We came home not long ago to find this tabloid pinned to our front door! At first we thought it was a local street newsletter that we had not seen yet, then then, we saw out photo featured on the front and the big question "Baby Finch on the way???". We were very puzzled until we turned it over to read "Fantastic news! - Mary & Mike". What cool neighbours we have all around us! Scroll down to read the truth behind the rumours... (PS one of the other nieghbours is called 'Stella' hence the question 'Stella-graph reports true?' so we assume she was the source of the leaked information!!!). We were pleased to see the other heading 'Neighbors overjoyed!' 

Yes, the rumour is true!! There IS a baby Finch (Finchling as mother has dubbed it!) coming in mid-November! As I said to the family members that we emailed a couple of weeks ago, I vowed and declared I would not be one of those people that share their blobby grey ultrasound pictures with the world because unless you are Jamie or have a 3-4D one it doesn't mean much to the uninitiated like me. But we thought this was quite funny and even I can make out the baby's head on the left, it's bent-up knees and it's 'Thumbs Up' hand signal saying "hey, I'm doing fine in here!!"

It's next move over the course of the 1 hour detailed scan (on account of being officially classified as an "elderly primigravida" we had the 'Level 2 scan') was to get into a crouching position, haul the umbilical cord down between its legs and put it's little hands over it's 'bits' so that we have no idea if it is a girl or a boy! (Even in the attached pic it's other hand is hiding any evidence that might have given things away). I think Jamie was a little frustrated as he had badly wanted to know whether there was to be another Finch boy (there has only been one Finch girl born in 75 years!) so we are none the wiser until the next visit at the end of August. So "it" will continue to be known as 'The Finchling' until we have more info available! 

Tennessee visit

The last Monday in May is designated 'Memorial Day' here in the US. It's kind of like ANZAC Day in NZ and Australia but I do find it a bit freaky on account of the country actually being at war right now. People get quite into the flag thing (they are everywhere in people's gardens, on their porches etc) and in a lot of cases, they stay up until the 4th July. A lot of people use the day to visit cemetaries, and I remember last year the one near the Berkley house was completely carpeted in flags. Who puts them there I dont know, but they were placed every couple of metres and the cemetary is acres and acres of ground.

This time Jamie had finished a week of nights so essentially had the Friday off, and had the weekend and Monday off and was not working until Tuesday @ 3pm. So we decided to go and visit Chad in Tennessee to check out his new house! Those of you who came to our wedding will remember Chad who was Jamie's best man and how he was about to head off for his 2nd tour in Iraq (why they call it a 'Tour' I'll never know, as it doesnt sounds very tour-like to me - more like try and dodge the things that shoot at you in a very expensive helicopter). Thankfully he is back safe and sound due to his skill and our 3x a day prayers for his safety and has bought a very cool house near his new base at Fort Campbell for the new job he has taken on with the 'Special Operations' people. In typing this, I wasnt sure how much I should say but there is plenty of internet info about the 'Night Stalkers' as they call them and I read most of a fascinating book about them whilst we were there so I have added in some links.

Well, we had a VERY cool time, it was quite the relaxing getaway! We enjoyed touring through his very cool house (you view things quite differently when you have been doing your own rennovations!) sampled the local BBQ cuisine, assisted with Chad's purchase of his own BBQ, went to what is surely one of the largest shopping malls on the planet (one website says they have over 1 million square feet of shopping), relaxed in the sun and walked down the main street of Nashville where I have never seen so many cowboy boots in one place!

We had a great time (thank you Chad!) and will continue our adventure next week when he comes with us to Australia!

Here are some of our Spring tulips and daffodils that I planted. The ones near the door are in planter boxes. I was a bit late in the planting of them - the landscape architect had said not to plant anything this year as they will eventually dig up all the garden (yard) but unfortunately all 400 of them started to sprout in the basement so I had to find places for them under the hedge and in planter boxes and pots. Some I gave to Jamies Mom and to the next-door neighbours. The neighbour ones were in two phases - one in a bag for them to plant and some I secretly planted around one of their decorative posts! They didnt know until they had a cool ring of daffodils pop up! 

I realised that in my last house picture update I forgot to add in the picture of the cool picture that Sharon gave us for our housewarming party. She didnt make it to the party so she has no idea how perfect it is for the house in it's oak frame. The back of the picture is a mirror and the bright fruit is a perfect transition from the red/gold dining room into the kitchen!