For "the birds"

Meet Peep (yellow) and Sweet Bird (blue) our wonderful parakeets!

About 8 years ago after visiting my folks in Arizona, I decided we needed a bird. They are relatively easy on the upkeep and fun to watch and interact with and I enjoy their chatter...that is parakeet chatter..... So, I went to PetSmart and got two one blue and one yellow...didn't know their gender so named them Peep and RePeep. They became fast friends and for 3 years were happy in their cage and their life...then RePeep showed some signs of stress and so I took him (by now, we knew he was a he and she was not a he!) to the Vet....$125 later, we knew he was just fine and all fit and healthy...then 6 months later he dropped dead one morning. I was very very upset and sad...Peep was too. Poor RePeep, but he had a good, but brief life....Well, enter my good friend Michelle...she is a huge bird lover. She had a bird, a parakeet, who needed a home, would I be interested? The bird she was talking about I already had heard of thru Michelle, she had taken care of him for his owner for a week and had talked about what a great guy he was. His name ....Sweet Bird. I knew Peep was lonely...but thought I should wait to see if she would drop dead too since the mysterious death of RePeep...we waited, Peep survived and so enter Sweet Bird. He had been kept in a very small cage, so his growth was stunted (he was small, lots smaller than Peep who has always been in a nice large cage)...anyway....Sweet Bird may be small in size, but his heart, and ego knows no bounds...he is GREGARIOUS and from the moment he laid eyes on Peep, he wanted to be best friends...she was very shy. We kept their cages close for a week, then, we opened both doors so they could come and go...well you-know-who was over in the "big cage" instantly????SB, that's who...if birds could talk he would have been going a mile a min. Eventually, we brought just his beloved swing from the smaller cage and he moved into "the big house" and they have been together for 6 years now. Such a pair they make! They have great personalities and of course SB knows no fear and is such a character. He has also grown and is just about the same size as Peep now. She is calm and steady, he is wild and crazy...they are great friends and Paul and I enjoy being part of their world.

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cathy

That's me on the left!

So here I am with Lord Wedgwood and all that lovely china! This was actually taken a year ago at my first event here in Raleigh....I should be getting some photos to upload and share soon of the event in Charlotte. I have done this three times and have enjoyed each tea. Everyone in both the Belk and Wedgwood organizations is so very accomodating, helpful, friendly and professional, it is a pure pleasure to work with them. And Lord Wedgwood is the consumate gentleman and so charming....he is grand. I try to make them glad they hired me....
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cathy

Good News and Out in the sun all day

My Camera works! (that's the good news).... These are some flowers from my yard. Roses, tree peonies, peony, pink spyria of some kind, catmint and salvia....glorious. These guys were full of bugs, so I left them outside all afternoon and now, they have vanished to parts unknown....both of us happier too!
Our "square foot garden"
Today we mixed the planting mixture....vermiculite, peat moss, compost of 5 varieties...it is lovely for planting! After mixing the planting medium, we then marked off 12" squares with stakes. Then, the FUN began!. We planted German Johnson tomatoes, Betterboys, romas and a lemon yellow tomato plant! Then radish, vidalia onion sets, carrots of two varieties, bush beans, cantalopes, zuchini, basil (sweet and cinnamon), beets, yellow squash, ...I think that is it! *whew*

We watered very carefully, then noticed ants everywhere in one box and figured Paul must have brought them in with our own compost somehow....so we did a dusting of seven....hated to do it, but figure that it might just get rid of those ants and we won't do it again!

Isn't it pretty? Sure hope it stays that way and we harvest a boat load of goodies!

These beauties stand 2 feet off the ground and there's no bending to weed or harvest...love them! They are 10 years old and still look just great.

This is the street view of the raised garden.

Another last look at another kind of harvest from my yard.

We took a break to go to Woody's baseball game. His team won and Woody hit every time he was up earning runs and also doing well on 3rd base! We are very proud of his baseball career and so enjoy watching him play. This is probably his last year for baseball and it is going to be a bit sad....

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cathy

I HOPE I GET A NEW DIGITAL CAMERA FOR MDAY!

Good morning friends!
I am soooooo frustrated. Yet another Wedgewood "gig" and no photos!!! My camera just locked up and I had new batteries and all....perhaps the drop from my son's deck, actually did some harm???? I have been promised photos from several of the lovely young women who work with Lord Wedgewood, Marie and Renee. Also, Sara from Belk has promised some, so I hope I have some to share with you early next week.
The trip was great. Made it to the hotel in 2 and 1/2 hours drive with no stopping and the round trip took less than one tank of gas! Southpark is a super cool shopping arena. I hit Anthropologie and Sur le Table and of course Teavana where I purchased a large cup of Golden Monkey....$5!!! but stellar....a treat. Visited a lovely independant book store and bought a couple of magazines and then ate at Cheesecake Factory. The Friday event went very smoothly with a full house and of course Lord W was charming and delightful and I had fun, hope they call me again!
Well, am cutting this short for now as dh and I are going to be mixing our "soil" for the raised beds and all our lovely vegetables!!!
more later
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cathy

Me and the "Lord"

Good morning friends,
I am in a hurry as today is the day I travel to Charlotte, NC for a real-deal job! I am the "tea expert" for a Belk/Wedgewood event tomorrow. Me and Lord Wedgewood (hence...."the Lord") do a little talk on stage for a few assorted hand-picked guests. I get to spend the night in a hotel and have a great time too! This will be the third time I have done this type of event for Belk and I do love it so! Last time, Lord W was not well and didn't get to be there, so this time, I am bringing my camera and I will get a photo! Charlotte is a brief 3 hour drive, and it is overcast and drizzeling, perfect traveling weather! Well, must pack and depart
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Cathy

VOTED!

Hello and happy Tuesday friends,
Big day in NC, all eyes are on the results! Lots of buz, everywhere I went folks were talking about voting today. Of course the national ballot was obviously of great interest, but we here in NC have many issues locally and many many choices in our primary elections. As far as I can see, these local elections mean a whole lot more to me and my day to day living than the national ticket.(of course, that is my humble opinion). I DO WANT CHANGE, I just think it starts in our own states, counties, cities and hearts! History is being made, that is for sure...of the 3 obvious presidential candidates, one a woman, one of African-American decent, and one an honored POW...that says alot right there. I think this election will certainly be one for the history books! I also have to admit I feel sorry for WHOEVER wins...and I use that term loosely as I think being president for the next four years will be considered the "boobie prize".
I voted for my guy Mike and was proud to do it too, my vote was not wasted....I "spent" it well.
I am glad we do not receive TV (we do not have ours hooked up to an antenna, so we cannot watch any tv) because tonight will be a bust for sure!
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Cathy