A Monday morning scare

Monday morning we were getting ready to leave the house. I was finishing up on the computer, and I heard Sam pick up his book bag and head to the garage. He likes to go ahead and get in the car and wait for me most mornings. But, unlike a typical morning, this one brought a scare.

As I was headed to the kitchen to pour my coffee into my travel mug, I heard the crash and his scream. As he was going down the steps in the garage, he lost his footing and fell. I found him down on the garage floor on his left side, scared and saying, "Ow, ow, ow," as he held his head. I sat him up, gave him a once over to see if there was bleeding anywhere, and then asked him where he hurt. He put his hand to the back left side of his head. I put my hand up there and was alarmed to feel a huge goose egg. I helped him up and we went back into the house. I sat him down, and put an ice pack on his head. Nurse Jayne clicked in... get the penlight, check his neuro status, watch for vomiting or change in consciousness. I called Ms E to let her know we may or may not be at school, and called my work to let them know as well. Thirty, then forty five minutes passed. No changes. Just complaints of a very sore head. As I lifted the ice pack off, I palpated again. Holy Hannah, it was big. I measured. That goose egg was 6cm x 4cm big. Brain kicks into gear... Natasha Richardson. Benign head bump. Brain dead in hours. I called one of the ER physicians I work with in the Wound Center. "Bring him in Jayne. That's big, and the parietal area is no man's land. He needs to be scanned."

Heart pounding, I called husband, and he came home. Dr. C called to say he'd spoken to Dr. B in Children's ED and told him we were on our way. Sam was calm, but of course scared to have to go to the hospital. My gut told me it was nothing, but I was certainly not willing to take that chance. We arrived and thankfully, they were not very busy. We got right back, had very kind and caring nurses, and were seen by the Pediatric PA. An ice pack was placed to the area and he was given 600mg of Ibuprofen. A full neuro exam was done and we were wheeled over to CT. Sam was so brave and stayed perfectly still during the scan. Back to Children's ED we went, waiting for the results.

Thankfully, everything looked OK. Exhale. No bleeding or trauma to his brain, but a big soft tissue area of swelling and some hematoma just under the skin. We were released to home to recuperate for the rest of the day. He seems fine and can now recite the new rule that we always turn on the light when going out into the garage in the morning. A dramatic Monday it was, and we are so thankful all is well. Whew.

Who is that intruder?

My old car is still sitting in the driveway as we didn't want to let it go until we knew
for sure that our deal to purchase this new vehicle was going to go through.
Lately, I have noticed streaks of bird droppings
down the sides of the driver and passenger side front doors.
On Sunday, I finally saw the culprit.
My female bluebird was using the side mirrors as a perch of sorts.

But, that's not the funniest part. When I saw her land on the driver's side mirror,
I laughed as I watched what then followed. I figured she was using it to scope
out insects in the grass, however, I watched as she continually jumped
down on the window sill below and back up to the mirror.
She did this several times before I realized what was happening.
She was seeing herself in the side mirror! Oh, my! An intruder in her nesting territory!
Again and again, she'd hop down, peer into the mirror, and then hop back up on top,
chittering away. It was so funny to watch!
Then, she'd expand her little self, and ... there it was, all over the side of the door.
It's been worth watching her to have to clean each side every day.
Hopefully, once we sell the car this week, she can rest easier.

Suet fans

The Downy was on the Bark Butter feeder when the
Pine Warbler flew in. He really wanted to join in, but
smartly decided to enjoy the cake suet feeder instead.

Do you see what I see?

Over the past few days, we've gotten probably almost 3" of rain.
It certainly has made the birds in my yard so much more active.
But, I was not prepared to look outside on Friday and see the sight above!
Do you see it?
Enlarge the photo and then look in the upper right and lower left corners.
Glory be!
An Eastern Phoebe couple!
They were swooping and catching insects together in the yard.
Oh, boy, but I'll have to hire a private investigator to find out
if they are nesting in those trees....lol!

Below is what I am thinking may be the female as the other
has a wee bit darker head. Isn't she lovely?

When I read this at All About Birds, I was even more thrilled
that I got to see them together...

