Bird Brains

I grew up with a pet peacock. Have I ever told you all that? Her name was PeaChick and we had breakfast together every morning on the front step. She'd knock on the door with her beak and I'd come out with two pieces of toast. One with butter and jelly for me, and one plain for her. Considering I live smack dab in the middle of a city, and grew up across the street, that might be confusing to some of you. You see, I spent all school vacations living in the country with my grandparents. They lived just outside of a town, but with several acres around them, I considered it the country. When my uncle decided to be a veterinarian, my grandparents bought two of several animals, and started a zoo. Well, not really, but you know what can happen when you buy two of something. Soon you have 15 of everything. Mostly birds. Peacocks of course, chickens, ducks, pheasants, turkeys, quail, and one of my favorites, Guinea hens. During the day most of them wandered around the yard eating and um...making a mess. As the sun would set each night my Uncle Kevin (who is now a doctor, not a vet) and I were in charge of getting everyone back where they belonged. Most of them were easily to corral but the peacocks liked to fly into trees and it usually took a hose and some well placed water hits to get them out. But the Guinea Hens, they were just too dumb. They'd run scared and usually in about 20 different directions all at once. Bless them, they're funny looking and not too bright. They're handy to have around though so I guess it was worth the frustration.

I'd kind of forgotten about Guineas until we moved to a small town after we got married. There was a confusion (that group name is so perfect for them) of guineas that fed right next to the main highway. I always loved to see them there. They tend to go where ever they want and I never did figure out where those lived.

Over the last year since I started parking on the other side of the school to pick up the girls, I've been seeing something. I'd catch glimpses of what I thought were guineas and a few days ago they finally proved me right. Let me just say, in a school system with 1500 students and no bus system, there are tons of cars around this area every day. How these bird brains have survived this long, I'll never know. But aren't they cute? Okay, I know some people might not agree, but I think they're adorable. Maybe because we bonded when I was young. I don't know where these live, but I hope I get to see them again:c)

Valentine Love

When I got to Reagan's classroom for the Valentine's party she was bubbling over. She said she needed to show me what Evan had given her. I think we've established here before that he is the sweetest boy in the world.

And this proves it.It's a Love Pup.

Only I knew that she'd been wanting a pillow pet. But when he spotted it one Saturday he wanted to get it for her. The next Saturday he took all his money and a small loan from his mom, and bought it. His mom told me the story with the biggest smile on her face.

When McKinley saw it after school she said, "I want one of those!" When we asked her if it was a Pillow Pet or a boyfriend she wanted, she said, "Either!"

My Valentine and I hardly saw each other thanks to an emergency case that kept him late at the hospital, gymnastics, a soccer game, and a huge project that swamped me. But when we all made it home he'd bought each of his girls a single red rose. Years ago my grandmother said that she never needed a dozen roses, a single one was plenty. I agree one hundred percent. One is plenty.

Two hours after bedtime we were all gathered around the table eating Red Velvet cake with two recipes of ruined Fly Paper Icing. But that's another story for another day.

I hope you all spent your Valentine's day feeling loved:c) And I hope you had better icing than me.

Is It Wrong...

...That I find this so entertaining?I was always glad when they sat up smiling:c)

For The Birds

Shawn brought home a blank canvas a few nights ago. A bird house. For a fundraiser at work they were asking people to decorate bird houses that would then be auctioned off. He knew Reagan would love the challenge. She instantly started planning it. She even gave up going to see a magician to work on it. In under an hour she had it all sketched out. Over the next week she painted it all in. It was all she thought about. All she could talk about. And it turned out pretty good for a little 9 year old artist.

It was hard to see it go. I might have to go to an auction....

Round #2

The snow finally hit after midnight this morning. No ice first this time which is always nice. How sad is that? When I woke up it was still coming down fast and huge. And absolutely beautiful. This snow was different, drier. I know that sounds weird. But it was drier than last weeks. Just as beautiful though. My favorite branch was impressive once again. Look at that thing! So supportive:c) Isn't it pretty? I was yearning for a macro lens. It hurt me not to have one. I was very happy to stay inside and be warm and cozy all day. But since the weather forecasters were pretty sure it was our last big snow we had to spend at least one day out in it. After all, we had three new sleds to use!