Winter

Winter

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Summer Days


The other morning we were sitting on the patio,
having coffee and this guy swooped in with his pilfered sunflower.
My husband who has always been the picture taker in this
family, walked very slowly across the yard, until he was
able to get a close shot.
They hold the sunflower with one foot and eat it that way.


I don't know if it is getting used to having its picture taken
but I was surprised how close it let my husband get.
That is how they go through my whole crop of sunflowers,
they bite of a flower and then carry it to a tree and eat it
they can finish off a sunflower plant in about 2 days. They
don't eat fruit that way, they take one bite of fruit and drop it.
They do ruin lots of fruit.

I had to show you a picture of my egg plant. I wasn't wild about
egg plant until my daughter fixed Ratatouille. Then it became
my favorite dish. I am looking forward to cooking with these.
Not to mention I just love watching how eggplant grows.

Tonight is date night for me and my husband. I had put it on the
calendar and the kids are excited we are the ones will be gone. They
have made plans to order pizza and watch movies in full surround.

We of course are going out to dinner and to see the last Harry Potter movie.
Yes, I am a fan. I think this is the first year I haven't read the whole set of books.
I would love to be a invisible writer like J.K.Rowling. People have asked me about
the witchcraft in the books. When I first started reading them I read them to see
if they were appropriate for my young school age children. But from the very first
book she states her purpose. Greater love as no one than this,
that he lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

My kids learned Latin because of the words she uses in her books for spells. They
are just Latin phrases. None of my kids walked away from the faith because I let
them read Harry Potter. We used it as a spring board to discuss all sorts of issues.
I have always been a big fan of Chuck Colsen and Breakpoint and I think for me,
I wanted to know what sort of things were impacting our culture and if I was
to be a light in a dark world I needed to know what was important for that culture.
Harry Potter was such that it has changed the whole world.

So I will get off my soapbox now. I am looking forward to a date night.

Have a great Thursday,
~Kim~

17 comments:

Julia said...

How exciting that you have made a date together and treating yourselves to a meal and a movie. Bravo.

What a great shot of that big parrot. He looks like he's well fed for sure.

I haven't read Harry Potter but seen bits and pieces of movies when the grandkids were watching it. My grandchildren were all reading Harry Potter.

Have fun on your date. Hugs. JB

Debbie said...

kim.....the new header is glorious!! i can clearly see the sunflower in his little foot.

i LOVE eggplant (with their deep purple shine)what is ratatouille?? i have never heard of that!!

have a super fun date night....say hi to harry for me!!! xo

Kessie said...

I was doing some research on rose-ringed parakeets last night. Apparently Bakersfield has the largest population in California, because our climate is so much like India, where these birds are from. It's hilarious to read these serious research papers talking about going to Hart Park to spot parrots.

I hope the last Harry Potter movie is good! I need to watch all the ones I've missed. Too bad they'd scare the kids to death.

Dawn said...

Thats a great shot...you definitely dont see that every day:)
So neat to hear you make date night. I Do think the kids get more excited though;))
I like your take on the Harry Potter books. Things like that make for great learning and conversation!

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

Interesting comments Kim. I've never read the Harry Potter books or seen the movies, but I think your views are sound, and I'm sure your kids have learned both plus and minus simply in the discussions.

I would LOVE the recipe you do with eggplant. :)

TexWisGirl said...

too funny that the kids are excited YOU'LL be out of the house. :) enjoy your date!

and i love those parrots!

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Oh I planted eggplant for the first time and then moved...I would love the recipe, I want to get it into our diet.

Love the pictures of the parrots...how fun and interesting to watch.

Maryann said...

I Hope you post that eggplant recipe, sounds like something I would like to try.
Have fun on your date night.

Paula said...

Where do you live, that you have parrots roosting in your trees?

What an amazing picture!

Re: Harry Potter, the theme of good triumphing over evil is an excellent one for kids (and adults). My kids loved the Harry Potter books and movies, and we can't wait to go see the final film.

Wonderful post!

Kim said...

Ohhh date night sounds fun. I LOVED the Harry Potter books. My friend started reading the first one for same reason as you - to see if it was appropriate for his kids. He got hooked and convinced me. Then I got hooked. I haven't read the series from start to finish for a few years but would like to again.
What a nasty parrot - stealing a sunflower. I think I have one (yes only one) that is going to bloom. Anything that touches it better have their affairs in order!!!

Pom Pom said...

Hi Kim! I hope you have a delightful date night. Those parrots crack me up! Aren't they really expensive at the pet store and don't they live seventy years or something? Amazing.
I like your "soap box" about Harry Potter. I have only read the first one (short attention span, that's me).

camp and cottage living said...

Kim
Now I know you live in Calif. if you have parrots landing in your yard!
I'm so glad you clarifyed what I have wondered for a long time about the "harry Potter" books. I had intended to read them for myself before I came to any conclusion and I will. But you are the 1st Christian that voiced what I had always suspected.
I am a huge fan of "The Lord of the Rings" books and it is full of wizardry. But I trust we can distinquish between the real and the imaginary.
I am so jealous of the way you can change that banner whenever it strikes you-I've still got a lot to learn in that area of blogging, I guess.
Have a great Day!

no spring chicken said...

I was telling my husband about your parrots just the other day. Absolutely fascinating! I'll leave Harry in your discerning hands... :)

Blessings, Debbie

Patrice said...

Have fun tonight! I grow the small light purple eggplant and they have a much better flavor than the big, black ones. Next year try to plant "Beatrice"- I think you'd really like them. I make ratatouille and freeze a ton of it. I read the first 5 Potter books. I didn't like when they got much darker, but that's just me. I think the author was quite clever and I admire her rags to riches story.

Sassafras and Winterberry said...

I just love the Harry Potter series. I have reread them many times. I think they are of the caliber of Lord of the Rings and Narnia. No "take you to the dark side" to them. In fact, there were codes to protect the innocent "Muggles" from harm. I enjoyed them with my boys, but I really secretly loved them myself as well.
Love the parrots.
Have a great date night!
Courtney

Miss Debbie said...

Hope you have fun on your date! Are you really going to go this time? Last time It was your Mexican dinner and Swamp People...if I am remembering correctly! :-)

Simple Home said...

I hope your date night is fun. I enjoyed your views on Harry Potter. Several of my older kids have read them, and it hasn't affected their faith either :)
Blessings,
Marcia