For The Birds

Feeding the bird is a kind act in this harsh winter weather.
They reward you with quite a show as they feed. Once you start feeding the little creatures, they do become dependant on your feeders to stay alive.

Plan your site. Place your feeders so they are is easy to get to when there is snow on the ground. That is a critical time in their little lives. You might find the feeders need to be refilled each day.Ideally, we need two seed dispensers. One for wild bird seed mix and the other for sunflower seeds. I have a third for thistle, as there are many wild finch in our area.Here's a recipe to make suet patty for the finches.

Finch Fries

Raw beef suet (ask the butcher...that's beef tallow) and put through grinder or have butcher grind it for you.
1/2 Cup American cheese
1 cup millet
1/2 cup bread crumbs
Sand for grit

Save tuna or cat food size cans.
Cube the cheese, add millet, bread crumbs and sand ~ devide this into four of the little cans.

Melt the suet in double boiler and set aside to cool.

When hardened slightly and then re-heat again to make it smoother.

When it is in liquid form the second time pour over the mixture you have in the 4 tins. Fill to the top and then refrigerate to harden.

Nail to trees with 6 inch nails. Cover the end of the nails with tape to make a
safe perch for the birds.

The finches turn all brown in the winter time and spring, you will see them change to their bright colors.

January Open Letter

Sherry and Tom;

Last night was the BEST~
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US...almost 100% of membership there...can't beat that.

Everyone really appreciated Tom's organizational skills to have us all set for Trivia ...what a hoot...I loved the way the groups were separated...
Everyone wanted to be with Joe...He is the brains of our group and that is really saying something!!!
I wonder just how many degrees all the guys have total? A FANTASTIC and FUNNY GROUP!

I don't know what the Guys talked about, but I have never seen such closeness and sharing as the girls accomplished last night. We were much more interesting than "THE VIEW."

The talk about WW 11 memories which everyone shared ~ was over the top for all...
Interesting that the memories were as clear and all different as we are as people. With every one growing up in different parts of the country...made for a "Talk Show" better than THE VIEW and ours wasn't scripted either. Then we went right into memories of segregation
~ that too, was interesting as well.
I LOVED IT.

I have to say it was THE BEST YET. Maybe we should change our social name to "Virginia Oaks View"...invitation only group.

Thanks again...everyone for being the BEST.
Hugs,
June

"OPEN MIC" NIGHT at the Club~

Another fun night planned at Club House

What? "Open Mic" Night.

When? This Friday, January 23rd

Time? 7:30 PM

Dust off your Dancing Shoes and get it together for a fun night of Live Local Entertainment right here at our Club House.

We have lots of talent right in our own backyard.

~ Mimi's Cafe ~

Serving Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner,

our new Mimi's Cafe is due to open the first week in February.

Prices are basically $7-$12 with a wide range menu.

They have Pumpkin Pancakes, Eggs Ranchero bowl, Croissants and Crepes.

The Lunch Menu has Shrimp, Chicken, Turkey, Salmon and Ribs.

Dinner looks good too~

Some of their
" Classics"list Meatloaf, Chickenpot Pie, Pot Roast, Turkey Breast, County Fired Steak and say "ugh" but I was happy to see Liver and Onions as one of the classic choices. Do you know how hard it is to find Liver/onions on a menu?

Guess I should add that they have Past, Burgers, Fish, Sandwiches, Salads, etc.

Think they will be a great addition to our growing spots near-by.

The only problem could be parking.

Chili's next door has a booming Happy Hour making parking almost impossible.

Board Meeting Scheduled for Monday 7 PM at Clubhouse

Board Meeting

Monday January 26th at 7 PM.

Don't know the agenda, however, Redmond Community Management is now under new ownership.

Come meet one of the Representatives.
We expect business as usual.

Hope to see you there~

Are The Police Raising Our Children or What?

What's going on here in Virginia Oaks?

Thirty (30) police calls during THE FIRST 15 days of January~to ONE STREET here in our community~
What the heck is going on?

Disgruntled Firefighter Disrupts Happy Home

Did you miss this story in the Metro Section of the Washington Post?

The Gainesville District Volunteer Department has been dissolved and is now staffed with County Career Firefighters.

Fire Chief Bird of the Gainesville Volunteer Fire Department is now without a job and a home.

Seems that a couple of the Firefighters were "let go" who, in turn, brought to the County's attention the Chief's "unorthodox housing arrangement."

Chief Bird has been at the Firehouse some thirty years and apparently at some point during those years, moved his family in to make the Firehouse their home. His wife and daughter, who is 19 now, lived there with him.

A four month audit followed. The findings were records and paperwork in disarray. They also reported the Firehouse to be an operation that appeared to disregard county staffing and safety requirements, according to the Washington Post story.

Management of the Firehouse was transferred to the county and is now staffed with Career firefighters in both stations without interruption.