Backyard Birds

Here are a few pictures of the feathered friends who visit often (and eat us out of house & home!). Too bad I haven't been able to photograph the hummingbirds. Of course we have plenty of sparrows, titmice, and chickadees who frequent our diner. The male blue jay is starting to detract from the feast. I'll have to try to photograph some of our water birds as the weather warms.
cardinal

indigo bunting

American goldfinches

house finch

rose-breasted grosbeak

nuthatch at his nest (two babies this year)

pileated woodpecker

another woodpecker (female downy or hairy?)

Last Day of School

It's hard to believe that yesterday was the last day of school (for the kids). It is always bittersweet to me. Excitement that summer is around the corner, but sadness that my "babies" are moving on. As I told my class, they'll always hold a special place in my heart, but I've done my job and they're ready to move on.

The girls were both SAD that the year was ending. Miss M even cried about missing her teachers already. Miss A was excited to meet her teacher for next year. (Can you believe we'll be in the same grade? She'll be two doors down, but since we're in a corner she'll be very close. I guess we're ready for that!)

I had two extremely touching moments that brought beautiful closure to my 15th year teaching: One boy, now finishing 8th grade, stopped by to see me as he has every Christmas and end of the year since I taught him in 5th to give me a card and a little gift to say "thank you." Another young man came by- totally unexpected- with a beautiful potted flower and a card to say thank you also, and he graduated last night. WOW.

So, if you have a teacher out there who made a difference in your life, say thank you to him or her! Teachers aren't in it for the money, and those two little words can really make a difference. If it weren't for some great teachers in my life, I would never have chosen this profession myself. Thank you to teachers everywhere!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms of the world, and especially to the BEST MOM IN THE WORLD: MINE!!!!!!!!

Meet Shadow!

Here's our new "baby," a seven-week-old beagle. The girls have named him Shadow. Do they love him or what? Life had been a bit lonely without a dog, and he is a welcome addition to the family!

A Month of Scrapbooking Tips

In honor of National Scrapbooking Month, the great company for which I am a consultant, Close To My Heart, is offering daily scrapbooking tips. You can check them out each day (and enter to win a prize!) on my home page at http://www.haleyd.myctmh.com/. Good luck!