I walked into the house carrying several grocery bags and placed them on the counter. “Okay, let’s see if I win!”

I walked past my son Alex and went over to the shopping list that had been left on the counter.

“Why do you always leave the grocery list at home?” Alex asked as he began unloading the bags.

I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t do it on purpose. I just forget to bring it.”

Alex opened the refrigerator and put the milk on the shelf. “So why don’t you make the list on your phone? That way you’d always have it with you.”

I looked at him for a moment then shook my head no. “This is more fun.” I said as I held up the list.

Alex was still putting the rest of the groceries away while I quickly read through the list. “I remembered everything!” I cried as I waved the list up in the air. “And there were some hard ones on here.”

Alex started to laugh. “You had hard ones?”

I pointed to the first item on the list. “Dijon mustard.” Hoping he’d be impressed but not taking any chances. “Not just mustard but Dijon mustard.”

Alex nodded. “Okay, I guess that was a hard one.” he took the list from me. “Wait. It says Cascade.” He looked around on the counter top. “I just unloaded the bags and I didn’t see any Cascade.”

I held up a finger. “That’s because your Dad said he wanted to get that at Costco, so it doesn’t count.”

Alex nodded again. “It also says tortillas.” he pointed to the item on the list. “I wrote that one myself and I know I didn’t put that in the freezer.”

I looked back on the list. “That one doesn’t count either.”

Alex laughed. “Why doesn’t that one count?”

“Because it wasn’t on the list this morning when I looked at it.”

“I know.” Alex put the list back on the counter. “That’s because I added it when I ate the last one at lunch today.”

“See. So it doesn’t count.”

“How?”

“Because my ‘memorize the grocery list’ game started this morning before I left the house. Anything added after that goes on the next list.”

I pulled a pad out of the drawer along with a pen and handed it to Alex. “You can start a new list and that can be the first item on it.”

Alex sighed as he began to write. “If you’re not going to put the list on your phone maybe you could call me when you forget the list and I can send you a picture of it.”

I shook my head. “I told you I’m working on my memory.” I crumpled up the old list and threw it in the garbage then tapped the side of my head with my pointer finger. “As you can see I’m crushing this memory game!”

Alex handed me the new list where he’d printed TORTILLAS in capital letters. “Hopefully this will help with your next trip.”

I was in my bedroom getting ready for work when I heard my son, Alex call from the kitchen. “Hey! You’ve got a hummingbird at your feeder!”

“What? No!” I cried as I stumbled out of my room still trying to get my shoe on. “Not now!” I came into the kitchen looking at where Alex was pointing. Standing on the edge of the glass feeder, dipping his long beak into the opening shaped like a flower, was a ruby-throated hummingbird taking a long drink of nectar.

“I put those feeders out a month ago when we had a warm spell.” I looked over at Alex. “But I haven’t changed the nectar since. What if it’s gone bad and he gets sick?”

I went over to the drawer where I kept my pots. Pulling out a saucepan I placed it on top of the stove. “I really don’t have time for this!” I looked at my watch. “I’m suppose to leave for work in ten minutes!”

I went to the cabinet where I stored the sugar and pulled the plastic container off the shelf. “I wasn’t expecting you today!” I called over my shoulder to the emerald green beauty.

I reached into the drawer and pulled out a measuring cup. Scooping a cup of sugar from the container I poured it into the saucepan. Carrying the pan over to the sink I poured four cups of water over the sugar. Once the pan was on the burner I lit the flame then looked at Alex.

“I really need to finish getting ready for work.” I grabbed a wooden spoon from the drawer and handed it to Alex. “Can you give this a quick stir until the sugar dissolves and turn it off when it comes to a boil?”

Alex gave it a quick stir. “Sure.”

I went back to my bedroom to brush my teeth and do my hair.

“Hey,” Alex called a minute or so later from the kitchen. “Just wanted to let you know the goldfinches are all over your new feeder but the seed is pretty low.”

I couldn’t help but sigh as I tossed my hairbrush back in the vanity drawer and peeked out the bathroom window to see for myself.

Alex was right. The feeder needed to be filled again. “You guys are pigs.” I mumbled as I went out to the kitchen and headed to the back porch. “You know I just filled that two days ago.”

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t think they call the amount of goldfinches we have out there a charm anymore. I’m pretty sure it’s called an infestation.”

