Pie~Birds

Sing a song of sixpence
a pocket full of rye
Four-and-twenty Blackbirds baked in a pie
And when the pie was opened
The birds began to sing
Wasn't this a dainty dish to set before the King

I bet you thought my title today was about pie birds. It isn't, though while we're on the subject, I think I'd like to have a pie bird or two. Why, if I had a pie bird, I might even bake more pies. Lest you're unfamiliar with pie birds, they're the whimsical little ceramic figurines you place in the center of a pie when you bake it. They vent out steam from within the pie to keep it from boiling over and making a dastardly mess. Hmm...I know a few humans who could benefit from a Pie Bird. Moving on, some people collect pie birds, which aren't all in the shape of birds, by the way. I wouldn't mind collecting them. I imagine they'd look quite charming on a shelf in my kitchen.

I photographed these birds while visiting my sis-in-law who has a beautiful home and acreage out in the country. I try not to covet. She and her husband have put in a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to enhance the landscaping. There's a large family room on the backside of the house with windows on three sides which overlook luscious landscaping, an abundance of colorful flowers of all kinds, scads of tall trees, and a small lake. I told her the next time Mr.Studley and I go camping, we'll skip the campgrounds and haul our RV out to their backyard. It's as pretty as a picture out there. My Kodak Easy Share has a 10x optical zoom on it, but it wasn't enough to get a good close-up shot of the woodpecker in the picture above. It's the first woodpecker I've ever captured in a picture. I do occasionally see them in the trees in my own yard, but I've never been able to get their picture. They just won't stay in one place long enough. They're constantly on the move. A lot like Mr.Studley.
Click on pictures to enlarge the viewOoh, aren't you a pretty bird.


Why, thank you for posing for me.


Oops! There goes Woody Woodpecker. Click on the picture for an enlarged view to see him flying off to the left.

Oh, I almost forgot why PIE was in my title today. Remember when I posted a picture of my Bisquick Impossible Buttermilk Pie, along with the recipe? Natalie, my bloggy friend over at Tins & Treasures, left me a comment on that post that she had a recipe for a Bisquick Impossible Pumpkin Pie. She obligingly posted the recipe on her blog, along with pictures of the pies which her students baked yesterday. I am anxious to try it out myself. Thank you, Natalie!


Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
~Psalm 106:1 KJV

Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head

But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turning RED,

Crying's not for ME,

'Cause I'm Never Gonna Stop the Rain by Complainin',

Because I'm Free, Nothin's Worryin' Me......

Sorry, whenever I think, hear, or speak the word 'raindrops', that old BJ Thomas song from my youth starts running through my head. We've been enjoying rain and unseasonably cool temperatures for our part of the country. Temps in the 70's are practically unheard of for us in the month of August. It's awesome! When I look outside, I see such lovely shades of green, rather than the drab brown's we are used to seeing this time of year. Praise God for the rain!

I thought I should pop in and announce that I have not dropped off the planet. My mom and her husband have gone home, but my daughter will be with us until the 26th, at which time she's flying to Baltimore. I'm loving having Nikki here. I'm also remembering how exhausting she can be to have around all the time. She's high energy, she's loud, she's funny, she's mischevious, she's gregarious. Did I mention she's loud? I love her with all my heart, but it never ceases to amaze me that this beautiful creature, who is as opposite of me as day is to night, sprung forth from my loins. I find her highly entertaining, and yet I also need breaks from her. When did I get so old?

Nikki and John, my son, have gone to the Dallas Fort Worth area for 2 or 3 days to go to 6-Flags and Hurricane Harbor together. Mr. Studley and I are enjoying a quiet house. I assure you, once Nikki has left for England, I will not be enjoying this quiet house. I will be sad and mopey, just as Leyna (my Min Pin) is today, since Nikki isn't here to play with her. Nikki and I are too opposite to enjoying living together, but I do wish she lived near enough that I could see her more than once a year or so. In my heart, I was always prepared for this, though. I knew she'd have to spread her wings.

Even more than I've missed blogging for the past couple of weeks, I've missed reading my regular blogs. I know there's no way I can possibly catch up on my reading. I'm tempted to just hit the "mark all as read" button for each blog on my Google reader list. I hate thinking of what I may be missing, though. I knew I should have taken that Evelyn Wood Speed Reading course years ago!

God thunders marvelously with His voice;

He does great things which we cannot comprehend.
For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’;

Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.
He seals the hand of every man, That all men may know His work.

~Job 37:5-7

Keeping Cool

This was in the late afernoon, after the temperature had dropped.