"The Eastern Phoebe is a loner, rarely coming in contact with other phoebes.
Even members of a mated pair do not spend much time together.
They may roost together a bit early in pair formation,
but even during egg laying the female frequently chases the male away from her."

** I've added an update to the service awards dinner post
below for anyone interested. Since I assumed it would be a typical
chicken dinner, I felt it only fair to update how lovely it really was.

A chicken dinner

Tonight will be the service awards banquet put on by my hospital and I will be receiving my 10 year service pin. The photo to the left was taken at work by my nurse manager in late 2007 (I've had to crop out a co-worker). It truly does not seem possible that I have been doing wound care for ten years.

Nursing is one of those professions where you typically can move from one area to another, and move I have. I started out on a general medicine floor, then went to work on a diabetes unit, then went to newborn nursery, followed by two years in neonatal intensive care, a stint with our hospital's "Ask a Nurse" service (which bored me to tears), and then to home health for five years. After Sam was diagnosed, I took some time off to do a home based behavioral intervention program for him, and when I was ready to return to work in 1998, I only wanted part-time hours.

Luckily for me, a former co-worker had become nurse manager of the Wound Care Center, and was thrilled at the prospect of having me work there, even part time. So, in November of 1998, I began working from 8AM-2PM, which then morphed into four day weeks, which I have been working for years now. I am blessed beyond measure to be able to take Sam to school and pick him up, and owe my facility a debt of gratitude. In the past ten years, I've found that wound care is really my forte and have become board certified in both wound care and hyperbarics. I also now act as our unit's charge nurse, and love being with all my co-workers. There is not a better group of nurses and techs in the hospital.

So, tonight I'll go to the banquet and be fed a chicken dinner as I receive a logo pin with two small rubies to place on my badge as a token of their appreciation for my service. But, it is I who am appreciative of the lives I get to touch each day. Going home at the end of any day, knowing you made a difference is a priceless feeling.



**Edited update: (Photo taken with hubby's cell phone camera) I had to add this update to say that not only did they NOT feed us chicken, but the event was absolutely gorgeous. The menu started with organic baby lettuces topped with almonds, Feta, red onions, and a balsamic vinaigrette, and the entree was oven roasted loin of pork topped with apple pear chutney. And for dessert, triple chocolate cheesecake with raspberry whipped cream! Each table was beautifully decorated with an arrangement featuring orchids, and there was a beautiful gift basket in my chair tied with a bow which included a lovely clock with a small certificate framed within honoring my ten years, a box with my ten year service pin (the hospital logo with two rubies), and the pictorial program for the evening.

I was fully stunned by the sheer number of employees celebrating 25, 30, 35, 45, and yes, even one celebrating 55 years there! The one gentleman celebrating 45 years works in Environmental Services and has never missed one day of work. He got a much deserved standing ovation. My ten years paled in comparison. It was simply a very lovely evening.

Hummingbird House

A few weeks ago, my sister sent me the link to a product on the Duncraft site to show me the "Hummingbird House" they carry. Her neighbor had ordered some to put up this year in hopes of being able to lure and watch a sweet hummer nesting. So, I figured we might be as lucky too, and ordered some.

The instructions say you have to put them under an eve area, at least 18 ft away from feeders, and it has to be an area that does not get lots of direct wind or sun for the female to find it worthy. Hmmm... that left me with few options as the covered porch areas I have both receive direct sun, and the one that would work best is where I hang my nectar feeders. I was telling a friend about it and he had an idea...

We had some leftover Trex from our deck he helped construct, and so he fashioned this very cool "eve" out of the Trex which I can hang on a tree in the backyard with the open side towards the tree line for protection! How cool is that?

Upon searching, I found the web site of the original designers of this very neat nesting device, which gives more detailed information about its design. The nesting material placed below the area is supposed to further entice the female to construct a nest. We shall see! How wonderful it would be to have nesting hummers on Chickadee.

Hot diggity, dog diggity!

