My Red Mailbox and Birds

 It is gray and drippy outdoors. This is not my kind of weather. I know we need rain, but not gloom outdoors. And, it is dark too soon. Ugh!

GASLIGHT is on and an hour since I started putting bscb, I just now finished! We are having baked bscb, carrots and Brussels sprouts. 

I will send over to a neighbor a huge chicken breast and vegetables. He is a nice guy who wife died. He said every two or three days, he gets hungry and cooks. He has helped us out multiple times over the years, even before I moved here. 

People need to watch GASLIGHT. Most people I hear talk about the term 'gaslight' have no idea the meaning of 'gaslighting.'

Tommy went out to get the mail, and we both went out to spray paint the mailbox. That was our outside work. I cringe when I see the traffic on the interstates, so many cars. Not working does have its perks. 

After 32 days without rain, I finally got the mailbox cleaned off by Tommy. That was the day before it rained. Birds then fouled it. So, Tommy had to wash it again. He said the birds liked the red mailbox even better. He washed it again and it was a poop collector then and it rained. Today, he took out Dawn and vinegar in water and washed it with a paper towel!

No wonder it looked like dust on the top of the mailbox today after. I sprayed it for the last time. Next time, I will buy a red mailbox. Tommy put all the numbers on just perfectly aligned. Three peeled up because he put his big fingers on the sticky backs. Now, I have gotten out another three out of four numbers to replace them. That's okay because we have plenty. 

Cleaner sprayed the first coat. Tommy sprayed the second coat. I still had gray mailbox metal to put on the this last coat! If it still does not look right, I give up. 

Do birds like to poop on red?

Well, yes, they do according to one article. They poop more often on red cars!

Speaking of birds, their habits have become more like spring habits. Maybe it is the lack of torrid heat. They flit about, some seeming on a chase of others. They are spending time in the little ledges where they nest. Some seem to display mating habits. Have you noticed birds acting as though if it is spring?

Have you ever had someone, especially an intimate partner gaslight you?

Fruitful Monday

 No, I did not call to report sexual harasser. Something happened. I think cleaner arrived. Tuesday, I promise. 

Today we got up early, about 10 am and were out the door in an hour. We first went to get my driver's license. Then, we both ordered title to sell the cars, mine and his. He suggested we eat at CFA, and I am weak. I only had cereal and milk. CFA is so delicious. 

Since we were practically across the street from where we bought the car, we dropped by to show them the lost trim and disaster of scratches on the car. I told them we did not want it buffed out because the scratch was too deep. The obnoxious came out and interrupted my talking with the man who would coordinate with repair people. 

I told him to go away because I did not want to see him or talk to him. He kept on and I raised my voice, yelling at him to go away. He persevered in trying to be Mr. Personality. I screamed at him to go away and get out of my face because I did not like him and what he had to say. 

When he first came up, he told me it was only aftermarket trim and my car was actually okay. I saw red and his smirking face. When I turned toward Tommy, about four salesmen with their mouths open. Tommy did not care.  Another four and the guy in charge of getting the repair done were very quiet outside my side of the car. 

I was sort of embarrassed then realized he was the instigator. I was too hot to have any regret. The guy I yelled at finally lost his smile and said, "You are serious, aren't you?" Stupid man!

We were near Jared's, so Tommy stopped and bought me a necklace for my birthday that was over a month ago.

Cleaner called, so we went home. She was here for two hours--brought out Halloween decorations, made my bed, cleaned up clutter behind and to the side of my chair, helped me clean up my room a bit, and put color on my hair. I use Guarnier 40 but had her put 415 over that. It gives sort of a reddish hue, so it does not look solid black. 

Tommy changed out my blue bird for a black bird. These are all the same bird, just spray-painted a different color. I have a red bird with a cardinal crest, painted red for Christmas. The Halloween stemless wine glass has an orange, battery-operated tealight in it. Halloween decorating will be slow this year. But, it is happening. 

Overall, it was a very good Monday, except for the guy in my face. Don't bother defending him or feeling sorry for him. I won't publish your comment. 

