Feeding Our Furry and Feathered Friends

We are extraordinary! Human beings, that is. Case in point: there is a multi-billion dollar business out there, which creates contraptions which prevent squirrels from raiding the bird-feeders. Poor little things! Thank goodness that in the Book of Genesis, the Almighty didn't tell us to "have dominion over all that creepeth on the earth, and make sure those pesky squirrels don't steal the sunflower hearts!" In response to the growing need for a separate squirrel feeding station, where none could possibly be accused of 'stealing' anybody's hearts, my beloved husband has spent a large portion of his annual income on setting up such a place. First of all, he had to make sure that this sanctuary, for so it is, was in close proximity to the red squirrels' winter establishment: the rock wall in our back garden. He hauled in a huge stump on which to plonk the block of 'squirrel candy': at $24.95, quite the deal! The next step was to attach to the huge pine tree the greatly 'engaging' Squirrel Spinner, which, he was assured, would capture the squirrels' attention in their relentless pursuit of corn on the cob for heaven's sake! All for the very affordable price of $47.95! Now for the chefs d'oeuvre! A rust-resistant/weather-resistant/bird-resistant little house, the roof of which is raised by the hungry squirrels in order to retrieve the tasty snack inside. To further enhance his purchase, he opted for the bargain kit of house and 5lb. of this tasty snack for the amazing price of $52.95!! It took the squirrels a few weeks to get the picture, but O the joy when we watched squirrel #1 raise the roof of the snack shack, to be followed a few days later by his cousin having a twirl on the corn-spinner! Last week a family of 9 wild turkeys, a Tom and his 8 wives, discovered the block of candied corn on the stump! What a sight for sore eyes. They were later joined by a pileated woodpecker, who was tired of looking for slumbering bugs. For the vastly extravagant amount of $125.85 we have, in our backyard, entertainment of the finest kind. We still feed the birds, but I'm so pleased that there is no sign warning: NO SQUIRRELS ALLOWED!