Ode to Birds

In the spring, the fresh, feel-good spring, we discovered a cardinal was nesting in one of our little side-yard trees.  It was so exciting seeing and hearing the pair building and bustling around our front yard.  Then the female starting sitting and we knew eggs were there and even checked a couple times when she was off the nest.  There were three delicate cream and brown speckled eggs...

A couple days went by and we tried to provide as much peace as a city family with a kindergartener and toddler could.  The last time we checked, the cardinal was not on the nest and upon closer viewing, the eggs were also gone.  A little sting of sadness - though Graham was sure that the babies had hatched and fledged in about 36 hours since we'd last checked.

A couple weeks ago, we discovered a Robin nesting in a backyard little tree and again we were delighted to share our yard with her.  We tried to be as accommodating as possible and quell our excitement for the benefit of the little mama.  Graham could even see the mother bird's head and tail feathers sticking out from the branches from his bedroom window!

Sometimes, we'd unintentionally rouse her squawking out of the nest, but she also had eggs - three in the stunning 'Robin's egg blue' hue.  Alas, the same results occurred.  A little heartbreak again.  But my little optimist speculated that they'd hatched and fledged again ( :

What happened?  My first thought was bigger more aggressive birds.  Secondly, maybe it was our human curious albeit intrusive inquiries.

But this morning, after breakfast, I heard a louder, more raucous squawking.  I looked out the back window to see a cat sauntering across our patio.  I jabbed at the window and it scrambled around the garage and over the fence.  I looked out over the rest of the backyard and comfortably lounging under the weeping mulberry tree was another cat!  I grabbed a withering lemon from the fruit bowl with a chill down my arms, took aim and scared that cat out of the yard also.

I hope they don't come back.  I've never enjoyed cats too much - they don't seem to enjoy me either.  My disenchantment deepened when I first read a sign in the Aviary at the Milwaukee County Zoo about birds versus cats.  Cats kill about 500 million birds per year!  Recently, there's been disdain about wind turbines killing birds - especially migratory.  Wind turbines are estimated to kill 440,000 birds a year.  Cats are obviously quite a bit more of a culprit.

I love many a cat-lover.  And know that they can be like a family member and trusty friend but hopefully those outside-cat-owners will learn the statistics and keep them inside to help save millions of songbirds.

A love of birds was passed to me from both of my parents (thank you!) and maybe because my baby sister's name was Robin.  They're just so beautiful, peaceful and free...Peace to you this day and see you soon. xoxo.

A chance to use some pictures of birds taken over the years!  My Mom monitors a blue bird trail every year and we get to accompany her sometimes - so neat.  The eagle pictures are from Alaska and the WI/UP border respectively - now they could take a cat easily probably but I would bet not in the 100s of 1000s…

Goldfinch on the golden sunflowers in our side-yard

One of the stunning peacocks at the zoo

The glorious flamingos also at the zoo

Geese and their goslings on Lake MI at Schlitz Audubon

Puffins in Alaska

Bald eagle in Alaska - Jason said they were super plentiful there

An immature bald eagle above a mature on Lac Vieux Desert near the UP (takes 5 years, I believe to get a 'bald')

Wild turkey at Schlitz Audubon

Nanny and Graham checking a bluebird box on the trail

Estelle and I checking and counting eggs for the record book

Foooooooooood…partly

Back to the physical survival necessity of food and mostly the supposed subject of this blog…but first a few…a lot...of pictures of the kids.  I have so many good ones of them - this is a sampling.  Thank you Jesus that they play and get along so well…for now - Lord knows that can change quickly…it's just plain heartwarming.

Graham still loves dress-up and 'dramatic play'

Estelle's birthday was a ball and a beautiful day to boot!

Got a great laugh on this one - they put both legs in one pant-leg - good, simple entertainment for a while!

Graham held up two pretzels to look through and of course like most things - Estelle copies what her awesome big brother does

No one was hurt during this - a bit of a bear wiping out the strawberry yogurt though.

OK - and now foooooood, this wheat berry waldorf salad recipe with cinnamon Jason discovered is so great for summer - he made some arugula and sun-dried tomato flatbread to complement - very niccccce.

We usually really only use Nutella with classic crepes but Jason gave the kids stuffed french toast with it this time.  Rivals the crepes for sure!

Tim and Deb gave us this cutie wicker chair and Estelle is lovin' it.  Carries it down to the sidewalk, on the grass, porch, etc., etc.  she loves to 'dit' (sit) in different kinds of chairs.

The little Pirate - Graham is the youngest in his little league (6-8 year olds) and it's quite a commitment but he does still really love baseball and enjoys playing on this team (his coach lives a block away and Jason went to high school and swam with him and his wife! It's a small world after all, la la la)

DARLING kindergarten 'graduation' that Graham's phenomenal teacher put on.  Singing, dancing, slideshow, report card presentation, etc. = tear jerkers

She's got a great in-house coach and example!  Graham was quick to flip the helmet around.

This is our 'corn-oisseur' as Graham called her.  She even shucks it herself.   Normally imbibes two ears and would take in three or four if you'd let her.

The continuously honed fish tacos a la Jason - Mahi-mahi is his top choice currently.

We've already had some realllllly great sweet corn but know that the WI will be the best as soon as it's ready!  Should be earlier this year, right?, with the milder weather?  Although it's been cool the last few days…who knows but we're looking forward to getting it at the farmer's markets as soon as we can!

Eating mango…again.  They're at a great price and soooooooo good right now!

Oh goodness

What a month May was.  Full of blessings and goodness and a heavy share of difficulty; life-altering, routine and everything in between.

