bird feeder

Apparently when a family moves to our quiet town, they age about 50 years.  Our evenings now resemble those of B.s grandparents.  We talk about how much traffic was in town.  It goes something like this, "Did you get backed up on 213?  There were like 15 cars at the stop light.  I haven't seen that many cars in a week."  

We also talk about the goings on in the town square.  "Did you see the two people holding the have a blessed day signs?"  I waved, they brightened my day. 

 A. also has a new fascination with birds.  So, when we found a special at the local True Value, which sells anything from ice cream to ride on lawn mowers to pet food, we got her a pink feeder.  She then put stickers of birds on it and spelled out the word bird in sticker letters so that the birds would know where to go.  Oddly enough, the stickers were of woodpeckers and a wood pecker frequents the "restaurant" .  She is still waiting on the owl to come since she also put a picture of an owl and circled it so it would be a special invitation.  Now, at dinner, we all talk about what birds are there and how many.  We have had to fill it up 2 times because she is obviously a good chef and word is spreading.  

You are all more than welcome to brave the 12 cars to come and sit and watch the birds.  Just make sure to wave at the people holding up the signs to "have a blessed day."  They will be there on Tuesday afternoons rain or shine:)

rocket

I've said it before, but A. is a very intense kid.  She argues INTENSELY but also loves intensely   When she finds something she loves, she makes sure it is well taken cared for.  Meet Rocket.

 No, Rocket is not that odd shaped dog pillow.  That is the pillow that B made in home economics class in 7th grade that we recently found in his memory box.  Rocket is the yellow orange and blue rocket.  You may be confused because it is wearing pajamas aka a scarf wrapped around it's shaft and is covered in a blanket with a stuffed animal on it's on mattress.  Obviously, it is bed time. And obviously, as any rocket would, it (I mean she as A. has corrected me many times) loves the book "Giraffe's Can't Dance" and must have that as her story.  You may also be confused because she has someone else's name I believe, LeFieve, because we bought it for $.10 at a garage sale 2 years ago and it has been sitting in our outdoor toy box since last summer.  Despite all of these confusing circumstances, Rocket is the newest family member in the Collins household and we love her dearly... at least A. does.