Thanks all for all the nice compliments! Syllabus--I got the sheet of corrugated metal at a place called Sutherland's. It's like a Home Depot or Lowes. It comes in managable sized sheets apprx. 2-3' wide & 6-8' long. Not that expensive if I remember right. And a little goes a long way. Concretenprimroses-I have no idea how many of those high dollar bird houses they sold. But $150 was the low end...they went up from there. And I have had my go at selling my creations. One of those been there, done that kinda things. I sold at local farmer's markets and at craft shows...soon became alot of hassle for me to HAVE to make stuff to keep up. I lost the FUN part of it. Have taken the last couple years off. I will use a different approach if I decide to ever sell things again. Thanks again all. I will post any more treasures I find this coming weekend.

I collect these, too. You will find nice, handmade ones on ebay if you do a search for "primitive birdhouse." They are not cheap (and I have not asked any if they will barter) but they are sturdy and lovely! Best to you and yours, Diane

Wow that arbor was a steal!! I assume it's one of those heavy plastic ones? Nice. It's gonna look great out there when everything gets going! Are you using that wheelbarrow as a planter? My husband brought home two old ones from his mom's house when it sold a couple yrs ago. The tires were flat and they were really rusty. We already had a nice big one, so I had him drill a few holes in the bottom and I just planted some mini roses, snapdragons and petunias in them! They're out in the veggie pen. I love feeding the birdies too! Started with the hummies, then the wild birds. And now it's the chickies! My husband and younger son were out hoeing up that horrible foxtail grass out of some of the walkways down below. We can't afford for our dumb dog to get those damn things in her paw again! The rain made all that crap come back with a vengeance! The foxtail and wild carrot (not sure what it really is) are about 3ft tall! The chickens won't eat it tho. I guess it's too rough. Oh, Irisgal, I think SDMLV does blow kinda fast. That bloom is about two days old. I didn't detect any scent on her whatsoever. I was kinda expecting a nice perfume...

Hey guys! Thanks for the responses (and sorry it has taken me a while to get back to you). Interesting observation about birds not adjusting their feeding habits. I would think it just the opposite, Catherine. In order to survive, especially in winter, I would assume birds would have to move around to new feeding grounds as old ones became depleted. I'm not doubting you, just that it is interesting that you are noticing the opposite. I'm afraid a shimmering bowl of water would very quickly just become a hard block of ice! Much to my dismay, Colorado's idea of spring is usually more like winter than actual winter. I wonder if the more typical grassland species that should start showing up in a few weeks would be more comfortable with less cover. After all, lark buntings and many other prairie species live, breed, raise their young, and of course forage and feed in areas that are up to 20% bare ground with only short grasses for cover. Perhaps is the just the winter species, many of which spend their summers in boreal forests to the north, that are less apt to venture into the "great wide open." We do actually have a barn cat that I hired to catch mice. I think she has helped, or maybe that's how I try to justify feeding a cat that I never actually see. I'm sure there are mice around as well, but I'm not going to roll out the red carpet for them by giving them an abundant and steady supply of food.