HB, M!

To my dear friend M.

Update on the Girls

I haven't posted pics of the chix since they were 3 weeks old. Now, at more than twice that age, I figured it's about time. They've changed a lot!

In this pic is: Coco's fluffy butt and Buffy, scratching in the dust bin.


Coco standing tall in her half-feathered dinosaur phase. What? You don't think she looks like a velociraptor?! Also pictured is Buffy, and a decent shot of Roxie's neck feathers. Too cool, really.


Roxie saying "Hello!" She loves to sit on the outdoor perch when I'm out there. We sit and chat, nose to beak. My BFF says this is a face only a mother could love. Guess it's official, I'm mother hen.

Here's Coco (a week ago-ish) in full dust bath mode! Watch the sand and dirt FLY!

All three girls enjoying the dust bin. Watch (at about the 21 second mark) to see Coco shake like a wet dog! Cracks me up every time.

Goodbye to Friends

It's been a rough several days here. Last week we lost our dear WingMom and Snail-Mail Queen, Betty. She was valiantly fighting liver and pancreatic cancer and developed a lung infection that unexpectedly took her from this realm overnight. I know every other mom and dad in that group feels a profound sense of loss at Betty's passing. I have sent messages to her husband Russell and her son James, but there really are no words to convey what a giving and amazing woman Betty was. She will be missed by Airmen and Air Force families around the world.

Sandi

Then this morning I was notified that a long time friend of mine, Sandi Spike passed. Sandi and her husband Doug helped found the group that T sings in, Cantate. It was Sandi who really had a heart for reaching out to people, she remembered everything about you and you knew right away that this was a woman who cared. Sandi and Doug moved to Florida several years ago, but Doug always managed to send just enough e-mail (usually bad jokes and an occassional update) that you never felt that far away. I was stunned to hear of Sandi's passing. Next Saturday there is a Memorial service, though I will be unable to attend. Cantate will be singing her 'home'. How appropriate.

Add to these losses that my wallet was stolen from my car late on Thursday night and I have been in credit card fraud HELL ever since, and it's been a bang-up week. SARC!

I promised myself that I would do my best to relax this weekend. So far so good. I'm going to hang out with my BFF this evening. Been way too long since we've done that. G'nite.

Three pictures

My neice Tillie looking absolutely adorable and paitently waiting for the fireworks to start.


Joshua and I after the Oak Park parade - my hometown up til 1978. I still go back for the parade every year I can. If you look back you'll see pics of Avivah with us last year. I missed her a lot this time.

The flip side of that is that this year I ran into a bunch of HS alumni! We hung out for quite a while, boring Joshua to death and tickling me silly. What fun. So here's a shout out to Gary, Lisa, Lynne and others I'm going to forget to mention. Hey! No old memory jokes!

Not sure if I posted this pic yet because blogger is still having issues. Every time I open it either the text is missing (all of it) or the minute it loads it crashes. Anyone else having problems?

Anyways, this is the finished coop. The girls are now 6.5 weeks old and just wonderful. Caring for them is a chore I enjoy. Feeding them clover and greens is a HOOT! This past weekend a friend of mine and I decided that all my chicken loving friends and I should write a book. Title? "Grounding with Chickens" I love it.

That's about it for now. I'm off to work and volunteer greeting and proposal writing. Yee Haw!

Happy INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Let us never forget our original pledge, to be united as Americans, and the true name of this holiday, Independence Day.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

Because of the spirit of the American people, and the sacrifices made over our meager 233 years, we can celebrate INDEPENDENCE DAY today. We must never forget to appreciate the freedoms we have, and honor those to whom we should be grateful.

As the Mother of a US Airman, I pledge my allegiance to a Nation indivisible, though if I had my choice my heart would have it be, "to a World, Indivisible"

PAFM A1C Avivah, Minot AFB
PM Joshua