The Best Eatery in Town

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Recently I made a trip to Wild Birds Unlimited. I bought a very nice quality birdfeeder for $15.00 which the little birds took too immediately. But it seems my best purchase was this seed block. It is intended to attract cardinals and nuthatches. And it has. But it has constantly been visited by so many other wonderful birds. And the nice thing is I can set it up so very close to my bedroom window. Taking pics is still not easy tho, as the light there is not the best and it is now so close the birds can see me and will take off if they see much movement. But I have enjoyed so many new birds with this seed block. The red headed woodpecker never came to the feeders before and he is a gorgeous sight. There is also a thrasher, although I do not know exactly which variety as it doesn't seem to be in my bird book. I sure need a new one of those.

Anyway, enjoy the pics. Thought they might bring some color to all of you still stuck in winter.















This pic is of new dog, Holly, the smooth fox terrier mix eating what is left of a squirrel. But in the pic it looks like a fox tail lying there so I had to take it to show her daddy who was at work at the time. Of course, I then took it away from her and she was none to happy with me for that.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MEDDYPEDDY 1/14/2010 5:56PM

Great photos - I can only see the birdfeeder from the wc-window! And itīs har to photo there but I still love to watch them gather.

KJNE8O 1/13/2010 3:09PM

Those birds are beautiful! Neat!

PATTIDGN 1/13/2010 1:07PM

great bird pics, enjoy the nature that is around you!!!

KRZYKAT3 1/13/2010 9:40AM

I love to see natural wildlife photos. thanks so much for sharing. I would like to find some of those seed blcks as well!

POLYANASUNSHINE 1/13/2010 8:59AM

Great photos. for sharing. I like to watch the birds too.

FERRETLOVER1 1/13/2010 8:12AM

Thanks for sharing those bird pictures. I would love to live in a place where I could hang bird feeders. Unfortunately, I live in an apartment in a busy suburb, so I have to live vicariously through pictures like yours!!

Finally-A Walk for the first time in almost a week

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Boy has our weather been bad. I am sure most of the rest of you had it just as bad, or worse. But walking is my primary method of exercise and I just don't have a good indoor substitute. So I was raring to go yesterday when the weather had improved just enough to get in a decent walk.

I met my walking partner at her house at 11. I probably wasn't bundled up quite well enough as my hands and head still were cold. But we got in 4.4 miles, avoided the crazy biting dog and talked out heads off. Not sure what we needed most, the walking or the talking!!

We are trying again today at 10:30. It is 6 now and I hear the wind howling. I detest wind, especially when the temps are chilly. But I am still looking forward to putting in some miles. How about the rest of you? Are you taking advantage of the slightly milder weather? Getting out and breathing in some clean fresh winter air to blow out the cobwebs? I hope you are. Cause I sure enjoyed it.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

BEVPRESLEY 1/12/2010 8:02PM

It was above freezing today. Nice for a change. Our lake is still frozen, the ducks aren't happy, but they are coping. Put on some layers, wear your hat, have a great walk.

KRZYKAT3 1/12/2010 1:01PM

I am learning to enjoy indoor workouts in the last 6 months. I need to make myself do more and indoors is where this had to go. So I am starting the new year on treadmill at my fitness center. I am at 1 mile for 2 weeks then bumping up a half mile every two weeks. Need to reach 3 miles for a 5k walk I am doing in March! Indoors can be fun! Have you tried the wii fit walking? or outdoor challenges game - lots of fun and you sweat beyond belief. Fun & a work out!

PATTIDGN 1/12/2010 9:52AM

dress in layers and enjoy the great...cold....outdoors!!!

New Week=New Start...Again

Monday, January 11, 2010

I did well the first week of January. 2nd week, not so much. So here I am, another Monday, another start.

Oh well, at least I am willing, knowledgeable, and ready to go.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KRZYKAT3 1/12/2010 12:53PM

read a recent blog - every day is day 1! Live each day this way and let's see what we can accomplish!

KJNE8O 1/11/2010 2:44PM

This week will be better! Just keep moving ahead - or as Sparkpeople likes to say - 2 steps forward, 1 step back. In the end the forward steps out number the backward ones :)

SHELLEYSUZANNE 1/11/2010 10:48AM

Me too unfortunately! Let's keep on trying.

RTBTMAY 1/11/2010 7:09AM

Nothing beats a failure but a try!

COLEENCOLE 1/11/2010 7:06AM

Isn't it nice that we can each start up again.

