Rodent Proof Seeds, My Foot!

Safflower seeds are specifically advertised to repel squirrels, blue jays and other nuisances. So we bought a brick of the stuff and a special feeder (with squirrel baffle).

We are the ones who are baffled. There is one squirrel who thinks we set them out just for him. Big, fat fellow, who is out there right now, even as I blog these photos we took the day before.

Hanging Around

After grabbing the seeds, he then hangs by his back legs, and enjoys the meal. No hurry. Expensive, too. And yet, the same seeds are being used successfully by my friend GolferGirl. We haven't seen a squirrel all summer at her feeder in Corning.

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Little Pond

Happy Thanksgiving

This is our sponsored son Luis Patricio. If you've ever sponsored a child, you probably recognize this: once they are no longer children, they leave the system. Luis is the only child we've ever seen to young adulthood. Many parents pull their children from school and put them to work. Once we got a note that simply said that the child's father had taken an interest in him. Luis loves to draw and play soccer. We are very proud of him.

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Little Pond

Asthma time came early this year.

Had a minor asthma spell in church this morning. But it was good to remind me that I needed to order my electric candles. Thanks to Sharper Image, electric candles are all the rage this year.

We were well ahead of the tide last year with this post and many others. They were ordered from Inspired Lighting, which was recovering from Hurricane Katrina.

You will recall that the oil lamps in the Lawrence Chapel were the starters for the season. Then the pretty hurricane lamps at the tables took over.

Shipping and handling seem a little steep for this year's order, but the item itself was reasonably priced, so it was a wash. Pillar candles are available in ivory and red. I had to have a red tall pillar to go with the purple and pink against the bright gold. And what goes with tort-tabby cat?

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Little Pond

First Official

...Decked out home of the season. And that's not counting those homes that have the huge blow-up vinyl Christmas displays. They've been out since the owners took in the huge blow-up vinyl Halloween displays. This is, of course, a household with little children.

We are having a miserably cold, damp November, and that is keeping the early birds in. I expect to see more this weekend.

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Little Pond

Preparations for Judgement Day

...are almost complete! Went to visit Cousin Robby to make arrangements. It was a pleasant visit.

The funeral home hasn't changed much since the last time we visited, as opposed to the last time we had to be there for an official function. They visited with us at the wedding, so we see each other enough.

We are set with them. They will facilitate the trip to the Upstate Medical Center, direct the memorial service and handle the caterers for the after party. The same caterers that fed our party-goers.

Now I must fill out the legal paperwork for the transfer and surrender of the body. Essentially paperwork for the Medical Center. And we are all set.

Except. There always is an "except."

Except that we must contact our doctors, to be sure someone can be called in to sign the death certificate. Doctors are allowed more time to sign the papers than we are allowed to idle in refrigeration. That is to say: they could sign the certificate too late for the body to be any use, legally speaking. It is important that our doctor be on the same page as we are. If they are against cadaver donation, they might deliberately sabotage the whole operation.

This here's the Bible Belt, partner. Not everyone agrees what is good for the cooked goose, so to speak. I hope that the neurologists agree with my point of view. They are next.

I'll keep you posted.

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Little Pond

Armistice - And Irony

I can see them yet, as they marched away,
So debonair, so brave, so gay!
I can see them yet, as they turned to wave,
The smiles erased from their faces grave.
And as I stood there, turned to stone,
The sun's last glint from their rifles shone.

I can still see my Mother, with face so white
And my Father, standing so still,
Trying to think that all was right,
Trying to feel like it was God's will.
Yes, we all tried to be as brave as they,
As my husband and brother marched away.

After many a weary month and long
Came the news, more cheering than the happiest song.
The whistles were blowing, the bells were ringing.
Everywhere people were shouting and singing.
"The War is over at last" cried they,
And the sad old World became hysteric'ly gay.
We looked at each other through tears of joy
And Mother murmered softly, "My boy, my boy!"

Happy plans for their return we made.
I tremble even now, as these mem'ries fade.
"Killed in action", the telegram bore.
"Killed in action"; weary brain repeated o'er and o'er.
Yes, the bells were ringing,
They should have tolled!
The sound of bells will turn me faint and cold
Forevermore.
My brother had died the day before.

Josephine Abby Lamb Baker

Seeding Democracy...

What are you doing reading blogs???

Get out and vote!

This is the end of the Halloween pumpkins in Little Pond. The microwaved shells are sitting in the fridge, waiting for me to scrape and puree. Or maybe just eat with butter spray.
Before we cooked the seeds, we took the HuggaMutt with us to vote. Then we celebrated our decisions with a walk down on the River Access/Flood Plain/Goose Hatchery. Ellie approves of Election Day.

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Little Pond

We've been wondering who attacked the pumpkins. And why weren't they smashed on the road, in the traditional Halloween manner?

Okay, guys. What is it?

Aha!

Little bugger got quite bold, too. He ignored the cats and dog.

Can any squirrel be that hungry?

All done for now. Little fellow came back repeatedly. Must've been storing up for the winter. Welcome to it, too.

HalloThanksHanuChristNew!!!!

Discussed this with a health provider this week, so Criminal Grace nailed it:

Early Preparations:

1-Roman Catholic. (Named after a Saint and the Blessed Mother, and I took the name of the Lord's Earthly Dad!)

2-Celebrate Christmas in late December??? Try starting in late November, day after Thanksgiving.

3-I send cards when I am well enough. No apologies when I'm not. By the way, religious cards to fellow Catholics, non-religious to fellow Christians, and Peace Season sorts to the rest. We include everyone, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Santeria and atheist.

4-The previous answer serves here, except that I usually include a quick catch-up note.

5-Any sort of card puts me in the spirit. Except once at college I got a mystifying nasty card sent by a dorm-mate who mistook me for someone else. I was able to learn who was the intended target but never figured out the sender. (Bothers me to this day. After all, what we say to one another in Heaven?)

On to Thanksgiving!

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Little Pond

Let's Not Crow Just Yet

Kerry made an awful stupid mistake, but in my opinion, it was just a mistake.

Is it coming at a good time? Maybe. Maybe not.

Keep in mind that many, many people were surprised and upset over the last elections.

Sore losers? You bet.

Just a bunch of losers? I don't know.

Our system is "Checks and Balances." Most notably the two-party system.

George W. Bush has been in for two terms, and there has to be a change. Not negotiable.

Kerry is still the Dems most viable candidate. So they already have a basis on which to build. That alone puts them one step ahead. One step may be enough.

Can we provide a candidate with enough charisma, knowledge and experience to guarantee the presidency? One strong enough to beat Kerry?

I wish we did.

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Little Pond