They're beginning to look like birds now, not necessarily chickadees, but birds. The parents seem to be bringing two or three tidbits at a time - I wonder how they make sure that all eight are fed equally. Fascinating! Claire

Gee when it's 52 degrees here and you still see nuts in shorts. Oops I mean people in shorts. The snow is coming by noon today but usually we start 2 hours earlier than they say or don't get any at all. Hubby was hunting his long underwear this morning and I told him they were in the wash. Well they are...and he found a pair of old white ones. Sent for the Cooking Light magazine - they sent me an offer I could not refuse - $10 for a year. Here is a recipe I found in my recipe box yesterday. Will need to try some of the recipes I keep. This one sounds good. Hearty beef barley soup 2 t oil 20 baby carrots - chopped (or 2 medium - chopped) 1 large onion - chopped 2 celery stalks - chopped 2 t minced garlic (note I buy this in a jar) 1 14 ounce can ff chicken broth 1 " " " " beef broth 3 cups water 3/4 cup quick (10 minute cook time) barley if you use regular barley cook it seperately to package directions except for the last 10 minutes 1 package (1 pound) already cooked beef tips in gravy Heat oil in Dutch Oven (If you don't have one saute vegs in skillet and then add to larger pot) Add veggies and onion until they start to soften (about 2 minutes) Add garlic, both cans of broth and water stir Add barley and beef and gravy, simmer until barley is tender. 201 calories 6 servings

It is cold here but I have a large attached garage with a lot of empty space. Can I move the boxes into the garage until we move? It would give me a feeling of accomplishment to clean the place out instead of adding more boxes which translates into clutter to the rooms. So far, I've organized and packed 43 boxes which are mainly books, CD's, DVD's and all of DH's stuff. He's now working at his new job and will not be here to help. I used to have the computer in an extra spare room which I made into an office. But I seemed to be in there more than with the family in the living room. DH asked me one day to move the computer into the living room and I did which turned out to be a perfect solution. I will admit to being on the internet when I'm watching a movie or TV. It's become an awful habit but it works for me. It's not as though I'm doing anything important while watching television. It will be hard to give this up even though the logistics might force me to do so. Talley Sue, I like the idea of tossing half. Maybe then I'll be able to toss more. I definitely know which items I wear and which ones I don't since I've already sorted them. Today, I have to go into town for a doctor's appointment. Tomorrow, I plan to do what's left in my bedroom. Then there's the 2 closets that have my clothes as well as 2 bathrooms and the kitchen which have been culled and organized. I also have some boxed stuff in the garage that I'll have to repack properly. I just have to pack up the stuff. DD is dragging on packing up her stuff. I might end up having to help her since she has two chronic diseases and stress makes them worse. For bathroom items as well as kitchen items, how long in advance of the movers coming should I be doing these? I'd rather not break it up into what I need now and those items not regularly used since when I pack it up, I will organize it properly into boxes so that I know if these items will end up in the new kitchen or the storage cupboards in the laundry room. I definitely won't have the same amount of kitchen cabinets and fantastic pantry in the new place so I will have to rethink some of it. I've never had a long distance move that the movers didn't pack it all for me. That's why I'm having a hard time figuring out how to proceed. I'm so thankful that I had organized and thrown out a bunch of stuff these past 3 years. It definitely is making my life easier now that I'm moving. I don't even want to think of how I'd have gotten started if I hadn't done this.

You are all so kind. A couple of answers... 2 days to pack, actually we had 2 50 foot storage truck containers on our property for the last 3 years. Thats where most of our stuff had been. (They are the units that were broken into by one of the subs guys and my heirloom silver was all stolen. Amazingly, I got everything back. Long story.) No case against anyone. Times are hard for builders & most of them have no money or resources. We did file a complaint against our builder, but we are one of many in line. His license is suspended as of right now. My husband & I had to decide that we would move in without bitterness about what had been our life for the last 3 years. We have paid a great deal for this home to be right & in all truthfulness it should have been handed to us complete & finished. But it isn't, so what are we going to do about it? Well, for us the bottom line...,we have a life to live, children to raise, and a marriage to sustain. None of these things will be served well if we hold on to anger & resentment. We lost a ton of money, we had great stress, we had huge amounts of worry. However today we sit, walk, live, rejoice, fellowship in a home I dare say is stunning. Who am I to complain about anything? I have so much that I am thankful for every minute of my life that there is no room for anything else. My arms are full, my heart is at peace. We have nothing we want to battle for. We walk in faith for a bright future. God Bless all of you. Kimberly