Lori and I left Iceland on a military flight with our dog, Sandy.  As I mentioned in the Iceland post, getting Sandy cleared to leave Iceland after she bit my thumb took some effort.

My parents picked us up at the airport.  They were on a mini-vacation themselves, and we became part of it.

Dad and Mom wanted to visit her brother, Uncle Hugh, and his family in Kentucky.  On the way, we stopped at a park dedicated to Daniel Boone.  After some pictures, we moved on to Uncle Hugh’s.

Hugh didn’t have a functioning bathroom; instead had an outhouse.  Lori had never encountered one before, though I had told her I use one when visiting my grandparents and Uncle Albert’s family.  We stayed for a few hours before driving to my parent’s house.

While we were at my parents, Lori learned she was pregnant.  Of course, it caused much excitement and a bit of anxiety.  How would the long flight to Rome, Italy, affect Lori?  What medical services would she have access to in Italy, etc?

We finally arrived at the command, Naval Security Group Activity, San Vito, Italy.  Sandy was placed in quarantine at the local shelter while we checked into temporary quarters.

I was one of several Petty Officer First Class in the electronics maintenance shop and one of four UYK-3 computer technicians.  Six months after I arrived, the Department Head pulled me from the shop and assigned me as assistant to the department’s senior chief.

I wrote correspondence that turned into messages for transmission to Naval Security Group Command.  Some were in response to questions from headquarters, and others were scheduled reports.  I admit I wasn’t impressed with my responsibilities in this position, but I was being shortsighted.

As an assistant, I learned the behind-the-scenes operations of a command department.  I became privy to discussions between my superiors, decision processes, operating instructions, and routine reports that kept a Maintenance Department functioning.  This experience paid dividends as I became a Chief Petty Officer, Course Manager, and, in time, field command department head.

After we checked into guest housing, my Department Senior Chief allowed me a few days to settle and find a permanent place for us.  We learned the housing office required two things of a property for placement on the available list.  They were running water and screens on the bathroom and kitchen windows.

One listing struck a nerve with us.  The Italian owners had an apartment on the second floor of their home in San Vito dei Normanni (San Vito).  We spoke with the owners and reached a rental agreement.  As it turned out, the rent in lira (Italian currency) was less than my housing allowance.

The kitchen had no appliances, so we bought a bombola del gas (propane gas tank) stove and a refrigerator that ran on 240v.  Later, as the weather cooled, we bought kerosene heaters.  With them and our goods from Iceland, we set up housekeeping above Tina, Cosimo, and their two children.

Tina and Cosimo were not only our landlords but also became friends.  Lori learned some Italian from Tina, using Spanish as a common language.  It was enough to permit us to visit, share food, and vino locale (wine from the grapes Cosimo grew) or amaretto.

We allowed Tina and Cosimo access to the house’s third floor (roof).  We were not required to do so, but we did.  They used it to dry clothes and store a few items.  Tina would do her laundry while we were on base, so they never intruded on our privacy.  Our allowing them to use the roof paid off in ways we never considered until later.

Our door had a bamboo curtain covering it.  More than once, we left the door open when we left to go to the base or to sightsee.  The curtain hid the door was open.  We did this more often as Lori’s pregnancy progressed and more times after the baby was born.  An open door with the owners/renters gone was an invitation for robbery.

Many of my coworkers paid protection money, hoping not to have their off-base home robbed.  I learned from a couple that paying did not prevent robbery.  Lori and I never considered buying protection.

Our interaction with Tina and Cosimo, Lori’s learning Italian, allowing them access to the roof, and Lori’s pregnancy bought us free protection.  When we returned after leaving the door open, we found one of Tina’s children or her friends guarding the door.  They would laugh at us for forgetting to close the door, but we never lost anything to robbery.

The maintenance department allowed day workers to play golf one afternoon a week as a form of physical fitness.  I bought some clubs and played most weeks and some weekends. \

Lori’s pregnancy progressed well.  The command had only a dispensary, no hospital.  Expectant mothers could have the baby in Ramstein, Germany, or use the local hospital in Brindisi.  We decided on the local hospital.

