Thanks ya'll! You know, it's amazing what will just "pop" up in your yard, lol! I can tell that someone did alot of plnting a long time ago. Now I've got my daylilies, these beauts, and my passionflowers! (those might've just sprung up here tho.) AND behind one of the rent houses we have figured out that a tree is a FIG tree! We got a few of the figs off it before it was done producing... next year I'll be watching it better. And on the subject of the mulberry tree... should I try to make a jam out of the berries? They're of pretty decent size... hate to just let the birds have them if I could do something with them. Forgot one pic! Hope this posts... showing my biggest pecans this year. Course, that's with the hulls on, but STILL! This tree always makes big ones for me. I've got four other trees with big ones, and one with tiny ones that are just darling. Hi back, Dawn! :) Beth

I don't have a pic at the moment, but a squirrel has never made it onto my platform feeder since we put it up many years ago. It is made of threaded iron pipe hammered into the ground with a screw on flange attached to the feeder. Below the feeder is a baffle made out of round metal duct probably 6" diameter and 2' long. There are some sheet metal strips crisscrossed to close off the top of the baffle tube and to give it some way to hang off the pole with another pipe fitting. The bottom of the feeder is probably a little under 5' off the ground. The pole has a clear area of maybe 4-5' all the way around. It is also a good 10' away from anything real high that they could use to jump down onto it from above. The setup is ugly as sin, but it works. I plan on trying to use a pole in an umbrella stand next so that I can move it around easily since I don't use it in the summer. I have heard that a baffle made out of 4" pvc with a cap is sufficient too. I wonder though if the plastic would not get roughed up enough over time to let them get a grip. Here are instructions for that type of baffle and it looks a lot better than mine. I'll have to try one with a nice cap and black finish someday Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.todayshomeowner.com/how-to-make-a-squirrel-and-raccoon-bird-feeder-baffle/

Jeanne, your bird pictures are beautiful. Snow pictures always look so pretty, but I know what a hassle it can be to have to shovel it. So good that you feed the birds, poor things, everything is all covered up! I have Berber carpeting too, Jeanne, we put it in when we moved here about eleven years ago. Mine is showing wear in the traffic areas like in front of the couch and love seat, and I found it harder to clean with my steam vac because it was so "textured"--but I loved the look and it was really the "in" thing at that time. Now I need to see about replacing mine too, probably with more carpet unless the flooring guys think they could "blend" new wood in with what's already in my entry and hallway. Wish I would have just put wood in there to start, but we thought it would feel too "cold". Now I realize we could have used an area rug! Live and learn, right? LOL On your new vinyl flooring--make sure you follow the directions for cleaning. Just a slightly damp mop and don't use any other products unless it's something reccommended by the mfg. I used one of those Swiffer wet pads on mine and it left a "film" so it doesn't shine like when new now. And remember, liquids are it's enemy! Other than that, it is almost indestrucible and easy to clean. Enjoy! Luvs

Karen, I thought the same thing about you when I heard that you used to have a birdhouse room. My eating area of the kitchen has a border with birdhouses, and I have a few wooden birdhouses in there and more out on the patio. I'd have more if I had room for them--I always look at them when out shopping. Jenn, even if I got another cabinet, there's no place for it. I have two now, and one is full of bunny items, the other has Grandmother's china and everything else I can get in there. I have dish stuff crammed in a cabinet in the laundry room that used to hold extra items that wouldn't fit in the pantry, and I'm seriously thinking about giving away some books so I can put collectibles in my glass front bookcase! Is this crazy or what? All this just so I can do a pretty tablescape or vignette once or twice a year? LOL Luvs