Because of cleaner coming, I did not get a chance to make calls I needed to make...tomorrow. 

There is a drive for books happening. I had bought a book but gave it to cleaner for her niece. 

My photo for driver's license is horrid! How did I get so old and saggy? 

Birds Gone and More About Dark Spot Reduction

 The birds are gone. I had not peeked at them for about weeks. I either forgot, felt too5 bad to go to that end of porch, or did not want to walk in wet grass. On Thursday, Tommy said he heard lots of birds in the planter. Finally, on Friday I decided to look. There was not a sign of a bird. The nest was empty. It was not disturbed. I guess they flew away. Now, I am sad there are no little furry peepers. 

Tommy tells me he sees hummingbirds on the flowers even though I put out no hummingbird feeders. 

I still feel awful from the first med or the second is having the same effect. I had things to do today. Nothing was done. We only left the house to get bananas. Tommy just told me he got up at 9 am to wake me since I said I wanted to go out. Then, when I indicated I did not, he came in and slept in his chair. He finally awoke after 2:30. He is feeling 'yucky' and does not feel like he can do anything. Hopefully, both of us will start feeling better.

Happily, the work week will be dry next week. There are things to do!--doctor lunch, car shopping, car selling 

At the store, besides bananas, he got more Cheerio bogo. Life bogo, Quaker's Old-Fashioned Oats bogo, and Fritos, Betty Crocker Brownie Mix bogo.  

Rain was somewhere close by our neighborhood. Flies were sticking. And, it takes Tommy so long to get inside that he lets flies inside. I do not blame him for how long it takes. Then, he cannot shoo them back out because he has both hands on the walker. No blame there either. However, then he chopped met and cooked it. Good! Then, two hours later the meat was sitting to 'cool' with flies landing on everything around me. He and meat were in the kitchen with flies. I was furious, but he said it had to cool. 

I was going to make spaghetti, but not with that meat. It is his. He is putting out another package for spaghetti. It seems he has no concept of sanitary!

I wanted tuna salad anyway, so I made and ate that while he was cooking meat. I will eat chicken breast, and he can eat the fly infested ground beef. He is okay with that. 

This new bed has developed a hole in the center that interferes with sleep! It has to go. It also made my knee hurt last night after weeks of not hurting. 

This popped up after I wrote about dark spots. The Safest and Most Effective Ways to Get Rid of Dark Spots (msn.com) Lots of these treatments I have never heard of. There is information for darker skin. 

Do you think it is necessary to leave meat out two hours to let it cool? 

I Have Birds!

 Today, there was a high percentage of rain. We were in the car for four hours and saw nary a sign of rain. However, when we came home at 2 pm, and I took a nap, Tommy said it rained three times in the afternoon. 

I had to cancel my colonoscopy because I needed clearance from cardiologist. Called cardiologist, new one, who won't give me a clearance until I see him. 

On Tuesday I found the bird egg. I only saw one because I did not want to dig around. Today, Thursday, I checked on their progress and was so shocked by several furry birds. They are so cute. They were sleeping but started wiggling when I uncovered them. The mama bird went under something in the huge pot to make a nest and lay eggs. I still worry a rat might find them. I have not see a cat in several months, so maybe one won't sniff them out. The little house wren has done a good job so far. 

We collected two boxes of food today and gave all but two items to the family with five children. We kept a bag of nine apples and nine fruit cups. I will eat the apples and Tommy the fruit cups. In the boxes were ten pounds of chicken-thigh pieces. The guy was very pleased to get the food. So, that is our good deed for the day. 

Since it did not rain until later in the day, I am not sure why the dogs were not taken and yard and carport cleaned. We wait. Maybe tomorrow, Friday. But, there is a higher chance of rain.

I called my friend who is 93. She is plotting how she can get another car since her children came and took hers away. She says they just sit there at home and every day is the same, day after day, as she said. she and her husband are not taking their lack of the car well. 

So, I managed to call two friends and two doctor offices while in the car. I found out why the woman at cardio would not give me an appointment last December to get a Holter monitor. The np gave me a piece of paper with instructions that included a phone number to call and get the appointment and have blood tests, among other things. Well, it seems the phone answerers cannot make an appointment that is not noted in my records. That makes sense. But, the woman insisting I was wrong and was supposed to get another test is baffling. 

