Dim, damp, chilly. but not at all wintery.

Clearly, the walnut (Juglans) is a good friend to squirrels. As are bird feeders. This season the feeder has been slammed, which I don't quite understand, since the weather has been mild and any snow quickly melted away. The back yard, and the surrounding neighborhood have been very birdy places.

I have discovered that safflower is unpalatable. One bird-seed mix I put in the feeder incuded safflower as a component, and it has been universally rejected. The jays, with a flick of the head, fling it far from the feeder, where it lies on the ground, untouched by sparrows, finches, cardinals, nuthatches, doves, juncos, and chickadees. Even the squirrels turn up thier noses. Even the squirrels.