We were surprised, probably shouldn’t have been, but were, when my mother notified us that she was coming to help Lori after the baby came.

I was on the golf course, finishing the third hole, when a man came running, calling my name.  He said I needed to reach the bowling alley and drive Lori to the hospital in Brindisi since no ambulance was available.  Lori’s water broke while bowling in a women’s league.  Lori told me later she was on lane one and winning against her opponent.

My mother, Lori, and I piled into our Gold VW and headed for the hospital.  We were at a stop sign by the hospital when an Italian rear-ended us.  The driver was also taking his wife to the hospital.  As I remember, she was pregnant, too.  They were in a hurry as we were, and since no one was hurt and VW wasn’t damaged, we agreed to ignore the accident.

They admitted Lori, and the wait began.  Hours passed without Lori going into labor.  So, the next morning, they induced labor.  Hours later, they did a C-section, and we had a beautiful baby boy.

Isn’t that a sterile description of a blessed event?  It doesn’t convey the concern and worry as we waited for labor to begin, but it didn’t.  Then, the discussion about inducing labor.  Once induced, hour after hour of hard labor without Lori dilating.

Through her hard labor, I held her hand and coached her as she suffered hard contractions hour after hour.  I watched my love grow tired while I worried for her and the baby.  Lori tried to sleep between contractions, but they came too often to allow her to rest.  When she was awake, Lori felt she was patting my face, but actually, she was slapping me and turning my cheeks red.

Finally, they wheeled Lori into the operating room.  The duty doctor was a plastic surgeon who performed the surgery, but an English-speaking midwife birthed Dwane Junior.

The hospital adventure continued as Lori and Dwane Jr remained in the hospital.  One feeding time, the nurse brought a baby to Lori who took the baby and immediately recognized it was not Dwane.  The baby didn’t have his birthmark.  Suddenly, the nurse came hurrying into the room with Dwane, saying, “Scusa. Scusa” (sorry, sorry.) The rest of the stay was uneventful.

Mom stayed for a time, enjoying visiting the markets with Lori and Dwane (DJ).  She found several souvenirs to bring home and some for us to send her.  However, her favorite thing was to sit on the balcony and watch our neighbors.  Armed with a cup of coffee and her cigarettes, she watched the happenings on the street. One of her favorite scenes was of the family across the street who took a horse into their house.  The first floor was a stable.

It was time to have DJ baptized.  Lori coordinated the event to be in the local San Vito Catholic Church.  Lori, Mom, DJ, and I left the house and joined Tina, Cosimo, and their family outside.  Lori let Tina carry DJ when asked, and we walked to the church.  We hadn’t reached the end of the street before we noticed that the neighbors had joined us in the procession.  When we arrived at the church, the procession had grown almost large enough to fill the church to watch our son’s baptism.  We learned Tina bragged about her American tenants wanting their son baptized in the local church and invited all to attend.

When it became time for Mom to leave, we drove her to Rome.  We stayed over to visit the Colosseum and the Vatican.  We attended Catholic Mass conducted by Pope Saint Paul VI, and he blessed us upon completion of the Mass.

Bowling, then as now, was our preferred entertainment.  I was on the local bowling association board, and she and I bowled in several leagues and base tournaments.

One year,  Lori joined several women who wanted to bowl in a tournament in Germany.  We drove to Ramstein while the other women flew on a military plane.  Our route took us through Innsbruck, Austria, and into Germany.  Our military identifications served as passports as we crossed borders.

We drove for hours after crossing the German border.  We neared Remscheid and began looking for the military base.  Unable to find it, we stopped and asked for directions.  It was then that we learned the base was at Ramstein.  We had taken directions from Tina and Cosimo on how to get there, and they had confused Ramstein with Remscheid.  After hours of driving, we finally arrived at our destination.

