Well, this is my first post to this forum, and I'm glad it is just a couple steps over from the Gardening Forums! You folks further north than Mobile Alabama can look for a big flock of goldfinch to show up, because they left here last Friday (for the most part) all fat and sassy. I've fed the birds all last summer and all this winter, and somehow they spread the word until we had a huge flock at our feeders in a residential surburban area between Mobile Bay and Dog River. I know it was several hundred coming and hanging out in our leafless river birch and vine-covered privacy fences. Black oil sunflower seed consumption for January was MORE than 4 35-lb bags. We have cardinals here who never migrate, and with mature trees and huge azalea and camellia shrubbery all around, they find cover and nesting spots. One cardinal nested just outside my study window in a camellia, so I watched the male feed his babies....never saw the female do that, she was suspicious of ME. And for about 2 weeks now, the pair of bluebirds have been keeping an eye on their nest box, so I'm gathering fresh pine needles for them to have an easy job of building a new nest. We also have hawks here. And owls. And cats, which I hiss at and they run--my two dachshunds know the hiss denotes a CAT, and they go running to add to the pandemonium. If you don't have large shrubbery yet, think about growing some vines over an arbor, even annual vines can give shelter, shade, and sometimes food. Hyacinth beans, scarlet runner beans, morning glories, sweet peas, green (veggie) peas are all good annuals. The sound of running water, or a bucket dripping into a birdbath, that will give them a reason to come around when it is hot and dry. I try to locate my enticements where I can see the activity from inside. I'm hoping to again host a nesting pair of Carolina wrens for the 4th consecutive year in a pig flower pot (containing a spiny aloe vera) sitting on the deck railing right outside the back door. So far the "Pig Family" has raised 5 x 3 = 15 babies in that pig pot. Apparently they feel secure because other birds do not tolerate our closeness so well. Instead, the Pig Family fusses at US for intruding on their property. Love the birds. Love gardening. They go well together.

Sounds like a great place for wildlife! Off-topic, but since you mentioned jaguars, I stand on my theory that someone in eastern Kentucky breeds black jaguars and his customers turn the cubs loose when they get too rowdy. I.e., I was called in to sub teach at Rodburn elementary yesterday and in the lunch room one of the teachers was complaining about a "huge" "black panther" with a five foot tail in her backyard that leaped up onto a bank about 25 feet away before vanishing into woods. She said she called the fish and wildlife number but they told her that black panthers "don't exist in Kentucky" so they wouldn't come. I laughed and said that anytime I tell people in other states about the jaguar they react as though it's just a "hillbilly urban legend." I reassured her that I'd checked online and read they are harmless to humans and usually to livestock-just don't let her dog out of the house when one is around, and told her what happened to my neighbor's dog. That dog had to have $300 worth of stitches this fall, but Jeff said all the panther did was give the attacking dog one casual slap, then walked off without looking back. He also commented that it was black and had a "five-foot tail." Locals call them "black cougars" but also often see regular cougars, unaware that they are separate species. Meanwhile, DuBois told me a customer in West Liberty said he'd seen black panthers many times while hunting and taking care of his cattle. Wish I could see one. All I have are photos of the tracks-which are unique to the animal and a different size and shape from a cougar's track

Thanks everybody. I love deep Hunter Green and it goes so well with the holidays too. Karen, I was pretty sure you would like the cardinals. Marlene, I really appreciate the compliment. Kath, I like plaids a lot, maybe its my Scotch heritage. Jeanne, I loved your pictures of the real birds. The stemware was so pretty, that I actually paid full price at the TS for it, LOL Punk, the flatware is not as bright red as it photographs. Jane, I have some of her Snowman dishes also. They will be showing up soon in a future tablescape. The plaid mats and runner have some gold metallic thread in them. Just enough shimmer for the holidays. Frou, I only have those 2 figurines of cardinals, but they just seemed to set the table off perfectly. Luvs, the pattern is called Winter Birds because the salad plates have 4 different scenes of winter birds/birdhouses. Nana, the transition was very easy as the tablecloth, flatware, chargers, and mats were already on there from my Christmas decor. DC, they didn't have the salad plates at the TS, so I'll have to keep looking! TTFN, Candy TTFN, Candy

Thanks everybody. It was snowing quite hard, but no wind, so it was manageable. The sun is shining today and it has started to melt a little bit, but still very cold, so it will take a while. I think the green does set the birdhouse plates off better, but it sure does cover up most of the plaid. I wish there was just a bit more plaid peeking out. Oh well, time to change it to Valentine's anyway, LOL I did think of Karen when I bought those cardinal tealights. I knew she would like them. I won't light them as it will destroy them. Does anybody else buy candles that they won't light? Or am I the only weirdo, LOL?? TTFN, Candy