This was in the yard mere inches from my feet, letting out not a peep. It's a miracle I didn't step on him. It could have been a 'her', but since I'm unsure, I'll call it a 'he'.

Here he is again, having hopped up to the porch when I attempted to pick him up. I was going to tuck him safely in a nearby tree until 'Mom' returned with breakfast, but I didn't catch him. Notice the little "gift" he left me. Yep, it was bound to be a 'he'.

Just a shot of the ivy in our backyard, gradually taking over our backyard.

I've been busy preparing for company this week. My mom and her husband arrive on Monday, for an extended visit. My daughter, Nikki, is driving down from Minneapolis this week. She'll stop over at her stepbrother's around the Arkansas/Missoure border to spend a night or two there before continuing on here. She said her length of stay there will be determined by whether or not she can sleep on the blow up air bed on the floor. Their apartment is small and they don't have an extra bed. She's young, and can probably handle it. I, on the other hand could not.

As you can imagine, I am very excited to see my daughter. She'll be here much of the month of August. She'll be off seeing friends some while here, and she and her brother are planning a trip to the DFW area to go to 6-Flags and Hurricane Harbor and spending a night or two over there. Still, I'll get plenty of time with her while she's here.

She's got a busy summer planned. After she leaves here toward the end of August, she's flying to DC to spend a few days with a friend from Germany who's living in the states now. After a few days there, she'll take the train to her cousin, Mandi, in Virginia (who's fiancee' Rich had the recent kidney transplant) to visit for a few days. After that it's another flight to Orlando to spend a week or so with her best friend, then it's off to Dublin, Ireland. From there, she'll catch a plane on to Leeds, England, where she'll meet back up with her boyfriend. Phew! It all makes me tired just thinking of it! She leads a much busier life than her mamma ever did.

When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down.
~Ephesians 4:26 Amplified Bible

View From My Window

Now, don't forget to wash behind your ears, kids!

Hey, who invited the big kid?

Man, he's emptying the pool.

Do you mind? A little privacy while I bathe, please?

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

~Hebrews 10:22 NKJV

Walter, the One Legged Robin...and more Dishcloths

Or as Elmer Fudd would say, Walter, the One Wegged Wobbin.

Mr.Studley noticed Walter outside our window a few weeks ago. He called me to come look at the one legged bird in our yard. The poor thing was hopping along rather clumsily. Each time he leaned forward to peck at the ground, he'd stumble. Hubby being the tenderhearted soul he is spoke a prayer out loud that God would watch over this little bird, just as His Word says He sees the sparrow. I was very moved by his prayer and agreed with an amen.

A few days later, our next door neighbors asked if we'd seen the one legged Robin. They'd noticed it on their back fence a few times. Since then, not a day has gone by that we haven't seen Walter fumbling around in the yard. I can always tell it's him by how he gets around, even before I see his legs...er..leg. He spends long periods of time perched in the neighbor's magnolia tree. I know he doesn't spend as much time foraging for food as other birds do, and truthfully, he looks a little thin to me, but I trust God is making the necessary provisions for Walter.

I dubbed him Walter because my dad, a stepdad in legal terms, but a dad in every sense of the word, was named Walter. He also had one leg. He lost a leg in an industrial on-the-job accident in his early 20's. If he was ever bitter over the accident, he never showed it. He never once displayed a 'poor me' attitude. In fact, most people were shocked to learn that he had an artificial leg. His gait didn't reveal it, at least not until he was in his 70's and began slowing down due to illness.

Though he'd never water skiied a day in his life, he taught all us kids to water ski. He also taught us all to drive, and the grandkids as well. He continued to work for that same company for nearly 40 years, moving his way up the ranks of administrative positions despite the lack of a college degree, and retired from a respectable position after nearly 40 years with them.

Walter (dad, not the bird) was known by just about everyone who knew him as someone who could do, or fix, just about anything. I remember when my son was small and his daddy and I were having trouble making something work. His suggestion was to take it to Pappa, "Pappa can do anything". He darn near could, too. So, each time I see Walter perservering in the yard, I am reminded of the perserverance of my dad, Walter, and how gumption and a "can do" attitude can take you far, despite the handicaps life may throw your way.

Now, on a less serious note, I'm still knitting dishcloths. After seeing the pretty Chinese Waves dishcloth at kaity knits...a lot this week, I was inspired to knit the pattern myself. I really liked Kaity's pretty striped one, but I didn't have the necessary colors to duplicate it. I think a few varying solid colored ones folded and stacked together and tied with a raffia bow will make a nice little gift.

