First Sign of Spring

My first sign of spring arrived in the mailbox today - the Farmer Seed and Nursery Catalog from Faribault, Minnesota. I must restrain myself. Is this the year for elephant ear caladiums? How about pampas grass? I've tried to grow pampas grass four times and it never takes in my yard. I must restrain myself. Buy things only in zone 4 or higher and buy things only for shade. But these pictures get to me. Pictures of vegetables held my children - I want to buy those the most. They have a photo of a little girl with blond hair holding walla walla onions - she's so cute and the onions look so tasty. I could spend a lot of money if I don't restrain myself.

It's Complicated

My new "chick flick" movie buddy and I went with another friend to see "It's Complicated." This movie had a great cast with Steve Martin, Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and a star from the old television series "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman", Mary Kay Place. Great movie - the best thing to take your mind off the weather for a few hours. Go see it!

Given Your Occupation And All

I had to go in for one of those routine medical tests you need after the age of 50. It's really no big deal. You probably don't want to hear the details. The hardest part for me is fasting for a day. Drinking the prep is a minor inconvenience. The test itself isn't anything to complain about because they give you some really good medicine that can cause temporary amnesia. This is my second time taking the test so I knew what to expect. They let you watch the whole thing on a television screen and I find it fascinating to look inside my own body. I had the same doctor. I don't want to put his name out there. But his last name is a compound word. The first word is a game fish that has either a large mouth or a small mouth; in his case, probably a large mouth. The second part of the compound word is an adult male person. As I got on the table the nurse asked how I pronounce my name. The doctor interrupted me giving the answer by asking, "Is it sucky? Because it would be really sucky if it was sucky." In my mind I am formulating a question for him like, "Wouldn't it be a$$y if your name was a$$man, given your occupation and all?" Lucky for me, the next thought was to keep my mouth shut to a guy who has a long instrument in his hand headed straight for a tender spot. Ten seconds later I got my shot of versed and I forgot all about his comments until this morning. My test went well. All is good and I don't have to come back for 10 years.

You Know It's Cold When

When the fluorescent security lights outside your house come on and are so dim the light shines only a couple feet away. When the air is so dry the snow beneath your feet squeaks. When you can feel each and every nose hair when you walk to the mailbox to get the newspaper. When the wooden rafters in your house bang so loudly it wakes you out of a sound sleep. When a coffee cup of hot water thrown into the air makes a sound like "Pfffffft" and disappears into thin air. When soap bubbles shatter and fall to the ground. When your shoulders ache because you are hunching them up around your neck to preserve warmth. When you go to hang your towel from your swim bag up to dry and it is frozen stiff and can't bend over the rack. When you fill up your gas tank before it gets below the half way mark. When the world outside is so quiet and muffled that the sound of a cardinal singing is astoundingly clear. When you stagger your use of hot water to keep the septic lines from freezing. When your office is so cold you wear a snuggie, a lap blanket, and use a portable heater to stay comfortable.

Project Feederwatch Update

White breasted Nuthatch - 4, Black capped Chickadee - 5, Dark eyed Junco -3, Downy Woodpecker - 1, Pileated Woodpecker - 2, Northern Cardinal - 1

I had more nuthatches than usual this weekend. They were busy hacking away at the suet. A pileated woodpecker came on the deck while I was at the kitchen table. It landed on top of the post I have on the deck and looked in at me through the deck door. Wow, that was a little intimidating. Pileated woodpeckers look so prehistoric and large when you see them up close.

Five Eggs

The chickens are being very generous this holiday season. I collected five eggs on New Years Day. Five eggs! Four chickens! I've been giving them little treats more frequently. I feel bad for them staying cooped up all the time so I throw a handful of kale or a very brown banana in there for them to munch on.

I Thinked He Liked It

To make your own portable hummingbird feeder you will need a bicycle helmet, two of the smallest hummingbird feeders you can find, two 10 inch long 3/10 threaded rods, 8-3/10 washers, 8 - 3/10 nuts, and a drill with a 3/10 bit. Find a place on the helmet where the nuts won't rub on your head to hurt you. I placed mine under some removeable padding on the front. I wish I had placed them more along the side of the helmet so the weight would have been more equally distributed instead of pulling down on my forehead. It's a little heavy on the head without the sugar water. You won't need to put a lot of nectar in the bottles since you won't be wearing the feeder for very long. I think it is a neat way to get up close to birds. Hummingbirds, like chickadees, are not shy of people. Just think of how impressed your visitors will be if you allow them to wear the feeder.