I had to laugh. “No it’s not.” I grabbed the bucket of birdseed and went out to the feeder. It only took me a minute to fill before I was back up on the porch. Alex was waiting at the back door.

“The hummingbird food came to a boil so I turned it off.”

I looked over at the red glass feeders. “I’ll fill them when I get home from work.”

I was just getting ready to step back into the house when Alex pointed over my shoulder. “Hey, that’s the first chipmunk I’ve seen this year.”

I turned around to see the little brown fur ball scampering around the bottom of the feeders.

“Didn’t you get him a bag of shelled peanuts?” Alex asked.

I tipped my head back and sighed. “I really don’t have time for this!” I checked my watch again. “I should be leaving for work right now!”

“But don’t you usually go in early?”

“Yes. Because I need to get some things done before everyone comes in.” I was back in the cabinet grabbing the bag of shelled peanuts.

“So, you’re really not late yet.” He reminded me as he went to the drawer to get a pair of scissors so I could open the bag.

“I guess you’re right.” I looked at my watch again. “Technically, I’m not late yet.” I opened the bag and scooped out a handful of peanuts.

“See!” Alex opened the back door, following me as I went back out on the porch.

He stood next to me while I tossed peanuts over to the chipmunk. When I was finished I brushed the peanut dust off my hands and Alex patted me on the shoulder. “If anyone at work asks why you’re not there at your usual time just tell them you had some unexpected guests show up at the house.”

“Hey, Alex!” I called to my son. “Guess who’s at the feeders again today?”

“The goldfinches?” Alex came into the kitchen where I was standing by the sink looking out at my feeders that were swarming with goldfinches.

“I can’t believe we have so many!” I pointed out the window. “Aren’t they adorable? It’s like watching marshmallow Peeps flying around!”

Alex laughed. “I wonder why there are so many of them this year?”

I began to count them. “I see ten right now. How many do you see?”

I saw Alex scanning the yard. “Did you get the two in the tree over there?” I looked to where he was pointing.

“I missed them!” I cried. “That makes an even dozen!”

I reached over the sink and opened the window. We could hear them calling to one another. “They sure have a lot to say.” I looked over at Alex. “I have no idea why we have so many this year, but I’m loving it!”

They fluttered from tree branches to feeder then back to the branches.

“I just ordered a special goldfinch feeder and thistle seed for them.”

Alex looked confused. “What’s wrong with the feeders we already have?”

“They’re not designed for goldfinches.” I shook my head. “And those feeders don’t have their favorite seed in them.”

Alex pointed to the feeders out the window. “I’m going to disagree with you on that one. They seem pretty happy to me.”

We watched the feeders as little battles erupted when they wanted their turn at the perch. “See, they don’t have enough places to land!” I argued. “The new feeder I just ordered is a long tube with several spots for them to perch. They’re going to love it!” I looked over at Alex. “Did you know they’re social eaters.”

Alex looked over at me. “How do you know that?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I looked it up.”

Alex nodded. “Of course you did.”

I continued with my list of facts. “Guess what they call a group of them?”

Alex shook his head. “A flock?”

“Nope! A charm!” I couldn’t help but smile. “Isn’t that adorable!”

Alex laughed. “I guess that’s a good name for a bunch of flying Peeps.”

“I know! Right?”

We watched as a couple of Black-capped chickadee’s tried to get to the feeder but there wasn’t enough room. “That’s another reason I ordered the new feeder. The goldfinches are hogging all the space and my other little friends can’t get a spot.”

Alex laughed. “So now you’re annoyed at the goldfinches for hogging the feeders?”

“Only for the next day or two until their feeder comes in.” I leaned across the sink. “Hey, can you guys let my other friends have a turn please?” I called out the window.

Alex looked at me for a moment before he reached over the sink and slowly closed the window.

“Why do you keep forgetting we have neighbors?”

A few weeks ago my husband Steven surprised me with over a dozen hyacinth plants. They hadn’t bloomed yet so you could only see the purple crown of the flower poking out from the center of the leaves.

“They’re going to be beautiful!” I said as I looked over at him feeling concerned. “But aren’t you and Alex allergic to them?”

Steven shrugged his shoulders. “I was going to get you daffodils but they didn’t have any and I know how much you like these, too. I figured if we planted them far enough away from the house they would look great and we wouldn’t be able to smell them from the house.”

Steven picked up the box that the plants were in. “Let’s go in the backyard so you can find a spot for them.”

