Room at the Inn

We’ve extended the idea of K’s Inn to our non-human friends. Although we’ve always been somewhat of a secret safe haven for a few homeless cats and dogs, this winter we have openly begun providing free meals to other members of the neighborhood as well. A couple summers ago we began with a hummingbird program, but the long bouts of freezing temperatures this winter prompted Don to add an igloo shelter, two birdhouses, and a homemade swinging squirrel feeder. Everyone seems quite appreciative and we love watching their antics.

This visitor and a striped one are a bit camera shy, but Molly is quite sociable.

The bird feeder in the backyard was so popular we added one in the front where Mom could see it from her chair. The smaller birds who were often ousted by bigger birds in the backyard claimed it right away.

We have a pair of squirrels in the neighborhood who pay a visit to the bird feeder once in awhile, too. We love their acrobatic antics.

The squirrel family took a whole day to investigate every inch of the swing set and check the coffee can from every angle before they decided it was safe and set out figuring how to get the food out of the can. It swings free, but they soon learned to sit on the slide ladder, reach out and grab the can, swing it around and climb halfway in to help themselves. Then they sit on a crossbar to munch. This character let me get about five feet away to take my pictures. I swear he was posing. (Did you get that? No, THIS is my good side.)

Birds of all sizes flock to this feeder.

A Woodpecker loves to hang on the cage and eat the suet feed inside.

These guys are next in line. Only a couple birds eat at the feeder at a time. They will scrape seeds out onto the ground so that some can eat down there at the same time. The rest patiently wait their turn on a nearby bush. We've spotted the cats sitting below the feeder, looking up at it in deep thought, but they have yet to indulge. Either they are heeding my admonishment to "do no harm" or they are content with their full stomachs. In any case, the birds are cautious and patient about waiting until the coast is clear.

It's Ironic

Life has a lot of little ironies. I suppose that’s what makes it interesting, isn’t it? Yes, frustrating, too, and aggravating and a tiny bit humorous, but, at the very least, not boring. They are those shake-your-head moments that leave you speechless except for the wry twist of a grin that tweaks one side of your mouth when you think about it. You'd swear for a moment that it must be some kind of April Fools joke, but no, it isn't; it's just life.

For instance, when I started back to college to get my teaching degree, schools in my area were hurting for teachers, but, ironically, my graduation coincided with the present economic downturn that has caused severe school cutbacks and not even a whisper of any job opportunities.

There are more such twists of fate that cause me to pause. Such as, how an avowed nontraveler ended up across the globe for three weeks. How someone who graduated summa cum laude could think jogging barefooted on the treadmill was a good idea. How an alert driver who is diligently trying to swerve around potholes can hit them dead center every time. How an animal lover can love leather shoes. How a vegetable hater can suddenly crave broccoli. How a chocoholic can be allergic to chocolate. How a duck hunter can adopt a drake named Frank.

A Sure Sign of Spring

Look who are back!

Our little hummingbird family showed up a couple weeks ago. I caught sight of one of them buzzing the porch and hovering in front of the picture window until I turned and saw him. Message received, loud and clear! Before the day was done I had two feeders hanging up for them and now that the tree blossoms are dying, they are doubling their intake.

Such fragile and amazing creatures!