I suppose the np did not not schedule it. However, the woman has been an obstructionist every time I call. This woman today explained it all to me. How much easier would it have been to explain to me instead of arguing. The obstructionist told me she was going to note that I was uncooperative! That will color my treatment. I will take the paper that tells me to call and get the appointment so people will not think I am nuts next time I go in! 

Dinner: baked bscb, green beans, slaw, strawberries. I was not around when Tommy ate, so no idea what he had. I do know I ate from the bscb twice today, and Tommy ate for his dinner only. It was entirely possible for us both to have had the bscb for lunch and dinner, but he did not want any. 

I decluttered only a smidgen. But, I have managed to keep it from restarting in my bedroom. That is a plus. I will have the cleaner dust next time she comes. Everyone should dust at least once every six months. 

When I make two calls tomorrow, my list of calls will be finished. Maybe I will freeze the last quart of strawberries and buy more. They will be good one day this winter. 

Do you freeze strawberries for winter consumption? 

Do you ever have a mother bird build a nest where you can look in on her eggs and birds? 

 

I Forgot the Best Part

 As I approached the electric cart the clerk brought me, I was shocked. There by the back wheel was a shiny, new dime. 

I did not sleep well or long Monday night, took an early nap from 10:30 am to 1 pm, got up and just quit running at about 6:30 pm. 

We cleaned out lots of leftovers for dinner. Tommy had the last thigh I thawed last week along with slaw, black-eyed peas, potatoes, carrots, and Brussls sprouts. I had the last pork chop, half a carrot, 1/2 small potato, Brussels sprouts, slaw. I suppose the only difference in our dinner was he had a thigh and I had pork chop. 

Tommy's car is making a huge sputtering noise and shaking. He said it might be trash in the gas tank that was now in the engine. The car shook me until I was exhausted. I don't know if he is going to take it in or just wait until something is ruined or until it quits running. My whole body hurts from the jarring thar lasted three hours. 

Amazon or an Amazon pretender emailed me, asking if I had placed an order while near Washington, US. It seems the order was cancelled. I hope so. I had ordered something not an hour earlier. I ordered something two weeks ago. I wanted two items. However, each box had two pieces, so, essentially, I have four when I wanted two. I did the same thing this time. Thankfully, it is something I can use two. 

Tommy was commenting yesterday that there are no birds. Usually, we see so many when sitting in the car. I suppose they all flew south. When he put my lemon tree out, he said three pollinators were happy to see it. 

I was in a big box store and made a shortcut that just happened to go by a 20' display of birdseed. There were a dozen flour moths or kitchen moths fluttering about the bags. Anyone who buys a bag of birdseed will take home pantry moths. Be careful. Freeze the whole bag first or leave it outdoors. I suppose you could empty the bag into gallon freezer bags, freeze it for three days and then bring indoors. 

Are there birds still at your house?

WHO did WHAT? WHERE? Handcuffed?

My antenna is sort of half put up, last time with the plastic zip ties, you know--the ones that can be used as handcuffs. My reception has been a bit off, so I looked up and noticed that the figure-8 antenna bought from Walmart was leaning outwards. I thought that nothing good could come from this leaning antenna. However, I just figured having my antenna completely fall off was the worst that could happen. No, it is worse than that.

I pass right by this every time I go to the clothesline or chicken pen. On another day for some reason, I saw something out of place from the corner of my eye and glanced upward. There in the v between post and antenna where it leans outward was a bird's nest. I don't know if there are eggs or not since I cannot see in the nest and have seen no sign of the bird. The nest is messy. Someone should have climbed a ladder and taken the nest down if there were no eggs. It may be too late.

However, signs say there are no eggs yet. No bird has been spotted on the nest. No bird is squawking at me. No bird is dive-bombing me. No bird is trying to draw me away. I say there are no eggs! YET!

