Christmas Greetings

This time of year is given over to Peace on Earth to Men of Good Will. It was Christmas 2009 (My Christmas Ah-Ha Moment) when I said that as soon as there were sufficient men of good will we would have peace (or words to that effect).

This year I'm doing my part to spread Peace. If you are a regular reader of my online journal, you know how I have been at war with squirrels. I finally won the war (I think) by putting seeds in the feeder that squirrels do not like. They can eat as much of the safflower seeds as they want and I won't go ballistic. HA! They don't like safflower. Is that peace or is it an impasse?

In an attempt to bring the Squirrel Wars to an end and achieve lasting peace, my granddaughter, Jessica, and her husband, Matt, brought me a present last night (Christmas eve). A squirrel Christmas tree ornament all my own. He's so cute. He doesn't eat anything. He hangs upside down from his butt (remember...he's an ornament), and he was given to me by people I love. 

I can't put him on my Christmas tree because my tree is very small. But, he will live on my mantle until I take the Christmas decor down. Then...then...I'll have to find a place where he can look out at his wild kin and know how lucky he is to be warm, dry, and not hungry. I know! I'll put him right in front of Nameless, Faceless Baby Doll. I will post pictures when that happens so you can see how benevolent I am. (I'm trying very hard not to sound sinister, hehehehehe).

So, here he is. The new love in my life (never thought I'd say that about a squirrel) Rocket J. Squirrel (Rocky) named after the rodent who was the sidekick of Bullwinkle the Moose.

Thank you, Jessica and Matt! Love you!!!!

Critters at My Bird Feeders

This past Thanksgiving I went down to my family room intending to read. However, the critters (mostly birds) at the feeders were way more entertaining.

In the picture above, the wooden gazebo-like feeder has safflower seeds in it because it’s the only one the squirrels can get into and they will not eat safflower seeds. The metal feeder is constructed so squirrels cannot get at the seeds so have given up. The thistle feeder is the long tube and the suet is in the double cage. Squirrels don’t go for thistle and for some reason haven’t tried to get at the suet…yet.

Your geographic reference is: I live in North Central Connecticut.

Sparrows are by far the most numerous, followed by Juncos, and Goldfinchs. Next come the Mourning Doves, Redpolls and/or Purple finchs (I can never remember how to tell them apart), and Chickadees.

The numbers fall off considerably when it comes to Nuthatchs, Titmouses, and Blue Jay. Robins (yes they come around now and then and will eat seeds if hungry enough) outnumber Cardinals. I know that’s crazy at this time of year, but that’s climate change for you.

I find the woodpeckers (Hairy, Downey, and Flicker) quite interesting as they hammer away at the suet.

I’ll mention the bright yellow parakeet that showed up on Thanksgiving afternoon, although I’m sure it was someone’s pet that got lost. Haven’t seen it since.

In addition to the birds I have a squirrel, that seems to fly when I chase it. And finally, the ‘possom that comes after sundown to clean up what’s left on the ground.

Better than TV.