Okay, now that that little every-few-days fun of dumping spammers has been taken care of, time for the ten-times-a-day garden check.
Still no daffodils. Though the week of 50ish weather did fool teh blue columbine into putting up a sweet little ruffle of new leaves (now tucked under a blanket of dead grass to keep ‘em safe).
Strawberries were fooled, too; forgot to cover up their tentative fans of new leaves and they’re now kinda blackish….
But the big news this morning: THREE magpies! A new guy has joined teh regulars, oh boy! Time to put out teh lasagna leftovers for their breakfast 
Hi Sally, Received your book, Backyard Bird Secrets, this past Christmas and began reading the winter section. What a wonderful book & gift. Anyway, as I was reading all the info you have packed into the winter section one little item really stood out and I wondered if you could update it. When making homemade recipes for the birds could you please take out the raisins? Did you know that raisins are pretty deadly to dogs? Don’t know if you are a dog lover or own dogs, but my two always go over to the bird feeding area and help themselves to the tasty black oil seeds and if they are lucky some fallen crumpled suet. Thanks for reading my suggestion. Lynnie
Hi, Lynnie! Great to meet you!
Been researching this whole raisins/grapes thing (and onions, as well). I’m baffled.
Haven’t been able to find any scientific papers about it at all. Seems to have originated with ASPCA’s Poison Control Center. Wrote about it for my regular column in newspaper; will post that over in the forum.
Sure would love to see *any* hard science on the alleged problem, something that is independent of the info on the ASPCA Poison Control site. Looked at Merck vet manual; nothing hard and fast in there, either. It’s a mystery I sure would love to solve.
No phone up here in mts, or would start doing research by phone. Maybe next wk, if deadlines allow.
But thanks so much for your concern. Nope, we sure don’t want to harm our furry friends
What neck o’ the woods do you live in, if I may ask? Having a weird winter there?