Fledgling

Yesterday morning, before I was even out of bed, Jim found a young robin in front of the garage and brought it in to me. In a wheel, in the rafters of our garage, one of our resident Robins has built a nest, so I was quite sure that it was a fledgling from that nest. I temporarily put it in a cardboard box and researched online to determine how old it was and if it needed my care. I found that if the young bird is able to grasp your finger then it is old enough to have left the nest. Apparently, Robin fledglings leave the nest unable to fly and spend a few days on the ground, being fed by their parents and earning flight status. Sure enough, when I placed the bird under my Burning Bush, it began chirping and within five minutes, Mom arrived with a tasty worm. We've all enjoyed keeping an eye on the little one's progress during these two days. Atira has been particularly vigilant. It must be the mothering instinct. She saw him take several short little flights across the lawn today.The fledgling is not nervous when we approach it and seems to even like our company. This being the case, I chose to take the bird inside for the Saturday night to keep it from becoming a midnight snack for some marauding mammal. The parents feed their young until late in the evening and then begin again just before sunrise, so I brought it into the house around 8:40 and made sure I had placed the fledgling outside again by 4:30 am. All went well so I have brought him in again tonight. He settled down almost immediately and I haven't heard from him since. Now it's time for bed. Morning will arrive early!

Something To Chew On

After our Awana informational meeting this evening, I was reminded by Nicole, who obviously needs some higher form of entertainment, that I have been slacking in my blog entries. My apologies for the long delay; It has not been for lack of material but simply lack of time.

Just a short entry tonight to thank my friend Greg for his surprise contribution to my nasty gum-chewing habit. A box of 400 brightly colored gumballs should keep me in supply for a few weeks.

Wii, Wii, Madam

Upon returning to the house after picking up Nolan, Jim trudged up the stairs. Something in the sound of his walk caused me to look up from my paperwork and instantly I knew something was up. Jim would make a terrible poker player. His face tells everything. "What did you do?" I asked. He came closer and said, "Some husbands buy their wives diamond rings." (Some do....not mine) "Jim, what did you buy?" I was told to close my eyes and brought to the top of the stairs. When I looked down, I saw the Wii Fit Plus that I have wanted since before Christmas! I was quite happy but haven't been able to properly try it out yet. I had a Paris cafe themed women's event at the church tonight and didn't want to arrive smelly. (We don't want to be TOO authentic in our French theme....)

Friday Supper

We enjoyed supper at the Morrill's tonight along with Don and Nate Fisher. Unfortunately Deb had to work, which meant Heidi and I missed her company and there was one less person to give Don a smack when he needed it. Heidi is an awesome cook and is frequently preparing a new recipe. This time it was fried onion straws, with which I topped off my hamburger....delish! It's always enjoyable, and I would argue, healthy, to spend lots of time with families that are as crazy as your own. I seem to have a lot of those friends.....hmmmm.

Recovery and Repair

I dropped my iPhone in the parking lot this afternoon and cracked the glass. I'll be without it for a couple days when I send it out tomorrow for repair. On the up side, I walked the kids' running route this afternoon and my knee feels much better so I think I'll start up at the gym again tomorrow. The scale is also headed downward, which makes me very happy.

Morning Serenade

We've woken up to a symphony of bird songs, and a girls' inter-tent morning chat, which starts the day out gloriously.

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All But The Final 3

Too tired to write too much tonight so just a few highlights.....it was a very rough, rocky downhill for the most part today. Last year's fallen leaves on the rocks were akin to ice in places. My right knee began to be increasingly painful about 1:00 and our pace slowed considerably. Downhill was a killer on them, while I could clip along at a reasonable pace on the flats. I was even thankful for the uphills which did not affect that knee as much. Peg was my good Samaritan a couple times, carrying her pack down the slick steepness and then returning for mine to alleviate the pressure on my knee. She makes great time on the hills! When the front pack reached the RPH Shelter, Greg turned back, met with Jim and hiked back up a long descent to meet us near the summit of the last hill. The other girls went ahead. My kind husband took my pack, which according to him was light, and both he and Greg provided company down the painful last mile and a half. I nearly ran out of the extra water that Peg had provided on the summit. This would have meant drinking from someone else's bottle, which I have managed to avoid.....I was very thirsty but I made it last! We arrived only about an hour behind the girls, in time to enjoy some nice mashed potatoes and packaged chicken. Some fresh chives that we harvested earlier in the day along the trail provided a nice taste. Some of the crazy boys went across to a stream for a chilly dip, and then later cooking up a frog they had caught earlier in the day. Peg finished the night with devotions and now the tents are quiet as most of the group will finish up the final three miles tomorrow mornimg before we head home. Liz will stay back with me, while Greg gets the van to pick up the group at the end of the trail.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]