Birds

Enjoying the birds today through the blinds.

Saturday.  I love Saturdays.  Although like all working women, most Saturdays are spent working at home and today was no exception. After cleaning the house and doing laundry, with my husband's help I put up my new stand for my bird feeders. 

I get such pleasure in feeding the birds. It's my relaxation to sit and watch as they come for breakfast and dinner.  We hung another feeder on our window but I haven't seen any birds there yet. I suppose they have to find it and trust that we're not going to come thru the window and snatch them!

Next I'll find the proper feeder and food for the squirrels.  We have a lot of them.  I watched one in the fall make a nest running down the tree to pick up dry leaves, then run back up the tree, place the leaf with precision, then run back down the tree for another.  He did this for who knows how long. I got tired of watching and went inside. He was still running up the tree with his leaves and down the tree again.

After a busy day of chores I think tonight might be a fast food night. Hamburger, maybe pizza, or Chinese food! My latest favorite drink: Sangria with fruit punch, OJ, and pineapple! Cheap but tastes good. I like a sweet wine.

Sitting with my granddaughter anticipating 75 mph winds and tornado warnings.  (No, these are not my photos!) Now I hear thunder.

We have no idea where the cat is. She goes outside a lot.

Tried to get my granddaughter to take a nap but she won't have any of it.  She's a little freaked over the weather.  She doesn't like thunderstorms.

The cat, however, sleeps all the time.  Ahhh, the life of a cat!

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Virginia has some of the most changing, unpredictable weather anywhere!  Today it was nearly 80 degrees! Just last weekend it was snowing, and it's still February. It's getting pretty dark out there and it got really still.  Not a good sign.  Crazy I say.

I'm always amazed at how really hardy God's creation can be. Like the flowers that are blooming around here, still, even after the last snow fall. 

Or the cherry trees blossoming.

And I always love the Dogwood blossoms in the spring.

And I love the sound of the birds in the mornings. It's hard to believe this sometimes, but in Alaska in the winter it was so silent of any bird sounds that I missed it when I would come to Virginia for a visit and return home.  I plan to get a book about birds and find out what kinds of birds I see in the mornings feeding from my bird feeders.  The only ones I can actually recognize is the Northern Cardinal and the Chickadees.  There's one that has a little spike on the top of his head that seems to dominate one of my feeders.  And then there's a Woodpecker that barges in on the others and takes over the feeder. But there are many others that come along for a snack.

I can hardly believe we are almost through February already.  And who would have thought when we were kids (back in the good ol days) that the earth and civilization would even be here in 2012!  Here are some examples of some events in history when I was a child:

U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin tells President Truman that the State Department is infiltrated with communists and communist sympathizers. This initiates a period of witch hunts and blacklists

The Soviet Union begins putting nuclear missiles on submarines.

Television started hitting homes, for those who could afford one.  I can remember the snow and the test pattern on the screen after hours. We didn't have tv for 24 hours a day.

The Soviet Union detonates its first hydrogen bomb with much more power than the atomic bomb.
The Korean War

Schools were segregated--separating whites from blacks.

First human trials of "the pill" oral contraceptive for women.

Rosa Parks, a black woman, was arrested after refusing to give up her bus seat to a white person in Montgomery, Alabama.

The Soviet Union test their first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) that's capable of delivering nuclear warheads in minutes to the U.S. If you could afford one, people built bomb shelters in fear of the Soviets sending one of their missiles to the US. We had bomb drills in schools.

Alaska and Hawaii become the 49th and 50th states in the United States.

Xerox introduced the first commercial photocopier to the market.

The Berlin Wall is constructed to prevent East Berliners from defecting to the West.

John F. Kennedy was president and assassinated.

It's all relative I suppose.  But the "good ol' days"?  I think not.

Finally, it has taken moving into the 21st century that the court's are starting to realize that  Roe v. Wade just might have to be overturned.  The recent ruling in the Alabama Supreme court is major:

Life groups are hailing an opinion by an Alabama Supreme Court justice who argued that it's time to abandon the viability standard used in Roe v. Wade because medical breakthroughs -- backed by case law and legislation -- have shown a fetus is only as viable as the technology monitoring it.

With ultrasounds and the ability to keep a baby alive outside the womb the opinions of the courts are starting to lean in favor of the unborn child.  They are not there completely yet, leaving the decisions to the individual state courts and state law, but we're getting closer.  After millions of unborn babies aborted.  Next we need to get rid of the federally funded abortions and of late, the federally funded birth control.  Which brings me to another point:

It is not about providing contraceptives, it's about our 1st Amendment rights. 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

I am a C
I am a C-H
I am a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N

Jewish Faith

I've always had a passion for the Jewish faith, it's history, it's practice, it's language, etc. I had a very good pastor once that would teach us the scriptures from a Jewish understanding. After all, Jesus was a Jew and spoke to the Jews. So it's important that we gentiles understand the Jewish faith. The scriptures can come alive for you if you read it in the context that the Jews understood it.

