I came across this birdhouse kit when I hit the artsy-fartsy motherlode a few days ago, and I had to laugh, and not just because it was made from quality wood (*cough*$1.99*cough).

This little gem was practically vintage because it was purchased at our defunct Eckerd’s drugstore almost 9 years ago. What exactly was I thinking, buying a birdhouse kit with my newlywedded self back then, I have no idea. I can only guess it was during my “crafty-wannabe phase” which was over pretty quickly when I realized that when it came to being creative and actually making things, I sucketh much.

But my loss is E.B.’s gain! So we set out to make this birdhouse! Which only required a doctorate in architectural studies to put together!

We did finally get the blessed contraption put together and then I turned E.B. loose with the fingerpaint to give the birdhouse that “welcoming feel”.

Yes, all are welcome in our little birdhouse made of quality woodthatsnappedtogether. Except for this little birdy, who will find the No Vacancy sign should he attempt to set up house in my backyard evah again.

Have you ever decided to go through all of the junk you’ve accumulated over the years and hit a minor jackpot to help you keep your sanity intact while your child is out of school for the summer?

I finally got around to going through some plastic bins that contained all of my teaching stuff from when I left work a few years ago. I had also stored away some supplies from when E.B. and I did preschool homeschooling and to put it mildly, we have hit the artsy fartsy motherlode at our house.

I discovered the file folder games I need to finish for E.B. We have glue, sequins, paint, birdhouse building kits, popsicle sticks, scissors, tape, felt, paper galore, mini tiles, crayons, styrofoam balls, and a partridge in a pear tree. I had no idea I had saved so many things but I’m thrilled that for once I didn’t toss them because I plan to pull them out when it’s raining, too hot to be outside, or just when we need a change of routine. I’m even more thrilled I don’t have to go out and buy any of this stuff. We already have it all here and this makes the “making do with what we have” summer thing a whole lot easier.

What are you and your children doing to keep busy this summer?

After E.B.’s little end of the year ceremony at school last week, his grandparents and I took him to a local gardener’s place where we got to see some farm animals and check things out.

A large pond greets you as you enter and a makeshift Noah’s Ark sits in it.

We saw animals:

And we checked out the garden and surveyed the land:

And for a brief moment I thought about how great it must have been back in the pioneer days to be raised on a farm, being one with nature and the land and all of that. Then I remembered how much I love indooor plumbing and not having to rise before the chickens and I decided I liked my little modern small town life.