HOW WOLVES CHANGE RIVERS (LINK FROM A FACEBOOK POST)

Hoping this link will work for you.  I think you will have to "copy and paste", then click on the picture.

  It's really interesting about how, when wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995, they changed everything for the good of the land and nature.

                                                     CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO
              (on the bottom right of the screen, click on "full screen" and it's truly amazing!)

OH NO, A FLAT TIRE

I'm sooo tired and ready for bed and a good night's sleep.

This morning I did breakfast and everything as usual.  Got in my car to go to work and the car was really hard to steer out of the garage.  

I got out to look and had the flattest of flat tires!!!  And, I saw a huge something sticking out of my tire.  

I called my mechanic friend Matt and he was so, so nice to bring a canister of air and put air in my tire so I could get to the tire shop.  That huge something, Matt said was a bolt.  Where in the world did I pick up a bolt?  

Anyway, a couple of months ago, Matt told me I needed two new front tires and I was just so busy, I forgot.  So, today, I got two new front tires.

A couple of months ago, my other friend Gus replaced some older siding on the outside of my sewing room with Hardie siding.  

So, that was my planned project when I got home, today.  I painted the new siding and it looks so nice and fresh.  The Hardie is primed this yellow color.  My house color that I painted is a gray beigy color.

Yesterday, I caulked and cleaned all of the mildew off of the soffit and walls and that made it look so clean and nice, I think I'll try to remember to do that more often.

Here you see my newly painted walls.  So nice and fresh!! 

 So, that's why I'm ready for bed.  The stress of the flat tire and the physical labor of the painting make for a good night's rest.

"So long, Farewell...."

COOKING YOUR EGGSHELLS FOR THE BIRDS...NOW IS THE TIME

Here in south Texas, the birds are calling for their mates and beginning to search for just the right secure setting for their spring nests.

 

This is the time to save and lightly cook your eggshells for the birds.  The calcium in the eggshells is very important, especially at this time of year.
One thing I have noticed is they seem to be more interested in the white eggshells.  This year, I'll pay very close attention to that and will let you know if they really do prefer the lighter ones.

This is a link to my original post about 

COOKING YOUR EGGSHELLS FOR THE BIRDS

THANK YOU FOR THE SUNSHINY DAY ! !

THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTIFUL SUNSHINY DAY, TODAY

No leaves on the trees to block the light and my house is FULL of sunlight this morning.

Makes me feel good and fulll of energy!!

TINY WREN HIDING FROM THE SLEET & COLD

TINY WREN HIDING FROM THE SLEET & COLD

Today, when I got home it was very, very cold and sleeting.

As I walked into the house, I glanced out of the window and saw this tiny wren in the portal of my mosaic birdhouse on the ground.

It was good protection from the sleet.  

  It must have been digging for bugs nearby and just hopped in when it started sleeting. 

After it cleared up a bit, I saw it fly out and continue foraging.

I love wrens. 

 They're such happy little birds.

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!!