I listened to Oprah on OWN recently when she visited Hasidic Jewish women in Brooklyn NY to talk about their way of life. One of the women described what it meant to be Hasidic Jew and it was so profound and what I, as a Christian believe, that I wanted to share it here:

“God created one amazing world and we’re suppose to function within it. But we’re not merely human beings and trying to be spiritual, but we are really spiritual beings having human experiences. We have to be spiritual in a real physical surrounding. We have to choose the high road. We have tools to deal with grief, to deal with love, to deal with inter-personal relationships. We have to educate our children. But Judaism is not other, it is a Godly system that can and must make a difference in this world.”

We've missed it, like something someone says and it goes right over our head! We are spiritual beings having human experiences. Couldn't have said it any better.

John 4:24: "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

Hot dogs for dinner.  Have to have one every once in a while!

Picked up my father's lingerie chest he made for my mother years ago.  They are both passed now and I treasure anything I can get my hands on that belonged to them.  I lived in Alaska for so long and missed a lifetime of memories with them.  I miss them dearly.

I miss my Alaska too, the clean air, the beautiful scenery.  I miss our Sunday afternoon drives when my husband and I would take the dogs (Maggie and Gracie) for a ride. Sometimes we would drive to the inlet in Kenai, and sometimes down the Sterling Highway towards Homer.  You didn't have to go far to experience beautiful scenery.

 But, Virginia has her beauty as well. We just have to drive further to see it. 

Nothing.
I have nothing.
I'm tired.
Sorry if you were expecting something interesting. Maybe tomorrow.  But for now, I'm going to bed!

Happy Valentine's Day

What a marvelous Valentine's Day.  Had dinner with the hubby at Outback Steakhouse.  It was crowded and had to wait for almost 55 minutes for a table!  All my labor intensive work on the candy poppers for the grandkids paid off.  They were excited to pass them out.  Have a couple waiting for my other grandson and daughter.  Very good day.

So I picked up a book at my son's house called "American History A.S.A.P." and started reading.  It's an interesting book in the way it is written: short chapters and brief explanation of the events during certain periods in our nation's history.  It is fascinating to read (or re-read since we've learned it before in our history classes) about the early beginning of our United States of America and the hardships the early explorers and settlers suffered in the "New World".  Makes me appreciate being an American.  My ancestors immigrated from England and my husband's family came over in the 1800's from Germany and Bohemia.  Can't help but wonder some times what my life would be if my ancestors never came to America.  I would be calling the bathroom the "loo" and having Yorkshire pudding, haggis and fish and chips!

I love my fireplace.  I lit the candles last night and I love how the light reflects off the glass doors.

It was perfect for the cold night last night.

How incredibly sad to hear about Whitney Houston.  And she had an 18 year old daughter!  I don't understand what happens to people who have such a beautiful voice, a fabulous career, the ability to make more money than anyone needs, and end up in an early grave.  I read an article that said her last public performance was when she sang "Yes, Jesus Loves Me" on Thursday with singer Kelly Price. It's so sad. 

Freedoms

How much does one think of the freedoms we have in this country?  When I was in school, history to me seemed boring. I could hardly focus enough to get a passing grade.  If I had known then that in the year 2012 (which back then we thought the world would have ended by now!) my liberties would be slowly stripped from me by my own government I would have paid more attention, read more, and became more active in politics instead of being apolitical for so many years.   I grew up with the notion that you never discuss religion and politics!  Did you ever think that just being able to discuss religion and politics IS A RIGHT provided to us by the 1st Amendment to our Constitution?

During the Revolutionary War, there were many men and women, besides the signers of the Declaration of Independence, that suffered hardships and losses during their struggle for independence and the freedoms that we now enjoy.  Following are some examples of what happened to the men who wrote and signed the Declaration of Independence. (This information comes from various sources.)

Five signers were captured by the British during the Revolutionary War.

Twelve had their homes and property occupied, ransacked, looted, and vandalized by the
British.

Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army.

Nine signers died during the course of the
Revolutionary War.

Braxton invested his wealth in shipping and lost his property during the war.

Thomas McKeam was forced to move his family almost constantly.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Ellery, Rutledge, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, and Middleton.

Francis Lewis had his home raided and the British jailed his wife who was ill at the time and died several years later.

John Hart's farm was looted in the course of the Revolutionary War and he remained in hiding for a while afterwards.

