Monday, June 14, 2010

Missing in Action

I have had a very busy week and was usually too tired to blog. I have popped in on some of you though, got to get my fix.

Monday was taken up by cleaning house and helping The Baby practice parallel parking. She is just now getting around to taking her drivers test. She is not allowed to have a car at school (it is an old school and they don't have the space), so she was not in a rush. Also, I think she liked being chauffeured by me! We practiced more Tuesday morning and in the afternoon drove to the next town for her to take her exam. She was nervous, but she passed. She was so happy. As for me, I am beginning to see how wonderful it is to have someone who will run your errands!!

Wednesday was The Baby's first day of training for her job. She drove herself there and I was a little nervous. She has an hour drive each way. She made it there and found out she will enjoy the people she will be working with. That makes me happy - last year the kids she worked with treated her like an outsider and it was very hard on her. She is in state-wide training from today until Wed. She will be back at her jobsite Thurs. Monday, the kids arrive. Perhaps I should say that she is working for a Vista Volunteer program called Energy Express. It is a reading program for kids who need help with their reading and also for underprivileged kids. She has volunteered with them for 3 years, last year she was a Mentor and this year she is the Volunteer Coordinator. The pay is good (she makes as much in 8 weeks as she would have made if she was working in a fast food place for 12 weeks. She also gets a $1,000 stipend toward her education.) It is a good job and she loves working with kids.

Saturday and Sunday, I spent working in the yard. I got the bright idea to create a "wildlife" area on our property. I will be using the area on the other side of the fence. We have had a bird feeder there since we have lived here and we all enjoy sitting on the back porch watching the birds. I also pulled weeds (took forever) and planted some newly purchased flowers. I also transplanted some things from the front yard to the wildlife area. I built a feeder tray, hung some dried corn for the squirrels, and hung a thistle feeder for the goldfinches. You know that saying, "Build It and They Will Come," I am sorry to report, it is not working in my backyard. Since I made the additions to the feeding area, I have less birds and squirrels than before. Big says they are getting used to it - I hope so.



These are two of our kitties - they are watching a squirrel eating at the feeder. I wonder if they have something to do with the lack of wildlife?!?! Notice the weeds growing over the rocks!

<



Here are a couple photos of the flower bed after spending a whole day weeding it. It might be hard to see how clean it is, but trust me, it is weed free (at least for a day or two!)



This is the feeder I made for the squirrel and gold finches (I am sure the deer will find it also), I used an old part of a plant stand and a tray that goes under a pot. So far, I have only seen one goldfinch in it, but I am keeping my fingers crossed.



I found this at my favorite nursery today. I don't know what it is called, I just know I love it! It was 30% off, which made it about $10. It is about 3 feet across! The nursery will have a 50% off sale at the end of this month and I will race there to get some perennials and perhaps some shrubs. They run out early, so I will have to beat the crowds.



Oh yeah, I made these to take to the quilt guild meeting tonight. Sometimes I am not sure why I go, they treat me like an outsider. I guess I am a gultton for punishment!! They are Creme De Mint Cookies - very, very good!


These are poppy seed muffins I made this morning. Also very good.

Hope everyone had a wonderful week! Look forward to reading what you all have been up to. I am off to shower and get ready for the meeting!!


Pin It Now!

3 comments:

Trish said...

Congrats to your daughter!!! We have 2+ weeks left until The Girl tests for her license--she has to be able to back into a spot, too. Sorry you feel like an outsider....just had the same experience this weekend at a wedding...and not the first time this group of people has made me feel that way. If we could all take the time to get to know someone before we decide we don't like them it would be a much better world!!!

Marg said...

Well done Baby! My "angel" just did her drivers test about 3 weeks ago. I love that now she will run errands for me, just not quite often enough though.
Wow look at the amount of weeding, you can certainly see the difference. I have a couple of acres you can come and weed for me, when you have finished yours, he he!
Those cookies look delish,don't waste them on that quilt guild, is there another quilt guild you can go to?

Corner Gardener Sue said...

Hi Cynthia,
Wow, you sure have been busy! I like your place. I weeded much of my vegetable garden today. It's a good feeling to have that done, but there is still a lot that needs to be done, both inside and out.

Hang in there, it's no fun feeling like an outsider.