We feed the birds and squirrels around here in a variety of places, but mostly the same way—we toss a no-waste blend of birdseed and other nuts and seeds onto the ground. This way, everybody gets to eat. Bit birds, little birds and birdy-birds (those are the little ones that I don’t always recognize. Some are Snow Birds or Junos). We toss some peanuts out there, too. Starlings, Flickers, Blue Jays and of course the squirrels all eat peanuts.

After the snowstorm, there was no place to put the bird seed. So, when I cleared a path for the mailman, I cleared a large area in front of the porch for the birds. I think this made an impression, although I’m not sure it’s the one I was hoping for. If you look up at the featured image, I think the conversation is going like this:

One-Liner Wednesday by Linda G. Hill

As I mentioned on Monday, my Story Chat contribution went live yesterday at Marsha Ingrao’s place.

All five of my current books are now available in audio book form thanks to Amazon KDP’s Virtual Voice process. The voice is AI generated, but I can honestly say, it’s pretty darn good. The audio books are reasonably priced (all below $7 US) and, if you already own the Kindle version and want to add an audio version, you can do that for $1.99. There is a five-minute sample on the book page for each book. If you’re interested, click on any of the Dreamer’s Alliance book links below the image or on the link below for my latest book.

Bridge to Nowhere

80 responses to “I’ll be Your Server — 1LinerWeds”

  1. The neighbourhood buffet! I love it. We should all be nature’s server.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. We do our best to fill that role, Darlene. The customers seem to be telling their friends.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Word travels fast. 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Dan’s Diner – it’s a great place to stop. :-)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’ll be raking up peanut shells in the spring, but that will feel better than shoveling snow. They showed up as soon as I cleared the “table.” I had to text my wife to bring the food out ;-)

      Liked by 1 person

  3. The birds and squirrels are very grateful, Dan!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. They do seem to be, Dave.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Mailbox squirrel might appreciate a warming pad on that box. He looks a little chilly…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Every time he sits on that mailbox, we shiver a little bit – youch! Then again, we wouldn’t mind if he stayed on the ground, but he knows what works.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. I have no trouble imagining your guests in such conversation. It’s fine dining at its best! And you’re right about the pine tree — even it looks bare. That’s a sure sign we need spring. Meanwhile, those are some lovely shadows on the snow.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. They all have their preferences. The Starlings really enjoy when I cut up the end of a loaf of sourdough bread. They swoop in and clear that in a matter of seconds. Some of the little birds are so patient. They stand off to the side and munch away. I do think that pine tree will be happy when spring shows up. It’s been very cold this week.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sourdough crumbs? Oh, fine dining indeed! Those little birds are wise: don’t get between a starling and a sourdough crumb!

        Liked by 1 person

        1. When I cut up the bread, I cut some very small pieces and some large ones. The starlings go for the larger hunks. I dropped a piece of toast on the floor. I cut it up and tossed it out. My wife joked that now they would prefer toast.

          If you don’t follow Lin’s Art, take a look at this post – the third image down. https://linsartyblobs.blogspot.com/2024/02/catch-up-friday-09-02-2024.html

          Liked by 1 person

          1. I don’t think they will turn up their beaks at the untoasted crumbs, but I also think you’ve started something. They’ll be passing the word about buttered toast HERE. Thanks for the tip to look at Lin’s pigeon — she has a great imagination!

            Liked by 1 person

  6. Ginger Salvatore Avatar
    Ginger Salvatore

    Great one-liner! That’s exactly what Sammy and Smokey would say!

    I love the shots of the sun shining through the bare trees. With all the yucky stuff winter brings, it produces some fabulous blue skies. I really like the long shadows of you and Old Glory!

    “I told you, this place has a great staff.” I almost lost my orange juice because I started laughing out loud!

    Nice pictures of Old Glory Dan, but the last one gets the blue ribbon.

    It’s 10 degrees F here. I have to bundle up and feed my critters. Those warmer temperatures can’t come fast enough for me! Happy Hump Day.

    Ginger🦋

    Sent from my iPad

    >

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Ginger. 14 here, but I trudged out to put some cracked corn down for the Mourning Doves. If you run a successful place, you have to be ready when the customers show up ;-)

      This was the first week where the sun was above the monument’s tree line. Seeing the flag in the sun was a sign that spring is on the way.

      Warmer soon, and much warmer next week. We’ll get there.

      Like

  7. The wildlife does indeed have a great server. :-)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Several “restaurants” closed around here. Our next door neighbor was very dedicated before he passed. The new neighbors took down the feeders. We’re trying to fill the gap.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I’m sure that is appreciated, they do get used to the generosity of the human residents in their area. the food I feed at home is with the hot pepper oil, the birds love it, but the squirrels don’t.. since using the “hot” food, I no longer have to deal with squirrels in the feeders,,

        Liked by 1 person

        1. I just saw that on the shelf at the store where we buy our bird seed. I didn’t know what the attraction would be. Thanks!

          Liked by 1 person

  8. birds! and the leaves against the snow… cheers

    Liked by 1 person

  9. It still looks pretty cold, but not all the birds come south I see.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s 14 F today and “Feels Like” 7 – This bird is staying close to the nest.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Two Old Glory photos, and a shadow- what a treat! The 1LIner cracked me up. I bet the squirrels and birds have told their neighborhood friends about your place. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m glad you liked this, Jennie. We often joke about the number of stars they give us in Bird-Yelp. We know the squirrels are satisfied. Last week was the first time since fall that the sun was higher than the trees surrounding the memorial. I enjoyed seeing the flag in the early morning sun.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re welcome, Dan. Here’s to the sun and the early morning flag!

