Aubrey Lynn - Through The Year

Our third great grandchild and first great granddaughter was born one year ago today at just before eight o'clock in the evening.  I'm not sure if there's ever been a cuter newborn.

She even rocked out her photo shoot with her aunt two weeks later.

Aubrey is her mother's and her grandmother's namesake since they all share a middle name, Lynn.  Here's Aubrey Lynn through the year.

It's been a busy year for Aubrey.  She started crawling early and walking at under ten months.   She's always been very adept physically and willing to try absolutely anything.   Including climbing into a big truck to go for a joy ride.

Fortunately she had Dad's ever ready hands there to make sure nothing bad happened and her joy was apparent when he got her squared away exactly where she wanted to be.
 She had her first Valentine's Day.
And she got acquainted with her second cousin who is a mere three weeks older than her.
At a very early age (in fact one month), she demonstrated an interest in guitar playing.

 And recently proved that that interest has not waned.

She's the apple of her parents' eyes (well, one of three apples).

And an important part of one of the sweetest, most wonderful families that I know.

So Happy Birthday, Aubrey.  We hope it's amazing but only a tiny bit as wonderful as the many, many more to come.

Bluebirds Are So Smart!

I've read that bluebirds have great vision but I've never read that bluebirds are smart.  I surmised that myself after we bought our bluebird feeder early last Spring.

The bluebird feeder has a normal bird feeder platform with plexiglass panels on each side but no food can get under those side panels like you'd find in a regular bird feeder.  The panels are tight to the platform and the only way to access the food is through holes found on each end of the feeder.
 
I've watched adult bluebirds teach their youngsters how to get in by demonstrating the technique.  Here is a series of pictures of a young bluebird who got in but then could only focus on how to get out.  He didn't even eat any of the tasty meal worms  His only concern was figuring out his exit strategy.

After racing back and forth for a few seconds, he appeared to stop and think about it.

Until he figured it out.

 And flew off.

To join Dad on the fence who was watching carefully the whole time.

And perhaps the most interesting thing of all is that no other bird will enter this feeder.  They just can't seem to figure it out.

I've said it before but I'll say it again, there's nothing more entertaining than watching these quirky, interesting, beautiful, and smart little birds. 

You Capture - Fall

Beth's You Capture subject this week is Fall!  It's perfect because right now Fall is everywhere.

Unfortunately it's in the koi pond adding unsolicited color that will have to be unpleasantly removed as we get deeper into the season.
  
It's rampant at the feed and seed store where we buy our koi food.
 
  

And it's everywhere we drive whether we're looking for it or not.

This colorful little tree is almost lost in the deep and vibrant hues that surround it.

And this Fall picture is a portent of what's to come - dreary skies and barren trees but for now, in the Fall, she holds on to as much color as she can.

For more Fall pictures without the grim reminder of what's to follow, visit Beth's I Should Be Folding Laundry.

April In Colorado Springs

Last April we went to Dan and Teresa's house to stay for a few day's while Dan and Teresa went to Battalion Commander classes for wives and commanders.  And the Sunday before her return, Teresa also rocked out a 10K in Kansas City.  Wow!

Anyway, we were lucky to be there in April because the weather was SO much sweeter than April weather in Northern Indiana.

On April 13th, we picked Tessa up from school and then took pictures of her standing under one their many blooming trees.  You'll note she was wearing a sweater but that afternoon she really didn't need it.
 
On Saturday, she went out side with Grandpa and pretty soon decided to showcase her performing and running skills.  Of course I had to take pictures.




And Saturday night when Harry stepped out side for a few minutes he shot these pictures.

It might have been alarming to have snow falling so fast in Northern Indiana but in the foothills of Colorado Springs there was just a 'peaceful, easy feeling'.

The next morning we woke up to a winter wonderland.


And as we drove out of Colorado Springs later that morning, you'd have thought winter was back for good.

But we found out later that by evening every trace of snow was gone.