Nature Is Cool, Birding Is Cool

June 10 was Black Cow Day. We were too busy and it got too late to make root beer floats with chocolate syrup in them.

So we celebrated the next day, observed. Nichole and Jet made them for everyone. Jet put in the chocolate syrup and Nichole put in the ice cream and the root beer. Mwah (chef's kiss). They were very well balanced. I was impressed.

 

Before we had our black cows, though, Nichole and I had the opportunity to go on a bird walk with Utah County Birders. We've missed the last couple they've done so we enjoyed getting to go this time. We started at Vivian Park and walked along the Provo River Parkway for a while. We had a huge group of people. It was nice to see so many people show up. There were a lot of new birders and some that are new to the area. It was hit and miss with some of the birds, though. You never know with a huge group of people if it's going to scare the birds or not.

At one point several people saw a beaver. Nichole and I didn't.

Bird of the night for me was the catbird. I kept getting glimpses of catbirds but they wouldn't stay in sight for long. I saw one flying across the trail or hopping over on the side but not long enough to even look with the binoculars. Until... on the walk back, one finally decided to hop out and show itself for the small group of people we were with who had not gone ahead with the rest. So Nichole and I got a good look and got to get pictures. Yay. It's been a while since I've seen a catbird.

Nature's cool, man.

International Tea Day 2026

I loved what we did for International Tea Day, May 21, last year so much, I wanted to do something similar this year.

I asked family members what they wanted to eat with our herbal tea. Cucumber sandwiches, of course, were requested. Our favorite recipe for cucumber sandwiches is in Whisk Me Away by Michelle Wright.

We also had raspberry honey butter (also from Whisk Me Away) on English Muffins. My husband requested coffee cake so I made Carrot Cake Coffee Cake (recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe). 

 

Lucky and I made biscuits (also from Whisk Me Away) that he had with leftover sausage gravy.

  

We spent so much time making food that Nichole and I only had time to eat half a cucumber sandwich each before we headed out to a Relief Society activity. I stage my picture and ate when we got home.

 

Our activity was a walk along the Provo River Parkway with a few other ladies. 

I had self control and didn't bring my binoculars and camera yet still got distracted by birds and got way behind the others while I was trying to find a Yellow-breasted Chat I could hear. I never did see it.

Ah, birds... and going for walks... and herbal tea... and celebrating.

Last Two Days of March

March 30 was Take a Walk in a Park Day. I did and it was lovely.

March 31 was Tater Day. I made fries. Lucky made pasta. I scrambled up some eggs to go with it. I also went around saying, "What's taters, precious?" I can't not say that on that holiday.

It's Spring!

Since it was a mild Winter, Spring just sort of showed up. So many blossoms with it. So many sneezes.

I've gotten out for a few walks, including walking home from choir practice after church. Lovely lovely Achoo. 

I've also taken walks at the lake again. It's been a while. 

I want to go for more walks. 

On the first day of Spring, March 20, I spent some time debating what to make from the Fablehaven Cookbook (it's tradition). We ended up having sandwiches- some fluffernutter types- and ate some more of the caramel biscuit bars. 

 

Zelda Muffins

February 20 was National Muffin Day. We made muffins.

February 21 was the 40th Anniversary of the Legend of Zelda. Some family members played Zelda games. We didn't do anything big to celebrate the 40th like we did with the 35th. 

What we did do was Jeremy, Jet, and I went for a walk at Farmington Bay and got to see some birds. 

February 23 was National Rationalization Day and it was National Banana Bread Day. I rationalized making banana bread and I did.

 

February 25 was National Chili Day and National Toast Day so I made chili and we toasted bread and had chili on toast. 

Here's Another One

I haven't been getting out for walks as much as I'd like lately but I did the other day so here's a picture of the sky, mountains, and me.

Aren't I cute?

I'm a Helper

Saturday, February 7, had nice weather. I'm glad of it because I walked over to someone's house in the neighborhood to help paint platforms for the school play... twice. Base coat in the morning, texturing in the afternoon.

