Thank you for being a part of birding's biggest day.

Black-throated Mango: one of the 1,526 species seen on Global Big Day.

Photo © Juan Diego Castillo/Macaulay Library

Hi Debra,

On 5 May 2018, you helped set a birding world record. Your eBird lists joined reports from nearly 30,000 fellow eBirders, tallying 6,924 species as a global team: 2/3rds of the world's birds in 24 hours. This is a new world record for the number of bird species reported in one day. Thank you. Mark your calendar for 6 October for another Big Day—we'll be in touch with more info before long!
See full Global Big Day results here.

Importantly, this impossibly fun event also provides valuable information to help birds. eBirders gathered more than 1.6 million bird sightings on 5 May, which are now freely available to researchers, conservationists, and birders everywhere. Explore eBird sightings here, and find more birds today!

The best part is that all this fun doesn't have to only be one day a year! At eBird, every day can be Global Big Day. 365 opportunities to go out, see what you can find, and make a difference for the birds that we all care about.

Sightings from your local park or backyard garden are as valuable as those from far-flung rainforests and mountains: any bird, anywhere, anytime. If you enter a couple checklists a month now, how about one per week? If you enter a list weekly, can you do one list a day? How high can you get your 'checklist streak' on eBird's home page!?  Use eBird Mobileto make entering sightings as easy as can be, and Merlin to help with bird ID.

One checklist at a time, let’s have some fun and make it count. Thank you for all that you do as an eBirder.

Chris, Brian, Marshall, and Ian—for Team eBird

Armed Guards in School ~ WW

It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere!

Yes, I jumped on the Flip Flop Bandwagon!

I usually don't like to follow trends, but these were just too darn cute and brought back the good memories of living in Miami.

I'm on a mission of using what I have to try to thin out supplies, at least some!

I grabbed a green foam wreath base I've had for - oh maybe 5 yrs I'm ashamed to say. But when I saw it at a yard sale for 10 cents, what are ya gonna do?!

I wrapped it in pink ribbon in case the form happened to show through.

It brings to mind the movie "Tangled" but in a different plot twist - like that pun?

I shuffled my flip flops back and forth, placing the matching mates directly across from each other, until I was pleased with the patterns.

3 pairs were hot glued in place for the first row.

Another reason for the ribbon ~ I could use hot glue between the flip flop bottoms and ribbon without worrying it would melt the styrofoam wreath base.

Next the top row of 3 pairs were glued onto the first row. They were glued in the open spaces between the bottom ones ~ to fill in.

Then the fun part ~ embellishing!

I had some sparklies I used to bling them up a bit

I had picked up a couple pairs of sunglasses for Izzy and Brand for the next time they're here...gonna have to replace those!

Added some ribbon too.

Then the thing that had been circling my mind the whole time - 

my "It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere" sign I picked up at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville in Key West!

Perfecto!

Flipped it over and tied a string for hanging.

Real high tech, can't you tell? LOL

And out to the front door it goes!

I love it!

It was easy, fun and cheap!

If I didn't have it,

 it came from the Dollar Tree,

of course!

Seashore Coloring Pages

Print out 

and

Color away your stress ♥

Scatter Kindness ~ #sktrkndns ~ WW

Started hiding last week, 

will continue through this week. 

A local Kindness Rock Group

Fold Out Ironing Board Transformation

Growing up Dad had this cabinet hanging in his shop with small tools, 

products, etc. in it.  I always loved those little shelves.

I always thought it was just another cabinet he had picked up along

 the way that he made into storage.  Being a carpenter, he was always bringing home odds and ends.

When we cleaned out the farm I asked my sister if I could have the cabinet. Of course, she said yes. I thought it would make a perfect Spice Cabinet.

It was made to be inset into the wall. I knew exactly where I wanted it to go. Since I have so few cabinets in my kitchen freeing one up from all those spices would be a great relief.

That's when she told me it was originally a fold out ironing board that came with the house and that Mom and Dad had removed it. I then noticed the burnt area down by air vents - that I had never payed attention to before. Not sure what the story was there, but understand now why it was removed.

I sanded it lightly and gave the outside a fresh coat of semi-gloss white paint.

I didn't want the door to be plain white on the inside, so I decided to paint it with chalk paint. I thought it could be a shopping list of spices I was running low on.

While the chalkboard paint was drying I covered the blue background inside with Krylon Hyacinth.

Once all was completely dry I conditioned the chalkboard paint by covering it in chalk

Then wiping it off with a dry cloth.

Ready for list

I had always wanted it to be inset into the wall, but after waiting 10+ years for someone with more know how to do it, I decided to just hang it on the wall.

I painted the sides the same green as the walls so they would blend in.

All spices transferred over with room to spare!

2 rows on each shelf in alphabetical order even!

Love it!

Final touch, my Dragonfly painting ♥

So glad this is finally done. 

I am more than pleased with the outcome, 

especially with one less thing in the attic!

Happy May Day with Clever Me MemoVase ~ Review

 I was contacted by Splash Brands saying they were currently launching a new product that was unique.  I do like unique gifts, but how many times have I heard that?  But as Clever Me MemoVase was being explained to me, my interest was piqued. 

The Clever Me MemoVase is an 8" tall white ceramic flower vase with a detachable bamboo whiteboard.  You can write any message you'd like on the whiteboard with the dry erase pen that is included.

How cool is that!? The dry erase pen fits and stores behind the whiteboard. No more hunting for one to use!  When you're ready to change your message, it wipes right off with a dry cloth.

The magnets are nice and strong and hold the whiteboard securely. No worries about moving the vase and it falling off.

Isn't this the cutest thing? Perfect for Birthdays, Mother's Day, Weddings, Get Well's, and how about a sweet Hostess gift for all those upcoming summer BBQ's you'll be invited to?

Or just because.....

A lot of work went into the design of this perfectly pretty heart shaped vase.  A special ceramic mix and kiln technique to finally reach the desired shape. The finish is so smooth also. Then to get the magnets just right.

It was in development for 3 years. 3 years of trial and error to get it the way they envisioned it. That's dedication! Plus it was made in the USA

I am so pleased Janine contacted me for this review.

Love this vase, I'm always bringing in flowers, so it will gets lots of use! 

You can get your own MemoVase on Amazon

Splash Brands are also on Facebook where you can follow them to keep up with their latest endeavors.!

 I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free or a 

discounted price from Splash Brands.Regardless,I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 

Scatter Kindness ~ #sktrkndns ~ WW

A little late posting these photos

(yeh, they're pre-Christmas) :/

More hidden from Merced to Westley :)

UPDATE:

Before I could get this posted one was found! :)

Maxine ~ WW (kinda)

When guests come to visit,
I just put down drop cloths and say,
"We're painting."

Give me a sense of humor, Lord,
Give me the grace to see a joke,
To get some humor out of life,
and pass it on to other folks.