Lori bowled well in the qualifier and earned a spot in the stepladder phase.  It meant staying several extra days, which we used to visit a ski lodge and her cousin stationed nearby.

It came time to go home.  As it happened, two of Lori’s teammates had stayed to watch her in the stepladder.  They planned to fly home on the following military flight, but the flight would be several days later.  So, we let them ride with us when they asked.

So, I strapped the luggage to the roof and filled the car’s trunk.  The women rode in the back with DJ and his car seat in the middle.  It was an uncomfortable trip, but we safely returned to the San Vito base.  The exclamation point on the trip was we had dropped everyone at their homes, and I parked in front of ours.  Later, I needed to go to the shoppette (similar to a 7-11) and found the VW with a flat tire.  Thankfully, it didn’t happen while on the trip.

I mentioned I bowled.  We were a Navy activity hosted by the Air Force as a tenant command.

The Air Force had an annual tournament to determine who from European commands would participate in the All-Air Force Bowling Tournament in the States.  Tenant members could vie for a position on the base team.

Three times, I won a position on the base team.  Twice, I went with the team to Aviano but failed to qualify for the All-Italy Air Force team.  I qualified for the All-Italy team on the third try and went to Athens, Greece.  I qualified there for the All-Europe Air Force event at Ramstein.  I was one of two Navy bowlers in the competition.

The event management said that as Navy members, we could bowl but weren’t eligible to go to the All-Air Force tournament in the United States.  As it turned out, my partner and I won the doubles competition, though I couldn’t go to the States.

A Navy selection board identified me for promotion to Chief Petty Officer in 1978.  I underwent chief’s initiation with another maintenance First Class. One day, I may reveal what I experienced at the initiation.  Chiefs, Senior and Master Chiefs from ships in port at Taranto, Italy, added festivities only seagoing sailors could bring.

I might remember many other things to write about if I sat and thought for a time.  But, perhaps they can become another entry.

I neared the date for transfer when the Red Cross notified the command of my father’s hospitalization.  He suffered collapsed lungs and was in critical condition.  The command human relations coordinator spoke with my detailer and arranged for me to transfer early.

My orders were to Middleton, Tennessee, to attend instructor school.  Upon successful completion, I would proceed to Naval Technical Training Center, Corry Station, Pensacola, Florida, to be course manager of the same course I had graduated from in 1967.

The quick processing of my transfer created unexpected problems.  I would board home to be with my father, leaving Lori and DJ behind.  Someone needed to arrange the shipment of our household goods and car.  Lori was saddled with this and suffered a long flight home with a toddler.  She did a stellar job, as I knew she would.

So, I ended my tour at Naval Security Group Activity, San Vito, Italy.

I lived in a small community with a small contingent of children my age. I can only name two, and one was a girl. He and I palled around while she and I were always close to fisticuffs.

As noted, there were not a lot of kids my age, but that didn’t stop the games or good times. Now to get to the heart of the question.
My backyard was half of a city block in size. It made a perfect place to play softball. This required rounding up at least ten of us. I remember my brother Cletus, two years junior, and my brother Paul, five years junior, were drafted along with others their age. We accepted we had to let the “children” play if we wanted a game.

Two lots over from my house was a church. Some afternoons, a group would gather in its large open area to play flag football. The game was open to all ages. Unfortunately, the game usually ended with a fight over someone being tackled. You shouldn’t tackle in flag football, but accidents happen. (LOL)

Another favorite pastime was bicycle racing. This didn’t require anyone else to play. Just jump on that two-wheeler and go as fast as you can. Of course, it was more fun if there were two or more to have a real race.

I loved playing chess. I had a neighbor who enjoyed the game also. This was a winter activity when the snow locked us into our houses. My opponent lived next door, so slogging through the snow allowed us to get together for a game.

These are the games that came to mind as I wrote this. I know many readers might say my childhood was boring. No Xbox or PlayStation to commit mindless hours killing aliens, fighting wars, or sinking ships. Actually, it was a great time. Being with good friends made the days pass quickly.

