graybrown bird

Early on I decided I had to choose between having houseplants and having a cat (or two). I voted for cats. No regrets.

It is truly all she knows.

Kind of butting in to this conversation (sorry) but want to mention something about bird nest-building materials I just read this morning -- can't remember where. It cautioned against putting out cat or dog hair for the birds if the pet is treated with anti-parasite chemicals. It also said dryer lint is NOT good either -- It retains wetness, and the laundry detergents/softeners are also harmful to birds. String, yarn, etc. can wrap around bird legs and trap them or cause circulation issues or even amputation. This source concluded by saying birds don't need our help finding nesting materials -- the natural world of leaves, weeds, grasses, etc. provides plenty!

I really felt for the cheftestants working out there in the steamy heat of a cornfield, mostly unshaded. The growing cornstalks give off an extra boost of humidity to an already humid (July?) day. I noticed the judges had a shade umbrella over their table.

If I had a possum family in my backyard, they could have all the fruit on my trees and I'd bring them more from the farmer's market if they would rid the neighborhood of ticks!

Micka is so pretty!

We're getting rain today and "accumulating" snow tomorrow and Wednesday. April is a fickle month in Wisconsin.

Please add me to your list, @ChiCricket. Thank you!

I have never done Twitter (now "X" according to its billionaire owner). But isn't that what a hashtag is for? It is strange to be expected to use this hashtag stuff if I don't use Twitter.

I'm so grateful for the Gentleness of the conversation here. I don't post much but am heartened daily by the varied perspectives and the kindly way posters express themselves. Thank you all!

Sign says " Be humble." Oh the irony!

Yes.

I think I may go away for a week and see what (if anything) is left when I return. Goodbye for now, fellow posters.

As I read the guidelines and the (few) statements provided by new management, there seems to be exactly zero space left for snark or even gentle ribbing on this site. I think gentle humor can be a life-saver considering the state of the world these days. Grim re-education is not what I'm looking for on this forum.

I feel like I've gone through a mirror and entered Bizarro world.

I am sad and flummoxed. I don't think I've posted anything unkind or uncivil. If the new Powers That Be want us to change how we post, then why is their guidance so vague and preachy? Their directives seem painfully sincere but singularly unhelpful if they really want to effect change.

There is to be no snark on this site? Is that the gist?

A congratulatory smile, wave, or handshake would be fine. Some people are not huggers.

I love "Laura" and always watch at least a scene or two when I come across it, even though I've seen it many times. One little thing I enjoy noticing every time -- what long eyelashes Dana Andrews has!!

Abbie is "loosing" her curls.

Kaylee, there are better ways to live, better ways to be a wife and mother and human being, better ways to be a Christian. Your mahmo is not God.

I can't watch Kaylee's video. Just the description of its contents makes me sick.

Love this show! I signed up for "PBS Living" through Prime just so I could watch old series (26 of them?). I'm in the 2012 ones now, when the delightful David Barby was still on the show. (He died later that year, sadly.) My other favorite is the darling James Braxton, happily still alive and in fine form.

It's so sad to see Jill's daughters emulate her as a mother. They are becoming "mini-Mahmos" who will terrorize their own unfortunate offspring.

BetyBee, I too am having difficulty reading my book club book for January -- and for remarkably similar reasons. It's called "The Indifferent Stars Above: the Harrowing Saga of a Donner Party Bride." I have learned far more than I want to about what it's like to starve to death while trapped by deep snow in the high Sierras. WHY did we pick this book for January?? And we're expecting a blizzard here on Tuesday.....