Snugging up for winter

The gardens are tucked in for the winter at last. We mulched the empty beds and the remaining crops; Swiss chard, beets, carrots, and overwintering garlic. The hoop house protects our hardy spinach and Asian greens. The boardwalks have been pulled up and stored in the garage. We're all ready for the cold blasts of winter.
My bird feeders are emptied almost every day as the birds feast on fatty oil-rich sunflower seeds. The suet blocks, pecked away to nearly nothing in a week need replacing already. Last night, a mouse scurried among the leaves along the house foundation, looking for a cranny to sneak into as Callie gave chase. She's not the hunter Ruby was and came away empty-jawed. Nothing like have a good Rottweiler mouser on the premises!
With the forecast calling for wet stormy weather ahead, like the squirrels gathering food, I cache dry wood inside the house at the garage--a good supply to get us through the dank, dark days ahead.