Tiffany....Thanks..How much I wish I could live south where you are....I always wonder why the heck I was so blessed to live in the area I do when zillions of people live in all the warm spots I wish I could where I could sport t-shirts and shorts every night outside and sit along my fragrant plants! Toni....You and your soaking your plants! I give you much credit since I never do this and I thank God for some reason no critters are carried in my pots! I feel so bad for you knowing how bad your knees are and how supportive your son and husband are..right..lol I can't imagine you doing that all by yourself and in pain at the same time..At least I can minus the pain in my case. Let's hope that Praying Mantis did all the bug removel for you before you do..:-) I will spray all my plants again with Fish Emulsion and then pick and choose what gets systemics and what gets natural oils...If there are no bugs, the nothing... Stush..How have you been? So good to see you too! I have been keeping in touch with Chris these days and was thinking of you....I am hoping you and your wife are fine these days and staying nice and warm:-) Nothing of mine is inside at the moment....They enjoyed this day of over 75 and tomorrow again..Low's in the mid forties are ok just for a few nights... Hermie..Thank you...No worries...I hope your plants fared well too...Some plants just hate cold feet for sure and after growing plants for years, you begin to understand them and their dislikes well... By the way, watch for the new thread I am going to start about Pest's to benifit us all and Google if anyone should look them up! We need to help many others about the fears and worries of pests and how to deal with them in many ways....I think it will help thousands... Mike

Yes, it is very typical for blues to only be around in the morning. This is their preferred time of day for nest building and egg laying. Where they go? Probably where any birds go - they would flit around their territory (about 2-4 acres for bluebirds) and hunt for bugs. Bluebirds can build a nest in as little as 6 days and as many as 6 weeks. My pair took a solid two weeks to build their nest after investigating the box for a week. Eggs are laid one per day (usually up to 5) after the nest is completed. So to answer your question - yes, very typical! :)

black oil sunflower seeds probably attract more birds than any other feed. you can use a tube feeder or a mesh wire feeder or even a hopper feeder. Suet is a great treat in winter but some birds eat it year around. you can use a suet cage and buy suet cakes or make your own suet mix. there are lots of old posts on here making suet. if you like doves and juncos and other ground feeders the seed mixes with cracked corn ot millet do good but they also attract blackbirds and starlings and cowbirds which lots of people don't want around. the summer song birds such as tanagers and orioles and grosbeaks like fruit or berrys or drink from necter feeders. or plants with berrys or blooms and blossoms. the woodpeckers i get here love nuts and suet and cracked corn and millet. robins and bluebirds like mealworms or grubs or earthworms the tits and chickadees and nuthatches like suet or hulled sunflowers or boss or nuts.

hahahaha dotz!!!! I got that word from my mother. My housedresses are old sundresses, (some of them over 15 years old) so they're a little short or holey or inappropriate in some other way. When I get home from work, I'll throw one on to do housework. I ended up missing the exit off the freeway for the butcher so went to Costco anyway. And it wasn't busy. And it wasn't hot. And I forgot DD had an after school activity at school, so I had an extra 45 minutes and just hit the store like a fiend - with a list! Managed to get out of there only spending $150, which is a record for me. And, I must admit, $45 of that was for a bottle of Shalimar. I figured, you send me to Costco.... LOL. I've always wanted a bottle, and it's quickly becoming my favorite scent. I keep smelling my wrists. :) Oh, and DH doesn't even know I went to Costco, so he doesn't know I folded... So, the menu is: Red wine Cheese plate with crackers and meats and grapes Herb crusted lamb chops with pomegranate sauce on a bed of fresh cut corn and parsley Parmesan sprinkled Asparagus Quinoa with tiny bits of carrot and onion Blueberry tarts and vanilla ice cream I cleaned the house yesterday, got the asparagus trimmed and washed and in a glass tupperware. Sliced the cheese, washed the grapes. All I have to do today is prepare the meat, throw the quinoa and carrots and onions in the rice maker, steam the asparagus and toss it and make the blueberry tarts. And I cheated with the tarts. I bought some of those little mini crusts, pre-made. DH was grumbling that three lamb chops apiece were not enough. I laughed, I can only eat one. I know Gpa will probably only eat two. I can't believe I thought DH hated lamb all this time. He insists he loves it. Who knew??? I've cooked it and (in my memory) he always complains. And DD flat out does not like it (which I can understand, it's gamey). So..... I have to think of something to cook her, or something to go with the lamb that will match. I'll probably just do some herb crusted tofu with the pom sauce. I do a tofu side with a lot of meals I do, like teriyaki chicken... And she loves tofu. I just want to avoid the whole separate meal thing...