So, I got a call from husband at work yesterday. "Boy, do I have some good news for you," he said excitedly! Wonderful Credit Union called and it seems that Regions Bank would be faxing the MSO for my new vehicle later in the day. Could I possibly come by one of their branches and fill out the information to create an account with them? That was one detail the dealer forgot to do. Could I!!!

I practically skipped out the door from work 45 minutes early yesterday and headed to their nearest location in downtown City by the River, which was just over the hill from my work. The service representative I dealt with was so very kind and understanding of our situation. Once I got the necessary paperwork filled out, he contacted one of the loan officers, Pam, who then came to explain to me that once they get the MSO from Regions, they will fund the vehicle, and that my first payment to them would indeed be due on March 26th as we'd originally agreed upon in the contract we signed at the dealership February 9th. So, I went ahead and wrote them a check for my first payment on my new car, which was put into my new account and would be debited on the 26th! Then, in the next weeks, they will be sending out a payment book. The title will be sent to the county so that I can go by there and register the vehicle and get my tags transferred. They will then send it on to the Credit Union. Whew.... the nightmare has ended!

I suppose Regions wanted to get the title off their books and so worked with the bankruptcy court to get access to the titles of vehicles already under contract. As I read another newspaper article on Tuesday morning about all the litigation, I saw that the saga was deepening with three more lawsuits filed against a number of the parties involved, and my shoulders sank as I thought that this ordeal might not ever be resolved. But, it is. And, I have made my first payment on a car I've truly thoroughly enjoyed over the past weeks. My car. Yep, yesterday was a very good day indeed.

Signs of spring on Chickadee

The little weeping cherry is about to fully burst into bloom!

The heather and the phlox are both showing their purples...

The huge double bloom daffodils at the mailbox bed
are finally blooming in all their grandeur.

And I am beaming in the sunshiny days. :c)

Happiness is...

Getting the feeders back up on Saturday
after two very long weeks!
Sad to say, I still have a few Pine Siskins, but
the major flock has departed, and I've seen
no more sick looking birds.
Yay!
My birdies are coming back! :c)

A milestone

(Milestone by Kathryn Smith)

Since school will be out by the end of May, I thought I'd better get our plans for the summer solidified. I asked Ms E if she was interested in watching Sam for me again, and was greeted with a note in his journal that we'd "have to discuss it." Uh-Oh. Her husband may be taking a job with a friend where he is able to be home and working locally, but if it does not work out, he will have to be doing some traveling, and wants her to be able to accompany him some this summer. Her daughter is now out of the house and her son will be graduating this year. I know she will be looking forward to having more time to be with her hubby, and certainly don't blame her for wanting to travel with him some during the summer.

That left me wondering what alternative arrangements we could make. Then, it hit me. Sam is 16 and will be 17 in August. Though he is not developmentally 16, we've seen him mature over the past year, and it suddenly hit me that maybe, just maybe, he could start staying by himself. As I mulled it over in my mind, a plan began to take shape. Hubby is usually able to come home every day for lunch since his work is only 15 minutes away from our house. I am home by 2:40 or so during the summer. This could work. We'd both leave the house by 7:30, hubby would be home for lunch at noon until one and then I'd be home by 2:45. Hmmmmm.....

The more thought I gave it, the more I realized that it was time to help Sam be more independent from us. We needed to let him know he could do it, and help him gain the skills he'll need to eventually live apart from us. No, it's not easy, and yes, there are worries. But, with the black and white of autism, he is a rule follower to the nth degree. If the rules are that you do not open the door for anyone, he won't. If he's told to look at the caller ID and only answer certain calls, he will.

...If not now, when?

So, on the way home from school one day last week, I had a talk with him. I asked him how he felt about it all. Initially he seemed unsure and started saying he'd be lonely. When I reassured him that Dad would be home for lunch and then I'd be home a couple of hours later, he seemed more relaxed. And, when I asked him if he thought he still needed a babysitter at 16, he smiled and said, "I can do it, Mom!"

