Picky, picky

Don't you think people have gotten a little picky these days?  Oh, I know.  You've heard about the Great Depression and the hardships that Americans faced.  Butter, gasoline, and rubber were all rationed.  New materials were invented to meet the needs of a growing population.  Enterprising cooks came up with such delights as "Tomato Soup Cake."  It isn't as bad as it sounds, and it's actually one of my husband's favorites.  But now it's asiago cheese, arugula, strange Asian greens, fish oil, and a myriad of other things you would think we couldn't live without.

We are spoiled, and it isn't just the humans who have gotten into that trap.  Believe it or not, our backyard bird feeder is a great example of how our fine feathered friends have also gotten spoiled.  We always bought our birdseed from the Fulton Feed in Canal Fulton, Ohio.  It was a large brick structure that blended right into the banks of the Tuscarawas River.  Attached to it was the more utilized feed part of the business.  They carried some quality birdseed there.  When the structure succumbed to the forces of nature rather suddenly one day (and thankfully no one was inside), we were really dumbstruck.  And beyond feeling bad about a building I'd always liked was the second big question, "Where can we get birdseed?"

Well, friends, we have great news.  It wasn't long after the demise of the feed store that we found out the owner has another such place in Hartville.  It's fairly close to the center of things.  It's called the Hartville Elevator Co.  They sell the same great birdseed that we had come to rely on, and apparently so did our bird friends.  When you walk into the door, it smells just the same as the old building in Canal Fulton too.  A bonus.  They should charge for it.

Lately, due to a combination of laziness and other factors, we haven't gone to get our supply of seed, and bought some at the local BJs instead.  The birds noticed the difference.  Even in the cold weather, they are not emptying the feeder as was the usual practice.  Not only that but I don't even think the squirrels like it very much.  They usually show up to eat leftovers and spillages on the ground.

So here we are -- picky, picky, picky.  It should make me feel a little bit better about being spoiled but it actually doesn't.  Good day to you all.