I'm Baaaack!

Yes, I'm finally back from Des Moines and the PEO convention. It was a wonderful experience and I plan to do it again next year! There were 3 of us from Ottumwa and we were so excited about the convention that the drive home was over before we even knew it - we were so busy talking about what we could do to get our chapters motivated! We've got some good ideas so we're hoping to BE the program for our reciprocity meeting in October. You PEO friends, be sure to ask me what all happened in the business meeting - several changes are coming.

My little robins are all gone. I'm sad, but happy for them. I heard mama outside today scolding one of them, so I went around the corner and he/she flew!! He couldn't get clear up in the tree yet, but he flew! He's the only one I've found so far; I hope the cats in the neighborhood didn't get the others. I'll be looking better tomorrow (if it's not raining)!

Just Pondering...

Some days are pondering days, and today is one of them. Don't get me wrong, I've been busy, but I was doing things that allowed me to ponder! Bob, Ann and I went to the cemeteries today to pick up the flowers - I wonder why there are boundary markers on the "Allison" plot where my grandma & grandpa are buried. I'm sure it's because Donnie will be buried down there too, but he was cremated, so it won't take a very big spot for him. While we were at the cemetery I noticed some baby robins - one of which had ventured from the nest. I think ours will probably leave about tomorrow - their nest is so full I just wonder how they keep from falling out! I took this picture yesterday - this is just one of them and there are 4 in that little nest. Today they're pretty active, so by tomorrow I figure they'll be out. I think I'm going to miss them.

I've been sewing this afternoon - putting the strips on the sweatshirt. Wish it was done for tomorrow, but like I said, this isn't a quick job! Tomorrow I leave at 6:00 AM to go to Des Moines for the P.E.O. convention. Yes, I said I LEAVE at 6:00 AM! I hope the meetings are interesting so I don't fall asleep! It should be fun. More later...

Robin Watch

Our baby robins are 1 week old today so I had Dave get a picture of them. They've really changed! From everything I read, they will be out of the next by this time on about Friday or Saturday. The fledglings only stay in the nest about 12 days. I'll try to get another picture before they're gone. I think there are 4 beaks here - Dave things only 3, but I believe the triangular object on the right is another beak. I know that the adult birds are constantly flying in and out with bugs and worms for the little critters! I hope they make it to adulthood! It'll be hard for me to watch them get in trouble before they learn to fly. More later...

I Forgot!

I forgot to tell you the biggest news of the day yesterday! We have babies! The baby robins are here - exactly 12 days after all 4 eggs appeared. As of yesterday afternoon about 5:30 we only had 3 - the 4th egg hadn't hatched. I'm anxious to get a picture today to see if all 4 of them are hatched, or if she had one dud! Dave took this picture - he said he tapped on the nest so that one of them opened his/her mouth! Aren't they ugly!?! Dave is so funny! Poor mama and papa robin are in for a busy day today - I'm about ready to go out to mow, which means that they will fly off the nest everytime I bring the mower around to the front of the house. I just hope they don't peck me now that there are babies in the nest.

Tonight is my last Beta Sigma Phi meeting of the year. To celebrate, we're all going to Lake Rathbun to the new destination park for dinner. We're leaving at 4:30, so I'd better get a move on and get that lawn mowed. It takes me about an hour and a half! Actually, I'd better head to the pharmacy to get myself some more allergy pills, because I'm down to my last one and when I mow, I need them!

I finished a good book last night. Bryan and Deanna got me The Girls From Ames for Mother's Day. It's the story of 11 girls from Ames, Iowa, who have maintained a friendship for 40+ years. It was such a good read! It reminded me a lot of the group of 13 of us who have remained friends since junior high - that's a little more than 40 years! Too bad we didn't come up with the idea first. Our book could have been named The Gang of '66! Anyway, it's worth a read if you're a woman with women friends. I've got to get going, so more later...

Wednesday Already?

It can't possibly be Wednesday already, can it? I've been so busy this week - in fact, the month of May is a very busy one! We need to go to Indiana to see Dave's family, but I keep telling Dave that we have to get thru May first! Yesterday was another shopping trip with Sudi - this one not quite so productive. Today was a massage and tonight is choir practice. This weekend we have a car cruise at the Country Club and a murder mystery Hawaiian luau! How about that for diverse activities?

See the lovely robin's nest that Mr. & Mrs. Robin built on my wreath? I have this wreath just outside the main door of our home. They didn't take that into consideration, I don't think. Well, anyway, I just couldn't tear it down because they worked so hard on it! Saturday there were no eggs in it. yesterday there were 3, and just now when I looked, there are 4! I read that they usually lay 4 eggs and that incubation is around 12 days, and doesn't start until all the eggs are in the nest...so 12 days from now (about May 18th) we can expect little baby robins! I'll try to get a picture of the eggs - the ones I have are blurry! They are the most beautiful blue!