We headed out through the kitchen door. After scanning the yard we decided on a spot where I could still see them from the kitchen window but far enough away that we were pretty sure we wouldn’t be able to smell them.

Steven placed the box down on the ground and went to the garage to get a shovel. While he was gone I grabbed my phone to see what kind of care they would need.

When Steven came back with the shovel and a container of plant food I was still scrolling through my phone. “They don’t like a lot of water.” I looked at Steven and smiled. “That’s good because you know I have weak watering skills.”

Steven laughed as he started to dig a hole. “Yes, you do.”

I was still scrolling while Steven kept digging. “Did you also know hyacinths are deer resistant?”

Steven nodded his head as he dug the shovel into the ground again. “That’s another reason I picked them.”

The deer population in our neighborhood is huge.

Steven finished making the hole and went and got our watering can. Filling it up before adding a few scoops of plant food. He filled the hole with some water before taking the plants out of the containers and placing them in the wet earth. “These are suppose to be planted in the fall.” he said. “So you might not get a bloom this year.”

I knelt down next to him. “But they look like they’re ready to pop any minute!”

“They could.” he was still arranging them in the hole before placing the dirt around them. “That’s why I gave them some plant food to help them out.”

Once he was finished planting them we both stood up to admire our new hyacinth patch.

Weeks later I was looking out my kitchen window when I saw the purple star shaped flowers had bloomed.

“The hyacinths are blooming!” I cried.

Steven and my son Alex came into the kitchen. I was pointing out the kitchen window. “They’re blooming!”

I lead the way out the kitchen door to admire them from the deck. We weren’t out for more than a moment when their heavy fragrance reached us. “Uh, oh!” I looked over at Steven and Alex. “I guess we didn’t plant them far enough.” I slowly inhaled. “They do smell nice though.” I looked over at them. “Don’t they?”

Alex looked over at me, his eyes already looking watery. “They are pretty but they smell like a headache to me.”

“I’m sorry.” I sighed.

“Don’t be. I’m glad you like them.” he began walking towards the kitchen door. “I’ll just be enjoying them from inside the house for the next couple of weeks.”

I watched as Alex disappeared into the house before looking over at Steven. “I really do love them.”

“I’m glad.” He sniffled and leaned over to kiss my forehead. “But I’m with Alex on loving them from inside the house.”

“I have to run to the grocery store!” I called from the front door. “I forgot the sour cream that goes with dinner!”

“Okay, see you in a minute!” My son Alex called from his room.

Forty minutes later I returned, carrying a potted orchid. The few flowers that had already bloomed were a beautiful shade of purple with a half-dozen buds waiting to open.

Alex met me at the door. “Well, that doesn’t look like sour cream.” he laughed.

I pointed over my shoulder as I went into the living room to put the flower in my “when I buy an orchid this is the spot it likes” place. “The bags are in the trunk.” I began adjusting the orchid so that I’d be able to see the blooms when I was sitting on the couch. “Perfect!” I said as I stepped back to enjoy my new addition.

Alex came in carrying several plastic bags. “I thought you were just going to get sour cream?” he placed the bags on the kitchen counter and began unloading them.

I shrugged my shoulders. “Once I was in there I kept remembering other things I needed so…”

Alex pulled out a box of Russell Stover candies and held it up to me. “I can see that.”

“Hey, every once in a while I feel like a little piece of chocolate okay?” I took the box from him and tossed it on the counter.

“Fine with me.” Alex laughed. “I’m just surprised with the interesting list of things you got when you were only going out for sour cream.” He handed me two bricks of cheddar cheese.

“Those are for snacks after dinner.” I opened the refrigerator and placed them in the drawer. “Weren’t you the one who asked me to get cheese a few days ago?”

“I was, when you bought crackers last week but there was nothing to put on them.”

“See? I remembered and you’re welcome.” I went back over to the bags and pulled out a half gallon of strawberry ice cream. “This is for dessert.” I opened the freezer. “I thought we could drizzle some chocolate sauce on it.”

“Sounds good.” Alex peeked in the bag. “Did you remember to get sour cream?”

I looked around on the counter. “I’m positive I did.” I looked over at him. “Did you get all the bags from the car?” I began gathering up the empty grocery bags and realized there was still something in one of them. “Thank goodness.” I said as I pulled the container of sour cream out of it. “I was afraid I was going to have to go back to the store.”

