Whenever we travel, we usually do a bit of hiking at local nature parks and a bit of bird watching. My husband is an avid (and I do mean AVID) bird watcher. When we vacation he takes his small set of binoculars everywhere. I always hope people don’t think he is a peeping Tom. He really is only looking at birds, not through people’s windows, I promise. There are either in his hands or his pants pocket at all times. This vacation was no exception.

At one point he was hurriedly trying to get them out of his jeans pocket so he could see a bird he’d never seen before. His pants were just tight enough that he was having a bit of trouble getting them out (ok, a lot of trouble but I’m trying to be kind) and getting more frustrated by the moment. Mind you, I like bird watching but it’s not like it is the end all, be all to me. So seeing him struggle and hurry, and the more he hurries the more he struggles, has me laughing so hard that I had to turn my back to him to keep him from seeing how hilarious I thought he was. He finally gets the binoculars free only to have the “rare bird” fly away. Men, they are so strange some times. (PS: I had 15 photos of this hummingbird on my camera when I uploaded photos….15! The brown thrasher below, only 5

What do Mother’s love to do most?  Brag about their children.  I am doing that today.

Some of you may recall the post I did on folding an Easter Bunny napkin.  Today I am posting a napkin Debbie made.

Can’t you just see this napkin setting in the middle of a pretty red, green, gold or any color plate?  It would “wow” my guests for sure.

I am “hoping” Martha, you know,  Martha Stewart whose instructions I gave you for Easter Bunny fold sees this so Deb can get her napkin in a national magazine!

Well I am her Mother so I can dream big for her.

I thought they were cute beyond words and loved the fold she put on them and wanted to make sure you had a chance to see how talented she is

I start each day with a cup or two of coffee.  I was looking for Green Mountain coffee online and came upon what I found to be interesting info about coffee and thought you might enjoy it also.

1652
The first coffeehouse opens in England. Coffeehouses are called “penny universities” (a penny is charged for admission and a cup of coffee). Edward Lloyd’s coffeehouse opens in 1688. It eventually becomes Lloyd’s of London, the world’s best known insurance company.  The word “TIPS” is coined in an English coffee house:  A sign reading “To Insure Prompt Service” (TIPS) was place by a cup.  Those desiring prompt service and better seating threw a coin into a tin.

1995
Coffee is the worlds most popular beverage. More than 400 billion cups are consumed each year. It is a world commodity that is second only to oil.

I am amazed at the date of the first coffee house but even more so that Lloyd’s of London was connected.  Secondly, I know I have lots of company around the world who share my love of coffee but I do wonder if Cola has overtaken the 1995 statistic?  And to think 358 years ago a cup was only a penny!

When we discussed getting ready for Spring earlier in our blog I think I failed to mention working out and getting the body in shape for all of the lifting, pushing, carrying, squatting, planting, digging…I hope I didn’t miss any of the activities I took part in over the weekend.

Here is my Monday after the weekend tonic:

Maybe tomorrow will be better!!!

A precious friend of Deb and Robert’s passed suddenly Saturday of what appears to have been heart failure.  He was only 36 years old and leaves a wife and stepson, age 16.  Today we are with his family and friends honoring and celebrating Brian Akabane’s life while mourning our loss of having him for such a short time.

Our sympathy is so heartfelt for the family and friends.

Creative Chics is participating in a Mother’s Day Giveaway at Natalie’s Sentiments.  The list of giveaways is long so please take advantage and get registered.  A $25.00 gift certificate will be given away to shop in our store and many, many other wonderful freebies.  Click on the link above and get entered today!!

To enter:

• (Required) Leave a comment on this post telling me a few of the specific items you are most excited about and who you would like to give them to. (I won’t judge you if you are planning on keeping them.)
• For an extra entry, let me know in a separate comment that you are a public follower.
• For an extra entry, let me know in a separate comment that you have my button on your blog.
• For an extra entry, let me know in a separate comment that you have facebooked or twittered about this giveaway.
• For THREE extra entries, let me know in THREE separate comments that you have blogged about this giveaway.

Why do we have April Fools’ Day?  See what I found out.

There are several theories on how April Fool’s Day came into existence.  I suppose the origin is not important but I was curious what you might do in your household to “fool” your family.

Here are a couple gags over the years I have been a victim of.

Raisin in the tube of my toothpaste. It isn’t difficult to stuff a raisin into the end of the tube and have the unsuspecting person who squeezes it dismayed by what comes out onto the toothbrush.

How about this one?   Confuse callers by leaving the following outgoing message on your answering machine: “Hello? [pause] Hello? [pause] Is anyone there? [pause] April Fools’!”

One that got lots of attention a few years back was the Water On Mars story.

In 2005 a news story was posted on the official NASA website purporting to have pictures of water on Mars. The picture actually was just a picture of a glass of water on a Mars Candy Bar.

Leave me a comment and give me some of your best hoaxes so I can try one out

Too often we make our holiday decorating complicated when simple ideas like this can add so much color and conversation.  Give it a try this Easter.

1. Tie pretty bows on the backs of chairs. Do it in two steps. First loop ribbon over each chair back, and tie it in a knot.

2. Then for the bow, make two loops with a length of ribbon, and secure by tying with the tails from the first knot. Insert a silk butterfly.

This Kids Easter Craft project shows you how to make an Easter Egg cover with a plastic cup and some simple craft supplies.

List of Materials:

1 plastic cup, yellow or orange
fawn or red felt for beak and comb
Black felt, card stock or craft foam for eyes.
Craft Glue

This Easter Egg Cover can be used for Easter Table Decorations as each cup will hide a mid sized egg.

To begin with cut out your felt shapes for eyes, crest and beak.  Let the children glue them into place using the craft glue.

Pop an easter egg under the cup for a Easter Table Surprise.

I don’t know where you reside but Spring in the USA has officially arrived…but when I looked out the window all weekend I seen this blanket of white SNOW!!

Spring teased us last week with warm temperatures and we are begging it to return very, very soon and fulfill our visions of daffodils, tulips and blooming spring trees.

Photos are so important to stir our hearts to patience for what will prevail.