I had missed their singing, but didn’t realize it until I heard the familiar variety as it came wafting through my window. The mockingbird is Florida’s state bird. It isn’t colorful or noticeable in the least. Its brown markings allow it to hide easily from predators as well as admirers, but they are not ones to go unnoticed; their song can be heard above all other birds. It’s not only their volume, but the variety of the songs they sing that stands out.
Mockingbirds mimic every sound they hear, and they never stop learning. It has been said that the male mockingbird will learn over 200 songs and sounds in its lifetime.
Mockingbirds always sound happy. They even sing throughout the night when the moon is full. I don’t know if they are always happy, but by their song you wouldn’t know it if they weren’t.
We could learn a thing or two from these amazing birds. Whenever we are faced with something unexpected, instead of flying away--so to speak--what if we were to learn all we could from the experience? And, like the mockingbird, remember the lesson for the rest of our lives? What if we learned to sing a new song as a way to bless those who hear us, rather than complain about what we don’t like or don’t have?
Change will always be a part of my life--your life. I tend to resist change. Having this mindset only hurts my perspective and my joy. What if I were to celebrate change for the newness it brings, rather than mourn it for what has passed? I believe those who live this way learn how to sing a new song that captures the attention of those who know them, and maybe even of those who don’t.
I think I’ll open my windows today and let the mockingbird inspire me to sing a new song--how about you?
Hello Neighbors!
Welcome to spring and the wonderful weather it brings us! Spring is the time to wake up our yards
Begin by surveying your lawn. Check for persistent weeds, dying trees, overgrown sidewalk edges, the gutters for leaves, rotted fences and deteriorated mailboxes. Prune back your perennials and clear the lawn of winter debris to aerate your grass.
If you’re adding plants and want to save money use:
A favorite nursery of many LBO residents is, “Green Acres Nursery.” They are just around the corner andhave great prices!
Enjoy spring 2012, and thanks for helping our neighborhood look beautiful!
Kindest Regards,
ARB Team
Have you visited one of the many food trucks parked around town lately?
We had the pleasure of visiting one food truck pod located in the parking lot of the Winter Park Diner. This is a new venue every Wednesday night from 5p - 8p. The food truck we visited was Fork In The Road. The chef who operates it we’ve known since he was little. What a wonderful surprise to enjoy his food.
We ordered many things on the menu to get a broad idea of his talent. Wow. One of his signature dishes is Mac & Cheese. Each night he offers a different twist on this American classic; Tom had the Lobster Mac & Cheese and I had the Roasted Tomato Basil Mac & Cheese. It was sliced into squares, rolled in Panko crumbs then flash fried to make the outside crispy. They served it like a lollipop on a fork, of course. The symbol of his eatery.
We love his by-line: When you come to a fork in the road, stop and eat!
We encourage you to give it a try. We enjoyed it and think you might too.
Helpful Tips You Can Use
Target stores have a national schedule for the markdowns. Watch the end caps of aisles for marked down, clearance, and discounted items. Mark downs take place every two weeks and items will continue to be marked down every two weeks until sold or reaches 75%. Target rarely marks non-holiday items lower than 75%.
Below is the full markdown schedule:
Monday: Electronics, Kids Clothing, & Stationary
Tuesday: Domestics, Women's Clothing, Pets, & Grocery
Wednesday: Men's Clothing, Toys, Health & Beauty, Lawn & Garden
Thursday: Housewares, Lingerie, Shoes, Sporting Goods, Movies, Music, Books, Decor, & Luggage
Friday: Auto, Cosmetics, Hardware, & Jewelry
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