Meteors, Mice and Memorial Day

Happy Pink Saturday!

Did you see the meteor shower last night? It was visible from 10 p.m EDT until dawn if you looked toward the North Star. 

These new meteors, called 

the Camelopardalids, are dusty remnants of a previously unobserved 

comet called Comet 209P/Linear which was discovered in 2004.

Meteors occur when Earth’s atmosphere strikes the dusty trail left by comets as they pass through our solar system. The trails contain particles, which when enter our atmosphere, vaporize creating bright streaks in the night sky.

This morning I'm sharing musical mice in teacups! This little doily covered tea table is a music box made by Enesco. While the music plays, the saucer turns and the teacups spin. 

The boy mice are dressed in blue, while the little girl mouse wears pale lavender and has a bow on her head. The table is draped in a pink tablecloth and there are two teabags resting next to each other on the saucer.

Notice the dangling teabag strings?

 The unofficial beginning of 

summer - Memorial Day - has arrived and the school year is over for many, or will be soon. This weekend I'm thinking of all the men and women who've served in our military. I'm grateful for their dedication, honor and sacrifice.

On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at 

Arlington National Cemetery, and 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there. 

Wishing you a rosy Saturday!

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Favorite Things
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American Robin

In order to see birds it is necessary to 

become a part of the silence.

Robert Lynd

American Robin standing on one leg in our backyard. He visited the birdbath, then rested awhile on the fence~

A bird does not sing because it has an answer.  It sings because it has a song.  

~Chinese Proverb

Finals week! Five more days to go and then no books for College Girl until September. 

I've been meaning to plant some flower seeds but the last few weekends have zipped by and I never made it into the backyard other than to photograph this handsome Robin. Handyman and I were lucky enough to spot a Western Tanager - woohoo! - but he did his best to stay hidden in the branches, and I couldn't get a clear shot of him. At first we thought he was an Oriole, but then we noticed his red face. What a treat to spot him on his migration north!

Have you spotted any migrating birds in your neighborhood? Did you know birds collide with windows most often when migrating? 

Migrating birds that are not familiar with the terrain will 

see the reflections of a woodland in a windowpane

 and fly right into it. If the reflection can be removed 

or muted with soap, netting, screening or by hanging

streamers on the outside, the birds will veer away

 from it. Pulling drapes inside will enhance the 

reflection on the outside.  

Click here for tips to attract birds to your backyard.

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Hummingbird Cake

Hummingbird Cake

• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon
• 3 lightly beaten eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 and 1/2 cup oil
• 8 oz. can crushed pineapple, do not drain
• 3-4 large bananas, mashed. (2 cups)
• 1 cup pecans or walnuts, optional
• Combine flour, sugar, soda, salt & cinnamon. Add eggs, vanilla, oil, pineapple, bananas and pecans and stir just until all ingredients are moistened. Grease three 8-9" pans or one 9x13" and pour batter into pan(s). Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes, until top is golden and toothpick comes out clean.

When I told Handyman that I was going to make Hummingbird Cake he asked, "are there real hummingbirds in it?" because he is funny like that! We tried this recipe for the first time over Easter weekend and it became a new favorite in our household. It's not a low calorie version, but I wanted to try the original recipe first and tweak it next time to lower the fat and sugar content. YOLO, right? Our oven is on the fritz, so we used our small counter top toaster oven to bake this cake. I cut the recipe above in half and baked the batter in an eight inch square pan, but look forward to making a layer cake with this recipe once our big oven is repaired.

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
• 16 oz box of powdered sugar, approx. 3 and 2/3 cups
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans, option
• toasted coconut to sprinkle over frosting, optional

Since Handyman prefers cake without nuts (he is nutty enough), I placed chopped pecans on one half of the batter and pressed them lightly into the top before baking. Once the cake was cool I iced it with Cream Cheese Frosting. You can sprinkle toasted coconut over the frosted cake, if desired. The bananas and pineapple make this cake really moist. So delicious! 

Speaking of delicious things, Summer break is almost upon us as today is the last day of classes for College Girl. Final exams are next week. Wouldn't you know it, she has a presentation to give in one of her classes which means she must wear 'business casual' attire and finish off the semester in style. 

Time for me to compile my summer wish lists~ recipes to try, things to do, books to read.

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Freedom Fridays

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Momentous

College Girl, age 4. For page details and supplies see my GALLERY

Making the decision to have a child- it's momentous.

It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking

outside your body.

Elizabeth Stone

Happy Mother's Day to everyone this weekend.

 I am so deeply happy to be celebrating with College Girl on Sunday! The day she was born I had no idea how smitten I would be with her. Nothing prepared me for the joy, constant worry, pride, amusement and amazement I would feel at watching her grow. I loved every lullaby, story time, peanut butter & jelly sandwich making, late night, early morning, school commuting, field trip, play date, bath time, homework, Girl Scout meeting, and music and dance lesson I shared with her! 

 

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 Craft Frenzy Friday

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Hope Your Birthday Is A Hoot

I talk with the moon, said the owl
While she lingers over my tree
I talk with the moon, said the owl
And the night belongs to me.

Oh my goodness, the days are flying by as the school year winds down! Seems the busier College Girl is the busier I am. She was initiated into her school's chapter of Delta Kappa Alpha last weekend, and there was a pinning ceremony this week that parents were invited to attend. We were thrilled to go, and I took my camera along for lots of candid photos. When the kids are young we get to attend class parties and field trips, but once they are in college it is a rare thing to be able to participate - and take photos!- of our 'baby. 

The wise old owl
Sat in an oak.
The more he saw,
The less he spoke.
The less he spoke,
The more he heard.
Why can't we be like
That wise old bird?

Back at home I've been making a few cards for upcoming events. I used my Cricut to cut out this layered owl and branch. I fussy cut the cloud, then ran it through my Cuttlebug for the swirly texture. I decorated the envelope by placing a strip of navy washi tape down one side to coordinate with the card. The finishing touch was the little sparkly cupcake! 

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What To DO Weekends
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