I think I put most of the details on our bird feeder on the kids' blog. Amara has mastered the cardinal call, and we wanted to be able to watch the birds up close instead of hunting for them in the trees.

We did get birds... cardinals, chickadees, and the tufted titmouse mostly.

But we also fought off some squirrels.

Tonight, Jon just said, "We've got a raccoon on the deck. I got up and watched it. Then I dashed to the kitchen to take a picture of it as it was perched on the deck railing.

I thought for sure it was going to go after the grease droppings from the grill, or maybe food that fell off the table.

Then I realized there were two!!!!

Look what this little wily guy figured out how to do... (this pole extends about 5 feet off of our deck)

And look at his little friend surveying the scene and keeping a watch out for me standing in the kitchen door. That was a little creepy to be watched by the masked bandits. It'd be cute... if it wasn't a coon!



They weren't able to figure out how to get at the food, which is good. But I think once our bag of bird seed is done, we're not buying anymore. Squirrels on the deck I can handle.

Coons.... not so much!