those aren't birds… they're PIGS!

just outside our kitchen window is a birdfeeder that we inherited with the house (in all honesty, we replaced the rotted one with a new one, but the idea of a birdfeeder {and the pole} came with the house). we've gone a while since we've put seed in the feeder (sorry, birds) and a month ago, when i was at sam's, i bought a huge case of seed. i seem to remember not having a problem going through the seed.

so i fill it, and it wasn't long before there was a line forming to the birdfeeder. the little crowd control ropes like they have at the movie theater. little plasma tvs (just like at disneyworld at the popular rides) showing chicken little while they stood in line to eat… let's just say it was a popular feeding ground!

we enjoyed cardinals, chickadees, doves, and a bunch of other birds that i don't know the names… sorry, i'm a bird feeder and a bird enjoyer, but i ain't no ornithologist, and i'm not apologizing for that. we even have winnebagos with feathers. i don't know what they're called, but they are the biggest and the fattest birds and i seriously wonder how they get airborne… they're like the chris farley of birds.

can't help it. i loved chris farley. poor guy ate too much birdseed…

sorry, i digress.

filled up the birdfeeder. lots of birds show up. enjoy the feeding frenzy. the next day, the seed is gone.

wow. those are some hungry birds!

fill the feeder. birds throw a small party. fly in, peck at seeds, fly away. 

later in the afternoon, the feeder is empty.

seriously?

fill it again. sit down to enjoy the paper and a cup of coffee with the hubs.

what. the. heck?

there is a SQUIRREL practically INSIDE the feeder. there are fifty birds, sitting on the fence, all giving him the middle talon. 

we have this little squirrel prevention rigged up metal thingy that is supposed to…uh… prevent (hence the name: squirrel prevention rigged up metal thingy) the squirrels from being able to sit and dine. 

FAIL.

{it also came with the half rotten birdfeeder}

i'd take a picture of said feeder, but my camera is still broken.

a moment of silence, please.

but i did order a new lens which should be here by the weekend. i'll send my other lens off for a repair. which nikon should do for free since it's still under warranty. but of course, with two moves around here in the last several months, i cannot, for the live of me, find the box and/or receipt. booooooooo.

but i digress {again}

so i have plenty of seed. remember? i bought a case. 

but i'll be ding-danged if i'm going to feed the squirrels.
now i remember why i haven't bought seed in a while. i remember now that at the time i was contemplating sending two kids to college, and how would i afford that if i have to by a case of birdseed every other week?

sorry, birds. 

anyone got any ideas that won't cost me a fortune? it's not like they're going to starve to death in the meantime…i mean after all, it is worm season, right?