I have been feeding the birds for only 1 year. I have a small tube feeder with BOSS and a Suet Log. I also throw some peanuts and seed on the ground under large evergreens. I noticed that there were fewer birds on the feeders when the weather turned mild and all the snow melted last week. Now that we have 8 inches of compressed frozen snow on the ground, the birds are flocking around the feeders again. I assume this is because 1) they cannot forage for food on the ground with the snowcover and 2) there is no insect activity when the temperature is this cold. Here are photos of the Suet Log with some of the birds that visited on Friday (the day of the storm). The first two pics show a Fox Sparrow with Junco(s). The second two pics each show five different species of birds on the Suet Log at the same time. In general, the birds really love to perch on the branches I glued into the top of the log. It was a very busy day for birds that day! :)

Dawn, We had a painted bunting that came to our feeder in Lone Grove. The first time I saw it, I thought it was a pet that had gotten away from someone. The colors looked like a parrot but of course it is much smaller than that. He continued to come to the feeder all summer and I think he returned the following year also. I only fed regular bird seed but there was a bird bath next to it and I think the water was the attraction because the birds didn't have a natural source of water anywhere near. I don't think they are listed as coming into Oklahoma either. Susan - If we hang a thistle feeder here in the spring, we have dozens of American Gold Finch. They are cute little birds. I never see a blue bird here, but I live in a lot of trees and I think they like wide open spaces best. A couple of years ago I could hear something banging on the house. At first I thought it was a woodpecker because they will peck holes in your house and they really love my neighbors cedar siding. I followed the sound to the other side of my house and it became extremely loud. I went outside to look around and it stopped. Later it started again, and I went outside again. After several days of this, I was outside and I heard it start. It was a big black bird sitting on top of the chimmney. Our chimmney has a metal cover that is solid on top and has mesh on the sides. He was sitting on top and banging his beak against the metal. I guess the noise was really bouncing around in that chimney because inside it sounded like someone hitting the house with a basketball -- repeatedly. After about a week, he moved on.

I posted this in the John Deere forum, but I'm wondering what else is out there. I know the Deere guys will not think highly of me for this transgression! LOL! I just have to wonder what y'all think is the best tractor for the money and reliability. My yard is one giant hill. From the back to the front, it is down hill all the way. 1.2 acres. I have about 20 or so trees. I want a 48 inch mower deck, bagger and want to pull a cart. I won't get a big box unit. I'll be going to a dealer or buying off of Craigs List. I want to keep the cost down, but don't want to under buy. Right now, I plan to be a snow bird and leave here (NW Arkansas) before any snow. However, if I stay, I might need a snow plow for light snow on a 300 foot blacktop driveway. Which model do y'all recommend?

When I switched from gas to electric (50 gal), I kept track of the change in electric and propane bills. It ended up being about 30 bucks a month for either (gas bill dropped about 30 and electric went up about 30). A lot of the heat goes up out the flue with the standard gas. A 67% efficient gas heater is appearently energy star. So 1/3 of the heat is not even used, it goes straight out the roof. Plus you got a huge open hole leading to outside while it isnt burning which is inefficient. I switched to electric so I could move the tank to where I wanted and completely remove the flue, patching the roof and sealing the giant attic penetration (like an 8 inch hole). I dont really like gas that is not direct vented having its own dedicated intake and exhaust. Not a fan of using house air for combustion, or having an excessive unsealed open hole to outside. However the primary reason I switched was so I could move the tank, all my other gripes about standard gas are secondary benefits. To each their own, kind of depends on climate extremes also. We get super cold up here, I am near the canada border.