I went through my red regular quilting cottons (not batiks) and put the pinker ones on one end of the shelf, the salmon to coral next on the shelf and the truer reds at the far end. I pulled out this little group to contemplate using them in the near future. This is what a stash is for, to pull fabrics from 8 different manufacturers and probably over a 15 year time span and see how well they go together. 
I was outside later and took this photo of the big coleus in front of the garage. Yes, I have pink and red in the same planter.
I filled my bird feeders and looked out a little while later to see this guy inside the wire cage that is supposed to keep him out. One of the brown squirrels was able to tip the cap up just far enough to start chewing the plastic tube in the center. Then the gray squirrels fit into the tiny spot that was chewed out and have chewed it down to the half way point and the only thing holding this together is strapping tape. Of course they eat through that so I have to keep replacing it. That's how he got in, chewed the tape and then slipped in. 
He is frantically trying to get out of there because I scared the cr*p out of him by walking up close to take his picture. The little gray squirrels can fit into really tight places and the big brown squirrels do most of the destruction to the feeders. I'm at the point that if I had a pellet gun I would probably be shooting at them.
Squirrels are the bane of my brother's existence. For Christmas last year, my parent's bought him a bird feeder that has some sort of mechanism on the top. When the squirrel gets on it, the lid thing turns quickly (kind of like centrifuge action) and flings the squirrel off. It was fairly expensive but an absolute deterrent. My brother has now taken to sitting in the dining room looking out the window just to see the squirrels get flung across the yard. (That man really needs a hobby!!)
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who used to shoot at squirrels with her pellet gun all the time. She loved all the different birds that came to her feeders but squirrels - not so much!
ReplyDeleteOkay, the BIG question... did the squirrel eventually get out?
ReplyDeleteI sure do not see how that squirrel got in that feeder! I have a different type of cage feeder and there is no way for them to break in - the one you have is a different style - did it get out?
ReplyDeleteKaren
Oh my, fancy him in there, out, out out little fella!
ReplyDeleteThe coleus and the red stash have a lot in common!
ReplyDeleteWhat a pesky little fella!! I'll bet you did scare him.
As far as I'm concerned squirrels are just big rats with fluffy tails. I have no use for the destructive little critters.
ReplyDeleteYour mix of fabrics does look pretty together, and they do have a lot in common with your plant combination. Both pretty!
ahhhh, glorious reds! I'm greedy to see what you do with them :o)
ReplyDeleteYour little squirrel friends are really clever, I wonder how he got out of that cage. Little "Squirel-dini" for sure!
Oh no! Don't harm the squirrels. Plant them an almond tree with all the new sunny areas you have in the yard since your neighbor cut down trees. Maybe then they would leave your bird feeders alone. Or leave them some sunflower seeds in a different location. Maybe they are trying to fatten up for the coming winter.
ReplyDeleteDenise in Sacramento ( the one who gave you possum info)
My dad had a running battle to keep squirrels out of his bird feeders. He even hooked up an electrical charge so when he pressed a button in the house, the squirrel felt the buzz and left. He finally made a cone, something like those used to keep rats off a ship, and that kept them from the feeders. It was quite the war!
ReplyDeleteHi Wanda, I know someone who would let you
ReplyDeleteuse his pellet gun ! jmh
I laughed and laughed. At our cabin in VT grey squirrels drive us CRAZY...! We have tried every bird feeder that SWEARS it will keep them out! Finally, we did the bird feeder that is a two litre bottle where you screw a little feeder where the cap goes. It was all OK until my DH cut off the bottom of the bottle to make it easier to get the seed in and by gory, the squirrel got in there!
ReplyDeleteYour selection of red fabrics are like lollipops ~ just hummy !
ReplyDeleteI think you should take aim and get rid of a few of your squirrels... like jmh offered. OR I love reading about the feeder Suzan's brother has been enjoying. But will send you info on the feeders we have and have used literally for years and they keep the squirrels out ! Bears are another story... we just remove the feeders for a few weeks in the spring and fall.
J~MT
My Mom loves her pellet gun!
ReplyDeleteWanda, I got my squares, thank you, now to find the time to play....
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh out loud about the pellet gun comment. My mom did just that thing!! Actually she tried the Red Rider BB Gun, remember those? But you could see the BB come out and then veer to the right~ so my step dad got her a little pellet gun, she was living in a suburb at the time, and that was supposed to be illegal, but all the neighbors said to kill em!!! I don't know that she killed any, but sure did give them a hurting~! I have to smile every time I picture her sitting on the back porch steps with her little pellet gun!!!
A pellet gun! I love it...my kind of woman. LOL
ReplyDeleteI have used my BB gun for that....yes I am bad!
ReplyDeleteI like your explanation of how to use a stash ! I love all the quilting that's being done by the younger generation, but I just don't like the idea that all the quilts have the exact same 40 fabrics from the latest 'collection' in them.
ReplyDeleteEven using the fun 'strip-set' patterns, such as i'm currently doing, I enjoy pulling my own mixture of fabrics to make my quilt uniquely my own, as do you, apparently.
Beautiful fabrics Wanda and isn't it amazing and fun to work with your stash from so many years! The neighbors on either side of me feed the birds.........and I feed the squirrels to keep them away from their feeders. What great photos of the squirrel in the feeder!
ReplyDeletePellet guns don't cost much and they're very effective. Unfortunately we live in an apartment complex and they're not allowed. Squirrels were such a problem that I finally took down our feeders. We're on the ground floor and feeders were hanging from the roof over our patio.
ReplyDeleteThe squirrels climbed the brick siding to the second floor and then crawled down the chains to the feeders. My problem now is chipmunks digging in my flower pots. They are no longer "cute".
I love that grouping of fabrics. Of course I do, there's lots of pink in there! LOL
ReplyDeleteThse squirrels sure are determined to get the food.
Perhaps it would be easier to stop feeding the birds? But, of course, you would miss them and they you (or at least the food you supply)!
ReplyDelete