Wishing all my friends a very happy new year.
Musings of a pagan elder from the beautiful gardens of Wytchwood, located in Newfoundland, Canada
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Tis the Season.
We had to go to the shop yesterday afternoon to pick up a couple of items. Himself went ahead of me to clear some ice off the windshield of the car. A minute later I followed behind and got half way down to the car when I heard a noise. I recognized it as a Grouse so gave a shouted whisper, you know what that is.....when you try to whisper loudly so you don't scare the bird off, lol. A shouted whisper saying "There's a grouse there I'm going back for my camera." I just had that out of my mouth when himself yells loudly "There's a grouse over there." So, got the camera and walked slowly back to get as close as I could before it took off. I got one shot when himself yells, "There's a cat stalking the bird." and before I could say "Bobs your uncle", the bird flew over my head and up into the woods. Then I saw the neighbours cat quite near where the grouse was. If you look closely at the fence rail, in the middle of the photo, you should see the bird. Not a great picture but the first grouse I've seen this season.
It's been a lovely few days. We had friends in on Xmas Eve then the next day we were invited out for dinner. We've been eating so much and if I see another chocolate I think I'll up chuck. Far too much food and sweets on the go. Serious dieting begins after New Years. The weather has been quite nice with just a brush of snow on Xmas Eve. In fact, the snow is gone around a lot of the property so the girls have been able to get out each day and wander under the bird feeders to pick up the dropped seeds. There are many Juncos and Chick a Dees about now. And of course the dear crows, my favorite bird, always here to give me moments of joy.
Here's wishing everyone Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year.
It's been a lovely few days. We had friends in on Xmas Eve then the next day we were invited out for dinner. We've been eating so much and if I see another chocolate I think I'll up chuck. Far too much food and sweets on the go. Serious dieting begins after New Years. The weather has been quite nice with just a brush of snow on Xmas Eve. In fact, the snow is gone around a lot of the property so the girls have been able to get out each day and wander under the bird feeders to pick up the dropped seeds. There are many Juncos and Chick a Dees about now. And of course the dear crows, my favorite bird, always here to give me moments of joy.
Here's wishing everyone Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Sunday in December
We've had two lots of snow in recent days. I was saying yesterday morning that my body was aching all over and figured I must be coming down with something but then remembered that the day before I had been shoveling snow and realized that was the problem. Just one of the joys of getting older.
It seems that I've been very busy but can't exactly say at what. This morning I tied some spruce branches around the archway coming onto the property and all I need now is a big red bow to hang on the top. I hung two more suet feeders in the trees, that makes five in all. The birds like to fill up on the suet blocks on very cold days. There have been lots of Juncos around along with the regulars. It's mild today...well about +4 C. A lot of the snow has melted off the trees but the ground is still covered.
I'm trying to contain my excitement about Laurie coming for the holidays. It's so close to that time now. As far as having everything ready....it's all done. Just a waiting game now.
A few pictures.
Cat in Hat.
Looking out of kitchen window....tree on deck.
Woodie.
Underside of Chick a Dee.
Juncos.
The last snow fall.
It seems that I've been very busy but can't exactly say at what. This morning I tied some spruce branches around the archway coming onto the property and all I need now is a big red bow to hang on the top. I hung two more suet feeders in the trees, that makes five in all. The birds like to fill up on the suet blocks on very cold days. There have been lots of Juncos around along with the regulars. It's mild today...well about +4 C. A lot of the snow has melted off the trees but the ground is still covered.
I'm trying to contain my excitement about Laurie coming for the holidays. It's so close to that time now. As far as having everything ready....it's all done. Just a waiting game now.
A few pictures.
Cat in Hat.
Looking out of kitchen window....tree on deck.
Woodie.
Underside of Chick a Dee.
Juncos.
The last snow fall.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Busy Days.
I've been very busy this past couple of days. It took me almost all day yesterday to decorate inside. I don't know why, other years it's all done in a morning. One of the brothers, Stanley, was giving me grief. He was not only knocking ornaments off the tree as I was putting them on but he was also trying to run up to the top of the tree. I expect one morning we'll get up and it will all be on the floor. Here are a few pictures of some of the decorations. Most of you have seen them before as I tend to do the same thing each year.
