COLD DARK ROOM

Maro2Bear

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Glenn Dale, Maryland, USA
Good afternooning all.

On the other side of the UK to Lyn, we are having a glorious sunny day.

I did my shift at the rescue this morning and got bitten for my troubles! Luckily my gloves protected me, but it was a hard pinch from a disgruntled hedgehog. I have never been bitten by a hedgehog before. It’s very unusual. It was put straight on the vets list for a checkup just in case I had touched a painful patch that we weren’t aware of.

When I got home there was a package awaiting me. For Christmas I received a Red Mason Bee guardian pack from MasonBees.co.uk

We put the nest house out last weekend and the project sent bee cocoons that arrived this morning. The cocoons are put in a release box where they can hatch and start nesting, hopefully in the tubes of the nest house.

Each tube has an insert and when it’s filled, the insert can be removed and stored and a new insert put in place.

At the end of the summer, the inserts will be returned to the project, the cocoons sorted and safely overwintered and I will be sent more cocoons next spring.
View attachment 321559View attachment 321560View attachment 321561View attachment 321562


Interesting with actually starting with some cocoons. I have my bee house out now, plenty of solitary bees of all types out yesterday. I might relocate it to a “better” spot. Sun is out, warm. Dandelions are starting to bloom, found lots of Red Deadnettle blooming, and some Hairy Bittercress. Tons of daffodils in bloom, Snowdrops are done. The other day i brought my dormant fig trees outside, they already have buds/leaves. Turning the outside water on today, makes fountain filling & plant watering easier.
 

Yvonne G

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Clovis, CA
Well, I ran the "strimmer" through two batteries and my back is killing me, so I'm now under my electric lap robe in my recliner! The sun did warm me up, but DANG it's cold in the house!!!

A couple years ago I kept back two leopard babies because they have aberrant scutes, and I quite like that type shell pattern - Leonard and Zipper. But William was here this past week-end and I decided to send them home with him to sell. I just plain have too many animals. Next time he visits I'll send the juvenile yellowfoot home with him and any other I feel I can part with. I never did get my energy back after my broken wrist and knee, and it's a lot of work, taking care of this many animals.
 

Yvonne G

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Good morning, windy and rainy, just a bit of sun starting to shine. Itʻs a chilly 72 degrees F. On the other side of the pond, I am jogging halfway between Horringer and Westley. Very nice scenery and an old castle of some sort. Have a lovely day all!
I love castles!
 

Jan A

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Skiatook, OK
Hedge Hog “Predators” - man, vehicles, lawn mowers, weed whackers, farm equipment, bon fires, general garden clean up, slug bait that poisons the hedgies. Poor little guys, tough life!
Every living thing on this earth has a predator, including people. Lightning, volcanoes, earthquakes, solar flares, asteroids still gonna happen with or without inhabitants. Mankind is just a blip on the history of planet Earth. I think it's tragic about hedgehogs, but they do have natural predators, as well as mankind.

I don't want to insult anyone but I'm drowning in cancel culture.
Good morning, windy and rainy, just a bit of sun starting to shine. Itʻs a chilly 72 degrees F. On the other side of the pond, I am jogging halfway between Horringer and Westley. Very nice scenery and an old castle of some sort. Have a lovely day all!
It snowed for 12 hrs. here in the Republic of Boulder. Pavement too hot to stick. On our way to Cheyenne to my father-in-law's house to do estate things. The man was a pack rat. Collected pens, calendars, chap stick, magazines, newspapers, napkins, condiments, toothpicks soup, cans of tuna, .... because it would all clog the landfill and/or it was free. Been cleaning crap out for a year now & no end in sight!!
 

Cathie G

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Location (City and/or State)
Lancaster
Interesting with actually starting with some cocoons. I have my bee house out now, plenty of solitary bees of all types out yesterday. I might relocate it to a “better” spot. Sun is out, warm. Dandelions are starting to bloom, found lots of Red Deadnettle blooming, and some Hairy Bittercress. Tons of daffodils in bloom, Snowdrops are done. The other day i brought my dormant fig trees outside, they already have buds/leaves. Turning the outside water on today, makes fountain filling & plant watering easier.
I saw some hardy fig starts at Lowe's the other day. I wouldn't mind planting one but I don't know what they mean. Could they be planted in my area? They didn't have the zone on the package. Is it worth dragging them in and out? Even if they could be planted outside. Just wondering what your thoughts are on that.?
 