Yesterday was the first test. We decided to start with small excursions and then build up to full days once school is out. So, around 5PM, we left to go out to dinner. Yes, I had a huge lump in my throat. But I also reminded myself of the saying I've repeated to myself in other hurdles we've faced, no one rises to low expectations. I put the phone beside him and his computer upstairs and showed him how to call me on my cell. We even practiced several times. I told him to call me whenever he wanted to, and we were not out of the neighborhood before he called to say, "I'm fine Mom. See? I can do it!" Whew.

Off we went to dinner. I won't lie. We were both rather antsy and wanted to get our salads and entrees started so that we were not gone too long for his first time being at home by himself. I called him midway through dinner and praised him for being so responsible and mature. He did not seem anxious at all. Praise be.

We were gone a total of two hours and he did great! He smiled as we came in the door and we all hugged and talked about what a capable young man he is growing to be. What a milestone for him... and probably more so, for us.

Won't be long now

While we were doing some yard work on Wednesday, I peeked
inside my bluebird house and found a beautiful nest ready for eggs.

When I looked back at last year's photos, I found several of the first
nestlings to fledge, and noticed that I took the photo above on April 20, 2008.

Babies will be coming... sooner than we think. :c)

Funny how things happen

After I got my Kindle, I took it to work to show some friends.
As I was showing one of the physicians how you can download
samples of books to read before purchase, I accidentally
purchased a book. That book was The Shack by William P. Young.

It was days later before I realized that this was a book I had heard
about on several blogs and from several people. I am now 3/4 of
the way through it, and I must say that it is a very thought provoking read.
Probably no accident at all that I purchased it.

I won't spoil it for those who might be interested in reading it,
but wanted to share a snippet I found especially lovely.
In the book, the character, Mack, has an encounter with God.
One of the things God shares with him is this...

"...So many believe that it is love that grows, but it is the knowing that
grows and love simply expands to contain it. Love is just the skin of knowing."

I found myself smiling through so much of his encounter as he came
to fully understand his life circumstances. This book does not proselytize or preach,
but rather offers a wholly different approach to understanding faith and grace.

Sights that make you drool

My sister is on a birding message board,
and one of the people she's gotten to know
posted these photos of a Painted Bunting.

She shared them with me, and after I stopped
drooling, I had her ask if it would be OK to share
them with all of you.

Thanks so much to Barb Messimer from Florida
for sharing such magnificent shots!
I want to live in Barb's world! :c)

Wiping the drool off my chin...

What kind of animal?

"Uh, Sam has to make a 3D model of an animal cell... an edible model," were the words uttered by Ms E as I picked Sam up one day last week. "Uh, OK," was my feeble reply. And just how does one go about making an edible 3D model? "Oh, you know, out of Jello." "Uh-huh."

The weekend came, and the Jello making commenced. The guidelines said that it could be "no more than 24" x 24" and had to at least be 1" thick. It had to include at least 10 cell components, and those would need to be identified with a legend/key.

Above is the scene in on the kitchen counter on Saturday. Lemon Jello for the cytoplasm. And, we purchased gummy things, sugary fruit pieces, fruit roll-ups, nut topping, jelly beans... all to be turned into lysosomes, ribosomes, Golgi bodies, vacuoles, and mitochondria. Let's just say that Sam ate a few nuclei before it was all said and done.

We mixed the Jello using the Jigglers recipe to make it a bit more sturdy and poured the mixture into an aluminum round pan. It was put into the refrigerator to firm up before we added the components to it and topped it off with the second layer of Jello.

What a mess it was to cut those things up and shape them into some semblance of cell parts! The gummy savers made a nice nucleolus and nucleus held together by toothpicks. Fruit gushers made good vacuoles, and nut topping made really nice ribosomes.

Once it all firmed up, we cut the aluminum pan away and turned it over onto wax paper into a shallow pan. We wrapped the entire thing with Fruit by the Foot for the cell membrane, and voilà!!! Now, what kind of animal cell it represents is up for discussion, but by golly, a cell was made. :c)

**Update: Although our cell parts got a little "melty"
when we poured the second layer of Jello, we still
managed to get a 96 on our cell project! :c)

Bluebird feast

This was the last of the Zick dough batch I had made,
and the bluebirds were thoroughly enjoying it.
I love how you can see the kitchen window in her eye.

