life with WE

When doves cry, I mean stalk.

The doves are stalking me.

They walk my roof line.  They walk all over my porch.  They just hang out in the front of my house, waiting.  And while they wait, they do that coo'ing thing that I used to find lovely, and now I just find annoying. 

It's a stand off.  They're waiting for my baskets so they can use them for their homes and reproductive purposes.  I'm refusing to budge.  #1 - It's not yet Mother's Day, which is the random deadline for hanging baskets according to my family.  #2 - Seriously doves, you ARE NOT THE BOSS OF ME!

But there they are.  Waiting.  I try to shoo them away, and they just cock their little heads to the side and continue to coo.  I know what they are saying.  "Listen lady.  Get those damn baskets up.  I've got eggs to lay.  You know it's going to happen.  We know you won't throw us out.  Your mom would.  She thinks you're weak."  And this is all true.  The doves, they know me so well.

My mom is a bad ass when it comes to nature.  She'll tell you to throw the eggs and nest out.  "We've got enough of those birds.  They aren't endangered!  Throw their nests out and when the mom comes back, tell them maybe the dingo ate your babies!"  This is the same lady who patiently stalks moles in her yard with her shovel she refers to as her sharpshooter.  She'll flood them out, pop 'em up and whack 'em upside their heads!  Now I hate moles as much as the next guy, but I don't have the wherewithall to hunt them.

Anywho, the doves are waiting.  And I know they will win.  I'm contemplating some sort of decoy basket on a separate hook for them.  Then perhaps they will back off my flowers?

Meanwhile, the robins apparantly talked to the doves about the fine living over here at House of WE.  By the time I discovered this nest, it had three wittle robin eggs in it.  And now?  Three little baby robins.  No dingos over here.

We're just waiting here for our mother. 

Falling in love with Autumn

For some, it's the sound of waves crashing on the beach.  For others, it's snow in the mountains or a babbling bro. ok.  For me, it's fall.  The fabulous sights and sounds of fall.

Yesterday, Sunday,  was a breezy day - about 65 degrees.  Wearing a light jacket, as the sun hit me, I felt the warmth but was not hot.  The wind blew my hair in and out of my eyes while the sun highlighted the leaves on the ground and still in the trees.  And as the wind blew, and rustled those leaves, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.  Autumn filled my spirit and brought peace to my soul.  The air seems cleaner, refreshing, invigorating.  The trees are a symphony of sounds as are the leaves crunching under my feet and the ones swirling on the driveway, patio and sidewalk.  I can't get enough of the beauty of the leaves and the trees - the deep rich colors of red, orange, brown and yellow - all of those warm harvest colors.  I want to drink a glass of warm apple cider complete with cinnamon stick while I drink in all the sights, smells and sounds of Autumn.

Fall is what does it for me.  It's my heaven on earth.

Don't get me wrong, I love those other sights and sounds - beaches, snow and whatnot.  But Fall, Autumn - call it what you will - is what moves me.  If there was a place to live where it was fall all the time - I'd move in a heartbeat.  Somehow the leaves would fall, but the trees would have more to drop and the colors would always peak and never fade.

I love Autumn.  Can't get enough of it.

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In other news, I've purchased the items for the One Bag Five Dinners challenge.  I had other things in my cart, so I'll share the list and total price with you tomorrow as well as our review of our first meal.

I really take too many pictures.

So I sorted through the photos of camping yesterday.  Edited the over 200 down to 136 and then pared those down to share with you all.  See the effort I make for my  devoted loyal readers reader?

Well then, here you go!

(This bridge highlighted the differences in our children.  It's a swinging bridge over a creek, and W hates it.  E on the other hand went on it in the dark to look at stars and jumped to make it move and laughed and laughed.)

Avast me harties!  It's a pirate crew!

These were our lodges - no door, and bunks.  They were named after Pink Floyd songs and lyrics.  Ours was THE WALL.

Elaine and I ended up sharing this bottom bunk with the blue sleeping bag.  Yeah, that part wasn't so fun.

Yep, THAT IS A COPPERHEAD SNAKE.  That's right folks.  It was a baby, I zoomed a lot.

Isn't that spider freaky looking?  Baby tarantula perhaps?

If you want more information on where we camped, the links are here:

Camp Ondessonk

Shawnee National Forest

To quote Ferris Bueller - if you have the means, I highly recommend it.