Alex laughed again as he looked at the box of chocolate on the counter. “I’m pretty sure I know why they say you should never shop on an empty stomach.”

I scooped the box of chocolates off the counter. “I’m not saying you aren’t right but when I open this box I’m sure you’ll want me to share.”

“You’re absolutely right.”

He walked over to the orchid. “We haven’t had one of these in a long time.” He gently touched the flower.

I shook my head as I walked over to where he was standing. “There was just something about that one that said it needed to come home with me.” I looked over at Alex. “Every once in a while you just need to treat yourself to something beautiful.”

Alex looked at the box of chocolates tucked under my arm.“And something delicious.”

I smiled as I put the box on the coffee table. “And delicious.”

My son Alex came into the living room where I was sitting on the couch holding a plastic bag with a half finished needlepoint project inside.

Alex’s eyebrows went up. “Are you starting to do your needlework again?”

I nodded my head as I pulled the canvas out of the bag. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while now.” I placed the canvas next to me and pulled out the needle and thread. “It’s time I go back to doing some of the hobbies I’ve always enjoyed.” I looked over at him. “I honestly don’t know why I stopped everything.”

“I’m so proud of you!” Alex was smiling. “For over the past year all you’ve done is watch the news on your phone and yell at it.” He patted me on the top of the head. “I’m glad you’re moving on to something that’s more calming for you again.”

I took a deep breath and slowly released it. “Thanks. I’m trying.”
I adjusted the pillows behind me and settled myself into them. As I was threading a piece of blue thread through the needle I began to realize just how much I missed it. I got the thread through on the first try. “I wasn’t reading as many books as I used to. I stopped all my needlework. I was becoming obsessed with the news!”

Alex nodded as he sat down in the chair across from me. “I know! I tried to tell you. But I couldn’t get you to put your phone down.”

“I know.” I sighed. “It took me a while but I’m finally hearing what you were saying to me.” I smiled over at him as I held up the canvas and put my first stitch in, feeling the smooth flow of the needle as I began filling the canvas with thread.

“Now that the weather is getting nicer you’ll be able to sit on the back porch and do your needlepoint while you watch the birds at the feeders and throw peanuts to the chipmunks.” Alex reminded me. “Remember how much you liked doing that too.”

I sighed as I remembered. “I do love this time of year when it starts getting warmer out and all the little critters begin running around the yard.” I looked over at him and smiled. “Summer’s just around the corner too!”

“That’s right.”

We sat there quietly as I got in the rhythm of the needle. After a few minutes I put my needlepoint piece down and reached over to grab the television remote from the coffee table.

“What are you doing?” Alex asked looking concerned. “I thought you were going to work on your needlework?”

“I am.” I clicked the television on and went to my favorite news station before putting the remote back on the table and picking up my needlepoint again. “But I just realized that there’s no reason I can’t do both!”

Alex got up shaking his head as he looked over at the television. “Try not to yell too loud.”

Shaking my head I looked over at him and smiled. “I honestly can’t promise you that.” I settled back into the cushions and began stitching again.

I’d just come back from the grocery store and my son Alex met me at the door to take the bags from my hands.

“You’ll be happy to know I went by the horse farm and all three horses are standing up and looking fine.” I said as I followed Alex into the kitchen and watched as he put the bags on the counter.

“That’s good to know.” he said as he peeked in the bags to see what I’d gotten.

I stood next to him unloading the bags. “I know. Remember how worried we were yesterday when we saw one of the horses laying on its side while the other stood over him looking concerned?”
“Okay, well I’m not sure I’d say I could see concern on the horses face from the car, but I’ll go along with that.” Alex took the yogurts out of the bag and was putting them in the refrigerator.

“Well, I don’t know about you but I was up half the night worried about him.” I handed Alex the peppers and carrots to put in the fridge. “Did you know that if they lay on their side for too long they could die!”

“I didn’t know that.” he tossed the vegetable in the drawer. “But I actually forgot all about them until you just mentioned it.”

“Are you serious?” I shook my head.

Alex patted me on the shoulder. “You worry too much.”

“What are you talking about? The horse clearly looked like it was in distress!”

“Or he was taking a nap and his friend was keeping him company.” Alex opened the cabinet to put a loaf of bread away.

“Well, I know I feel better now that I’ve seen all of them up and wandering around the field again.”

“I’m glad. One less thing for you to worry about.”

