It is not "Euro Trash"...

So we really love IKEA! If nothing else it makes us feel connected to our european friends, with some of the designs and all. Well we have been researching (as usual before large purchases) and obtaining quotes on building a bookcase to fit in a particular spot in our family room. We have had quotes in the $600 to $1200 range. Now that is for quality made locally handcrafted REAL wood. We finally decided to "do it ourself". Knowing full well that the piece would never achieve heirloom quality, but thinking we would have fun in the process--and spend only $150. Well, strolling through the isles of IKEA we find a better option--a piece (although pressed wood fake junk) almost the exact size we wanted for $90--Made in the USA, amazingly. We were THRILLED. Now we have a storage area for the kids junk and we are all happy, callous free, and have a bit more in the bank than we would have.

I bring this up--all to say I LOVE IKEA! Plus, the trip to Philly was quite fun.

What a cool dad!

Ok, so Dan gets a kick out of making the kids cool pancakes, whenever it is Saturday Morning Pancakes with Daddy Day. I must say he is certainly on top of creativity--and the kids love it!

Eastern Bluebird!

Yes, we have one in our neighborhood. And sadly, the day he was spending time in our backyard/backdirt --we snapped some pics (IN B&W!!!). The BLUE and ORANGE were delightful..and yet black and white for you! Bummer! My father told us how to build an eastern bluebird box (he knows everything about birds and plants, and well...everything it seems). Hopefully doing so will draw him to our place often.

In the Streets of Lebanon...

Oh, what wonderful sights!

Middle Creek Wildlife Preserve--Snow Geese and Tundra Swan!

Not even 7 minutes away is a HUGE wildlife preserve--aka bird watching mecca. We have been there twice now and have had a wonderful time. This time of year the Snow Geese and Tundra Swan come through. It was amazing to see the THOUSANDS of snow geese. We could not get TOO close, but it was a great experience. We talked with people all over the area, PA, MD, and so on who come up to see the birds here. We were prepared, Bird Book and binoculars in tow. Most of the people there had some heavy duty bird watching equipment. Guess we will have to add that to our yard sale list for this summer. Can't say the level of our voices were condusive to bird watching...kids.

Anyway, some of the landscape pics, that appear to be snow, are actually birds!