The Tree.
The Mantle.
One of the many Santas.
One of the Wreaths.
Himself was saying that the holidays just wouldn't be the same with out Old Bones in his Santa hat and Sleigh.
We've had some lovely sunny days lately. Temperatures around +5 C. So much nicer than the overcast snowy days we had been having. Lots of Juncos around now. I expect the Evening Grosbeaks will soon show up. This morning it's -6 with a wind. One wonders how the little birds manage to survive it all.
Speaking of cold.....this picture was taken by himself in the 1980's in the older part of St. John's. I think it's a pretty neat photo. Enough to make you shiver.
Click on any photo to enlarge.
The Tree.
The Mantle.
One of the many Santas.
One of the Wreaths.
Himself was saying that the holidays just wouldn't be the same with out Old Bones in his Santa hat and Sleigh.
We've had some lovely sunny days lately. Temperatures around +5 C. So much nicer than the overcast snowy days we had been having. Lots of Juncos around now. I expect the Evening Grosbeaks will soon show up. This morning it's -6 with a wind. One wonders how the little birds manage to survive it all.
Speaking of cold.....this picture was taken by himself in the 1980's in the older part of St. John's. I think it's a pretty neat photo. Enough to make you shiver.
Click on any photo to enlarge.
Monday, December 07, 2009
Wintery Day
The first winter storm of any significance hit yesterday. While we only got 20 cm, St. John's got 38 cm. I phoned my parents to see how they were making out and my mother says that my father just came in, he had shoveled out four cars and cleaned them off.
"Put him on the phone," I said
"Hello" he says
"Are you out of your mind, don't you realize that your almost 90 years old and you shouldn't be doing stuff like that."
"Well", he says, "One poor old fellow is 92 and then there's this old lady who's 80."
I could only burst out laughing. Maybe that's what keeps him young.
Still dark but shovels at the ready.
Himself shoveled the driveway while I filled the bird feeders.
Blue Jays.
The crows came for breakfast just before full daylight.
Stanley looking out at all that white stuff.
"Put him on the phone," I said
"Hello" he says
"Are you out of your mind, don't you realize that your almost 90 years old and you shouldn't be doing stuff like that."
"Well", he says, "One poor old fellow is 92 and then there's this old lady who's 80."
I could only burst out laughing. Maybe that's what keeps him young.
Still dark but shovels at the ready.
Himself shoveled the driveway while I filled the bird feeders.
Blue Jays.
The crows came for breakfast just before full daylight.
Stanley looking out at all that white stuff.
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Snowy Day.
It's been snowing all afternoon and still continues tonight. Shovels are at the ready as I expect there will be some shoveling to do before it's all over. The plow has been up the road twice.
The Juncos have appeared at the feeders and lots of Chick a dees as well. I had to go out and clear the snow off the platform feeder as the little birds were trying to get down to the seed. Replenished the seed and it didn't take them long to fill their bellys.
A few pictures of some Chick a Dees. Not the best pictures I'm afraid but here they are.
And, one taken tonight.
The Juncos have appeared at the feeders and lots of Chick a dees as well. I had to go out and clear the snow off the platform feeder as the little birds were trying to get down to the seed. Replenished the seed and it didn't take them long to fill their bellys.
A few pictures of some Chick a Dees. Not the best pictures I'm afraid but here they are.
And, one taken tonight.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Rainy Tuesday.
It's a wet chilly day so thought it would be a good time to do some clearing up and cleaning inside. I can't....and why? There are cats asleep all over the place, on the chesterfield where I want to straighten. In the linen closet where I want to put clean linens. On the guest room bed where I have to take extra blankets off. On my bed with himself so I can't work around in there. Any moment at all now I'm going to give a great shout for everybody to wake up and move out of my way.
It's hard to believe that we are in December already. I really don't know where this year has gone. Time goes much too fast. I have to say that the month of November as far as weather was concerned was lovely. We did have a fair number of wet days but the temperatures were spring like.
Not much going on except my mind figuring what I have to do for the holidays coming up in a few weeks. Oh, there is one bit of excitement, my granddaughter has a new pet. A beautiful Rat. She got him at a pet shop where he had been for some months as no one liked his colour so he couldn't find a home. I just don't understand humans at times. He loves being petted and she is getting him use to being out of his cage. She's going to get a friend for him once he gets settled. Here's a picture of the little darling. I think he's just adorable.
