on the porch when I realized that momma and baby were in the woods again.  I tried to get some pictures but then my dad (who lives next door) started up the tractor and the little family took off. Yet again, the pictures aren't good enough to post.  :-(

However, I do have some happy news to report.  I have been having a terrible time keeping ants out of my hummingbird feeder.  Well, I hadn't been able to keep them out UNTIL I talked to one of the workers at Wild Bird Center and she showed me an extra ant moat that I could buy for my feeder.  So far, it has worked wonders.  No ants! Here's a picture:

Your eyes are not deceiving you...that is a little hummer on the right side of the feeder.  

A few moments ago I looked beside me and saw that Greta is with me.  She is sitting beside a pile of dirty clothes and a plant that has some serious health issues. 

The poor cat grew tired of having the camera in her face so she jumped into my chair. 

I probably shouldn't admit this but the white box in the background held a chocolate round cake that I bought at Dean & Deluca.  It was pretty awesome.

The New Car Post

Monday night I bought a new car.

It was a little dark outside when I took the picture so if you are wondering...it's a black (not blue) Honda CR-V.  We drove the Explorer to the dealership Monday night; praying that we would make it without breaking down.  SLOWLY but surely we made it and this is what I bought.  I love it!  It is so strange having such a smooth ride.  Here's the best part of the story.  Look what I still have:

They only offered us $300 for it so we brought it home.  Slowly.  I think that we are going to try to find a cheap transmission for it and see if Scott can use it on his weekly trips to Lowe's to haul "stuff".

Several weeks ago, I bought several plants and planted them in my planter pot.  That's a tongue twister!  Anyway, I did a great job and they looked so pretty.  Actually, I did a pretty good job and they looked pretty good.  About 2 weeks ago, I went to water my flowers and noticed that they were looking pretty sad.  Then I realized that a bird had rearranged my plants, threw some of them out, and built a nest.  Here's the "pot" looking rather sad:

Here's the nest

I wish you could see what an awesome job "momma" did on this nest.  It is move-in ready.  A couple of days later I went to water my plant and this is what I found:

An egg!  The next day I looked and there were 2 eggs.  The next day 3.  The next day 4.  This went on until I found 7 eggs in the nest!  There was also a broken egg on the ground.  It had been in the nest previously but then I guess momma threw it out.  Today, there are 6 eggs in the nest and one right outside of it.  Let me show you a few of the pictures I took.

And here is the lone casualty (that I know about)

I haven't been able to get a picture of momma bird because every time I look in and see her there she flies out and scares the bejezus out of me.  This is what momma looks like:

Let me give credit to National Geographic for this picture.  I could not possibly take as good of a picture as National Geographic.  National Geographic rocks.  Please don't sue me National Geographic for using your picture.  I just wanted to show my friends a picture of the Carolina Wren living in my planter pot.  :-)  

According to what I have read online, the eggs should hatch in 14 days.  That means that I should be having bird babies some time this weekend.  I just pray that no creatures mess with these little babies.  I can't wait to see them.  However, when they are born, Greta will not be allowed to take anymore trips on the front porch!  

Everything Glorious

I took advantage of the warm and sunny weather yesterday to stake out a bluebird nest that is right outside of my window. 

Here's one of the current residents.  You may have to double-click the photo to actually see the bird.  I sure could use a SLR camera....

My 2nd favorite author (Jane Austen is my favorite) has to be Max Lucado.  I love his writing style AND it is no easy feat to keep the attention of my hyperactive brain.  Last week, I decided to reread one of his books that I read several years ago called "Cure for the Common Life"

I had forgotten just how awesome this book is.  All of my life I have tried so hard to hide my differences from everybody.  I just wanted to be like everyone else.  BUT, God "prepacked" me.  He looked at my entire life, determined my assignment and gave me the tools to do the job.  (I'm semi plagiarizing here.)

So basically, what I think of as being "weirdness", God calls uniqueness and he wants us to use our uniqueness to fulfill his purpose in our lives.  You are very important (me too).  "If you aren't you, we don't get you and the world misses out."  Think about what ways you are unique.

This brings to mind a song by one of my favorite bands, The David Crowder Band.  Here's the chorus to their song "Eveything Glorious":

You make everything glorious,
You make everything glorious,
You make everything glorious,
And I am Yours,
WHAT DOES THAT MAKE ME?