I wonder what you did as a kid?

Those familiar with the military would understand a member usually changes duties as he or she promotes. How mine changed follows.

I entered the Navy at the lowest enlisted rank available. I remained a Seaman Recruit, E-1, for the duration of Bootcamp, thirteen weeks. Then, they promoted me to Seaman Apprentice, E-2, upon graduation for “basic” training.

The classifier said my language test scores were high, and he wanted me to become an interpreter. Many will remember this was 1966, and the United States was involved in Viet Nam. The classifier was straightforward; I would be learning Vietnamese or Chinese. I had years of Latin and French but had no desire to spend my career working in another language. So, I guarantee I wouldn’t by agreeing to extend my four-year enlistment to six years in return for training in the advanced electronics field.

Technical Career Begins

I reported to Basic Electronics and Electricity Preparatory Course in San Diego, California, after my Bootcamp leave. It was a six-week preparatory school to further training at the A-school for electronic technicians. “A” school was In three phases and conducted on Treasure Island, located between San Francisco and Oakland, California. I was promoted to Seaman, E-3, as I neared the end of the first phase.

In the second phase, I changed my rating from electronics technician (ET) to communications technician maintenance, a CTM. However, changing the rating didn’t shorten the schooling since “M” branchers needed the same training. It was now December 1967 when I completed “A” school. Remember, I enlisted in November 1966, and I had been in Bootcamp or schools for over a year.

I began to wonder if the Navy was making me a professional student when I received an assignment to a Class-C school after Treasure Island. So I reported to Naval Technical Training Center, Corry Station, Pensacola, Florida, to study computer repair. (Years later, I would be course manager and an instructor for the same course.) The course taught me to maintain and repair the Bunko Ramo UYK-3 computer. Successful completion of the school earned me a promotion to E-3 and orders to Naval Radio Station, Northwest, Virginia.

I spent the next five years working rotating shifts maintaining the computer and other systems that I learned through on-the-job training.

I worked shifts at the Naval Security Group (NSG) Department (NSGD), Wahiawa, Hawaii, in the Spring of 1972. I made E-5 here. Fortunately, the Navy wasn’t through educating me yet. One day, my supervisor called me to inform me of my selection to the Navy’s Associates Degree Completion Program (ADCOP). The Navy sent me to Corpus Christi, Texas, where I attended Del Mar College. I left Corpus Christi with my Associates in Electronics Engineering Technology Degree in 1974.

Though I had the new degree, I still was detailed as a computer technician. That is why I ended up at the NSG Activity (NSGA), Keflavik, Iceland, and then at NSGA, San Vito, Italy.

If you have read this far, thank you!

Less being a Technician

My duties changed in Iceland. True, I spent many nights and weekends repairing the computer because it had a habit of failing at inopportune times. But, my “most time” role was as a maintenance shop supervisor. My promotion to E-6 made me senior to most of my fellow technicians and, therefore, appropriate for me to supervise a shop.  Some technicians desire to remain technicians; I wanted off the bench.

Some things that happen during a career can only be accepted. For example, they sent me to San Vito, claiming the shop needed another computer technician. But, there were three other techs in my field already there. So, it wasn’t long before the Department Chief moved me out of the shop and into the administrative office. It became the turning point in my career, preparing me to run a department one day. The next Chief Petty Officer selection board selected me for E-7, Cryptologic Technician Maintenance Chief (CTMC). It was 1978.

All of my remaining assignments were to positions involving management. Finally, in 1979, I was sent back to Corry Station. I became course manager and instructor for the same course I graduated from in 1967.

1982 I was detailed to NSGA Galeta Island, Panama, as the Electronics Material Officer. I was a Department Head with two shops of technicians. Not long after I arrived, one of my computer technicians called me into the operations spaces. He took me to the UYK-3 he supported and removed the front panel. He pointed to my name written inside the cover. This was the same troublesome computer I had fought with while in Keflavik 1974-76.