Be a hero

The other night on ABC News, they had a Person of the Week story about a man who decided to start a web site where people could help one another:

Wish Upon A Hero was first conceived by founder Dave Girgenti shortly after the September 11th attacks on New York City. From his home in NJ, Girgenti watched as thousands of people posted pictures of missing loved ones throughout the city. He thought there had to be a faster, more organized way to connect people in need. That was the moment in which the idea was born.

...Over the next two years, Girgenti exhausted every resource at his disposal to create an online community that offered a platform for people to help people. Working under the mantra of “No wish too large and no hero too small,” Girgenti created www.wishuponahero.com, which launched in September 2007. This is a one of a kind service designed to connect those in need with people that can truly change their lives.

Wish Upon A Hero is completely free to its users, allowing everyone who registers the opportunity to cast up to three wishes at a time. Because Wish Upon A Hero is designed to help everyone, wishes can be big or small, elaborate or simple, based on financial need or just asking for a simple favor.

Wish Upon A Hero is a unique venue for any individual, organization, or company looking to make a difference in someone’s life, or the lives of countless people. Heroes come in all ages and from all walks of life. All of us, from our nation’s most powerful corporations to individual philanthropists, and those with limited financial means, can be someone’s hero.

~~~~~~~~~~

What a wonderful idea! All sorts of wishes have been granted, from one perfect stranger to another. But that is what life is all about, isn't it? Reaching out, lending a helping hand even in a very small way... it can make all the difference in the world to one person.

Pretty boy

I see you there with your camera missy...
can you not just leave me be so I can enjoy some seed here?
Put the camera away already!

OK, here then.... I'll show you my beautiful crest.
Satisfied?
Yes, I know I am pretty.

Everyday beauty

He was sitting there in the evening light...
perfectly framed, and looking stunning.
He may be common, but he's lovely just the same.

Because my feeders are down, so am I. :c(
Out of birds, and out of words.
Today, I wish you all everyday beauty.

On the kitchen table

Hope springs eternal...
Soon we'll see them blooming outside!

Pine Siskin with Salmonella

After I took all the feeders down, most all the birds dispersed.
I was hoping I would not see another sick bird after I took the
fuzzy photo of the one on Sunday at dusk, however, yesterday
when I went to put some new suet in the suet feeder (which I did leave
up for the woodpeckers away from the other feeders),
I saw something sitting on the ground below the feeder station out by the tree line.
Uh-oh.

Yes, yet another Pine Siskin with Salmonella. :c(
This time, I was able to go get my camera and get a close
up view of him to show you. This little guy was breathing
really rapidly. As I had read in Dr. Ellen Rudolph's site:

"They appear fluffed up, reluctant to fly, they appear to be breathing heavily; and they look as if they are having difficulty swallowing. Damage to the gullet from salmonellosis is so severe that it causes a partial blockage, preventing food from getting to the bird’s stomach even as it continues to eat. In advance stages of infection you will see mucus sprinkled with Nyjer seed accumulating around their beaks and over-extended crops. Death in such cases in imminent.

Careful observation of your feeding stations is vital. Especially in winter months when late afternoon temperatures drop precipitously, you will see fluffed up finches still hanging around feeders long after the rest of the flock have gone to roost. They don’t have the energy to catch up with their peers, or even to fly up into the protective branches of evergreens. They are also starving (literally) because they cannot digest the food they eat.

As darkness falls they can be found hugging the foundation of the house or other structure at the ground level, or holed up in a masonry crack near the ground. You will even find them hugging the base of garage doors or in piles of leaves in corners of buildings with their heads tucked under their wings."

And, so he was...

Notice the eyes almost swollen shut.
I know it's a fact of nature that where you have large
numbers, you can also have disease, but it's been so sad to witness.

Beta-carotene anyone?

After I posted the photo of the "Rainbow Finch,"
the Science Chimp explained that diet is the culprit
in the coloration variations we see in the House Finch.

I also found an explanation to that effect on the Cornell
web site showing the different variations one man found at
his feeders. Still, it's fun to catch one visiting that looks