The antenna is on a  metal/steel pole that holds up the corner of the house which is a porch over the entrance to the basement. The antenna has a clear view of the sky for reception and with a porch roof over it, it must be the perfect place for a nest. Considering how many trees are around my house, surely there must be sites as good or better to raise birds. I hope this bird does not dive-bomb me.

Oh, obviously these zip ties can be stretched, so if you are handcuffed with these zip ties, just keep pressure on them in order to free yourself. Or, try one of these methods. There are other sites and maybe other methods, but I picked this site at random.

Your turn
Where has a bird built a nest that is not convenient to you and your mobility or activities? Have you ever had a bird dive-bomb you if you get too close at home or at work?

Birds

Today, Wednesday,  when I was doing dishes, I glanced out the kitchen window. A robin was picking berries from the Cherry Laurel in which it landed. Actually, there were two dozen robins, male and female.  A blue jay landed in the same tree and looked at me, watching me for a while. Finally, it went to talk with blue jay friends nearby.

Shortly afterwards, I went from the kitchen to the den and saw on the other side of the house cardinals in a tree along with woodpeckers. The cardinals+ didn't surprise me, but I don't recall seeing the others in winter.

Just before that was a murmuration of starlings from several yards on the street. The sound startled me before I saw the birds rise up as one.

It was the wrong time of day for the tiny birds. They flit about by the dozens, so cute.

I feel bad that my chickens are prisoners, never being able to go out into the grass. They should be almost as free as the birds in the trees. Of course, when they have been free lately, they die. There is a predator hiding in the brush. Until the brush is eradicated, they stay locked up or I sit with them.

And my car will not be ready until tomorrow afternoon. I don't think replacing the fuel filter should take so long.

The highs will be in 60s soon. It looks like I can wear sandals this weekend.  The Alabama peach crop will suffer if we don't get more cold hours.

Your turn
Are you seeing birds out of season? Whatever your weather, is it going to be unseasonably warm this weekend where you live?

Things That Go Bump, Screech, Thump

Since the raccoon scare, I don't want to let my hens out much. I caught my neighbor's cat in the raccoon trap. I had to struggle to get her out. the lock is dinged and too tight. The snake is leaving the eggs alone. I still think I have a raccoon and snake!

Finally, I let the hens out about 4 pm for a bit of grass time. I was wary because I heard something in the basement around 2:30 pm. The hens were grateful but rather cool to me. I picked up a few things in the yard and put them in the trash, righted my little red wagon after draining it of water and leaned it where it won't fill again.

As I came into the kitchen to wash dishes in the sink, I looked out and the hens were in the swing--all three of them! Why not look for worms after the rain? I put it all out of my mind and came to sit a bit.

The trees exploded with cacophony,  the warnings and flight of birds. "Do birds get upset at raccoons?" I asked myself. Okay, I went out to help the frantic birds. Usually there is a cat in the bushes, a cat that could never get to the nests so high in the trees. Nevertheless, the birds go crazy. I shoooo the cat away.

Upon stepping onto the porch, I saw two male cardinals and another bird flopping in the edge of the yard in the monkey grass. All three were dragging a wing as they vocalized along with the birds in the trees. All three flew away as I descended the steps. I walked around the yard, looking for the cause of the alarm. Finally, the birds became quiet. I can only assume a cat beyond my fence was upsetting the birds.

Tonight, Louise was adamant about NOT going into the pen, not being lured by my feeding her. She sat on an overturned container resting on two chairs. I turned the container diagonally so she would not have the flat bottom for sitting. Then, she got on the porch railing. She had the most stubborn look on her face. I held a container of dehydrated corn up to her. She ignored it, something I have never seen her do.  After tossing her off the railing and into the yard several times, I just carried her to the pen! I was all sweaty by then and had chicken feathers stuck to my damp arm.

After dark, I heard a different noise from the basement--raccoon rambling around? Snake making something slip?

My only consolation--there is no door from the basement into the house. I have to go outside the house and go down the basement steps. Otherwise, my hair would have gone white 20 years earlier than it did.

Do you ever. . .
hear things in the basement, attic? hear the trees explode with alarms from dozens of birds?