Don't Let Him Fool You. He Will Cut You.

And I know this from experience. This may be a sweet looking bluebird but do not be fooled. Sorry for the bad quality picture (he really is blue) but I took this from inside the house, door shut because I didn't feel like having my eyeballs pecked out.

You see, we thought this bird family business would be sweet. Not so. It was in the beginning when the birds were building their nest but it went downhill quickly.

The past few weeks we have noticed that there have been no birds at our feeder. A few days later Beau called me on his day off and this was our conversation:

Beau: "I think I know why we don't have any birds at the feeder."
Me: "Why?!"
Beau: "Because I just saw the male bluebird dive bomb the doves and cardinals at the feeder."

After researching bluebirds I found out that they become very territorial when they are nesting. This was a very telling quote I found on a webiste: "The male bluebird has been known to peck at windows when he sees movement inside or his reflection. Although this is not a deadly behavior for the animal it can become stressful for the bird and homeowners."

You think????

I also found out that apparently it's a big deal for bluebirds to nest in one's bird house. Good luck or something like that. On some of the websites I found people begging for suggestions on how to get bluebirds to nest in their yard. Sheer desperation I tell you. All short of announcing they would sell their children on the black market for a chance at bluebird nesters. I can only compare it to women writing in with fertility problems. "We've tried everything! The food, millworms, painting the birdhouse, mowing less, you name it and we've tried it but still no bluebirds. Help! What do we do!" I want to respond with, "I've got a pair of bluebirds you can have."

The other day I thought I would get close to the birdhouse just to listen for baby bird chirps. BIG MISTAKE. Instead I heard a distant squawking and looked on the roof of our house. There he was, Big Daddy Bluebird and he was talking to me. He then flew from the roof to the fence about 8 feet away. I kid you not when I say my heart started pounding because I knew what was about to happen. The bird flew from the fence and came right for me, wings flailing. I took off running and screaming like I was being chased by a linebacker with a shank.

So this is where we stand: Kendall-0, Bluebird-1.

I have resorted to throwing bread over the fence for the birds that choose to no longer risk it by eating at our feeder. I am ready for these dang baby bluebirds to fly the nest so their overprotective parents will leave us. Until then, I'm staying inside.

Since It's Been A While...

I'm going to give you kids (all seven of you) a little treat I like to call EASY RECIPES!! No. I cannot claim these as my own as they came from Real Simple, the best magazine ever.

The first recipe is cheesy baked pasta with spinach and artichokes. Really good and very filling.

-8 ounces of some short pasta (penne, mezzi rigatoni, etc.)

-1 14-ounce can artichoke hearts, rinsed and quartered

-1 9-ounce package frozen creamed spinach, thawed

-1/4 cup grated Parmesan

-2 cups grated mozzarella

-black pepper

Directions:

-Cook the pasta and drain

-Add the artichoke hearts, spinach, Parmesan, half the mozzarella and some pepper to pasta and toss

-Transfer pasta mixture to a shallow 2-quart baking dish and sprinkle remaining mozzarella. Broil until cheese is browned in spots (2-3 minutes.)

Next we have easy chicken and cheese enchiladas. I have cooked the same enchiladas since Beau and I got married but this recipe is a little different so I thought I would give it a try and we both loved it. This makes about 4-6 servings so we ate off of it for a couple of days. It makes a great lunch heated up at work.

-1 can of cream of chicken
-1/2 cup sour cream
-1 cup of Pace Picante Sauce (any salsa with the onions and peppers)
-2 tsp chili powder
-2 cups chopped cooked chicken
-1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
-6 flour tortillas (small) or 3.5 (big)
-1 small tomato, chopped
-1 green onion, sliced

Directions:
-Stir the soup, sour cream, picante sauce and chili powder in a medium bowl.
-Stir 1 cup picante sauce mixture, chicken and cheese in large bowl.
-Divide chicken mixture among tortillas. Roll up the tortillas and place in dish. Pour remaining picante over tortillas. Cover dish.
-Bake 350 for 40 minutes. Top with tomato and onion.


By the way, I cannot figure out why my first recipe is double spaced and the second is not.

As far as an update on life we don't have a whole lot going on other than work and the stomach virus. I had it two weeks ago and Beau had it yesterday. He was pretty pitiful but I will say that I enjoy taking care of him and he milks it for all it's worth.

I had a meeting from 11a.m. to 8 p.m. yesterday and from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. tonight. I ended up staying at work to prepare for several things coming up this week so I didn't get home until late tonight. And if that's not enough I have to go to Mena for a dedication ceremony tomorrow. I know, right? UGH! I hate losing my weekend; my entire weekend. I really should stop complaining because I am thankful for a job when the economy is down. However, it is hard to go, go, go without a break.

I hope my recipe offerings have offered blog-abandonment forgiveness! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!

Sorry I'm late for the meeting but I got caught behind a tractor.

