Your plan sounds good. :) Since you get cold winters, I'd suggest breeds with small combs--avoid Leghorns and the like, they can sometimes be susceptible to frostbite on their large combs. Most breeds get along well together (there is always going to be the occasional squabble), but in my experience sometimes Rhode Island Reds tend to 'pack up' like dogs do when kept in groups, and can be bullies. Wyandottes can be quite dominant, as well. mypetchicken.com has a fun 'breed selector' widget you might want to try: http://www.mypetchicken.com/breedQuestions.aspx Velvet ~:>

Conifer50, good to hear your yellow Table mnt pines have survived. The most aromatic conifers I have are Green Giant arborvitaes and Table mnt pines. I can detect them just by getting downwind, even in cold weather. TMP aroma has a hint of danger to it, tho -- like "OK to smell, but don't eat!"

Laurel, Eeww was right! But now it is done! Hooray!!! It was soooo baaad! I want to thank you for these awesome gifts: -a very nice mix of finch seed -a nut and fruit seed bell-Laurel, I love to hang these on the porch as I can get a close up view from my sitting chair in the living room. -seeds-salvia(St. John's fire), purple coneflower, chianti sunflower, gaillardia, brilliant red poppy, Will Rogers zinnia, and gloriosa daisy. The birds will have a heyday with many of those flowers. Thank you! -double chocolate Ghirardelli coffee-oh YUM! -cute decoration shaped like a birdhouse with sunflowers painted on it that says, "Harvest Home Inn" -a beautiful hummingbird windchime -4 separate hanging birdhouse decorations-each is done in a different color with a different flower and a different saying-the sayings are Love, Hope, Faith, and Peace--These are very, very cute!!! The paintings of the flowers on them is so tiny and detailed. Hope has blue morning glories, love has yellow sunflowers, faith has a pink/white lily, and I am unsure what flower peace has, but it is a pretty blue. These are just soooo neat!!! -English Teatime tea in a cute Happy Holidays box that has a couple of cheery, fat birds on the front. -a tube of Baume Du Jardinier the Gardener's Hand Healer-it smells wonderful and makes my hands feel smooth and silky. It has shea butter in it. -a holiday tin with a winter scene of a farmstead all decked out in snow and greenery and a beautiful cardinal or two. The tin itself is full of Hershey's mint truffles. These are deLISH!!!!! You can't just stop at 1 or 2. Laurel, thank you so very, very much for the wonderful box of goodies for our feathered friends AND for me. Wasn't this a fun swap? There is just something about feeding and watching birds that is so satisfying. I'm guessing that you think so, too. Everything wass wonderful and very appreciated!!! Mary Ellen

I looked and looked until I found my camera to take pictures again, I have given up on my cell phone. Everyone who has tried to help me says I need to take it to the Frontier Store for help. Anyway, Annie I loved all my bird goodies. Annie sent: Penguin Socks (Clever-Just in time for the Holidays) Cardinal - Kitchen Towels (Cardinals are my fav.) Feather earrings-thanks Gift card for seeds-I find much pleasure looking for seeds on line so this will be fun! Thank you Annie, sorry the post office gave me such a fit over this pkg. The funny thing is they had another pkg there for me from Oct. Yes Oct. Upon opening it I found it was from Susan. Sorry Susan I never knew it was there. It was filled with chocolates, thank you so much. They sure are good. Shirley