Another new bird...

I just happened to look out the window and notice this fella hanging around the bird feeder.  I knew immediately it was a type of shrike.  I got a photo just before it flew off.  After comparing the Loggerhead Shrike and the Northern Shrike, I have come to the conclusion it is a Northern Shrike.  The only way I can tell the difference is there is a little white patch above it's black eye band.  I have not logged a shrike yet at the cabin.  I think I saw one a few years ago, but it flew away too quickly to identify.   I don't really want them hanging around the feeder, as they eat other birds.  I'm pretty surprised that I have logged two new birds so far this March. 

 Friday was 8 inches of wet heavy snow.  Saturday was a beautiful balmy day.  Today it rained all morning and then turned to snow in the afternoon.  The weather is driving me nuts.  I checked on my greenhouse plantings and nothing is up yet.  

 I had a question about the bottles in my greenhouse.  I bought these adapters at Gardener's supply.  You poke holes in the plastic according to your soil type.  Mine is clay all the way.  You then attach a bottle.  You can use plastic bottles, but they don't seem to last as long.  I like the look of colored glass, so I opt for glass bottles.  They work nicely.  It takes about two days to empty.  

I have wanted to make this cake for a long time.  It met expectations.  I saw it at this pin:  grammasinthekitchen.blogspot.com.

Hot Milk Cake
4 eggs (beat for 5 minutes)
2 c. sugar (add to eggs and cream)
2 1/4 c. flour
2 1/4 t. baking powder
1 t. vanilla
1 1/4 c. milk
10 T. butter (melt in the milk then add to mixture above)
Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.  Delicious!




Saturday was beautiful.  I took advantage of the sticky snow and made 3 little snowmen.  I thought they would be a nice welcome for my husband when he came back from work.  Unfortunately, the little suckers melted and fell off before he even got home.  Glad I took photos.  

That is all I have going on.  It is snowing pretty hard now, so I guess spring is on a pause.  I'm keeping my camera with me when I go to work this week.  On Friday, I saw 18 bull elk while driving home in the snowstorm.  The weather was too treacherous to take a photo.  I didn't want somebody running into me.  Maybe I will be lucky enough to see them again this week.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed. 

Have you tried any new recipes?  When was the last time you made a snowman?  If you are smart at bird identification can you double check my shrike identification skills?  I appreciate it.