Unless the ground is actually frozen (which I'm not sure you ever get), you can lay sod. Just remember to water it twice a week (once a day if the patches are quite small), backing off slowly as weather and rooting permit.

Is it possible that when Suzy went out into the yard she surprised a possum (or coon) , which in turn scuttled into the nearest tree...which in your case was also occupied by a squirrel's nest? You have probably heard squirrels bickering and squealing on a cold winter afternoon when one gets into the nest and everybody has to scoot over to make room. I can only imagine the chaos that would ensue if a large animal like a coon or a possum suddenly came aboard. But this is only speculation on my part and what you have going on might be nothing like this. And for the record, coons can make several noises...I once heard what sounded like an animal being killed in the back yard, rushed out and looked up in the direction of the sound to see a very large coon pursuing a much smaller individual out onto the very thinnest of branches about 35 feet up in the air. One or both were making screaming, squalling noises like I'd never heard before. Occasionally the bigger animal would actually get a hold of the smaller one and I was sure both would come hurtling down. The noise was unbelievable. I don't know if boars will try to kill young coons or if there was a territory thing going on...the smaller animal looked like a youngster so I don't think it was a mating situation. Don't know, but they finally went separate ways. And a squirrel note...just before this cold front came through I watched a squirrel gathering branches for a new nest. I never saw this before. I have seen them bringing up mouthful after mouthful of leaves, but never the sticks like this. Most of them were supple new growth at the very ends of the branches, but she carried on like this for at least an hour, running back and forth dragging small limbs. THere had been a starling checking out the holes in the old snag and I wonder if this was pressuring her to move her pups. Later that afternoon I did see her moving a pup from one of those holes and over to the new nest.

I recently purchased a hall runner for the foyer in our new home from Hom Furniture. The pad they provided keeps the run in place...all the time. I've attached a link. This is the best pad I've found for holding rugs in place. I think the thinness is the key. Those mesh ones are a waste of money. I have some of those and they are thicker and seem to "walk". I'm constantly straightening them. Drives me nuts. I plan to order these All In One pads for all my carpet runners. Here is a link that might be useful: All in One rug pad

Too right, scared me half to death! It has been returning quite regularly now & identification is definate. I haven't seen any males but it's been laying eggs in the water, so maybe there'll be some more if they survive being eaten by my fish. It wasn't as big as I first said either (due to shock I think)only about a couple of inches, but still big to me! Cheers