Brrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!

Well, at least we are up to seven above. 

Taken through the front-door window. 

These are not just starlings... there are many red-winged blackbirds in there, too. 

And looking towards the old henhouse, you see hundreds more. 

I have not put any feed out in the henyard because the ducks are inside. 

Sadly, they can get into the old henhouse through a hole in the eaves, so I am 

kind of sick with anticipation of what I am going to find in there when I go 

out to refresh the water here in a few minutes. 

I thought I would outsmart them, so I put a saucer with some seed 

in it on the porch, so that the little birds could find it. 

And some juncoes, two bluejays, and two female cardinals did.... 

before the starlings saw it. 

Some female redwings rested on the railing.  

I feel so sorry for all the wild birds, it is snowing again now, and has still gotten no warmer than seven degrees. 

I can't go out and put feed out every hour, though, it is so expensive. 

I'm going to let them all disappear for a while, and then will put some more out early this afternoon. 

The cardinals and mourning doves feed last, so I put some out in the evening for them. 

My left foot froze again this morning, as it did two weeks ago, so I am double-socking when I go 

back out.  I did not let anyone out of the new henhouse today... and there were only three starlings still locked up in there, but no telling how many have gotten in the other side, so I'll go out there with clean 

water shortly and take care of them all.  

I have to tell you all that this is NO fun, I am going to be 64 this summer, and 

have to question whether taking a chance at falling on ice and snow is 

worth it at this stage of my life. 

I fell on Friday, did not write about it... but tore my knee up. 

Every time that happens, I wonder if it's the time that 

I am going to tear my meniscus again, or worse. 

 I closed with a picture of Lilly at the door of the new henhouse yesterday... she caught TWO starlings as they flew out... she has one in her mouth and is picking up the other here. 

Ummmm this was a THIRD starling she killed in the yard. 

As I type this at 11:45 AM Sunday morning, we are almost in white-out conditions here. There are still about five hundred birds in the yard, and I know there can't be anything left to eat out there. 

I am getting ready to fill two buckets with warm water and go out to the old henhouse and chase the starlings out.  I have to work fast, as my fingers freeze quickly at this temperature. 

The goats... I fed and watered them this morning and they were fine, though not happy.  The back of their shed "leaks" and there was snow on the north end, along the wall.  I know they are okay, but I feel sorry for them, too.  A big barn would have worked so much better for us.  

I had hoped that the snow would stop at two inches, but it does not look like we are going to luck out. 

I should stop boo-hooing, because I know so many of you are going through worse... and my heart goes out to you all, too. 

Stay warm and safe, friends!