Cathie G

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Every living thing on this earth has a predator, including people. Lightning, volcanoes, earthquakes, solar flares, asteroids still gonna happen with or without inhabitants. Mankind is just a blip on the history of planet Earth. I think it's tragic about hedgehogs, but they do have natural predators, as well as mankind.

I don't want to insult anyone but I'm drowning in cancel culture.

It snowed for 12 hrs. here in the Republic of Boulder. Pavement too hot to stick. On our way to Cheyenne to my father-in-law's house to do estate things. The man was a pack rat. Collected pens, calendars, chap stick, magazines, newspapers, napkins, condiments, toothpicks soup, cans of tuna, .... because it would all clog the landfill and/or it was free. Been cleaning crap out for a year now & no end in sight!!
I know what you mean. My developmentally disabled deaf mute brother has no idea what needs thrown away. I call it what it is. Junk is junk. He collects everything he sees on the sidewalks here there and anywhere. The next thing I know he has a bunch of other peoples junk stored at our home. I have to sneak to get rid of it and I don't feel a bit guilty.???
 

Snoopy’s mom

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May 28, 2020
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1,584
Location (City and/or State)
Honolulu
Good afternooning all.

On the other side of the UK to Lyn, we are having a glorious sunny day.

I did my shift at the rescue this morning and got bitten for my troubles! Luckily my gloves protected me, but it was a hard pinch from a disgruntled hedgehog. I have never been bitten by a hedgehog before. It’s very unusual. It was put straight on the vets list for a checkup just in case I had touched a painful patch that we weren’t aware of.

When I got home there was a package awaiting me. For Christmas I received a Red Mason Bee guardian pack from MasonBees.co.uk

We put the nest house out last weekend and the project sent bee cocoons that arrived this morning. The cocoons are put in a release box where they can hatch and start nesting, hopefully in the tubes of the nest house.

Each tube has an insert and when it’s filled, the insert can be removed and stored and a new insert put in place.

At the end of the summer, the inserts will be returned to the project, the cocoons sorted and safely overwintered and I will be sent more cocoons next spring.
View attachment 321559View attachment 321560View attachment 321561View attachment 321562
Thatʻs so neat! I wonder if they have things like that in the US. Gonna Google that right now,
 

Cathie G

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17,639
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Lancaster
Well, I ran the "strimmer" through two batteries and my back is killing me, so I'm now under my electric lap robe in my recliner! The sun did warm me up, but DANG it's cold in the house!!!

A couple years ago I kept back two leopard babies because they have aberrant scutes, and I quite like that type shell pattern - Leonard and Zipper. But William was here this past week-end and I decided to send them home with him to sell. I just plain have too many animals. Next time he visits I'll send the juvenile yellowfoot home with him and any other I feel I can part with. I never did get my energy back after my broken wrist and knee, and it's a lot of work, taking care of this many animals.
While you're scaling back on the work load, please remember something. I accidentally found TFO and you were one of the first responders. That meant so much to me I can't put it into words. As time went on I got hooked ☺️ I just really wish that you could stay warmer in your home. Cold is hardest on the young and elder people. Especially those with broken bones.?
 

