C picked up a couple of grapevine balls when she was at Hobby Lobby, and I finally remembered to bring them home. I wanted them to make “nest material balls” for the birds. I used 2-4″ pieces cut from dead ornamental grass that grows in front of the house, small sticks I’d broken off last year’s flower plants, some cut up and untwisted bits of super-soft yarn I had left over from two scarves I made last winter, fringes that I’d cut off a couple of woven scarves, jute garden twine (untwisted) and milkweed fluff that I’d saved when I cleaned seeds I planted this year. I started with the grass and sticks as a “foundation”, then used a thick piece of grass stem to poke in the pieces of yarn, scarf fringe and twine. I finished with milkweed fluff, and kept it near the top because it’s easiest for the birds to see there, and it’s silky soft, so it’s prized as nest lining material. Once the rain stops and the wind calms down (hopefully tomorrow), I’ll hang the balls out in the back yard and see whether anyone goes shopping; I suppose it’s sort of a Home Depot for birds. Anyway, I think they came out well.

OK did not let the fact that I was busy making a big mess deter him from perching atop his new favourite thing. He just hopped over my piles of stuff and landed neatly on the heater.

This morning.

P.S. Maaaaayyyyyybe have some aster sprouts. Not sure yet.