I've had birds for many years and currently have a pair of cockatiels. It's always amazed me as to how they communicate with each other and share the parenting duties while breeding a clutch of eggs. Most birds are social and very flock dependent. Without any romanticism involved, they definitely mourn the loss of their mate. Some die from the loneliness afterward. While wild birds may be less attached to their mate and have stronger instincts for survival, their bodies still experience normal hormonal changes when breeding that make them more attached to their mate & their young. That poor male is surely very confused over his missing family. I've lived in several areas that had many different animals that caused havoc with pets and people, alligators and snakes in the south, coyotes in California, and raccoons and deer here in Michigan. When ever someone complains about them causing trouble I have only one thought and that's that they were here first and it's part of living in the area that we choose to live in. I wonder what they think when they almost get hit by our cars, or can't find food because a builder has bulldozed their forest down.

Stacie, what a great tip. I will do that next time. A big improvement on my tea towel-lined bowl idea (which was pretty good). Okay so here is the upshot: By the time I got around to frying the latkes this afternoon, the bowl looked BLACK. Looked like squid ink latke batter. But guess what! That was just the top thin layer. I was able to scrape almost all of it off, probably losing only about 3 latkes' worth, and stir the last little bit down into the big bowlful without a problem. I still had over 60. So the latkes look okay after all, and they taste fantastic (Jack snuck one and swooned, and although he likes everything, it's hard to get a major reaction out of him.). I'm sure glad I didn't dump them and start over (I doubt I would have anyway). I wonder if I wouldn't even have lost that little bit if I'd put the plastic wrap right down on the batter instead of across the top of the not-quite-full bowl, as it is the exposure to air that is the culprit. If you like ground potatoes instead of shredded for latkes, I can definitely recommend using the grinder over the FP -- just a perfectly even texture, not too fine, not too coarse. I can't believe we ever bothered to make them when we had to use hand graters, both because of the elbow grease and time required and the inevitable knuckle scrapings. Okay, to thank you all for coming to my rescue yet again, here is the method (I just learned it a few years ago; wish I'd always known it) for making latkes ahead and reviving them, for anyone who doesn't already know: Place cooked latkes in a single layer on a double sheet of foil, folded so that you can open the top. Close tightly and freeze flat. When you want to eat them, place foil pack(s) on baking sheet(s) and heat at 425 F for 7 minutes. They crisp right back up. Serve hot with sour cream and applesauce. Mmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!

here's a link to what woods and color work together. https://shorelinepaintingct.com/blog/best-hardwood-wall-color-combinations/

@Patricia Colwell I move in a week from today so I'll post a photo then. The sellers had a 3 month rent back and although in some respects it's been very useful to get a jumpstart on planning the renovations and signing up the contractor, it's frustrating to not yet be in the house. @apple_pie_order Well, that decides it - I won't be installing a solar tube! I could just as well use a light. The house has one in a bathroom, which lights it beautifully, but that room is so small it doesn't look like a light. So it's a skylight or nothing. @kandrewspa Yes, I agree, I wouldn't put a skylight in front, but the room stretches N to S, so I was thinking to put it on the southern part of the room, where it wouldn't be visible from the front. But you have all given me food for thought about installing anything at all. I like a lot of light in rooms - my current house in CA has tons of windows, specially on the N side, so I had an allergic reaction to this particular room being so poorly lit! But once I move in I will be able to make a more thoughtful decision, taking your input into account.