EllieMay

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Jun 23, 2018
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9,603
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East Texas
This guy has been hanging out since I started keeping the babies outside . One just like him broke my window a few years back trying to steal a squirrel that I was rehabilitating... seems likely that it may be the same culprit who absconded with my ducks!!! He will find it hard to get through the chicken wire roof this time! D6EA4B82-5A6B-467F-B8EC-14D45A873F5E.jpeg904047C7-4932-41B3-A7FC-2C47299CA8FF.jpeg
 

JoesMum

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Oct 26, 2011
Messages
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Location (City and/or State)
Kent, South East England
Interesting with actually starting with some cocoons. I have my bee house out now, plenty of solitary bees of all types out yesterday. I might relocate it to a “better” spot. Sun is out, warm. Dandelions are starting to bloom, found lots of Red Deadnettle blooming, and some Hairy Bittercress. Tons of daffodils in bloom, Snowdrops are done. The other day i brought my dormant fig trees outside, they already have buds/leaves. Turning the outside water on today, makes fountain filling & plant watering easier.
I have another bee box which has been stored in the garage through the winter. That has leafcutter bee cocoons in it. The cocoons are very different - coated in leaves. These emerge much later in the year, so will stay in the garage until May.
779706B4-8A78-4ACC-A20F-790D2BFEB3C7.jpeg
 

JoesMum

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Location (City and/or State)
Kent, South East England
Well, I ran the "strimmer" through two batteries and my back is killing me, so I'm now under my electric lap robe in my recliner! The sun did warm me up, but DANG it's cold in the house!!!

A couple years ago I kept back two leopard babies because they have aberrant scutes, and I quite like that type shell pattern - Leonard and Zipper. But William was here this past week-end and I decided to send them home with him to sell. I just plain have too many animals. Next time he visits I'll send the juvenile yellowfoot home with him and any other I feel I can part with. I never did get my energy back after my broken wrist and knee, and it's a lot of work, taking care of this many animals.
It must be heartbreaking to let them go. At least you know William will find them a good home. Big hugs x
 

Snoopy’s mom

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May 28, 2020
Messages
1,584
Location (City and/or State)
Honolulu
I have another bee box which has been stored in the garage through the winter. That has leafcutter bee cocoons in it. The cocoons are very different - coated in leaves. These emerge much later in the year, so will stay in the garage until May.
View attachment 321580
Amazing!
 

JoesMum

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Joined
Oct 26, 2011
Messages
21,568
Location (City and/or State)
Kent, South East England
Every living thing on this earth has a predator, including people. Lightning, volcanoes, earthquakes, solar flares, asteroids still gonna happen with or without inhabitants. Mankind is just a blip on the history of planet Earth. I think it's tragic about hedgehogs, but they do have natural predators, as well as mankind.
Very few. Even foxes won’t bother a hedgehog. Badgers are the only natural predator of them in the UK. Badgers will kill and eat hedgehogs. The decline of this creature in the UK is caused by humans.
 

Lyn W

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Jul 22, 2014
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UK
Well, I ran the "strimmer" through two batteries and my back is killing me, so I'm now under my electric lap robe in my recliner! The sun did warm me up, but DANG it's cold in the house!!!

A couple years ago I kept back two leopard babies because they have aberrant scutes, and I quite like that type shell pattern - Leonard and Zipper. But William was here this past week-end and I decided to send them home with him to sell. I just plain have too many animals. Next time he visits I'll send the juvenile yellowfoot home with him and any other I feel I can part with. I never did get my energy back after my broken wrist and knee, and it's a lot of work, taking care of this many animals.
So sorry you are having to let some of them go, but I'm sure Will will make sure they have good homes.
 

Snoopy’s mom

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5 Year Member
Joined
May 28, 2020
Messages
1,584
Location (City and/or State)
Honolulu
Every living thing on this earth has a predator, including people. Lightning, volcanoes, earthquakes, solar flares, asteroids still gonna happen with or without inhabitants. Mankind is just a blip on the history of planet Earth. I think it's tragic about hedgehogs, but they do have natural predators, as well as mankind.

I don't want to insult anyone but I'm drowning in cancel culture.

It snowed for 12 hrs. here in the Republic of Boulder. Pavement too hot to stick. On our way to Cheyenne to my father-in-law's house to do estate things. The man was a pack rat. Collected pens, calendars, chap stick, magazines, newspapers, napkins, condiments, toothpicks soup, cans of tuna, .... because it would all clog the landfill and/or it was free. Been cleaning crap out for a year now & no end in sight!!
Hey Jan, everything ok there? The coconut wireless way over here has something on the news about you folks.
 
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