so very different from the rest like this orange/yellow
variation that was in the Crepe Myrtle the other day.

Perfect perching place

The Rose of Sharon outside my kitchen window is fast becoming the
perfect perching place in between nibbles at the feeder.*
As the sun sets and casts its glow in this direction, everyone
who perches there takes on a magical sheen.

*All of the bird photos presented in the next few days
were, of course, taken before I took all the feeders down.

Salmonella on Chickadee... :c(

I had been reading about the identification of a Salmonella outbreak in the Southeast area affecting finches and siskins, and had even seen others mention it on their blogs. I had seen a few house finches with conjunctivitis over the past weeks, but only once or twice. But, on Saturday, I noticed some Pine Siskins that were staying behind once the main flock dispersed. One in particular caught my eye. He was sitting in one of the cup feeders, mouth slightly open, and breathing really fast. His feathers were fluffed out and matted looking, and he seemed lethargic. I went outside to approach him, and he did not move as I approached the feeder. I also noted matted fecal material on his tail feathers. Uh Oh. Then I saw a second one on the ground. Walking like he was drunk, and not really trying to get away from me. Then I knew. Salmonella was here on Chickadee.

I immediately emptied all the feeders into a garbage bag. Some had been freshly filled just that morning. I found a large storage tub in the garage and made a solution of one parts bleach to 10 parts water and, after scrubbing everything with soap and water and rinsing, put all the feeders in to soak in the bleach solution for 10 minutes. Everything was dried, and will be put away for a few weeks until all the flock disperses or heads back North. Apparently, these outbreaks are common with flocking species like the siskins. It's so sad to see them sick. But it would be sadder still to see other birds get sick due to my not being a diligent, responsible backyard birder.

On Sunday, I saw a bird fly towards where the feeders were. The photo above is of a sick Pine Siskin, presumably with Salmonella, who hung around long after the other birds had dispersed. He was fluttering around on the ground, and his equilibrium seemed off as he teetered where he would land after short, uncoordinated flight. Notice the fluffed out feathers. This was taken at dusk, so the lighting was poor, but he did not want to fly, even when he saw me coming towards him. I've not seen the one that was even much sicker since Saturday morning thankfully. If you have any finches or siskins who do not seem to be afraid when you approach, and don't want to fly, be suspicious. I hope I caught the outbreak in time and saved other songbirds from infection. Irruption indeed...

Still in limbo

So, the car is technically still not mine. Sigh...

I waited the cursory three weeks as I was told to do and went by the tag and title office in our county. No, they had not received anything from the dealership. I was crestfallen. I just knew that there was at least a remote chance that, because they had cashed my down payment check, my deal had gone through. Standing there in front of the clerk, I wanted to cry. My drive out tag would expire on 3/9. A nosy clerk sitting next to the gentleman I was speaking with, offered in a rather unhelpful tone, "We can give you a 30 day extension, but after that, you're on your own." On my own. Thanks so very much for all your kind support missy. So glad I didn't go to her window.

I left the tag office and went straight to the dealership. As I walked in, the general manager, Terry, was sitting at the receptionist desk and smiled when he saw me. I had tears in my eyes. "Hey, it's going to be OK," he offered. I told him I'd been at the tag/title office and none of my paperwork had been received. He pulled out a book, made me another drive out tag, which would not expire until 4/3 and told me that they are close to finding a buyer for the dealership. Once the sale goes through, he said, the worst case scenario would be that they would ask everyone who has a pending deal to return their vehicles, and a refund would be made of any down payments. "So, you've enjoyed driving a new car for two months, and you are out nothing," said Terry with a smile. That is worst case, though he said he was sure everything would be going through once the bankruptcy court releases all the frozen assets.

Of course, he also relayed that there are always two sides to a story and that the media had already tried and convicted the owner, not even knowing all the facts. We discussed some nuances of the case which he was privy to, and it made me feel bad for believing everything I read in the paper about the litigation before waiting to see what came to light. No doubt there is culpability, but it might not be as bad as it's being made out to be. Regardless, the owner will lose his businesses and those who lost jobs will forever be affected.

