Bird Feeder

Here's a fun idea sparked by Pinterest:

It's a bird feeder in hollowed out fruit casings. I made a bunch from oranges and mangoes, and hung them all over our back yard, which probably took 10 minutes total to complete. Plus, it was super inexpensive. The local fowls really like them, and we've seen quite an avian variety! I must admit that I love birds so much that I even accept the vast amounts of poop in our carport as payment for having starlings build their nests there. Do you have bird nests around your house?

Zlata's Diary

Zlata's Diary, a book of journal excerpts from a young Bosnian girl, was interesting and insightful. It is also the epitome of an average, privileged, and over dramatic 12-year-old girl. I'm pretty sure most girls I know were just like this, including myself, which is why it is amusing to read her journal entries.

It was an interesting read, but there are definitely more impactful pieces worth studying longer. I was young and so unaware during the Bosnian War and remember seeing news clips about it, so it was a good reminder about what happened. Do you remember the war too?

Baxter BBQ

I love when the weather is warm enough to play outside. Warm sunshine always leads us on glorious adventures, like this impromptu barbecue with the Baxters earlier this month:

Thanks, Baxters, for the fun feast and back yard romping. What does the warm sunshine lead you to do?

Bridal Veil Falls

Sharing our love of the mountains with our bitty baby bumpkins is something Kirk and I both delight in. A quick little jaunt up the canyon was the perfect way to spend an afternoon.

 

Nothing rejuvenates our spirits as quickly as just a few minutes in the mountains. What rejuvenates you?

Cemetery Traipsing

Heber City Cemetery is one that Kirk and I haven't been to before. Kirk has some family buried there, and we thought we'd check it out to see if we could find them.

It turns out that the dang place doesn't have a map or an open office...nice. We wandered around for a while, walking back and forth along each row looking for the people we were after, but weren't able to find them because of a sudden hail storm that quickly changed our plans. I did, however, find the prettiest black feather, and the drive was beautiful and relaxing, and I felt the stories of other people buried in the cemetery, so the trip was still so worth it. We're going to need to do a little more research and regroup before going back.

Hike to the G

I drug my sister along for a rigorous hike. Good thing it pooped her out too much to kill me afterwards. I think the serene sunset and breathtaking panorama views were well worth the cardiac exercises required:

Thanks for being a good sport, sis, and for chugging along despite the steep inclines!

Hugs from Neema

Neema, who sometimes goes by 'Grandma,' fashioned this gorgeous pillow and quilt for the ankle-biter's birthday:

It's made from the same fabric my wedding dress was made from, and it features a gentle red polka-dot pattern on the other side. Check out the double ruffle along the edges, too. What a wonderful present, don't you think? Wrapping the tot in the quilt Neema made is like my mom giving the little nugget hugs, even if my mom can't hug her in person.