Lewis Morris saw his home appropriated by the British. 
Philip Livingston lost several properties to the British occupation of New York.

So let's consider for a minute what these people suffered and died for that we take for granted every day of our lives and the freedoms that we are so willing to let our government take back in spite of those sacrifices. Hopefully we've all read the constitution at least once in our lifetime, but have you read it lately? I did two days ago and it was a wake-up call.  Just these few amendments jumped off the page at me considering current events:

Freedom of religion.  Our 1st Amendment right as a citizen of these United States. To be more precise, this is what the writers of our Constitution intended:  "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...".


Our 4th Amendment right:  Prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures. Our founding fathers wanted "the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures...".


The 10th Amendment limits the powers of the federal government to those delegated to it by the Constitution.  More specifically:  "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

Once you go online, or pick up a book to read the Constitution again and refresh your memory, apply it to current events like Affordable Health Care for America Act (ObamaCare), the Patriot Act (TSA's "pat-downs"), the Enemy Belligerent, Interrogation, Detention, and Prosecution Act of 2010, government bailouts, the Federal Reserve Bank, the EPA, the Federal Government in public education, federally funded abortions, and the list goes on...

Read. Investigate. Recognize your freedoms and liberties every day you wake up and DON'T GIVE THEM UP! Research candidates for the next presidential election, or your local elections. Will your choice preserve, protect and defend the Constitution?  In spite of special interest groups?

Our Constitution has written in it the oath the elected president must take before he enters office: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

I missed a post yesterday. I was too tired after work to sit down and write.  Today I'm going to share another project for my granddaughter's preschool.  They are called Valentine Candy Poppers.  This is not my idea. I found the craft online from another blog. So many good ideas out there.  These are made with empty toilet tissue tubes, Mod Podge, candy, and Valentine wrapping paper and/or tissue paper. 

This is what a finished popper will look like. You'll want to add ribbon and a name tag once the poppers are dry.

Begin by putting "tops" on the roll. Trace two circles on whatever paper you'll use for the tops and bottoms. I used a paper cup to trace the big circle and the actual roll for the other circle.  Cut slits to the inner circle so the paper will fold around the roll better. Mod Podge the tops on, let dry, then fill with candy.

Now you're ready to cover the other end.  Once the ends are covered, let dry then you're ready to Mod Podge paper for the center of the tube.

 I used Valentine's wrapping paper for some and tissue paper for others.

The kids can have fun popping out the ends and finding candy surprises inside.  
Here are the finished Flower Gardens for the teachers. Happy Valentine's Day!

I love Valentine's Day.  I've been working with my grandkids on making special V-Day gifts for their teachers.  I found this craft online while looking for craft ideas. I wish I was this bright!

This is called a flower garden, made with foam sheets, tissue paper, decoupage, wooden Popsicle sticks, buttons, and candy.  If I forgot anything you'll see it in the pictures.

I covered paper cups with Valentine tissue paper using Mod Podge.   I cut squares (doesn't have to be perfect squares) from three tissue paper designs.  An older child could help cut out the flowers and paper.

Mod Podge can get really messy and don't brush the tissue paper too much or it will disintegrate!

I glued two Popsicle sticks to the height I wanted for the cups, then I cut out the flower shapes from foam sheets and let my 3 year old granddaughter choose how to put them together.  This requires a hot glue gun so it takes an adult to help put them together.

Then stick the flowers in the cup, fill with candy,  and you have a flower garden!  And fun with the grandkids.

I intend to add more flowers. With a 3 year old attention span, this is more like a week's project!  But, this shows a finished cup.  My granddaughter had me glue a large button on the top of a wooden stick so I cut the stick to the height of the cup and glued it to the front (cup not shown).  You can also add more candy to the cup.  This cup looks like some little fingers have been sneaking candy!

Today I want to share a couple crafty things I've been doing.  First, for my daughter-in-law's birthday I embroidered my grandchildren's hands (3 yr old and 9 yr old) and a happy birthday wish from them, framed it with lace and the kids presented it to their mom on her birthday on January 30th.

Next, this is a photograph of my bedside "table".  We moved into our small house recently and I saw this idea in a decorating magazine. I found three old suitcases and the picnic basket at an antique store, and the lamp at a thrift store.  I love it. And, the suitcases act as storage as well.

Tomorrow I'll share the foam flower garden my granddaughter and I are making for her preschool teachers for valentine.

Super Bowl Sunday. Chips, dip, soda, pizza....okay, I'm ready.  We've made quite the celebration of super bowl haven't we? Did you see the excitement over groundhog day? Fireworks? Really? for a groundhog?