Commissioned

October 1984, I was assigned as the manager of the classified computer center in the National Computer Security Center at NSA. While there, I was commissioned as a Chief Warrant Officer 2 and attended another school in Pensacola, an introduction to being a warrant officer.

October 1987, I was detailed as Electronic Material Officer to NSGA, Adak, Alaska. I had a department with 55 technicians in three shops.

My last tour was at NSGA Potomac, Washington, DC, from the Spring of 1989 and ended in March 1992. I was the Facilities Officer responsible for supporting the Classic Wizard sites around the world.

Are you still reading? Thank you very much!

Summed Up

This is a summary of my twenty-five years, three months, and two days in the United States Navy without any official sea time.

• ! entered the Navy as a lowly Seaman Recruit and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 3.
• I spent five-plus years working rotating shifts maintaining the UYK-3 and other systems.
• I was an instructor and course manager for three years.
• I managed a maintenance department as a Chief Petty Officer and one as a Chief Warrant Officer 2.
• I managed a classified computer facility supporting a team of computer security research staff.
• I ended my career in a role supporting five Classic Wizard operational sites.
• I spent just shy of nineteen years as an enlisted and the remaining years as a Presidential commissioned officer.

Today was the day to wrap all the presents. Lori and I spent a couple of fun hours hiding each in a cocoon of season’s paper. Now they add a lovely touch sitting beneath the new tree.

Tomorrow, our Daughter’s children will venture from next door and destroy the paper we lovingly used to hide their gifts. We are fortunate the trash cans are empty—for the moment.

Yesterday, we had Christmas present exchange with our Son’s family in the early afternoon. Later, my Daughter and family joined us for dinner and an evening chatting around the firepits. It was a beautiful night spent remembering the year with hot chocolate and burnt marshmallows.

This year has been unlike any year we remembered. The first few months were passing as usual, and then C’OVID disrupted the rest of it. Months in a full lockdown, then a start to return to normal before another lockdown.

We don’t know what the rest of the year will be like or what next year will bring but look forward to it.

Thank you for visiting, and we wish you and yours a safe, healthy holiday.

If you like, you can use the comment form to share your holiday with us.

My wife and I are homebound. We have been for three weeks, and it seems we will be for another month.

Homebound – Stay Home Order

The coronavirus has changed everything for us, my wife and I. Maryland’s governor has issued a new order requiring us to stay home. He allows us to walk, bicycle, and run, but no group gatherings. We can go to the doctor, the pharmacy, or for food. He threatened arrest and fines for those violating the mandate.

My wife and I spend most of our time at home anyway. We are “homebodies.” However, mandatory stay-at-home is different. Now, we experience cravings to go out, out to the mall, to furniture stores, or any store beside a grocery. Our relief is to take car rides to nowhere just to be out.

Recreation-Gone

Bowling was our recreation. My wife is the secretary of two mixed bowling leagues, and I am the secretary of a men’s league. The restrictions brought with this virus has caused each of these leagues to end their seasons.  The bowling center, as a non-essential business, is closed until further notice. The stay-at-home mandate would have kept us apart anyway.

About a year ago, I posted a blog called “Ever Feel the Need to Rant.” The blog allowed me to let off steam about speeding drivers and stop sign runners. I ranted about people throwing garbage in the wooded area and people not policing after their dogs.

Peeves

There hasn’t been an increase in dog walkers, but I am noticing more dog leavings. People stopped policing after their dogs. It is disconcerting because my labs always locate the dropping. One mess was in the middle of the sidewalk. Ewww!!

Throwing liquor and beer bottles into the wooded area is still a problem, but has seen changes. I wonder if the person disposing of the containers is attempting to shatter them on the sidewalk or can’t throw past it. I have cleaned up two such messes in the past two weeks. One was a beer bottle; the second was a beer bottle and a liquor bottle. I wish the police could catch the culprit.

Should you be the person throwing the bottles, please stop. There are recycle bins in front of most homes along the street every Thursday you could put the containers in.

