Image Credit: Island Free Press
Our daughter-in-law sent us an article regarding all that debris that’s been seen washing up on the beaches from Nags Head to Salvo. We picked up bags and bags of it and gave it to the Federal Rangers who monitor the seashore. At first we thought a smallish boat capsized, but the sheer volume of stuff kind of negated that theory. I thought maybe it was debris that got washed out to sea from those devastating rains and floods in southern Florida, but it seemed to be more regionally located. The article says the nature of the debris indicates it may have come from a US Navy vessel located off the northeastern coast of North Carolina, but they didn’t have specific details. They are still investigating the incident.
The saga of the Big Birdhouse continues.
The fellow who bought the Big Birdhouse called yesterday morning and said he tried to switch the title into his name, but something was wrong. There had been another title issued after that first one. I sat down and wracked my brain and finally figured out what happened. When we bought the camper new, I went to the DMV and paid the sales tax and got the tags and the title. I always tuck the titles in the truck when we are pulling the camper cross country just in case something happens and we need to sell it or trade it in. I learned my lesson when that used camper we had collapsed on the frame when I was pulling into Colorado.
When we decided to sell the Big Birdhouse, I went to look for the title and try as I might, I could not find it. So I went to the DMV to get a duplicate. While I was there, they discovered the VIN number was not recorded correctly which rendered the original title void. They straightened it out and issued me a new title, which I promptly put someplace safe so I wouldn’t lose it. Yeah..that didn’t work out. I couldn’t find it anywhere and the buyers were coming any minute.
Mr. FixIt went out to the truck and tore it apart and found the title. In the hubbub, I totally forgot to check WHICH title it was. We did the exchange, took their money…in a big ol’ pile of cash that would choke a horse. I’ve never held that much cash in my life! I was pretty nervous. I put it in the safe while we went to the beach and first thing Monday morning, we headed to the credit union to pay off the note. Then…Mr. Don called yesterday to say it was the wrong title and I knew he was right.
So, while Mr. FixIt had a test done yesterday, I went to the DMV and bought ANOTHER duplicate title! I almost didn’t get it because they needed both of our Drivers Licenses. But I explained I’d just been in there in March getting the other title…was it possible they still had the licenses on file? Sure enough…they did, so that problem was averted. I got the title and Mr. Don came over last night to pick it. Plus a new dinette table the dealer gave us because the old one had a chip in it. And, I found the second key as well. So now they’re ready to go camping next week for a trial run!
This is not my photo. It came from a friend of mine wanting to know why there were two kinds of eggs in the nest. Read on to find out.
And…we have baby birds in our eaves again. I think they are grackles, however, there have been brown-headed cowbirds in the forsythia and the flowering quince, so we could have an intrepid interloper. Brown-headed cowbirds are not the mothering type. They lay their eggs in the nests of other birds…over two hundred different species to be exact. If they happen to lay in an eastern catbird’s next, she’ll catch it and kick the parasitic eggs out of the nest. But most often, the baby cowbirds hatch much earlier than the host bird’s own eggs and the hatchlings grow faster and are more aggressive so the littler birds often starve to death. Either way, it’s not a good turnout for the host mama. However, as hard as it is to watch the destruction of our favorite birds, it is illegal to raid the nest and destroy the cowbird eggs. Cowbirds have been around for a million years. If their behavior was going to wipe out other host species, it would have happened long before now.
Day Two in the Lifestyle Change Journey
Lastly, some of you mentioned yesterday you might be interested in trying Noom. If you are, send me a private message and I can send you a link to get a free trial and 20% off! Nothing like getting money off and trying something new. I think I’m really going to like this. It’s encouraging…not punitive. And, you can eat anything…you just have to eat it in moderation. Logging your food in the app is super easy. We ate at the same restaurant last night and I could order anything from the menu. Unfortunately, I didn’t get much walking in yesterday because we had to go to town for Mr. FixIt’s x-ray study. I had planned to walk while he was in radiology, but I had to go the the DMV instead. But that’s ok…my legs and feet were a little sore from walking on Monday. I DID lose one pound! I’ll get out today for a lovely walk at the park by the river.
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“For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.”
Isaiah 61:11 NIV
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*Do you have someone you want to encourage? Maybe they’re a struggling mom trying to juggle a hundred different things. Or a widow that wonders if she’s doing anything right now that her world is turned upside down. Or a college student just wrapping up a difficult year. Here’s a coffee mug with an encouraging word…”You’re doing a great job!” Simple and to the point.*