• Chinese Waves Dishcloth pattern
• Lily Sugar'n'Cream yarn
• Denise's size 6 interchangeable circular
• Cast on 39 sts.

***Update on Rich. Mandi sent me an e-mail this afternoon that she had a call in to the doctor. Rich's blood pressure has not been below 170/100 since he came home from the hospital. She's concerned that they may want to admit him again.

If you don't mind continuing to pray for him, please pray that his bp will come down to an acceptable level and stay there. Thank you so much! Seriously, it means the world to me (and Mandi & Rich!) that you guys are praying for Rich.

So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls.

~James 1:21 Amplified Bible

Just Another Sunday

Mr.Studley and I each got up feeling stiff and achy this morning. In an effort to deny old age's attempt to latch it's label upon us, we headed out to the lake this afternoon and took a fast walk. It was hot, not horribly hot, but hot enough, and humid.

We took along Leyna, who's always up for a road trip. Since we'd left the house rather impulsively, we didn't think to take along a water bowl for her. By the time we finished our jaunt and headed back to the truck, she was showing signs of distress. We had tried to get her to lap water from the lake, but as tough as she usually acts, she was a complete wuss when it came to getting near the lake water. She was having no part of it. It was downright comical to watch her when a wave lapped up towards her. She shot away from it like a bullet.

Here she is with her tongue hanging out, right before I took her into the restroom and let her drink water out of my cupped hands. I splashed water on her face and back to cool her down some. On our drive to the lake, she never took her eyes off the road. On our drive back home, she never opened her eyes. She came home and took a two hour nap, poor tired doggie.

My son had been fishing all day and brought us a whole mess of bass. They were cleaned, filleted, and ready to be cooked. I baked some potatoes in the oven, then fried up a pan full of hushpuppies, along with the fish. We all had our fill, and there's enough to be reheated for our lunches tomorrow. What a blessing! It was a tasty meal to end a good day!

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

~I Thessalonians 5:18

Summer Visitor~Wordless Wednesday

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Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and the earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and Yours it is to be exalted as Head over all.

~I Chronicles 29:11 Amplified Bible

Wordless Wednesday~Thunder Rolls!

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Views outside my house this morning

So Many Mouths to Feed

Everywhere I look are hungry little mouths.

I've finished my Magic Stripe socks, but it's been overcast here the last few days. I can get decent indoor shots, but only in my sunroom when the sun is flooding in through the windows.

I used up all my blogging time adding a Picasa web album slideshow to my blog. It's in the sidebar near the bottom. I tried three sizes, and went with the smallest. The third size up was too large to suit me. It seemed to overpower the page. I preferred the second size up, but the pictures were off-centered and I didn't know how to fix that. What would take most of my friends a short amount of time to do, took me ....well...I'm not sayin', but it took me a long time. Computer related stuff does not come easy for me. Pretty much like knitting. ;-)

I'm in the cooking doldrums. It seems like I'm fixing the same old, same old these days. My meal planning needs a shot in the arm. We ordinarily cook burgers on the grill alot in warm weather (Hubby cooked some tonight), but I'd like to get us away from so much red meat. I need chicken and fish recipes, simple ones. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'd be most appreciative!

I've been looking around Ravelry quite a bit this week. I am just now sort of learning my way around there. I'm gradually adding to my notebook, and my queue. I see so many things I want to knit.

Wednesday's over and we're on the downhill side of this week. Be blessed, all!

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

~Colossions 4:5-6

Feed Me!

Baby Brown Thrasher & it's mother or father-click to enlarge

There is an abundance of baby birds and nests in our yard and neighborhood. I l love this time of year when I can watch all the babies. They hop along after their Mommy or Daddy, mouths wide open, eager to be fed, again and again.

I watch their weary parents and if I could speak their language, I'd tell them, "I know how you feel, I've been there. Trust me, one day soon you'll blink an eye and they'll be grown, flying off to strange lands and faraway places. Then you can rest. Then, you'll look back fondly on those days when they followed you around, making their little (and big) demands, never giving you a moment to yourself, or for yourself".

My young daughter has informed me that it's looking likely she'll be returning to Europe to live. Her boyfriend is waiting on the 'official' word from his employer, the DOD; but the unnofficial word has been given, and it appears they'll be moving to northern England. She's only been back in the states for one year, following her three year stint in Germany. That is where she met her boyfriend, as she was there working on an AF base, also for the DOD. I do wish they'd go ahead and get married, but it doesn't appear it's going to happen anytime soon.

