Either owls or hawks would be most welcome and I know they are both in the woods next door (which does have big mature pines and other trees). In past years they've definitely patrolled the yard, so I'm not sure why they're not out in force this year. Maybe some encouragement would help--I can definitely put up an owl box and maybe I can get the neighbor's cat involved (outdoor and a hunter, while ours are indoors and totally impractical/useless as hunters). The trap has been a bust so far, although I still need to add some juice to the mix. The bait tray was picked clean again while the stuff behind it they've been ignoring--it does trip when tilted, but I suspect they're managing to get the food off without triggering it. This is the version recommended for rabbits--maybe there's some way to make it more sensitive? At this point, I'm beginning to wonder if the chippies and bunnies are colluding in theft. I have a net coming which should make for some entertainment for the boys and maybe they'll manage to chase these guys out of the yard and down to the lake and convince them not to come back if they are persistent.

Yep, I get a kick out of them despite some of the less savory aspects of having them around. Last year I repaired the porch on our grandaughter's playhouse which had rotted through. It was particle board and came off in big messy chunks. I piled the scrap on top of her sandbox. My mistake. The cover for her sandbox was one of their favorite places to nap and the foot tall pile of nasty wood didn't deter them one bit. I looked out the back door and she was laying on top of the wood. Ah yes, the raccoons. I'm quite familiar with them. We've had one or two families come through every spring for 3 or 4 years now.We have one of those Intex swimming pools for our grandaughter. I built a collapsible octagonal fence to go around it to keep them from getting at the sides, which are soft. Worked great at keeping the sides safe but it didn't stop them from getting on the cover. One night I heard *SPLASH* outside. I get the flashlight and look outside and there are two baby raccoons trying to get out of the pool. They had jumped on the cover, the cover went under, and while they were clawing to get out they shredded the pool cover. Ours sounds just like the second one you mentioned. Ours just has the fountain in it but it doesn't bother the ducks as long as it's not on. Ours sits in a little "well" that I made out of small retaining wall blocks. Underneath also serves as a nest to chipmunks in the winter. They burrow beneath the wall and set up shop in the space between the wall and the liner.

It certainly seems to be an odd winter and spring this year. I am interested to see what summer brings. Blue spruce are lovely, the birds seem to be nesting low so I am really hoping I will get to watch this spring. We have had the squirrels, blue jays, cardinals etc., even morning doves!

Thanks! What I started out with was the patina seen on copper (verdegris). But it looked too green whenever I saw it in person, and realized I really more wanted a bit of green in my blue. Then I found Tiffany blue. Love it. Evidently others who see it aren't aware of the difference between it and French ;D. I agree on the brown part. I think we'll shy away from it any how. I too love the black/white toile with it. Maybe that along with silver accents will do nicely. I hope! Thank bluekitobsessed. I've seen you round. That amazingly gorgeous bathroom. MMmm. I've actually been on GardenWeb a long while. My active places are the Party and Cooking, but I've also been seen on Bathrooms where I beg Mongo and Bill to settle fights between my husband and me ;) We're constructing a remodel ourselves and it can get heated. We both want it done right (read, our own way! here). We usually settle it, but it's the code things I'll ask them and then hubby does it, good boy. teehee.