Good 36º clear sunny morning.
Yesterday we had clouds, lots of the big fluffy white ones and we topped at 76º.
Yesterday Brian picked me up and we went to Jacksonville to the Inn where we met up with Jen, Tucker, Sami, and Jen's mom Jean. We had brunch and a nice visit.
You can read some more about this historic place..
Picture of the Day .... right place, right time
Interesting about the state bird of Washington....
Inviting the Willow Goldfinch
We owe it to the school children. The Willow Goldfinch or the American Willow is the State bird of Washington because the school children wanted it to be so. In a state wide vote in 1951, the school children voted the Willow Goldfinch to become a state symbol of Washington. Washington's Secretary of State writes in State Symbols:
We owe it to the school children. The Willow Goldfinch or the American Willow is the State bird of Washington because the school children wanted it to be so. In a state wide vote in 1951, the school children voted the Willow Goldfinch to become a state symbol of Washington. Washington's Secretary of State writes in State Symbols:
In 1928, legislators let school children select the state bird and the meadowlark won hands-down. It was a nice choice but seven other states already had chosen the same bird. Another vote was taken in 1931 by the Washington Federation of Women's Clubs. Many birds were nominated, but the goldfinch won handily over the tanager, song sparrow, junco and pileated woodpecker. Now there were two state birds and the Legislature decided to leave the final choice to school children. In 1951, children voted for the goldfinch and the Legislature made it unanimous.
Willow Goldfinch Habits
Of course no one state can really claim ownership over this migratory bird, because it seeks refuge in many states across the country. However, the main path of the American Willow lies in the central portion of the Washington State, along the Columbia Plateau of the Tri-Cities where the state bird can be seen in healthy numbers.
Of course no one state can really claim ownership over this migratory bird, because it seeks refuge in many states across the country. However, the main path of the American Willow lies in the central portion of the Washington State, along the Columbia Plateau of the Tri-Cities where the state bird can be seen in healthy numbers.
The Willow Goldfinch rarely alights on the ground, preferring the relative safety of the trees and bushes. But in the Hanford Reach of the Tri-Cities region, the bird is often seen playing on the ground, helping itself to the cool and clean waters of the Columbia River, seeking comfort from the blistering heat of the arid shrub steppes of Pasco, Kennewick, and Richland.
Natural Habitat for the American Willow
The Hanford Reach of Tri-Cities provides a sanctuary for the American Willow, along with other migratory birds and animals. In the months of August to November, the Willow Goldfinch can be seen in the famous nature sanctuary of the Hanford Reach, breeding and rearing their young, before flying off to somewhere else.
The Hanford Reach of Tri-Cities provides a sanctuary for the American Willow, along with other migratory birds and animals. In the months of August to November, the Willow Goldfinch can be seen in the famous nature sanctuary of the Hanford Reach, breeding and rearing their young, before flying off to somewhere else.
The American Willow builds its nest in trees and among the bushes of the shrub steppes of Tri-Cities. The birds are very devoted parents to their brood, patiently feeding the helpless chicks with food regurgitated from their mouth. When a predator is sensed nearby, the female American Willow lets out a distress call for the male bird to hear. The male American Willow responds by flying around the area, trying to scare off the would-be predator.
From Mr. Food
Our Pull-Apart Cheese Bread is great for a movie night at home with some friends and family. That's 'cause this pull-apart bread is made with delicious and irresistible ingredients, like two kinds of melted cheese and yummy buttermilk biscuits. Just don't blame us if this recipe steals the show!
- 2 (16.3-ounce) packages refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
- 1 1/4 cups shredded Colby and Monterey Jack cheese blend
- 1 1/4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
- 1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chilies, drained
- Preheat oven to 350º. Coat a 9- x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Separate biscuit dough into 16 biscuits. Cut each biscuit into 6 pieces and place in a large bowl. Add cheeses and chilies; toss until well mixed. Place in baking dish.
- Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden and cooked through. Pull apart and serve.
- When tossing the biscuits with cheeses, make sure to separate any biscuits that stick together. This will help make sure that there is cheesy deliciousness in every bite!
Historically this date......
1924 – J. Edgar Hoover is appointed the Director of the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation, and remains so until his death in 1972.
1954 – Bill Haley & His Comets release "Rock Around the Clock", the first rock and roll record to reach number one on the Billboard charts.
2002 – F.B.I. agent Robert Hanssen is sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for selling United States secrets to Moscow for $1.4 million in cash and diamonds.
2005 – A hand grenade thrown by Vladimir Arutinian lands about 65 feet from U.S. President George W. Bush while he is giving a speech to a crowd in Tbilisi,Georgia, but it malfunctions and does not detonate.
And births this date include....
1899 – Fred Astaire, American dancer and actor (d. 1987)
1922 – Nancy Walker, American actress (d. 1992)
1936 – Gary Owens, American actor and announcer (d. 2015)
All I know. Nuff said. Have a good Monday. Ciao.
xo Sue Mom Bobo
Spring cleaners get their wish granted each year when National Clean Up Your Room Day arrives on May 10th. Children often dread this parent-appreciated day. Though, some years, the observance arrives with perfect timing for Mother’s Day!
However, the observance doesn’t only target kids. It is also about picking up, straightening up, and cleaning up the whole house. Adults take spring cleaning seriously, and homes get aired out. They organize, de-clutter, and rearrange. It’s time to fix the broken and match up missing parts, like with like. We tackle cluttered closets and donate or throw away those things we no longer use. Help your children make their beds, clean their rooms, and eliminate the toys and clothing they have outgrown.
The day helps garages, sheds, and cabinets see the light of day. Drawers, closets (did we say that already), and under the bed get thoroughly organized. Find ways to repurpose items around the house, too.
- Use an old towel bar on your potting bench and hang S hooks to store your tools.
- Broken dresser drawers become bookshelves or under-bed storage.
- How many ways can you repurpose an unused wine rack?
- storage for towels in the bathroom
- take it to the craft area for all the small tools, glue and yarn
- store water bottles and travel mugs
- Tissue boxes make terrific storage for plastic bags, but they also work well for used dryer sheets. Reuse the dryer sheets to wipe down the washer and dryer to keep it dust-free and clean out the lint trap.
- Use old magazine racks to store cutting boards, baking sheets, and other flat kitchen items.