I'm no farmer but I am assuming it's plant'n season because this is what I had the pleasure of following on my way to Jonesboro today.

I was there for work. It's always nice to have a change of scenery but this is a big change.

I'm sure that my safe driver judgement is in question by me taking these pictures behind the wheel but I had to share.

Happy Tax Day

Not that the words "happy" and "tax" go together.

Yesterday I found this wreath at Michaels on sale for 50% off. Very springy, don't you think?



I have been on the hunt for new recipes and found several that I plan on cooking the rest of this week. Last night I made kielbasa and cabbage. It was pretty good but I think it lacked something but not sure what it was.

First you brown the sausage in 1 tbsp of olive oil.

Remove the meat, cut up a large white onion and put in pan with remainder of oil. Cook on medium until softened.
Leave the onions in the pan and add a 16 oz bag of the cole slaw mix (cabbage and carrots) along with another tbsp of olive oil.

The recipe called for 2 tbsp of white wine vinegar. Since I am not too fond of buying random items from the grocery store that I will never use again, I read that you can substitute with white vinegar and lemon juice.


Next pour 3/4 cup of white cooking wine and salt and pepper mixture.

Add sausage and cook on medium for about 10 minutes.

Like I said, it lacked something so I plan on perfecting it. Suggestions are welcomed.

When I was at Michaels I also found 24x36 frames on sale for next to nothing. I have two prints those size so I bought the frames.

I didn't care for the dull brown frame so I painted it.

Here is the finished product with the poster. I love it!!!! I am going to hang it in our bathroom above the big tub.

I am going to paint the other frame tonight after another experimental dinner.

Take That Walmart!

And this is why I love Kroger. In addition to almost $17 saved on groceries I got 10 cents off of my gas (If you use your Kroger Plus Card you get fuel points and for every 100 fuel points you get 10 cents off at the their gas station.)

I always say that I am breaking up with Walmart but I truly did not make it final until a couple of weeks ago when I had a mini meltdown in the produce section. Their onions were crazy gross and looked like they were covered in mold. After I asked the produce girl if she thought their onions were acceptable and she looked at me like I was insane I decided that I was done! I really should have done this a long time ago.

The communications director in me feels like I should have something in italics stating that although I choose to not shop at Walmart, I am not encouraging others to do the same.

Now to home news:

1.) The heat and air guy came out today to look at our air conditioner since it has not been working. He discovered that when the electrician was wiring our house he did not hook up our air conditioner. Talk about a big mistake! Thankfully the problem is fixed and our air is running.

2.) We bought a bird house and now have tenants!!! A male and female blue bird have moved in and have been building their nest. Beau mowed the yard on Sunday and as soon as he was done they were picking up the grass clippings to carry to their nest. I'm sure I will have pictures soon.

That is all for now. After reading over this post I realize that life has been rather dull. I'll work on that.

Back from Dead, Sort of

I woke up late Saturday night with the stomach virus and my life has been pitiful ever since. I did suck it up enough this morning to make it to work (chill out mother, I no longer have fever.) Although I don't think I am going to make it the whole day seeing as I was exhausted after I got dressed. Normally I would have called in but I am on a deadline.

Saturday morning I kept my nephews, Carson and Hudson. I am praying that I wasn't contagious then because I will get a guilt trip from my sister until Christmas of 2015 if either one of them get sick.

I bought Carson a package of those capsules that grow into foam figures in water. I'm pretty sure he thought it was the most amazing thing EVER.

Oh the simple things in life. Happy Monday!!

The Entryway Bench That Almost Never Was

Our bench came in yesterday and I was thrilled! I had been monitoring the Fed Ex delivery status since I had ordered it. When Beau got home yesterday and saw the bench in pieces and in need of assembly he was less than thrilled but very willing to get to the task at hand. Before I continue with the story let me set the audible scene: our battery in the smoke detector in the hallway had gone out so it was beeping. Beau tried to replace the battery but realized that we did not have the right size (9 volt if you care.) I convinced him that we needed to put the bench together before we went to Walmart because it wouldn't take that long.....

First we had to put together the basket. I use the word "we" loosely. That wasn't so bad but we literally had to take each side of the basket and drill them together. Then it was on to the bench. I really don't want to bore you with all of the details so here is the shortened version. After spending almost two hours of listening to beeping and putting that dang bench together (and Beau grumbling under his breath) he began to screw the last piece in only to discover that the seat was on backwards. Mind you, this seat was about step three of ten steps and it was 10:45. I just started saying, "let's just go to bed and forget about this," over and over and over. Beau had one response, "you're going to leave right now and get a battery." I chose not to question and left immediately.

Once I got home I was not sure what I would find when I opened the door but to my surprise Beau had fully assembled the bench. And here it is................

I want to make some cushions for the bench and eventually order a shelf like this...

Although I need one pre-assembled after Beau practically made me sign in blood stating that I would never again order anything online that had to be put together. For now I am very content with my bench!!