Frankie, my youngest sis, has not had the time to blog since Band Camp started back in July. She and her oldest daughter were here to help us when I hurt my knee. They went home to the two week band camp, and they’ve been on the run ever since. Frankie was Uniform Mom for this year’s marching season. She headed the crew of ladies who saw to it that everyone was dressed appropriately, in a clean uniform in good repair, whether they marched inside or out.
Marching band ended in October, so I thought for sure she’d find a moment to blog. And something really momentous has happened, so I thought for SURE she would blog….but nothing. So I’ll do it for her.
Frankie is a grammy! Her step-daughter gave birth on Tuesday morning at 11:35, a healthy baby boy. He came out at 7 pounds 6 ounces. My nieces are aunties, now! *G*
Congratulations, Frankie and Major Frankie, and the new Mom and Dad!

I love using natural things as decorations. We save pine cones, and use all sorts of dried plants and herbs in wreaths and bouquets. One of the naturals I love to use is dried milkweed pod.
I’ve had my eye on several stands of milkweed pod along one of the fields just east of me. I was concerned that the “Weed Ladies” of the Naperville Heritage Society might beat me to them, but I had to wait for dry weather to try to harvest them. Yesterday was gorgeous, but I was in my gardens. Today was much the same, but Dear Husband came home just as I was finishing cutting back plants. I asked him to be my driver. I didn’t want to have to negotiate the curb in the SUV.
So, he gave up about 15 minutes of his precious late afternoon sunlight to drive me down the road. I think he did it because he got to sit and listen to the classical music station while I cut the milkweed.
You know of course, that most of the milkweed are still in the process of releasing their seeds. I have them stored in the garage until I can spend the time teasing the silk and seeds out of the pods. It’s a chore that I don’t plan to put off. *G*
I still want to gather an armload of teasel and some curly dock. I’m going to create a bouquet with all three of the weeds, wrapped with a fall colored ribbon, for my oldest sister. She knew I planned to collect the weeds and said she wished she could, too. If they come too late for her to use this season, they’ll store well for next year.

I blogged the other day about the decals we have on the windows to help the birds avoid striking the glass. There’s a grove of trees to the north of the house, and their reflection in the windows lures the birds into thinking there is an escape route where there is actually window. I’m sure one of the hawks has learned to use the windows to his advantage when hunting near our feeder.
I was mistaken about the source of our decals. A friend gave two sample packages to Dear Husband, and it turns out they were being distributed by the Morton Arboretum, in the western suburbs of Chicago. The good news is, I kept the packaging, so I can share the manufacturer!
2004 Window Alert by Schock Associates, Inc.
P. O. Box 1609
Bend OR 97709
800-733-2753
Info@WindowAlert.com
There ya go. The product has worked for me. You peel the leaf shape off the backing paper and apply the side that was to the paper to the outside of a clean window. Couldn’t be any easier, and it works. I’ll have to do an update to let you know how it fares during the winter.
Now, go forth and save some birds!