We have a small canopy over our front door and I noticed a small nest forming. It is a favorite place for flying insects to build a nest. Often it has been wasps, but this year, it was yellow jackets. There is a perennial bed 5ft from the front door. It had not gotten very big yet, less than 6 inches across, my husband just knocked it down with a yardstick and managed to get off without a sting. I anticipate every year there is going to be a nest there, but I was watchful in the spring. This nest started in July and by then I wasn't paying attention. I wonder if there is something organic I can coat the surface of, in those corners where they always start that might discourage them from building? Vinegar? Soap? A spray of garlic/red pepper that would hopefully dry on the surface? But I would imagine it would diminish it's effect in a short amount of time.

Carolyn--glad to hear from you and yes this weather is doing a number on nests, birds and people. Guess you have heard about all the flooding in Minot. It has been so interesting driving there. I have had to go in twice a week for therapy on my back after slipping early March on ice. NOT FUN!! Anyway, I think I too have lost a nest from a Robin, but not sure it is crows or a neighbors cat. Dumb bird just would not stay on the nest and keep quiet. It is a wonder that any Robins make it. I don't have the houses out that you due, even though son in law said I could. He has been so busy with DD getting chemo treatments, his work in the city, late snows etc. Oh well, there is always next year. We just barely got the garden in. Thanks for keeping us updated. Marie from the other end of ND.

The question it sounds like you're asking doesn't really work. It's like asking if King Arthur bread flour will work in the bread machine. The responses will all be questions about what kind of bread machine with which settings, and what recipe are you using. If you're using the machine as a mixer, yes, you can make bread with Cup 4 Cup, but kneading is unnecessary. Mix it and go right to the rising/proof cycle. Will it work in the particular recipe you have in mind? What's the recipe? As we've said above, you probably need to adjust it. Do a Google search and you'll find bloggers who've made gluten free bread successfully in their bread machines. You generally need a binder in gluten free baking. The difference between Cup 4 Cup and other gluten free flour blends is that it already contains the xanthan gum, which makes things stick together, so you don't have to do calculations and conversions when adding it to your cake recipe. There's more to it with yeast rising, however, and you'll likely need some modifications. The description of original (blue bag) Cup for Cup from their website: Cup4Cup’s Original Multi-Purpose Flour has the taste, texture and performance of regular flour and is useful in almost all baking and cooking recipes that do not require yeast. Substitute 1:1 for regular flour into your favorite recipes for homemade cookies, cakes and cupcakes, quick breads, pie crust, gravy and sauces, scones, muffins – even homemade pasta! Cup4Cup lets you concentrate on the fun of baking gluten-free without having to worry about altering other ingredients. Enjoy all those family recipes you’ve missed for so long, and have fun creating new ones at the same time. On their FAQs page: Can I make bread with the Cup4Cup Original Flour? The Cup4Cup Original blend is most similar in composition to all-purpose or pastry flour, making it suitable as a replacement for regular flour in recipes for cakes, cookies, muffins, pies, biscuits, quick breads, sauces, in pasta dough and as a coating for frying. We do not recommend Cup4Cup as a gluten-free flour replacement in bread recipes that require yeast. This is because Cup4Cup lacks the structure and composition to mimic the rise and texture of yeast-based wheat breads. With that, making bread with Cup4Cup is not impossible; it’s just that the recipe will require some modifications and experimentation. For example, we have been able to modify a brioche recipe and develop Brioche Rolls using Cup4Cup. If you would like the recipe for our Brioche Rolls please visit our Recipe section.

now that you repeatedly moved it.. pulling it down as you say .. it wouldnt surprise me if they arent abandoned ... do understand.. that if the birds do use it.. you may lose the plant ... depending on how aggressive the babes are in their use of the spot ... personally.. i would enjoy the show.. for the cost of loss.. call it cost of admission to the show ... but if its grandmas 100 year old plant.. it might piss me off if some random rt with wings destroys it... if you want the birds to use.. see if you can lower it some so you can see in it.. without taking it down every few days... perhaps some hardware chain.. but not so low that some cat will figure out how to get into it ... ken