        Liked by 1 person

  11. Yikes, the cold comes through these photos. We are in the high 70s now. What a change fro a couple days ago.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We have been in the low teens overnight, John. Feels like single digits. We are supposed to warm up next week. The forecast says 51 on Monday. I’ll take that over 12 any day.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Fine dining, indeed! The birds know where the good stuff is. Shame that all the eating places are drying up, though. Neighbors on both sides of me took down big trees soon as they moved in. There went home to so many birds…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We’ve lost 8 trees that we could see from our yard in the past 12 months, Lois. Lot’s of nests destroyed and lots of food sources. The squirrels and some birds love to pick at the maple spinners to dig that seed out. You would think it would occur to someone taking a tree down to hang a bird house or two in its place. In the four yards that we can see from ours, we have the only water and bird food out there.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Back in 2020 when we were slammed by Hurricane Sally, the ‘hurricane chasers’ were out enforce, cutting down damaged trees. When it came to the big old oak on the side of my house, they only slightly trimmed it because there were birds nests in the branches. Fast forward to last year when a huge limb crashed down on my neighbor’s daughters brand new car. The arborist told us, yes, the tree was lovely but it was dying and needed to come down. Either that or my neighbor was going to have more damage than just to a car. The tree was a beauty, Dan, and it pained me to have it removed. Fortunately we still have plenty in our backyard, so the birds still have places to live and play, but that tree struck a nerve for me.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. That’s sad, Lois. I guess, after you’ve been told it has to go, the liability shifts more solidly to you. The worst part for us was the neighbor that took trees down in the winter. Many nests were destroyed and many animals had nowhere to go, Some ended up in our log racks.

          Like

  13. Cute, and a great photo to go with.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Trying to imagine the conversation.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Looks like a great grand opening for the latest Michelin star restaurant. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We joke that they probably have a rating system. I think they’re easier to please in the winter. In the summer, we have some birds – one robin in particular – that think we should clean and fill the bird baths more often.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. LOL! I love it! News is spreading about Dan’s Diner! I like Judy’s title for the dinning area. 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ha ha – Maybe we need a sign and some tables.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. I love how you look after your local critters and birds, Dan. I would think their continued presence is tip enough for the service! 😆

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It is, Mae. We enjoy seeing them, and the ones that stay here during the winter certainly need our support,

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Love your one-liner! I see you have dark-eyed Juncos. I’m always thrilled when I capture them in our bird sanctuary :) You’re so kind to the wildlife!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I didn’t know they were special, Dale, but I’m glad you like seeing them. We always feel good when we have a crowd out there. So many people say not to feed them outside of winter, but these are the same people who spray their lawns so that nothing lives there. We don’t put as much out during the summer, but we always have some, and plenty of water.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. To hell with those people. I don’t know about how rare they are but I can’t remember seeing them elsewhere: hopping around the ground, rarely flying up to a branch.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. I’ll tell them I have approval from an international agency to feed whenever I need to .

          Liked by 1 person

  18. I love your one-liner! And of course a cameo appearance by the supplicant squirrel.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We should get a little suit for him and have him act as the Matre’d. Of course, he’s more inclined to chase the other squirrels away from “his” peanuts.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yeah, a Matre’d who steals the diners’ food probably wouldn’t last very long on the job!

        Liked by 1 person

  19. The sunrise over the park is quite lovely – but then I am partial to sunrises! We must go through five giant bags of unsalted peanuts a week – our grocery probably thinks we have elephants in our backyard or bats in our belfry or both! Hope you get some warm days.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m glad to know we aren’t the only ones buying peanuts at that rate. It’s supposed to warm up a little this weekend and then more early next week.

      Like

  20. I can see those birds and squirrels are all happy.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. They are, Frank. Right now, finding food is their prime goal, every morning.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. . It always amazes me how well the animals around us can train us. We willingly comply

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We do, Pam. Out out food. Clean the bird baths. Fill the bird baths. Switch to the other side of the street so the bunny can keep eating. The list goes on.

      Liked by 1 person

  22. My crows have become aware of when I’m home and call to me from the trees for more peanuts or walnuts if I’m feeling charitable. You’ve got quite a following at your house, Dan.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That’s funny, Denise. I wonder if they all watch or if they work shifts. I know the blue jays call their friends when they find peanuts.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Oh yes, they do. The suet goes out AFTER the jays leave.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Ha ha – holding back on the good stuff.

          Liked by 1 person

  23. Lucky little birds and squirrels. I love that you feed them. Great photos!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Jan. They really need some help this point in the year, especially when the ground is covered with snow.

      Like

  24. That is quite a nice spread! And some great leaf and snow photos too. (K)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We try to please them.

      Like

  25. Hi Dan, it is wonderful that you feed the creatures. Thanks for the pictures.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We enjoy having them around, Robbie (and we realize their presence is not guaranteed).

      Like

  26. Oh, my, it looks cold there! I think I’ll put on a sweater in sympathy!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ha! We should warm up a little by next week.

      Like

  27. I don’t think it would be wise to ever close the restaurant for a holiday Dan. 🤭

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We stay open 7-days a week, Cheryl.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

        Liked by 1 person

  28. You made those birds very happy!! Thanks for sharing!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s our pleasure, Kirt.

      Liked by 1 person

  29. critter people are the best. I plant strawberries for my birds and critters. They are never wasted.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We might do that next year (at least get started).

      Like

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