“Exactly.” I looked out the window at our birdbath where a few birds were sitting on the edge. “Oh no! I haven’t put water in the bird bath.” I hadn’t finished unloading the groceries as I headed for the back door. “I better go out there now before they get upset.”

“I’m pretty sure they’re not upset.” Alex called to me as he continued unloading the groceries

Once I was back inside I looked around the now empty counter top. “Thanks for putting everything away for me.”

“You’re welcome.” Alex was leaned against the counter eating one of the yogurts. “Are they still mad at you?” Alex pointed his spoon over his shoulder at the birds in the back yard.

“Nope, I don’t think so. Not only did I fill the birdbath but I also topped off the feeders.” I looked at the kitchen window and could see a chipmunk scurrying around the back yard. “Oh my gosh! I forgot all about you.” I called to him. “I better get the peanuts out for him!” I went over to the cabinet where I had a brand new bag waiting for him. “I’m glad I thought to get this the other day.” I pulled the bag out of the cabinet and held it up for Alex to see.

“You know if they ever made worrying an Olympic sport…”

I smiled as I interrupted him. “I bet I’d bring home the gold!”

My son Alex and I were on a walk when Alex looked over at me. “Are you limping?”

I stopped for a moment. “You know, I am.” I began walking again trying not to limp. “My hip’s been bothering me.”

“What caused that?”

“I guess my bursitis is acting up.” I started to laugh. “I think I just uttered an ‘I’m so old’ sentence!”

“What are you talking about?” Alex slowed down our pace to help me out. “I’ve had bursitis before, in both my shoulders. Remember?”

“Oh, my gosh! I forgot.” I looked over at him. “That makes me feel so much better!”

Alex started to laugh. “Okay.”

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

We were going to cross the street and I actually had to stop a moment to think how I was going to step off the curb without causing any pain.

“I meant that I thought bursitis was something only old people get.” I could feel the pinch in the hip as I stepped down but it quickly let up.

“Have you been doing the stretches physical therapy gave you the last time you had it?”

“Nope.” I shook my head. “Once they did a few cupping sessions on the outside of my thigh it went away. So I never gave it another thought.”

“Big mistake.” Alex said shaking his head.

I stopped a moment to rub my hip but also to admire a small bed of purple crocuses in one of our neighbors front yards. “I’m realizing that now.”

We were at the bottom of one of the hills in our neighborhood. I looked up at the steep incline. “Well, this should be interesting.”

Alex looked concerned. “Do you want to turn around and go back?”

“No.” I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I know you’re suppose to rest when you have a flair up but for some reason I feel better when I keep moving.”

“I’m telling you you need to start doing the stretches again.”

We began walking up the hill but halfway up I stopped. “Give me a second.”

I went over to a telephone pole and leaned against it while I swung my leg from side to side. After a few moments of doing that I reached behind me grabbing the toe of my foot and pulling up as far as I could pull it, holding it like that for a few moments before dropping it back to the ground. I added in a few squats, still holding on to the telephone pole for balance, before standing back up. I did a quick test by moving my hips side to side to see if the stretching had helped. “That feels so much better!” I looked over at Alex. “You’re right it is all about the stretching!”

Alex was looking around the neighborhood to see if anyone had been watching me. As we headed back up the hall Alex looked over at me. “Next time maybe you could do your stretches before we leave the house?”

I was standing in the middle of the dining room looking around when my son Alex came in. “What are you doing?” he asked.

I sighed. “Thinking about spring cleaning this weekend.”

“Oh, that’s right.” Alex couldn’t help but smile. “It’s the first day of spring this weekend.”

I sighed again. “Yeah.”

Alex looked confused. “You’ve been saying you can’t wait until spring comes ever since you took the Christmas tree down! What’s the matter?”

“Oh, I’ve been looking forward to spring. Just not the spring cleaning.” I could see a thin layer of dust on the side table.

“You clean all the time.” Alex said. “In fact, weren’t you the one who used to use disinfectant wipes on the groceries when you’d bring them in from the store?”

“Those sure were crazy times.” I shook my head. “But that was Covid cleaning. This is totally different. It’s spring cleaning.”

I opened one of the dining room windows and pointed to the windowsill. “See how dirty this is?” There was a chilly breeze coming in but it was a beautiful sunny day.

Alex came over and looked. “That’s pretty dirty.”

“That’s from months of winter storms.” I nodded my head. “Now multiply that with how many windows we have.”