I'm excited about this election year, only because there might be a chance of ousting Obama.  What I've never understood is why some states have primary elections and some caucuses.  In order to win the Republican nomination Mitt, Newt, Rick, or Ron have to get 1,144 delegates.  Now some states (12 apparently) will hold caucuses and 37 will hold primaries but Missouri will hold both a primary and a caucus.  Why?  And doesn't it seem that you would get less "votes" with a caucus since the people in that state have to go to a specific place at a specific time and publicly make a pitch for your candidate and then make a public vote? Whereas with the primary, just like an election day, you have all day to get to your polling place and make a private, secretive vote. In and out. Bamb. Done. On your way home.

And why do the candidates drop out so early when the early states like Iowa, South Carolina, Florida, etc. only give the candidates a small portion of the delegates they need.  For example, today I heard (after the Nevada caucus) that the delegates so far have been divided like this:

Mitt - 97
Newt - 30
Rick - 16
Ron - 7

That's a long way to 1,144. I'm just saying. 

On to bed sheets. My husband asked me how often I wash our sheets.  I usually do them every two weeks. I prefer to do them weekly but I don't always get to them that often.  But, I began to wonder how often I SHOULD wash them, not wanting to let them go too long to feed all those little critters that you hear about occupying the same space we do in our bed.  So I looked it up.  And I found out that I'm okay with washing my sheets every two weeks.  But it brought my attention to the bed pillows.  Who thinks about the pillows I wonder? I change the pillow cases as often as the sheets, but now I learn that the pillows need to be washed at least twice a year and if you haven't done that, you should throw out the pillows and buy new ones!  Time to buy new pillows I guess!  I love the feel and smell of fresh sheets.  I'd wash mine every other day if I could afford the water, electricity, and cost of worn out sheets! Or better yet, had someone else do them for me, like hotel room service. 

Time for the super bowl.  Go Patriots.

So, today I croched my bird feeder holder.  I can't take credit for coming up with this idea. I actually saw it on another blog and decided to try it.  Here are the photos and instructions.

Begin with some twine, crochet hook, and a bowl. I used a paper bowl but I'll exchange it for a heavier, glass or plastic bowl later.

Next, crochet a circle large enough for the bottom of the bowl to sit, then double crochet for two rows.  As a finish, chain 4, skip next stitch, single crochet on next stitch, chain 4, and repeat all the way around. You want to make sure the bottom circle is small enough so that the bowl doesn't fall through.



Finally, make sure the bowl fits.

To hang: chain enough stitches and attach in four equal spaces to the holder, hang, and wait for the birds to come by and check out your new feeder:

So today I tried creating another interesting way to teach my 3 year old granddaughter her letters.  I started with the 4 beginning letters: A, B, C, and D.  I wrote two letters on an unlined index card then cut the card in half.  So I used two index cards to make 4 letters.  Then I took each letter and laminated in plastic, put a Velcro dot on the back of each letter and the other part of the dot on a large piece of poster board.  We practiced putting the letters in proper order on the poster board. She enjoyed pulling them off the board and putting them back on again.  We would mix them up and she would have to put them back in order and stick them on the board again.  I plan to teach her 4 letters a week.  By the end of 7 weeks she should be able to recognize her letters and put them in order...so we hope.

Since the birds are enjoying my feeders this winter, I plan to hang another one this weekend using a pattern I found on the Internet, crocheted with sisal twine: 

Hello February! We've had some beautiful warm weather this winter so if we're in for another 6 weeks of this I'm okay with that Punxsutawney Phil.

This is a drawing of me....drawn by my 3 year old granddaughter.  She was very serious about her drawing and used me as her model (I was sitting at the table with her).  And no, I'm not that round.  LOL  I think that's pretty good for a three year old!  Her portrait of her dad I think was even better. 

I nanny two of my grandchildren and there are days that I wouldn't trade this job for anything and yes, they out number the days when I could just pull my hair out.  It's hard at times because I'm not as young as I used to be and overdo it often (like playing baseball with my grandson or give my granddaughter piggy-back rides) but when I see my little granddaughter take such joy in "drawing grandma" it's all worth it.  My grandson beat me at the card game Hand and Foot.  I was distracted of course while posing for my portrait so we have a rematch tomorrow.

I have another grandson in town and we get to see him every couple weeks when he does a sleep-over with grandma and grandpa.  We have fun together. We've been close since his birth and it's priceless when he comes bounding thru the door and running to give me a hug. 

There is an old Welsh Proverb that says: "Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild."  Its hard to explain that to someone who is not a grandparent but to me it's like the years of training up your own child in love to have it perfected when you have a grandchild.  My children will be terrific grandparents and it would be awesome to be able to live long enough to see one of them become a grandparent.