• BrieLynn and Robbie announced their engagement in May which means a June 19, 2010 wedding … we are very happy and excited for them!  Wedding plans are underway but don’t look for too much information ahead of time . . . we all seem to be a little old-fashioned about revealing details preferring to let our guests be surprised and enjoy the celebration.  

• If you get a chance, go to our new website www.one2flush.com.  This new product has kept us very busy!
• I have been gardening every free moment I get.  Spring elbowed in on the first 6 weeks of summer and I am really holding a grudge about that!  Leaves are starting to fall … we were totally gypped.  But the good news is that my amigos, MacKenzie & Karrisa, are coming back in a few weeks to help us do more landscaping.  The wedding reception will be here at the lake so we are frantically working on making it suitable for a 200+ party!  
• My flowers did so much better than our pumpkins and watermelons but they sure are cute, aren’t they?

Happy Fall!

The goldfish in the new pond are thriving.  They practically jump out of the water when I show up to sprinkle their flakes and pellets!  

My newest garden friend is a real crooner!  She sort of stalks me from one part of the garden to another, perching and belting out a happy, jazzy tune.  

I love her company & it’s always nice to be needed!

When they left the kiddie-poo’s alone (should someone call the Mother Nature social workers?), I took a chance and snapped this picture.

These parents are so attentive and nurturing … some humans I know could take a lesson from this wonderful pair!

So far this week alone we have had Rose Breasted Grosbeaks (new to our feeders), Ruby Throated Hummingbirds, Baltimore Orioles, Sandhill Cranes, baby bunnies, swans & their 7 signets, 2 deer and 1 tiny, tiny fawn and a partridge in a pear tree (not really!).  

Anyhow, it’s been an awesome week in my garden and I am thoroughly enjoying it.

I am feeling confident that the chickadee eggs have hatched because both of the parents are busy running out for food.  They don’t seem to mind me checking out their humble abode … they are very sociable to begin with.  This photo was taken Sunday night at dusk … everyone is tucked in for the night at the “corner post” of my garden. Night, night little ones ……..

The chickadees came  back …. in numbers.  One day last week one bird came out of the post, then another and then ANOTHER!  A fourth chickadee appeared on the fence post and that’s then the fight ensued … this hollowed out corner post is hot property!  I have been keeping a low profile around that area of the garden but when I observed the winning pair leaving the post, I poked my camera in (okay, I’m a nosy neighbor!) and was able to get one picture of the 7 or 8 eggs down in there.  You will notice that these birds have to manuver around a nail … they are really quite remarkable.

I will keep you posted . . .

There has been so much going on at our house during the last month that I have not had a minute to myself to collect my thoughts and blog!   Thing 2 called to scold me to get my blog up-to-date, so here I go ….

The major event that took place was the 24th birthday of Thing 1 (MacKenzie) and Thing 2 (BrieLynn) on May 3rd!  

I remember the original birthday all too well … going to my scheduled OB appointment five weeks before my due date, in tears only to have them tell me “it’s time!”.   Okay, how much harder can it be taking care of twins than four Salukis?  Looking back, the hospital social workers no doubt were concerned.  

Upon being discharged from the hospital and arriving home with the girls, I sent everyone who wanted to help me home … my kids, I can take care of them myself!   Next thing out of my mouth … “Should we feed ‘em?”  Truly, I had no idea what to do with them once they arrived home.  

As the story goes, the third night with no sleep I woke Pat with screams from the girls room asking “can’t you see them?”  My sleep deprivation had caused hallucinations of my precious little girls flying around the ceiling with devil horns!  It was then, at 2:00 a.m. that my husband called his mother in Ohio and asked how soon they could be here.   Several hours later, my in-laws arrived, I got some sleep and the rest is history.  

A lot has changed in the past 24 years but one thing has not … when they do visit the first thing I do is “feed ‘em”!

Earth Day is fast approaching, so I started taking a look around to see what we are doing around here to help out Mother Earth.  

• Curbside recycling for glass, metal & plastic.
• Newspapers to Goodwill … they use them for packing fragile items and they give you receipt with a 20% off coupon!
• Kitchen scraps go to the compost pile.
• I keep an empty Puffs box in the laundry room where I can put dryer lint, snipped up dryer sheets & dog hair.  When it is full the contents are scattered in our little orchard area for the birds making their nests.
• Pop & beer cans and/or bottles are returned  … that’s 10 cents each here in Michigan!
• Scrap paper is printed on both sides.
• Plastic bags are taken to the recycle station at WalMart.
• Pay bills online.

Although most of that is pretty “standard” these days … every little bit helps, right?  

Last Christmas I made a dozen or so of what I am calling Raecycle bags out of leftover fabric, nylon webbing & buttons.  Each bag was designed with the recipient in mind … the one pictured above was for my daughter BrieLynn and I think it mimics her colorful personality! MacKenzie’s Raecycle bag was green, white and MSU … she’s a Sparty Big Ten Champion in Field Hockey!

This summer I plan to make a concrete path through my garden with castoff items pressed into the concrete.  So far I have old house numbers, kitchen trivets, dog tags, keys, pretty stones and a bushel basket full of other stuff that I’m fairly certain my husband won’t approve of.

It’s a small step, but every little bit helps, right?

SPEND MORE TIME IN YOUR GARDEN . . .

BE WELL-ROUNDED . . .

ENJOY THE WONDERS OF NATURE . . .

DON’T LET THE SMALL THINGS BUG YOU . . 

KEEP YOUR FAMILY CLOSE . . .

BE SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL!

I love this “Ladybug Advice” . . . it was on a tee-shirt my mother-in-law gave me for Christmas.  

The art is from Anne Bonne . . . it is so wonderfully whimsical, I had to share!

Aren’t those ladybugs just fun to have around?