ARCTIC FRONT MOVING IN, BUT I'M WARM & COZY IN MY SWEET, COMFORTABLE COTTAGE

This blue plumbago has frozen back, now.  But, I still love seeing this photo, reminding me of

 what used to be and will be again.

In south Texas, we get the tail end of most of the arctic cold fronts.  We're in the midst of one moving in, right now.

A little earlier when I was on my way home, the wind chill factor was in the 20s.  Very, very, very cold for us!!

I'm looking forward to staying at home in my warm and cozy cottage.  As cold as it is, the reason I can let myself enjoy it is because, by this weekend it will be in the 70s again. 

 My thoughts are with my friends up north who are having to live in it for a long time.

(20 degrees below normal!!)

Maybe they don't mind the cold like I do.

And mostly, I'm so sorry for the animals.    Especially, for the homeless ones.  

My heart always goes out to and hurts for them.

EXPERIMENT # 2...CAYENNE PEPPER IS KEEPING THE SQUIRRELS AWAY FROM THE BIRD FEEDER!!

This is just how badly the squirrels hated the peppermint oil soaked in cotton balls.  (ha!)

There you see the cotton balls on the birdcage.

It bothered them at first, then they ignored it.
Actually, if I had put fresh peppermint oil allll the time, the squirrels would not have liked that.  But, that was a lot of trouble and messy.

BUT, this cayenne pepper is REALLY working!!

I waited a few days to see if it works before I shared it with you.

This morning, three times I saw a squirrel coming down the chain, seemed to sniff, moved to the other side of the feeder and I guess, sniffed again.  Then, it left the feeder and climbed up to a limb. 

 I swear I saw him rubbing his nose!!  I really think he was.

Pepper doesn't seem to bother the birds, at all.  The sparrows are not as eager to eat the seed, but all the finches, titmice and chickadees don't seem to mind.

The only thing that I wonder about is, whether or not it gets on their feet and, possibly, in their eyes.  But, with all of the stuff that's out there and in the air, maybe their eyes have a way of protecting themselves.

I have a chile pequin plant

(Google)

and the mocking birds LOVE the peppers when they turn red.

I'll let you know if there are any changes, but for now, 

NO SQUIRRELS!!

STRANGE NOISE IN MY ATTIC, BUT IT WAS ONLY PUNKIN, THANK GOODNESS!!

This morning I was sitting at my computer and heard something in the attic.  It was right over me at the a/c vent.  I could tell it was big because of the movement.  I panicked and froze!! and kept listening.  Twice, Charlie jerked his head upward because he heard the noise, too.  I was sitting there wondering if it was a raccoon and who would I call to help.  I have a have-a-heart trap and could use that.

I went outside and looked all around my house and my roof was secure and no openings.

So, I went into the garage looked at the loft area where the a/c unit is kept.  I have mesh wire as a barrier to keep the cats out of the attic and noticed that it was not put back properly when the guys did maintenance on the unit for the winter.

So, I got my ladder and was working on it and calling Punkin because I was pretty sure it was her.  Sure nuf, here she came and I was able to get her down.

It was such a relief, knowing it was her and not a raccoon that would tear up my wiring, etc.

Thank you!  Thank you!!

BUTTERFLIES IN MY WINTER BROWN GARDEN

There are butterflies in my yard!!

It's in the 60's and a little windy, but I've seen three yellow ones.  One bright yellow and medium size, a very small medium yellow and another medium size medium yellow.

I've heard that they hide in cracks of trees, houses and any place they can squeeze into, to be safe from the cold.  I feel badly that there is no nectar in my yard.  The organic gardener on the radio said butterflies love snapdragons, so I'm going to get some next week.

It's nice seeing them in my winter brown garden.

And, why is it so chilly when it's 68 degrees in the winter??  In the summer, I would be in shorts and sleeveless and loving 68.

Hoping you are warm, wherever you are!

PEPPERMINT OIL UPDATE AND LIFE IN MY GARDEN

Well, I have waited a few days to let you know about the peppermint oil.  I found out that I needed to put a little of the oil on the cotton ball every morning.  I, even, added a second one at the top of the feeder.  I think it might be working because I have seen a squirrel, maybe once a day.  Before the peppermint oil, they were at the feeder constantly.

  I'll keep observing and let you know.

And, can you tell Punkin is drooling?

I just fed the fish and Punkin's eyes are moving back and forth following them.

I think she looks so pretty sitting on these rocks.  She's a good, sweet cat and a good friend to Charlie.

Look at my front yard!!  I have a huge montezuma cypress tree and it is dropping it's frawns right now and is almost bare.  It's been too cold to rake them into the flower beds, but tomorrow it is supposed to be close to 70 degrees, so I will rake them tomorrow.  

They are wonderful mulch for the flowerbeds.  

Also, I put piles of them in certain areas for the outside cats to sleep on.  

They make a very soft bed.

Now, the other picture is sow thistle coming up in my flower pots.  I always let them grow because the lesser goldfinches love the tiny seeds in the puffy white blossom.  I have tons of lessers right now and they will be here until spring.  A few will stay because they live around here, but the rest will migrate back to wherever they came from.  They're such beautiful little birds.

This is a link to my post from last year.  If you can find them, you will see the little lesser goldfinches hanging on the plant, eating the thistle seeds.

http://birdsanddaffodilsbylyndabergman.blogspot.com/2013/02/saving-sow-thistle-for-lesser.html

Thank you for your visits!

PEPPERMINT OIL KEEPING THE SQUIRRELS AWAY FROM MY BIRD FEEDERS??? MAYBE!!

     This morning, I was listening to the organic gardening radio show and a lady called in and said she uses peppermint oil on cotton balls to keep rats out of her attic.  I've heard that before.  I think she said they're allergic to something in the peppermint oil. 

     A few minutes later, I noticed a squirrel coming down the limb to my birdcage bird feeder and wondered:  if it works for rats, maybe it would work for squirrels.  Squirrels are rodents, too.  So, I soaked a cotton ball with peppermint oil and put it inside the cage.  Twice I saw a squirrel come down the limb, get close to the cotton ball and then leave.  I'm not sure if it was afraid of the white "someting different", or if the peppermint oil really worked.  I'll let you know.  Wouldn't it be great if it works!  I know they're hungry, too, but I want them to go find some bugs and stuff and LEAVE MY BIRD FEEDERS ALONE!!

MY BEAUTIFUL MARTHA GONZALES ANTIQUE ROSE IS BLOOMING IN WINTER

I have lots of trees in my yard and am very thankful for them in the horrible heat of  summertime.  But, in the winter after the leaves have fallen, I love the way the sunlight streams through my windows.

So far, we've had several mornings that were around freezing temperatures.  My Martha Gonzales antique rose bush doesn't seem to mind that it's really, really cold.  Maybe the heat from my house helps keep it a little warmer.  

Whatever the reason, I really love seeing these beautiful red rose blooms when everything else is struggling to survive the cold.