Thanks, Penny. I guess it's just hard to imagine from my wintry location that there could actually be blooming flowers in a place as far north as Tennessee. If, as you say, the redbuds and buckeyes are blooming there, plus tree sap, and insects, and the occasional nectar feeder, I can see how they are subsisting. Looking at their northward advance from cold, still barren western PA, it just seems amazing. My concern wasn't so much that they couldn't stand the temperatures, (I know they can) just that it didn't seem to me that much would be in bloom before average high temperatures started to get into the 50's or 60's. On the other hand, when I think about it, Tennessee must be at least 2 and probably closer to 4 weeks ahead of us in their weather. When I think of where we will be by early to mid April, I realize that there will be quite a few more things in bloom like early azaleas, and some of the early flowering trees like plum, and the buckeye you spoke of that I have never actually seen around here. I knew about the ability of hummers (and caprimulgids like whippoorwills and nighthawks) to go into a torpor to wait out bad conditions, but it still amazes me that something as small as a hummingbird could be so tough and manage to find enough to eat in a landscape that still seems pretty cold and barren. I do realize that even tropical birds can stand surprisingly cold weather, as long as they have enough to eat. I guess the hummers are somehow managing to find it.

I truly appreciate all your help mikie!It is so difficult for me to explain exactly what is going on.I only know computer basics and just enough terminology to be confusing. LOL Currently,I am connecting to the internet by going to Earthlink.net and clicking on the set up button. I am accessing my e-mail through Earthlink.net, too. That is the only way I can connect to webpages.I can no longer connect using on desktop icons or by going to internet connections. The problem started when I allowed a Belkin auto setup to program my wireless router to my computer. Even if I disconnect the router and try to connect the way I did before the router I still can not connect through my computer. The only reason I mentioned proxy server was that when earthlink had me join teamviewer4, teamviewer4 stated I was on a proxy server and that I needed to connect with my computer connection. I am basing my statement on that info. I may not be on a proxy server. Is connecting through Earthlink.net connecting to a proxy server? I have not called earthlink back yet as the tech seems to get frustrated with my problem before it can be corrected. Also, it is a minimum 1 hour call each time.

Each tower has a field of service. Think of it as a defined circle with the tower at the hub. If you are in the circle service is historically as advertised. If you are in an area where the circles overlap service can be outstanding. If you are outside the circles it does not mean you will not get service, just a reduced service. All that being said, I do agree the engineers who configure the system do not focus at the service during peak demands, but rather static demands. My 3G out here in rural America drops significantly from the morning to the evening. It's all about money. Foliage from your trees may or may not be effecting your reception. Previously speaking with my system's engineers on the issue, height should not be an issue with 3G. Remember, it's actually a cellphone network. You may have a concern created by the lay-of-the land between your home, and the target tower. A hill, rise, cliff, land contour etc. may be effecting it. DA

It really would be nice to have all those tips & techniques gathered into *one* book! I'm still picking up some good tips here and there, and honestly, mostly I find more useful ones -both basic and advanced- in books. Of course, my problem with blogs (and many on-line demos) is that I get distracted by all the other pretty stuff and end up admiring a neat design or striking use of color or sighing over an especially nice bit of stitching... and forgetting to note something like making multiples of transfer patterns by using an unthreaded needle in your sewing machine. *That* was a basic technique that I used long ago, and had completely forgotten until coming across a casual mention in a quilt-pattern book -- and just in time as I need to mark about 250 strips to quilt the sashing on my out-of-my-box quilt. So: books are my first choice because they don't need batteries or electricity or any special equipment more than a scrap of paper or fabric; and once a bookmark is slid in between the paper pages, it will never disappear into the unknown vastness of dead/disappeared websites. I picked up a 20-year old book on machine quilting at the yard sale ($1) and it was like-new -- and all the info was just as valid, applicable, and available now as it was first printed. I don't think any of us have a 20-year old computer or e-book of which the same can be said.