There is was, at the debris pile on the ground. The shells and some whole black sunflower seeds fall there from the feeder above on a rope line. It’s easy to fill with pulleys and latches on the feeder when we lower it down. The woodpeckers have their own cage of suet nearby.

The whole works is visible from the floor to ceiling windows near the kitchen table. It is in the kitchen but all meals are served there. We tried putting the table in the parlor by the wood stove but that was ridiculous. The food is always prepared in the big kitchen!

So one morning over coffee and eggs we saw the scavengers chowing down on the seed shells on the ground and the population diminished by one and after flying away, the birds came back from their safe perches in the lilac bush/tree. After all, one of their kind was already back and seemed to be satisfied with the menu.

Squirrels, espeically the red ones, were dispatched from the corner of the house with a zeroed in 22 and that worked well. The red ones are the corner gang members that hang out in the wood shed and are mischievous and easily seen with their gang colors. Browns and blacks avoid them.

Julie is getting pretty good with the 22 and when humor is needed I mention to casual visitors she likes to kill just for entertainment. She is pretty safe too. When the nasty squirrels run up one of the big black walnut trees, whe switches to the .410. Even though we have 30 acres and are in a perfect valley, the 22 round can travel a long ways if the shot is missed.

The story I tell Keeps the unwanted salesmen not apt to return. No doubt there is scuttlebutt with the men who approach with good intentions but can be distracting when we engage them in polite conversations about their stances that differ somewhat about our faith. It’s pretty good. Norm / Jack Gator

with thanks to Mitch Teemley for the rare photo