After dealing with several mice in the house, we were finally convinced that we had succeeded in getting rid of them. We hadn’t seen or heard a mouse in weeks. And then, on Saturday night, I walked into the kitchen to see Pepino scurrying across the floor to disappear under the refrigerator. Damn. Bob saidContinue reading “Pepino Returns”
Category Archives: Nature
Photo Friday: Snowbird
Until this week, we hadn’t had measurable snow in Alexandria since February 2019. Now we’ve broken our snowless streak, though I wouldn’t call it a major storm. It started when we were in Harrisonburg to bring our son back to JMU when campus reopened. Snow began falling there about 1 a.m. Sunday. The storm reachedContinue reading “Photo Friday: Snowbird”
Six More Weeks of Winter
It’s Groundhog Day 2021! A few hours ago, the world’s most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, emerged from his winter home and saw his shadow, forecasting the continuation of winter for another six weeks. That’s no surprise here, where the first measurable snow in more than two years is still falling outside my window, as itContinue reading “Six More Weeks of Winter”
Fourteen Birds
A study finds that people are happier if they are exposed to more biodiversity of birds in their environment. Seeing fourteen different species of birds on a regular basis brings as much happiness as making an extra $150 a month would bring. Despite my semi-urban environment, my yard is usually full of birds. But doContinue reading “Fourteen Birds”
Library for Birds … and Bernie
The birds in my neighborhood love the Library 4 Birds that my cousin made for me. But look at this little guy who showed up there. I guess that makes it a Library 4 Bern!
Photo Friday: Cedar Waxwing
Birds love my yard. Among others, we regularly see cardinals, chickadees, robins, grackles, sparrows, blue jays, starlings, wrens, warblers, hummingbirds, two kinds of hawks, and three kinds of woodpeckers. But until last week, I had never seen cedar waxwings. Last Wednesday, I suddenly noticed a pair of them just outside the kitchen window. They seemContinue reading “Photo Friday: Cedar Waxwing”
Mouse Tales
The mouse is still at large. We have been trying to catch it for nearly two weeks, but it ignores the nice fragrant peanut butter in our traps, and continues to hide out on the main floor of the house, moving among the kitchen, living room, and family room, as well as my son’s bedroom,Continue reading “Mouse Tales”
Photo Friday: Stunning Sunset
Four weeks ago I posted a photo of a spectacular sunrise, as seen through my bedroom window. Last week I caught this sunset one evening as I drove home from the store. It was such a showstopper that a block or two from my house, I parked the car and jumped out to take photos.
Fixing a Hole
I posted recently about the mouse that we’ve spotted several times in the house in the past few days. We have baited three traps with peanut butter and set them around the house, but so far the mouse is showing no interest in them. One theory is that Pepino and its occasional predecessors are gettingContinue reading “Fixing a Hole”
A Visit From Pepino
It was 4 a.m. New Year’s morning. I’d gotten to bed about 3, and was just about to drift off to sleep. My husband, who’d sacked out shortly after midnight, was fast asleep beside me. Suddenly I heard a voice outside our door. “Is anyone awake in there?” It was our 18-year-old He’s not proneContinue reading “A Visit From Pepino”