A cherished, precious beyond words Mom passed away this month.  This life.  Our lives.  This Mom's life.  Such a miracle.  Such a mystery.  Love, trust, hope and grace are what matter, what last…and there's only one Eternal Source for it.

The recall election results came through last night.  That's nice to have settled.  I have mixed feelings about it as I do with all political races.  This one though, being only the 3rd governor recall election in U.S. history, seems to carry a lot of weight and emotion.  Yuck.  It boggles me to know that people are so blindly adamant about one side or even a singular issue and how zealous and intrusive parties and individuals can be at communicating their views and sometimes pushing and threatening them on others thereby polarizing people - phone calls, nasty commercials, door knockers, picketers, lawn signs.  Enough!  As my barber said yesterday - we get a week off and the presidential set begins. ) :

The God and Jesus Calling readings are my daily life boat.  Today one said - 'it is my part to reflect the glory of God'.  Struck me as powerful.  Tells me to be selfless and serving of others.  Be chipper and kind to all I meet and not wallow in my misgivings, insecurities, needs and wants.  Tough to do.  Unworldly.  But someday maybe.  We're all a work in progress.

This treasured Mom that the world lost had a favorite verse: "Be still and know that I am God".  It miraculously was the reading in Jesus Calling the day of her funeral.  As I read it that morning, the framed verse that she herself had given me hanging on my wall, I felt deep sorrow but also divinity and peace.  It's what she left to her adoring husband, three beautiful girls and all of her family and friends.  It's what lasts - love with a steadfast faith in God and His goodness.

Enjoy every bite

Finally a food heavy post.  Jason was out of town for a night last week and I made that simple recipe of pouring a jar of salsa over fish (tilapia in this case).  It was just fine - but maybe Jason will try it and make it spectacular with his ideas and knack.  Last night Jason made salmon with a from scratch mango salsa and roasted vegetables on the side…he used the leftover vegetables for a roasted veggie omelette with goat cheese - efficient and yum. No pictures for those but here are some other recent lovelies:

This was a filler for wraps - with diced chicken, cucs, spinach, cranberries a yogurt based salad dressing

Jason roasted broccoli and loaded it along with shredded cheese, plain greek yogurt and salsa over a salt-baked potato

Out of place but our bathroom upstairs is almost finished - these are the beautiful baseboards Jason made to match the rest of the originals throughout the house

Used this idea from our favorite breakfast place in Eau Claire 'The Nucleus' - scrambled egg whites with garlic sautéed spinach and goat cheese on whole wheat toast

Crepes are a real favorite and frequent around here - always with Nutella and bananas and strawberries this morning

Another awesome pasta sautéed zucchini, grape tomatoes , flat leaf parsley and parmesan - the sauce is what really makes it to me and what Jason really is great at

Pork chops, carrots sauteed in a little butter, evoo, honey, soy sauce and garlic powder and potato wedges

The kids in Door County last weekend

Super fresh and tasty salad - hearty with orzo and then arugula, walnuts, cranberries and feta - the dressing was simply lemon juice, olive oil and a touch of salt

Ravioli with shredded carrots, spinach, sun dried tomatoes and a balsamic vinegar sauce - one of my very favorites

I get emails from an outfit started by a guy from Milwaukee - www.itstartswith.us - the idea, roughly is doing good deeds and passing it on.  They sent a link this week that itself is very inspiring http://bit.ly/IZKFE7 but you see the side bar videos and I got sucked in a bit - youtube has a trove of incredible and moving clips.  God bless ya.  Peace.

And on the third day...

Happy Easter a few weeks ago - the hope and miracle of it all be with you every day...

Though we missed Aunt Julie's splendid Easter in Fox River Grove with my Mom, and Jason's parents made yet another hike down here along with my Dad and Aunt Kathy, we stuck around home and had a really nice, relatively mellow and peaceful Easter - Juan Carlos came, too which is always a great treat.

The kids did egg hunts in Shorewood and in the backyard.  Stelly's got it down now with the help of big bro Graham.

Easter morning - I made a blueberry coffee cake and Jason made a stunning and delicioso frittata

Ingredients for our Easter salad with spinach and arugula

This is not the cutest picture for vegetarians or wannabe vegetarians like me but it tasted fantastic

The week following Easter, Graham was on spring break…I always get a bit panicked with both kiddos home all day all week but it really was nice with Graham home.  My heart sings with the time I have with them and to see them play and laugh together so much is bliss.  I miss him during the day!

We didn't venture too far - made visits to Schlitz Audubon and the zoo, Graham just about has his word lists from school mastered and the finale was going to Eau Claire for the weekend and visiting the Seguin (my m-i-l's cousin) farm.

My-o-my was it sooo interesting and unique and so cool learning about all of it.  I think I even enjoyed it more than the kids!  The farm has 2,200 cows including 150 calves (Larry thought maybe 60 barn cats)! We saw a calf with the same birthday as Graham and one that had just been born the day before we were there.  We got to see the cows being fed and milked and we learned that the cows eat 7500 pounds of feed and the farm delivers around 48,000 pounds of milk per day!  Quite incredible.  It was an honor and thrill to visit and tour such an inspiring, successful family farm.

On Sunday, we went to a walk in Madison to benefit Parkinson's research - 'Optimism Walks' - just about my Mom's entire family and best friends were there!  What a heartwarming turnout and a neat event.  Graham and our sweet cousin Kaylin were NOT excited about the costumes and the hubbub 'MOM - THE ICE CREAM IS COMING, THE ICE CREAM IS COMING!!!!' [in tears]  but it was awesome and an honor to be a part of it in support of mi Mama!