I saw my first Junco last week. I am hoping that I'll see more. I have seeing White Crown sparrow lately, too. The gold finches (no longer gold) seemed to have come back from where-ever they had gone. I am hoping to see some American Tree Sparrow next. They are the most common birds in my yard during last winter. Now that it's cold enough, I put up my modified suet feeder (with a tail extender attachment). The woodpecker found it within 5 min. Unfortunately I haven't been able to make the Red Belly woodpecker that comes infrequently to come more often. How long do the ducks stay? I thought they have left by now with the water staring to freeze, but a large group seems to come in the morning to raid the feeders. I am hoping that they leave before more of the Junco comes back. I can't keep anything in the ground feeder. Paul

I had a mat, but the chipmunk who lives in our shrubbery decided to eat it. I don't know where the little beastie put all the mat; he must have welcomed some of his rodent friends over for the feast.

Rocky is HOME!!! thanks everyone. Melinda sent him home with goodies, so, this afternoon when the ice cleared I went into town Rocky was waiting and as usual he claimed to be starving. Melinda sent him home with goodies We opened the Hershey's gold bar and shared that right away. Rocky declared that a fine snack but he's looking for MORE so I'll use the pecans in his chocolate chip cookies and try to sneak the pistacios away for myself. Prizes are already enroute to Ruth , Debbie and Susan. Should arrive soon and I'm throwing one in for Melinda too. A special thanks for being a good sport through the delay and detour. Now I'm off to feed this hungry squirrel Thanks again ladies. As usual , with the flying squirrel, there are always surprises along the way

Thanks for checking in—I was traveling and am now back on track! Update: I purchased a colorful, beautifully embroidered Scalamandré fabric (pillows in progress) and also had pillows made with a calm blue, gray, and taupe Lee Jofa fabric. I put the Matouk pique coverlet on top to bottom, so it has a curved scallop up near the headboard. I may monogram the hemstitched part of the pillowcase, and/or get the pillowcases Mtnrd found. Ordered cordless sconces after getting a crazy quote to install 2 outlet boxes in the hurricane-proof wall. Chiseling a hurricane wall can't be the best idea, and I have high hopes for the cordless which should arrive soon. Thanks to @Jilly for the latest pic, reminding me about centering the sconces. I did that in the mockup below. I love the blue grass cloth mirror in the mockup, but don't love that it doesn't reflect anything interesting, and there will be another mirror over the bachelor chest. Toying with reproducing a watercolor of me and my small (at the time) daughters. But a bit too twee? Apologies in advance if this posts three times, having trouble with GW... will try to post the links and photos separately. ETA photos