Fireplace Mantle

While I was out gallivanting with the ladies on Saturday, Ed was home building a mantle for our family room fireplace. It turned out lovely. He made a box and trimmed it with molding. Then, he painted it white and mounted it.

We put some cute birds on it that Crystal found when she and I went shopping last summer. I took the side picture so you can see how nice and chunky it is.

Good job, Ed!

Stake Relief Society Event

Barb Keller and I went to the Stake Relief Society activity together on Saturday. We made some pillows for breast cancer patients, had lunch and went to a class on fashion on a budget. The fashion class was surprisingly helpful with lots of ideas about how to adapt clothes that have sheer sleeves or low necks. It was very practical advice. Barb told me a lot of bird watcher stories, and suggested more ways I can spend money on my newest hobby!

Gold Finch and Robin

Our bird feeder is very entertaining. We caught this pair of goldfinches having breakfast there this morning. The male is on the left.

When he realized I was taking his picture, he flew off into the tree. Can you spot him in this picture?

The robin is too fat to feed at the feeder, apparently. Either that, or she just prefers fresh worms for breakfast. Here she is walking around in the grass. She better watch out for Simon, Miss Carol's cat! He likes birds for breakfast!

Poles for Everyone (except Coda)

Ed and I walked the fire road with our Nordic walking poles today. I had bought Ed a pair several years ago, and we hadn't even taken the price tag off yet. So, I gave him the full knowledge of the course I took in Colorado. It amounts to plant your right pole by the forward heel of your left foot. Fortunately, this went a lot better than the roller skating lesson I gave him 30 years ago. He got the hang of it quickly, and I had a hard time keeping pace with him. It was great exercise, and we made terrific time up and down the hills. Coda, as usual loved it. Has there ever been a dog that didn't love to go for a walk?

Nordic Walk with Coda

I decided to up the ante with Coda today and walk with TWO sticks instead of one. I thought if I was carrying a stick all the time, I might as well take my Nordic walking poles and get some upper body exercise while we were walking. It wasn't like riding a bike. I couldn't remember out to get the little hand gloves on, then I didn't remember that you alternate arms (I started by pushing with both arms at the same time). Then, as you can see, even though I thought I had it down pat, I was unable to get a simple picture of myself in the correct form (planting the pole simultaneously with the foot on the opposite side). However, on the upside, it worked very well with Coda, and she only had to be reminded occasionally not to pull on the leash. The other downside is the neighbors might all think I'm a nut case. Nordic walking is not exactly something you see every day in Maryland. It was drizzling outside, and too wet to walk the fire road so we just strut our stuff right down the middle of Oakland road!

Good Yeast Makes Good Bread

I got this quick and easy hamburger bun recipe from Brittany. The first time I made it the buns were a little heavy. Brittany suggested I try again and buy some new yeast. So, I made them again on Saturday. They turned out perfect the second time! As I added the newly purchased yeast I thought, "Wait a minute. Did I put in two tablespoons the first time, or just two teaspoons of yeast?" Now my only quandary is whether to throw away the old yeast, or try again with the proper measurement!

Check out the recipe at http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/40-Minute-Hamburger-Buns.

And don't mess up the yeast!

Bird Party at the Bushes

We've been enjoying watching the birds 'flock' to our feeder. We call them our birds. We also own a gazillion chirping insects in our copse. The birds are camera shy, but with a little patience and Ed's zoom lens I was able to get a few pictures. This is a cardinal. Maybe it's a female because it is brownish on the body!

This is a blackish-gray bird that is  very clever at balancing on a wire.

This is a cool brown and white bird with a stripe on the side of his head!

These are three amigos having dinner together.

This looks like two of the three amigos. The third one flew the coop!

If you are a bird watcher and can identify any of our birds, we'd love to know what they are!