My ritual each evening, when I arrive home from work, is to check my backyard garden.  I’ll repeat what I’ve said (here) several times: “I love my backyard garden!!”  But this time my heart stopped beating!!  I was astonished to see that my Bluebird house was gone!!  Not just the house; the wrought-iron post in the “luggable” pail of cement, securing all, had disappeared!! ~~  The gardener had been doing some work in the adjoining yard–where I had positioned the ensemble several weeks ago–and moved my pride and joy up next to my Topsy-Turvy upside-down tomato planters.  Quite unexpectedly (quite rare!), the maintenance supervisor appeared in our backyard and I sobbed, and stammered “My poor babies,” and “Mama Blue and Papa Blue must be traumatized, too.”  The supervisor moved the ensemble back to its original location.  I sat discretely inside my living room next to the patio doors; I watched but did not see the Bluebird couple return to the bird house.  This morning I watched but no Bluebird couple.  I put out fresh mealworms in hopes they might be lured back.  This evening, twenty-four or twenty-five hours later, I witnessed the Bluebird couple taking food into the bird house.  I was thrilled to see them!!
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Postscript, June 21st, 2012, 7:45 AM: I exaggerated (above) and confess I was not sobbing.  (Sobbing on the inside!!)  I’ve worked so hard to coax a Bluebird couple to my yard!!  Some of that journey is documented in earlier blog messages.

Yes, my halo tilted this morning. I planned to unpack the crate with Christmas things BUT “my being” was screaming “No, I can’t face that task today!”  In years past, I reduced Christmas from numerous boxes to this one.  It contains sentimental things and I just couldn’t handle, document, and donate.  Maybe later?!  This past week I emptied those several crates. The third picture shows the corner (of the bedroom) where the crates were stacked for many months.   The fourth picture shows the corner after the crates were removed.  The fifth picture shows over a dozen boxes of health and nutrition books that need a new home. 

Shopping bags full of “filler” items for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. Those are “keepers” until next November.

Here is the link to the blog message prepared one year ago.

They all conveyed a message when I was deeply involved teaching health and nutrition (and/or working for that industry). Now they are en route to Second Chance Boutique where they will hopefully find new homes. I envision them in the hands of children. I know the Veggie Tales will sell quickly. Truthfully, this is only a small part of the decorations… and all are going “bye-bye.”  Frankly, I had forgotten how extensive  (packed over two years ago) and fondly reminisced as I unpacked the collection to document as a donation. (Documenting… is the way I spent my afternoon!!) ~~~~ Pictures below: “Special delivery” Tuesday morning June 19th.

Congratulations are in order!?!?  I made super-human progress today!! I emptied many boxes and will advertise them “free” to  JAARS residents (as great storage). Three other “Banker’s Boxes” (full of Veggie Tales, etc.) will go to our local MK Station (Missionary Kids Day Care).  I’ve loaded several boxes of things into the KIA for delivery (next week) to a local church for a youth fund-raiser yard sale.  Right now, I have three separate “piles” of donations: Second Chance Boutique, Church youth, & JAARS day care.   ~~  Much, much more awaits my attention!! ~~ Oh! I almost forgot to mention all the shredding I did.

Postscript, Monday 6/18/12, 10:00 PM: Change of plans.  The Veggie Tales and assorted other fruit and veggies will go to Second Chance Boutique.  Why??  Because I visited their “other” store in Monroe, North Carolina, on Saturday and was favorably impressed with their store.  Obviously, I’m impressed with their ministry to battered women, too.

I spent the morning in the garden watering plants and filling bird feeders.  My tomatoes are growing exceptionally well.  “Necessity being the mother of invention,” I added a rack for CDs as a trellis for the trailing tomato plant.  ~~ I checked the Bluebird house and cannot determine if there are any babies. Two days ago I didn’t open the house because a Bluebird egg was in the entry (how strange). This morning the egg is still in the entry and no eggs deeper in the nest. Zoom in on the third picture and see if you can see baby birds. ~~ A squirrel on the bird feeder again.

I took another peek at 7:13 PM and removed the egg that had been pushed out of the nest. I still could not see any movement in the nest. Earlier today, I saw the mama Bluebird taking food, in her beak, into the bird house.

Question #1: Who is the extremely faithful follower in–or near–Rochester, New York, that checks my blog almost every day??  Please add a comment or e-mail me at LorraineEEdwards@gmail.com .

Question #2: Who is the faithful follower in–or near–Shelby, North Carolina, that frequently checks my blog??  Please add a comment or e-mail me at LorraineEEdwards@gmail.com .

Sincere THANKS !!

Hello!!  I’m still here!!  I’m really, really, really involved with “downsizing.”  It’s like I have a tiger by the tail and can’t let go. (One-track-mind.)  Right now (Thursday morning) I’m working on two donations. More clothing for Second Chance Boutique and lots of miscellaneous for a church youth group fund-raiser yard sale.

It’s Flag Day. I’m wearing white pants with a “flag” shirt to work this afternoon and red, white, and blue earrings. Other patriotic accessories, too. ~~ God bless American!!

Sadly (or only sad for me?) most of my “costumes” went to the thrift shop: St. Patrick’s Day green velvet pants and green shirt (and green beads long necklace); Valentine’s Day red dress and heart accessories; April “Foolish” outfit with Joker hat; etc., etc.  I still have my Mrs. Santa Claus red dress with white fur (detachable) collar and red hat with white fur trim.  Remove the white trim and I could wear for Valentine’s Day.  Square dance skirts and blouses, leather fringed vest, red cowgirl boots, and western bandanas will hopefully find a place in someone else’s closet.  I even had a collection of clothing items I thought appropriate for a cruise (but I never sign up for a cruise).

It was after 3 o’clock before I got to my backyard garden. Two days since I watered and my Topsy-Turvy upside-down tomato plants had wilted. It hasn’t been hot but there is probably a big root system to feed the large plants (and the planters aren’t extremely large).  I gave them lots of water and liquid fertilizer.  ~~  I checked the Bluebird house and saw a little red object that moved. My first Bluebird baby!!  Thrill, thrill!!

I worked all day yesterday at the JAARS open house (JAARS Day).  I went to bed at 8 o’clock because I was tired!!  Today I’ve been documenting clothing items, hats, shoes, purses and jewelry going to the Second Chance Boutique.  (A total of 120 items.)  This was my Red Hat Society wardrobe when I was active in a Chapter in Southern California (2003-2004).  ~~  Why am I documenting each item??  Because North Carolina really zaps me for taxes each year.  I’m OK with the standard deduction for Federal Income Taxes but North Carolina isn’t as generous.  I document my donations in a software program called It’s Deductible (and you can access it on the Internet).  ~~  I have a one-track-mind!!  It’s almost 5 o’clock and I haven’t had breakfast or lunch.  I think I’ll fix some supper!!