Several times each day, my resident red squirrel, whom I call Ruby, works on a renovation project. This is to enlarge the entrance of the box which housed a family of White-breasted Nuthatches last year. I installed a metal guard on the box specifically to deter squirrels from chewing into the wood. Still, she thinks she can gnaw through the metal ring and I can't imagine she would be wasting her time if she didn't fancy her chances. The nuthatches show interest in using the box again in the Spring. I designed it for them and hope the squirrel gives up soon.
Meanwhile, Ruby keeps me entertained with her fantastic acrobatics. The saucy miss seems to defy gravity as she hurls through tree branches to chase off birds. I relocated a hanging open feeder because she was covering the bird seed with debris to keep it all for herself. Sharing is not her strong point.
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I think she'd have more success chewing into an edge of the box.
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But she's sticking with her plan to enlarge the front entrance.
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She tries her best to conceal the black oil seeds from the birds.
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I've been trying my hand at making roll-ups for lunch. They are tasty and satisfying but I find it a bit tricky to master their construction. I always seem to overfill the tortillas which makes them a bit too fat to stay properly rolled up. The food handlers where they are sold make it look so easy.
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The trick is to not overfill the tortilla.
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Tucking, rolling, tucking and rolling.
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Browning the roll with a bit of margarine.
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Not perfect but perfectly acceptable with a glass of stout.
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So far, it's been a mild winter with not much snow. In fact I've only used the snowblower twice this season. Some nights I hear the high pitched yipping of coyotes. They leave plenty of tracks in the snow as they search for mice in our fields. So far, they've left my two backyard rabbits unscathed.
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Coyotes and I are frequent users of this lane.
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January sun on the striking feathers of a male cardinal.
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The arm of this couch is one of Ellie Mae's favourite hangouts.
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