It is almost time to walk the dogs again. My wife and I are hunkered down, and doing well. We hope you stay well (and sane) during this trying time.

How are you doing? Share with the comment form.

God Bless!

Some days are remembered by something that happened on the day. People think of D-Day on June 6^th and the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7^th.

Sometimes I remember King, my Golden Retriever, passing when we celebrate Autumn’s birthday. Autumn is my daughter’s next youngest. King suffered a stroke late in the evening of her first birthday.

Ozzy

Christmas Eve, 2019, will be remembered as the day my granddaughter’s Scottish Fold cat, Osbourne  “Ozzy” McKay, passed.

Ozzy was an orange and white fur-ball. He enjoyed a lot of attention from the four grandchildren. One of his favorite hangouts was a chair near Bradley as he played on his Xbox.

He sometimes sought out a rub from Elizabeth or Autumn. Teddy reluctantly accepted his game play interrupted when Ozzy demanded his attention.

My granddaughter and son-in-law shared the grief and will miss him.

Christmas Eve, 2019, is a marked day in their lives.

One of joy shared with grandparents and great-grandparents in the evening, but one of sadness in the late morning.

I spent over twenty-five years in the United States Navy. It was with disgust and disappointment that I watched some women dubbed “US Women’s Soccer Team” disrespect the country’s anthem and flag. The worst image during the post-game celebration was a player intentionally dropping the flag to the ground. But it impressed me that a midfielder stepped forward to raise it from the ground and carry it away.

Then, I remember my oath and accepted their right to their opinion. I wish, though, my tax dollars had not gone to paying their travel, training, salaries, or bonuses.

I am putting this behind and will show my freedom, freedom to never watch the team play again. Unfortunately, I cannot withhold my tax dollars, else I would.

Now to happier thoughts.

I have blogged about our recreational vehicle. We intended to have a concrete pad poured beside the house when we bought it. Two years later, the RV sits on a six-inch concrete pad.

And we had the annual maintenance performed today. It stands ready for an excursion to where ever we take it.

Is there a novel?

There is a novel, and I am working it. I recently completed a rewrite run-through of all chapters looking for plot issues. I noted plot holes, and this run-through will address those and flesh out locations with detailed descriptions.

The novel is alive and growing stronger.

A moment, please.

I appreciate every one of you who take a few moments of your time to read my mutterings. I hope you will continue to visit, and when the urge occurs-leave a comment. I provide the attached form for when those urges rise.

History

The team began training in August 2018. It was a meld of members from the previous 2007 Black team, the 2007 Red team, and new club members.

The coach’s dilemma was building them into a team that could compete with top level teams. The way to do this was with quality training and competition. The girls received the training and had their mettle tested in top level tournaments and league play.

Their rawness showed at Spirit and Keystone where they drew one game in each.  They won and lost one game in the EDP South Atlantic Premier II bracket of league play before the Columbus Day Explorer tournament.

Explorer saw some of their best play of the fall. They won two games to earn them the status of finalists. The euphoria passed quickly as the team won one more EDP game along with one draw. EDP season ended with the team’s record two wins, one draw, and six losses. They finished eighth in their division.

The December APC tournament was a cold, miserable affair. The team won one game but lost two. Defeated by the second team in the nation and a top level New Jersey team. This was another lesson for the team as they saw how elite teams compete.

The girls took this lesson to heart.

Since, the team was a semifinalist at the January APC tournament and won their bracket at President’s Cup.

Last Game

For the respect, I previously alluded. The girls played their strongest game of the season in the win over Central Carroll SC WildFire 07 to gain them a tie for second place in the Premier II division. Their record: five wins, two draws, and two losses. From eighth to tied for second in just a few months.

And based on their bracket win at President’ Cup, the team is competing in the Regionals this weekend.

The coach and the girls deserve praise for suffering a hard start to the fall season but turning it around to end competing at the President’s Cup Regionals.

Look forward to hearing from you via the attached comment form.

