My Grandfather liked to birdwatch. Any Christmas or birthday I knew I could give him a card or drawing of birds and he would like it. When I watch the birds now I always think of him.

It's a peaceful hobby, birdwatching. You don't have to go out on a nature hike to find birds to watch. Instead you can bring them right to your back door, assuming you have one. Bird feeders are pretty easy to come by. See if you can find one that squirrels can't access too easily. Those pesky rodents will climb up or jump on top of just about any feeder and happily munch away. Chipmunks and other small rodents are the same.

Another creature that will bother your birdwatching are cats. Even if you keep your cat locked away while the birds are around that cat smell will still be there, alerting birds to danger. They won't come around as much when there is the scent of danger (cat) in the air. I've found we have lots more birds around now than we did a few years ago when I still had a cat. It does take awhile for the cat area to be neutralized, don't expect instant birds just cause you found a new home for Fluffy.

Stick your feeder on a pole at least a few feet off the ground. Also, keep the bottom clear of bushes or tall grassy type stuff. This way the birds can watch for predators while they peck around on the ground. Feeders set in trees give protection from flying predators like hawks. But, the squirrels will feast on the seeds and you will have to replace seed frequently. Of course, some people like squirrel watching too.

Mixed seed will give you quite a bit of waste, birds are messy, picky eaters. Different birds like different seeds and they will toss seeds around while they hunt and peck for favourites. If you have the birdfeeder on your lawn you can also expect some of those seeds to sprout and grow in your grass.

But, if you really want to get into the birdwatching in your own backyard get a few birdfeeders and stick to one type of seed in each. Black oil sunflower seeds are a good choice. The shells are relatively thin and the seeds pack a lot of nutritional value. Plus, if they grow in your lawn they will be pretty growing or easy to spot and pull out.

If all this bird feeder stuff sounds too complicated and messy try some bushes, trees and assorted other plant life birds eat in the wild. Think of plants that have seeds, berries and nuts during the Summer, not just in the Fall. You can always ask at a garden store or just take a hike and see what the birds are eating in a woodsy area near you. But, don't plant anything from the wild in your garden until you find out more about it. Some of those wildflowers that look so pretty and nice in nature will become an army in your garden and completely take over. Spreading by seed, root, leaf, you won't ever get rid of them without mass destruction to your garden space.

Back to the birds. One other thing you can do is put water out for them. Birds will come just to drink and wash in a bird bath. They also wash themselves in dust (dry, fine dirt) so you know they aren't really fussy bathers. Still, keep the water fresh and clear to avoid mosquitos laying their eggs in any standing water.

Happy birding.

Rusticity... isn't it just so very... rustic? Don't you love that care worn, old pioneer, rustic look? Things like log cabins, stone houses, tin rooves, enamelware dishes, and cast iron stoves just make me feel so close to nature and history and all the people along the way to here. I love it.

I've got a picture from WebShots on my computer as wallpaper. It's the perfect run down looking log cabin. I look at it every day and wish I was there. Not permanently, just for an afternoon or a few days here and there. After all, I'm a city woman. You can't convert to outdoor nature woman entirely. I'd miss indoor plumbing, the internet and all those other essentials. I am not someone who will be happy camping outdoors. Just thinking of being unprotected from all the hordes of insects makes me start itching. You're laughing? Think black flies and mosquitos. Ughh! They can be entirely too nasty.

Still, I pine for pine. Those rugged looking trees, branches hacked off by the elements yet still they grow so strong and free, stubbornly enduring. I like to see all the wildflowers perk up each Spring. I love seeing the birds that over winter here suddenly thrive on all the new growth - both plant and bug related. It's all great. But, I have to admit I'd prefer a front row seat inside that cosy cabin than out there facing bug life head on.

Don't get the idea that I'm a wimp or don't really love nature. I love to be outside during a storm. Whether it's snow, rain or thunder and lightening, I love to feel the danger of the elements all around me. Driving in it isn't so much fun. I'd much rather park and feel the wind whipping my hair around. Enjoy the cold air turning my breath to smoke and chilling my fingers until I can't feel them any more.

That's how I feel about that old cabin on my computer. It's man made but not so different from those pine trees. Both are enduring the elements, rusticly, keeping their patch of ground.