My daughter is very excited about this move. She liked Minneapolis okay, but she's tired of the extreme winters and snow; that, and she has an adventurous spirit. She's not flighty, or one who tends to take off on hairbrained whims. She carefully plans her moves, but she is willing to move...enjoys it.

Nikki wore me out as a child. She was most demanding, and extremely strong willed. There were times, I'll admit, when I just wanted her to be quiet for awhile. An empty nest looked almost appealing at times like that, but she was so endearing, so charming, and so funny, that I never felt that way for long.

I really do miss having her in my nest...our home, but like the Mamma Brown Thrasher I spied feeding her baby outside my bedroom window, I've taught Nikki to take care of herself. Now I have to sit back and watch her soar.

The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

~Ps. 121:8

Well, Hello there!

Click on my picture for a close-up

My son went on a Jeep Crawl near Nocona , Texas (think boots), a year or two ago. One of the guy's Jeep turned up a boulder, and this lettle fellow was sitting there. My son said he wasn't so little. Interesting looking, isn't he? Who knows what manner of creatures lurk just below the ground's surface? I think I might not want to know.

I appreciate the kind comments from yesterday's 6 things about me meme. I wrote that late at night...or early in the morning, depending on your perspective. After I crawled in bed, writer's remorse set in.....you know, like buyer's remorse. You thought you looked so good in that outfit when looking at yourself in the dressing room mirror. So good that you went ahead and wore the outfit out that night, meaning it was too late to return it after you later saw what you really looked like in it, in your bathroom full length mirror, the one that doesn't tell you just what you want to hear, like the one in the store's dressing room did.

Anyway, I began to regret sharing the things I had, feeling like I made myself sound too pathetic. I was half tempted to get out of bed, start the computer back up, and delete the post. I was so close. I got up the next morning, holding my breath that maybe no one had seen it yet and I could go ahead and delete it, but I had several nice, really nice comments. I decided I'd been silly to regret it. So, from me to you, thank you.

It's Saturday, it's spring, and this is the day which the Lord has made. Let's rejoice and be glad in it, people!

A Squatter

Look who's taken over one our birdhouses. That opening was considerably smaller. He's busily gnawing away at it.

This is where you're supposed to live, little guy, in the trees!

And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.

~Genesis 7:15 King James

Knitting, Yarn, & Feathers

Preemie Spiral Hat

I loved knitting this little hat. I used Lion Brand Microspun. I seem to have a ton of it in my stash, for some reason. The free pattern is Tracy's at Wool Windings. She has a couple of other free preemie hat patterns on her site, too. Mine looks a little wonky in the center of the band. I'm not terribly concerned, but I do wish I'd noticed it and at least turned it around a little for the picture.

Isn't this pretty yarn? I bought it when were were on vacation in Pagosa Springs, Colorado a couple of summers ago. I only bought one skein and just haven't yet been able to decide on a project for it. It is a big skein, though, at 100 grams. It's soft like buttuh!

This is a baby sparrow I rescued last summer. I've rescued several baby birds in my yard, and in my neighbor's yards over the years. I've seen a lot of bird courting going on in the neighborhood lately. It won't be long until the baby birds will abound.

Our neighborhood, with it's fair share of cats, isn't the safest place for fledgelings. Whenever possible, I'll return the babies to their nest. If that's not possible, but the mother is nearby, I rig up a 'faux nest', and have Hubby climb a ladder and place it in one of our trees, making sure Mamma Bird is nearby and watching. I've done this a few times, and it's always worked. The little bird's mom will tend to her baby in the makeshift nest. I've used small, square Priority Mail boxes (shhh...don't tell the USPS), small wicker baskets, and mushroom baskets.

My nails look hideous in this picture. I guess I was too busy playing mommy to orphaned fowls to take time for a manicure. My hands aren't as dirty as they look. I was feeding the little fella some moistened (dry) cat food that I'd soaked in water until it was spongy. If you ever find a baby bird, never pour water in it's mouth. They have little tubes coming up from their lungs (or is it a tube...?). If you pour water in the bird's mouth, you could drown it, and you don't want that!

If you find a baby bird in your yard, and the mother doesn't seem to be around, call your local park ranger and ask them if there is a certified wildlife rehabilitator in your area. If you live in or near a sizeable town or city, check the internet to see if there's a listing of rehabbers in your area. For that matter, check even if you don't live in a big city. There still might be one listed in your area.

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

~Matthew 6:25-26 King James