A Bluebird Day

 Dear Friends,

Today I heard a lovely trilling in the trees in the neighborhood. Since I didn't have my glasses on, I enlisted my "eyes" (children) to help see what was making the sound. Before long, we discovered the source of the mysterious song: Eastern Bluebirds!

We were able to zoom in on them and get a few nice photos before they moved on. There were two males and two females, presumably pairs. These are the best of all we took~

In Idaho, where we're from, bluebirds can be hard to get a look at, usually up in the hills. We'll have to put up a nesting box or two!

In other news, Frankie helped me make a homemade seasoning salt to use at the table. We included sea salt, black pepper, granulated garlic, herbs de Provence, ground sesame and sunflower seeds, and powdered shiso from last year's garden. Easy and thrifty!

We have been growing wheatgrass to juice and share with our cat. My children love to chew on it like gum, as well! Wheatgrass has been much more reliable for me that microgreens, which seem to suffer from lack of natural sunlight in the house.

What thrifty things have you been up to?

Love,

Marqueta

Master Franklin Has a Birthday

 Dear Friends,

Oh my, can Frankie really be seven already? He loves African animals lately, so we made him a rhino cake with bananas for horns (so creative, I know). The ice cream topping melted quickly, so the photo doesn't look its best, but at least Frankie liked it!

Frankie wanted to go to the zoo to see the African animals, but we went to a nature center instead, since it was supposed to rain. The day after his birthday was nice and sunny, however, so he finally got to go see everything in its animal glory. I think that a person could do worse than be in love with animals!

Here are a few photos from his special day, for you to enjoy:~

 

Seven Times One

Jean Ingelow

THERE’S no dew left on the daisies and clover,
There’s no rain left in heaven.
I ’ve said my “seven times” over and over,—
Seven times one are seven.
I am old,—so old I can write a letter;
My birthday lessons are done.
The lambs play always,—they know no better;
They are only one times one.
O Moon! in the night I have seen you sailing
And shining so round and low.
You were bright—ah, bright—but your light is failing;
You are nothing now but a bow.
You Moon! have you done something wrong in heaven,
That God has hidden your face?
I hope, if you have, you will soon be forgiven,
And shine again in your place.
O velvet Bee! you ’re a dusty fellow,—
You ’ve powdered your legs with gold.
O brave marsh Mary-buds, rich and yellow,
Give me your money to hold!
O Columbine! open your folded wrapper,
Where two twin turtle-doves dwell!
O Cuckoo-pint! toll me the purple clapper
That hangs in your clear green bell!
And show me your nest with the young ones in it,—
I will not steal them away;
I am old! you may trust me, linnet, linnet!
I am seven times one to-day.

Love, 

Marqueta

When the Snow Turns to Slush

Dear Friends,

When the fun of sledding and snow-sculpting have worn thin (along with the snow on the front lawn), what could be more fun than making up a big batch of Play Dough and setting up a "bakery?"

When the Play Dough is no longer fun, then you find other forms of entertainment.

This house sparrow makes me feel guilty for not having a heated birdbath... maybe someone will get me one for my birthday (hint, hint!).

And lastly, AnnaMarie and Audrey have been entertaining us with creating beautiful music, such as the following video~

I hope you're having a lovely week!

Love,

Marqueta