success

When I mentioned I needed a new skill set, someone was listening (always is). Actually my husband is the one with the skills. Our new house guest is doing well. And he's a little escape artist. I had come home yesterday and the cage was empty I thought something had happened to him and that we had another burial in the backyard. I called my husband and he said the bird was in the cage when he left for work. Found out he was able to squeeze through the holes and was hoping around the garage. Paul got him back in the box and added another layer of chicken wire. He seems to really like it under the light. Paul 'spoon' fed him dog food after a few other attempts suggested from a website didn't work. The bird would almost literally inhale it and then shake his head and fling dog food everywhere, it reminded me of feeding a toddler.

On to our highlight this week. Andrew had a pre-school graduation now that he is moved up to the "school agers" class. The teachers asked all the kids their favorite things and his was that he is in the big kids class now (and his least favorite is taking a nap). Here he is with his teachers Ms. Becky (L) and Ms. Katelyn (R). The kids performed a little singing program and were presented with candy lei's and diplomas.

miss you....

My grandma passed away two years ago today. The kids were little. They still talk about her once in awhile. I'm afraid they are forgetting. I wish they remember the things about her I do. I wouldn't say she was an excellent chef, but she was a wonderful cook. Homemade country comfort foods. she was never able to cook for them. I miss her apple crisp. We just picked our first batch of strawberries out of our garden it reminded me of her and my dad. She used to smash them up with sugar and pour it over pie crust for him. I was in a store recently and smelled a lotion that was just like a perfume she wore when I was tiny, like the age my kids are now. It was weird to be transported back so quickly and out of the blue. I have things around the house she bought for them and remember her. I hope she is at peace now, maybe she's watching all the baby birds... Our last one is still sticking it out.

A bird in the hand...should be in the tree

We have another feathered visitor. Funny thing is I was visiting with the neighbor across the street and she was telling me she saw a baby bird on the ground and had gone in to find some gloves and came out and it was gone. I was thinking it was good because we'd end up with it and we're not having a lot of luck nursing them back to health. Not even 20 minutes later our dog went nuts barking in our back yard. Paul went to check what he was barking at and there was a small bird on the ground by a bush. I think he fell out of a nest in the Cottonwood trees. He has feathers rather than down, but I'm not sure he is old enough to fly. He didn't seem to be doing so good. Paul checked his wings when he put him in the box and there is no noticeable damage, but he was breathing hard and fast. I think he is frightened out of his mind. He was just sitting there this morning under the lamp, his breathing looks better. I guess we'll see how he does. I have no idea what kind of bird he is, just soft brown. We also have a little squirrel that's been around for about a week. We've seen them from time to time over the years, but lately this ones been out every morning squeaking up a storm. He sounds like a dog chew toy. I think the dog thinks it's a chew toy that is out of his reach and tauting him. The squirrel likes to sit a few branches up from the porch and squeaks for about ten minutes every morning. I kinda like him.

weekend review

This last weekend was packed. Friday we went to a boyscout camp for a flag retirement ceremony and graduation. Nathan is now a wolf cub rather than a tiger cub. He has loved earning all the badges, pins, and belt loops. The camp wasn't so bad other than it's rained so much there were a ton of bugs - and they loved Nathan.
Dad and Ian showed the scouts how to make a fire without matches.

Saturday Nathan had a birthday party to go to. The local gravel pit had advertised an open house a few weeks ago so I took Andrew. We drive by it so often, it was neat to see it up close. The gave guided van and walking tours. I called Paul and had him come over it was so neat. They also had all the bulldozers and other equipment out so the kids could climb into them and sit and had lunch.

Sunday the kids and I went on a picnic to Wheeler farm again to meet another family I met through blogging. All the baby animals from the last visit are growing up. There were two new goats and I think some pigs that would have been born around our last trip, but they have moved them to new pens and we didn't see them last time. The geese still had some down on their necks rather than feathers, but the rest got big fast.

rainy days and mondays

I mentioned it had been rainy. Well I checked the climate reports and on June 11th we had already had 7 days of rain with seven more predicted. Since I'm writing after the fact I know we have most of those as well. By the 11th, we had also already surpassed the normally month average of .77 inches for June with 1.02. Our poor garden isn't growing...
There is so much run off that even though the gutters aren't clogged, it's coming up over our sidewalk and onto our yard. It moved the garbage can in the background about six feet down the street.

Those of you who know we have a drain in our yard know that it's usually dry.... it's not now. And sadly Friday the noon news reported a college age girl fell into the creek at Murray park trying to get her dog out. She miraculously was able to get out on her own about a half mile down but they didn't find the dog. I opened the paper today to find that last night a seven year old boy fell in near his home and they haven't found him.

Paul was at work Friday, which was one of the worst storms so he had me take the pictures and video.

rain rain go away

I took this picture on the last day the pool was open last year. The kids looked forward to the pool opening all winter. We were in southern Utah over Memorial weekend. It wouldn't have matter, it rain in Salt Lake that weekend as well and hasn't stopped. Don't get me wrong. I love rain - just not everyday for a month. Our poor garden needs sun too, not just water. And our zucchini plants have nearly ten holes in each leaf from being pelted by hail every day the last three days. I've been trying to plan our upcoming trip to Washington and Arizona is sounding better- Arizona never sounds good to me.

Fingerprint Friday

Joining Beki's fingerprint Friday again, to see other fingerprints, click the link above.

Fingerprint Friday
There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of god
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of god
So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints.
Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them?

Hopefully this will make us look at things through fresh eyes throughout the week!

Beki chose an animal this week. I'll follow suit. Sea Horses amaze me. I can't believe they can 'swim' at all, and the men have the babies. How cool is that. I took this picture at our local aquarium. It's a little small compared to the big aquariums, but they all tend to be on the ocean. I'm just glad we have one at all since we're land locked. turns out it's about the right size for the kids attention span.