"Friday night and I ain't got no money.."

Remember the song?

Can't tell you how many Friday's were like that when I was a college girl going out on the town! Somehow though always found a way to scrap enough together and make do. It was different back then. I don't remember people feeling so despondent about their futures.

Just why does everything have to cost so much? Going to the grocery store ends up being more than I budget, as most everything is these days. It is so discouraging..1 bag of groceries for $40. And if you're like most people you take the receipt out to the car and check for mistakes. I rarely find one but I still look!

The stock market is tanking, no one is lending any money, credit is so tight it's ridiculous, more layoffs, bankruptcy and so forth and so forth. Talk about stress!

Who's stressed?

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Spring Fever

The recent warm weather has me looking critically at our yard and the overwhelming list of things that need to happen pretty soon.

My list of to do's:

Put up a Privacy fence
Move the Crepe Myrtles
Build the back deck
Move the raised garden beds
Extend the front garden fence to include the Birch Trees
Clean the lot behind the house

Spring Fever -- So much to do and so little time. Know the feeling?

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Birthday Girl...2-12

Thursday was the big day for La! 26 yrs old. I don't have to tell you how fast the time has flown by. It seems only yesterday I was checking into the hospital to have my first baby who chose to come into the world butt first.

Born at 1:06 pm and weighing a mere 6lbs 15oz she was only 19 ins long with reddish blond hair. She was dainty, beautiful and we loved her instantly!

From girly bows and pony tails to "I love Purple", Lady Katy, shopping, Top ten in her class, going off to NCSU, decorating her first apartment, getting Emma Grace and all the other great things she has been through and accomplished it has been a absolute delight to be her parents!

We are so proud of our La!

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Baby Stationary Set

Several weeks ago after making the mini note card sets I decided I would make a stationary set for one of the girls at work whose baby shower is this weekend. Specifically note cards that could be used for Thank-you cards.

I picked my papers from Michael's mixing and matching the car printed paper with the blue gingham and solids. Including the gingham ribbon I only spent $6. Not bad but it was labor intense due to my lack of experience in the envelope making department. I ended up making slip envelopes that remind me of CD holders. I kept coming up with ideas to use up the scraps thus the mini note cards and gift tags were added to the package. The brown paper bag was cut down and the handles re-glued to become the card holder. Nothing says Baby like gingham. I love it!

Here are the dimensions of the cards:
Note cards = 4"x4"
Mini notes = 3.5"x3.5"
Gift tags = 1.75"x1.75"

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The Real Deal!

Well, just let me say this, I thought the immature Baltimore Orioles were great looking birds with their orange-yellow breasts but they in no way compare to a mature male Oriole!

We had just arrived home when I saw the male fly in to our suet feeder. He was so bright you couldn't miss him. And if you haven't guessed it - I had never seen one before today. He is absolutely stunning with the bright orange breast and black markings.

Sooo, I can now add this gorgeous bird to my list. He didn't stay long but I'm betting he'll be back, hopefully with a few more!

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Birding News

Birds, Birds and more birds!

The feeders in our front yard are just a flurry of activity. Today I saw the Baltimore Orioles back! or maybe they never left? Arriving before Christmas I saw them everyday for a week or so but since then only sporadically. They have such beautiful breasts of orange you just can't miss them.

The Goldfinches are absolutely killing the shelled sunflower hearts and thistle. I guess there are at least 30 flying in and out - filling every perch on the thistle feeder with others perched and ready for a turn.

Throw in the black capped chickadees, tufted titmouse, house finches, cardinals, doves, downy woodpeckers and it's just amazing not to mention entertaining!

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