There’s a chill in the air, and if I want the birds to stop at my house on their way to Florida, the least I can do is provide a snack bar during their layover.

Except there’s a problem, and his name is Murphy, aka ShopCat. He does what he can to terrorize my winged visitors. I filled a nice little bird feeder and hung it from a hook on my porch last fall. It’s still half-full. If you were a bird, would you risk the jaws of a drooling feline for a beakful of seeds and nuts? I didn’t think so.

Therefore, I thought it would be best if I got one of those feeders that stick to the window with suction cups. ShopCat can dig in and climb up the porch rail, but there’s no way he’s getting his claws into glass. Problem is, I don’t feel like spending $30 on a nondescript Plexiglas chalet.

One would think that a plastic-and-suction-cup combo would cost less than, say, an English garden feeder with a stained-glass top at The Home Depot. But no.

Apparently it’s not cheap to get up close and personal with our feathered friends. The least-expensive thing I could find was a small plastic cup with a roof for about $15 at Blue Seal. Perfectly practical, but I was hoping for something a little more exciting. I went online and found a great-looking cedar casement feeder at Gardeners Supply Co. (www.gardeners.com). I was thrilled, until I saw the price tag of $74.95.

When I bought my feeder a year ago, a simple hunter-green metal arrangement from Droll Yankees, it was the best-looking one at Blue Seal. Either I wasn’t paying attention or things have changed abruptly and drastically in the bird-feeder market. Suddenly, the options are endless.

This year, I returned to Blue Seal, only to find burnished brass feeders that have a distinctive Arts-and-Crafts look to them, along with copper tubes that look like they would weather nicely. And they don’t cost much more than mine did. I guess I should’ve waited

At The Home Depot, the variety is astonishing. Some are a little over the top, such as the blue metal model with pressed flowers decorating the seed holder. Others are pretty cool – I especially liked the Mission lantern and a tube feeder with faux copper vines wrapped around it.

An editorial in this newspaper several weeks ago urged readers to feed hummingbirds, even though the summer is over. If you don’t already have a feeder, the decorative glass spheres and flowers at Miller’s Discount in Brewer are 50 percent off now, and they’re quite nice to look at. Blue Seal has a similar selection, though the sale prices aren’t as low.

Suet blocks studded with blueberries and peanuts aren’t particularly attractive, nor are the cages that go along with them, but I’m willing to sacrifice aesthetics for productivity. Apparently birds will brave almost any hazard, including a hungry cat, to eat this fatty treat.

If you can’t bear the thought of a bell-shaped chunk of lard hanging from your porch, take heart. Every store I’ve visited carries the standard green or black cage, and some even carry house-style bird feeders with room on each side for a pack of suet (which is on sale for 49 cents a slab at Blue Seal, by the way).

Stylistically speaking, my vote goes to the star-shaped cages from Gardeners Supply Co. At $12.50 each (two or more, $7.50), they cost more than a plain square, but hey, sometimes it’s worth it. The Vermont-based retailer carries dozens of appealing feeders, including a selection of sunflower wreaths and seeded bouquets that are meant for birds to snack on.

If you’d like to turn your deck into the Ritz-Cardinal, check out www.duncraft.com, where you can pick up the Pagoda Masterpiece feeder, at which birds can dine in style for $89.99. While you’re at it, you can buy a heated birdbath, too. I mean, who couldn’t use a warm bath after a long flight? Duncraft even has a few window feeders, and while they’re nothing to chirp about, the price is right.

I may end up sticking a metal shepherd’s crook into the ground and hanging my feeder from there. I don’t care if the squirrels get it. I’d be happy to see squirrels – or any sign of life – near my feeder. Instead, I see ShopCat, looking skyward, innocently surveying the scene. I suspect fowl play.

Reader Question

Dear ShopGirl,

Please tell me this is a fairly common problem. I wear mostly plus-size clothes but I find extra-large tends to be rather baggy, yet much of the time large isn’t quite big enough. The odd thing is that I can wear some items in an extra-large from the misses’ department – things like shorts and pants with an elastic waist. However, tops generally aren’t big enough. I would be grateful for your thoughts on this situation.

Sincerely,

J.K.

Dear J.K.,

Because there is no standardized sizing system in the women’s apparel industry, it’s impossible to tell what size you wear from one brand to the next. And the small-medium-large sizing system is inherently flawed – the sizes are relative, and while some larges fit a 12-14, others are designed for a 14-16.

The easiest way to avoid the problem is to buy only size-specific clothes. You’ll have better luck with a size 16 or 18 than with an extra-large, which may be too big in the shoulders and too tight around the bust, or vice versa. Sized clothes are usually cut more proportionally.

As a general rule, the more you pay for an item, the roomier it is. One way discount clothing manufacturers cut costs is by using less fabric. That’s not to say you have to pay a lot to find clothes that fit. Rather, you should find a few brands that fit you well and stick with them.

I know a plus-size woman who swears by Elisabeth, a division of Liz Claiborne. The line is available at Filene’s, and often can be found at Marden’s or T.J. Maxx ‘n More.

For precise sizing, check out Lands’ End, which offers custom-cut jeans and a full line of women’s clothing up to size 26W. As a bonus, you can enter your measurements into their virtual dressing room on the Web to see how an item will look on you before you buy it. For a catalog, visit www.landsend.com or call (800) 356-4444.

As always, happy shopping!