And me? Well, I'll just continue to enjoy my car. It's insured, though I've not made one payment yet. I'll just have to have faith this will all work out in the end. After all, I am sure someone would like to be paid for this car I've now had in my possession for a month.

Carolina (Wren) Moon!

The meal worms were a magnet for this cute Carolina Wren, but then...

He turned around and mooned me!
So, that's the thanks I get!

Just teasing... you are beautiful, and your little wren butt is too!
Don't look embarrassed.

Uncommonly funny

I was browsing through the uncommon goods catalog
(some really unique stuff) when I laughed out loud...

Check out these garden sculptures...
The Gnome-Be-Gone and Flamingo-Away!!
Oh, how I do love creative artists!

Well, HELLO!

Look who else came to dinner outside the kitchen window!
I'm telling you, this four way feeder* is magic.

*Update: By popular request... here is the four way feeder

as seen through my kitchen window! Click to enlarge. :c)

You can find the four way feeder at Wild Birds Unlimited
as well as the Erva Rain Guard to place over it.

Welcome to the table!

The chickadees have finally been coming closer in to the
feeder in front of the window so that I can get some better
photos. This little sweetie grabbed a seed and was gone in a flash.
They move so quickly I am surprised every photo is not one big blur of motion!

A week of Kindling

Well, it's been a week now with my new Kindle2, and many of you wanted to know my thoughts on it. I have just finished my first book, and thus far, love reading using this snappy invention. I love the size of it and that I can just pop it into my purse and have it readily available any time. I have found myself reading so much more than I have in a long while. It is extremely easy to learn how to navigate around the Kindle2.

I've not used the text to speech feature, but just listening to both the male and female reader options, I can say that the male option is definitely less computerized sounding. That feature will need improvement if it is to be something utilized frequently. As Liza, another new Kindle2 fan, points out in her very wonderful review, there is quite the titter going on due to Amazon even offering this feature on the Kindle2.

Like Liza, I have been ordering from Amazon since... oh, 1996 or so when it was a "new giant on-line bookstore!" I am also an Amazon Prime member (free 2 day shipping on anything they sell for a flat rate of $79 year) and get most all my books from them. So, I already had a long standing relationship with them and have been a loyal customer, sometimes getting entire Christmas lists from their web site. So, the issue of having to use just the Kindle Store to get the books is a non-issue for me.

The only other thing that would be nice is if the Kindle2 had the capability to be back lit. But, right now, they are not able to do this with the electronic paper technology. So, you have to have a book light or lamp if you are going to read in dim settings or at night in bed.

Other than that, seriously, I can not think of one negative thing about it. It is a joy and I am just as satisfied as I had expected I'd be with such a unique device.

You can check out a more comprehensively written review of the Kindle2 by Liza who covers all the bases very well. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up from me!

Mealworm wrangling

When I moved my feeders closer in towards the kitchen window,
one of the feeders I moved was the four way cup feeder by WBU.
I was mentioning to my sister a couple of weeks ago that I probably
needed to get another one as I knew that the birds it attracted the
first spring I had it, probably would not come that close to the house
to eat from it. Not that I wouldn't love to see the Summer Tanager
this close up, but... So, being the wonderful sissy she is, she surprised
me yesterday on my birthday with a new one AND some meal worms to boot.

I put the newer one at the kitchen window and moved the old one
out with the other feeders in the yard. I put some meal worms out
as a treat since it was very cold and blustery yesterday.
This female pine warbler found them in short order, but it was
quite comical watching her try to figure out how to pick them
up and enjoy them! She move it around in her mouth several ways
before turning it just right and swallowing it whole.

HBTM!

Happy Birthday To Me!

On March 1, 1962 a baby girl was born who grew up to be a Blogger. :c)
Today, I celebrate the girl I was, the woman I am,
and the better woman I am blooming to be.

(The sweet image above was found while Googling "birthday birds."
How lovely that it is a honor card whose proceeds
benefit St. Jude Childen's Research Hospital.
A very wonderful way to pay tribute to someone
and to help sweet children like my blog buddy's Ellie.)