It was Play Outside Day. It was nice to get out for that short walk (four times because of back and forth) because I have just gotten over a cold so I haven't been out for walks much lately.

Between trips to do that service I made sure to eat ice cream. It was Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. Several people in the family celebrated.

Sadly I was too tired to take anyone to the library for Take Your Child to the Library Day. Oh well. 

It was National Fettuccine Alfredo Day but we didn't have any fettuccine so we had rotini alfredo. Mmmm. I love the homemade alfredo sauce we always use. It's from ourbestbites.com and it uses ingredients I always have on hand. Guiltless Alfredo Sauce.

Saturday was a good day.

Galentines

Party time!

Nichole and I went to a Galentines celebration with friends. We had a potluck dinner and did some getting to know you activities.

Our friend, Stephanie, shared some things with us to remind us that our best Valentine, the one who loves us most, is the Savior.

After those activities, a few of us stayed to watch a movie. 

It was another great night with friends. 

 

P.S. That morning I got out for probably my last walk at the park before the lights are turned off.

You're As Nice As Peanut Butter

Saturday, January 24, I got out for my morning walk at the park. 

It was a misty mountain morning, which was appropriate because I was listening to the soundtrack to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey as I walked.

 

January 24 was National Compliment Day, the anniversary of when the California Gold Rush began, and National Peanut Butter Day. 

We had fun complimenting each other. "You're as good as gold," was an obvious one. Jeremy started getting creative with peanut butter brands. Here are some of the ones we came up with (paraphrasing): You're so helpful. I know you'll be there in a Jif. 

This tastes so good, it makes me want to Skip-py.

When I'm around you, I feel like I could fly like Peter Pan. 

I got a little silly. "You're as great as Winco Brand Peanut Butter." 

Creativity. Isn't it great?

Bonding Time: Hiking

Since it has been a mild Winter, I wanted to take my nature loving boy out hiking one day in the hills.

Jr. Jr. and I took the afternoon on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 19, since he didn't have school, and we hiked up to Battle Creek Falls. We took binoculars and the birding camera with us.

Just up from the parking area, we heard scritch-scratching in the underbrush, which I would have assumed was a spotted towhee but I could see robins, so not a spotted towhee (be careful about assuming). Jr. Jr. has really good eyes when it comes to spotting things so he helped me notice the bird that was not a robin. I got a look at it in the underbrush with binoculars and this is how things come out of my mouth since I'm a birder-

Me: You're right. That's not a robin. That's a thrush! Robins are actually thrushes but this one... if it has a reddish tail, it's a hermit thrush. Do you see the tail?

Jr. Jr. confirmed the reddish tail (I would use the term "rufous"). 

I love birding.

Besides the birds, we also enjoyed the hike together. We had plenty to talk about, including the ice we kept seeing in the stream and the water flowing under the ice. 

Nature's cool, man.

 

We made it all the way up to the falls and a little above the falls before turning around. I only slipped twice, once on the way up, once on the way down, both in the same location. Ha. Nothing scary. 

When we got back down to where we saw the hermit thrush on the way up, we saw it again with the robins. It decided it would be a good sport and posed in a tree so I could get some good pictures of it. I was very pleased with it sitting there for so long.

Jr. Jr. and I enjoyed that time together. I love that we have that love of nature in common.

  

I love bonding time! 

 

Earlier that day, I got out for my morning walk at the park with the Christmas lights. The city says they're going to leave them up until Valentine's Day like they did last year.

Lucky, Nichole, and I made cheese ball that day, too. Nichole shaped it into a witch's hat. It didn't last long. Mmmmm, cheese ball. 

 

January 19 was also Whisper "I Love You" Day. There was plenty of that going around. It was National Popcorn Day. The kids had popcorn. It was also Brew a Potion Day. We had hot chocolate and I told everyone to put whatever they wanted into or on it.

 

The next day, January 20, was Penguin Awareness Day. Jet and I watched "Surf's Up" together. I haven't watched that in a while. It was fun.