I closed the window, sat down at the dining room table and began rubbing my forehead. “Then it’s closets and kitchen draws and cabinets! Not to mention all the baseboard and doors that need to be wiped down.” I leaned my head back. “All I’ve been doing this past year is clean. I just don’t want to clean anymore. Especially not spring cleaning!”

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “Okay, so don’t.”

I looked at him, I couldn’t hide my surprise. “Really?”

“Sure. Why not?”

I thought about it for a moment. “You know, you’re right! Why not?” I got up and took the kettle from the stove and began to fill it up at the sink. “I’m going to make a nice warm cup of tea, get a cozy sweater on and go sit outside in the sun! That’s how I’m going to celebrate spring!”

Alex came over and patted my on the shoulder. “See. Now don’t you feel better?”

“I really do!” I smiled as I put the kettle on the stove and turned it on.

My husband Steven came into the kitchen. “Isn’t it a beautiful day out?” he asked.

“It sure is!” I went to get a cup of of the cabinet.

He went over to the dining room window and began to open it up. “Why don’t we get some fresh air in here.”

“NO!” I cried. “DON’T!”

Steven stopped midway of opening it. “What? What’s wrong?”

“I’m trying to enjoy the first day of spring!” I said as put my cup down on the counter and went over to the window where I reached over and slowly closed it.

Steven looked over at Alex a confused look on his face.

“If you open the window Mom’s going to see the dirty windowsill and she’s not in the mood for spring cleaning right now.”

“Exactly.” I went over and got a tea bag out of the canister. “I don’t want to feel guilty about not doing any spring cleaning today and the only way that’s going to happen is if we keep the windows closed.”

I turned around and looked at Steven who was now holding his hands up in front of his chest. “Closed windows it is.”

I smiled as I dropped my tea bag in my mug. “Thank you!”

“Alex!” I called out to my son. “You have to see this!” I was kneeling on our couch my elbows leaned against the windowsill looking out our window.

Alex came into the living room. “What’s up?”

“You have to see all the robins in our holly tree!”

Dozens of robins were scattered on our front lawn. They’d fly into the holly tree where they’d pull off one of the berries than fly back to the lawn or a tree branch to eat their yummy snack. The holly tree was actually vibrating with action. “It’s like having a bird feeder that I don’t have to fill!”

Another dozen robins were stationed under the tree catching all the berries that were falling to the ground.

“Isn’t that crazy looking?” I look over at Alex. “It’s nature’s bird feeder.”

“They sure are hungry.” Alex agreed. “How come we never see them at the bird feeders?”

I turned around and sat down on the couch then shrugged my shoulders. “I guess they don’t like seeds.”

Alex went into the kitchen. “So besides holly berries what do they eat?”

I picked up my phone, followed him into the kitchen, and leaned against the counter to do a quick search. “Okay, it says here that they like fruit.” I looked over at our fruit bowl sitting on the counter.

Alex looked over and began to laugh. “You’re going to make them a little fruit salad?”

“I’d cut up an apple for them but…” I looked back at Alex. “It’s one of the first times I splurged and got organic.” I pointed to the apples. “They cost a fortune!”

“Hey, I ate one of them the other day.” Alex looked surprised. “I thought they tasted better than usual.”

“You can taste the difference but the robin’s aren’t going to.” I picked up an apple and gave it a quick wash before taking a bite. “They can wait until I go grocery shopping and get the cheaper ones for them.”

I held up the apple as I swallowed the first bite. “Oh my gosh, you can definitely taste the difference!”

“I told you.” Alex looked out the kitchen window. “By the way the bird feeders are empty again.”

“Ugh,” I placed my apple on the counter and headed for the back door. “Keeping these bird feeders filled feels like a full time job!”

Alex came to the back door as I went over to the canister we kept the bird seed in. “Well, now that you’re going to start putting fruit plates out for the robin’s I’m pretty sure you are making it a full time job.”

I sighed as I left the porch and headed for the feeder. “I know.”

“You know who else is going to like the fruit plate?”

I stopped and turned around to look at him. “Who?” I asked feeling a little confused.

“The squirrels.” Alex laughed as he pointed on one that was hanging upside down on one of my feeders trying to get to the last of the seeds.

“They’re the real reason I’m always refilling these things!” I cried as I waved my arms to scare it off the feeder. “Shoo…” I cried.

Nothing more annoying then the blank stare of an unafraid squirrel.