Back into the garage

Friday, January 08, 2010

We were feeling a bit sorry for our new dog, Holly and decided to let her sleep in the house with our other dog Daisy. Wrong idea!! The first night it took forever for her to settle down. She kept wanting to find and bother the kitties. But finally she did lie down and stay down for the night. Poor kitties tho, were too nervous to come out of hiding where they had also been all day.

Last night was the 2nd try. Worse, way worse. First of all, Holly was restless all night. I took her out to potty about 12:30 and she did "P". Mind you, it was probably 15 degrees out which was not fun for me. But I did it and crawled back into my warm bed. She still wanted kitties. The kitties did not want her. Lots of hissing and cowering on the bed.

Several more times, she settled only to get back up and put her front legs up on my side of the bed. I figured it was just to get at the cats. But about 3:30 she was just plain rowdy and my husband got up and threw her doggy butt into the garage where she has a dog house with warm padding and insulation. But then I thought I smelled something funny. I don't expect I need to tell you what I thought it was. Of course, that is what it was. In the living room. For some reason, this dog seems to need to "go" in the middle of the night. Her digestive system is slow...... As much as I like this dog and especially as much as Daisy likes her, we will make this work. At some point we may try and do some crate time in the house at night. But I imagine that will still freak my very silly scaredy cats so Holly may just have to get used to being an outside dog. Either that or the pound. Her choice. As for me, I would take the outside. With a good dog house, a nice supply of food and people who love me.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KRZYKAT3 1/12/2010 12:00PM

keep her, you love her already and outside is better than bye bye!

IWILLBE145 1/10/2010 3:23PM

Ann, she looks like a smooth fox terrier, (r some similar terrier). I'm no expert on terrier breeds, but I know they are very high energy, intelligent dogs but can be frustrating to live with if you don't keep them occupied. By all means get her a crate if you want to have her indoors. Read up on crate training, don't use it as punishment, but it can help with housebreaking. Ask your vet to estimate her age. Read up on terriers (sometimes called terrorists) and be prepared to spend some time training her. If you can find a good obedience class it will be time and money well spent. You will have a great dog if you can get her trained while she is still young, but give her plenty to occupy her mind. And be prepared that this, like knitting socks, is a process, not to be accomplished in a day. (Maybe you can get your DH interested in training her?) Good luck, I would love to hear more! Charlotte

EWEFIRST 1/8/2010 12:27PM

We crated our pooches for quite awhile. Now Ruby just sleeps on the cushion from the crate, and Norman prefers to sleep in the closet! How old is Holly? By the way, Ann, I meant to mention backyardchickens.com Lots of info and a great forum.

ONEWEIGH 1/8/2010 12:27PM

Being a garage dog is better than being a junkyard dog. Or worse yet, a stray. I'm sure she'll settle in once the novelty of having a family wears off!

DELITESUGA1 1/8/2010 8:18AM

Good blog. I agree with you on taking the outside. :)

Snow Day

Thursday, January 07, 2010

Boy times have changed since I was a kid. Or my kids were kids. Last night the county we live in cancelled school for today. Based on the prediction of a whopping 1/2" of snow we are supposed to get today. 1/2"!! They say it is because so much of the county is rural and those roads are hard to get down when it snows. Actually as cold as it has been lately, the ground is frozen solid making all those roads easier to drive on!! But it really doesn't matter to me since I have no kids to worry about being in my hair, or making day care arrangements so I can go to work. So let that snow fall and hopefully all those kids can get at least 1 snowball thrown on this special day.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KRZYKAT3 1/12/2010 11:54AM

here here! ANd I remember walking through snow fall to school (not to sound like grandma but we are now!) when there was 3-4" predicted for the day. It was normal and there were no lawyers hanging over evryone's head waiting to sue if soemthing happened!

PATTIDGN 1/7/2010 5:01PM

the same thing last year happened here in CT not one time but two times. I guess they would prefer safe kids at home that on the roads in school busses. Too bad the weather forcasters are not 90% all the time. They are the only people who are consistantly wrong in their job and still have a job! The weather streams are so fickle and they are as good as the latest computer model!

GRATEFULADY 1/7/2010 10:40AM

We are having a snow day here in IL, but do have a bit more snow. We are looking at 4-5" maybe more. I checked out your Sparkpage....my experience has been that TN doesn't know what to do when it snows.... I have a good friend from college who retired there. Stay warm!!! Looks like you might do that with that lovely quilt in your background. You must be a knitter!!!

JMONTIE 1/7/2010 10:14AM

I hear you - I remember some pretty impressive snowfalls when I was young and there weren't as many plows to clear the snow. And there certainly were no snowblowers, just shovels. Have a good day!