A few pictures of the area. Not very exciting I must admit.
The only reason I took this picture of our "fat" cat is because her little toes are curled so prettily.
I'm still trying to get a good shot of the crows but not happy with what I've gotten so far. They come for breakfast most mornings between 7:20 and 7:30 am.
That's it! I hear movement behind me so time to get at it.
It's hard to believe that we are in December already. I really don't know where this year has gone. Time goes much too fast. I have to say that the month of November as far as weather was concerned was lovely. We did have a fair number of wet days but the temperatures were spring like.
Not much going on except my mind figuring what I have to do for the holidays coming up in a few weeks. Oh, there is one bit of excitement, my granddaughter has a new pet. A beautiful Rat. She got him at a pet shop where he had been for some months as no one liked his colour so he couldn't find a home. I just don't understand humans at times. He loves being petted and she is getting him use to being out of his cage. She's going to get a friend for him once he gets settled. Here's a picture of the little darling. I think he's just adorable.
A few pictures of the area. Not very exciting I must admit.
The only reason I took this picture of our "fat" cat is because her little toes are curled so prettily.
I'm still trying to get a good shot of the crows but not happy with what I've gotten so far. They come for breakfast most mornings between 7:20 and 7:30 am.
That's it! I hear movement behind me so time to get at it.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
It's a dull day with a wintery looking sky. It appeared that we might get a bit of sun a few times during the day as the cloud seemed to be breaking a little. Alas, it was not to happen.
A few days ago I thought it might be a good time to put some more xmas lights outside as himself is in St. John's this week and wouldn't be here to get in my way. I hauled out a couple of lengths of lights, got the ladder and put the lights over and down one of the archways. I had a good laugh at myself because of the gyrations I had to do while up on the ladder, to get the strings of lights tied on. I was thinking if I fell and knocked myself out and had broken legs, I wonder how long it would take someone to find me, lol. I sometimes think I'm a 20 year old and invincible.
Then I found a 6 ft. artificial tree to put on the deck. I got that set up, put strings of outdoor lights on it and I was off to the races. I then found some poinsettias, put those in two long planters and "bobs your uncle", it's all done, except for wreaths on the doors. We don't usually decorate outside but this year we thought we'd go all out.
Not many birds around these days. Four pairs of jays, hairy and downy woodpeckers and chick a dees are back and forth to the feeders all day long. I expect when the snow flies there will be more of a variety. I did get a few pictures this past couple of days.
Chick a Dee. It's difficult to capture these little creatures with the camera as they don't stay still for long.
Blue Jay.
Hairy Woodpecker.
Male.
Female.
That's it! One of the cats near me is breaking wind and I have to get out of here. It stinks!!!! I have a good idea who the culprit is, lol.
A few days ago I thought it might be a good time to put some more xmas lights outside as himself is in St. John's this week and wouldn't be here to get in my way. I hauled out a couple of lengths of lights, got the ladder and put the lights over and down one of the archways. I had a good laugh at myself because of the gyrations I had to do while up on the ladder, to get the strings of lights tied on. I was thinking if I fell and knocked myself out and had broken legs, I wonder how long it would take someone to find me, lol. I sometimes think I'm a 20 year old and invincible.
Then I found a 6 ft. artificial tree to put on the deck. I got that set up, put strings of outdoor lights on it and I was off to the races. I then found some poinsettias, put those in two long planters and "bobs your uncle", it's all done, except for wreaths on the doors. We don't usually decorate outside but this year we thought we'd go all out.
Not many birds around these days. Four pairs of jays, hairy and downy woodpeckers and chick a dees are back and forth to the feeders all day long. I expect when the snow flies there will be more of a variety. I did get a few pictures this past couple of days.
Chick a Dee. It's difficult to capture these little creatures with the camera as they don't stay still for long.
Blue Jay.
Hairy Woodpecker.
Male.
Female.
That's it! One of the cats near me is breaking wind and I have to get out of here. It stinks!!!! I have a good idea who the culprit is, lol.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
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