Help please, birdlovers

I've noticed a new kind of bird at my feeder today; they're bluish-gray with a white breast, and they have a little bit of a topknot like a bluejay.  They're not that big, though.  More the size of my house finches.   That's a house finch on the left side of the feeder. 

Thank you, faithful reader!  That bird is a tufted titmouse!  

Well, well

Look who's gone two whole days without blogging!  Cliff and I have been doing some road-running the past two forenoons, and I've spent lots of time outside just enjoying the warm weather and watching blooms and leaf development on my young trees.  
A couple of evenings ago, Sadie and I paid a visit to the cabin.  We didn't spend the night, only a couple of hours.  I swept literally hundreds of dead Asian Lady Beetles away.  There were signs that several mice had been visiting, of course.  

I started a fire, which was pretty stupid, with all the dead leaves around.  But I wanted to roast a hot dog or two, and I didn't turn my back for a second.  

At some point during the winter, an opossum or raccoon defecated on one of the stones of my fire-ring and left clues about his previous meal:  Obviously something very furry, followed by persimmons for dessert.  When Cliff and I are taking our daily walk, we see lots of these signs.  It appears that when animals eat other living creatures, everything digests except the hair.  

It was nice to be reminded of the times my other dog, Mandy, came to the cabin with me.  

I looked at the cup I rescued from the "ghost farm" on one of mine and Blue's visits there, back before all the buildings were burned.  Now the ghost farm is gone, Blue is gone, and I am left to remember old times.  
I don't think I'll be able to spend a night at the cabin until I get rid of some mouse leavings.  Yuck.  I did enjoy my time there on Tuesday night, though.  Sadie went running after something in the woods, enjoying herself and staying out of the smoke from my fire; I simply sat on my front step and listened to Burl Ives sing folks songs.