Red-shouldered Hawk

I looked outside a few minutes ago expecting to see a hoard of squirrels and birds at the feeders, and was surprised to discover the garden completely empty. I looked around carefully because we have had a cat that hides back there from time to time hoping to catch birds. I soon discovered it wasn't a cat, but a huge red-shouldered hawk that was causing the panic. I sure hope Sammy, Sable, Snowbell, and the rest stay out of sight for a while!


For a better picture of what a red-shouldered hawk looks like, click here.

A New Squirrel

We have a pale new visitor to the backyard. Here you can see how much lighter in color she is than a regular gray squirrel.


We have named her Snowbell. :)

Sammy Update

It appears Sammy has made a full recovery. :) I have been treating her to special treats from time to time. One of her favorites is grits mixed with peanut butter and a little honey.


This is Sammy's "Hey! I'm here! Where are the goodies?" look. :)


Of course I had to do something about that. I gave her a popcycle stick with peanut butter on it. She loved it. :)


I am pretty sure now that she is phasing out of her black phase. I think these pictures show her to be lighter than she was a month ago.

Fall Cleaning, Garden Style

I have been hard at work in my little garden lately. The hard frosts we have had over the last week or two have been killing the annuals, and as they die I have been digging them up. It looks very bare out there. I'll be glad when I have a free afternoon and can plant the bulbs I have gotten (tulips, alliums, daffodils, hyacinths, and crocus) into the ground and then I can mulch everything, and it should look a bit better. Mulch makes everything look better. {laugh} Although, I suppose I wouldn't like it in my living room.

The birds and squirrels have been storing up on seeds at an alarming rate. It also seems that they have set aside their petty quarrels and sit side by side stuffing as many seeds in their little mouths as they can.

The bird bath has been frozen solid the last several mornings. The sparrows go skating around and pecking hopelessly at the icy surface until I take a hot glass of water out to melt it. Then they descend in droves and drink their fill.

I planted some fall grass seed in the front yard two or three weeks ago. It is making great progress, being now about three inches high.