Squirrel feeder

It is made of pine with a Plexiglas front and a hinged lid. The inside measurements about four inches cubed. I mounted it on the back fence just inside the garden fence.

We load it with shelled peanuts on an irregular schedule. Sometimes, it is in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon. Sometimes, a day is skipped. We know three squirrels have visited the yard.  The hope is by making peanuts available at a different time will give each of them an opportunity to dine.

Before the box was added, squirrels would venture into the yard to scavenge for leftovers from the bird seeders. Sometimes there were three or four squirrels in the yard or on the fence. The box provided a dedicated source of food for the squirrels while protecting them.

Out of my yard

Our two Labrador mix rescue dogs believe the backyard is their domain. Although I look for squirrels before letting them out; sometimes I miss one hidden by the deck or a planter. Every time, it is a race to see if the dogs can catch the squirrel before it disappears over the fence. The dogs have lost each race to date.

The garden fence keeps the dogs away from the box. Yet, the squirrels haven’t learned they are safe when at the box. They still disappear over the fence when the dogs are let into the backyard.  

The squirrels are not the only ones intimidated by the presence of big dogs. Every bird vacates whatever feeder they are on or waiting for when the dogs appear. The only ones vaguely in danger are those ground feeding. Though the danger is slight since the dogs seem focused on locating the errant squirrel.

Aside from squirrels and varied bird species, yesterday eight or more deer passed by our fence. Deer were common before home construction reduced wooded areas making them now a rare sight.

More nature

Watching birds, squirrels, and occasionally deer from out back windows. What more should we ask for?

Do you have suggestions? Tell me using the comment form. I look forward to hearing from you.

A lesson learned

It started simply with a wild bird feeder hanging from a deck hanger. It was, maybe, two hours before the squirrel found this source of new food. It shared the knowledge with its pals, and the birds rarely had an opportunity to dine, but squirrels were getting fat.

A New Feeder

Lesson learned with some research was squirrels can jump some ten feet, and everyone knows how well they climb. Any feeder must either be a squirrel-proof model or be placed away from fences, tables, chairs, or other places a squirrel can use to jump to the feeder. Any pole used to hang feeders need a baffle to prevent climbing.

The deck feeder was replaced with a squirrel-proof model found at Lowes. The squirrels worked to get the feed from it and failed. The birds came when the squirrels went away.

A trip to the county lawn and garden center for lawn supplies resulted in the purchase of two cartons of suet and a single suet cage. Who would have thought how much squirrels liked suet. Down came the suet hanger.

Lowes has the answer

Lowes to the birds rescue again with a squirrel-proof suet cage which holds two suet cakes. Squirrels tested it shortly after it was hung from a multi-arm pole in the yard. The cage effectively prevented squirrels and very large birds from the cakes. Birds, especially woodpeckers, loved the suet.

Bitten by the bird watching bug, it was time to visit Wild Birds. Soon, a pole with two arms was in a place away from squirrel launching points. The old feeder went on one arm and the second hosted a finch feeder. The squirrel proof feeder remained on the deck crook. A squirrel baffle on the pole keeps them from the pole feeders. It didn’t take long for the birds to start coming.

Feed

The deck feeder has sunflower seeds. The pole feeders have appropriate feed in the wild bird feeder and finch feeder. There are days when every perch on all the feeders are occupied. Occasionally, there are birds on the ground or waiting in the trees for their chance at a spot on a feeder.

Woodpeckers favor the suet. Cardinals fight over access to the sunflower seeds in the deck feeder. Finches flock to the finch feeder, and when it is low or perches all occupied, they dine at the wild bird food feeder.

Male and female cardinals, red-winged blackbirds, doves, goldfinches, house finches, blue jays, red-bellied woodpecker, other finches, and yet unidentified birds have dined in the yard. There are times when twenty or more birds on the feeders or feeding on the ground with the squirrels settling for leftovers.

Can you identify the birds in the pictures in this post? Use the comment form.