Saturday Morning Ramblings...

It is a little bit cloudy and grey over here and this picture shows all that. I picked the flowers from our garden: I love Daisies in all colors and sizes. Just a happy looking flower! 

This week Master C. had all his wisdom teeth removed. That's how they do it here, all four at once. He is still feeling a bit sad for himself, but there isn't much pain involved so I think he will be ok. A good thing since Miss M. will have hers removed in about 10 days time...

Before that happens though we will have spent a few days out at the sea ocean side so we will be nice and relaxed by then. We're renting a tiny cottage and Olive the dog is coming with. Her right hind leg doesn't work to well anymore so not too much walking for her, but a change of scene and air is always good. The birdies (and our neighbors) will be looking after our house in the mean time...

Today though we have been invited to a 'Red Neck' barbecue party. I assume that everybody is familiar with the term Red Neck? It does not involve necks in a reddish color...  <wink>

And then on Wednesday we will be celebrating the 4th of July with some of our neighbors. Our little town organizes a real cute parade with lots of flags, wagons, tractors, horses, kids etc.  Late afternoon we're having another barbecue and then, once it gets dark, the town organizes a big fireworks display in the park. It should be a fun day!

And in between we do 'NOTHING'!  The true holiday mood has arrived!  <wink>


~  ~  ~  Mr. G. and Miss M. just came home with these strawberries: fresh from the fields!

Starting To Exhale...

<Who knew that starting to exhale would make you realize how much inhaling you've been doing!>

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the lovely compliments on my latest sewing creation! Your comments made my day. I do feel however that my sewing has become a bit of an addiction: the highs are high but the lows are low and no time for any breathing room in between... Time for a break I think! 

I've been painting: first Master C.s room and a few days later I once again (the 4th time I think) tackled our dining and kitchen area. That is all now a light grey/ light blue shade, very neutral and light. Photo's will follow later. I'm also thinking about picking up some cross-stitching again, it has been way too long...

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Yesterday I was invited for lunch and a photography session at a friend's house because "The Lilies at the pond are blooming!". And indeed they were...

My friend lives on 20 acres (!) and their land is comprised of Lavender fields, pastures, ponds and a barn. I felt like I was on vacation! Everything was so quiet and peaceful and even the sun peeked out for a little while. Here are some impressions...

Thank you Kim!  {smile}

Most Favorite Dress So Far...

Yes, that is what I think it is! 
I wore it to a most wonderful wedding last night and I just felt so glamorous and so comfortable at the same time: what a perfectly perfect combination!  {smile}

Here is my version of  Simplicity 'Project Runway' #2444:

The fabric came from Joanns' 'Simply Silky' collection. The pattern looked pretty complicated (especially that fancy collar with the knot in the front) but it really wasn't. Also the size that I had cut fit me perfectly and I didn't have to take anything in. The kind of fabric was completely new to me to work with and also that didn't give me any problems. 


Yay! I think I'm going to look for more of that 'Simply Silky' fabric!  <wink>

Fifty, Vijftig, Femtio...

Yes, my lovely husband Mr. G, turned Fifty yesterday! 

To celebrate we had dinner at 'The Armadillo' in Duvall. A cafe style place where you can eat the best smoked barbecue meat in the area...

Still full the next day...  <wink>

Summer Time...

Summer Time officially starts here in 2 hours and will you just look at that: Nature's promise has come true!

Enjoy!

What A Day!

Yay, Master C. passed his driving test today!  {biggest smile ever!} My sister over at Pike Street made this fun photo for him in Photoshop. (see above)

At the moment that I'm writing this Master C. and Miss M. are in my car on their way to Ultimate Frisbee camp at school: I can barely breathe!  <wink>

When I came home from my last Little Bit day for this session, I found a lovely package in the mail, all the way from The Netherlands. I had won several beautiful postcards from Jane with her blog All The Luck In The World!!!  I was so happy since I never win anything and I really, really liked these cards. Thanks again Jane! {smile again}

Well, the little birdies are driving us crazy with their noise making, but they are all looking very happy and healthy and that is all that counts.

The sun has finally come out this afternoon so I'm going to try and relax some outside after all this excitement. What a day indeed!

Rrrrrrrramblings...

Wow, last Wednesday was the last time I posted. How did that happen? I guess I'm starting to get into that vacation mode , finally.

Let's see, the birdies will be up first. All of the babies have left the nest, but #4 still prefers hanging out in the nest by itself most of the time. Very understandable since it gets very crowded in there with his bigger siblings (and sometimes a parent or two) in there. Now he (or she) can spread its wings when and forever how long he wants to...

Here is a lovely family picture I took yesterday afternoon:

Aren't they cute? The three babies are sitting next to each other and Howard & Penny are on their favorite perch looking out over the yard.

At around that same time I took this picture I discovered a new egg in the nest!!!! (heart palpitations ensued) Once #4 had left the nest for a little flying around I went in to scoop out the egg (we really don't want any more baby birds!) and guess what: I found two more!!! (and a fourth one this morning)

Tiny little eggs with some dirt from the nest... (i.e. poop)

Chees, that was quick! I felt bad having to remove the eggs but this is the only way. The babies are too young to be left by their own devices and Penny still really needs to feed them once in a while, which is something she won't do once she is sitting on the eggs again. Man, who'd have thought looking after some small birds would be keeping me this busy?

Miss M. trying to get Howard & Penny get used to her hand in the cage.
This will hopefully be helpful once we have to catch and separate the sexes...

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In other news: we had another meeting with the college counselor last week to make sure we know what we can expect on deadlines for college applications, writing essays, narrowing down college lists, more tests etc. Pfieuw, not easy this college application process! 

Master C., thank goodness, stays very calm about it all, outwardly at least. He will also have his wisdom teeth removed next week (all four at once!) and that doesn't seem to bother him either. Oh, to have a calm disposition like that! He certainly did not get that from me!  <wink>

We had our end of year admin dinner on Friday which was wonderful and then I had a lovely breakfast with some of my Little Bit volunteer ladies on Saturday and then another dinner at home with my Dutch aunt and uncle last night. Plenty of food (and drink) went down and I'm feeling a little stuffed... 

It is raining outside and there is just not much going on which is just fine on a Monday morning. The kids will be joining the Ultimate Frisbee camp this week in the late afternoon and that is about it.

I will leave you with some pretty pics I took over the last few days. Cheerio!

Little Bird...

Hooray, the first baby bird has left the nest today!

Little baby birdie all fluffed up...

Half of the family out and about in the cage, 
the other half still safe and sound in the nest...

Howard is checking him or her out...

It is still a bit wobbly on the branches but it is gaining confidence by the minute. So, so cute! {smile}

One down, three more to go...

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EXTRA, EXTRA!

Another one has flown the coop! What excitement... <wink>

Momma Penny is in the nest keeping an eye out for the little ones.
The bigger birdie on the left is the latest one to fly the coop...

Picture Perfect Polaroid Pics...

Yesterday...

It was just plain gorgeous! Now that's all over again of course...