I am not your momma

This plant hangs just outside my mom's sliding glass door.

Each day she takes it down and waters it. Last weekend, when I visited mom showed me her little surprises. A couple months ago she was watering around little eggs in a nest and now she waters around the fluffy birds in the nest.

Occasionally, one or all three of the fledglings wake and request food. My mom only delivers water!

Here's the real mom, keeping a close eye on us.

Spoiled

Yup, I am sure that I am spoiled! I have had all of these gift cards for several months and have not had a chance to spend them. What a problem! But all of these stores are at least an hour away. Some of cards are from birthdays, some are thank yous from friends and then two of them are from returns. You return a perfectly good, unused item to the store and they do not give you your money back, but give you a gift card.

This last Friday and Saturday, I went to Portland, with two goals. The first goal was to visit with my aunt who has ALS and the second goal was to shop, preferably at stores where I had gift cards. I must go into stores and just shop until I find something that I can use. Here’s the pile that I accumulated from gift card purchases.

Bob chose the cookbook for a healthy heart. I have new calendar for school, some new music, a pair of sandals, a fiction book, kitchen towels, a tablecloth, lotion, soaps and perfume. My new purse didn’t make the picture, but it is probably my favorite purchase. Only two gift cards left!

Sticky Fingers

Sticky fingers, dirty soles and blue tongues all add up to berry picking. We picked and froze about 20 pounds tonight. We are set for a winter of blueberry pancakes and berry cobbler!

Melon Salsa

Actually, it's Pork Medallions with Melon Salsa & Grilled Limes

I tried out a new recipe tonight and we thought it was delicious. It was the first time I prepared a pork tenderloin and the first time for making melon salsa. Bob grilled the pork tenderloin on the BBQ. The Caribbean sizzle was full of vitamins A and C and low in calories!

Dinner Outdoors

We enjoy sitting outside for meals anytime we can during the spring, summer and fall. It was in the upper 70s or low 80s tonight, shady and perfect for relaxing! I always wish I had my camera with me as a spectacular oriole or finch flies into the area. During the lunch hour we often see seven or more varieties of birds, including flickers.

In the evening we get the bigger animals. One day we had a raccoon come through and then a couple weeks ago we had a deer. That was a new one! Tonight it was just butterflies and baby quail! There were probably 27 or so of the fluffy handfuls. They are very skittery, so this is the best picture I have been able to get of them.

We are still enjoying roses too.

Horizon in the Parade

Horizon Christian School had a couple of entries in Hood River parade today! The preschoolers rode in the back of a truck with their teachers.

Here are some K-12th grade students on the flatbed.

Friday the Fourth

We went to the Hood River Parade today. Candy is a huge attraction for the kids! The experienced ones all come with a bag ready to fill.

We saw many friends in and about. Here's Kathleen helping advertise her church's Adventure Camp.

Chelsea on the drums.

Caleb and Brennan whizzed by with their capes and scooters.

These cute bugs were at our house for dinner the other night. Great bikes Eli and Sam.

Other entries included llamas

patriotic children tossing candy

and even the Statue of Liberty!